Ministers & Teachers

Dharana and Pritha Villalvazo

Dharana and Pritha Villalvazo have been devoted pillars and directors of Ananda Los Angeles, offering steady leadership, service, and heart-centered support that helps keep the community vibrant and spiritually alive.

Dharana began his connection with Ananda Village in 2012, took Kriya in 2018, and has since served in key leadership roles including general manager and treasurer for the Ananda Los Angeles Board. Ordained a minister in 2023 and later an Ananda Lightbearer in 2026, he brings a grounded, steady presence rooted in devotion, service, & teaching.

Pritha began her Kriya path in 2018, was initiated in 2019, and quickly stepped into active service and ashram life. She was ordained a minister in 2023 and an Ananda Lightbearer in 2026, and joyfully shares the teachings through Ananda Yoga and meditation in both English and Spanish, carrying a warm, uplifting energy.

Together, as partners and parents of three children, they embody a life of shared dedication to Paramhansa Yogananda’s teachings. Their combined presence offers a current of divine love, encouragement, and support that nourishes the community and helps others feel uplifted on the spiritual path.

Paul Fetler

Sahadev Gilbert

Sahadev sees himself as ever-evolving on the spiritual path. After reading Autobiography of a Yogi in March 2020, he felt a deep inner calling that led him to seek initiation into Kriya Yoga. What began as a simple curiosity about meditation soon unfolded into a profound spiritual journey—one that has reshaped his priorities, expanded his beliefs, and transformed his consciousness.

Sahadev now serves as the General Manager of Ananda Los Angeles and offers his time and energy in selfless service to the community wherever he can. He loves teaching meditation classes and is deeply grateful to walk this path alongside his spiritual family. He looks forward to continually deepening his practice of Kriya while sharing its joy and blessings with others.

Hanuman Maniskas

Hanuman discovered the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda in 2021 and never looked back. After completing the courses, he moved into the Los Angeles Ashram in 2022 and was initiated into Kriya in January of 2023. Hanuman has served as the LA Choir Director since May of 2023, is the current Director of IT & Communications and is a certified Ananda Yoga and Meditation Teacher. Sharing Yogananda's teachings, the music of Swami Kriyananda, and the blessings of spiritual community is the great joy of his life. He is a core member of the sangha, supporting marketing efforts, acting as an instructor for the Path of Kriya courses, and joyfully serving in whatever way he can. Jai!

Padmini 

Padmini discovered the path of Kriya Yoga in 2020 and received Kriya initiation in July 2022. Since then, her life has been deeply shaped by the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda. She spent 3 years serving at the Seclusion Retreat, in Nevada City, where Ananda's work began, and is now joyfully sharing the teachings at Ananda Los Angeles through Ananda Yoga & Meditation.

She expresses her devotion in practical and heartfelt ways—lovingly preparing food for the community, supporting outreach and marketing efforts, and helping bring these teachings to new “thirsty souls” seeking inner peace.

Padmini continues to deepen her study through Ananda’s online programs, including spiritual counseling and advanced yoga teacher trainings, allowing her service and understanding to grow in harmony with the path.

Nayaswami Dharmadevi & Nayaswami Narayan

Nayaswami Dharmadevi first started her spiritual journey through Reiki and the healing arts. She founded an online international healing school sharing Reiki with thousands of people around the world. 

Through her healing journey, she discovered Ananda and met Swami Kriyananda in India, where she received Kriya Yoga initiation. While living at Ananda village Dharmadevi started Online with Ananda and Ananda’s Virtual Community – online platforms sharing the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda.

At Swami Kriyananda’s request, she now serves as co-spiritual director and Lightbearer of Ananda Los Angeles with her husband, Nayaswami Narayan. She also serves as a Kriyacharya through Ananda preparing and initiating souls on the path of Self-realization.

Nayaswami Narayan found Paramhansa Yogananda’s spiritual classic, Autobiography of a Yogi, through a miraculous answer to prayer. He learned the path of kriya yoga and discipleship through Yogananda’s close and direct disciple, Swami Kriyananda.

For the last twenty years he has dedicated his life to serving Yogananda through Ananda Sangha Worldwide. His areas of service include Crystal Clarity Publishers, teaching through Online with Ananda, and building spiritual communities in Southern California.

At Swami Kriyananda’s request, he now serves as co-spiritual director of Ananda Los Angeles and manages Crystal Clarity Publishers with his wife, Nayaswami Dharmadevi. As a Lightbearer and Kriyacharya, he also prepares and initiates truth-thirsty souls into Kriya Yoga throughout Southern California.