Lila Shakti Mayi received her B.A. and M.A. in Sanskrit from the University of Virginia. She has studied sacred Sanskrit literature for over a decade, and recently contributed heavily to an award-winning publication entitled Bhagavad Gītā Concordance: A Comprehensive Word Reference with English and Sanskrit Indexes by Dr. Graham Schweig (Columbia University Press, 2024). Her engagement with Sanskrit scripture was transformed when she began studying Nonviolent Communication through NYCNVC several years ago. Līlā Śakti Mayī teaches the Sanskrit language and courses in Sanskrit scripture, but her greatest joy is bridging this ancient wisdom with the modern theory and practice of compassionate communication. In her teaching, she illuminates the powerful harmony between the two, inspiring and empowering others towards deeper self-connection grounded in the heart.