Twice Colonized

Join two wisdom keepers for an illuminating conversation on the realities of colonization. Colonization has had an impact over many generations around the world. This conversation will explore the challenges and solutions for decolonizing our own hearts, minds and bodies.

Twice Colonized Documentary Website: https://www.twicecolonized.com/

Arkaya Website: http://www.arkaya.net/

Aaju Peter is a renowned Inuit lawyer and activist who has spent her life fighting for Inuit rights in Canada, Greenland and Denmark. “I was born in Greenland and colonized by the Danes, and then I moved to the Canadian Arctic, then being colonized by Southern Canada. So our history has been written by outsiders and visitors.” She says, “I realized that I had been colonized twice, and that is done. Now I am in the process of decolonizing twice. So the next journey is about how I go back to my values, beliefs, and way of being in this world. I’m in the process of that right now, which is very exciting.”

Yogacharini Maitreyi was born in India, which was colonized by the British during her grandfather’s time. For over 200 years Yoga, Ayurveda, Indian martial arts, and other arts were banned by colonial rule just like bagpipes were banned in Scotland after the uprising of 1745 and drumming was banned amongst African slaves. The school she runs, Arkaya Foundation, is dedicated to reviving the deeper dimensions of these arts and sciences which have been watered down by mainstream appropriation. Maitreyi has been sharing the depth of Yoga and Tantra for over 26 years. When she settled in Vancouver over 6 years ago she connected with the First Nations community and elders to create more awareness about their Indigenous lifestyle, values and healing.

Banyen Books is Canada's most comprehensive bookstore specializing in spirituality and healing. Located in Vancouver, Canada, since 1970, Banyen is open for in-person browsing as well as web & mail orders. Visit for books, products, and upcoming events. https://banyen.com 

Interview Host: Ross McKeachie

Event & Podcast Producer: Jacob Steele

If you would like to study in a rooted tradition with other spiritually mature students, see all of our online programs and events, including the 500-hour embodied expansion certification. See the link in bio or visit: www.arkaya.net/programsoverview

The online Arkaya embodied expansion certification happens once every two years. Applications are now open.

www.arkaya.net/teacher-training

Arkaya Foundation is a federally and provincially registered not-for-profit in Canada and in India. We are primarily volunteer run with a very small core team. We greatly welcome your support to help with the running of our programs! https://www.arkaya.net/donate

🌟 Integrating Ancient Yoga Wisdom with Modern Medicine 🌟

Step into this week’s episode where Yogacharini Maitreyi explores the intersection of ancient yogic wisdom and modern medical science, offering practical insights for navigating stress and enhancing well-being. The discussion introduces key yogic concepts like prana, vayu, and the koshas, and explains how these ideas translate into concrete tools for calming the nervous system, fostering resilience, and supporting mental and physical health in daily life.

Joined by Dr. Andrea Grabovac, Dr. Arun Garg, and Sirish Rao, the conversation blends traditional yogic frameworks with contemporary medical perspectives. Together, they share practical applications, clinical examples, and scientific research, creating an engaging dialogue that bridges spiritual practices and evidence-based approaches. Listeners are invited to consider how integrating these diverse systems can support holistic health and greater balance in modern living.

✨ Be present. Be aware. Be involved. ✨

If you would like to study in a rooted tradition with other spiritually mature students, see all of our online programs and events, including the 500-hour embodied expansion certification  . See the link in bio or visit: www.arkaya.net/programsoverview

The online Arkaya embodied expansion certification happens once every two years. Applications are now open.

www.arkaya.net/teacher-training

Arkaya Foundation is a federally and provincially registered not-for-profit in Canada and in India. We are primarily volunteer run with a very small core team. We greatly welcome your support to help with the running of our programs! https://www.arkaya.net/donate

Sense of Self

Absorb these vibrations. May we be protected together, nourished together, and grow together. These ancient chants call us back to a sense of community in a world leaning towards individualism. Let their intentionality guide us away from misunderstandings and towards unity. Embrace the power of togetherness.

✨ Be present. Be aware. Be involved.

If you would like to study in a rooted tradition with other spiritually mature students, see all of our online programs and events, including the 500-hour embodied expansion certification  . See the link in bio or visit: www.arkaya.net/programsoverview

The online Arkaya embodied expansion certification happens once every two years. Applications are now open.

www.arkaya.net/teacher-training

Arkaya Foundation is a federally and provincially registered not-for-profit in Canada and in India. We are primarily volunteer run with a very small core team. We greatly welcome your support to help with the running of our programs! https://www.arkaya.net/donate

🌟 Healing the Inner Child through Arkaya Yoga🌟

Join Yogacharini Maitreyi for this excerpt from her talk at the weekly online Arkaya Community Satsangh.

