Badri Matlock, MTT
Badri is an Ananda minister and lightbearer in addition to being an experienced yoga and meditation instructor with over 15 years’ experience. His dedicated spiritual practice began in 2007 which led him to Ananda Village where he resided for 14 years, studying as well as teaching numerous yoga, meditation and other classes, as well as serving in community management. He moved to Ananda Portland in 2023 where he serves and lives with his wife Gita, and children Tulsi and Jay. Badri loves Ananda music and chanting, adventures in travel and nature, and surfing and sports. He believes yoga and meditation, along with the priceless gifts of spiritual community and friendships, are the keys to happiness and peace in this world.
Santosh LaMarche, MTT
Bob Santosh LaMarche is an Ananda minister and has taught Meditation and other classes at Ananda for 20 years, as well as at colleges and corporations in Portland, the Silicon Valley and on the east coast. He enjoys travel, music, genealogy and studying languages.
Lorna Knox, MTT
Lorna serves as one of the Spiritual Directors of Ananda Portland and is part of the ministry team. Lorna loves to help people discover the power of an inner life. She has been a disciple of Yogananda for over 40 years and has been teaching meditation in Ananda Portland for a good part of that time. “Yukteswar said that everything in the future will improve if we make the right spiritual effort now. Meditation gives us a way to move forward in a dynamic and powerful way that can affect every part of our life.” One of her favorite comments from a student was, “Now I control my breath, my breath no longer controls me.”
Surendra Conti, MTT
Surendra is one of the Spiritual Directors of Ananda Portland and a long-time certified Ananda meditation instructor. His active teaching schedule includes classes and workshops, both beginning and advanced, in the meditative techniques and practices that lead to Kriya Yoga, which Paramhansa Yogananda called the airplane route to God.
Surendra is one of the principal instructors of Ananda’s 10-week foundational course, The Art and Science of Raja Yoga, as well as a variety of other spiritual classes. He is also the author of Let Me Remember This, a book of insights, ideas, and observations on the path to higher consciousness.
Michael Fellows, MTT
Michael began this round many years ago when he was drawn to Ananda Village in northern California and discovered the teachings of Sanatan Dharma. A long-time meditator, he does love to chant, and while he’s reasonably sure Paramhansa Yogananda was spot-on in saying that “Chanting is half the battle,” he’s also quietly exploring the other 87%. He’s been teaching meditation for some 10 years now and loves to help others uncover that subtle spark within calling them to calmness and joy. He also enjoys music, clean fresh air, and a good sour cream lemon pie.
Melissa Heart, MTT
Melissa enjoys sharing in the discovery of learning how to develop a deeper connection to the higher self. She has been a disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda since 2009 and is a certified Meditation Teacher. “I love that meditation allows me to be my true self, joyful and happy.”
She loves that yoga is a bridge to our higher awareness and is a certified Ananda Yoga instructor and has taught at the temple since 2012.
