In this heartfelt conversation, Marydale Ma welcomes Rosa Harper, Ayurvedic practitioner, bodyworker, and devoted Kriyavan, whose path has woven together service, healing, and devotion. From rescuing insects as a child to supporting survivors of domestic violence and discovering Ayurveda under the guidance of her Gurus, Rosa shares how listening—deep, compassionate listening—has been her greatest teacher. Together they explore the power of Kriya Yoga, the mystery of healing, and the tender strength of the Divine Mother guiding each step of the journey.
About Our Guest
Rosa Harper is an Ayurvedic Practitioner and licensed massage therapist living and working in Asheville, NC. Before diving into the health and wellness field, she worked with survivors of domestic violence in Austin Texas for nine years. In 2012, while living in Austin, Rosa was initiated into Kriya Yoga. She is honored to serve as a board member for the Pranada Wellness Center at the Temple of Compassion, and also hosts a local Kriya group in Asheville, NC.
Episode Transcript
Marydale Ma
Om and pranam, dear friends, and welcome to you. I’m so grateful you’ve chosen to join us today to be an important part of this heartfelt conversation.
Before I introduce our beautiful guest, let’s pause and truly arrive in this moment. Please silence your phone and turn away from distraction as you bring your full attention just here, now.
Allow your whole being to settle into stillness. And if you wish, close your eyes and begin to take your attention to the sweetness of your breath.
As together we slow down, calm down.
Father, Mother, Beloved Lord—to our Divine Masters, our Paramguru Paramahansa Yogananda, our Gurudev Paramahansa Hariharananda, and our Guruji Paramahansa Prajnanananda, and to all the auspicious masters of the Kriya Yoga lineage and beyond—we bow at your feet with humbleness on this day, with hearts wide open in gratitude for this wonderful opportunity to share the single voice of women in Kriya Yoga around the world.
We pray this conversation will be drenched in your presence and that these words will inspire, encourage, and uplift all who listen.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Father-Mother God. Om Shantihi. Amen.
And now it is my great privilege and pleasure to introduce our lovely guest. This is Rosa Harper. Pranams and welcome to you, Rosa. I’m so glad you’re with us today.
Rosa Harper
It’s so nice to meet you.
Marydale Ma
Great to have you. Rosa, let’s begin at the heart—can you share a moment from your life when you first felt that quiet call to help others heal, when you knew service would be part of your path?
Rosa Harper
That’s such a beautiful question, and thank you so much for having me.
I think people are born with that desire to help—especially as humans, we’re born with this privilege of a human life.
As a child I remember really seeing animals, insects even—I’ve always been charmed by the little ones of the insect kingdom. I used to spend a lot of time rescuing insects that got trapped on our screened-in porch—watching for them, helping them back outside, even giving them water if they were dehydrated.
I think most children have that desire to help the vulnerable. It’s a natural human quality that comes with the responsibility of being in these bodies. Those are probably my earliest memories—helping little insects.
Marydale Ma
That is the sweetest thing—I can just see you down on your hands and knees speaking to these little creatures. So sweet.
You spent nine full years working with survivors of domestic violence—that’s powerful, heart-centered work. What did that experience teach you about strength, compassion, and the resilience of the human spirit?
Rosa Harper
It was a deep honor. Probably my first true calling as an adult—the first real nudge from Spirit: you need to go there; you need to learn about that.
A friend of mine had done an internship at a women’s shelter in North Charleston. I grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, and when she told me about it, I had no idea shelters like that existed. I felt deeply called to volunteer.
I started in their food pantry and doing administrative work. I’d look at the advocates—the women working directly with those fleeing violence—and they looked like superheroes. I wanted to do that work.
When I moved to Austin in 2009, I found a job at Safe Place (now Safe Alliance). They were generous enough to take me on because I had the desire to serve.
I learned so much from that experience—especially the power of listening. Listening to someone’s story was the most helpful thing I could offer. I came in thinking I had something to teach—but really, I was the one learning. Listening is such a gift, especially for those whose stories aren’t often heard.
Marydale Ma
That’s wonderful. Throughout this podcast—though it’s only our fifth—listening has become a recurring theme.
