

Women of Kriya Yoga: Living In Joy Podcast
Women's Ministry of Kriya Yoga International
5.0from 5 ratings
- 16
- Episodes
- 5
- Ratings
- 2025
- First episode
About Women of Kriya Yoga: Living In Joy Podcast
Welcome to the Women of Kriya Yoga: Living in Joy Podcast — a gathering place for women walking the spiritual path. Here, we share stories, teachings, and reflections rooted in the timeless practices of Kriya Yoga. These conversations are an offering from the Women’s Ministry of Kriya Yoga International, inviting you to rest in stillness, awaken your inner light, and connect with a community of women to support one another in living in joy. This podcast is brought to you by the Women’s Ministry of Kriya Yoga International, an organization devoted to uplifting and empowering women through the sacred practices of yoga, meditation, and soulful spiritual community. Rooted in the timeless teachings of Kriya Yoga, we journey together toward inner peace, divine connection, and joyful living in harmony with the Divine. You can learn more about the ministry at our website, womensministryofkriya.org (https://womensministryofkriya.org/). Kriya Yoga is a powerful meditation practice that awakens constant communion with the Divine through the science of the breath. Handed down from teacher to student in an unbroken lineage of enlightened masters, it transforms body, mind, and heart—helping us be calmly active and actively calm. Today this living tradition welcomes seekers everywhere through the guidance of Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, the principal disciple of the great master Paramahamsa Hariharananda. To learn more about Kriya Yoga, please visit kriya.org (http://kriya.org/).
- Publisher
- Women's Ministry of Kriya Yoga International
- Category
- religion & spirituality
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 23 Sept 2025
- Latest episode
- 7 Aug 2026
Latest episodes
16 episodes in the feed.

7 Aug 2026
Episode 16: DezBaa'
In this episode, Marydale Ma speaks with DezBaa', an actor, screenwriter, and filmmaker, whose spiritual journey is as layered and wide-ranging as her creative life. DezBaa' shares how she grew up navigating between worlds — a Southern Baptist upbringing in rural New Mexico, a heritage she was slowly finding her way back to, and a deep imaginative life that would eventually pull her toward storytelling and film. She speaks openly about her path through faith, doubt, and discovery, and how her partner Shiloh's invitation to a Kriya Yoga initiation in 2024 became something she hadn't expected — a homecoming. Along the way she draws beautiful parallels between Navajo ancestral wisdom, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Gospels, reflecting on how the same essential truth seems to run through all of it. A warm, exploratory, and genuinely fresh conversation about belonging, identity, and what it means to return to yourself. ✨ Full show notes and transcripts are available at: womensministryofkriya.org/episode-16 [http://womensministryofkriya.org/episode-16] ✨ About Our Guest: DezBaa' (Diné and Basque, Spanish, and Mexican descent) is an actor, screenwriter, director, and indie film producer. A geologist by training with a degree from Amherst College and two MFAs in screenwriting and creative nonfiction from the Institute of American Indian Arts, DezBaa' is also a licensed massage therapist and energy worker of more than two decades. Her creative work is rooted in a commitment to Indigenous storytelling, cultural advocacy, and community healing. She was initiated into Kriya Yoga in June 2024 alongside her partner Shiloh, and lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. 🙏 About the Podcast: Welcome to the Women of Kriya Yoga: Living in Joy Podcast — a gathering place for women walking the spiritual path. Here, we share stories, teachings, and reflections rooted in the timeless practices of Kriya Yoga. These conversations are an offering from the Women's Sangha & Ministry of Kriya Yoga International, inviting you to rest in stillness, awaken your inner light, and connect with a community of women to support one another in living in joy. This podcast is brought to you by the Women's Sangha & Ministry of Kriya Yoga International. Learn more → https://womensministryofkriya.org [https://womensministryofkriya.org/] 🙏 About Kriya Yoga: Kriya Yoga is a powerful meditation practice that awakens constant communion with the Divine through the science of the breath. Handed down from teacher to student in an unbroken lineage of enlightened masters, it transforms body, mind, and heart—helping us be calmly active and actively calm. Today this living tradition welcomes seekers everywhere through the guidance of Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, the principal disciple of the great master Paramahamsa Hariharananda. To learn more about Kriya Yoga, please visit kriya.org [http://kriya.org/] 🔗 Learn more: Women's Sangha & Ministry: womensministryofkriya.org [http://womensministryofkriya.org/] Kriya Yoga International: kriya.org [http://kriya.org/]

