The Bhaktirupa Story: Bhavani was raised in California and Arizona in a radically Christian home, Bhavani attended church 3 times a week, singing in the choir and performing in every church and school play. Her favorite part of church was the beginning of service - the worship and devotional song. When she attended her first Kirtan, that same feeling of worship and communion with the divine was felt... she was instantly hooked on Bhakti Yoga. Bhavani has been classically trained, since the age of nine, in jazz piano, violin, flute, harmonium, and drums. Bhavani's first spiritual experience came when she was 17 years old, and her journey continued with the exploration of Indian culture and philosophy alongside her best friend. She started practicing Yoga because sitting in meditation was not so easy! After a decade of teaching yoga in Arizona, Bhavani began using simple one-line chants at her classes. She was hooked. Nearly two years later, Bhavani and Ryan Hader met... and HERE, the bhaktirupa story really begins! Ryan brought Bhavani to his Guru at the Sadhana Ashram, to meet Shri Shankaracharya. Here, she received numerous Shaktipat blessings and her spiritual name "Bhavani," and she was intiated into the Maha Shakti Lineage of Siddha Yoga. This initiation began a deep daily practice of Bhakti Yoga - singing ancient sacred hymns and chants and practicing daily pujas. Ryan Hader (Nataraj) Milwaukee native Ryan Hader has been immersed in yogic study for nearly a decade. Trained in the Denver, Colorado yoga community, Ryan has developed Nataraja Yoga, a unique method that brings practitioners of asana away from the chatter of the mind and into the timeless gift of presence by focusing on the subtler, meditative aspects of physical yoga practice. Ryan facilitates classes focused on healing, postural alignment, personal empowerment, deep inner peace, and inspiration. Ryan has performed as a professional musician for two decades, singing and playing harmonium, guitar, and the tablas. He has led Kirtans since 2008, working with multiple talented musical artists and yoga teachers. He was a featured musician and vocalist on the Yoga Journal tour. Ryan's unique and creative Kirtan style weaves the names of ancient times with an uplifting rock n' roll approach.