100 Most Inspiring Yoga Teachers in India
Yoga is gaining wide acceptance all around the world today. We gladly recognize and introduce India as the birthplace of Yoga and yoga teachers where the journey started from Lord Shiva as Adiyogi to Adiguru and later yoga spread in India and eventually in the entire world. In the yester years and decades many elite personalities contributed or rather dedicated their lives in unearthing the true meaning of yoga as passed on in its most original form, the traditional one.
It takes years of perseverance, strong determination, discipline and practice to evolve as a strong persona of yoga, adept to train, explore and encourage people across countries and cultures.
It is really an arduous task to find yoga teacher with whom you feel connected and enabled to explore the inward journey. Therefore on the occasion of International Yoga Day on 21st June 2018, we, after a thorough research of past few months have attempted to bring out the 100 inspiring teachers among the best teachers in yoga based on their yogic journey, learning and experience.
Moreover we have also taken up yoga mentors from diverse segments of yoga like therapy and training which is of prime significance in the present day scenario. We revere and give due credit to all the yoga teachers for their remarkable contribution in the field of yoga and training initiatives taken by them to enlighten the lives of humans worldwide. Our team also sincerely thanks the teachers for their support and inspiration which encouraged us to come up with this initiative to present before the seekers a link to their spiritual sojourn. Our list is not based on the order of prominence but is prepared in Alphabetical Order.
For International World Yoga Alliance™ every yoga teacher is valuable and equally important. So let’s explore their yogic journey which evolved them into yogi that influenced other people to be on the mat.
Abhijata Sridhar Iyengar
Grand -daughter of Sri B.K.S. Iyengar, Abhijata has done Masters in Bioinformatics from Pune. She started practicing yoga under a disciplined and enlightened guidance of her grand- father, aunt Geeta and uncle, Prashant Iyengar. She has been a dedicated practitioner since the age of 16. She has a unique training style and agility which makes learning more interesting and motivating. As an adept yoga trainer she has independently handled trainings at various conventions worldwide. Presently she is a student as well as a senior faculty at Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune, Maharashtra.
Ajay Tokas
With his roots in the traditional Hindu family, Ajay started his journey in 2004. Ajay is well acquainted with Bhakti yoga and went on many religious tours and came across many spiritual teachers. In 2010 he met his guru Sharath Jois and received level II authorization in Ashtanga yoga. He conducts classes in Delhi and his teachings reflect a blend of inner strength and spiritual awareness. Ajay is on his way to reach level IV authorization.
Alpesh Patwari
Alpesh vanquished epilepsy and other ailments emanating from it with the help of yoga. At a tender age of 12 Alpesh was fighting with this medical condition and after depending on other medicines he couldn’t find any recovery. Instead he was surrounded by several other problems like memory loss, depression and trembling. Finally Alpesh took up yoga as his last resort to come out of this vicious circle of ailments and live a healthy and normal life. Alpesh has been practicing yoga for more than 22 years now and is a trained and certified yoga teacher. He has established his own yoga centres – Alpesh yoga in Goa and Dharamshala
Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani
Dr. Ananda is also the Director and Professor of Yoga therapy at the Center for Yoga Therapy Education and Research (CYTER)and at a Deemed University in Puducherry. As a medical practitioner he has numerous degrees to his credit like MBBS, ADY, PGDY, FIAY and MD (AM) to name a few. He is a distinguished and adept yoga practitioner, researcher, teacher and therapist with rich experience and thorough understanding of yoga and its therapeutic benefits and a C-IAYT Certified Yoga Therapist. Dr. Ananda is also the chairman of International Centre for Yoga Education and Research (ICYER), a world renowned institute of yoga established by Ananda Ashram in 1968. Dr. Ananda inherited and gained yoga wisdom under the guidance of his father, Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj and her mother Yogacharini Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani. Dr. Ananda has spread yoga knowledge all across the world through workshops and yoga programmes. He has authored 23 books on yoga and released 20 DVDs on yoga in order to enlighten a vast majority of population about yoga and its therapeutic aspects. More than 100 scientific papers, abstracts and compilations on yoga research have been published by him. He is Member of the National Board for Yoga and Naturopathy and Scientific Advisory Committee in the Ministry of AYUSH as well as the Expert committees of AYUSH. For Ananda yoga is a means to explore and evolve self and our mind to reach the state of consciousness and awareness.
Anand Mehrotra
A carrier of immense wisdom and vision for spiritual transformation, Anand Mehrotra is a magnificent teacher with his roots in the yoga capital of Rishikesh. He is well acquainted in ancient teachings and philosophies related to yoga. Anand has trained many renowned personalities from diverse occupations, cultures and regions across the world. Founder of Sattva yoga and Sattva Yoga Academy which offer various accreditation courses, he is a well- known entrepreneur, social change initiator and an innovative thought leader. Anand teaches Sattva yoga which evolved from Vedanta and tantric traditions. It is a holistic and comprehensive yoga that incorporates modern science and mind body research.
Yogacharya Arun Pandala
Yogacharya Arun Pandala is the co-founder, Joint director and one of the senior most teachers at Sivananda Yoga Centre Gurgaon. He is practicing yoga since 1992 and started imparting training in 1995. Arun has set global standards for yoga. He is the Secretary of the Technical Committee set up by QCI to formulate and execute a voluntary certification process for yoga professionals and certify yoga schools in India and abroad according to internationally accepted parameters. He has also taught at Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Nataraja Centre. He also gives his learning and experience insights in reputed articles so that practitioners at any level of practice can understand about the yoga discipline and most importantly our physical limitations which are temporary. Arun quitted his advertising field job and embraced yoga and also understands how difficult it is to deal with stressful life of modern world, therefore more and more people from diverse professional areas are turning towards yoga and why yoga is gaining popularity worldwide.
Dr. Asana Andiappan
Dr. Asana is a highly learned and adept yoga guru of international repute with an experience of around 60 years. In his childhood, he learned yoga from Yogacharya S. Sundaram of Bangalore and later on evolved his own sequence of curative asanas inspired by the teachings of Sage Thirumoolar and was given the title of Asana by Sri Shankaracharya for his remarkable research and therapeutic asanas for common ailments. He has earned a PhD degree in yoga from Medicinal Alternative Yoga Institute, Sri Lanka and is working as honorary Professor in educational institutions in Tamil Nadu including Siddha Medical Colleges of Chennai and Palayamkkottai. Dr. Andiappan established a yogic healing centre- Sundara Yoga and Natural Living Trust in South India, focused on disease specific therapy based on yoga. He was awarded with Yoga Ratna for remarkable contribution in curing senility, dementia and researched on benefits of yoga for heart. He has the credit of organizing over 3000 yoga programmes in India and other Asian countries as a Vice President of the Indian Yoga Federation. He was given the prestigious Gandhi award in 2003 for his outstanding contribution in the field of yoga.
Ashish Kr. Sharma
Ashish is a young and experienced teacher of Hatha yoga. He focuses on proper alignment and flexibility. He underwent training under different experienced teachers but considers his brother Pankaj Sharma as his first guru. Ashish is well versed in asanas and understands the biomechanics of body. He is one of the best teachers of Hatha yoga in Rishikesh who helps in strengthening the body applying the geometrical approach in asanas. Ashish helps in optimizing the use and avoiding injuries of muscles while performing asanas. Resultantly, practitioners are able to gain control of their body and muscles which enables them to perform the complex asanas with ease.
Bharat Bhushan ji
Swamiji did not receive any formal education but only incorporated the teachings of scriptures and Vedanta in his lifestyle. He is inspired by Swami Vivekananda, Nanak ji, Swami Dayanand Saraswati ji and Kabir. Swamiji has given many spiritual discourses on Vedanta and yoga for the weal of common man. Moreover he always encourages people to give something to this world in return. He serves the society through his yoga training camps, live blood banks, Yagya shala to preserve nature and prevent global warming. He has also educated the youth on how to stay healthy and channelize their energies for the development of society. He received several recognitions for his work like Padma Shri Yog Chakravorty, Modern Vivekanand, Honorary Doctorate and Bharat Rashtra Ratna to name a few.
Bharath Shetty
With experience of over 21 years, Bharath Shetty is the founder of new technique of Yoga- Indea yoga which means inner light. This style is a combination of Iyengar, Hatha and Ashtanga yoga and focuses on the co-ordination of breath, body and mind. Bharath had suffered from chronic asthma and severe injury which incapacitated his legs. He recovered from both with the consistent practice of yoga and determination. In 1999 he met his Guru B K S Iyengar and acquired knowledge and training in yoga. Thereafter he started teaching yoga. He set up Indea yoga in Mysuru in 2004 where regular TTC classes are conducted. Bharath has been conferred with titles like Yoga Shiromani and Yogacharya.
