June 2024

Letter from Leadership

After a hiatus, WICCI Karnataka Yoga Council is back. We had a strong run from inception with our past president, Luvena Rangel, connecting 20 very strong women of the yoga field to one another. Since June 2020, we forged friendships, advocated for rights of yoga teachers during Covid, created impactful online and offline programs, and built a sangha.

Now, as Luvena steps into the leadership of the National Yoga Council, it is my honour to try to fill her shoes and take the council forward in the vision: to develop world-class, globally recognized work in the yoga field, carried forth through our mission:

• To build a healthy community and eco-system around yoga in Karnataka​

• To empower and champion the causes of women business owners and professionals in the field of yoga

• To facilitate a larger conversation around yoga careers beyond the classroom

• To develop scholarship in yoga

• To raise awareness on the work done by women in Karnataka and the world in the field of yoga

To accomplish this, we have set our goals in our 4 major projects: 

• a monthly speaker series that increases the visibility of women’s scholarship in yoga

• a monthly newsletter that highlights 

• yoga events and conference in Karnataka; 

• review of emerging thoughts and ideas spirituality and arts in relation to yoga, including Ayurvedic tips; 

• perspective pieces on current events in yoga; 

• Our own past work and future endeavours

• Conferences on women-led yoga business and entrepreneurship that will

• Elevate women already in the field

• Empower women emerging in the field through serving yoga teachers 

• And finally, increasing our visibility through our social media and outreach programs.

Our work rests on the foundation of our pillars: visibility, advocacy, community, and scholarship.

Our first step has been to rebuild the council through new and renewed membership, infusing the council members with a newfound energy and enthusiasm. 

Each of our council members represents the work of women in the yoga field through their leadership in the community in the creative arts and spiritualities, research and scholarship, and advocacy through business endeavours. Each of our council members brings with her an unique perspective that adds to the richness of our entire council, inspiring us to take on exciting projects.

We look forward to the future growth of our council and its visibility through advocacy, scholarship, and community.

Love and light,

Sowmya Ayyar

President of WICCI