I’m Erika (also known as Sukhmani), founder of The Alchemy of Eating. I am a Yoga, Breathwork, and Meditation instructor, a certified Intuitive Eating Therapy Coach (EDIT), and hold an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University, where I focused on mind-body healing. With over a decade of experience teaching, coaching, and researching, I specialize in helping individuals transform their relationship with food, overcome emotional and binge eating, and cultivate resilience, clarity, and balance.

My work bridges psychology, neuroscience, and contemplative practice. Through mindful eating, breathwork, meditation, and embodied practices, I guide participants in decoding cravings, breaking unhelpful food patterns, and creating sustainable tools for self-compassion and inner strength.

I lead immersive workshops, courses, and group experiences that act as catalysts for healing and creativity. My programs are designed for individuals who seek to:

• Transform their relationship with food and self

• Overcome emotional eating, binge eating, or disordered eating patterns

• Build resilience, reduce stress, and restore nervous system balance

• Cultivate mindful awareness and greater connection to body and self

A long-time competitive swimmer and athlete, I also support performers and athletes in using mindfulness and breath-based tools to enhance focus, recovery, and mental resilience.

My healing journey began with cycles of dieting and disconnection from my body, which led me to explore yoga and meditation. Discovering focused-attention meditation and later Kundalini Yoga transformed my life and inspired my graduate research at Columbia on the neurological effects of breathwork and meditation on emotional regulation. Building on this foundation, I studied habit change and behavioral science, developing a practical playbook that gives clients the tools to overcome emotional and binge eating, transform food patterns, and create lasting resilience. These evidence-based practices remain at the core of my teaching, workshops, and coaching today.

In addition to my training in yogic and contemplative practices, I have worked in clinical settings including New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Medical’s Eating Disorder Research Center, and experiential groups nationwide. I have also partnered with the University of Arizona to study how yoga and meditation support neural connectivity and published findings. I also serve as a resource with the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).

Through The Alchemy of Eating, it is my passion to offer evidence-based, integrative, and accessible pathways for individuals to reclaim balance, transform their food relationship, and step into a fuller, more connected life.