Joseph H. Pereira Biography 
Joseph H. Pereira is an Indian Roman Catholic priest, best known as a social worker. Fondly called Singing Priest, he is a yoga instructor and founder and managing trustee of Kripa Foundation, an NGO based in Mumbai which works towards the rehabilitation of HIV patients and people affected by substance abuse. He teaches Iyengar yoga around the world and believes its opponents are extremist 'God addicts'. He attacks Western propaganda against yoga, and set examples that Yoga is compatible with Christian religious practices. In 2009 government of India honoured him with Padma Shri for his social services.
He was born into a Roman Catholic family in the suburbs of Mumbai. While at school he got opportunity to learn Sanskrit. He started practising yoga at the age of 11, and follows till now. He completed master's degree in Philosophy and Psychology from the University of Mumbai. He also joined seminary in his teens to become a priest. Once he got an opportunity to meet B. K. S. Iyengar, renowned yoga guru and joined him as a student of yoga in 1968 to study Iyengar Yoga formulated by him.
In 1971, he started participating in the activities of Mother Teresa. In 1981 he founded Kripa Foundation on the premises of the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Bandra where he served as the parish priest. This NGO got associated with various forms of social services such as rehabilitation of HIV/AIDS patients and the victims of substance abuse and alcoholism. He also teaches yoga philosophy in various Indian institutions. He acts as a consultant to the Archdiocese of Bombay in matters related to drug addiction. He also conducts workshops to free people from drug addiction. He has also released his yoga practices in the form in CDs.
Published: November 04, 2018
Updated: November 04, 2018