At what point did you begin to sense your journey shifting from advocacy to the world of healing and wellness? Was there a defining moment or a gentle unfolding?
Rosa Harper
Definitely a gentle unfolding.
I learned so much about the resilience of people who had been through the worst things imaginable. I consider them graduate-level life teachers. Their ability to rise and heal inspired me deeply.
Austin has a vibrant healing community. I met John Burgess—a Kriyavan who actually helped me find Kriya—and Barbara Biro, another Kriyavan. Together they formed the Community Healing Circle.
People naturally want to help; it’s instinctual. I found ways to bring these healers into the shelter. Barbara led an acupuncture circle for PTSD for years—I learned so much from her.
Eventually I felt it was time to go deeper, to develop new skills. After returning from India, where I did residential Brahmachari training (2016–17), it became clear a new chapter was beginning.
I kept getting nudges toward New Mexico, and there I found teachers in the healing arts at the Ayurvedic Institute. I packed up my car, left Austin, and found what I was looking for.
Marydale Ma
What a wonderful journey, especially for a young woman—and it led you to Ayurveda. How did it find you, and what spoke to your heart when you began studying it?
Rosa Harper
Learning yoga was my introduction—yoga and Ayurveda are sister sciences. During my training in India, Guruji Paramahansa Prajnanananda wove Ayurveda into the teachings. That fascinated me, and I wanted to learn more.
When you have an earnest desire—especially in the presence of a realized Master—God hears you. That prayer was answered when I found Dr. Vasant Lad and the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico.
Marydale Ma
Is there really any stumbling in life?
Rosa Harper
Maybe! I feel like I’m still stumbling around in the dark—but we’re lucky to have a guiding light.
Marydale Ma
A very bright one indeed.
You said you were initiated into Kriya Yoga in 2012—a sacred turning point. Can you take us into that experience and what it opened within you?
Rosa Harper
I’m so grateful I found Kriya. I’d been seeking but was going through a hard astrological period—Saturn on my moon. Those challenging times often usher in great blessings.
I’d turned away from God for a while and hit a low point. One day I cried out—an earnest prayer—and I felt it land. Soon after, I found Kriya.
I read Autobiography of a Yogi and began practicing three times a day, every day. It changed my life—my mind became clear, my life transformed. Later I met Guruji, and that deepened everything.
Marydale Ma
How did your Kriya practice shape your life, your work, and how you serve others today?
Rosa Harper
At that time I was working in the shelter—deeply compassionate work, but very heavy. I had unhealthy coping mechanisms for the stress. Kriya changed that.
I’d practice in my office during breaks. Over time I stopped clinging to others’ pain—it stopped sticking to me. I could see the perfection in the person and their situation, even the difficult ones.
That helped me become a better advocate—seeing clients not as victims but as heroes on their journey, with God behind them.
Marydale Ma
You were truly living Kriya, seeing the divine in everyone.
You hold space for so many through Ayurveda, bodywork, and spiritual service. How do you stay grounded and nurture your own peace while supporting others?
Rosa Harper
Kriya regulated my nervous system—that’s essential for anyone in healing work.
And I see God in every situation, every person. That’s why I love bodywork—when someone’s on the table, I can feel God’s presence so clearly. It’s effortless; it’s like meditation.
Marydale Ma
But when life brings stress, how do you nurture your own peace? What’s your go-to?
Rosa Harper
Nature. I’m a nature girl. When I’m dysregulated or stressed, I go into the woods, sit by a river, and listen. That listening—Mother Nature’s voice—always reaches me. That’s my go-to for nourishment.
Marydale Ma
So full of grace—especially since you began by telling us about your love for little creatures.
You’ve worked in both worlds—the advocate and the healer. How has the Divine Feminine expressed herself through these chapters of your life?
Rosa Harper
The concept of the Divine Mother was new to me when I found Eastern philosophy, but I was deeply drawn to it.
In truth, all of creation is Ma. Eastern philosophy made that clear.
And at the shelters, I witnessed the power of motherhood—superhuman abilities given by God. I saw mothers with nothing working miracles for their children. That taught me what Divine Mother really means.
