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 Raghu & Sabari Clark, Ministers and Spiritual Directors of Ananda Sacramento
Raghu and Sabari are inspired teachers and insightful counselors dedicated to serving the highest in others. Sabari came to Ananda in 1988 and trained as a teacher and minister in the Ananda Palo Alto center before coming to Sacramento in 2009. Raghu spent 5 years at Ananda Village outside Nevada City, serving in various enterprises including the dairy and building many of the homes at the Village. He met Sabari in Palo Alto where he served as a minister and teacher for 20 years.
Testimonials:
“Sabari and Raghu gave us practical insights into understanding emotions and feelings. I loved the practicality of their approach looking at real world situations.”
JP, Palo Alto
“The instructors, Raghu and Sabari were excellent. They are a wonderful team because they are both such heart centered, gentle and loving people.”
CM, Half Moon Bay
“I loved every moment. One can ‘feel’ the dedication and devotion in both Sabari and Raghu; they are teaching in the loving spirit of Yogananda and Swami Kriyananda.”
MC, Sunnyvale
Sabari brings such fresh insight to Yogananda's teachings. I've been taking classes at Ananda for many years, and truly appreciate the depth of her understand and her ability to communicate it so clearly.
PD, Sacramento
 Matt & Sue Stickney
Light Bearer & Minister
Matt came to Ananda in 1984 and is a senior minister of Ananda Sacramento, teaching a wide variety of classes and workshops. He loves to teach and watches for the moment when a light comes on in the students eyes - when the words become real and a part of them. Sue is a minister with Ananda and is a teacher by training. She is known by her friendly and welcoming attitude and loves meeting new people. Presently she tutors special needs high school students who need personalized education.
Testimonials:
I took the 12 week Raja Yoga class with Matt & Sue in 2009; it was such a good experience that I repeated it in 2010! Sue and Matt are knowledgeable, insightful, and responsive to the needs of the individuals in the group. Sue takes special care to provide supportive handouts. JB, Galt
Matt and Sue have been the guiding light on several book reviews I have attended and their knowledge of the book and devotion to discussing in a enlightening manner have been excellent. I also joined with them in last years Rajah Yoga class and again they were the guiding light as to the yoga postures and philosophical discussions. Coupled with their background knowledge of Amanda and their meditation techniques they are an unbeatable pair. BY, Fair Oaks
I have had the great blessing of attending Matt and Sue's spiritual book discussion classes for the past few years and would recommend any class they are a part of. Their joyous spirit and knowledgeable insights have helped me immensely in my own spiritual growth. I left every one of their classes happier and feeling more connected to God. They are teachers and friends in the truest sense of the word. LH, Fair Oaks
Chandrika 
Minister
Chandrika has taught Raja Yoga (which includes many levels of meditation) full-time for over 12 years. She has been an active member at the Ananda Sangha since 1992. Her love and appreciation for the practical applications of yoga in daily life inspires her to share the art and science of yoga with all interested parties.
Testimoinials:
I feel joy, peace and calmness in Chandrika. The teachings she has shared with me have changed my life. She responds to questions in a knowledgeable and individualized manner. She inspires and encourages and I always leave feeling uplifted. Sharon
Chandrika, took me through the basic steps of how to meditate in the most efficient and effective way I’ve ever known. She is a caring, loving individual who dispenses information in such a gentle way that it seems to flow right into the heart. I am grateful to her for her role as teacher, and for all that I’ve learned so far.
GB, Rancho Cordova, CA
Victoria Hansen
Minister
Victoria leads the Healing Prayer Ministry and has developed the Prayer Council, a group of more than 30 who pray daily for others; the SOS Prayer Group who pray for people in crisis and the Healing Prayer Circle who practice Yogananda’s Healing Techniques. As an extension of the Healing Ministry, she shares her knowledge and experience of Spirit-in-Nature Flower Essences. She teaches classes in all of these areas. Victoria is a founding member of the Sacramento Community and since her retirement from teaching public school, spends her time serving around the Community.
