about me

Oi! I’m Nathalie Ando (she/her), or Nati (nä-chee) for short. I also go by my spiritual name Rukmini (rook-mini), which means golden and radiant in Tamil. I am of Japanese descent and live in Brazil where I was born and raised. I lived in the USA from 2007–2021 and for 7 years I lived in Yogaville, VA, where I served as program development director, graphic designer, and yoga teacher. While there, I became a member of the Leadership Team, Fundraising Committee, DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) Committee, and the Integral Yoga Anti-Racism Task Force. While there I also became a Yoga Teacher Trainer. Scroll down for my Yoga Teacher bio.

A lifelong lover of the arts, I have always wished to pursue a career within the art world. I attended to art classes during high school when I learned oil on canvas technique with Ines Fabiani in Guarapuava-PR, Brazil. However, I stopped painting when I decided to study engineering in college. After graduating, I moved to the USA and rescued my artistic talents through paintings and drawings inspired by nature, music, and portraits. My first sale was a replica of a 39”x50” Abraham Lincoln painting that sold for $8,000. The piece was originally made for a contest to which I was never able to submit. Since then, I have sold originals through word of mouth and commissions.

While enrolled in graphic design at PVCC–Piedmont Virginia Community College, I maintained the highest academic standing in all graphic design courses and excelled in many projects, including designing the 2018 cover and 2019 layout for The Fall Line magazine. Upon graduation, I was nominated for the Laney Hardwick Award at the annual PVCC Academic and Leadership Awards Convocation. I very much enjoy working with graphic design, especially illustrations, logos, books, posters, and yoga related projects.

In December 2019, I was selected to be part of a small group in an art residency in Cassis, France, where I worked on a very special commission.

My next pursuits involve investing more time creating artwork and interweaving art with Yoga as a healing and meditative practice.

Yoga

Rukmini Ando, E-RYT 200, RYT 500, YACEP 

I have been practicing Yoga since 2004. I confess its physical practice is what attracted me at first. Over time, I felt the benefits in all levels of my being: mind and emotions, vitality and spirit. It helped me transform the way I saw and see myself and others as well as become more mindful and resilient. It is now part of my daily life and I feel inspired to share its benefits with others by teaching classes. 

I took my first Yoga Teacher Training in 2010 at Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville and I have been teaching since then.

I am a Yoga Teacher Trainer and a 500-hour Registered Yoga Teacher certified in:

  • 200-hour Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Integral Yoga® Hatha
  • Raja Yoga
  • Adaptive Yoga
  • Stress Management
  • Yoga of Recovery
  • Yin Yoga
  • Neuroscience & Yoga
  • Yoga Nidra

As a teacher, I am known for clear instruction and my classes include fun, level-appropriate challenges. 

I offer private Yoga classes online, retreat or vacation classes in person, workshops and trainings. 

yoga