Sumukhi has dedicated her life to understanding and knowing the nature of life and existence. She began practicing and teaching Yoga in 1997 and in 2001, she stepped onto Ananda Ashram in Monroe, New York and found what she had been looking for in Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati, Ramamurti S. Mishra (Guruji), the Founder and Guru of Ananda Ashram’s, teachings. Since then, Guruji’s emphasis on pulsation, vibration, nature, meditation, Sanskrit, the Music of Silence and the true Nature of I-AM has inspired Sumukhi’s life and teaching in every way. She fills her yoga classes with creativity, joy, laughter, music, science, meditation and intention. She continues to study with many living Gurus such as Amma Sri Karunamayi, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, ShivaRudra Balayogi, Amma Amritanandamayi Ma and finds inspiration in all true Masters.
Sumukhi has completed multiple teacher trainings, co-created and founded Ananda Ashram’s Yoga Teacher Training (Yoga Society of New York) and continues to lead Brahamananda Ashram’s (Yoga Society of San Francisco) Yoga Teacher Training programs and is certified in several Yoga (including several Hatha) techniques. She loves Sanskrit, the Science of Mantra, the Vedas, the Upanishads (Vedanta) and directly practices and studies Yoga as given to us by Sri Patanjali. She created and co-leads a highly respected Yoga Teacher Training program – Yoga Illumined – with Zoe Mantarakis – which immerses students in a life-long practice of Yoga and provides them with the tools to teach others. Sumukhi has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from St. Edward’s University. She co-founded Mudita Yoga Center in Kingston, NY with Shawn Harrison.
And then there’s music. For the gift of music, she thanks her father, Alfredo C. Lanuza, and again Guruji for opening up the music of the spheres – “anahata nadam” in her heart and mind. Additionally, Kristina has over 20 years experience in program management, business analysis, marketing, public relations and advertising working with Fortune 500 and multi-national brands.