Under the loving guidance of His Holiness Sri Swami Satchidananda, Hersha has chosen to follow the path of yoga, and has been affiliated with Integral Yoga since childhood. Sri Gurudev has been a profound influence in Hersha's life.
She spent many summers at Sri Gurudev's ashram throughout her teenage years, studying yoga and participating in the programmes designed for youngsters.
Sri Gurudev was instrumental in encouraging Hersha to follow a life of service.
Hersha has been practicing yoga since she was a child. Her first
instructor was her father, Mohan Harilela, also a certified Integral
Yoga instructor. In 2002, Hersha became a certified Integral Yoga
teacher, following Swami Satchidananda's lineage and her father's
legacy.
She has completed a number of Integral Yoga teacher training programs:
Basic Hatha (2002) with Satya Greenstone and Swami Karunananda
Intermediate Hatha (2003) with Swami Asokananda, Madhuri Flynn, Mataji Gurucharananda, and Swami Divyananda
Raja Yoga (2004) with Nalanie Chellaram and Satya and Sadashiva Greenstone
Prenatal Yoga (2008) with Shawn McSweeney
Hersha has also traveled through the South of India studying yoga. She lived at the Integral Yoga Centre in Coimbatore working as a teacher and program director for the Basic Hatha Teachers Training program (2004).
She also studied with Bodhinatha Velanswami (successor to Sri Swami Sivaya Subramaniam) at the Himalayan Academy's Innersearch Program India (2004), which focused on the ethical practices of Yoga (Yamas and Niyamas).
She has also completed courses on The Principles and Practices of Ayurveda, with Dr. Robert Svoboda of The Ayurvedic Institute and Caridac Yoga – a yoga-based rehabilitation program for heart disease sufferers – with Dr. Mala Cunningham (2007).
She is qualified to teach Hatha Yoga for regular and special needs students, breathing exercises, deep relaxation, meditation and the philosophy and science of the mind. She has taught a range of students from children to seniors. She believes that the only requirement to practice yoga is to be able to breathe. Her goal is to help all her students have an easeful body, a peaceful mind and a useful life.
In addition to yoga, Hersha is a free-lance writer on yoga and health. She also offers a training and development program called Corporate Karma designed for business owners and executives wishing to bring purpose and balance back to business practice.
She supports a number of charities around the world and holds positions with:
AKIN Charity as Fundraising and Publicity Coordinator in Spain & Gibraltar
ASHIANA Charitable Organisation as Treasurer and Secretary, Marbella Spain
Breathe Deeply; Live Happily; Serve Readily; Love Unconditionally
