Meet Ruah Bhay: Your Guide to Holistic Well-Being
Greetings, I’m Ruah Bhay, a dedicated teacher specializing in yoga, meditation, breathwork, wellness, and embracing a healthy lifestyle. I also have a passion for mindfulness, martial arts, and holistic living. As a native New Yorker and a mother of two, my journey has taken me around the world and back to Brooklyn, where I’m committed to helping individuals and groups discover depth in their lives and fulfill their true potential. I proudly serve as a senior teacher and mentor at Yogaworks and Equinox.
Rooted Beginnings
My journey into yoga, meditation, and self-hypnosis was deeply influenced by my mother. She introduced me to these practices through her involvement with Integral Yoga in Greenwich Village and retreats with Swami Satchidananda. As a child, my mom and I often practiced Yoga Nidra together, gradually relaxing each part of our bodies. Today, scientific research underscores the profound importance of nurturing both our bodies and minds for overall health and well-being. My childhood experiences serve as a constant reminder of how essential relaxation and self-care are when supported by the right environment. My initiation into Transcendental Meditation (TM) has been especially transformative. Thanks to TM, I maintain a consistent 2x/day meditation practice under the guidance of my aunt and uncle, who are devoted followers of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Spirituality and healing have always held a special place in my heart, and exposure to various philosophies has shown me that compassion and love are the common threads connecting all ways of life.
When I started my journey as a teacher, I had just returned to my Native New York City after living for years in Senegal and France. My mom and I were having lunch in a cafe on Hudson Street, in the neighborhood I grew up in. As we discussed what I might do in my next steps of life, she said, “you have been given this precious gift of life. Use it well and do your best to help those around you.” These words touched my heart deeply.
A Call to Serve
“Service to others is the highest form of self-realization.” – Swami Sivananda
Learning from Within: Ahimsa in Practice
This powerful quote embodies a principle deeply rooted in my journey, one passed down to me by my mother, a lifelong teacher and college professor. It underscores the idea that when we serve others, we not only contribute to their well-being but also embark on a path of self-discovery and purpose. Through my years of practicing yoga, I’ve come to understand the essence of Ahimsa, a Sanskrit term signifying a delicate balance between maintaining peace and love for others while maintaining our inner strength, standing up for our beliefs, and nurturing our own well-being.
Harmony of the Heart and Spine: Nurturing the Self, Nourishing Others
I often envision this balance of a soft and open heart complemented by a strong and unwavering spine. When we show up authentically for ourselves and those around us, a transformative power emerges, propelling us toward our fullest potential.
When I was a young person navigating the path of self-discovery, I realized that by nourishing my well-being through daily rituals, routines, and practices, I became better equipped to share my energy in service to others. Through this service, I not only contributed to the lives of others but also embarked on a profound journey of discovery and purpose for myself.
A Global Journey of Service
My journey into service began during the years I spent as a teacher in Senegal and conducting educational research in France. However, it was upon my return to New York City that my mother shared a simple yet powerful message over lunch at a café on Hudson Street in Greenwich Village: “You’ve been given this precious gift of life. Use it wisely and do your best to help those around you.” Those words resonated deeply, reinforcing my conviction that my life’s purpose revolved around supporting others on their paths.
Choosing Yoga: A Path to Transformation
While yoga wasn’t initially part of my educational and career plan, my love and hobby practicing and teaching it from a young age became a passion and remained unwavering. During my tenure in nonprofit management after completing graduate school, I embraced yoga as a cherished hobby, teaching classes during lunch hours and weekends. It was during a quiet moment of journaling in an Istanbul café that clarity descended like lightning. The decision became unmistakably clear: I chose yoga. Six months later, armed with an Excel spreadsheet and clear determination, I left my job, opening the floodgates to a life where I was teaching 29 classes a week across New York City, my heart brimming with fulfillment.
The Journey Continues: Martial Arts and Honing Mind, Body & Spirit
These days, I am so grateful to teach my community of students in Brooklyn and abroad for my international yoga retreats. My yoga, meditation and other various cardio practices of running, biking and rollerblading continue to be the foundation of everything else in my life, however, over the past decade I have increased my focus on building strength and weight training. Then, a serendipitous series of events in September 2023, led me to a new chapter of life where I started daily training in Martial Arts, including Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai. I proudly participate in BJJ competitions, and have even won a gold and silver medals, and plan to compete more and continue my training at Brooklyn Martial Arts and other locations of the world when I travel.
Unlocking Your Potential
Today, with over 20+ years of experience, it remains my privilege to share my passion for teaching and connecting on personal and profound levels with students who join me on this transformative journey. Yoga, meditation, and martial arts don’t magically erase life’s challenges. Instead, they empower us to navigate life’s twists and turns with greater ease. My personal journey with these practices has brought me extraordinary self-awareness, mental clarity, physical strength, confidence, a zest for life, and emotional balance. My motivation for teaching remains the same as when I began – when you love something that transforms your life, you naturally want to share it generously with others. It’s both an honor and a privilege to walk this path, and I hope to pass on the invaluable gifts I’ve received.
TRAININGS & CREDITS
My journey has led me to feature in various health and fitness publications and collaborations with notable figures such as Russell Simmons. You may have seen me in Marie Claire, Time Out, In Resident, More, Uptown, FOX, WPIX, NY Post, and NY1. I hold a 500hr Yogaworks Certification, Khalsa Way Prenatal Certification, and boast over 15 years of teaching experience. My academic background includes a B.A. in Political Science and an M.A. in Sustainable Development.
“As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world as in being able to remake ourselves.” -Mahatma Gandhi
What People are Saying…
Stay Connected
Keep up with upcoming workshops and classes. Subscribe to be added to my email list.