Bipin Baloni
Bipin Baloni is an adept and confident yoga trainer who started his yoga practice when he was a school going boy. He has acquired wisdom through many great yoga gurus. He studied under yogi Mahesh for 3 years and started teaching yoga over seven years ago with Rishikul foundation. Later on Bipin, in order to find his true self and overcome the distress from his urban life he went to continue his yoga studies under the aegis of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Since then he continued the process of enlightenment by picking the pearls of wisdom from different traditional yoga gurus. Today Bipin is the manifestation of the traditional yoga and culture which he learnt in the yester years. He is an expert in spirituality, Hatha yoga and Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga.
Birjoo H. Mehta
Birjoo is adept and focused yoga trainer who learned yoga under the tutelage of Sri BKS Iyengar in 1974. Engineer by profession, he is a very senior teacher of Iyengar yoga at Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, Pune and is a trustee of Light on Yoga Research Trust, Mumbai. He used to demonstrate the Iyengar yoga at the conventions and workshops attended by his guru. He learned not only right postures, alignment and breathing but also imbibed the teachings about spiritual and mental processes and their prominence in performing asanas. Today he guides his students to think intellectually while going through the asanas and bring mind to a static and balanced state that can be directed towards performing the postures without any fear or anxiety of doing them. As a guest leader he has led National Iyengar Yoga Convention at San Diego, Germany, Spain, U.K., France and South Africa.
B. Naga Kumar
A diploma in mechanical engineering, B. Naga Kumar always had an inclination towards asceticism. Kumar wandered from place to place and tried several occupations to find the truth. At this time he came across Osho’s teachings and techniques through Swami Poornanada. He practiced his teachings and was accepted in the order of sannyasins as Swami Jeevan Vimal by Swami Anand Swabhav. Kumar wanted to understand the connection between mind, body and soul. Therefore he underwent training in different types of therapeutic, transformational and healing techniques like ayurvedic massage, cranio sacral therapy training, Joint release training and many more He also conducted various types of therapies like rose therapy, tantric therapy, who-is-in therapy , mind therapy and Transomatic therapy thus working on mind and body in a unique way. In 2001 he started working as trainer in ayurvedic massage and conceptualized the idea of his center-Mumuksha, where healing and transformation practices happen. In 2007 he became a certified Transomatic Dialogue Therapist from Osho ashram, Pune.
Sri BNS Iyengar
With over 70 years of yoga experience, Sri BNS Iyengar is the only traditional yoga teacher in a series of lineage of renowned gurus who is still there to guide people and comprehend the meaning of true yoga. He is the disciple of Sri T. Krishnamacharya and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. He is adept in Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga, a Sanskrit scholar and well acquainted with ancient scriptures. All this adds up to an amazing learned yoga teacher who knows what works best for the students, how to engage, involve and evolve every aspect of a being in yoga and its path. Born and brought up in a religious atmosphere, Sri Iyengar gained early education in a prestigious college Maharaja’s Sanskrit College, Mysuru. He first learned yoga under Sri T. Krishnamacharya, thereafter he continued his learning under Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. In this duration of 12 years he gained profound knowledge of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga and specialized in various elements- Pranayama, asanas, mudra, vinyasavidya, Nyasa vidya and many others.
Shri B Raghavendra Shenoy
Shri Raghavendra is a dedicated and disciplined yoga teacher in Basavanagudi. His forte is Iyengar yoga and is the first formal teacher of renowned yoga teacher Gowrisha Hosakere. He has taught in Rashtrotthana Kendra and later he started teaching in Niraamaya Yoga Kuteeram, Bengaluru. He is a simple person with profound wisdom and a vision for yoga. He maintains the sanctity of the yoga venue by ensuring its cleanliness and punctuality. Moreover his teaching style is a perfect example of learning with fun as he incorporates humour in his interaction with students.
Brahmakumari Shivani
Brahamakumari Shivani is a spiritual thinker and motivator who has been under the influence of spiritual and religious teachings since her childhood. She is a gold medalist in Electronics Engineering from Pune University. She worked in the production team of Brahmakumaris television presentations in Delhi where senior teachers used to record teachings. In 2007 she was asked to handle the queries of viewers due to unavailability of teachers. This led to a new television show in 2007 Awakening with Brahmakumaris where she used to be interviewed by the host. This brought many viewers drawn towards her wisdom, simplicity and grace. Her TV series with Bollywood actor Suresh Oberoi has been adapted in the book: Happiness Unlimited. She has been a rajayoga teacher from Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, Mount Abu.
Swami Chidanand Saraswati
Swami Chidanand Saraswati is the President and Spiritual guru at Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh. He embraced a yogic life at the age of 8. He has spent nine years of austerity in the forest and came back on the order of his guru. Thereafter Swami ji took formal education. He has Masters Degree in Philosophy and Sanskrit and is proficient in many languages. His ashram reflects his philosophy which is to serve humanity and mankind. Swamiji through his ashram not only provide yoga training but also provide education to underprivileged apart from training and health care to those in need. He is the founder and co- founder of many organizations aimed at welfare and development of nature and human beings.
C M Bhandari
C M Bhandari was born in a family of Vedic tradition in Dehradun. An alumnus of IIT, Kanpur with Masters in Physics, Chandra Mohan Bhandari has been a Yogi all his life which enabled him to delve deep into the insights of Yoga and practical aspects of Vedic Sciences. He is a former career diplomat and Ambassador of India to Cambodia, United Arab Emirates, Poland and Lithuania. Despite holding esteemed designations in renowned Government departments he is a simple and a humble trainer who is highly revered by his yoga students for his wisdom. He mentors people in Yoga and Ayurvedic science through his own experiences and acquaint students with the subtle and incomprehensible deeper levels of consciousness where engineering and biochemical processes take place all the time. Once a practitioner is able to understand the three personalities of a body, one can achieve holistic health, happiness and wellness. Mr. C M Bhandari made Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, his spiritual sojourn from 2010-12. Later he got engaged in transforming his native village Mawra, Ranikhet, Almora into Yog Ayurved destination and conducts yoga programmes there. He also runs a Yog Ayurved Center in Poland and has authored several books like 3 Volume series- Yog Shakti, an Encyclopedia of Yogic Science, Journey to Heaven: Kailas Mansarovar and Saving Angkor on Cambodia’s ancient Hindu Temples to name a few.
Dr. Deepak Sachdeva
Dr. Deepak Sachdeva evolved the teachings of traditional yoga gurus like B K S Iyengar to devise a new concept of Medical Yoga. This concept is the combination of Medical Science and Hatha yoga. It aims at channelizing the inner and outer energies to harmonize the three elements of our being- mind, body and soul. The medical science is applied in diagnosis of a disease and yoga is used in its treatment. Dr. Deepak is the founder and healer at Dr. Deepak Sachdeva’s Medical Yoga, Delhi. Dr. Deepak is trained in classical yoga and a Post Graduate Diploma in Therapeutic Restorative yoga from Dr Karandikar’s Kabirbaugh Math Sanstha, Pune. He practiced and got trained under the aegis of Acharya Yoganand alias Dr S.V. Karandikar (MBBS) who worked with Sri B K S Iyengar for many years and refined the yoga practice using Straps and belts to heal serious health problems.
Deepika Mehta
Three words aptly describe Deepika – Beauty, Balance and Brilliance. A strong willed person who overcame her life threatening injuries through yoga and meditation. She underwent training at Sivananda Yoga Kendra, Kerala and later through K. Pattabhi Jois in 2002. Deepika has gained wisdom of yoga from renowned yoga practitioners from around the world. She has trained famous Indian celebrities and has her own TV show Yoga City. She is Authorized level 2 Ashtanga Yoga teacher by KPJAYI.
Devki Desai
Devki is an Iyengar yoga expert who acquired training directly from Sri B K S Iyenagr, Prashant Iyengar and Geeta Iyengar. Her yoga journey began in 1984 and Iyengar yoga training at the age of 19 years. In 1988 destiny brought her to Pune where she further enhanced her yoga learning and started teaching in 1995 with Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, Pune which she continues till date. Devki has travelled extensively worldwide to promote the teachings of Sri B K S Iyengar. She imparts yoga training to women and children in both general and advanced classes. Her forte is Pranayama and therapeutic yoga. Devki teaches in a clear and precise way with a profound insight and explanation of yoga philosophy and asanas. Her wisdom, confidence and pleasing persona as senior Iyengar yoga teacher has earned her great respect and affection from students all over the world. She is a fun loving, energetic and enthusiastic trainer who incorporates the philosophy of Patanjali with ease and precision, simple enough for students to follow.
