Kali Ray, Founder of TriYoga
Kali Ray is internationally renowned as a yogini and founder of TriYoga. Traveling extensively, she has taught TriYoga on a daily basis for over 30 years. Integrating Eastern thought and Western tradition, she has presented 32 keynote addresses at yoga conferences and other venues worldwide, and has been featured in yoga magazines and other media. Kaliji's presence, her mastery of the flow and the ageless wisdom inherent in TriYoga have inspired and transformed countless lives.
TriYoga, which includes the full range of yoga practices, is taught in more than 30 countries and 31 TriYoga Centers have been established, including centers in Austria, Denmark, Germany, India, Russia, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United States. In the tradition of ancient hatha yoga, TriYoga is guided by Kriyavati siddhi (kundalini-inspired yoga) as it flows through Kaliji. She has systematized asana (posture), pranayama (breathing practices), and dharana (concentration techniques) from Basics to Level 7, and over 1000 hasta mudras (hand gestures) have expressed through her. The art and science of yogaflow, TriYoga unites pranayama and mudra with dynamic and sustained asana.
Rhythmic pacing, relaxation-in-action, wavelike spinal movements and economy of motion characterize TriYoga's flowing sequences. When the practitioner sustains awareness on all aspects of the practice, the movement of body, breath and mudra harmonize. This creates greater flow of prana, making the body a fit instrument for meditation and for life.
Kaliji has overseen the certification of over 600 TriYoga teachers worldwide and hundreds more are enrolled in the teacher internship program. TriYoga teachers have been established in yoga centers, schools, universities and hospitals, as well as businesses and corporations. Additionally, Kalijji has published in-depth and systematized teaching and practice manuals including TriYoga Basics, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Flow, TriYoga for Everyone, and Prana Vidya. She founded the ensemble Chant Club, offering Sanskrit chants sung in call-and-response style.
Kaliji was initiated as a swamini in the Jayalakshmi Datta Avadhoota lineage by H. H. Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji of Mysore,India. In 2006, in recognition of Kaliji's global humanitarian service, Sri Swamiji honored her with the Vishwa Bandhu award. Vishwa Bandhu translates as friend of the universe, a caring relative of humanity.
Kaliji has given keynote addresses and in-depth programs at the following yoga conferences:
- 18th International Conference on Frontiers in Yoga Research, Vivekananda Kendra, Bangalore, India (December 2009)
- World Peace Yoga Conference ~ Cincinnati, Ohio (October, 2009)
- Gnaa Naa Bha Yoga Conference ~ Dallas, Texas (July 2009)
- Symphony of Yoga Conference ~ Dallas, Texas (July 2009)
- Gnaa Naa Bha Yoga Conference ~ Datta Peetham, Mysore, India (December, 2008)
- Swiss Jubilee Congress ~ Bern, Switzerland (Feb/March, 2008)
- Yoga in Asia Conference ~ Malaysia (November, 2007)
- Asian Pacific Yoga Conference ~ Guangzhou, China (October 2006)
- Yoga Association ~ Vienna, Austria (August 2006)
- Israel Yoga Association ~ Tel Aviv, Israel (April 2006)
- International Yoga Conference near Bangalore, India (December 2005)
- Lotus Yoga Conference ~ Guangzhou, China (December 2005)
- International Yoga Conference ~ Haridwar, India (November 2005)
- Yoga Conference ~ Taiwan (November 2005)
- Sangam Yoga Conference ~ Santa Catarina, Brazil (October 2005)
- Novosibirsk Yoga Federation ~ Siberia, Russia (September 2005)
- Yoga Association ~ Vienna, Austria (August 2005)
- German Yoga Association ~ Hannover, Germany (August 2005)
- Asian Pacific Yoga Conference ~ Singapore (May 2005)
- World Yoga Forum ~ Milan, Italy (April 2005)
- Yoga Conference ~ Taiwan (October 2004)
