Founder & executive director

Rutu Chaudhari

The Dharma Project was founded in 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia and is led by Rutu Chaudhari, who brings over 20 years of experience in teaching yoga and mindfulness. Driven by the intention to diversify the audience of people who teach and benefit from the practices of yoga and mindfulness, the Dharma Project has partnered with organizations such as the Department of Corrections, Department of Juvenile Justice, Atlanta Public Schools, Purpose Built Schools, Decatur Housing Authority, Refugee Women’s Network to bring yoga to over 1000 community members and leaders. The Dharma Project is the first and only vocational school for it’s yoga certification program with the Department of Corrections and is conducting the first ever 200 hour yoga teacher training in a prison. The Dharma Project was selected as a winner of the United Way of Greater Atlanta’s SPARK Prize and Rutu was named “Best Yoga Teacher in Atlanta” by Creative Loafing, was awarded the 2016 Civic Innovation Fellowship through the Center for Civic Innovation, and received an investment from SPANX founder Sara Blakely for her work.

From left to right : Sarah Landrum, Jamaal Davis, Safia Icgoren, Rutu Chaudhari, Ashley Erwin, Nicole Ware, Liz Vanderhoff, Sumanah Khan