Diwan Singh Bisht
Diwan Singh Bisht began his yoga journey at the age of 24 years. He was inspired by the teachings and ascetic life of his teacher Br. Rudra Dev Gowda, one of the renowned and senior most disciples of Shri B K S Iyengar. Diwan learned Iyengar yoga basics and also remained a part of intensive sessions as well as took yoga therapy classes for four years. As a result he delved into spirituality, introspection and meditation. He started assisting students with asana correction and increased his yoga knowledge with Sharat Arora, in Dharamshala, Smt. Usha Devi of Omkarananda Yoga studio, Rishikesh and from Italy’s Maria Paola. For seven years Diwan studied at Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, Pune under the aegis of Sri B K S Iyengar who also awarded him certification- Iyengar certified Yoga Teacher. Diwan is a yoga trainer at Iyengar Yoga Mandir, Rishikesh. He is also an ardent practitioner of Vipasana meditation. For Diwan, teaching and practicing yoga is a way of life where both teachers and students keep evolving through their practice to move towards perfection in life.
Dr. Fharzana Siraj
Dr. Fharzana initiated yoga at the age of 13 years. Having encountered severe problems during her practice she modified her practice to Iyengar yoga. She reveres Sri B K S Iyengar as one of the pioneers and authorities in the field of traditional yoga. She got completely healed and transformed through yoga. She completed her Doctorate in alternate medicine and Masters in Yoga Therapy and continued further research in the same field. Dr. Fharzana is MD in Alternate medicine from IBAM. She has done yoga instructors course from Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhan Samsthana, Bengaluru, certified in yoga therapy from Mediyoga along with being a certified trainer from Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, Pune. She is the founder and therapeutic yoga consultant at Orange Ray wellness Centre, Chennai and co-founder and therapeutic consultant of Krshn Yog Clinic, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Being a doctor she understands how different yoga exercises work on human anatomy and ensure proper healing and recovery along with maintaining the physical, mental and spiritual balance. Dr. Fharzana has enlightened and continues to enlighten the lives of several people through her center, workshops and events in an effort to encourage people towards life full of hope and prosperity.
Ganga Puri
Ganga Puri was born to a Juna Akhara sage Baba Santosh Puri who lived an austere life in the Himalayas and Narvada Devi Puri Ma, a German by origin who came to India and was drawn to the culture and yogic life in India. Ganga Puri thus remained in the company of holy men and women which laid the foundation of an enlightened life. Ganga Puri is a Physics and Mathematics graduate from Garhwal University. He embraced full-fledged yogic life in 2001 when his father took Mahasamadhi. After 12 years of consistent and profound self-study and practice, Ganga developed his own system of yoga – Ayasa Vinyasa Yoganga Abhyasa, a 7 limb Hath yoga practice including Shatkarma, Asana, Mudra, Pratyahara, Pranayama,Dhyana and Samadhi. Ganga has devoted his life in helping yoga seekers gain the right guidance to traditional yoga practice. His sessions ensure proper alignment, balance of male and female energies, clarity in mental vision, control over breath, balance of gunas and opening of Chakras. The ashram has evolved into a centre for Spiritual research, Ayurveda and yogic art of living. With a thorough knowledge of ancient scriptures and adroitness in practice, he has been invited by many countries for his enlightening sessions at Retreats, Yoga Festivals and studios.
Geeta S. Iyengar
Eldest daughter of renowned yoga guru Sri B.K.S. Iyengar, Geeta inherited the art of yoga from her father and continued to work dedicatedly towards enlightening thousands of lives with her wisdom about this ancient legacy. Living a disciplined life she continued to delve into the vast ocean of yogic philosophy. Moreover being a woman herself she has developed various techniques to empower and deal with the medical complexities faced by women. Geeta has also written many books like: Yoga: A Gem for Women and Yoga in Action: Preliminary Course, to convey and educate women and people in general about right living and approach one should adopt in order to stay healthy and heal various ailments. Presently she is the director of Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, Pune named after her beloved mother. Geeta has performed in various conventions and trained many people in India and abroad.
Geetha Shankar
With a rich experience of yoga training of over 20 years under the aegis of Shri TKV Desikachar, Ms. Geetha Shankar has studied yoga philosophy and application of yoga in illness and spirituality for over 20 years. She is HOD for yoga studies. She is also senior faculty at Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram and Director of KYM institute of Yoga Studies, a teacher and yoga therapist consultant at KYM. She has conducted many programmes which include theory, practice, application and philosophy of yoga. She also learned vedic chanting and its significance in healing process. In her career till now she has conducted yoga classes encompassing all aspects of yoga, Yoga therapy classes and consultations nationally and internationally.
Swami Govindananda
A Charismatic teacher and a skilled yoga expert, Swami Govindananda has accumulated wealth of knowledge from various yoga schools of repute. His guru was Swami Vishnudevananda. Swamiji joined Sivananda Yoga ashram in Kerala and acquired yoga knowledge from International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre organization. He graduated in physics and a B.Ed allowing him to impart complicated concepts with ease which is easily understood by students irrespective of their age or culture. He teaches his students involving the elements of passion, energy and humour which is inexhaustible. With over 30 years of teaching experience Swamiji has dedicated 23 years in Sivananda yoga Vedanta centers existing worldwide. He teaches a wide range of subjects from traditional yoga forms- Hatha, Raja yoga, Meditation, philosophy, Vedanta philosophy, Sanskrit, Scriptures, Pranayama, yogic diet to advanced yoga and teaching skills.
Smt. Hansa Jayadeva Yogendra
She is a multi-talented personality in the field of yoga for around four decades. Hansaji has been a religious follower of yoga institute since long. A science graduate and degree holder in Law, Hansaji revolutionized the practices of Yoga Institute by her innate creativity, wisdom and experience. She initiated the changes which she feels strongly about especially she widened the scope of women at the institute. In 1997 she became the director of the Yoga Institute, Mumbai. She has been active in promoting yoga through print and electronic media. Currently she is the president of International Board of Yoga.
Dr. H.R. Nagendra
A PhD in mechanical engineering from IISC Bangalore, H R Nagendra moved towards enlightening the world with spiritual wisdom and training. His journey from NASA to VYASA began in 1975. He is an adept yoga therapist who serves as a personal yoga consultant to PM of India Narendra Modi. He has been a guiding light for yoga centers in Nimhans for over 15 years. He has written several books and research papers on yoga therapy, co-authored many papers, guided dissertations and presented several papers in conferences abroad. He has been awarded Yoga Shree in 1997 from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Currently, he is the president of VYASA.
Yoga Praveena H.S. Arun
The inclination towards yoga began when Arun developed Asthma. He was a chartered accountant by profession residing in Sringeri. In 1978 he met his guru Sri B.K.S. Iyengar at a yoga centre in Bangalore where he was teaching. Soon he joined his institute in Pune and religiously followed and practiced Iyengar yoga and later developed his own style of teaching based on his learning from his guru and experience at the centre. Today he has his own Prashant Yogashraya Retreat centre in Bangalore. It’s been over three decades that Arun has been teaching yoga and has a huge network of followers worldwide especially South America. His approach to teaching is simple and based on individual needs. For his outstanding grasp of the subject and teaching skills the state government and various institutions have honored him with the numerous titles. Some of them are – Yoga Praveena, Yoga Bhaskara, Yoga Sri, Adarsha Yogacharya, Rajyotsava Award, Swananda Kalasri.
Dr. Ishwar V. Basavaraddi
Dr. Ishwar Basavaraddi has been the Director of Morarji Desai National Institute of yoga since 2005. He has served as lecturer and HOD in Karnataka University for 16 years and has a rich experience of over 28 years in yoga healing, education and research. Dr. Basavarradi has provided training and therapy to around 80,000 people from different areas. He is Masters in Philosophy and doctorate in yogic philosophy. He is also trained in Advanced yoga Sadhana from reputed institutions. Dr. Basavarradi is an eminent member of various National and International organizations.
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudeva
Jaggi Vasudeva is a renowned yoga guru and the founder of Isha Foundation. Sadhguru aims to educate people about the purpose of yoga, its philosophy, experience and conduct. He solves the mysteries attached to the divine power and yogic pathways to experience the power of self and the infinite in sync and with a balanced approach. Sadhguru was the son of an ophthalmologist and a graduate in English literature. Spiritual experience came at the age of 12 years when he met Malladihali Sri Raghavendra Swamiji. He taught him simple asanas which Sadhguru religiously followed and slowly transformation within was experienced by him. For some time he returned to his previous life, his family. But later went on his spiritual odyssey in search of the answers to his mystical experiences. He started his first yoga class in Mysuru in 1983 from there he started classes in Hyderabad and Karnataka and gradually Isha Foundation came into existence in 1994 and from this branched out many divisions which are today involved in various social initiatives for education, environment preservation and Yoga training centers. He pioneered such concepts like Inner Engineering, Chit Shakti and IshaKriya, forms of guided meditation in spiritual awakening that people of the modern world can learn and derive its benefits.
