Nafeeah Kim is the founding director of Shiva Sai Mandir and Shiva Sai Mandir’s Center for Vedic and Yogic Studies. Nafeeah has been studying and teaching Vedic science for over 40 years. She has personally instructed over 3,000 people in meditation.
As a pioneer of Ayurved for this region, she established Denver’s first Panchakarma clinic in the early eighties. She is trained as an Ayurvedic Doula and woman’s health facilitator.
As a Vedic artist, she creates sacred art that is collected internationally and offers art programs to students of all ages.
She offers regular classes, pujas and initiations.
Channing Johnson was raised in a family of meditation teachers. He attended his first meditation retreat at age three and began his personal meditation practice at age four. He has years of yogic study and practice in India.
By age nineteen, he was teaching advanced principles of meditation to professional adults. Channing has been teaching locally and regionally offering workshops and seminars for 14 years. Channing is the co-director of Shiva Sai Mandir.
Ariel Smith has studied many spiritual paths, searching for her home. In 2007 she found an instant and deep connection with Swami Kaleshwar’s teachings while involved with my Yoga Teacher Training at Samadhi in Denver, Colorado. This was my fourth year studying yoga, and second Yoga Teacher Training, looking for a deeper connection with Spirit. Recently she has been trained in Sai Shakti Healing from Kaleshwar’s teachings and is continually working on her education at Soul University of Yogic and Vedic Studies.
She is a Reiki Master Practitioner, and has a deep and lasting love with the practice. The teaching came to her at a very challenging time in her life, and energetically turned things around, showing Ariel her dharma as a healer. During this time of her life, many readings were done on her behalf, solidifying the healer’s journey. Ariel has also spent many years in the private study of herbalism, working with plants. She has studied their many benefits, used them in healing sessions, and in her personal health, and on a daily basis.
Ariel has specialized in Land Healing, Home Clearing, Blessings, and Personal Energy Readings, along with Energy Healing. Ariel has spent a lifetime as a multi-medium fine artist, and continues creating pieces of artwork connecting with Spirit. She also is a certified Vegan Chef, working with nutrition, regularly making loving meals for Seva at Shiva Sai Mandir.
Derek (Skanda) von Drehle has been a student of Vedic studies and natural health for 10 years. His passion to bring health, peace, and empowerment to the world has led him to study under Buddhist masters, Dagara elders, renowned herbalists, and disciples of Sri Sai Kaleshwar Swami. He received his certification as a teacher of fundamentals of Vedic spiritual systems in 2017 and assists in the facilitation of classes and rituals at Shiva Mandir. He also offers intuitive health consultations, private rituals, and nutritional coaching. He is a baccalaureate student focusing on Biology, Chemistry, and Visual Arts and hopes to continue his education in Wilderness Education and Environmental Diplomacy.
Dr. Henry Herzberger (aka Swami Ganeshananda) is a consulting scholar for Shiva Sai Mandir, and visits yearly to offer workshops, yagyas and private Jyotish consultations. He contributes Jyotish Trends to Shiva Sai Mandir’a website and monthly announcements.
Dr. Herzberger has a Ph.D. in Vedic Psychology. He has been a teacher of meditation for 40 years. Dr. Herzberger has conducted international teacher training courses in meditation and intensive courses in Vedic knowledge. Part of his work has included acoustical analysis of sounds and particular expertise in the areas of Vedic recitation and Vedic Yagya.
His desire is to help individuals to rise to the highest levels possible of happiness, success and spiritual development. Dr. Herzberger’s guidance and inspiration helped to establish Shiva Sai Mandir. Because of this, we consider him Shiva Sai Mandir’s spiritual grandfather.
Yamajit (John C. Mayer BS, MA) was initiated into the path of Kriya Yoga in 2006 at the Chausathi Yogini Temple in Varanasi, India. He is author of Kali Meditation, Books I and II, available on Amazon Kindle. Practices shared during these gatherings will be featured in Book III of the series. Yamajit is also founder and pujari of Chamunda Mandir Temple. You may contact Yamajit with any questions by calling 303-475-5706 or by email at chamundamandir@hotmail.com.
