My Favourite Teachers

Namaste dear friends and sisters,

This month past we celebrated an acknowledgement of our teachers, known in the Vedic calendar as Guru Purnima.

Guru Purnima is a beautiful tradition that's like an energetic heartfelt thank you note to all the teachers and mentors in our lives. It is a day dedicated entirely to showing gratitude to those who illuminate our paths with wisdom and guidance. It falls on the full moon day in the month of Ashadha (usually in July), lighting up the skies and our hearts with appreciation. It's about honouring ALL our teachers - thanking our parents, the hardships and difficulties on our path, academic teachers. It's also about honuoring spiritual guides and anyone who has been a beacon of light in our journey. On Guru Purnima, people often reflect on the lessons learned, express gratitude through messages, gifts, or even simple acts of kindness, making it a deeply meaningful celebration of the guides who help us navigate the complex journey of life.

Today I'd like to share with you some of my favourite teachers. I hope you'll be inspired by them too.

For absolutely EVERYTHING - Sharon Gannon I am so deeply humbled to have met Sharon when I was 18 years-old at the London yoga studio TriYoga where I worked. It was love at first sight and 28 years later she is still, without doubt the person I look up to the most on this planet. I'm so grateful that she blesses my spiritual endevours and work in the world with such devotion.

For GENEROSITY - Elena Brower a teacher who is the very embodiment of grace and mindfulness. Elena has taught me about business, about community, about clear and heartfelt communication. She is one of the most generous women I know and supported me (and others) deeply at times of personal struggle.

For PHILOSOPHY - Nischala Devi I have found it difficult to connect with female teachers who have a deep and embodied knoweldge of Vedic and yogic philosophy that feels applied in their lives. Nischala Devi is one such guide. I particularly appreciate her translations of scripture through the lens of the feminine.

For CONNECTION TO THE EARTH AND FAMILY - Maya Tiwari my first and main teacher of ayurveda. Mother Maya trained me personally in a mentorship style education across more than a decade. Her books are nectar and her teachings are both grounding and elevating.

For BUSINESS - Kelly Diels making money and being in full ethical alignment with your personal values and integrity can all go together. There is a framework for what you teach and how you share (and refining this framework will help you tell people about it clearly). Fun is part of business! Business creates art and culture. These are all things I have learned and continue to learn from Kelly.

For BIRTHWORK - Yolande Norris-Clark a good example of a teacher with whom I don't agree on everything but respect and adore nonetheless. A brilliant, brilliant woman; one of the most articulate I've ever listened to (her voice is like honey). I have just signed up for this training with Yolande and I'm very excited to dive deep.

For WRITING - Elizabeth Gilbert even though it's kind of cliche now 'Eat, Prey, Love' was a favourite book of mine for a long time. And 'Big Magic' is a creative game changer. If there is a book in you or any creative expression wishing to be expressed Liz Gilbert will motivate you to get going.

For POETRY - Chelsie Diane I love this woman! She is inspiration in human form. So full of wisdom, energy, insights and non-judgemental encouragement.

I also pay my deepest respects and heartfelt thanks to the lineage of Krishna Consciousness headed by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada especially the women in that movement who have inspired me specifically through these two incredible books;

Five Years, Eleven Months and a Lifetime of Unexpected Love - Visakha Devi (free on kindle!)

A Life of UnAlloyed Devotion - Yamuna Devi

Thank you for sharing this journey with me. May our learning be luminous and purposeful.

With love

Katie Rose

P.S. If you're interested in this subject of teachers and Guru Purnima I wrote a bit more about it in this BLOG POST. I write in detail here about why sharing of our lineages and crediting our teachers is so important in the yogic traditions. 

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