Jawahar Bangera
Jawahar is one of the earliest disciples of Sri BKS Iyengar from Mumbai who initiated his practice in 1969. He is a stalwart in Iyengar yoga who imparts yoga training at Yogashraya in Mumbai. He has also been a strong resource who accompanied guruji on various yoga tours and a large number of workshops all across the world. He is a trustee of Light on Yoga Research Trust which came into existence in 1978 to celebrate the 60th birthday of Sri BKS Iyengar. The trust aims to promote the learning and encourage people to practice Iyengar yoga. He is an experienced, dedicated and influential teacher who enables practitioners to imbibe and grasp the fundamentals of Iyengar yoga. Jawahar continues to conduct workshops in different Iyengar yoga centers from time to time. He has also been an esteemed guest trainer at various conventions held in different parts of the world. Jawahar is a distinguished teacher with firm hold on the roots of traditional yoga and a profound wisdom of Patanjali yoga sutras. He preaches that yoga is not confined to asanas but it is a whole set of all the eight limbs which many people miss out or just work only on a part of it. Jawahar Bangera believes that a practitioner evolves each day in some form or the other.
Dr. Jivasu
Jivasu – a pediatrician by profession has gained wisdom and expertise as a result of close analysis of experiences he had in his life. His fear of death convinced him to learn more about self and adopt a lifestyle which is healthy for him. Later he went to medical school where he studied about spirituality and neuroscience from the works of Indian and western philosophers. After a thorough research on various ailments he delved into the study of Ayurveda, philosophy and religion. Finally he realized the essence of life is being natural as we are born from nature and it has the power to heal and whatever exists and ends is a part of natural process. Jivasu today spreads his knowledge in different parts of the world and is directing people towards Naturality – Sahajta to live a healthy life. He currently teaches Naturality programs in Canada, India and Japan along with his wife Karen.
Kamal Singh
Yogi Kamal Singh has acquired Masters Degree in yoga from Garhwal University. He has many degrees to his credit from esteemed yoga institutions like Bihar school of Yoga, Sivananda Academy and Satyananda Yoga Centre. Kamal has travelled extensively receiving the best from many yoga teachers. The essence of those teachings and his own research through his practice enabled him to devise his own style of teaching that involves tremendous amount of energy, alignment and adjustments. Kamal works on all these areas and instructions enable to practice this style of yoga safely and swiftly. Tattva Yogashala is the brain child of Yogi Kamal which came into existence in 2007 in his hometown Rishikesh.
Dr. Kaustubh Desikachar
Dr. Kaustubh belongs to the traditional lineage of T. Krishnamacharya and has been teaching yoga for over 15 years to a variety of students. He started learning yoga at the age of 9 under the aegis of his father Sri TKV Desikachar. As a yoga teacher he initiated teaching at the age of 13 years. He completed dual Master degree from Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences and became a full time student and teacher of yoga. Thereafter in 2011 he acquired his Doctoral degree from Psychology Department from University of Madras, with his research topic – “Effect of Individualized Yoga Training on Quality of Life”. Dr. Kaustubh is an acclaimed yoga therapist who provides remedies for all kinds of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual ailments. He has conducted many training and therapist training programmes all across the world. His approach to healing includes Postures, breath regulation, meditation, dietary recommendation, lifestyle suggestions, chanting, visualizations, energetic seals, symbolic gestures and guided self-inquiry. He also has a remarkable teaching acumen where he incorporates traditional theories and practice with modern learning environment. Dr. Kaustubh is a member and advisor to many recognized institutes and organizations – American Psychological Association, Member of International Positive Psychology Association, and Life Member of Indian School Psychology Association. He is also a co-founder of online journal “Synergies in Healing” that bridges the gap between ancient wisdom and modern science. He has also authored and co-authored books on yoga- “The Heart of Yoga: A Comprehensive Manual on Classical Yoga Postures” and “The Yoga of the Yogi”. He has also been a Patron to the British Wheel of Yoga and an advisor to the International Association of Yoga Therapists.
Yogacharya K.P. Mohandas
Yogacharya K.P. Mohandas is a highly qualified, experienced and proficient yoga trainer. He is retired as Under Secretary in Finance Department, Government of Kerala and founded Santhi Yoga International Foundation, Kottayam, Kerala. He is the President of Santhi Yoga Charitable Society, Vice-President of Kerala PG Yoga Teachers Association and President of District Yoga Sports Association. He has been teaching yoga for over 10 years to people of different nationalities and culture. Yogacharya Mohandas has a deep wisdom of curing lifestyle related diseases like Diabetes, Asthma, Hypertension and obesity. He is also curing psychosomatic disorders with the help of yoga therapy and counseling. He is a great visionary of yoga who started Santhi Yoga International Teachers Training and Research Foundation to promote yoga at national and International levels to ensure integrated development of mind, body and soul.
Krishna Chaitanya
Krishna Chaitanya is a simple and lifelong learner of traditional yoga. He is a humble person who is skilled in Meditation, Hatha yoga, Philosophy and Psychology of Yoga Vedanta. Krishna has been to different yoga schools of repute like Ramakrishna Vivekananda order Kolkata, Bihar School of yoga, Munger Himalayan Tradition of Swami Rama, Rishikesh and Sivananda Ashram, Kerala to acquire wisdom and enlightenment in life. He took the path of monastic life at the age of 18 years. Krishna is a person who challenges the age old patterns and traditions and emphasize on profound insights into spiritual world and learning through experiences and cognitive learning rather than following the texts and traditions. He therefore wandered a lot in search of the truth and philosophy meeting up with various teachers and cultures all across the world. Krishna teaches spiritual philosophy on yoga, anatomy and teaching methodology in Ayur Yoga Eco-Ashram, Mysuru, Karnataka.
Dr. Krishnaraman
Dr. Krishna is a yoga practitioner since the age of 14 years. A doctor by profession who integrates yoga in his medical research and practice. Dr. Krishnaraman is MBBS, FCCP and a graduate in Medicine from Madras Medical College, Chennai. He learned about the clinical benefits of Hatha yoga under the aegis of Sri B K S Iyengar. He continued his research in applying the principles of yoga in the process of healing. After finding visible results on ailing patients, he started spreading traditional yoga as panacea for several illnesses. Dr. Krishnaraman is a medical practitioner at Mediyoga in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He has authored books on yoga – A Matter of Health- Integration of Yoga and Western Medicine for Prevention and Cure. Yoga and Medical Science: FAQ which clarifies the unscientific myths about yoga and put forth adequate medical evidences to support its utility in medical field. Dr. Krishnaraman has treated many celebrities with the help of yoga therapy and claims that a proper guided yoga treatment can avert surgeries.
Dr. Latha Satish
A disciple of renowned yoga gurus Sri B K S Iyengar and Sri TKV Desikachar, Dr. Latha has successfully propounded the teachings of these traditional yoga teachers before many students. She is PhD in Psychology and had been a research scientist in Madras University. She is well versed in both yoga and psychology. Dr. Latha has worked dedicatedly on various research articles on yoga- “Yoga Therapy at KYM” and Yoga Intervention of Persons with Epilepsy a three year project by Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram under the patronage of CCRYN, where she designed therapeutic techniques as a research head. Presently she is managing Yoga research Therapy activities at KYM and has also started research studies on Effect of Chanting on Cognitive Functions of Children and Yoga Intervention for Management of type II Diabetes. Dr. Latha is a co-guide in the research study on Yoga and Depression at KYM.
Maya Rao
Maya Rao is a distinguished teacher of Ashtanga yoga authorized to teach this system by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Guruji. She has the privilege of undergoing Ashtanga training under Guruji and his son Sri Sharath Rangaswamy for 9 years. Maya experienced yoga starting with Iyengar yoga and then moved to Ashtanga discipline thus enriching her practice more profoundly. Maya has also been a student at Bihar School of yoga and has travelled extensively encountering several adventures contributing towards her transformation. Maya focuses on holistic approach to yoga incorporating spiritual upliftment and comprehending the duality of life. She lays great emphasis on getting the right rhythm of breathing, correct posture and alignment, strength and seamless transition between the asanas. Currently she teaches in Goa.
