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At Karuna we design global experiences using yoga and compassion (‘karuna’) as a tool for transformational travel. We do this by hosting individuals in geographically diverse and small community settings around the world to promote travel with cultural understanding and shared well-being. Our mission is to work upon a larger global storyline to contribute to well-being and sustainable community tools in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3 and 11.

Founders Leyla Meredith and Payal Gori have led their own transformational travel journeys before founding Karuna Yoga Journeys. Leyla’s prior work included adventure tourism, leading for 6 years a premiere yoga safari company in Uganda, becoming transformed by a culture she fell in love with. Payal transformed her previous career in 2014 from biotechnologist to yoga teacher at the age of 24. Together since 2017, they trained over 1000 students in 17 countries.

Karuna’s impact is reached collectively through training on Karuna Yoga Journeys but also through the Karuna Global Fellows who incorporate the inclusive and diverse teaching model in their global communities after they complete their journey. Now over 70 students have graduated through the KYJ methodology and training and are offering over 200 hours of yoga sessions to vulnerable and isolated communities (2019) It is likely the 100th student will graduate November 2019.

The Karuna ethos is to welcome individuals of all levels and strives to make it accessible to everyone no matter age, physical limitations or socio-economic status to access yoga through trainings, workshops, community days or no-cost sessions for those most in need.

In 2019 journeys will be offered in Kenya, Senegal, Uganda, North Cyprus, Corfu and India.

A partnership in 2018 with Innodriven, a global service design agency, allow Karuna to grow the business model with positive impact focused on creating a movement of yoga enthusiasts with local impact.

“Welcome to our tribe, our family. We are looking forward to spending this time with you, to teach you everything we know about yoga and life and to enrich ourselves and learn from your beautiful souls. See you very soon…”

PARTNERS

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Benny started out practicing Hatha and Iyengar yoga from the age of 15, but only discovered Yin Yoga in 2015, finally becoming a teacher in 2017. Since then she has never looked back and continues training in and teaching this wonderful practice wherever and whenever she can. Based in Kenya, she teaches studio classes in Nairobi.

Despite her strong alignment background her classes and trainings take on a very functional approach allowing the variations is our body the freedom to move at their own pace. She believes that it is important to cultivate a sense of self-awareness with regards to our body and mind so that we may be truly in harmony with ourselves and our environment. One of her primary disciplines is the study of human anatomy as she sees it as a fundamental part of any yoga training.

As a certified yin yoga teacher, Benny’s Yin Yoga background is extensive, having trained with some of the Yin heavyweights like Paul and Suzee Grilley, Sarah Powers as well as Jo Phee and Joe Barnett which she also assists around the globe.

Jordan has been practicing yoga for over 10 years in the US, Europe and Kenya. She received certification in Baptiste Power Yoga with the Africa Yoga Project in Kenya, completed the Karuna YTT in 2018 and recently completed a course in yoga for 12-step recovery.

She teaches a range of classes in Nairobi including classes at wellness centers, classes accompanied by live musicians, private classes, charitable classes at a school for street kids and charitable trauma-informed classes at a girls’ school in the slum Kibera.

Jordan is an active volunteer in a number of yoga-based initiatives including the Africa Yoga Project, Mental 360 (NGO creating awareness of mental health issues offering counselling and yoga) and New Leaf Rehabilitation Center in Lamu (development of a yoga program for recovering addicts). She is also certified in Reiki Level I and is a beginner student of Qigong.



Since 2001, Sophie has been evolving her spiritual, emotional and physical relationship with yoga — a practice which has emerged as her primary source of grounding, connection and healing. Her training includes a 200 hour YTT in Costa Rica with Sonic Yoga (2014), a 200 hour YTT in France with Liquid Flow Yoga (2017), and trauma-sensitive yoga trainings with The Minded Institute, Off the Mat (Hala Kouri) and OMPowerment. In 2016, Sophie developed Healing and Resilience Through Yoga (Hart Yoga), a yoga-based psycho-social treatment approach currently being implemented with survivors of human trafficking across Africa and USA. https://movewithhart.org/

Sophie is grateful to the core teachers who shaped the contours of her practice and, most importantly, showed her the boundless generosity of spirit, especially Dana Flynn (her first teacher – what a gift), Simon Park, Gopi Kinnicutt, Jodi Boone and Barbara Verrochi. For inspiration, acceptance and support she is forever indebted to her sister-teachers in Uganda: Leyla Ahmet Meredith, Payal Gori, and Angela Inglish-Gill. Sophie’s teaching style uses fluid movement, consistent breath, and creative sequencing to gently challenge practitioners of all levels