24 Jul 2026
Episode 15: Panna Majithia
In this episode, Marydale Ma speaks with Panna Majithia about a spiritual life that has unfolded quietly and persistently across three continents — from a devoted childhood in Malawi, to a moment of longing at the banks of the Ganga at 17, to the steady deepening of practice in the midst of family life and career in Canada. Panna shares the remarkable ways Sai Baba of Shirdi entered her life, the healing arts that opened her understanding of energy and inner balance, and how her 2012 initiation into Kriya Yoga became the resting place she had been searching for all along. She also speaks about her work in the newly established Kriya Yoga Sadhana Institute of Canada, her book on plant-based Ayurvedic healing, and what she would most want to leave in the hearts of women who are stretched thin and searching for a way back to themselves. A warm and grounded conversation about perseverance, harmony, and the quiet power of returning — again and again — to the Self. ✨ Full show notes and transcripts are available at: womensministryofkriya.org/episode-15 [http://womensministryofkriya.org/episode-15] ✨ About Our Guest: Panna Majithia was born in Malawi and has made her home in British Columbia, Canada, where she is a wife, mother, and devoted Kriyavan. Her spiritual life deepened in 2005 through a profound connection with Sai Baba of Shirdi, and she was initiated into Kriya Yoga in 2012 by Swami Atmavidyanandaji. Her practice has naturally expanded to include Reiki, Vastu, Vedic Astrology, and Ayurveda — each pointing toward the same inner life of awareness, balance, and healing. She serves as a board director of the Kriya Yoga Sadhana Institute of Canada and is the author of The Plant-Based Ayurvedic Solution: A Modern Guide to Healing Your Gut, Balancing Hormones, and Finding Food Peace. 🙏 About the Podcast: Welcome to the Women of Kriya Yoga: Living in Joy Podcast — a gathering place for women walking the spiritual path. Here, we share stories, teachings, and reflections rooted in the timeless practices of Kriya Yoga. These conversations are an offering from the Women's Sangha & Ministry of Kriya Yoga International, inviting you to rest in stillness, awaken your inner light, and connect with a community of women to support one another in living in joy. This podcast is brought to you by the Women's Sangha & Ministry of Kriya Yoga International. Learn more → https://womensministryofkriya.org [https://womensministryofkriya.org/] 🙏 About Kriya Yoga: Kriya Yoga is a powerful meditation practice that awakens constant communion with the Divine through the science of the breath. Handed down from teacher to student in an unbroken lineage of enlightened masters, it transforms body, mind, and heart—helping us be calmly active and actively calm. Today this living tradition welcomes seekers everywhere through the guidance of Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, the principal disciple of the great master Paramahamsa Hariharananda. To learn more about Kriya Yoga, please visit kriya.org [http://kriya.org/] 🔗 Learn more: Women's Sangha & Ministry: womensministryofkriya.org [http://womensministryofkriya.org/] Kriya Yoga International: kriya.org [http://kriya.org/]

10 Jul 2026
Episode 14: Heather Debrecini
In this episode, Marydale Ma speaks with Heather Debrecini about what it means to come home to yourself after years of holding everything together for everyone else. Heather's path wound through search and rescue, law enforcement, and single motherhood before her body began quietly insisting on a different way of living — a season of illness that medicine couldn't fully explain, and that ultimately became her greatest teacher. We explore what she calls "radical selfishness," the surrender that comes from realizing you are both nothing and everything, and the unexpected way Kriya Yoga found her just six minutes from home. This conversation is an invitation to consider that healing may not always look like the absence of struggle, and that divinity may be less about escaping our daily lives than about learning, moment by moment, to sanctify them. ✨ Full show notes and transcripts are available at: womensministryofkriya.org/episode-14 [http://womensministryofkriya.org/episode-14] ✨ About Our Guest: Heather Debreceni is a spiritual mentor, author, retreat facilitator, ordained reverend, shamanic practitioner, and devoted Kriyavan. Before entering spiritual mentorship, she served as a Deputy Sheriff in Florida and later owned a divorce coaching practice supporting mothers through high-conflict divorce. After developing multiple chronic illnesses and reaching a point where conventional medicine offered few answers, Heather began searching for a deeper path to healing. That search led her to Kriya Yoga International, where she was initiated in Monroe, Washington, in August 2024. She credits Kriya Yoga with profoundly transforming her physical, emotional, and spiritual life. 🙏 About the Podcast: Welcome to the Women of Kriya Yoga: Living in Joy Podcast — a gathering place for women walking the spiritual path. Here, we share stories, teachings, and reflections rooted in the timeless practices of Kriya Yoga. These conversations are an offering from the Women's Sangha & Ministry of Kriya Yoga International, inviting you to rest in stillness, awaken your inner light, and connect with a community of women to support one another in living in joy. This podcast is brought to you by the Women's Sangha & Ministry of Kriya Yoga International. Learn more → https://womensministryofkriya.org [https://womensministryofkriya.org/] 🙏 About Kriya Yoga: Kriya Yoga is a powerful meditation practice that awakens constant communion with the Divine through the science of the breath. Handed down from teacher to student in an unbroken lineage of enlightened masters, it transforms body, mind, and heart—helping us be calmly active and actively calm. Today this living tradition welcomes seekers everywhere through the guidance of Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, the principal disciple of the great master Paramahamsa Hariharananda. To learn more about Kriya Yoga, please visit kriya.org [http://kriya.org/] 🔗 Learn more: Women's Sangha & Ministry: womensministryofkriya.org [http://womensministryofkriya.org/] Kriya Yoga International: kriya.org [http://kriya.org/]

