Helping Hands of India Board Members
Always with the kids in mind
Yogrishi Vishvketu – Founder
A teacher of teachers, Yogrishi Vishvketu facilitates trainings and workshops internationally incorporating diverse aspects of Yoga practice into his classes: asana, pranayama, cleansing kriyas, Ayurveda mantra and meditation. He calls this holistic style of teaching Akhanda Yoga.
A yogi at heart, Vishva-ji has studied and practiced Yoga and the Vedic healing arts in the Himalayas since the age of 8 and holds a Ph.D. in Yoga Philosophy. He is co-founder of the Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram Trust in Rishikesh, India where he lives part of the year. With his fun-loving nature and infectious laughter, Vishva-ji inspires students and teachers from around the world to live the yogic life with joy and dedication. He is also the author of Yogasana: The Encyclopedia of Yoga Poses (Mandala Publications).
Alison Francis –
President
Alison Francis (Anandi) manages the organisation’s activities and operational tasks and works closely with the team to support Helping Hands. Anandi is a senior Akhanda yoga teacher and specialises in the field of sleep. She’s brought together her know how in Ayurveda, breath work, meditation and yoga philosophy and created Sleepology by Anandi® designed to help those suffering from insomnia.
She’s also the author of two books on breathwork: Breathe Better Sleep Better and Teaching Breathwork.
Kathy Noel –
TREASURER
Kathy Noel is a Certified Yoga, Mindfulness Meditation and Mindful Eating Teacher.
Stuart Loewen –
(In Loving Memory)
Although Stuart has left his body, he held Helping Hands for India dear to his heart, and we are eternally grateful for his support, his wisdom, and the quiet strength he brought to this work.
Stuart brought a wealth of experience in non-profit organisations to our board, and his contribution shaped Helping Hands as it has grown and developed.
After six years of practicing the physical aspects of yoga, Stuart deepened his practice at Anand Prakash Ashram in Rishikesh, India — completing the 200-hour training in 2007 and the 500-hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2011, under the guidance of Yogi Vishvketu.
He grew up in a successful business family with a long history of charitable giving, and spent nine years in university studying mathematics and physics — originally known as natural philosophy, the study of the language of this universe — before building a career as a consulting physicist in paper-making, working with mills throughout the world.
His passions were friends, family, yoga, mountain biking and motorcycles, where he regularly re-earned his spiritual name, Abhay — Fearless.
He was fearless to the last.
Volunteers
With kids in mind
Sarah Wall –
Director of Fundraising
Sarah joined the Akhanda Yoga Family in 2008 and is a founding member of Helping Hands for India. She is passionate about using education to change the world.
As an author, speaker, and yoga teacher, she brings attention to global philanthropic initiatives.