Michael Emanuel began following the Siddha Yoga path in 1976, when he participated in a Shaktipat Intensive in Gurudev Siddha Peeth. Since 1996, Michael has served as a trustee and treasurer of the Siddha Yoga Dham of Canada. Michael has also offered seva in the SYDA Foundation Finance Department at Shree Muktananda Ashram, and on the steering committees of the Siddha Yoga meditation centers in Toronto and Montreal.

Michael is a retired business administrator and has certification as a civil engineering technician from Ryerson University in Toronto. He lives with his wife, Geneviève, in Montreal.