As Kindred Spirits

Rukmini Walker, owner of As Kindred Spirits galleries speaks internationally on Bhakti Yoga, Bhagavad Gita, and the traditions of kirtan. She is on the planning committee for the women’s spiritual empowerment event, Sacred Circles, held for many years at the Washington National Cathedral. She is involved in interfaith dialogue as a DC board member of the United Religions Initiative, and is a co-founder of the Vaisnava-Christian dialogue.

Her business, As Kindred Spirits, aims to connect the work of the finest craftspeople with charitable and fair trade ventures, seeing beauty and truth, “As Kindred Spirits”. As Kindred Spirits represents designer jewelry, clothing, and American craft at three locations in the Washington DC Metro area: at Reagan National Airport, at Congressional Plaza in Rockville, Maryland, and at the new Annapolis Towne Centre in Annapolis, Maryland.

Before opening As Kindred Spirits, Rukmini Walker, lived and worked in yoga ashrams in the US and India for twenty-five years. She was initiated into the Bhakti Yoga tradition as a disciple of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1968. She has one son, Gauravani, and lives in Rockville, Maryland with her husband.

There is so much interest in the physical aspects of yoga these days, Rukmini’s passion is to share her knowledge of this yogic philosophy to understand some of the deeper meanings and background of the postures and yogic lifestyle. She has been studying the Bahkti Yoga traditions for over 30 years. She is deeply honored to speak on these subjects to area groups. yoga classes, and worksops.

Gauravani, of the Kirtan group As Kindred Spirits, asked his mom prior to naming his band if he could use the name of her gallery as the name of his band. “Of course!,” she said, not knowing that in the future AKS (the gallery) would have to vie for a small share of internet hits from AKS (the band). “Can’t be disturbed about these small things,” she thought. That’s the intention behind the name, As Kindred Spirits. All living beings- trees, the grass, fish, the animals, humans, the earth, even one’s own son need to be honored as our ‘kindred spirits’

Sometimes Rukmini & Gaura lead Kirtan, and yoga retreats together. Kirtan is call and response chanting from Bhakti yoga. Bahkti yoga is the yoga of love in action. It includes the aspiration to live, “In the world not of it,” or as an engaged, urban mystic. The aim to live in humility like the grass…as the grass is plural, we all live in community; each of our actions impacts us all.

If interested in a further conversations with Rukmini about your group hosting her as a speaker please contact her though our e-mail: askindredspirits3@gmail.com