Testimonials:
Healing prayers are the only answer when all conventional therapy or diagnosis fails to heal the physical, mental or spiritual imbalances. I am so grateful and thankful having the opportunity to learn Master’s, Paramhansa Yogananda, healing techniques through Victoria. Not only does it allow me to pray for others, it also benefits me tremendously in my spiritual advancement. It is my sincere desire and intent to lift and lessen suffering. I am blessed to be able to serve others in this way. PC, Elk Grove
I have been a member of Victoria's Healing Prayer Circle for some time and I have inherited a great increase in my spiritual outlook on life. Her lead in opening prayers, chants and a short meditation sets the stage for the prayer group to be in a collective spiritual mood to ask the Divine Mother for her healing grace. In addition, her contact with Mary Kretzmann gives us added emphasis to our private healing practices. Victoria is also contacted for healing prayers by email and fills a great void behind the scenes for Ananda. We are fortunate to have her. BY, Folsom
In her classes and prayer circles Victoria presents many of Yogananda’s healing techniques in ways that we all feel His blessings. I have attended the Prayer Circles for quite a few years, and she always gives such love and understanding to each individual request. There must have been hundreds of prayer requests over the years and all of these prayer requests have been honored. I have been the recipient many times and felt God and Guru helping me through some serious illnesses. When someone cannot come to the group prayer, she gathers people together and goes to them—their homes, the hospital, or wherever needed. YW, Rancho Cordova
 Priyadarshini
Priyadarshini teaches How to Meditate classes and is a founding member of the Sacramento Community. A multi-talented individual, she is also our webmaster and runs Master’s Kitchen in the Ananda Community. She gave up her career as an RN in 2008 to be able to dedicate herself more fully to serving at Ananda.
Testimonials
I found Priyadarshini's workshop to be a perfect balance of experience and explanation. The bonus was that I had time to ask questions about Ananda in general. Based on that information, I decided to stay another night and attend Sunday services. Priyadarshini greeted me and – when I tried to sit in the back row – gently guided me to sit with her in the front row so I could experience the services more fully.”
DB, Santa Rosa
Priyadarshini has been a dear friend for more than 15 years. She is the calm in any storm, centered when you are troubled. Her knowledge of Master’s teachings is deep and wonderful. She is inspiring, loving and best of all willing to laugh with you just at the right time. I have taken yoga from her and not wanted the class to end and when she speaks of Master you can feel your heart open with her words.
LN, Rancho Cordova
Brenda K. Gustin, Ph.D
Brenda is a certified Ananda Yoga and Meditation Instructor with over ten years of teaching experience. She loves the clarity of Yogananda's teachings and his desire to bring forth knowledge of the Eternal Religion, Sanatana Dharma. As a Sevaka Member of Ananda, she practices Kriya yoga daily. She blends the art and science of yoga with the hermetic science of Egypt to bring forth the underlying connection within the Eastern and Western views of health and wellness from her studies at Ananda and while obtaining a Doctorate in Esoteric Philosophy and Hermetic Science. She enjoys exploring the variety of Yoga techniques available to dive deeply, simply and sweetly to raise awareness of the union within body, mind and soul.
Testimonials:
During Brenda's yoga classes, I feel the sweet gentleness of her energy. But afterwards, I find that the deep message of her teachings stay with me - I remember words or phrases that are helpful at just the right moment. My body feels not just relaxed, but invigorated and energized. I'm always surprised to find there is so much power in that sweet energy. PM, Sacramento
Brenda is an experienced instructor who continually grows through education and mindful living. Her yoga is gentle as she does not lose sight of the purpose of the practice; the balance and union of body, mind and spirit. We all leave her class and the Church feeling that our soul hath been restored. Barbara
It is such a pleasure to have you involved in this program. Thank you for giving so much of your talent and heart to bring healing and hope to our patients. Sincerely, Kathleen M., Manager Mercy Women's Center and Mercy Perinatal Recovery Network (Mercy PRN)
John Hubbard 
John teaches How to Meditate classes. Although a practitioner of yoga and meditation since 1970 he joined Ananda in 1996 when found that the yoga methods taught by Ananda opened new vistas for him. Now retired, John had 2 professions, one as an elementary teacher and another as a Chiropractor. He also taught anatomy and physiology to massage students. John says that Yogananda’s teachings on good health practices were a large part of the success in beating cancer.
Phouvang Sengmany
Phouvang teaches the Hatha Yoga portion of the Raja Yoga Class. She has lived in the Sacramento community since 2006 and she has been practicing Ananda Yoga since 2005. She recently received training at the Expanding Light’s Ananda Yoga Teacher Training under the direction of Gyandev McCord. Phouvang loves to share the love and inspiration she finds in Ananda Yoga. She believes that yoga is for everyone and everyone can do something.
Testimonials:
Phouvang is a truly fine yoga teacher. The depth of her knowledge is so impressive, and she shares that knowledge from her heart. Her love of yoga is obvious and infectious. She is especially good with beginners, helping us feel safe and comfortable. M.S. Rancho Cordova
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