Who are the teachers at Hersha Yoga Academy?
Hersha Harilela Chellaram
Hersha is the heart of the academy, a Certified Yoga Therapist and teacher trainer with a singular mission: to make yoga a true tool for healing and empowerment for every body. With 20+ years of experience and deep roots in the Integral Yoga lineage, she has developed a unique, person-centered methodology. Hersha teaches you how to teach people, not just postures, emphasizing adaptation over adjustment and self-trust over performance. She is the creator of the StrongMind Yoga program and specializes in working with beginners, seniors, and students managing injury or chronic conditions. Her approach is practical, compassionate, and firmly rooted in real-world application.
Katia Karuna Bacon
Katia is a dedicated 500-hour Yoga & Meditation Teacher with over a decade of experience guiding students toward emotional freedom and inner peace. Her deep expertise in anatomy and physiology is informed by direct study with the field’s leading specialists, including Leslie Kaminoff, Gil Hedley, Tiffany Cruikshank, and Paul Grilley. This rigorous foundation allows her to teach the why behind the practice, helping students release mental and emotional barriers through intelligent, body-aware techniques. A lifelong learner and global citizen, Katia brings a calm, insightful presence to her teaching, empowering students to navigate life with greater ease, resilience, and self-understanding.
Gabrielle Baumgartner
Gabi Baumgartner is a pioneering and deeply respected senior teacher within the Hong Kong yoga community. As the first Hong Kong graduate of the Integral Yoga teacher training, she serves as a dedicated head teacher and mentor, guiding countless students and assisting in teacher training programs. Her expertise is further refined through her certification as a Vini Yoga Therapist from the Krishnamacharya lineage, with a specialized focus on Pranayama (yogic breathing) to help students profoundly deepen their practice. Gabi is a certified instructor in Integral Yoga Hatha, Adaptive Vini Yoga for individual needs, and Cardiac Medical Yoga. She skillfully bridges the mat with the natural world, organizing Integral Yoga retreats and mindful hikes through her venture, Walk Hong Kong Ltd, fostering a unique, holistic path to awareness and well-being.
Lakshmi Harilela
Lakshmi Harilela is a celebrated Ayurvedic chef, culinary wellness expert, and food artist dedicated to transforming health through conscious, nutritious eating. Born into Hong Kong’s influential Harilela family, she combines a rich culinary heritage with professional training from Les Roches, Switzerland, and experience in esteemed kitchens like The Landmark Mandarin Oriental. Lakshmi channels this expertise into her ventures, Love True Food and AyurvedaHK, where she crafts deeply nourishing dishes and consultations rooted in ancient Ayurvedic principles. Her holistic philosophy—that food is foundational to well-being—extends to her community work, volunteering as a health chef for Feeding Hong Kong. Lakshmi’s unique ability to blend visual storytelling with nutritional science has garnered international recognition, including a feature on Netflix’s Restaurants on the Edge, making her a trusted guide for those seeking to heal and thrive through the wisdom of food.
Aurelie Anjali Gauthier
Aurelie is a compassionate Certified Integral Yoga Instructor and Accessible Yoga Ambassadordedicated to proving there is not one, but many paths to well-being. She believes serenity can be found through dynamic movement, still meditation, mantra, or selfless service, tailoring her gentle approach to what each student needs. As a Yoga Trainer, she is certified in Integral Yoga Hatha, Raja Yoga, Yoga for the Special Child, and Stress Management. Her commitment to inclusivity is lived through her work with the YAMA Foundation, bringing yoga to all. Aurelie further enriches the sensory experience of practice by integrating healing sound vibrations, having trained extensively with gongs and Tibetan singing bowls since 2017. She offers a uniquely adaptive and nurturing space for students to explore peace in body, mind, and spirit.