Brahmacharini Shobha was born into a yogic family. Her uncle, Swami Vijnanananda, a direct Sannyasi disciple of Swami Sivananda, initiated her into Yoga at age 5. She was publicly demonstrating asanas as a young girl.
Irresistibly drawn to the universally revered Satguru Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, known to millions as Amma, she immediately dedicated her life to that Supreme Yoga for which her extensive knowledge, training and extraordinary spiritual gifts made her an acclaimed emissary.
Shobha was key in formulating and developing Amrita Yoga® under the guidance and inspiration of Amma. Amrita Yoga is a school of yoga directly formed from Amma’s sankalpa (divine intention), prompted by unconditional love and an attitude of service to the world. Amrita Yoga offers a holistic approach, focused on awareness with heart-centered intention and aims to transcend the physical asana practice.
Shobha developed a thriving yoga school system at Amrita that operates around the world in more than 30 countries and offers ongoing classes, international retreats and workshops for all levels and abilities.
She has developed distinct yoga curriculums for different needs and designed training modules for over 63 Amrita Vidyalayam Higher Secondary schools in 9 different states and 2 union territories across India, training teachers for these schools, and a unique and innovative approach to teaching Kids Yoga, for preteens and teens.
She manages a team of over 300 volunteer Amrita Yoga Teachers internationally, providing initial and ongoing training and mentoring. These Teacher Training Programs include programs for rural India, a rehabilitation program for prisoners, a program for Police Officers, and for the International Day of Yoga, to mention a few.
Shobha offers intuitive healing through a wide spectrum of Yoga Therapy that embraces and supports each individual’s search for growth and wellbeing. She infuses the practical means to a beautiful yogic life, providing inspiration and the nurturing of body, mind, and soul.
She offers a rare class experience of dynamic sequencing that reaches people at their deepest levels—the very purpose of yoga. She leads international retreats at Amritapuri; teaches open, ongoing in-person and online classes at all levels, tailored for both Indian and international ashram visitors and residents; and yoga and meditation classes and workshops at all levels throughout India and around the world, in the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
Highlights of her travels across the globe include her visits to International Yoga Conferences, New Zealand Parliament House, as guest speaker at the International Day of Yoga program in Norway, classes at Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, Rhinebeck, New York and her captivating talks at universities and schools.
In 2018, she was nominated as an Expert Member of the Council of the Inter University Center for Yogic Sciences, Bengaluru, established by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
In 2016, she was made an Expert Committee Member (and the only woman) in the 12-member committee for Yoga Education in Universities, Government of India, Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD).
Shobha’s other academic and administrative capacities at the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri Campus have included: Board of Studies Member, BBM program; Chairperson of the Department of Commerce & Management; Coordinator and curriculum developer of BBM and B.Com. programs; and Supervisor of over 50 undergraduate student projects in the areas of ethics, human resources, marketing, banking, and finance.
Shobha is a Ph.D. student of Yoga at the School of Spiritual and Cultural Studies, at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. She is a graduate of Business Management from Maharishi University of Management, Iowa, USA, and worked for 3 years with American Express in a managerial position.