The Yoga Hour is a free podcast sponsored by The Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, a meditation center in the Kriya Yoga tradition.
The Yoga Hour offers inspiration, insights, and time-tested practices from the ancient system of yoga—a philosophy and practice for spiritually conscious, fulfilled living in today’s world. This hour of dialogue offers keen insight into universal principles for enlightened living while touching the most practical aspects of our lives such as work, relationships, health, and diet. Even while emphasizing the practical, it speaks to our deepest yearnings to fully awaken to Self- and God-realization in this lifetime. As a student of Kriya Yoga since 2002, host Dr. Laurel Trujillo often discusses the principles that she has learned from her teacher Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian, who was a student of Roy Eugene Davis, a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda.
Our Team
Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian
Founder and Spiritual Director of The Yoga Hour
Yogacharya O’Brian, a renowned spiritual teacher of the ancient wisdom of Kriya Yoga, brings this transformative practice to the modern mind. In addition to her role as an international esteemed teacher of yoga, she is also an award-winning author and poet.
She is the founder and spiritual director of the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, a meditation center in San Jose, CA as well as the founder and spiritual advisor of The Yoga Hour podcast
To find out more about Yogacharya O’Brian, her publications and teaching programs go to EllenGraceO’Brian.com
Rev. Laurel Prema Trujillo, MD
Producer and host of The Yoga Hour podcast
Laurel began as co-host in 2014, became producer in 2016, and became host in 2020. Dr. Trujillo began studying Kriya Yoga philosophy and meditation at the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment in 2002. She was ordained to teach in the Kriya Yoga tradition by her guru, Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian, in 2014.
Laurel is a physician, an ordained Kriya Yoga teacher, certified Hatha yoga instructor and student of Yoga Therapy and Ayurveda.
She served on CSE’s Board of Directors for 9 years, was President of the Board from 2013-2014 and she also serves on the faculty of Meru Institute.
Dr. Trujillo obtained her MD from UCSF and completed residency training in Primary Care Internal Medicine at UCLA Medical Center. She worked at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation from 1995-2014, serving as Medical Director of Quality from 2010-2014.
Rev. Ann Sarasvati Hayes
Assistant Producer
Ann has been an assistant producer of The Yoga Hour since 2016. She is an ordained minister, meditation teacher and spiritual counselor. She offers classes and retreats focusing on spiritual awakening. Ann has been studying in the Kriya Yoga tradition since 1998. She was ordained to teach in 2007 by her guru, Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian. Ann has served on the CSE board of directors, is a retired nurse and former executive director and COO of several health related nonprofit organizations.
With her husband Rev. Jeff Collins, she is the co-founder of the CSE affiliate center, Santa Rosa Meditation Group, established in 2014.
Loren Leidinger
Assistant Producer
Loren joined The Yoga Hour in 2023 as an Assistant Producer. Loren has been studying Kriya Yoga since 2014 and, through The Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, is a certified meditation teacher. She serves as a leadership volunteer with a number of nonprofit organizations including the Association of Fundraising Professionals and is on the board of directors for the CSE affiliate, Awakening Meditation Center. Loren has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 25 years and currently is on the executive team of a large nonprofit organization based in San Luis Obispo, CA.
Our Team
Robbie Wood
Assistant Producer
Robbie Wood is the newest Yoga Hour team member. Robbie joined the Yoga Hour team in the fall of 2024. He met his guru, Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian, and was initiated into Kriya Yoga in 2023. Robbie resides with his partner Matt and cat Teddy near Seattle, Washington, where he teaches English and History to junior high students.
Laurel Verissimo
Assistant Producer
Laurel has been practicing Kriya Yoga and studying with Yogacharya O’Brian since 1990. A Center for Spiritual Enlightenment certified meditation teacher, she is a member of the CSE online meditation team. She joined the Yoga Hour team in May 2024 and is a Yoga Alliance certified 200-hour hatha yoga teacher. Laurel is a retired music educator serving the public, the arts and kids for over 25 years. Currently, she is a member of the Aurora Women’s Chorus in Portland, Oregon.
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