26 Jun 2026
Episode 13: Yogacharya Devjani Mohanty
In this episode, Marydale Ma speaks with Yogacharya Devjani Mohanty, whose life reflects the quiet truth that the sincere seeker is always being guided. Born in Puri, Odisha, and raised in a devotional family, Devjani Ma carried an inner longing through years of life across England, Japan, and Australia — until, in April 2000, she met her beloved Guruji at a satsang and recognized that her search had reached its goal. She shares the grace-filled story of her initiation into Kriya Yoga, the way her practice became an anchor through profound loss, and her journey into guiding meditation and initiating seekers herself. It is a tender conversation about devotion, surrender, and the living presence of the Guru. ✨ Full show notes and transcripts are available at: womensministryofkriya.org/episode-13 [http://womensministryofkriya.org/episode-13] ✨ About Our Guest: Yogacharya Devjani Mohanty is based in Sydney, Australia. Born in Puri, Odisha, she nurtured a deep longing for spiritual growth throughout her life and career, exploring many paths until April 2000, when she met her beloved Guruji during a Satsang and knew her search had reached its goal. She and her husband Arvind were soon initiated into Kriya Yoga, with their sons following. With the blessings of the lineage, Devjani Ma began guiding meditation in 2023 and initiating seekers in 2025, offering her service with deep devotion to Guruji and the teachings. 🙏 About the Podcast: Welcome to the Women of Kriya Yoga: Living in Joy Podcast — a gathering place for women walking the spiritual path. Here, we share stories, teachings, and reflections rooted in the timeless practices of Kriya Yoga. These conversations are an offering from the Women's Sangha & Ministry of Kriya Yoga International, inviting you to rest in stillness, awaken your inner light, and connect with a community of women to support one another in living in joy. This podcast is brought to you by the Women's Sangha & Ministry of Kriya Yoga International. Learn more → https://womensministryofkriya.org [https://womensministryofkriya.org/] 🙏 About Kriya Yoga: Kriya Yoga is a powerful meditation practice that awakens constant communion with the Divine through the science of the breath. Handed down from teacher to student in an unbroken lineage of enlightened masters, it transforms body, mind, and heart—helping us be calmly active and actively calm. Today this living tradition welcomes seekers everywhere through the guidance of Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, the principal disciple of the great master Paramahamsa Hariharananda. To learn more about Kriya Yoga, please visit kriya.org [http://kriya.org/] 🔗 Learn more: Women's Sangha & Ministry: womensministryofkriya.org [http://womensministryofkriya.org/] Kriya Yoga International: kriya.org [http://kriya.org/]

12 Jun 2026
Episode 12: Dr. Nandini Bhowmik
In this episode, Marydale Ma speaks with Dr. Nandini Bhowmik — Indologist, Sanskrit scholar, stage actor, author, and founder of Shubhamastu, a charitable trust led by women priests devoted to creating a more compassionate and equitable society. Born in Kolkata into a family deeply rooted in Kriya Yoga, Nandini Ma shares how her grandmother's early guidance, her father's journey into monkhood, and her own lifelong love of Sanskrit shaped a path of scholarship, service, and courageous reform. From pioneering women's priesthood in India to challenging caste and gender discrimination through sacred ritual, her story is one of devotion in action — and of a life in which, as she says, every act of honest work becomes worship. ✨ Full show notes and transcripts are available at: womensministryofkriya.org/episode-12 [http://womensministryofkriya.org/episode-12] ✨ About Our Guest: Dr. Nandini Bhowmik is an Indologist, Sanskrit scholar, and Associate Professor who has dedicated her life to both the study and the living of dharma. Born in Kolkata, India, Dr. Bhowmik is the founder of Shubhamastu and a pioneering priest whose unique approach to priesthood has grown into a genuine social reform movement — breaking down barriers of discrimination and expanding access to sacred ritual in ways that have earned her recognition across television, radio, academic institutions, and beyond. She is the author of four books, a contributor to numerous research journals, and a 25-year veteran of the stage as a theatre actor. Her life and ideology inspired the Bengali film Brohma Janen Gopon Kommoti, and she has been honored with awards including the prestigious Sera Bangali by ABP Ananda. We are so glad to welcome her to the Women of Kriya Yoga podcast. 🙏 About the Podcast: Welcome to the Women of Kriya Yoga: Living in Joy Podcast — a gathering place for women walking the spiritual path. Here, we share stories, teachings, and reflections rooted in the timeless practices of Kriya Yoga. These conversations are an offering from the Women's Sangha & Ministry of Kriya Yoga International, inviting you to rest in stillness, awaken your inner light, and connect with a community of women to support one another in living in joy. This podcast is brought to you by the Women's Sangha & Ministry of Kriya Yoga International. Learn more → https://womensministryofkriya.org [https://womensministryofkriya.org/] 🙏 About Kriya Yoga: Kriya Yoga is a powerful meditation practice that awakens constant communion with the Divine through the science of the breath. Handed down from teacher to student in an unbroken lineage of enlightened masters, it transforms body, mind, and heart—helping us be calmly active and actively calm. Today this living tradition welcomes seekers everywhere through the guidance of Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, the principal disciple of the great master Paramahamsa Hariharananda. To learn more about Kriya Yoga, please visit kriya.org [http://kriya.org/] 🔗 Learn more: Women's Sangha & Ministry: womensministryofkriya.org [http://womensministryofkriya.org/] Kriya Yoga International: kriya.org [http://kriya.org/]

