Social Service

Riverview Middle School, Bay Point, California

This letter is an acknowledgement of the three classes that Neel Kulkarni taught in May 2018 to three classes of 6th grade students at Riverview Middle School in Bay Point California.  Each of the three classes had at least 50 students, both male and female, aged 11 and 12 years old. These students attended Riverview Middle School which is in a low economic area, has a multiethnic population and has many students who are English language learners. Some of these students also had specific learning disabilities, ADHD and emotional/behavioral issues which made it difficult for them to focus and learn.  Neel took complete command of each class of students as he taught them yoga, mindfulness and meditation. The students were focused and on task as Neel taught each 40 minute class. The students practiced asana, breath work, mindfulness activities and shared meditation at the end of the class.  It was a pleasure and a joy to watch Neel teach and connect with these challenging students. The principal commented that he never saw these students so peaceful before.  Sincerely,  

Mrs. Lori Hartline  Retired Special Education Teacher MS in Educational Psychology

Carol Herbst, School Counselor, El Monte Elementary , CaliforniaI

t is very powerful for students to learn to be in the moment– that they can connect to that part of themselves that allows them to be more aware, make more conscious choices, and contribute to a calm demeanor. When students and staff learn the value of yoga – it carries over into the classroom, school environment, and home. Neel has been a very experienced and knowledgeable instructor for our students, and would recommend his services to other schools that are considering offering yoga.


Education of Officer, Pune Municipal Corporation, India 

El Monte Elementary, California, U.S.A. - April 2015 May 11, 2015 

To whom it may concern: This letter is in reference to Neel Kulkami, Adhiyoga Yoga instructor. He has been teaching yoga sessions to our students, first grade through fifth grade, as well as preschool through fifth grade students with autism. This is the first year yoga instruction has been offered school-wide. Last year he taught yoga to our older students, in third through fifth grades. It was a stretch for some of our staff and students, as they weren’t quite sure what to expect. However, Neel’s classes were quickly embraced as students found it very relaxing and teachers saw the positive impact it was having on them. Neel flowed easily into varying student groups of multiple ages, with vastly different skill levels. What was most impressive as the school counselor, was the centering effect it had on our most active and out of control students. It definitely calmed them and enabled them to be more aware of themselves, which is an important step in their personal growth. It is also a life skill they can draw from for years to come. 

Many teachers have continued to practice yoga in their classrooms, on days outside Neel’s instruction. It is without hesitation that I would recommend Neel to other classrooms, to access the benefit we have seen for our students. He has been with students for four sessions, which is the least amount of instruction I would recommend, in order for students to have the skills reinforced. 

Sincerely, Carol Herbst, School Counselor El Monte Elementary El Monte Elementary, California 

Testimonial from El Monte School El Monte Elementary, Concord, California, U.S.A. 16 May 2014 

