Russill Paul is a teacher, musician, and spiritual guide who has spent more than three decades introducing the transformative power of sacred sound to Western audiences. A former monk and yogi who lived and practiced meditation on the banks of the sacred River Kaveri in South India, he has devoted his life to exploring the intersection of mantra, music, and contemplative practice.

Russill is widely recognized as a pioneer in bringing the sonic dimensions of yoga and mantra practice to North America. His groundbreaking book The Yoga of Sound helped introduce thousands of seekers to the inner science of sacred sound, and his recordings and chant albums have reached audiences around the world.

His teachings have been presented at leading spiritual and educational centers including the Omega Institute, the Esalen Institute, the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, and the Hollyhock Institute in Canada.

Today Russill teaches primarily through his online Yogic Mystery School, where students explore mantra, meditation, sacred music, and spiritual study through courses, training programs, and mentoring.

Russill Paul is a spiritual teacher, author, and musician who has spent more than three decades introducing the transformative power of sacred sound to Western audiences. A former monk and yogi who lived and practiced meditation on the banks of the sacred River Kaveri in South India, he has devoted his life to exploring the profound relationship between mantra, music, and consciousness.

Russill’s journey into sacred sound began through music. Raised in England in a musical family, he developed a deep interest in both Western music and the mystical traditions of the East. His search for deeper meaning eventually led him to India, where he lived for several years as a monk immersed in yogic practice, meditation, and the ancient science of mantra.

After returning to the West, Russill began sharing these teachings in a way that made the inner traditions of yoga accessible to modern audiences. He became widely recognized as a pioneer in introducing the sonic dimension of yoga to North America. His groundbreaking book The Yoga of Sound helped thousands of seekers discover the transformative potential of sacred sound as a spiritual practice.

Over the past 35 years, Russill has taught at many of the most respected centers for spiritual learning in North America, including the Omega Institute, Esalen Institute, Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, and the Hollyhock Institute in Canada. He has also served on the faculty of several innovative educational institutions, including the California Institute of Integral Studies, Naropa West, Holy Names College, New College of San Francisco, and the University of Creation Spirituality.

In addition to his work as a teacher, Russill is an accomplished musician and composer. His performances have taken place at renowned venues around the world, including Grant Park in Chicago, the Music Academy in Chennai, sacred spaces such as Grace Cathedral in San Francisco and the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, and major auditoriums in Europe and Latin America. He has collaborated and recorded with artists including Arlo Guthrie, Brad Gillis of Night Ranger, Indian sarangi maestro Ramesh Mishra, and British singer Arthur Brown.

Russill has also recorded extensively, including chant albums and film soundtracks for South Indian cinema. His music has been distributed internationally through major labels such as Rykodisc and has introduced countless listeners to the power of sacred chant and mantra.

For more than 25 years, Russill and his wife, Asha Paul, have guided transformative pilgrimages to sacred sites in India, helping students encounter the living traditions of yoga, mantra, and spiritual culture. Their shared work now continues primarily online through the Yogic Mystery School, where students engage in mantra practice, meditation, sacred music, and spiritual study.

In recent years Russill’s work has evolved to include a trauma-informed approach to spirituality. Drawing on both his lifelong spiritual training and insights gained through personal healing work, he now emphasizes a compassionate integration of deep spiritual practice with psychological awareness.

Today Russill teaches through online courses, training groups, and one-on-one mentoring. Together with Asha Paul—whose work focuses on nutrition, gut health, healthy aging, and emotional well-being—they offer an integrated approach that brings together ancient wisdom and modern insight to support spiritual transformation and holistic health.