29 May 2026
Episode 11: Yogacharya Nisha Pandey
In this episode, Marydale Ma speaks with Yogacharya Nisha Pandey about a lifetime of devotion shaped by the living presence of Paramahamsa Hariharananda. Born in Amritsar into a family steeped in prayer and pilgrimage, Nisha Ma shares the story of her first journey to Jagannath Puri as a young woman of 17, the extraordinary moment of her initiation, and the nearly 25 years she spent in close association with Gurudev — accompanying him on travels, receiving his personal guidance, and ultimately being entrusted with the orange scarf that would mark her as a Yogacharya. She speaks with deep tenderness about Gurudev's motherly love, his humor, his punctuality, and the way his presence made an ordinary house feel like a temple. She also reflects on her encounters with Mother Teresa, her discovery of Kriya techniques inscribed on the walls of the Potala Palace in Tibet, and how she continues to integrate her practice into the fullness of daily life. A quietly profound conversation about the guru-disciple relationship as living fire — one that does not end when the master leaves the body. ✨ Full show notes and transcripts are available at: womensministryofkriya.org/episode-11 [http://womensministryofkriya.org/episode-11] ✨ About Our Guest: Yogacharya Nisha Pandey was born in Amritsar, India and has been a seeker of truth from childhood. Her quest for spirituality brought her to Kriya Yoga in 1978, when she was initiated by Shri Gurudev Paramahamsa Hariharanandaji in Puri. She remained in close association with him, practicing under his guidance and unceasing love until 2002. Nisha Ma immigrated to Canada in 1998, and in 2017 became a Yogacharya under the guidance of Shri Guruji Paramahamsa Prajnananandaji. She has been teaching and initiating since 2018, and today serves the community in Vancouver with heartfelt dedication and love. 🙏 About the Podcast: Welcome to the Women of Kriya Yoga: Living in Joy Podcast — a gathering place for women walking the spiritual path. Here, we share stories, teachings, and reflections rooted in the timeless practices of Kriya Yoga. These conversations are an offering from the Women's Sangha & Ministry of Kriya Yoga International, inviting you to rest in stillness, awaken your inner light, and connect with a community of women to support one another in living in joy. This podcast is brought to you by the Women's Sangha & Ministry of Kriya Yoga International. Learn more → https://womensministryofkriya.org [https://womensministryofkriya.org/] 🙏 About Kriya Yoga: Kriya Yoga is a powerful meditation practice that awakens constant communion with the Divine through the science of the breath. Handed down from teacher to student in an unbroken lineage of enlightened masters, it transforms body, mind, and heart—helping us be calmly active and actively calm. Today this living tradition welcomes seekers everywhere through the guidance of Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, the principal disciple of the great master Paramahamsa Hariharananda. To learn more about Kriya Yoga, please visit kriya.org [http://kriya.org/] 🔗 Learn more: Women's Sangha & Ministry: womensministryofkriya.org [http://womensministryofkriya.org/] Kriya Yoga International: kriya.org [http://kriya.org/]

