SELF GROWTH.

Main Teacher

Geetanjali Tiwari was born and raised in India – the spiritual center of the world- where yoga-asana and meditation have been practiced in the greater culture for thousands of years. Her polymath father, who never missed a single day of yoga practice, directly introduced her to asana and meditation at home. During high school she added Transcendental Meditation to her daily practice. From a young age she practiced yoga and meditation and was propelled by self inquiry and the purpose of life.

She began her Indian classical vocal training at four and continued on to become a student of the ancient meditative Dhrupad style of music. The daily vocal kharaj practice from 3:30-6:30am is one of the backbones of Dhrupad, and this challenge of strict self discipline became her backbone for strength. Along with Dhrupad, Geeta also practiced long-distance running and judo while in college in Delhi.

She then had the opportunity to live in the wild jungles of India while doing research on primates in the foothills of the Himalayas, for her Master’s degree in Wildlife Biology from Dehradun, India. She continued to work in the field of nature conservation in numerous regions of India. This utility-free experience of simple living, with hours of alone-time surrounded by forests with wild animals, was further eye-opening in her inward journey.

She later earned her PhD in Anthropolgy from Penn State University with research on polyandry among the very high-altitude peoples in the Himalayas. She created the India Program at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, where she taught diverse courses. She also created the Study Abroad Program to India at KU and has since taken over a dozen groups from America to India for language, environmental studies, culture and spirituality.

As the decades have passed, the realization that discipline and practice are key for inspiration and inner strength, has deepened. She travels to India for several months each year and lives in Lawrence, KS with her husband and children. She spends her time studying and teaching Sanskrit, Patanjali Yoga Sutras, Bhagwat Geeta, and other Dharma related topics, and self-guided practice of asana. She enjoys gardening and cooking and has been hosting a weekly open-to-all Sanskrit chanting in her home for about two decades. Geeta has a strong presence in her community and offers inspiration, guidance, seva and support on health, healing, self-care and the spiritual journey within.

Mary Kirkendoll will assist Geeta, and offer daily asana practice.