“Together, anything is possible!”
Council
The President is responsible for increasing communication within the Yogaville Community Association and representing the organization to Satchidananda Ashram and at all public functions.
Alexandra Ishwari Mae
President of the YCA
Term: 2021-2024
Ishwari first came to Yogaville as a LYT in January of 2017. As she walked onto the quad, she felt as if she was home. Alex relocated to Yogaville in 2018 to start a family and embrace living in an intentional community.
Ishwari’s educational background is in international and comparative politics, but her professional background is in community development. She is passionate about helping small communities reach their full potential.
Ishwari’s hope is that Yogaville will continue to blossom and serve many families in magical ways. She believes in the power of inclusivity and wants everyone who calls Yogaville home to feel welcome, no matter what.
David Waters
YCA Council Administrator
Term: 2021-2024
David Waters is an amateur naturalist and a jack of many trades. David has worked and studied in various sustainability fields over the past decade and brings to the YCA team an interest in developing community through developing connection with the Earth. David came to Yogaville in early 2020 to deepen his exploration of yoga as a modality for healing and as a framework for healthy living. David is the farm manager at Satchidananda Ashram. He serves as the YCA Council Administrator.
The Council Administrator serves as logistics coordinator for major projects at the Council’s pleasure, and chairs the Council Meetings.
Currently Open
Treasurer of the YCA
The Treasurer will manage and supervise all monies of the organization. The treasurer shall provide access to all financial records to any member of the YCA.
The Secretary will make sure that minutes are taken and distributed of all meetings.
Santoshi Young
Secretary of the YCA
Term: 2023-2026
Santoshi Young moved to Buckingham VA from Columbus OH in 2014. Started dating Richard, her husband, in 2016 and life has greatly evolved since. Santoshi and Richard are currently a family of five, including their two pups Roo and Georgie, and their adorable daughter Gracie. They happily live next door to Richard’s mom, Renee and brother, Parker. You will see them all out walking regularly up and down Unity Place. Santoshi works part time in Charlottesville as a dental hygienist.
Districts Representatives
The District Representatives will keep abreast of the needs of their districts as they develop and represent those needs, wishes, and ideas to the entire council. They will also communicate the ideas of the Village Council to their constituencies for feedback.
District #1
Manteo, Warminster Church, Sycamore Creek, Woodland Church from 56 to Karuna Lane
Amie Tunkara
District#1 Represantative
Term: 2023-2026
Amie first came to Yogaville in 2017 and has lived and served at the Ashram since then.
Currently, Amie works in the Integral Yoga Teachers Association office as the Membership Coordinator. She is also a Somatic Embodiment Coach, which is a healing modality that works through body awareness, movement, and dance.
Amie seeks to help cultivate and foster a sense of community in Yogaville in order to help us grow!e
Bryce Campbell
District#2 Representative
Term: 2023-2026
Bryce is a yoga instructor, martial artist, and breath coach. He has always had a love for the spiritual arts and has carved out his lifestyle to accommodate his soul’s yearning for this growth.
Bryce enjoys training/sadhana, sitting by the river, chanting, game night, and spending time with people he cares for. He hopes to continue to grow with Yogaville and the community and spread a little laughter along the way.
District #2
Woodland Church from Ramaa Lane to Wyland Road, Ananda Kutir, Nectar Lane, Travelers Rest, Horsley Lane, Wyland Road
District #3
Ramaa Lane, Unity Lane, Woodland Church from Ramaa Lane to Unity Lane
Richard Young
District#3 Representative & Board of Trustees Liaison
Term: 2023-2026
Richard moved to Yogaville in early 2014 and has lived here ever since. He met his wife Santoshi Young at Yogaville and started a life and family together, including their perfect daughter Grace and their two awesome doggos Georgie and Roo.
Richard has worked at the Ashram since 2014. He has worn multiple hats but has always served in some capacity in the kitchen. He currently serves as an Ashram cook.
Richard enjoys being with his family, almond dressing, fiber internet, and watching the greatest movie ever made, The Princess Bride.
Richard’s intention is to serve a greater role within the community and help the YCA continue to build and strengthen our sangha.
Shakti Love Liebl
District#4 Representative
Term: 2023-2026
Shakti is a natural karma yogi. When she discovered the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco in 1994 she felt she was home. Swami Satchidinanda gave her the name “Shakti” in 1995.
Shakti moved to Yogaville in 2016 and has benefited from the teachings, the sangha, and the beautiful natural setting that is Yogaville since.
Shakti volunteers at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History because of her love of paleontology and volunteering. She has a Master’s degree in Museum Science and has worked as an educator and museum exhibit director.
Her time here in Yogaville is spent in service wherever she is needed.
District #4
Woodland Church Road from Unity Lane to Karuna Lane, Liberty Lane, The Way, Liberty Bell
District #5
Ashram Campus
Brahman Schawaller
District#5 Representative
Term: 2021-2024
Brahman Schawaller is a Karma Yogi and enjoys serving both the ashram AND the greater Yogaville community.
When Yogaville is open to the public, he enjoys teaching Hatha 1 and Yoga Nidra to guests and residents.
It brings him a joy to see how Yoga can have such a transformative, relaxing effect on students.
Brahman has completed over 500 hours of Yoga teacher training with Gopi Sandal of Yoga With Heart Teacher Training.
He has also completed IY Basic (200 hr), Adaptive, and Stress Management teacher trainings.
He loves hiking, boating, and meeting/serving neighbors in the Community – both new and old.
Krishna Howeth
District#6 Representative
Term: 2023-2026
Krishna has been an educator for many years and co-founded a charter school based on Service Learning in Oakland, California. He met Swami Satchidananda in 1986 and took mantra initiation that year. He moved with his wife, Karuna and 3 daughters to the Ashram in 1990, where all three attended the Integral Yoga School, the Vidyalayam. Krishna (and his wife Karuna) would like to help our community continue to grow so families and individuals can live together in a thriving community based on the values of Integral Yoga.
