Jeff Lichty
Jeff Lichty, affectionately regarded as a wise and grounded presence in the yoga world, is a highly respected yoga and meditation teacher, spiritual guide, and former critical care paramedic.
With a career rooted in compassionate service and a heart devoted to truth, Jeff offers a rare and deeply human approach to spiritual practice—approachable, sincere, and transformative.
Jeff’s journey began in emergency medicine, where he served as a critical care paramedic for 16 years. The intensity of that work eventually led him to seek deeper tools for healing and inner steadiness—an inquiry that brought him to yoga. His first trip to India in 1993 marked a turning point: he had the rare privilege of serving with Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity, offering his medical skills to care for the dying in Calcutta.
This was a deeply spiritual experience that profoundly influenced his path and planted the seed for a life of sacred service.
Since then, Jeff has made over 26 pilgrimages to India, immersing himself in traditional yogic study and practice. He studied closely with K. Pattabhi Jois, who personally blessed him to teach in 2006, and later received Level II Authorization from R. Sharath Jois in 2008.
A cornerstone of Jeff’s spiritual lineage is Sri O.P. Tiwari of the Kaivalyadhama Institute—his most trusted teacher and a master of pranayama and yogic philosophy. Under Tiwariji’s guidance, Jeff deepened his understanding of spiritual practice, breathwork or pranayama, and the inner dimensions of yoga as a path to liberation.
Jeff’s teachings are a blend of discipline and devotion—practical and joyful, always grounded in humour and lived experience. Whether working with longtime practitioners or complete beginners, his presence invites a deeper connection to self, purpose, and peace.
Today, Jeff directs Ashtanga Yoga Canada and the Mysore Program at Yoga Passage, where he teaches yoga, pranayama, meditation, and spiritual philosophy with clarity, compassion, and humility. He also offers spiritual coaching and mentorship, supporting individuals in navigating their own unique journeys toward healing and awakening.
