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Photo Credit: D. S. Photography

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Susan Kiskis, known as Jyoti Ma Devi, is an author, 500 hour RYT yoga teacher, and kirtan wallah. She has stood on the Great Wall of China, meditated on the Ganges in India, hiked through jungles in Belize, and learned the meaning of pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago.​​

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Her books include ​Born Fire Dragon, released in 2014, Let Me Carry You Home, released in 2018, and photography book From India with Love: Rishikesh in 2020. She has hosted podcasts, Church of Love and ZenUp, as well was a co-host of web series, Soul Sessions. 

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Jyoti Ma Devi's vegetarian diet for almost 30 years, along with her work as an Ayurveda Yoga Specialist, inspires her passion for ahimsa yogic cooking. In addition to being certified in over a dozen forms of healing arts, she is an IIN Health Coach and 3 Wisdoms Tradition (Yoga, Ayurveda, Psychology) Wellness Coach, and uses these natural modalities to help people live a rich, joyous, life filled with spiritual connection.​

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Jyoti Ma Devi is the shishya of her Guruji, Swamini Shraddhananda Saraswati, with whom she has received mantra diksha into the lineage of H.H. Swami Sivananda Saraswati. She is also a student of Swami Gurusharananda studying Swakriya Yoga. She is a devotee of Neem Karoli Baba and the divine Mother.

She has has studied with Acharya Mangalananda, Venerable Bhante Sujatha, Dr. Indu Sharma, Svami Uttamananda, Kathryn Templeton, Chitra Sukhu, James Fox, Bhante Soma, Hindustani Musicians Kishan Patel and Abhishek Maharaj and Vocal Teacher Keya, as well as many other teachers. She has sat at the feet of Mooji Baba Ji, Radhanath Swami, Pujya Swami Chidananda Saraswati, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati in India, listening to their teachings, and being in their grace.

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Jyoti Ma Devi travels the globe sharing her passion for yoga's roots and sharing her love of bhakti yoga. Whether she's leading kirtan or helping others, Jyoti hopes to awaken kindness and compassion in others through her actions. Her community activism has led to the creation of events celebrating Earth Day and International Women's Day. Never one to shy from life, she ran for state senate, won a seat for local council, opened several businesses, and sat on countless non-profit boards. 

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She is a member of the kirtan collective, ​The Mas and The Babas. Jyoti Ma Devi has been performing as an indie vocalist for the past twenty years and is certified in Sound and Vibrational Therapy. She seeks to bring peace and healing through connection with art, nature, and community.

 

Jyoti Ma Devi is a graduate student at Arizona State University studying Global Health with a focus on the intersection of food, spiritual ecology, health, and climate change. She resides in the states with her husband, Matthew, and their pack of amazing rescues.

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Training

2022

  • Panchadasi (Instructor: Swamini Shraddhanananda Saraswati Ji, Kula Kamala Foundation & Yoga Ashram, July 2022-Current)

  • Sri Vidya (Instructor: Devipura, June 2022 - current)

  • Swakriya Yoga (Instructor: Swami Gurusharananda Ji, 2017-ongoing)

​2021

  • 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training /Level 1 Yoga Therapies Program (Instructor: Swamini Shraddhanananda Saraswati Ji, Kula Kamala Foundation & Yoga Ashram, November 2020-October 2021)

  • 12 Hour Three Wisdom Traditions Wellness Coach (Yoga, Ayurveda, Psychology) (Instructor: Kathryn Templeton, NAMA, IAYT, 2018-2021)

2020

  • Spiritual Leadership (Instructor: Swamini Shraddhanananda Saraswati Ji, Kula Kamala Foundation & Yoga Ashram, 2019-2020)

  • Harmonium (Instructor: Kishan Patel, 2019-2020)

  • ​Sanskrit & Hindi (Acharya Mangalananda, 2020)

  • Sanskrit Made Easy for Yoga Students (Instructor: Sandra Anderson, Yoga International, 2020)

  • Yoga Nidra: Awake{end} Sleep Teacher Training (Instructor: Chitra Sukhu, 2020)

  • Harmonium and Voice (Instructor: Keya Guswami, Keya's Indian Music School, 2020)

2019

  • 36 Hour Yoga Philosophy and History (YS 104: The Story of Om: Sacred Sound and the Vedic Roots of Yoga with Dr. Finnian M.M. Gerety, ​Yoga and Hindu Asceticism with Dr. Daniela Bevilacqua, Modern Yoga in the West with Professor Philip Deslippe at Yoga Studies)

  • Hinduism and Sacred Sound: Chant and Music (Instructor: Professor Guy Beck, Oxford University Centre for Hindu Studies, April - June 2019)

  • Integrative Nutrition Health Coach (Instructor: Integrative Nutrition, 2018-2019)

2018

  • 30 Hour Restorative Yoga (Instructor: Rachel May, E-RYT 500, YACEP, 2018)

  • ​Chanting, Bhakti, and Harmonium Lessons (Instructor: David Newman, 2017-2018)

2016

  • 120 Hour Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist (Instructor: Kathryn Templeton, Himalayan Institute, 2016)

  • ​Kirtan Connection (Instructor: Bhakti Lata Dasi, The Bhakti Center, N.Y.C., 2016)

2010-2015

  • 6 Hour Finding Your Voice Chanting Workshop (Instructor: Gita Krista Zember, E-RYT 200, Be Yoga, 2015)

  • Yin Yoga (Instructor: Regina Varos, E-RYT 200)
  • 200 Hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training (Instructor: Rachel Wilson, E-RYT 500, Om My Yoga)

  • 40 Hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training (Instructor: Tina Stroh, E-RYT 500, Just Plain Yoga)

  • Thai Folk Medicine (Instructor: David, Thai Institute of Healing Arts, 2014)

  • Prison Yoga (Instructor: James Fox, Prison Yoga Project, approx. 2010)

2000-2010

  • Sound & Vibrational Therapy (Instructors: Lana Ryder, Kat Saraswati)

  • Vedic Thai Bodywork (Instructor: Sudevi Kramer, The Vedic Conservatory) 

  • Karuna Reiki (Instructor: Amber Nightingale)

  • Aromatherapy

  • Munay-Ki Rites (Instructor: David Painter, approx. 2008)

  • Sekhem Seichim Reiki (Instructor: David Painter)

  • Multi-Dimensional Healing Reiki Levels I, II, & III (formerly called Shambala Reiki) (Instructor: David Painter)

  • Usui Reiki Levels I, II, III (Instructor: Karen Hunsberger)

  • Neuro-Linguistic Practitioner Level I & II (Instructor: Bill Trivett, New Visions)

  • Hypnotherapy (Instructor: Bill Trivett, New Visions)

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