Mukunda Stiles

Mukunda Stiles (1949-2014) was a pioneer in the field of yoga therapy and founder of the Yoga Therapy Center in Boulder, Colorado, as well as the author of widely-respected yoga books Structural Yoga Therapy, Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy and Tantra Yoga Secrets. His spiritual nature sought to nurture others through psychic healing and teaching Yoga. His life path became clearer as he completed a degree in religious studies in 1972 with a thesis on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. The publication of Mukunda’s poetic rendering of the Sutras in 2002 was the result of another thirty years of deep contemplation holding the sacred text close to his heart. Mukunda trained in the 900-year Hatha Yoga lineage of Sri Krishnamacharya. He studied with master teachers Indra Devi, AG Mohan, TKV Desikachar, BKS Iyengar, Dr. Vasant Lad, David Frawley and Robert Svoboda. To polish his understanding of anatomy and kinesiology, he undertook a year’s graduate study in physical therapy at California State University. Throughout the years, Mukunda held a wide range of esteemed faculty positions within the yoga world, including the SYDA ashram in Boston, the Mind Body Medical Institute, the Rocky Mountain Institute for Yoga and Ayurveda, and the International Ayurvedic Institute. Mukunda offered therapeutic certification courses since 1978. Among the graduates were the staff of the Nityananda Institute, Rudra Press and founders of the Yoga Teachers of Colorado. Mukunda sought to build a long-term relationship with his students, encouraging them to “dig one well deep.” He mentored many of them for numerous years, supporting them in their personal Sadhana. He emphasized that one’s own practice is the foundation for the yoga therapy shared with others and that yoga therapy is a spiritual healing modality observing and integrating all five koshas of the yogic anatomy body.Mukunda was a yoga instructor at ashrams in both the United States and India and studied with unknown teachers as well as two major mentors. Swami Shyam of Kullu instructed him in Raja Yoga, culminating in his own rendering of the Yoga Sutras. Babaji Prakashananda became his spiritual teacher following the Mahasamadhi of Muktananda in 1982. Babaji initiated him into the devotional aspects of Tantrik Kundalini Yoga. In 2005, Mukunda met his future wife Chinnamasta for the first time in Lucerne, Switzerland. When Chinnamasta approached him, he said, “Finally, you have come” and both experienced an inner knowingness that they had found their soulmate. Mukunda gave Chinnamasta her spiritual name and initiated her in the lineage of Bhagawan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri through a naturally arising Shaktipat. From the moment they became consorts in 2009, they started teaching side-by-side as Devi and Deva. It was during this time that they edited the book Tantra Yoga Secrets together and shared their personal experience in the eighteen lessons. Just three months after their marriage, Mukunda’s illness began to reveal itself. This became the highest sādhanā for both of them and for all those who were close enough to still receive teachings up to one month before Mukunda died. The years of being in the process of physical decline culminated in a teaching for life, learning how to live, love and die. On February 18, 2014, Mukunda transitioned in San Francisco within the intimacy of their home, in the arms of Chinnamasta, into the lap of the Divine Mother. Mukunda lived his name, meaning the compassionate liberator, until his last breath. He was known for his kindness, sensitivity and deep compassion. His attitude was equal to all he met. He embraced all with great respect and love. Chinnamasta continues to hold the torch and share the wisdom teachings of Yoga, Āyurveda and Tantra as they did together. Chinnamasta offers a multi-dimensional extensive yoga therapeutic program for professionals, offered through the mentored individual learning portal on the website. Besides offering a professional teaching program and teaching on the faculty of an 800 hours yoga therapeutic programs, she offers personal soul sessions for people of all walks of life. Chinnamasta is currently rewriting and expanding the āyurvedic yoga therapy book, that was published by Mukunda in 2008. Chinnamasta has a vast experience in the āyurvedic field, having lived and studied āyurveda for over thirty years in Europe, India and the USA. Coming from a medical background she merges her life long experience in the field of health, the transformative wisdom of yoga and the tantrik empowerment, blending them into one practical and profound approach to health and well-being. Chinnamasta currently lives in California and can be reached at connect@shivashaktiloka.com, www.shivashaktiloka.com