Shivani Howe - Founder & Primary Resident

Shivani Howe is the founder of Ishtadev Niwas Ashram and the non-profit Living Yoga Society. She is an accomplished artist, writer, inspirational speaker and karma sannyasin yogini at the feet of her Gurus Paramahansa Satyananda Saraswati and Paramahansa Satyasangananda Saraswati, in Rikhia Ashram, India.

In 2001, Shivani was challenged with a painful and 'incurable' disease and decided to take a new approach to life. This is when she discovered the ancient philosophy of Yoga. The New Zealand native not only healed her endometriosis, but brought harmony to her life and body, by unraveling the stresses of her illness from its source.

Shivani has completed over a thousand hours of intensive Yoga training and is a certified E-RYT 500 Yoga teacher and teacher trainer. Her intuition and expertise are invaluable whether she is working in private sessions or speaking to large groups. She has traveled the world speaking and teaching Yogic techniques and philosophy that can be used in daily life to raise ones consciousness and quality of life. To access Shivani's full Bio & CV please click here.

Shivani is also the co-owner operator of Ishtadev Niwas Farm where she lives and works with her husband Paramjyoti, son Narayan, and offers life changing retreats and classes. Her intention is to bring the Eastern philosophy of Yoga to the West and facilitate the beautiful awakening here in Canada. Shivani's favorite pastime is playing with their 5 year old son, her greatest teacher.

Paramjyoti Howe - Founder, Head Baker, & Primary Resident

Paramjyoti is co-founder to Ishtadev Niwas Ashram & Farm.  Also a karma yoga sanyassin, Paramjyoti travels every year to "re-charge" his yogic lifestyle in Rikhia Ashram.

Paramjyoti is an experienced Karma Yogi and provides guidance with enthusiasm and wisdom to all 'Niwas residents and retreat participants.

His day job is as both a nurse for the regional hospital and head baker for 'Niwas Bakery where he has developed his own style of wood-fired, naturally levened bakery products.  Baking and farming are his true passions - he loves to give back to the land and to his community through any means possible.

Paramjyoti successfully mentored his predecessor as the Living Yoga Society's President and provides both spiritual and organizational guidance to all operations necessary to keep 'Niwas running.