Guyanese are discovering the benefits of holistic health through yoga – Instructor

May 03, 2026 News

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(Kaieteur News) – Yoga, a discipline that began thousands of years ago in India, is being reintroduced to modern Guyanese society not just as exercise, but as a means to healing, resilience, and holistic well-being.  Its origins trace back to ancient India, emerging from sacred texts such as the Vedas and later systematized in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

Teerandai Haripersaud, a certified RYT500 traditional yoga instructor and founder of Yoga Hub – a non-profit organisationt is making yoga accessible across the country – uses her sessions around Arrival Day (May 5) to reflect on heritage and the journey from India, along with practices like intention setting, mindful breathing, and light storytelling.

She told The Waterfall Magazine “Cultural elements are shared in an inclusive way, allowing participants to connect with the history of yoga while enjoying its physical and mental benefits,” she shared in an interview with this publication.

The instructor noted that traditionally, yoga was never just about physical postures; it was a comprehensive system aimed at achieving self-realisation through meditation, ethical discipline, breath control, and mindfulness.

Over time, she said, as yoga spread globally, it evolved – often emphasising physical fitness and stress relief.

In Guyana, however, Haripersaud noted that “yoga is taking on its own identity, retaining its spiritual roots while embracing the needs of a modern Caribbean society.”

For her, yoga is not a trend or profession, but a lifelong journey. Her introduction to the practice began in childhood at her local mandir, where she learned basic poses before eventually guiding others in her community. Even as a young girl, she displayed a natural inclination toward leadership, often leading sessions on the mud dam in her neighborhood.

She said that early curiosity grew into a deeper pursuit during her teenage years, when she immersed herself in Hindi, Vedic scriptures, and self-study.

A defining moment came on September 21, 2000, when she responded to an invitation to observe World Peace Day. That experience marked a turning point, leading her into nearly 15 years of transcendental meditation practice with the Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga movement in Georgetown. So, what began as personal exploration gradually turned into a commitment to sharing yoga’s benefits with others.

Professionally, Haripersaud built a career in science, working for over two decades as a Laboratory Coordinator and Senior Biochemistry Technician at Texila American University. With a background in biochemistry, she developed an understanding of the human body, which would later inform her approach to yoga as both a preventative and complementary health practice.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic became another turning point. During this period of global uncertainty, the yogini deepened her yoga training through institutions such as the Swami Vivekananda Culture Centre Guyana and Maharshi Dayananda Gurukula in India and the United States. This phase marked her transition from practitioner to teacher, and ultimately, to community leader.

In 2020, she founded Yoga Hub, an organisation focused on promoting the transformative power of yoga through education, outreach, and inclusive programming. 

GROWING CULTURAL IMPACT

What began as a small initiative has since grown into a nationwide movement, reaching more than 23,000 individuals across schools, youth camps, workplaces, and community spaces over the past six years.

Yoga Hub’s work extends far beyond traditional classes. The organisation integrates mindfulness, movement, and emotional support into its programmes, particularly for young people.

As a trained gatekeeper for suicide prevention, Haripersaud uses yoga as a tool for mental health intervention, helping individuals manage stress, build resilience, and develop self-awareness.

She asserted “Yoga is more than physical exercise,” she shared. “It is a way to reconnectwith yourself, your breath, and your purpose.”

Within the Indo-Guyanese community, yoga has long held cultural and spiritual significance, influenced by traditions from India and teachings such as the Bhagavad Gita.

Today, while many still practice yoga as a path to inner growth and devotion, it is also widely embraced for its practical benefits, including improved flexibility, stress relief, and overall wellness. Yoga Hub’s programmes reach individuals of all ages, religious backgrounds, and social circumstances. Sessions are held in schools, parks, temples, and even open community spaces, reflecting a commitment to accessibility.

One of Haripersaud’s most ambitious initiatives has been integrating yoga into the formal education system. In 2023, she made the bold decision to leave her longstanding career at Texila American University to focus entirely on teaching yoga in schools. She joined Camille’s Academy, where she introduced structured yoga programmes across four campuses – Crane, Diamond, Lusignan, and Soesdyke.

She couldn’t be happier at the results.

HOLISTIC EDUCATION

In 2025, Camille’s Academy was awarded “Best School with Holistic Education” at the World School Summit in Malaysia, becoming the first school in the Caribbean to integrate yoga into its curriculum and receive such recognition. Beyond schools, Yoga Hub is involved in research and collaboration.

The organisation is currently conducting studies on student well-being and the impact of mindfulness in academic settings, in partnership with Camille’s Academy. Additionally, it is working with Toronto Metropolitan University on a cross-analysis of care for children and youth between service providers in Ontario and Guyana.

Through collaborations with the University of Guyana, medical students have explored the application of yoga therapy in treating conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

As an elective rotation in the Bachelors of Medicine, Bachelors of surgery programme at the University of Guyana, Dr. Mohanee Motilal did Medical Yoga Therapy with Yoga Hub focusing on both the physical and mental well-being of patients of various ages, geographical locations and cultural backgrounds, to treat symptoms of various medical conditions affecting our population including diabetes, hypertension and PCOS and also exploring the psychological effect of meditation and relaxation.

Dr. Mohanee Motilal was awarded “More than Medicine Award” due to her involvement with Yoga Hub throughout her medical school journey.

“Yoga not only offered me the stability required during the journey but it expanded my experience of ways in which holistic wellbeing can be achieved for my patients.”

Haripersaud said her work is also connected to community engagement. Through partnerships with organisations such as the Isha Foundation, the Guyana Hindu Youth Camp, and the Chinmaya Mission Guyana, Yoga Hub continues to expand its reach, programmes often include elements of cultural education, particularly around Indian Arrival Day, where participants reflect on heritage, practice mindful breathing, and engage in storytelling.

Haripersaud’s efforts have not gone unnoticed as this year; she was named one of Guyana’s 25 Influential Women Leaders. “Every time someone learns to breathe through stress, to pause, to reconnect – that is success,” she expressed.

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• holistic health, Patanjali, Yoga, Yoga Sutras

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