In this inspiring session, we explore the concept of “Healing the Inner Child” through the lens of yogic philosophy and Ayurveda, focusing on how balance, nourishment, and self-awareness can help us reconnect with our inner essence.

Yogacharini Maitreyi delves into the significance of the Kapha (Earth + Water) and Vata (Air + Space) doshas, illustrating how these elemental forces influence our emotional and physical well-being. Through ancient wisdom and practical insights, she guides us to embrace a grounded, heart-centered approach to life, fostering resilience, clarity, and deep self-care

✨ Be present. Be aware. Be involved.

If you would like to study in a rooted tradition with other spiritually mature students, see all of our online programs and events, including the 500-hour embodied expansion certification  . See the link in bio or visit: www.arkaya.net/programsoverview

The online Arkaya embodied expansion certification happens once every two years. Applications are now open.

www.arkaya.net/teacher-training

Arkaya Foundation is a federally and provincially registered not-for-profit in Canada and in India. We are primarily volunteer run with a very small core team. We greatly welcome your support to help with the running of our programs! https://www.arkaya.net/donate

🌟 Essential Teachings in the Arkaya Practice 🌟

In this podcast episode on tapping into the power of emotions, Yogacharini Maitreyi shares how our emotions are “energy in motion” and serve as messengers, guiding us toward deeper self-awareness and healing. She explains that emotions aren’t meant to be judged as good or bad but are indicators pointing us to places within that need compassion and attention. Maitreyi emphasizes that “the body is the barometer of truth,” inviting listeners to tune into physical sensations to discover where emotional energy is stored and how it may be released.

She guides listeners through breath awareness, body scans, and gentle emotional witnessing practices, encouraging a process of “feeling to heal.” Listeners learn that by allowing and witnessing emotions without resistance, the stories behind those emotions lose their power. With gentle wisdom, Maitreyi teaches that transformation begins with presence and self-compassion, reminding us that true mastery comes from learning to “flow with emotions gracefully,” creating more space for peace and authenticity in our lives.

Yogacharini Maitreyi also responds to audience questions and dives deeper into practical ways to live with emotional freedom. She shares insights about relationships as mirrors, explaining that “people trigger only what’s already inside us,” and invites us to see those triggers as gifts for inner growth. She speaks of shifting from reaction to conscious response, reminding listeners that “awareness dissolves patterns,” and that sitting with discomfort rather than running from it allows emotions to lose their charge and reveal their hidden wisdom.

Maitreyi offers guidance on cultivating inner spaciousness, encouraging listeners to “be the sky, not the clouds,” so emotional storms can pass without overwhelming us. She recommends simple daily practices like mindful breathwork, self-reflection, and gratitude to maintain a clear, vibrant energy field. Her message is one of hope and empowerment, affirming that “you are not broken; you are light,” and that healing is a journey of remembering who we truly are. She closes with an invitation to live with more playfulness, grace, and trust that “when we align with our true vibration, life flows.”

✨ Be present. Be aware. Be involved.

If you would like to study in a rooted tradition with other spiritually mature students, see all of our online programs and events, including the 500-hour embodied expansion certification  . See the link in bio or visit: www.arkaya.net/programsoverview

The online Arkaya embodied expansion certification happens once every two years. Applications are now open.

www.arkaya.net/teacher-training

Arkaya Foundation is a federally and provincially registered not-for-profit in Canada and in India. We are primarily volunteer run with a very small core team. We greatly welcome your support to help with the running of our programs! https://www.arkaya.net/donate

Join Arkaya Community Director and Assistant Teacher Trainer Ross McKeachie in conversation with Arkaya Founder Yogacharini Maitreyi as they explore the transformative power of the Arkaya Community Satsangh—a weekly gathering dedicated to full-spectrum, decolonized yoga and tantra.

In this episode, Maitreyi shares the structure and philosophy behind the Saturday morning community class, explaining how it guides participants to reconnect with their bodies, breath, energy, and spiritual consciousness through gentle, mindful Arkaya Tantra Yoga. Discover how these practices help shift the nervous system from "suffering to savoring," activating rest, healing, and ease.

Ross and Maitreyi dive deep into the concept of re-parenting and breaking generational cycles, exploring yoga as "bonding without being bound." Learn how Arkaya's holistic approach addresses childhood conditioning and empowers practitioners to reclaim agency over their lives—emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Whether you're new to yoga or a seasoned practitioner, this episode offers insights into a practice that honors indigenous wisdom while supporting personal and collective transformation.

Join the Arkaya Community Satsang:Every Saturday, 9-11 AM Pacific | Live on ZoomFirst class free: arkaya.net/communityclass

🌟 How to Find Comfort in Chaos 🌟

In this episode, Yogacharini Maitreyi shares practical guidance on how to transform your environment and your inner state into a sanctuary for peace, healing, and higher awareness. She explains how clutter and unconscious patterns can block our inner light, and offers simple yet profound practices—including conscious breathing and mindful arrangement of physical spaces—to cultivate harmony and clarity. 

