Bhavani Maki  

International Yoga teacher and author, Bhavani Maki offers online Yoga Sutra trainings, workshops, immersions and teacher trainings. (http://www.kauaiyoga.org/) She attended her first Yoga class at the age of nine, and began her exploration of Patañjali’s Aṣtānga Yoga in 1987. She founded Aṣtānga Yoga Kaua’i and began teaching in 1995, Yoga Hanalei in 1999, and training Yoga teachers in 2003. Bhavani has made seven trips to India to study with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, as well as having the rare opportunity of hosting him twice on her home island of Kaua'i. She received her teacher training and authorization from Aṣtānga Yoga Masters Sri K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, South India, and Baba Hari Dass of Hardwar, North India. She studied Saṃṣkrta in Mysore, South India with Professor Narayanachaya, and regards Rama Jyoti Vernon as integral in her understanding of the Patañjali Yoga Sūtra, and the weaving of metaphysical teachings with the practices of Yoga, that she continues to share with her students to this day.

Née Silvia Kazazis, Bhāvani was raised quadrilingual in the milieu of the University of Chicago, from a multicultural European background, and has traveled extensively from a young age. Bhavani interweaves the insights she has gathered into a holistic exploration of the microcosmic and macrocosmic self. Dedicated to exploring Yoga in its complete expression, her teachings are steeped in the traditions of Patañjali’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 offers unique insights into discovering greater joy and freedom. She specializes in addressing the individual’s specific needs to develop a practice appropriate to their challenges, physical injuries, and desire for personal growth and transformation. Bhavani believes that that engaging in all the aspects of Yoga is a means of compressed evolution. that uplifts, connects, and accesses the inner source of joy.

Since 1993, Bhavani has resided on the island of Kaua’i with her husband Ray and son Nikola, on their organic permaculture farm. She offers Yoga classes, intensives, and annual teacher training programs at her studio, Yoga Hanalei, as well as Yoga workshops on the US mainland and Europe.

Bhavani Maki's Programs