Maria Nikolaeva (Atma Ananda) is a philosopher and orientalist, mentor of experts in the field of self-development, author of 40 scientific and popular books with a total circulation of 100,000 copies, 400 articles in periodicals and mass media. She worked in universities, lived for 15 years in 40 countries of the world, conducting research on cultural traditions. She is a member of the International The Union of Writers, the Union of Translators of Russia, and the St. Petersburg School of Yoga.