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Chitra Lekha (Lena Nilsson)

Chitra Lekha has 30 years experience of teaching yoga, combining yoga and mindfulness over the last twenty years. Initially pursuing a Bachelor of Arts, training in classical singing and working as a nursing assistant, Chitra Lekha was born into a spiritual family so it was only natural that she would eventually return to ”the narrow path” and become a yoga teacher. 

Chitra Lekha, like so many spiritual seekers, is a perpetual student, and counts herself lucky to have "met some of best spiritual teachers on Planet Earth", listing Swami Janakananda, Jon Kabat-Zinn and and Swami Nishchalananda among those. 

She says "even if my experiences of life unfolded in Sweden, Mandala Yoga Ashram has been my spiritual home - like for so many people - for the last 30 years". 

More About Chitra Lekha

Chitra Lekha describes herself as "mother, daughter, sister, friend, catmate and choirsinger".

She was a devoteé of the Scandinavian Yoga & Meditation School in Sweden 1982-1994, learning there the foundations of Satyananda Yoga.

She started Stockholms Yogacentrum together with a group of three around her teacher in 1989.

She completed two yoga teacher training diplomas, one with the Bihar School of Yoga in 1995 and with Mandala Yoga Ashram in 1997. She also qualified as a Medi Yoga ”instructor” in 2013-2017.

Chitra Lekha has practiced Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) since 2005, and gained diplomas in MBSR from the Center for Mindfulness, Massachusetts in 2007 and 2009. She gained another diploma in 2020 as a Mindfulness Instructor from the Mindfulness Centre in Sweden.

During her 30 years of teaching, Chitra Lekha has developed silent mindfulness retreats and special courses in numerous workplaces including  organisations involved in Swedish Disability Rights; and taught university students, pregnant women, seniors, mental health workers, and carers.

She also organises Zoom courses with Swami Nishchalananda from Sweden. 

Our Founder

Mandala Yoga Ashram was founded in 1986 by Swami Nishchalananda on his return from India after spending 14 years with his Guru, Swami Satyananda, studying all aspects of yoga and imbibing the true essence of this ancient tradition. Swami Nishchalanda ('Swamiji') is recognised as a genuine Yoga Acharya - a Master of Yoga.
More about Swamiji

Charitable Status

The Ashram is a registered charity whose mission is to uplift humanity through the teachings of yoga, advaita and tantra. As an independent institution not affiliated to any set of religious beliefs, the purpose of the Ashram is simply to help people to remember their own sacredness and the sacredness of all that exists.
Registered Charity No. 1195209
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Our Address

Mandala Yoga Ashram
Pantypistyll, Llansadwrn, Llanwrda,
Carmarthenshire,
Wales, UK, 
SA19 8NR
Tel: +44 (0)1558 685358
Email: [email protected]
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