Yoga Therapy Initiative Members
Initiative Chair
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Bija Bennett
Author, President, BijaB, Yoga Therapist, United States
Bija Bennett is an internationally respected author, speaker and business leader whose practice focuses on the tenets of mind-body health. Her innovative teachings are derived from ancient yoga traditions as a form of preventive and integrative medicine that fosters healing. She has developed pioneering programs for Fortune 500 companies and written four influential books on health, healing and personal growth. Under her holistic wellness brand, YogaAway LLC, she has provided programs, products and consulting services to major hospitality brands worldwide. Currently, she is partnering with global corporations on a project that merges healthcare, hospitality and wellness for a major medical center.
Vice Chair
Leah Nduati
CEO, Yoga Experiences Africa
Members
Gary Kraftsow
Director and Senior Teacher, American Viniyoga Institute (AVI®); United States
Gary Kraftsow has been a pioneer in the transmission of yoga for health, healing and personal transformation for over 40 years. He began his study of yoga in India with T.K.V. Desikachar in 1974. He is the Director and Senior Teacher of the American Viniyoga Institute (AVI®), the author of two books published by Penguin: Yoga for Wellness and Yoga for Transformation, and author of four educational DVD’s: Viniyoga Therapy for Low Back, Sacrum and Hips; and Viniyoga Therapy for Upper Back, Neck and Shoulders; Viniyoga Therapy for Depression; and Viniyoga Therapy for Anxiety. He has also produced several online workshops: Pranayama Unlocked, Meditation Unlocked, Yoga Therapy for Depression, Yoga Therapy for Better Sleep, Yoga Therapy for Anxiety, and Āsana Unlocked.
Stephen Marks
Yoga Teacher, Attorney, United Kingdom
Stephen Marks is an internationally known yoga teacher, attorney, and entrepreneur who has been practicing yoga for over 20 years and has taught all over the world. His credentials as a teacher include his teacher training with the Shamanic school of yoga in the rainforests of Costa Rica and his qualification in Yoga Nidra. He has worked with Google, BDO, Knight Frank and international law and accountancy firms as well as the UK government. He is a regular speaker at conferences on sleep, welltech and healthy buildings and writes often for the wellness press. Stephen has also worked with hotels including Lanserhof and the Ace hotel and has recently devised sleep programs for the Palm Retreat Hotel in Dubai.
Dawn Miller
Yoga Therapist, Medical Anthropologist, Whole Health Advocate United States
Dawn Miller is a visionary, entrepreneur, and committed to global health transformation. She is owner and founder of North Coast Wellness, LLC providing evidence-based integrative therapies in partnership with Western medical providers to support whole-person health. Prior to founding her wellness center, Dawn was an integrative health leader and care provider for nearly eight years at one of the nation’s leading healthcare systems. With more than 15 years of social science and behavioral research experience, she has co-authored numerous papers and presentations on integrative health, yoga therapy, obesity, and mental wellness. Dawn has also developed and delivered a multitude of innovative wellness programs for medical, academic, and corporate organizations.
Dr. Ganesh Mohan
Advisor, International Association of Yoga Therapists; Australian Association of Yoga Therapists, SE Asia/Singapore
Dr. Ganesh Mohan is the son of A. G. Mohan and Indra Mohan, practicing yoga from childhood, and one of the closest links to the legendary yogi Krishnamacharya’s teaching in the world now. Dr. Mohan is trained in both modern medicine and Ayurveda. His work focuses on the application of self-care for health and well-being in chronic health conditions and lifestyle diseases. Dr. Mohan is the developer of the Svastha Yoga Therapy Program running in numerous locations in the US, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong etc. with hundreds of yoga teachers enrolled. Dr. Mohan also guides yoga teacher training programs in multiple locations. He is an advisor to the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) in the US, and the Australian Association of Yoga Therapists (AAYT). He is the co-author of several books such as Yoga Therapy, Krishnamacharya: His Life and Teachings, Yoga Reminder: Lightened Reflections, and co-translator of the ancient Sanskrit text, Yoga Yajnavalkya.
Felicia Tomasko
President, Bliss Network LLC, United States
Felicia Tomasko combines decades of study in the traditional philosophies of Yoga, Yoga Therapy and Ayurveda with experience in modern Western biomedicine as a registered nurse. As an entrepreneur, she is the president of Bliss Network, LLC, a boutique independent media company who publishes LA YOGA Magazine with a home base in Los Angeles. Felicia is on faculty at Loyola Marymount University in the Yoga Therapy RX and Yoga Studies programs. Her interest in the modern-day application of these stress-relieving and resilience techniques has taken her throughout the world and her passion for integrating ethical business practices with cutting-edge scientific wellness informs her work.
Kathy Williams
Author, Transformative Coach & Creator of Radical Abundance
Kathy Williams is a yoga therapist, best-selling author, consciousness coach, and teacher who supports women to embody their most authentic selves – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Through online classes, retreats, and private mentoring, she provides women around the world with practical tools and practices to get in touch with and express their deepest authenticity. From that place their lives and relationships blossom effortlessly. Kathy has been facilitating classes for women to connect with their bodies and their innate wisdom for almost 25 years. With a background in yoga, Hawaiian Shamanism, energy medicine and the healing arts, she is gifted in guiding experiences that nurture transformation in mind, body, and spirit.
![Christina Yap](/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/CYrev-1.jpg?format=1000w)
Christina Yap
SWITZERLAND
Christina Yap
Diversity, Inclusion & Wellbeing Leader, Switzerland
Christina Yap is an innovative, award-winning corporate leader with a multicultural and diverse background. She helps leaders to leverage the power of difference to build more agile, engaged and inclusive communities. She has worked with some of the world’s largest organisations to design and implement diversity, inclusion and wellbeing programs. Christina is an inspirational speaker and spoke at The International Film & Peace Festival 2020. Her works have been published by Forbes and PwC. She writes for Thrive Global and the United Nations.