✨ Be present. Be aware. Be involved. ✨

If you would like to study in a rooted tradition with other spiritually mature students, see all of our online programs and events, including the 500-hour embodied expansion certification  . See the link in bio or visit: www.arkaya.net/programsoverview

The online Arkaya embodied expansion certification happens once every two years. Applications are now open.

www.arkaya.net/teacher-training

Arkaya Foundation is a federally and provincially registered not-for-profit in Canada and in India. We are primarily volunteer run with a very small core team. We greatly welcome your support to help with the running of our programs! https://www.arkaya.net/donate

🌟 Essential Teachings in the Arkaya Practice 🌟

Join Yogacharini Maitreyi for this excerpt from her talk at the weekly online Arkaya Community Satsangh.

Dive into the profound wisdom of Arkaya’s teachings, where ancient oral traditions meet modern relevance. This brief podcast unpacks the principles of Karuna Sakshi Bhava and the path of Dharma, highlighting the balance between material life, self-awareness, and spiritual growth.

Learn how classical yogic and tantric practices guide us to live with purpose, embrace sensory pleasures responsibly, and move toward liberation (Moksha) through mindful engagement with life. Discover the significance of the four arms of Mother Lakshmi—Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha—and how they shape a harmonious life.

✨ Be present. Be aware. Be involved. ✨

If you would like to study in a rooted tradition with other spiritually mature students, see all of our online programs and events, including the 500-hour embodied expansion certification  . See the link in bio or visit: www.arkaya.net/programsoverview

The online Arkaya embodied expansion certification happens once every two years. Applications are now open.

www.arkaya.net/teacher-training

Arkaya Foundation is a federally and provincially registered not-for-profit in Canada and in India. We are primarily volunteer run with a very small core team. We greatly welcome your support to help with the running of our programs! https://www.arkaya.net/donate

Join Yogacharini Maitreyi for a special Valentine's Day satsangh exploring the yogic understanding of love, desire, and devotion. This heart-centered session weaves together guided meditation, breathwork, and the rich mythology of Indian traditions to illuminate the many dimensions of love.

Maitreyi guides participants through Padma Mudra (lotus mudra) and Jyoti Mudra practices, opening the heart center and cultivating inner illumination. Through the story of Manmatha (the Indian Cupid) and Shiva, she explores how desire can be acknowledged, embraced, and transformed into higher forms of love—from kama (sensory desire) to prema (universal, elevated love).

The session delves into the symbolism of Manmatha's sugarcane bow and flower arrows, representing the five senses and how desire awakens through them. Maitreyi explains how Shiva's third eye—representing discernment and focused awareness—transforms desire into formless, transcendent love (ananga).

Drawing from the concept of Lakshmi's four hands representing dharma (righteous living), artha (material prosperity), kama (desire), and moksha4mmy6 (liberation), Maitreyi offers a framework for understanding desire as a legitimate stage of human evolution that can be refined and sublimated.

This practice integrates body, breath, energy, emotions, and mind, offering tools for conscious living both on and off the mat. Perfect for anyone seeking a deeper, more integrated approach to yoga that honors the full spectrum of human experience.

Key Themes: Heart-opening practices, Valentine's Day mythology, transformation of desire, the many forms of love in Sanskrit, conscious evolution, full-spectrum yoga

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras for Householders

 with Yogacharini Maitreyi and Professor Balaganapathi

Join us for a special event featuring Yogacharini Maitreyi from the Arkaya Foundation and Professor Balapngathi from the Philosophical Practitioners Association of India and the University of Delhi. This event celebrated the International Day of Yoga with insights into the Patanjali Yoga Sutras for householders. Learn about the philosophy and practical applications of yoga beyond physical postures, including ethical living, pranayama/breathwork, and maintaining a balanced lifestyle. Discover how to incorporate these teachings into daily life. Stay tuned for details on an upcoming six-week online series for a deeper exploration of the Yoga Sutras.

✨ Be present. Be aware. Be involved. ✨

If you would like to study in a rooted tradition with other spiritually mature students, see all of our online programs and events, including the 500-hour embodied expansion certification  . See the link in bio or visit: https://www.arkaya.net/programsoverview

The online Arkaya embodied expansion certification happens once every two years. Applications are now open.

https://www.arkaya.net/teacher-training

Arkaya Foundation is a federally and provincially registered not-for-profit in Canada and in India. We are primarily volunteer run with a very small core team. We greatly welcome your support to help with the running of our programs! https://www.arkaya.net/donate