Our Background
ISHTA is an acronym for the “Integrated Science of Hatha Tantra and Ayurveda” and is a physical and spiritual form of yoga that addresses the individual needs of each student who practices it. The Sanskrit word “ishta” means “individual” or “personalised”.
Finger was initiated into Kriyaban by Paramahansa Yogananda in Los Angeles and studied at the Yoga Vedenta Forest Academy at Rishikesh Himalayas, India, where he was initiated by the saint Swami Sivananda as Yogiraj (Master of Yoga) and then later as Swami Yogeswarananda. He was accepted into the select order of Initiated Tantric Yogis, and initiated by H.H. Kavi Yogiraj Bharati, Swami Shuddhananda of Madras.
Besides being the founder of ISHTA yoga, Mani was also the Life President of the Yoga Teachers Fellowship of Africa and Patron of the International Yoga Teachers Association. After having founded the ISHTA system of Yoga, Mani was honoured as Honorary President of the United Nations of Yoga World Organization for the year 1973.
Nandiva – a spiritual name given to Wendy by her guru Mani – is a name derived from the Bilaspur goddess Naina Devi who, being the goddess of eyes, saw things that most others could not see. Nandiva, who used to read Mani’s articles in the Rand Daily Mail, new from just her second yoga class that she wanted to be a yoga teacher. When her first teacher Joy retired, Nandiva made her way to the studio of Kavi Yogiraj Mani Finger. Their close association, which developed over many years, was not severed by Mani and his family’s relocation to the USA and has continued, even after his death, at the ripe old age of 93.
It was from Mani that Nandiva learned so much of her philosophy. As Wendy has been quoted,
“Mani used to say that yoga is like sugar. You can’t explain the taste of it. You’ve just got to try it for yourself”.