15 May 2026
Episode 10 - Dr Sruti Mohapatra
In this episode, Marydale Ma speaks with Dr. Sruti Mohapatra about the grace that quietly shapes a life — from the spiritual richness of her childhood, through the life-changing turning point of a spinal cord injury, to her initiation into Kriya Yoga and the miraculous ways Guruji showed up in her most difficult moments. Sruti Ma reflects on surrender, humility, and the simple but transforming principle of giving back — and what it means to discover that we are never, in any moment, truly alone. ✨ Full show notes and transcripts are available at: womensministryofkriya.org/episode-10 [http://womensministryofkriya.org/episode-10] ✨ About Our Guest: Dr. Sruti Mohapatra is a nationally and internationally acclaimed disability rights and inclusion expert — an author, scholar, and grassroots changemaker whose work has transformed lives at the community level. Once a dynamic young woman with a bright future—an outstanding student, a gold medallist, a state-level basketball player, and a national debating champion—she had just qualified for the Indian Civil Services and was engaged to be married. But at the age of 23, a tragic road accident forever changed the course of her life. Left wheelchair-bound, she found herself battling not just physical limitations but also social exclusion, bureaucratic apathy, and the insensitivity of those around her. But rather than succumb to despair, she confronted her trauma with remarkable bravery. What followed was not withdrawal, but a lifelong commitment to converting personal adversity into collective empowerment. As the founder of Swabhiman, a pioneering nonprofit, she has spent over three decades working to make inclusion real and reachable — shaping India's disability rights framework, influencing policy across the country, and enabling thousands of children with disabilities to access education, dignity, and opportunity. A five-time TEDx speaker and recipient of over 79 national and international awards, including the Nari Shakti Purashkar from the President of India, she continues to travel, write, and speak globally. Her motto: To enjoy life, give joy to others. 🙏 About the Podcast: Welcome to the Women of Kriya Yoga: Living in Joy Podcast — a gathering place for women walking the spiritual path. Here, we share stories, teachings, and reflections rooted in the timeless practices of Kriya Yoga. These conversations are an offering from the Women's Sangha & Ministry of Kriya Yoga International, inviting you to rest in stillness, awaken your inner light, and connect with a community of women to support one another in living in joy. This podcast is brought to you by the Women's Sangha & Ministry of Kriya Yoga International. Learn more → https://womensministryofkriya.org [https://womensministryofkriya.org/]

1 May 2026
Episode 09 - Vineetha Menon
In this episode, Marydale Ma speaks with Vineetha Menon about a life woven together by devotion, sacred music, and the grace of the Guru. Born into a deeply spiritual family, Vineetha shares how her childhood encounters with great saints planted seeds that never left her — seeds that carried her through a high-powered corporate career, motherhood, and ultimately to Kriya Yoga initiation by Guruji himself in 2004. She speaks with warmth and candor about holding a spiritual life alongside the demands of modern living, the making of her devotional album Rasa — a telling of the Krishna Rasa Lila through the sacred songs of the saints — and the three qualities she returns to again and again: truth, gratitude, and love. A beautiful conversation about finding the divine thread running through every chapter of a life fully lived. ✨ About Our Guest: Vineetha Menon was born in the UK and spent her childhood years in India, where wandering sadhus and enlightened saints would visit her grandfather's home. Through a child's heart, she experienced their devotion — heard them sing, and listened as they spoke of God. At fourteen, she read the Autobiography of a Yogi, and though it would be some years before the blessing of Kriya came to her, the longing was planted early. She was initiated by Guruji in 2004, and in late 2024 was asked to take over the Kriya center in North County San Diego, where she now serves as Center Leader. In her outer life, Vineetha Ma spent twenty years in the UK financial services industry before making her home in Oceanside, California, where she owns a yoga studio and is a mother to two teenage boys. She recently released RASA — a collection of rare sacred songs from the saints of her childhood, preserving them for posterity — an album that found its way to the Grammy ballot. ✨ Full show notes and transcripts are available at: womensministryofkriya.org/episode-9 [http://womensministryofkriya.org/episode-9] This podcast is brought to you by the Women's Sangha & Ministry of Kriya Yoga International. You can learn more at our website, womensministryofkriya.org [https://womensministryofkriya.org/]. Kriya Yoga is a powerful meditation practice that awakens constant communion with the Divine through the science of the breath. Handed down from teacher to student in an unbroken lineage of enlightened masters, it transforms body, mind, and heart—helping us be calmly active and actively calm. Today this living tradition welcomes seekers everywhere through the guidance of Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, the principal disciple of the great master Paramahamsa Hariharananda. To learn more about Kriya Yoga, please visit kriya.org [http://kriya.org/].

