“A Keeper of the Light”

Meranda Squires’ spiritual journey began long before she set foot in an ashram. Raised on the wind-carved cliffs of Ferryland, Newfoundland, at the lighthouse her artist parents tended, she grew up surrounded by wild beauty, silence, and light. The daughter of renowned painter and sculptor Gerald Squires, Meranda inherited a love for truth, creativity, and the inner worlds.

When asked at age seventeen what she wanted from life—marriage, children, a career—Meranda answered simply:
“I want to become enlightened.”

Two years later, she followed that calling to the Himalayas.

Seventeen Years in the Himalayas

At just twenty years old, Meranda traveled to Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, where she met her guru Swami Shyam and enrolled in the International Meditation Institute (IMI). Immersed in meditation, yoga, and Vedanta philosophy, she entered a period of deep study and transformation that lasted seventeen years.

During this time she became a devoted practitioner of:

Advanced Studies in Yoga Science

Vedanta Philosophy

The Theory and Practice of Meditation

Soma Yoga

Her years in India were a profound apprenticeship in consciousness, devotion, and self-realization.

Returning Home as a Lighthouse

In 2000, feeling called to bring the light of her training back to Newfoundland and Labrador, Meranda returned home and opened The Lotus Centre in downtown St. John’s—her own metaphoric lighthouse.

For over two decades she has guided thousands of students through:

Meditation

Yoga Teacher Trainings

Dyads / contemplative communication

Yoga philosophy

Chanting

Mind clearing sessions and Training

Empowerment Personal and Professional workshops

Enlightenment Intensives

Laya Yoga and Laya Yoga Retreats and Trainings

Himalayan Kriya Yoga

Her work continues to evolve, integrating the depth of ancient practice with the needs of modern seekers.

The Tree of Life Retreat Centre

In 2007, Meranda and her friend, naturalist Ian Goudie, envisioned and created the Tree of Life Eco  Retreat Centre in Salmonier. This off-grid sanctuary blends spiritual practice with ecological harmony.
Powered by solar, micro-hydro, and gravity-fed water systems, the retreat centre is nestled within five acres of ancient boreal forest—an ideal environment for silent retreats, nature immersion, and inner work.

Its sacred-geometry buildings, food gardens, natural structures, and tiny-home designs reflect Meranda’s devotion to sustainability and simplicity.

“Mridula Blossoms in India” – A Living Archive

Dominique Hurley’s 20-minute documentary, Mridula Blossoms in India, captures Meranda’s life during her seventeen-year Himalayan sojourn—from heartfelt talks to devotional performances—offering a window into her early path.