Padma Shri Meenakshi
Shri Meenakshi is a 73 year old Kalaripayattu teacher, a traditional martial arts form of Kerala. An adept and agile lady who has immense strength and flexibility to beat the young people of half her age. She teaches kalaripayattam at her school Kadathanadan Kalari Sangam in Kerala and has been teaching for over 56 years. She is an inspiration and personification of a warrior. She started Kalaripayattu at the age of 7 along with classical dance from his master and husband Raghavan master. Together Raghavan and Meenakshi nurtured this school with their open minded and receptive approach towards all Kalari seekers irrespective of their religious or cultural background. Even females also form a considerable part of Kalari learners. She herself mastered this art in her school and has trained many teachers who are spreading this wisdom to other parts. This form of martial art helps to stay fit and agile and is also a source of self-defence. Shri Meenakshi transformed lives of many people especially females who earlier failed to continue this practice but now females of all ages and even after marriage continue to learn Kalari at her school which doesn’t charge anything other than a little Gurudakshina after completion of training.
Yogacharini Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani
Meenakshi Devi was born in U.S. but made India her home at the age of 25 years. She came to India to learn yoga and got influenced by its culture. She married Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj whom she met as his guru in 1968. She is the resident Acharya of Ananda Ashram founded by Swami Gitananda and devoted all her life to his teachings and taking care of the institutions founded by him. She lives along with her son and other teachers in the ashram. She has taught yoga and Bharatnatyam to around 10,000 village children. Meenakshi Devi is a journalist by profession; her articles get published in national and international newspapers and magazines. She has also been the editor of International magazine Yoga Life and also the managing editor of Ananda Ashram’s publishing unit Satya Press. She is also a popular speaker and organizing Secretary of yoga conferences. Yogacharini Meenakshi is the Director of Studies for Six month International Yoga Teachers Training course at the International Centre for Yoga Education and Research and also for one year course of International Diploma in Yoga Education. She has been the recipient of several awards: Yogamani in 1986 at the International yoga conference, Bhaskar award by Bharat Nirman for her contribution to Indian Culture and Spirituality an honour only given to 50 eminent people, Puducherry Government gave her the highest award for artist Puduvai Kalaimamani award for her work in Bharatnatyam. She was named as an eminent yoga expert to the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy. Apart from this she has also received an award for Outstanding Senior Citizen, Yogacharya Sundaram Gold Medal for Excellence in Yoga, Fellowship of Indian Academy of Yoga and was honored for bringing fame to Puducherry state, awarded by the Department of Women and Child Welfare, Government of Puducherry.
Mimi Parthasarathy
Mimi is a multitalented personality with remarkable intellectual capabilities. She learnt the basics of yoga when she was a child from her mother’s instructor. She reconnected with yoga in 2011 while she was undergoing a turbulent phase of her life. She comes from a greener Tamil Nadu which has gifted her with yoga discipline and cultural heritage of Bharatnatyam. Mimi recalls that yoga completely transformed her life and worked as a healing mechanism. Yoga changed her perspective towards self and allowed her to excel in multiple roles she plays- as a head of financial advisory company Sinhasi Consultants, yoga teacher, dancer and conservator of nature. Mimi realized her dream of living up her two other lives of a dancer and a yoga trainer along with working as financial advisor. In 2014 she kept the foundation of Krishna Wellness center which has spread its roots in different parts of Mimi’s majestic residences in Malleshwaram, Bengaluru. Over 150 people learn yoga at her center. Mimi believes that financial success is possible only after achieving a proper balance and discipline in life.
M.S. Viswanath
He is popularly known as Masterji. Sri Viswanath has been teaching yoga for over 40 years. He started his yoga training under the guidance of his uncle Sri K. Pattabhi Jois at the age of 10 years and remained under his aegis for 15 years. He has been empowering the teachers to further their practical and theoretical wisdom of yoga. Masterji started Pathanjala Yoga Kendra in 1970 and has been teaching yoga since then. In 1973 he started working full time in Bengaluru and met students from all across the world. He has conducted yoga sessions in many countries and has several recognitions to his credit like Dasara Award for his contribution in the field of yoga. Masterji‘s unquenchable thirst for knowledge persuaded him to read the wide ancient literature about yoga and consequently understand about its origin, evolution and essence in life.
Dr. M.V. Bhole
Dr. Mukund V Bhole is a medical Doctor and physiologist with a profound wisdom in research and therapy. In 1959 after graduating in medical field he joined Kaivalyadhama Yoga Research Institue, Lonavla as Research Assistant in Physiology. He was also sent to AIIMS for higher training and completed MD in Physiology by working on technique of Kapalbhati in yoga. He served at Kaivalyadhama on reputed designations and retired as Joint Director of Research in May 1995.He introduced yoga on modern medical lines in Czechoslovakia as an ambassador of Govt. of India. Inspired by his presentations yoga was recognized as rehabilitation medicine and yoga courses for rehabilitation workers were formulated in Czechoslovakia. Later on till 1984, he was regularly invited by Czechoslovak Science academy to develop therapy and education there. He was deputed to Iran where he worked with blind people and gave lectures on yoga therapy in medical colleges there. Dr. Bhole was also sent to Russia by ICMR for collaborative research on labile arterial Hypertension. He has been to various countries across the world on invitation from yoga groups. Presently he is working on experiential yoga- a concept based experience oriented yoga and training programme for patients and people who do not have any knowledge or background of yoga. Dr. Bhole is the founding member of Yoganubhava, England and Italy. He is also a life member of- Indian Medical association, Bruhan Maharashtra Yoga Parishad and Indian Science Congress. He has authored and edited many works- Authored Guidebook on Experiential Yoga, Co-authored Helping Yourself Towards Zero Backache, Worked as editor of journal Yoga Mimamsa, and Edited Abstracts and Bibliography of articles published from Kaivalyadhama.
Dr. N. Ganesh Rao
Dr. Ganesh is a constant learner with several degrees and diploma to his credit. He has Diploma in Naturopathy, Diploma in Yoga Education, Diploma in Management, Doctorate in Philosophy and Specialist instructor in Home nursing and First Aid and has conducted more than 17,000 sessions of yoga. His teachings are aimed at facilitating the transformation of physical, mental and psychological areas which is one of the core purposes of yoga. Once these areas are worked upon, a person is able to overcome the limitations which work as impediment in the path of eternal happiness and weal. Due to his constant endeavors Dr. Rao is like a vast ocean of wisdom which he applies in training and mentoring students. He plays multiple roles today like guiding PhD students of Mumbai University and K.K. Sanskrit University in yoga and Philosophy. He is the Advisor and Member of Board of Studies of Kaivalyadham, Lonavala and also a visiting Faculty at Kaivalyadham, Mumbai and Lonavala. He is a visiting faculty for various degree and diploma courses at K.J. Somaiya Institute.
Swami Niranjanananda
Swami Niranjanananda is the disciple of Swami Satyananda Saraswati. He embraced the yogic life at an early age of 4 years. He acquired training in spiritual and yogic sciences at Bihar School of Yoga, Munger under the aegis of his guru. For 11 years he travelled extensively understanding different cultures and propagating yoga around the world. Later he was initiated as Paramhamsa Sannyasin. He established the first university of Bihar, Bihar Yoga Bharati and Yoga Publications Trust. Swami ji also initiated yoga for children and guided yoga practitioners around the world. Later on his guru passed on his legacy to Swamiji to expound traditional yoga. Swami Niranjanji is a storehouse of yogic knowledge, philosophy and culture. He can adroitly combine the traditional yoga practice and philosophy with modern tradition making learning a wonderful experience. He was conferred with the third highest civilian award Padma Bhushan in 2017 for his remarkable work in the field of yoga through his literature and Teachings.
Nivedita Joshi
Having gone through severe spine injuries, destiny took Nivedita in the care of B.K.S. Iyengar. With her tenacity and optimism she managed to conquer her physical limitation and after a year walked out of the Iyengar Institute fully transformed both physically and spiritually. Since then Nivedita has been a dedicated trainer and practitioner of Iyengar yoga. Her positivity and sense of social responsibility is transforming lives all across the country and different parts of the world. Currently she is the head of Iyengar yoga centre- Yogakshema, New Delhi. Nivedita has been and continues to be an active participant and trainer in workshops and conventions organized for corporates and people in general both national and international.
Sri O.P. Tiwari
Born in 1933 in north India, Sri Tiwari was the disciple of Swami Kuvalayananda. He was delegated the responsibility of managing the Nature cure Hospital at his ashram Kaivalyadhama and later in 1966 he was entrusted with the responsibility of managing the entire institute. Sri Tiwari prepared the Encyclopaedia of Yoga for Indian government. Moreover he has been teaching yoga for over 40 years. He is well versed in yoga philosophy, therapy and traditional yoga. He has written several books on asana, yoga and philosophy. He is a revered teacher of Hatha yoga and Pranayama. Sri Tiwari is a selfless yoga trainer who doesn’t desire any recognition. His soul has recognized its purpose of life which he attempts to fulfil by sharing his wisdom with the rest of the world.