21 Dec 2025
Episode 08 - Srimathi Kannan
In this episode, Marydale Ma speaks with Srimathi Kannan about her spiritual journey—from a childhood immersed in music, faith, and Hindu tradition in South India to a life devoted to Kriya Yoga, seva, and devotional art. Srimathi shares how family, education, service, and initiation into Kriya shaped her path, as well as her experience translating the teachings of the lineage into Tamil. This conversation reflects on surrender, faith, discipline, and the quiet ways devotion unfolds through daily life. ✨ Full show notes and transcripts are available at: womensministryofkriya.org/episode-8 [http://womensministryofkriya.org/episode-8] ✨ About Our Guest: Srimathi Kannan was born into a traditional Tamil family in South India and raised with a rich foundation in culture, music, and spirituality. With degrees in business, accounting, and marketing research, she built a diverse professional career before her lifelong pull toward Kriya Yoga came to the forefront. Initiated at age 30, Srimathi has since served the global Kriya community through study groups, transcriptions, and center development in Kuwait, Muscat, Calgary, Edmonton, and Lethbridge. She now supports Mountain Region coordination and is a founding board member of the Kriya Sadhana Institute of Canada. A classical Bharatanatyam dancer, Carnatic vocalist, and veena player, she brings devotion and discipline to everything she does. She remains deeply dedicated to translating Guruji's books into Tamil and credits all her service to the grace of God, the Masters, and beloved Guruji. This podcast is brought to you by the Women's Ministry of Kriya Yoga International. You can learn more about the ministry at our website, womensministryofkriya.org [https://womensministryofkriya.org/]. Kriya Yoga is a powerful meditation practice that awakens constant communion with the Divine through the science of the breath. Handed down from teacher to student in an unbroken lineage of enlightened masters, it transforms body, mind, and heart—helping us be calmly active and actively calm. Today this living tradition welcomes seekers everywhere through the guidance of Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, the principal disciple of the great master Paramahamsa Hariharananda. To learn more about Kriya Yoga, please visit kriya.org [http://kriya.org/].

7 Dec 2025
Episode 7 - Swami Sankalpananda Giri
In this deeply heartfelt episode, we sit in sacred conversation with Swami Sankalpananda, reflecting on her journey from a quiet childhood in Hungary to a life devoted to God, Guru, and selfless service. Swamiji shares tender memories of her early spiritual stirrings, the teachers and texts that guided her, her first encounters with Kriya Yoga and the ashram life, and the profound surrender that led her to monastic vows. Woven throughout is a gentle teaching on balance—between meditation and seva, creativity and discipline, inner joy and outer service—offering listeners inspiration, reassurance, and a living example of walking one's dharmic path with determination, humility, and love. ✨ Full show notes and transcripts are available at: womensministryofkriya.org/episode-7 [http://womensministryofkriya.org/episode-7] ✨ About Our Guest: Swami Sankalpananda Giri was born in Hungary. A spiritual seeker from a young age, she eventually found the path of Kriya Yoga and was initiated in April 2004 in Hungary. Soon after, in June 2004, she met her Master, Shri Guruji Paramahamsa Prajnananandaji, at the Tattendorf Ashram in Austria. Guided by her sincere aspiration for monastic life, she joined the Tattendorf Ashram in February 2005 and later participated in the 3rd Brahmachari Training Course from December 2005 until May 2006 in Balighai, India. Afterwards, she continued to reside at the Tattendorf Ashram, deepening her sadhana while engaging in seva. In 2016, she was ordained as a monk in the Giri monastic order by her Master, who gave her the name Sankalpananda, meaning "the bliss of strong determination." 🙏 About the Podcast: Welcome to the Women of Kriya Yoga: Living in Joy Podcast — a gathering place for women walking the spiritual path. Here, we share stories, teachings, and reflections rooted in the timeless practices of Kriya Yoga. These conversations are an offering from the Women's Ministry of Kriya Yoga International, inviting you to rest in stillness, awaken your inner light, and connect with a community of women to support one another in living in joy. This podcast is brought to you by the Women's Ministry of Kriya Yoga International. You can learn more about the ministry at our website, https://womensministryofkriya.org [https://womensministryofkriya.org/]. 🙏 About Kriya Yoga: Kriya Yoga is a powerful meditation practice that awakens constant communion with the Divine through the science of the breath. Handed down from teacher to student in an unbroken lineage of enlightened masters, it transforms body, mind, and heart—helping us be calmly active and actively calm. Today this living tradition welcomes seekers everywhere through the guidance of Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, the principal disciple of the great master Paramahamsa Hariharananda. To learn more about Kriya Yoga, please visit kriya.org [http://kriya.org/]. 🔗 Learn more: Women's Ministry: womensministryofkriya.org [http://womensministryofkriya.org/] Kriya Yoga International: kriya.org [http://kriya.org/]

