International Yoga teacher and scholar, Bhavani Silvia Maki, director and founder of Yoga Hanalei in 1999 and Ashtanga Yoga Kauai in 1995, is an Experienced Yoga Alliance teacher at the 500 hour level, a musician, and author of The Yogi’s Roadmap: The Patanjali Yoga Sutra as a Journey to Self Realization. Bhavani had one of her first spiritual awakenings in a Yoga class at age nine, began her exploration of the Ashtanga Yoga system in 1987, and started teaching in 1994 at the bequest of her teacher. A practitioner of Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga System for more than 30 years, she has been offering Yoga Alliance teacher training programs since 2003. Bhavani has made 7 trips to Mysore, South India to study with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, as well as having the rare experience of hosting him twice on her home island of Kaua’i. She received her teacher training and authorization from Astanga Yoga Masters Sri K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, South India, and Baba Hari Dass of Hardwar, North India, and the Mount Madonna Center. In Mysore, India, she studied Sanskrit with Professor Narayanacharya, and regards Rama Jyoti Vernon as integral in her understanding of the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali and the weaving of the metaphysical teachings with the practices of Yoga.

Dedicated to exploring Yoga in it’s complete expression, Bhavani’s classes are steeped in the traditions of Patanjali’s classical Eight Limbed Yoga, with an emphasis on integrity of alignment and the use of Yoga as therapy. Often described as a teacher’s teacher, Bhavani specializes in the Patanjali Yoga Sutra, Yoga Philosophy, Yoga Psychology and Yoga Therapy, and offers unique insights into discovering greater joy and freedom within one’s self. She specializes in addressing the individual’s specific needs, and in facilitating the individual to develop a personal practice that is appropriate to their challenges, physical injuries, and desire for personal growth and transformation. Yoga can be described as compressed evolution. Bhavani believes that engaging in all the aspects of Yoga uplifts us, teaches us to connect with ourselves and surroundings, and most importantly, to the source of joy within the self. Bhavani offers Yoga classes in a supportive and encouraging environment at Yoga Hanalei on Kaua’i. Sharing her love of Yoga, she inspires students to explore their full potential in a light-hearted, exacting, and compassionate way.