Born in Belarus, Alex Nairanovski's spiritual journey began early. In the USA, he discovered Kundalini yoga's magnetic pull, honing his skills under Anya Castellano. Immersed in the diverse culture, he made Kundalini energy universally accessible. Alex later took this transformative power to Ecuador, establishing himself as a Yoga teacher in Quito. Today, he continues to travel, teach, and learn, spreading Kundalini Yoga's light through online platforms, retreats, and collaborations.  Alex has been teaching in Alaya since summer 2023 and currently is our resident yoga teacher. Alex's journey serves as an inspiration, reminding us that the path of enlightenment is both personal and universal, and the light within us can illuminate the world. Alex intertwines guitar melodies with soulful mantras, elevating his yoga teachings into a harmonious journey of sound and serenity. He also employs singing bowls, creating resonant vibrations that serve as a therapeutic symphony in his sound massages and healing practices.

Ellen obtained a Masters Degree in psychology, and a Doctorate in Information Systems at Harvard and MIT, and worked for many years in the academic and consulting world. In 2005, she started to focus on what life was really about, and educated herself in healing techniques. In 2008, she dedicated her time to build Alaya Retreat Centre. ​Ellen has worked with groups for over 20 years, and completed 2 years of the Four Cycles TM integrated healing program. She also has her Masters in Reiki, which allows her to teach reiki to other students and work as a reiki healer. In addition, she participated in a first level teacher training of Yin Yoga and has a diploma in sound therapy level I and II, to give healings with Quartz Bowls.  In 2017, she became educated as a horse assisted coach and animal reiki healer. With this, her circle was completed and she is now healing all types of animals with 2 or 4 legs.