Aastha (Sonya Marcacci) was born and raised in Switzerland. In search of life's meaning from a young age, she explored many different spiritual paths, while training to be a holistic therapist. When she first discovered Paramhansa Yoganandai in 2003, she realized she had finally found a path that could provide answers to all her questions.

Her thirst for knowledge did not subside, however, so she studied and deepened her Master's teachings, becoming a teacher of Raja Yoga and Ananda Yoga. Her first experience of community life was at Ananda Village in California where she lived for 2 ½ years, then moved to the Assisi community where she still lives today.

Aastha is a highly regarded teacher thanks to her welcoming and empathetic nature. Her classes are interactive, open to questions and sharing of experiences.