23 Nov 2025
Episode 6 - Rosa Harper
In this heartfelt conversation, Marydale Ma welcomes Rosa Harper, Ayurvedic practitioner, bodyworker, and devoted Kriyavan, whose path has woven together service, healing, and devotion. From rescuing insects as a child to supporting survivors of domestic violence and discovering Ayurveda under the guidance of her Gurus, Rosa shares how listening—deep, compassionate listening—has been her greatest teacher. Together they explore the power of Kriya Yoga, the mystery of healing, and the tender strength of the Divine Mother guiding each step of the journey. ✨ Full show notes and transcripts are available at: womensministryofkriya.org/episode-6/ [http://womensministryofkriya.org/episode-6/] ✨ About Our Guest: Rosa Harper is an Ayurvedic Practitioner and licensed massage therapist living and working in Asheville, NC. Before diving into the health and wellness field, she worked with survivors of domestic violence in Austin Texas for nine years. In 2012, while living in Austin, Rosa was initiated into Kriya Yoga. She is honored to serve as a board member for the Pranada Wellness Center at the Temple of Compassion, and also hosts a local Kriya group in Asheville, NC. This podcast is brought to you by the Women's Ministry of Kriya Yoga International. You can learn more about the ministry at our website, womensministryofkriya.org [https://womensministryofkriya.org/]. Kriya Yoga is a powerful meditation practice that awakens constant communion with the Divine through the science of the breath. Handed down from teacher to student in an unbroken lineage of enlightened masters, it transforms body, mind, and heart—helping us be calmly active and actively calm. Today this living tradition welcomes seekers everywhere through the guidance of Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, the principal disciple of the great master Paramahamsa Hariharananda. To learn more about Kriya Yoga, please visit kriya.org [http://kriya.org/].

9 Nov 2025
Episode 5 - Diane Spence
In this uplifting episode of Women of Kriya Yoga: Living in Joy, host Marydale Ma welcomes longtime Kriyavan and spiritual leader Diane Spence for a heartfelt conversation about faith, service, and transformation. From her early life across Jamaica, Canada, and the United States to her remarkable career in media and higher education, Diane shares how the living presence of her gurus reshaped her path and deepened her understanding of joy, peace, and purpose. Through stories of divine timing, service, and surrender, she reminds us that Kriya Yoga is not just a practice—it's a way of living in harmony with the Divine in every moment. ✨ Full show notes and transcripts are available at: womensministryofkriya.org/episode-5/ [https://womensministryofkriya.org/episode-5/] ✨ About Our Guest: Diane Spence lays claim to several cultural influences. While born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, she grew up in Ontario, Canada after her family immigrated there. After high school, she completed a couple of bachelor's degrees including a degree in broadcast journalism. After 10 years in the film and television industry, which included a move to New York City, she decided to pursue graduate studies in Virginia. She went on to complete her MBA and a PhD in Public Policy. She spent the remainder of her career as an Executive Director and Chief Business Officer at a research university. It was during her time in New York that she was introduced to Kriya Yoga by a friend. She took 1st Kriya initiation in 2001 and has been a practicing kriyavan since then. While in Virginia, she helped set up the Falls Church Kriya Center. She now resides in Florida and continues to seek opportunities to serve. 🙏 About the Podcast: Welcome to the Women of Kriya Yoga: Living in Joy Podcast — a gathering place for women walking the spiritual path. Here, we share stories, teachings, and reflections rooted in the timeless practices of Kriya Yoga. These conversations are an offering from the Women's Ministry of Kriya Yoga International, inviting you to rest in stillness, awaken your inner light, and connect with a community of women to support one another in living in joy. This podcast is brought to you by the Women's Ministry of Kriya Yoga International. You can learn more about the ministry at our website, womensministryofkriya.org [http://womensministryofkriya.org/]. 🙏 About Kriya Yoga: Kriya Yoga is a powerful meditation practice that awakens constant communion with the Divine through the science of the breath. Handed down from teacher to student in an unbroken lineage of enlightened masters, it transforms body, mind, and heart—helping us be calmly active and actively calm. Today this living tradition welcomes seekers everywhere through the guidance of Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, the principal disciple of the great master Paramahamsa Hariharananda. To learn more about Kriya Yoga, please visit kriya.org [http://kriya.org/].

26 Oct 2025
Episode 4: Dr. Elizabeth Harris
In this episode, host Marydale Ma welcomes Dr. Elizabeth Harris—psychologist, advocate, and devoted Kriyavan—for an inspiring conversation on healing, service, and spiritual awakening. From her early connection with nature and social justice to her profound experiences with Divine Mother and the teachings of Kriya Yoga, Elizabeth shares how her journey through adversity, illness, and transformation has deepened her faith and sense of joy. Together, they explore what it means to live with presence, compassion, and balance in everyday life—and how the practice of Kriya Yoga continues to guide and sustain that journey. ✨ Full show notes and transcripts are available at: womensministryatkriya.org/episode-4 [http://womensministryatkriya.org/episode-4] ✨ About Our Guest: Dr. Elizabeth Harris is a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Trylon Associates with over 25 years of experience leading national studies and community health projects. Beyond her work in trauma recovery and evaluation with organizations from the United Nations to the Nez Perce Tribe, she is also a dedicated community activist creating access to nature for underserved youth. Elizabeth was initiated into Kriya Yoga in Calgary by Yogacharya Nisha Pandey, an experience deeply meaningful to her as she had wished to be initiated by a woman. This podcast is brought to you by the Women's Ministry of Kriya Yoga International. You can learn more about the ministry at our website, womensministryofkriya.org [https://womensministryofkriya.org/]. Kriya Yoga is a powerful meditation practice that awakens constant communion with the Divine through the science of the breath. Handed down from teacher to student in an unbroken lineage of enlightened masters, it transforms body, mind, and heart—helping us be calmly active and actively calm. Today this living tradition welcomes seekers everywhere through the guidance of Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, the principal disciple of the great master Paramahamsa Hariharananda. To learn more about Kriya Yoga, please visit kriya.org [http://kriya.org/].