Marydale Ma
A precious lesson, and clearly grace at work.
Tell us a bit about the Pranada Wellness Center—you serve on the board at the Temple of Compassion.
Rosa Harper
Pranada, like anything touched by Guruji, is flowering beautifully. Olen Adams is our director and captain of the ship—an amazing healer.
It began as a small wellness retreat about five years ago at the Temple of Compassion in Texas. Olen bridges osteopathy with Ayurveda and yoga, creating a profound healing experience.
He teaches us to “see the health”—to see perfection in each person. That perspective guides his work.
Now Pranada has a physical center next to the Temple of Compassion, offering Ayurvedic and osteopathic care year-round. It’s blossoming by Guru’s grace.
Marydale Ma
It’s a real gift to all Kriyavans.
The Temple of Compassion is in Burton, Texas—a women’s ashram honoring the feminine.
You’re also connected with a Kriya group in Asheville. What does that community mean to you?
Rosa Harper
I’m not leading a group, but my home in Asheville hosts one. Guruji once casually said, “Maybe you’ll start a center there.” Years later, it happened naturally.
Two Ayurvedic students living with me were initiated at the Temple of Compassion. They spoke with someone from the Charlotte Center who encouraged us to host gatherings, and it just unfolded.
We’ve been blessed with support from the Charlotte community, and the house itself feels protected by Guru’s presence.
During Hurricane Helene, the river flooded catastrophically, yet the water curved around our house. It was untouched. Guru’s grace, truly.
Marydale Ma
So blessed.
You’ve become an extremely present healer. What is it like to witness others awaken and see the light return to their eyes?
Rosa Harper
It’s all God. That’s what I love about this work—whether or not someone’s conscious of God’s presence, God is there.
When someone is surrendered—on the table, open—you can commune in that loving presence that connects us all. That’s where healing happens.
Marydale Ma
Beautifully said.
How can Kriya and Ayurveda help people rediscover their inner light and live more consciously?
Rosa Harper
Kriya connects you with who you truly are—it’s a movement toward wholeness. Nothing brings you closer to that than going within and remembering God is here.
Ayurveda supports that by bringing body and mind into balance. A body out of balance is distracting—it’s hard to remember who you are when you’re in pain. Ayurveda helps prana flow so that God can move freely through the body.
Marydale Ma
Is there a simple way for beginners to start exploring Ayurveda?
Rosa Harper
Follow the breadcrumbs. I started small—trying Triphala—and it helped so much. Then I added one new thing at a time.
People get intimidated by the long list of Dincharya (daily routine) practices. Just choose one thing that calls to you and experiment. Baby steps are best.
Marydale Ma
Wise words.
And finally, what message from your own heart would you like to leave our listeners?
Rosa Harper
Give yourself the gift of your own awareness—your loving attention.
Listen to yourself the way you’d listen to a beloved friend. Meditation is, in many ways, turning inward to listen.
Especially for women who spend so much energy caring for others—turn that same mothering quality toward yourself. Listen, love, and tend to your own heart.
Marydale Ma
A wonderful gem to close our conversation. Each of us is responsible for who we are and who we’re becoming, and it starts with loving ourselves enough to care for ourselves.
Rosa, you’ve walked a path of grace—steady practice, deep sincerity, and service. Your journey reminds us healing isn’t a destination but a continual unfolding, a coming home to who we truly are.
Thank you for being with us today.
Rosa Harper
It’s been an honor. Thank you so much, Marydale. I’d love to hear more of your story soon.
Marydale Ma
I’m just happy you were here, and I hope to meet you in person soon.
To our listeners—if this conversation has touched your heart, connect with our growing community by subscribing to Women of Kriya Yoga on YouTube or following on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Your kind comments and reflections help this work reach others seeking a deeper way to live in joy.
Guruji writes:
“As the soul lies within the body, the real center of love is within oneself.
Love begins from within.
From individual love it grows into universal love.
Perfect love is the state of being one with the universe—in love with the Creator.”
Blessings to each and every one of you. Much love. Jai Guru.
Rosa Harper
Jai Guru. Bye for now.
