Our co-founder, Jeenal Mehta, was born into a Bhakti Indian family where yoga was not just a practice, but a way of life. This profound foundation led her in her early twenties to study with her Gurus, the late Dr. Jayadev and Dr. Hansaji (who is now 78 years old), at The Yoga Institute in Mumbai, India. It was there she met her late husband and co-founder, Daniel Fonseca, from Brazil. Together, they shared a deep commitment: to bridge the gap between East and West by sharing the authentic and spiritual principles of ancient yoga with a modern sensibility, along with a universal, non-competitive, open-minded, non-patriarchal, non-religious way of teaching of yoga, making it practical, accessible and meaningful for everyone.

For years, Jeenal and Daniel cultivated a loving worldwide community, offering transformative programs and Yoga Teacher Training Courses (TTCs) across continents, including India, Thailand, Bali, Brazil, the USA, Austria, and Germany. This journey led them to open Wise Living Yoga Academy in Chiang Mai Thailand in 2013, where they dedicated over a decade to building a vibrant, global family of yoga students. After Daniel’s passing at the age of 45, Jeenal gracefully continues to teach Yoga.

Today, Wise Living Yoga Academy is a vibrant yoga community and a living testament to the transformative power of authentic yoga, supported by a huge community of Yoga practitioners worldwide. Our global credibility is strong, with our certification accepted and valued in all countries. We are not a commercial Yoga center with impersonal classes and a high turnover of teachers; here, you feel a sense of belonging. We offer yoga teacher training courses at the beautiful Away Chiang Mai Thapae Resort, a sanctuary for immersive learning. Our 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training and Yoga Retreats focus on Authentic Classical Yoga blended with Modern Yoga Science. Hundreds of our graduates have gone on to open their own Yoga studios and yoga centers and also have enriched their personal lives.

Jeenal Mehta, co-founder of Wise Living Yoga Academy, has over 20 years of experience teaching yoga. Having certified over a  thousand students globally across more than 150 Yoga Teacher Training Courses, all her classes are packed with life-transforming knowledge. Born in a traditional Indian family rooted in Bhakti Yoga, she was first taught by her parents. Her spiritual journey was deepened by studies with great masters & monks both in India and from the West, where she gained a foundation in Modern Yoga Science along with a strong foundation in Yoga with Sankhya (Dualism), and Advaita Vedanta (Non-Dualism). She also has a Diploma in Buddhist philosophy and Vipassana meditation. 

Jeenal’s teachings are a powerful bridge between the two worlds. Having a deep foundation in these subjects with the knowledge of Sanskrit language while having a Western schooling has become a strong point in her teaching. This unique blend of East and West, forged by her diverse educational background in science and sociology, makes her guidance authentic and relatable to a global audience. She can explain complex ancient teachings in a clear, accessible way that resonates with Western students. Jeenal also teaches Neuroscience-based Yoga, merging Yoga wisdom with brain health. As a certified Yoga Therapist, she passionately helps people with challenges like addictions, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Her therapeutic work spans all ages, from children to senior citizens.

Jeenal is also the author of a vegan cookbook “Spices & Love” and teaches Ayurveda Diet and Yoga for Mental Health. She is a passionate animal activist and public speaker. Driven by her deep respect for humanitarians like Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave, she continues her mission to share authentic yoga with her profound knowledge and compassionate spirit, creating a global family of Yoga practitioners who adore her teachings.

Led by Jeenal Mehta, our other team teachers and staff are committed to guiding you on a journey of personal growth and discovery. You’ll also be cared for by our entire resort staff, chef and our Resort Manager, who work together to make your stay comfortable, nourishing, and truly transformative.

Our Yoga teachings are a dynamic and holistic blend of ancient wisdom and the modern science of Yoga and are non-religious in nature. We are proud to carry the lineage of Shri Yogendraji—the Father of the Modern Yoga Renaissance from The Yoga Institute of Mumbai, India, the world’s oldest organized yoga institution. At the same time, our Yoga teachings are also enriched by many other profound influences. 

At the same time, our lineage is not static; Jeenal continuously learns from a diverse range of masters, irrespective of the gender and is dedicated to evolving the school, which helps Western yoga practitioners find authentic yoga with us. We have an open minded approach to Yoga with universal, non-patriarchal, non-cultish/ non-religious values, making it a joyous path for everyone.

Jeenal’s own spiritual journey began in an Indian family rooted in Bhakti Yoga (Oneness & Love) where she learned this way of yoga from her parents and later deepened by her studies with great Yoga scholars like Dr. Hansaji &  Late Dr. Jayadev and other great masters across India. Jeenal also brings the rich wisdom of great Indian saints and sages of Advaita Vedanta (Non-Dualism/Oneness) along with Buddhist Philosophy and Vipassana Meditation to our Yoga courses.

Our teachings are rooted in a rich and authentic lineage that traces back to spiritual masters like Paramhansa Madhavdasji, a great Hatha and Bhakti Yogi from the 18th century. He passed on his timeless wisdom to Shri Yogendraji, the founder of The Yoga Institute in 1918 and a true pioneer of the “Modern Yoga Renaissance.”

Our Lead Teacher and Co-founder Jeenal , received her training under the direct guidance of Shri Yogendraji’s esteemed son, the late Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra, and his equally respected wife, Dr. Hansaji Yogendra, who is now 78 years old. This deep connection to such a remarkable lineage along with Wise Living Yoga Academy’s open minded, modern and universal approach ensures that our teachings remain rooted in the science and integrity of authentic yoga, offering a complete path to holistic living to the modern people