12 Oct 2025
Episode 3 - Yogacharya Lucy Ma
In this episode, Yogacharya Lucy O'Brien reflects on her path from Lutheran roots to discovering Kriya Yoga, meeting Gurudev Hariharananda, and embracing daily practice. She offers guidance for seekers on finding joy and living spiritual values every day. ✨ Full show notes and transcripts are available at: womensministryofkriya.org/episode-3 [http://womensministryofkriya.org/episode-3] About Our Guest: Yogacharya Lucy O'Brien met Shri Gurudev Paramahamsa Hariharananda-ji in her home community of Santa Barbara, CA in 1986. The blessing of initiation and that relationship transformed her life. She served Kriya Yoga International as a Center Leader and West Coast Regional Coordinator before accepting a role as Yogacharya. As a lifelong learner, she turned her attention to Eastern teachings after reading the Autobiography of a Yogi at a young age and considers herself under the flag of Paramahamsa Yogananda ever since. She worked as a bookkeeper, serving in the nonprofit community until her retirement. She has a very active retirement sharing her passion for the benefits of developing a personal meditation practice. Other activities include studying scripture, cooking, gardening, and spending time wrangling her two young grandsons. This podcast is brought to you by the Women's Ministry of Kriya Yoga International. You can learn more about the ministry at our website, womensministryofkriya.org [http://womensministryofkriya.org/]. Kriya Yoga is a powerful meditation practice that awakens constant communion with the Divine through the science of the breath. Handed down from teacher to student in an unbroken lineage of enlightened masters, it transforms body, mind, and heart—helping us be calmly active and actively calm. Today this living tradition welcomes seekers everywhere through the guidance of Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, the principal disciple of the great master Paramahamsa Hariharananda. To learn more about Kriya Yoga, please visit kriya.org [http://kriya.org/].

25 Sept 2025
Episode 2 - Swami Atmatattwananda Giri
In this episode, we welcome Swami Atmatattwananda Giri, a newly ordained monastic, to share her path from early devotion to Kriya initiation and the call to the monastic path. She reflects on practice, surrender, and living a steady, joyful life guided by Gurudev and Guruji. ✨ Full show notes and transcripts are available at: womensministryofkriya.org/episode-2 [http://womensministryatkriya.org/episode-2] About Our Guest: Swami Atmatattwananda Giri is one of our beloved Kriya Yoga monks located in Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal in India. With her vast experience as a CEO of a management consultancy firm, advising top organizations, and training thousands of professionals, she now continues her life's work as a monk, bringing profound wisdom and authority to the spiritual path. This podcast is brought to you by the Women's Ministry of Kriya Yoga International. You can learn more about the ministry at our website, womensministryatkriya.org [http://womensministryatkriya.org/]. Kriya Yoga is a powerful meditation practice that awakens constant communion with the Divine through the science of the breath. Handed down from teacher to student in an unbroken lineage of enlightened masters, it transforms body, mind, and heart—helping us be calmly active and actively calm. Today this living tradition welcomes seekers everywhere through the guidance of Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, the principal disciple of the great master Paramahamsa Hariharananda. To learn more about Kriya Yoga, please visit kriya.org [http://kriya.org/].

23 Sept 2025
Episode 1: Yogacharya Durga Ma
In this first episode, our host, Marydale Ma, welcomes Yogacharya Durga Chanduri to share her journey of devotion, initiation by Gurudev, and steady Kriya practice. Together they reflect on how the Masters' guidance helps us live in joy and quicken spiritual growth. ✨ Full show notes and transcripts are available at: womensministryofkriya.org/episode-1 [https://womensministryatkriya.org/episode-1/] This podcast is brought to you by the Women's Ministry of Kriya Yoga International. You can learn more about the ministry at our website, womensministryatkriya.org [http://womensministryatkriya.org/]. Kriya Yoga is a powerful meditation practice that awakens constant communion with the Divine through the science of the breath. Handed down from teacher to student in an unbroken lineage of enlightened masters, it transforms body, mind, and heart—helping us be calmly active and actively calm. Today this living tradition welcomes seekers everywhere through the guidance of Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, the principal disciple of the great master Paramahamsa Hariharananda. To learn more about Kriya Yoga, please visit kriya.org [http://kriya.org/].
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