Welcome to Arkaya Foundation
A heart-centred community of full-spectrum, decolonized Yoga & Tantra.
Arkaya was founded by Yogacharini Maitreyi who
continues to lead our school’s programs &
500-hour Online Self-Awareness Teacher Training.
Founder Yogacharini Maitreyi was raised in the yogic culture of South India. She guides students into the subtleties of the yogic & tantric sciences & arts.
In a yogic landscape that has veered from its essence & roots, we offer Yoga & Tantra in its authentic form. The school is led by Yogacharini Maitreyi, a wisdom keeper from South India who has been teaching since 1997. Arkaya’s subtler & deeper practices foster mindfulness, healing, conscious evolution, and connection to the highest Self.
A registered not-for-profit, Arkaya was founded in Chennai, India and is now based out of Vancouver, Canada where it thrives offering online programs to students worldwide as well as in-person workshops & retreats.
Arkaya comes from the Sanskrit word “Arka” which is one of the names of the Sun. It means “light,” “healing,” and “inspiration.” Arkaya is the spark that inspires awe and awesomeness. Arkaya also embodies the guru spirit, shedding light on undiscovered aspects of ourselves.
Study with Yogacharini Maitreyi to embody the principles beyond just intellectual understanding.
Our Offerings
Arkaya’s offerings are built on self-awareness and practical wisdom
Live Online 500-Hr YTT
Weekly Yoga Classes
On-Demand Courses
Private Sessions
Did you know we also train organizations? Support your team to rise to their full potential.
The Arkaya system sees the seamless blending of many streams of Yoga and traditional Sattvic Tantra (pronounced: thun-thra) to lead one to the experience of the Self. The capacity to witness yourself and sublimate, without negating or suppressing emotions, is the beauty of this practice.
Questions? Looking for guidance on how to engage? Want to book a 20-minute Zoom call to learn more about our programs & 500-hour teacher training? Email infoarkaya@gmail.com
Are you ready to nurture your inner light?
Attend your first online yoga class for FREE!
Yogacharini Maitreyi leads a weekly online community Satsangh.
Date: Every Saturday
Time: 9:00 to 10:30 AM PST (optional 30 minute
discussion from 10:30 to 11:00).
Arkaya Yoga aligns your different dimensions. This practice is gentle in the beginning and takes a step-by-step approach incorporating all the classical practices like: jathi, kriya, asana, pranayama, sankalpa, mudhra, manthra, kirtan and Tantra.
Our Origins
From ancient roots to the modern world
Arkaya was founded by Yogacharini Maitreyi, a traditional yogic and tantric wisdom keeper from South India. Since 1997, Maitreyi has held the titles Yoga Chemmal (expert), Yoga Shiromani (gem) and Yoga Acharini (guide). Because of Maitreyi’s cultural & yogic immersion, all of Arkaya’s offerings are grounded in a step-by-step approach. It gives one the foundations of compassionate self-awareness through authentic practice, Indigenous values, and mindful methodology.
Maitreyi’s living integration of yogic insight, and her ability to communicate the nuances in a lighthearted way, is a rare gift in the world of modern yoga.
Click here to learn more about Yogacharini Maitreyi, and here to get to know the Arkaya team.
The way out is in. When we turn our awareness inwards,
we cultivate inner sight or insight.
- Yogacharini Maitreyi
Our Story
The following videos capture a bit of Arkaya’s essence
Yogacharini Maitreyi speaks about her path, her gurus and the classical life sciences of Yoga and Tantra.
Testimonials from Indian students of Yogacharini Maitreyi in the Magick of Mindfulness & Foundations for Life Program.
Arkaya Foundation, India empowers children living in the slums to rise to their full potential through educational and life-enrichment programs.
Arkaya is a space where the light of illumination can shine through each one of us. Yogacharini Maitreyi brings in the tools and principles to balance the patriarchal aspects of yoga while still keeping structure and integrity. Maitreyi considers herself an eternal student of life and brings her love for yoga / union and self exploration to this space with other senior teachers of allied traditions and sister sciences.
Arkaya is a space where you can embrace all aspects of yourself with love, joy and consciousness to allow the unnecessary to melt away. It is an organic space where you can synchronize with source and rise to your highest potential.
Yoga is bonding without being bound.
- Yogacharini Maitreyi
