Staff

Bidyut Bose, Executive Director, E-mail BK
Bidyut (BK) Bose learned Yoga from his father since he was a child, later for extended periods with monks in the Himalayas, and with Sri Monotosh Chaudhuri, a student of Yogindra Bishnu Ghosh, younger brother of Paramhansa Yogananda. A teacher's teacher, Bidyut and his students have been reaching out to the community through Yoga, including children with special needs (KARA), at-risk youth (Huckleberry), seniors (Berkeley YMCA), and people with cancer (Alta Bates Comprehensive Cancer Center). A long-time student of Indian Philosophy, Sanskrit, and world religions, and a classical musician, he earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science at U.C. Berkeley.

Bidyut spent years in advanced research, development, and strategic planning in computers and communications, working in Silicon Valley, presenting at international conferences and global corporations, and teaching at universities, with multiple patents and publications. Inspired by Swami Vivekananda's twin ideals of self-realization and selfless service, he longed for greater alignment between his life internal and external, to expand his circle of love and concern. Niroga Institute was born out of that love and desire to serve. His research interests have now shifted to include the science of flexibility, the mechanisms of aging, and the scientific application of the principles of Yoga Therapeutics for many common chronic conditions, as he strives to bring the benefits of Yoga to those that need it.

Judy Dunlap, Operations Director, E-mail Judy
Judy Dunlap has had long time interest in Eastern philosophies, and in the East’s body/mind/spirit or holistic approach to healthful living and evolving consciousness. A student of the philosophy of Vedanta, she is currently on the Board of Directors of the Vedanta Society of Berkeley, Ca. Two years ago she was introduced to yoga through Bidyut’s classes, and has experienced the holistic therapeutic value of yoga first-hand.

Judy enjoys the challenge of start-ups. Her background is varied and entrepreneurial in nature: As an Assistant Merchandise Manager and Buyer, she helped grow a national, retail clothing chain from 4 to 40 stores. In direct contrast to the world of retail, she helped start-up a janitorial company in the East Bay. Most recently and for over 10 years, she was Director of Operations for a small, software company. She received her BA in Anthropology from U.C. Santa Barbara, and recently earned her MBA from Golden Gate University.

Dhea Maloney, Technology Director, E-mail Dhea
Dhea Maloney has a unique background that includes education and experience in Information Technology and Biological Sciences. She has a graduate degree in Information Management and Systems from U.C. Berkeley, and an undergraduate degree in Genetics. A dedicated yoga student, she is focused on using technology to educate and inform people about Yoga and the Niroga Institute.

Chandralekha Mallik, Research Director, E-mail Chandra
Chandra Mallik was introduced to yoga at a tender age by her father, a Sanskrit scholar and a civil servant. She lived in Rishikesh as a child, playing and practicing yoga on the banks of the river Ganga. At age fourteen she continued her studies in yoga under Sri Monotosh Chaudhuri, a disciple of Yogindra Bishnu Ghosh. Her holistic approach to yoga encompasses health, psychology, philosophy and world religions.

She earned a Master of Urban Design from Hong Kong University and a Bachelor of Architecture from India. She worked as an urban planner in Hong Kong and Singapore and as an architect in San Francisco, Kazakhstan, Paris and India. She sculpted and danced amongst the arid virgin lands of Central Asia and played the sitar on the fertile soil of Bengal. She continued to learn from the school of life. She lived through the cold war in the former Soviet Union and appreciated the beauty of the Danube while living in Yugoslavia. She witnessed a country being born in Kazakhstan, and observed an island reverting back to its past in Hong Kong. She marveled at the nuances of Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris watched a horse being cut and served at a nomad’s dastarkhan (banquet) in Kyrghystan with equal equanimity. Yoga and these unique experiences made her receptive to a wider world - a compassionate world without boundaries.

Hayley Parlen, Yoga Corp Coordinator, E-mail Hayley
Upon taking her first yoga and meditation class in 1993, Hayley knew that yoga would become a life long practice, both on and off the mat. Since then, Hayley has practiced and studied various styles of yoga and has completed numerous teacher trainings for both adults and children, including training in asana and meditation in Mysore, India at the Atma Vikasa Center. Hayley's experience reaches out to all walks of life--children of all ages,adults, special needs and at risk youth. Currently, Hayley is a lead teacher for Niroga Institute and is also Niroga's Yoga Corps Coordinator. In addition, Hayley teaches both a Yoga and Meditation class and a Vinyasa class at UC Berkeley and also to elementary school children for It's Yoga Kids in the Presidio.

Hayley encourages her students to use their breath as an inner guide as they move with mindfulness through the asanas. Her style is gentle, yet challenging and aspires to create a lighthearted atmosphere. Her classes offer opportunities for her students to realize their true nature as they are continuously challenged to delve deep into their energy bodies, and go beyond the thinking mind.

Evan Snow, Program Manager, E-mail Evan