Krishna is certified to teach Integral Yoga Hatha Basic, Intermediate and Advanced levels. He is also certified to teach Raja Yoga.
District #6
Karuna Lane, Holly Lane, Mimosa Lane, Vidyalayam
Representative-At-Large
Represents the general membership and wider Sangha and assists the Village Council with its ongoing functions.
Radha Metro
District Representative At Large
Term: 2023-2026
Radha Metro-Midkiff was born and raised in Yoga. Brought up at Yogaville, under the direct tutelage of Sri Swami Satchidananda, she met Sri Gurudev at the ripe old age of one. As leaders of the “Marvelous Metro Family” her parents, Bhagavan and Bhavani Metro, moved from Colorado, to Connecticut, then to Virginia, just so she and her 5 siblings could attend the Integral Yoga School/Yogaville Vidyalayam. She was the only student to attend the school from from 1st -12th grade. She was certified as both a Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga instructor at the age of 18. In addition, she had the fortune of being one of only four individuals to receive the direct blessing of Dharma confirmation from Swami Satchidananda. She has gone on to receive certifications in Stress Management and Hormone Yoga Therapy.
Radha currently lives near Yogaville with her wonderful husband, D Midkiff. She owns Tirtha Salon and Spa, specializing in organic skincare and haircare services. She also owns Apoth3cary by radha, a luxury skin and haircare line. She formulates the products herself, utilizing plants grown on her property. She is an Intuitive Life and Wellness Coach, and just launched her yearlong program “Empowered Woman – Love Who You See In The Mirror.” She also has the great honor of coaching for Heartcore Leadership, having completed their 4 month Leadership training program with distinction.
Radha has a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship. She currently owns and operates 3 different LLC’s. She is an Esthetician and a Cosmetologist and has completed the International Organic Skincare Entrepreneurship Program, including a Diploma in Basic and Advanced Organic Skincare Formulation. Most recently she received a Practitioner Diploma in Advanced Anti-Ageing Beauty Nutrition. Her other certifications are too numerous to mention.
Radha has served as a Kirtanist over the years. Her love of chanting began at the wee age of five. Over the years she has performed for dignitaries and spiritual leaders from around the world. She attended both the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and HB studios in New York, where she was able to refine her vocal work. In addition, she studied under Professor Paramjeet Singh in classical Indian bhajans, at the home of her friend GuruGanesha Singh.
Radha has worked in almost every department at Yogaville. Including as Fund Raising Coordinator, raising over $70,000 in 2005. Her passion and love of Yogaville goes incredibly deep. She has spent much of her life joyfully serving in any capacity available.
She and Sri Gurudev had a very close personal relationship. To him she was always “Bunny.” Often she was seen sitting at his feet, or holding his hand. When she went off to college he asked her to call him collect every single week to check in. Throughout the years, she had so many unique opportunities to share her life with him. Their last conversation was on her 30th Birthday just before he left for India, when he told her she would always be his “baby, baby, baby.” She has taken that to heart, understanding she is truly a child of her beloved Sri Gurudev and her beloved Yogaville. She is honored by the opportunity to serve as a Representative at Large, as well as on the Finance Committee for the YCA.
Representative-At-Large
Represents the general membership and wider Sangha and assists the Village Council with its ongoing functions.
Sosie Hublitz
District Representative At Large
Term: 2023-2026
Sosie’s goal in life is modest. To live an authentic life surrounded by Nature and to blanket herself and her family with Peace, Joy and Love and Light. She is at a time to enjoy this life in a pure and joyous way. She chooses to be with people that she loves and admires who are creating a harmonious world for themselves and others. The YCA opened her heart with the work they do in creating a “Heaven on Earth” as our founder Sri Swami Satchidananda dedicated his life to teaching us. What the YCA is embarking on is the real Yoga, off the mat, in all its glorious ways, adapting, adjusting and accommodating.
Sosie values living in a spiritual community where the focus is on serving one another, simple as that. It is her Nature to be in service and life has gifted her with a plethora of experiences that will be useful to the burgeoning community which she has come to love. She has professional skills in building businesses, community relations, fiscal matters, construction, outreach, leadership and more.
Sosie is dedicated to service, as a way of life, and is honored to serve the YCA in its mission to do the same. Serve All and Love All.
2023 YCA Committees
Action-oriented teams of dedicated, energetic, and dynamic volunteers create momentum, develop the organization, and see projects through. Committees report to the YCA Council on a monthly basis.
The Outreach Committee
The purpose of the outreach committee is to
understand the needs of our neighbors and brainstorm ways to creatively serve the community.
Currently, the committee is meeting the needs of individuals by organizing volunteers, making wellness calls, welcoming new residents, and managing the online classifieds.
The Housing Committee
The housing committee’s purpose is to support
homeowners, landowners, and renter's needs.
Currently, the housing committee is collaborating with Habitat For Humanity to develop affordable housing within the community.
The Cultural Committee
The purpose of the cultural committee is to host an array of educational and social events for the community to participate in.
Events are held on a regular basis throughout the year.
The Finance Committee
The purpose of the finance committee is to maintain accurate, transparent, and complete financial records that comply with state and federal standards.
The committee will also work to educate the board, budget, safeguard assets, and provide regular reports.
The Marketing Committee
The purpose of the marketing committee is to expand our reach, keep the community informed and on the same page.
Currently, the committee is creating a new website and membership program.
The Preparedness Committee
The Climate and Emergency Preparedness committee is a community-wide effort to ensure that the community is prepared to be sustainable in all types of emergencies.
