Pandit Tejomaya was called to a spiritual life from early on. He holds a bachelors of arts in Philosophy from the University of Minnesota and a masters of science in Health from the University of Wisconsin.

Following in the tradition of his upbringing, Tejomaya entered a Christian monastery as a Dominican Monk, but the hand of the Guru was already at play in his life. Following the monastic life, Tejomaya had a 20 year career in occupational health research. But a stage III cancer diagnosis in 1995 re-awakened his call to spiritual living and thus led him to the eastern philosophy and spiritual practice of yoga.

Tejomaya was initially trained to practice and teach in the Iyengar system of hatha yoga and has conducted and published yoga therapy research. He received mantra initiation in the Himalayan Tradition of Yoga from Swami Veda Bharati. Tejomaya was initiated as a Pandit in the Himalayan Tradition of Yoga in 2012, has taken the vows of a Vanaprast (Forest Dweller) in 2017.  He owned and operated Yoga Sadhana Mandir on Gabriola Island for 10 years and was Program Director for the Shri Raam Institute of Meditation.

Pandit Tejomaya now lives a simple life of spiritual practice on Lasqueti Island in Canada’s Salish Sea.