P C Kapoor
PC Kapoor is the Director of Sivananada Yoga Vedanta Centre, New Delhi. PC Kapoor focuses on the holistic form of yoga which includes asana, Pranayama, Satvik food, relaxation, positive thinking and meditation. He believes asana is like lubricating our body, a proper relaxation of mind and body is necessary and equally important are the other elements food, right breathing and meditation. He believes that yoga is a way of life. Mr. Kapoor says that Yoga can be learnt by any one, it doesn’t require any special tools or attire but a firm mindset to stay strong and healthy in life. Yoga is a complete science of life and a vast system of self -development of mind, body and soul. Mr. P C Kapoor emphasizes on the need to gain proper understanding of practice .Therefore workshops are conducted on balancing, flexibility, headstand, Shat Kriya and Inversions. Special sessions on meditation and positive thinking are also conducted.
Paramahamsa Prajnanananda
An ocean of ever flowing wisdom and grace, Swami Prajnanananda is the charismatic Kriya yoga preacher. He attained skill and knowledge under the aegis of his guru Sri Gurudev Paramahamsa Hariharananda. He met his guru in 1980 when he was initiated into Kriya yoga. Prajananananda was quite different from his peers. He used to spend most of the time in prayer, puja and meditation. He was a professor of Economics in Ravenshaw college Cuttack. He accompanied his guru in his tours across India. He always wanted to be in peace and solitary places and in unquenchable thirst for truth, he used to retreat to Himalayan region meeting many spiritual sages and collecting every drop of wisdom to become a vast ocean of love, kindness, energy and spiritual aura. Swami Prajnanananda has always been a dedicated student and a very kind hearted person who used to help old people in temple to get a glance of god when the temple used to remain closed. As a president of Prajnana Mission, he carried out programmes to promote spiritual education, health services and philanthropic causes all around the world. He uses simple, short precise and delightful way to demonstrate and comprehend the knowledge gained from ancient literature and his own experience.
Dr. Pranav Pandya
A disciple of Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya, Dr. Pranav is considered to be the pioneer of scientific yoga. He is Gold Medalist in Medicine and qualified for U.S. Medical services in 1976. He gave up his lucrative job in BHEL as ICCU in- charge and under the guidance of his guruji joined the Yug Nirman Mission and as the Director of Brahmavarchas Institute brought Science and Spirituality together. He achieved many milestones in Ayurveda, Psychology, Yagyapathy and therapeutic aspects of meditation and Parnayama. With profound research and wisdom of Ancient scriptures and Ayurveda, Dr. Pranav has created vast literature on scientific Spirituality from 1978-1990 under the aegis of his guruji. He single handedly established Gayatri Parivar branches in 80 countries in 1990 when Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya took Mahasamadhi. Dr. Pranav encouraged and guided the Youth towards the three fold path of Sadhana, Upasana and Aradhana (Self-discipline, Attainment of Divinity and Selfless-service). He founded a Unique University of Indian Culture in 2002 with the Ordinance from Uttaranchal State Government and recognized by UGC which aims at motivating the youth towards social service as well as their self-development. It is being developed on the model of Nalanda and Taxila Gurukuls. Dr. Pranav has been conferred with numerous awards and honours for his selfless contribution and development in the field of Scientific Spirituality and spreading his wisdom all across the world. NASA recognized him as a distinguished Scientist and reformer for worldwide dissemination of scientific aspects of Indian Culture.
Prashant S. Iyengar
The son of Late Sri B.K.S. Iyengar, he is ashtanga yoga expert like his father. With rich experience of several years and profound knowledge of yogic science, Prashant has trained numerous students in India and abroad. His teachings are focused on internal spiritual experience which is unique in every individual and what one derives from his/her teaching is quite different. But yoga is not about physical postures but involves breathing, involvement of mind body and soul and how each yoga asana influence all the parts of body along with brain. So his teachings are quite enlightening and based on thorough understanding of human anatomy and its functions which he gained from the study of ancient literature. Prashant Iyengar is the director of Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, Pune.
Yogacharya Pratishtha Sharma
Yoga teacher at Bharat Yog, Saharapur and daughter of renowned yoga guru Sri Bharat Bhushan, Pratishtha is the epitome of beauty, intellect and grace. An arts graduate, Pratishtha is well versed in yoga and spirituality along with life skills. Pratishtha initiated her yoga practice under the guidance of her father. Later she did her formal yoga training from Kathak Kendra, New Delhi under the aegis of Guru Shankar Apte. Due to her father’s public discourse, she was exposed to the ocean of spiritual learning and cross cultural interactions along with understanding the multi-dimensional aspects of yoga. Pratishtha has earned many laurels at a very young age-Shrashtha Nagrik Samman, Natya Kala Ratna, Manasi Kala Ratna by different organisations. She is the empanelled artist of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Doordarshan. Moreover she was also recognized as the youngest yogacharya and mind therapist at the age of 20 years.
Raja Choudhury
Raja Choudhury is an inspiring visionary, a film-maker, an influential Speaker and a mentor who guides people to inner exploration and enlightenment. In his journey of over 30 years he came across many experiences ,explored many traditions and gathered the best from every interaction with multiple cultures and environment thereby enriching his communications, his works and transforming his personality holistically. He wish to share the same wisdom and encourage people to go through the same transformational and experiential learning that he acquired from teachings and transformative methodologies. He has a rich Digital and Communications media career of 25 years where he has presented the world especially the U.K., U.S.A. and India, many award winning films like The Quantum Indians- National Film awards India 2014, Yoga: Aligning to the Source and Modern Mystic, Webby recognized websites like CBCWorldwide.com. He is a TED speaker for Today’s World who provides a comprehensive view on Indian tradition and wisdom with varying dimensions and is quite popular in western countries. He is also credited with developing many documentaries on Yoga, Spirituality and Universal values. His newsletter Universal Quest is widely acclaimed and is now moving to real platform for the world. Raja is also a TEDx speaker on Yoga 3.0. His film on yoga titled Yoga Harmony with Nature was the Indian film and UN official film which was released on the first International day of Yoga on 21st June 2015. Raja leaves an indelible mark on the minds of people whom he guides along the path of spiritual consciousness.
Ram Kumar Gupta
Ram is an amazing spiritual teacher and a quite humble person. Ram completed his professional yoga education from Kaivalyadham in 1992. He has a degree in nature cure science and a Masters degree in yoga and meditation. He is the course co-coordinator and senior teacher at Shree Mahesh Heritage Training School, Rishikesh. This institute is the brainchild of Baba Shree Mahesh, a great scholar of Vedic sciences and spiritual teacher. Ram’s teaching style evolved from his years of consistent practice, study and training in different forms of yoga and meditation techniques. He directs people towards the inward journey of self –realization. He teaches with simple techniques and solutions which helps the students move towards health and wellness to make them happy and positive in their lives.
Swami Ramdev
Swami Ramdev represents the face of Indian Yoga Guru. He is renowned all over the world and has been a prominent personality in popularizing yoga within and outside India. He is the founder of Divya Yoga Mandir Trust for the promotion of yoga. Swami Ramdev belongs to Haryana who embraced a yogic life at a very early age. He learned yoga and Sanskrit and later joined kalwagurukul to teach yoga to villagers. He gained profound knowledge of Indian Scriptures and practiced Yoga. Baba Ramdev has been organizing several yoga camps and has been educating about the benefits of yoga and how right lifestyle can provide cure to multiple diseases. His efforts have resulted in shifting focus of masses towards health aspects and finding solutions to their problems in yoga. Ramdev has also opened various centers for yoga and pharmacies in order to promote herbal and ayurvedic products under the aegis of Patanjali Yogapeeth Trust.
Rajvi .H. Mehta
Rajvi H Mehta is a trained bio medical researcher and an expert yoga practitioner. She started practicing Iyengar yoga at an early age under the blessings of Sri B K S Iyengar. Rajvi was unaware about the kind of transformation yoga was meant to bring in her life. Today she acknowledges his father’s decision to initiate her into the practice of yoga. Rajvi is one of the rare gems who has completely imbibed the teachings of yoga gurus and carrying forward their legacy for the weal of people all across the world. A doctor by profession, Rajvi has profound medical knowledge which she incorporates in teaching yoga and knows the effect of each asana and breathing practice on different parts of body. Rajvi is a senior faculty at Iyengar Yagashraya, Mumbai and has been associated with Iyengar family since long. She is also an editor of the journal Yoga Rahasya and has written many enlightening books, articles and journals both at the national and international levels. Rajvi shares her experiences as a doctor and as a yoga teacher about the severe cases of patients she has handled and how yoga practice completely transformed people with minimal chances of recovery. Apart from teaching yoga her works continue to enlighten people all across the world which discuss about the true meaning of Iyengar yoga, its effects and the teachings as delivered by Sri B K S Iyengar. She has been a part of reputed events like International yoga Festival.
