Nayaswami Supriya Chadwick, Spiritual Director
RYT 200, Board of Directors
Supriya is a minister, lightbearer, and a member of the *Nayaswami Order. She has been on this path of Self-Realization for over 33 years and has devoted her life to living and sharing the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda. Trained as an Ananda Yoga instructor, meditation teacher and Raja Yoga instructor, Supriya is experienced in teaching beginning and advanced students. Her warm and relaxed manner is appreciated by everyone who comes to the center.
*What is a Nayaswami? The Nayaswami Order is a new movement in renunciation launched in late 2009 by Nayaswami Kriyananda, a direct disciple for over 60 years of the great yoga Master, Paramhansa Yogananda. Nayaswamis often wear a deep blue color as a sign of their commitment to living for God alone. You can find out more about the order and the book by Nayaswami Kriyananda, “A Renunciate Order for the New Age” here.
Joselyn Velleda
Managing Director, Ananda Yoga Teacher RYT 200 & Meditation Teacher
Joselyn is from Mexico and has been a Kriyaban since 2021 and is a certified yoga and meditation teacher. With a strong background in business organization and administration, she is currently stepping into the role of Managing Director of the Sangha House, aiming to support and honor the dedicated work that has been carried out over the years at Ananda in Texas. She is also passionate about respectful childbirth, with training as a doula and plans to complete her certification in the U.S. soon. She is married to Francisco, also a Kriyaban and member of Ananda Dallas, and they have a four-year-old son, Alaka’i. Together they are reinvigorating the family ministry as well our Spanish ministry.
Mike Wolverton, RYT 200
Minister, Teacher
Mike Wolverton has been an active member of Ananda Dallas for many years and brings great enthusiasm to both learning and teaching. He is a Certified Ananda Yoga Teacher (RYT 200), a Certified Ananda Meditation Teacher, an Advanced Pranayama graduate, and a member of our ministry team. He shares his uplifting energy of service through classes, Sunday Services, and by inspiring others with his devotion to the spiritual path.
Francisco Cuevas
Boardmember, Teacher
Francisco has been a Kriyaban since 2017 and along with his wife Joselyn, heads our growing Spanish ministry here in Dallas. Originally from Mexico, yoga and meditation transformed his life in every way; mentally, emotionally & health. As a result of the yoga practice, he enjoys of a harmonious family life with his wife and little boy as well as at his job as a project manager. In the past few years he has been actively engaged in servicing our Ananda Texas community, now serving as a boardmember and moving into sharing the teachings more broadly as one of our main teachers.
Linda Schoendienst
Board of Directors, Treasurer, Teacher
Linda has been on the path of Self-Realization for 26 years. She is a serial software entrepreneur, mother of two, and holds degrees in accounting, tax, and law. She serves on our Board of Directors and supports the financial stewardship of our Sangha House with clarity, dedication, and a deep spirit of service.She is also part of the team of teachers who help prepare students for Kriya Yoga, offering her wisdom and experience with great kindness. Linda continues to be a source of inspiration for our entire community through her steady devotion, joyful service, and commitment to living these teachings.
Malorie Tolles, LMT, MTT
Teacher
Malorie found the Ananda path in 1999 and found deep peace being in attunement with the Masters. She has been enthusiastic community participant ever since! A graduate of our Meditation Teacher training course for the past years, she enjoys teaching our Free Intro to Meditation to new seekers. She holds a Masters degree in social work, as well as a license in massage therapy and owns a petsitting business.
Zunny Losoya
Board of Directors
Zunny found Ananda and has been an active member in every way possible ever since. After reading Autobiography of a Yogi, she called for more information and soon visited the center on Keller Springs Ave in Farmers Branch. She knew immediately that this was The Way. As a retired Marketing Director at Towngate Plaza Medical Center, she has especially enjoyed contributing to the beauty of our Ananda Texas Sangha House, both inside and out. She also loves serving as a Board Member and sharing the love of God with everyone who comes to Ananda.
Maitri Smithhisler, E-RYT 500, YACEP
Board of Directors, Consultant
Maitri has been a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda since 1987. After living at Ananda Village in California for eight years, she came to Ananda Dallas in 1996, where she served as an Ananda minister, lightbearer, and Managing Director of Ananda in Texas. She led Sunday Services, taught many of our core classes, and shared her deep love for yoga, meditation, and devotional chanting.She recently returned to live at Ananda Village, where she continues to serve the work of Ananda. Thanks to her many years of experience, she now supports us as our business consultant. Maitri remains a beloved friend of our community and continues to serve whenever she travels to Dallas. She considers it one of her greatest blessings to share with others the joy she has received through these life-transforming teachings.
Kim Pradhan
Ananda Austin Meditation Group Leader
A native of Indianapolis, Kimberly was raised in a loving, Catholic environment, which prepared her spiritually for the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda. A meditator since 1987, Kimberly officially embarked on the Ananda path in 2006 while living in India, through the mission of Swami Kriyananda. A Kriyaban since 2010, Kimberly enjoys teaching meditation, divine energy healing, and helping lead the Ananda Austin Meditation Group. She has an MA in Linguistics, TESOL certificate, and is a Texas Educator in the Lake Travis school district. She and her husband of more than 35 years have three sons.
Atul Wadhwa
Ananda Houston Meditation Group Leader
Born in India and raised in Houston from the age of six, Atul spent much of his early adult life pursuing the “American dream,” including a little time in the corporate world and 12 years as a residential realtor. In 2021, he took a sabbatical to focus on introspection, healing, and deepening his meditation practice. As his longing for Truth grew, Atul felt called to leave real estate and dedicate his time to spiritual seeking and sharing about meditation and yoga in the Houston community.
Upon discovering the path of Kriya Yoga through Paramhansa Yogananda and Ananda, Atul felt both relieved to have found a true path, and inspired by the prospect of sharing these teachings with others. Since 2023, Atul has been serving Ananda in a variety of ways, including leading the Houston Meditation Group, creative social media outreach, and traveling with Asha Nayaswami—a founding member and senior teacher of Ananda—to assist with her programs around the world through filming, photography, and video production.
Web: https://www.anandahouston.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ananda.houston/
