Board Members
Board Members
Meet the TYS Board Members!
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Founder & DirectorRanjani has over twenty years of teaching yoga in this lifetime; this does not count the lifetimes it has taken her to get to this stage of novice beginner. Yoga is not the physical component, the philosophy component, or the meditation component; it is all of that, and more, it is the way she strives to live her life, constantly wanting to improve and grow. If Ranjani had a mission statement, it would be as follows. Ranjani strongly desires to look at her ugly bits and acknowledge them to address them and change a few before her drop-dead date. She wants to live by the yamas and niyamas; this will allow her to practice skillfulness in action, which is meditation in motion. Her passion is to serve her guru HH Sri Swami Rama, and the tradition of the Himalayan Sages to the best of her ability, and to accomplish this; she must be vigilant of her tiny self so she can one day grow into her Self. Seva, or selfless service, is one of the best ways to grow during the Kali Yuga, as it loosens the ego's grip and allows one to practice meditation in activity.
True selflessness becomes a meditation when you do your best without attachment to the outcomes. Seva enables us to work together for a fantastic cause (knowing our Selves) without regard for sex, race, socioeconomic status, religious affiliation, or sexual preference. When we know our Selves, all beings in all worlds rejoice.
In 1998 Ranjani left her teaching position to live and study Yoga with Sri Swami Satchidananda at his ashram in central Virginia. During this time, she received her name (Ranjani, which means one who is full of joy and brings joy to others) and the blessings of Sri Swami Satchidananda to share and instruct Yoga. Ranjani sought out the company of bona fide yoga masters to deepen her knowledge and practice of Yoga until Swami Satchidananda formally introduced her to Swami Rama and said to her “you belong to him” as he placed her hand in his. Ranjani considers herself to be an eternal student of yoga. Anything good from her comes from her teacher Sri Swami Rama of the Himalayas, and anything less is from her lower self. Ranjani is dedicated entirely to yoga as she has witnessed its effect on her daily life, and it has only been by her practice and teacher's grace that she has made it this far in life. She owes everything to him, including the greatest worldly gift Swamiji has ever given her, her husband, Riley. They live in Dayton, O, where they practice Yoga and kirtan, raise their three four-legged boys (Rishi, Rumi, and Ravi), and prepare delicious vegan meals together.
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Board Member
Holds a full time job as a physical therapist and is a certified yoga instructor through TYS. I have worked for a nonprofit hospital for 8 years, and enjoy spending time volunteering when I can.
Outside of TYS, I enjoy spending time with my family (4 month old human child, 7 year old dog child) and going for hikes.
What names me want to commit my time to serving as a board is to assist in any way that I can to provide this much needed service to the Dayton area, and beyond with the increased push in virtual communication. Through my years at TYS, I have learned the power behind this practice, and I want to be able to share it!
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Secretary and Treasurer
Kali returned to the path of yoga at the age of 20 and is very grateful for that. After some years of wrestling with unhealthy lifestyle habits, relationships, and social circles, those ultimately led her back to her teacher Ranjani. She still finds herself in awe and gratitude that she did not have to search, as her attraction to yoga promptly led her where she needed to be. Kali affectionately remembers her immediate connection to Ranjani and the tradition from the first class. She knew she was where she needed to be and would be making a commitment to her transformation.
Kali serves as the Secretary and Treasurer of TYS. She is confident of one thing regarding her future: that she is a lifer in her dedication to the service of her teacher HH Sri Swami Rama, The Tradition, Ranjani, and TYS. However this may morph into the future is of no concern to her. She knows it is her responsibility to commit herself to a lifetime of being a student and doing her practice so that she can grow and serve in the way God calls her to serve in this lifetime.
Kali lives in Dayton with her precious four-legged son, Rama, and works at a local coffee shop. If she isn’t working or with Rama, there is a good chance you can find her at the Devi Ashram.
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Board Member
I have practiced Yoga with Ranjani since she started teaching yoga over 20 years ago. Traditional Yoga Society is a place that teaches love, compassion, inner transformation, and the love of God within myself and all to change the world, which imbibes my core values of kindness over violence. When asked to sit on the board, I felt compelled to support a nonprofit aligned with my values.
Outside of supporting TYS, I create full-time nutritional health solutions for four-legged children (dogs & cats). In my non-work time, I enjoy most quiet things outdoors - spending time in the parks with my doggos (Hairy and Arlo), kayaking, hiking, biking, etcetera.
It is great to have a place like TYS that expands on the goodness within us and inspires us to manifest the greatness within us.
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Board Member
Lisa is a PTA (physical therapist assistant), yoga teacher since 2013, office coordinator and writer. She is the lead organizer for Vegan Dayton meetup. The meetup group has potlucks and events to promote the vegan lifestyle. Her hobbies include singing kirtan, hiking, gardening and caterpillar/butterfly raising, meditation and reading. Each year she dedicates more time and effort to her practice, and TYS helps to support that. She wants to help TYS grow into all it can be, bringing yoga to as many people as possible.
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Board Member
Linda grew up in Honolulu, HI, the youngest of 6 children. She graduated from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA, with a BS in Physical Therapy. Linda is married and has three sons (two-2 legged and one 4-legged). She has been practicing as a PT for over 35 years and is always willing to offer her copious knowledge to her TYS family. Linda was a military spouse for over 23 years, allowing her to live and work in several states and overseas.
Linda loves her yoga practice, teaching asana class at the Devi Ashram, where she strives to make sure class is challenging yet safe, participating in kirtans, making the most beautiful lei/garlands, reading Swami Rama books, enjoying the company of her family, and grooming her son Koa.
Linda completed her 200-hour yoga TT in 2017 at TYS/formerly Yoga XTC.
“I truly believe in and support TYS’s mission and am committed to devoting my time and efforts to serve our community. Yoga has transformed my life, and I feel it would be selfish not to share the teachings of this tradition that is thousands of years old yet relevant today.”
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Board Member
Bio coming soon.