Raya Uma Datta
Raya started learning yoga at the age of 10 years at Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, Pune. In 1998 he demonstrated yoga at the eightieth birthday of Guruji B K S Iyengar after which Guruji took him under his aegis and trained him in Iyengar yoga. At the age of 20 years he started teaching yoga to children at the institute and since 2002 he is a faculty of general yoga classes conducted at the institute. Raya is MA in Philosophy. He accompanied guruji to Russia and China in 2009 and 2011 respectively. Moreover he is assisting in therapeutic classes of yoga. He has conducted seminars and conventions in Canada, Italy, Spain, Israel and Germany. His yoga convention of 2016 in U.K. is well known. Raya is known for his strength and range of asanas, profound insight of practice and refined approach. Moreover he teaches with great zeal and energy. He keeps the learning atmosphere stress free and practitioners can move through the asanas without any difficulty.
Prof. RS Bhogal
A highly qualified Yoga teacher and proficient in different languages, Prof. R.S. Bhogal is a Research Head and senior faculty at Kaivalyadhama, Pune. He is a post graduate in psychology and NET qualified in Organizational psychology with around 23 years of experience in research and 20 years of experience in teaching. Prof Bhogal has been a Principal of Govardhandas Seksaria College of Yoga and cultural Synthesis at Kaivalyadhama, Pune. He has also been the Managing Editor and Associate Editor of Yoga Mimamsa for 17 years. Well versed in yoga and psychology coupled with expertise in teaching Prof. Bhogal is an inspirational and influential speaker on yoga psychology in various conferences and seminars in India and abroad. He was conferred with Shivram Apte award of Fergusson College, Pune and Bharat Jyoti award by IIFS, New Delhi. He has many books and scientific papers to his credit based on yoga and psychology-Psychophysiology of Traditional Yoga in Korean, Yoga and Modern Psychology in English and German and Yoga and Mental Health and Beyond in English to name a few. He is a teacher with a calm and composed demeanor. He is an active member of many ongoing research projects at Kaivalyadhama and credited with many internal publications. His areas of excellence are meditation, Pranayama, Omkar and psycho-physiological aspects of yoga and effect of yoga on mental and spiritual health.
R. Sharath Jois
He comes from a family of renowned yoga Guru Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Sharath commenced his yoga practice at the age of 7 and refined it till he attained the age of 14. He started with formal yoga education at the age of 19 with a disciplined approach. He is the only student of his grandfather K. Pattabhi Jois to have completed six levels of Ashtanga Yoga system. He currently resides in Mysuru and imparts training to students of K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute. Today, Sharath’s sincere devotion and discipline to the study and practice of yoga compels him to rise six days a week at 1:00 a.m. to complete his practice before the first students arrive at the K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute, where he serves as Director. Sharath has been conferred with numerous awards and honours for his selfless contribution and development in Yoga. Uttarkashi & Mysore Yoga has bestowed him with title of Mahayogi Guru & Paramguru.
Br. Rudra Gowda
Br. Rudra Gowda is a native of Karnataka (India) and belongs to an agricultural family. He met Guru Iyengar more than thirty years ago in the Sivananda Ashram of Rishikesh. Since then he has been a devoted disciple and founded the Rishikesh Yoga Study Center. He is an expert Iyengar yoga teacher with over 25 years of teaching experience. A senior teacher of Iyengar yoga and has been teaching yoga in Rishikesh, the yoga capital of India. Br. Rudra Dev is a highly revered and one of the most sought after yoga trainers at Yoga Study Center of Rishikesh. Moreover Yoga Study Center is the hub for the first and most famous courses of Iyengar. Rudra Dev ji’s disciples include both Indian and western yoga seekers.
Sadhak Anshit
Sadhak Anshit Yoga Foundation Founded by Sadhak Anshit. He is a Certified Yoga Teacher and Yoga Therapist , and he encountered the teaching while on the quest to heal himself from a near-death happening of a road accident. When doctors told him that he would nevermore walk again, he took matters into his hands and found the healing powers of Ashtanga Yoga. Sadhak Anshit is one of the recognized Yoga and Meditation teachers in India. He spends most of his time teaching all over India. Sadhak Anshit Yoga Foundation is the best place designed to explore the inner aspects. Sadhak Anshit has successfully transformed over 5000 lives till now. He believes that yoga is the panacea and a vital resource for small to mammoth problems and phases which we encounter today as beings. Sadhak Anshit keeps formulating sessions which are tested and proven for mind body connection and help in building internal resilience of the practitioner. His sessions always have something unique and enlightening for his diverse group of patients and yoga seekers.
Saraswathi Jois
A Strong mother and a dedicated daughter started her yoga at the age of 10 under the guidance of her father Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. In Spite of facing several hardships in life she turned out to be a complete woman in every role. She was a strong support to Sharath, his son who suffered from several ailments at a very tender age and started teaching yoga in Mysore at a very nominal price. Her love for yoga allowed her to start her own institute at home in Gokulam in 1984 and started teaching there. Later his father moved his yoga shala K Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute to Gokulam where Saraswathi also joined him.
S.A. Sreedharan
Sreedharan is a learned yoga philosopher and a Self-management expert. He is the senior disciple of Swami Parthasarathy. Sreedharan applies his ancient wisdom and research experience of over 20 years to enlighten the lives of people of the modern world. He inspires individuals to recognize their inner strength and live life to their full potential by channelizing their energies in constructive pursuits and experience peace and prosperity. Sreedharan lays emphasis on mental well-being. He helps people to understand their intellect and find ways to work on improving their emotions and get clarity in thinking. He has conducted over 3000 lectures across the world interacting with diverse audiences.
Swami Satyasangananda Saraswati
Swami Satyasangananda Saraswati popularly known as Swami Satsangi hails from Chandernagore , West Bengal. She received modern education in childhood but later on took the traditional yogic path as a result of several spiritual transformational experiences she underwent at a tender age. Swami Satsangi had the privilege of being a mentee of Sri Swami Satyananda Saraswati, a renowned spiritual teacher. She travelled extensively with her guru which gave her great exposure to the diverse culture, tradition, tantric insights, modern science and philosophies. Swami Satsangi is a profound learner and an inspirational teacher with keen insight of modern philosophies. She is also a remarkable author of texts on yoga and tantra- Sri Vijnana Bhairava Tantra: The Ascent, Light on the Guru and Disciple Relationship, Karma Sannyasa The Descent, a commentary on Adi Guru Shankaracharya’s famous poem of divine ecstasy, Sri Saundarya Lahari. Tattwa Shuddhi is widely acclaimed book which gives an account of her own spiritual journey. She was appointed as the Peethadhishwari of Rikhiapeeth in 2007 by his guru. Presently she resides at Rikhia dedicating her life for the upliftment of local community and neighbours by propounding the teachings of Swami Sivananda Saraswati focusing on the precepts -serve, love and give and teachings of Swami Satyananda Saraswati. She is the torch bearer of the teachings of her guru which she articulates in the modern context and enlightens people all across the world.
Seema Sondhi
Seema Sondhi is the real struggler who overcame her 3 lumbar slip discs through the panacea called yoga. There was a time when she couldn’t even move without the belt and it was severely painful phase for her both mentally and physically. Finally she took the abode of yoga in order to break the circle of suffering. Yoga helped Seema to walk without belt within six months of practice and could touch her forehead to her knees after a year’s practice. Later she used to assist her aunt and guru who used to allow each student enough space to discover and evolve without any caveats or favors to any particular student in yoga classes. Gradually Seema got better through consistent practice and the immense power her mind gave to her as she started transforming from within. She is the proud owner of Seema Sondhi Yoga Studio, New Delhi, and a revered teacher of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga. She has over 15 years of yoga, wellness and lifestyle experience with certification from International Sivananda Vedanta and Yoga centre. She keeps learning, exploring and passing on her learnings to others. Seema focuses on building strength, monitoring our breath, right alignment and mental focus.
Senthil Kumar
Senthil is an expert in traditional yoga asana techniques and a trained athlete, gymnast and swimmer. His forte is classical vinyasa yoga and he is associated with Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram for more than 5 years. Senthil has trained many teachers both at national level as well as international level at KYM. He is a source of inspiration who guide many children towards yoga and is an adorable teacher amongst children who attend his regular classes. Additionally he is also an adept yoga therapy teacher and offers his services to patients coming at KYM for health solutions. He worked as a co-researcher on a project on Influence of Yoga on Lifestyle Practice of Youth which was sponsored by Indian Council for Social Science Research, New Delhi (ICSSR). Senthil also conducted and practiced in regular yoga sessions at MDNIY National Yoga Week, New Delhi. He is Masters in Sociology and is pursuing Doctoral degree in Yoga and Sanskrit.