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN We have so enjoyed the Yoga classes taught by Neel Kulkarni these past two weeks! At first the students were unsure of what the discipline of Yoga is about, but Neel’s explanations and information were both clear and relatable to our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. By the second session, the students jumped right in with gusto, and enjoyed repeating and perfecting the poses they had learned during the first session. They listened attentively to Neel’s explanations of the philosophical and logical components as they related to the physical nature of Yoga. We are eager to welcome Neel back for our 2014-2015 school year, and look forward to continuing this physically and mentally healthy exercise for our students. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me at the address or phone number above, or email me at bowmanc@mdusd.org. Sincerely, Christina Bowman Principal Yogi T. Krishnamachar Pratishthan within SaeeTech, The Authentic Yoga School - Yoga At Schools This life time project performs teaching Yoga at Indian schools whether paid or not. This life time project is named "Yogi T. Krishnamachar Pratishthan" after the name of a great Yogi T. Krishnamachar whose wish to invoke Yoga at Indian schools was only partially satisfied. The project and its status are described via this Facebook event. Stephanie Shaefer, Yoga Teacher and Educationist, Alexandria, Virginia Namaste and Aloha to you Neel! Thank you for keeping me on your mailing list. Even though I have been asked to teach a class for adults in a private home I haven't done so yet but continue to offer Yoga on Monday afternoons from 3:06-4:00 P.M. for students at my Elementary School! Right now we have 28 mostly primary Yoga students (mostly Kindergarten to 3rd grade and two 5th grade students!) It is becoming more and more relaxing and we are very proud of them. Their favorite greeting to show respect to each other is "Nameste" with prayer position which means to us "The light and goodness and forgiveness in me respects and honors the light and goodness and forgiveness in you". Thank you for your wonderful class which has given me the tools to be able to share Yoga with these little ones! I hope to be able to take an advanced teaching class with you again sometime next year to improve my practice! Thank you again for all your work. With sincere aloha (it means "I wish you the breath of life") and Nameste, Stephanie 05/23/2006 Dear Neel - Thank you for thinking of me. I hope all is going well. I just wanted to let you know that I am honored to still be able to teach and Yoga class for primary aged children at the elementary school where I work as a school counselor. This semester we have 24 preschool (age 4) through 3rd graders in the class. At the beginning and end of the class we always greet each person with "Nameste" which to us means "the goodness and light and forgiveness in me respects and honors the goodness and light and forgiveness in you." We also remind each other that "each person is very special because they are the only one of them in the entire universe!," and that "we are all teachers and learners." One class I had to come late so one of our 3rd graders taught the class and did a great job! Thanks to the great training I received from you Neel I know that I have a lot to share with them! I still plan to take your advanced teachers class sometime in the future! Please keep me on your mailing list - God Bless You! Sincerely, Stephanie Shaefer 12/09/2005 Dear Neel - Congratulations on all the new class, center, etc. I hope to be able to attend in the near future. Just wanted to let you know that last year I was able to facilitate a yoga class at our school for elementary school children - we had 3 Kindergarteners, one 1st grader, one 2nd grader, two 3rd graders, and two 5th graders - we started out with many moments of relaxation and by the end of the semester the entire class was relaxing - their favorite thing to do was to offer "Nameste" at beginning and end of class to each person - we translated it as "the goodness and light of God in me, salutes and honors the goodness and light of God in you!" Oftentimes their teachers would ask these students to demonstrate and teach others in their classes about yoga - I hear that they oftentimes demonstrated the tree pose and told about Nameste and what it means! This yoga class will also be offered again as part of my counseling program at Barrett Elementary School in Arlington Virginia. Thank you Neel for helping me to have the courage to share what I have learned! Nameste to you! Sincerely, Stephanie 08/27/2003 As a graduate of Neel's Basic Authentic Yoga Teacher Training, I highly recommend any of Neel's classes on Yoga. He is an excellent teacher, concerned and supportive of each of his students. With his guidance, he helped me improve in so many ways. He also provides an important holistic approach supporting physical, mental, emotional and spiritual growth in his students as well as the opportunity to learn about and participate in the Indian cultural events at his Yoga Studio. Thank you Neel! 10/27/2002 Stephanie Shaefer Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology, Virginia Dear Neel, Alongwith students, I would like to voice my appreciation for your efforts this past year to teach Yoga to students at Jefferson. I know it was difficult at times because of the poor setting and short time for the classes, but you always got the students to "make a happy face" and enjoy whatever time they had with you. Thank you again for your generosity of spirit and time. Program Sponsor, TJ. Mr. Kulkarni, Thank you very much for taking the time to teach us Yoga. I really enjoyed it. I wish you could teach us next year. I am thinking about taking a class. Thanks again for teaching our Yoga class. Sincerely, A Student, TJ. Dear Mr. Kulkarni, You are the coolest Yoga teacher ever. It was a very gracious thing for you to volunteer to teach Yoga and not expect anything in return. I learnt a lot this year and I have better physical and mental health because of the Yoga. Keep on relaxin' brotha' Peace out, A Student, TJ. Dear Mr. Kulkarni, Thank you so much for your gracious service throughout the year. It was very nice of you to volunteer your services w/o expecting anything in return. I have learnt a lot this year about Yoga and I am grateful to you for this. My concentration and mental health have also improved, thanks to you. I am very grateful, and I hope to see you again. keep having a happy face. From, A Student, TJ. Year 2001 Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology Whitney Girl Scout Club, Oakton, Virginia Thank you so much for the class. The girls really enjoyed it. They were all talking after you left about how much they loved it. Thank you again. See you on Friday. Whitney, The Girl Scout Leader, Oakton, VA 03/22/2003 Green Hedges School, Vienna, Virginia To Whom It May Concern: Mr. Neel Kulkarni directed and taught Yoga Classes at Green Hedges School during the winter trimester of 2005. Mr. Kulkarni's classes consisted of seven students who chose to participate in Yoga as an After School Activity Offering. The course lasted ten weeks during the winter trimester. The students in the class ranged in age from 5 years old through grade 5. During the 10 week course the students were taught various Yoga moves, as well as the essentials of mind and body focus. All of the children greatly enjoyed the program, and we would love to have Mr. Kulkarni to teach another After School Activity at our school. Thank you, 

Elizabeth Cozzolino Director of After School and Summer Programs Green Hedges School March 16, 2005 Elizabeth Cozzolino Green Hedges School Merritt Academy Elementary School, Fairfax, Virginia, USA 

Neel, I did talk with the students who took your yoga class in the Spring Semester. They loved it! They enjoyed feeling as though they could do something special, and they think you are very cool. You received praise from the parents who saw you "in action" too, including my husband. Mrs. Al-Qatou, Sarah's mom, was quite impressed. Linda Potts Special Programs Linda Potts Merritt Academy Elementary School