- European Yoga Conference ~ Zinal, Switzerland (August 2004)
- New York Yoga Expo ~ New York, New York (June 2004)
- Midwest Yoga Conference ~ Chicago, Illinois (May 2004)
- Body-Mind-Spirit Conference ~ Santa Clara, California (April 2004)
- Health Classic ~ Malibu, California (November 2003; 2004)
- Yoga Expo ~ Los Angeles, California (September 2003)
- Yoga Vision Conference ~ Tempe, Arizona (2003)
- Southwest Yoga Conference ~ Palm Springs, California (2002)
- International Yoga Teachers' Association ~ Singapore (2001)
- Canada Yoga Association ~ Toronto (1993)
- International Association of Yoga Therapists ~ Los Angeles, California (1992)
Kaliji has been featured in the cover stories of many yoga magazines and other media throughout the world:
- Bio, Germany, 2008
- Yoga Swiss, Switzerland, 2007
- Yoga Magazine, England, 2006
- Yoga Today, England, 2006
- Featured as fitness and yoga guru on VH1's Celebrity Fit Club, 2006
- Yoga Journal, Russia, 2005
- Yoga Journal, Ukraine, 2005
- Skylife, China, 2005
- The Gazette, Iowa, 2005
- Malibu Times Magazine, Malibu, CA, 2005
- Travel News, Ukraine, 2005
- What's On, Ukraine, 2005
- Freising News, Germany, 2005
- Baroda Times, Baroda, India, 2004
- Newsday, Long Island, NY, 2004
- Nexus, Colorado's Holistic Journal, 2004
- Yoga Aktuell, Germany, Aug/Sept 2004, Oct/Nov 2004
- Yoga Journal, Russia, 2004
- OrganicAuthority.com, 2004
- Los Angeles Times Calendar Weekend Magazine, USA, 2004
- Los Angeles Yoga Magazine, USA, 2004
- Yoga Chicago Magazine, USA, 2004
- Yoga Journal, Ukraine, 2003
- Yoga Nytt, Norway, 2003
- Los Angeles Yoga Magazine, USA, 2003
- Yoga Chicago Magazine, USA, 2003
- Yoga Aktuell, Germany, 2002
- Yoga Journal, USA, 2002
- Australia Yoga Life, 2002
- Dansk Yoga Nyt, Denmark, 2002
- Yoga Journal, Switzerland, 2002
- Poweragent, Los Angeles, USA, 2001
- Yoga Aktuell, Germany, 2001
- Featured on the Brazilian television show, Zona Zen, the largest health-oriented program in Brazil. (2001)
- Featured on the PBS special, Healthy Living, hosted by Jane Seymour and shown in over 25 countries (2000)
- Reno Air Approach magazine, California, 1999
- Baroda Times, Baroda, India, 1998
- Yoga Integral and Artes Corporales, South America, 1993
- Hinduism Today, 1992
- Yoga Journal, USA, 1992
In addition, Kaliji has been featured:
- Daily on Chinese television in TriYoga with Kaliji (2006 - present)
- In the book Secrets of the World's Inspirational Women by Zerbanoo Gifford, with portraits of the women in the National Portrait Gallery in London (2007)
- As a guest speaker at Tampa General Hospital for the Integrative Medicine seminar for cardiologists and other health professionals in Tampa, Florida (November 2004)
- On the Brazilian television show Zona Zen, the largest health-oriented program in Brazil. Over 6 million people saw the segment (2001)
- On the PBS Special entitled Healthy Living, a television series hosted by Jane Seymour, which was shown in over 25 countries (2000)
- As a highly rated presenter for the Young Presidents' Organization (1995-1999)
- As a regular guest presenter at Vivekananda Yoga Research in Bangalore, India
- At other conferences including Yoga Journal Conference and Unity in Yoga
Additional facts on Kaliji include:
- Voted Yoga Teacher of the Year by Samata International (1991)
- Created TriYoga Flows DVDs that reach a broad cross section of the population. Titles include Free the Hips, Free the Spine, Strengthening, Gentle Cardio, Prenatal, Kids, Teens, Family, Seniors and Yoga for Two. Continues to create DVDs that include a variety of topics and are systematized by level.
- Served on the executive board of EarthSave, Unity in Yoga, and presently Datta Yoga Center and Yoga Sangeeta
- Served on the advisory board for YES (Youth for Environmental Sanity) and Vegetarian Lifestyle magazine.
- For over 30 years has practiced the vegan lifestyle, a plant-based diet.