Dharmananda
Senior Teacher
However, beneath this gentle exterior lies a humble and extraordinarily diligent yogi — a highly accomplished authority on meditation and the complexities of the mind.
Born in Israel in 1977, Dharmananda’s early life was marked by significant health challenges. This period of suffering accelerated his maturity, which prompted him to question the nature of human existence and the meaning of life from a young age.
He found himself fascinated by the Scriptures, particularly the story of creation in the Book of Genesis. While he held a strong, innate belief in God, his spiritual path didn’t truly begin to unfold until 2001. On the advice of his brother, Somananda, he joined a Tantra Yoga Level 1 retreat at the age of 24.
That transformative experience was cut short by family and financial obligations, bringing him back to Israel for two years. During that time, he longed to return to his spiritual studies. In 2003, his dream came true when he resumed his spiritual education in Thailand.
This marked a pivotal moment in his evolution. After completing his first Kashmiri Shaivism workshop and a subsequent retreat, Dharmananda had his first peak spiritual experience. The event left him physically, mentally, and emotionally transfigured. He realized that everything he had believed to be true about life and love was fundamentally incomplete.
With newfound clarity, he abandoned all other pursuits to dedicate himself wholly to the path of self-realization. Since that day, he has devoted many hours daily to his sadhana, or spiritual practice. This dedication allowed him to progress rapidly, receiving rare and powerful initiations in Yoga, meditation, Kashmiri Shaivism, Tantra, and Kundalini Yoga.
Dharmananda began teaching Hatha Yoga in 2004. As his spiritual achievements grew, so did his teaching responsibilities. By 2008, he was leading meditation retreats and guiding students worldwide in uncovering the mysteries of their minds.
Today, Dharmananda is a senior teacher for the Somananda Tantra School, traveling internationally to share the ancient wisdom of Tantra and Yoga. His expertise shines in Laya Yoga, opening the third eye, and awakening the crown chakra to achieve higher states of consciousness.
When not teaching, he spends much of his time in deep personal retreats. He’s continually motivated to help others realize the profound beauty and love that Yoga can bring into their lives.