Sharat Arora
Sharat acquired full time training under Sri B K S Iyengar. He used to take regular therapy sessions for his patients along with performing all asanas. Thus he combined his yoga experience with his knowledge of medicine to evolve a well-defined yoga therapy concept. During this phase of his evolution as a yoga therapist he came into contact with Buddhist monks and introduced with the concept of Vipassana which made him understand the purpose of yoga in his life and what he can provide to others through his wisdom and experience. This was the state which is known as enlightenment where Sharat found the purpose of his life. The teachings of J. Krishnamurti and HWL Poonja paved his way to become an accomplished yoga therapist with approach to holistic yoga. The clarity in instructions, detailed focus on trainees and an elaborate knowledge about therapeutic yoga allow Sharat’s students to recover from injuries and chronic illness.
Sharmila Desai
Sharmila comes from a lineage of classical dancers featured in the books of London Chronicles. She continues to study at K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute, Mysuru since 1997. She is a KPJAYI certified teacher. Her works reflect her in-depth knowledge and great exposure. Her book titled Yoga Sadhana is about Ashtanga yoga, pregnancy, birth and motherhood based on teachings and experiences of her female students. As her call for social service she has organized various workshops and programs for street children and conducted yoga therapy workshops abroad. Currently she resides in Goa and conducts classes at her institute Ashtanga Yoga Morjim, apart from organizing Yoga events worldwide.
Sharmila Mahesh
Sharmila was born in Mysuru to a family of enlightened and proficient yoga mentors of Jois family. Since her early childhood she along with her brother Sharath started learning yoga from their grandfather and used to imitate his students due to their interest and curiosity. Sharmila is a commerce graduate from Mysuru. She started taking formal instructions in yoga from her mother and teacher at the age of 14 years and started teaching with her at the age of 18 years. She loves to pass on her wisdom, grace and strength she has gained from her mother Saraswathi Jois as a woman and as a yoga teacher. In 1996, she was appointed as the principal teacher of Ashtanga Yoga Institute, Bengaluru founded by Sri K Pattabhi Jois and since then she is training people in Mysuru style Ashtanga yoga. Sharmila gives individual attention to the students considering the ability of practitioner and leads them effortlessly through the postures and asanas. She is inspired by the discipline, dedication and patience of her teachers and tries to observe the same as teacher while enriching the lives of practitioners with her wisdom which is her endeavour.
Shashikala Govinda
She is one of the three sisters who laid the foundation of the yoga center – Mysore Three Sisters, Mysuru. They have been associated with the Jois family and are teaching Ashtanga yoga for more than 20 years. Shashikala is a skilled, supportive and experienced Ashtanga yoga teacher. She started her training under the guidance of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in the year 1994 and is spreading his teachings for the past 15 years. Shashikala is well versed with yoga and anatomy and therefore is able to train the practitioners with ease and comfort when it comes to alignment and co-ordination of the body with the asana. Shashikala also imparts anatomy training to students at her yoga center and is also acquainted with martial arts. Just like any good trainer, Shashikala also tries to clear the mental vision of practitioners so that they can focus on practice and go through the session with proper grasp of the lessons and avoiding injuries.
Acharya Siddhartha Krishna
Acharya Siddhartha Krishna belongs to a family of learned Bhakti yogis. He is the son of renowned yoga teacher Usha Devi from whom he learned asana and Pranayama. He grew up seeing his father studying religious scriptures and delivering lectures on religious texts. At the age of seven he was sent to Kailas ashram Brahmavidya Peetham to pursue his studies in Sanskrit, Vedanta and Upanishads under the aegis of Swami Vidyanand Giri. Acharya Siddhartha wrote a detailed Sanskrit commentary on Pannini’s Ashtadhyayi after which he started teaching philosophy, yoga and logic at the Kailas Ashram apart from Sanskrit grammar and thus his interest in teaching developed. Siddhartha has edited works on Vedanta and has written commentaries on Yoga Philosophy and Sanskrit texts. He teaches at Omkarananda Patanjala Yoga centre in Rishikesh and also gives guest lectures abroad. He is able to deliver the wisdom of Vedanta and yoga philosophy with ease and clarity to his students and that too without any break.
Sannyasi Shiva Rishi
A quintessential of how yoga can transform a person completely. Sannyasi Shiva Rishi a title given to him by Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati in 2009 when he started Jignasu Sannyasa at Ganga Darshan. NKT.M. Jeyagopal was his real name before he transcended to yoga guru. Shiva Rishi had the privilege of being trained under the aegis of traditional as well as modern yoga luminaries like Swami Vishnudevananda of Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Guru Paramhamsa Niranjanananda Saraswati from Bihar School of Yoga. In 1992 he learnt Simplified Kundalini Yoga under Guru Vetharthi Maharishi who appointed him as ‘Arul Nidhi’ to initiate people into Kundalini yoga. At this time he continued community service and gave lectures on introspection to people. Shiva’s teaching began under the guidance of Shri Ajjey Gowder now known as Perasiriyar Arulanandam of World Community Service Centre in 1993, who encouraged Shiva to speak on several topics of modern age related problems and provide a direction to cope with them. The phase from 1988-2000 the years of intense Sewa and Sadhana brought out the best and hidden potential in Shiva and transformed him into a dedicated spiritual persona. Today he is the torch bearer to provide authentic and real wisdom about Sadhana, Seva and Samarpan as given by Swami Sivananda along with the profound knowledge of yoga and spirituality as acquired from his modern gurus. Shiva Rishi realized the value he gained and wished he could have begun his journey at an early age to have a better life as a youth. This thought provoked his inner urge which materialized in the form of Satyananda Yoga Centre Triplicane, Chennai which brings yogic wisdom to children and youth. Shiva tries to make them realize from within the meaning of yogic inputs in their lives, presents yoga in a refined form to make its essence comprehensible enabling a fulfilling purpose of life through spiritual awakening and self- realization.
Dr. S.N. Omkar
Dr. S.N. Omkar founded Yoga Mandir in 1989 in order to promote holistic health through yoga. The main emphasis of the center is to promote yoga education amongst children to ensure their overall development. Engineer by profession, Omkar has done B.E.( Mechanical),MSc. in Engineering and PhD in Aerospace Engineering. He acquired yoga training from renowned Yogacharya Dr. B.K.S. Iyengar. He is working as Chief Research Scientist at Indian Institute of Science, Dept of Aerospace Engineering. Dr. S.N. Omkar was appointed as Yoga coach for Karnataka cricket team and has trained renowned cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar and M.S. Dhoni. Anil Kumble is one of the trustees of his yoga center- Yoga Mandir. Dr. Omkar has many recognitions and honours to his credit like Editoral Board Member of Journal of yoga and Physical Therapy. He has conducted numerous events on yoga to serve the unprivileged groups of our society like yoga for disabled people. For the first time yoga was introduced for cricket team under his guidance. Dr. Omkar has been a part of many national and international conventions on yoga. He has inspired people through his radio and television shows. He conducted yoga lectures for astronauts and also introduced SURYA program- Student Upliftment and Rejuvenation through Yoga.
Sri SRD Prasad
Sri Prasad was born in Pallikunnu village of Kannur district of Kerala in 1945. His father Shri T. Sreedharan Nair initiated him in the martial arts tradition of Kalaripayattu. He gained expertise in Arappukkai style in the training school Sree Bharath Kalari, Kerala, founded by his father in 1948. Sri SRD Prasad also learned Kathakali music following his research on the movements and techniques of Kathakali and the effect of Kalaripayattu has on Kathakali artists. Sri Prasad is a marvel of Kalaripayattu and has marked his presence at various events conducted at national and International level. He has given several lectures and demonstrations on Kalaripayattu in universities and organizations. He has been a member of the Syllabus Formulation Committee of the Mumbai University for creating a postgraduate course- Movement Science. Sri Prasad has many books to his credit for spreading the wisdom of Kalaripayattu- Otta in 2004, Kalariyile Kala, biography of a Guru in 2010, Bharathakandam, a novel based on epic Ramayana in 2009 and Maippayattu published by Folklore Akademi in 2012. He is recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi award for his contribution to the martial arts of Kerala. He was awarded the Senior Fellowship Grant by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India for preparing an Encyclopaedia on Kalaripayattu.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Sri Ravi Shankar is a renowned spiritual and humanitarian leader. He has worked towards promoting love and non-violence globally. Through his organizations Art of Living and International association for Human Values, he has guided many towards the path of eternal happiness and peace. He has reached across 155 countries and has over 370 million followers all over the world. Guruji has devised such programs which empower people to face national, international, individual and community level challenges. He was a gifted child and could recite Bhagwad Gita at the age of 4. He has degrees in Physics and Vedic literature. Guruji is well versed in meditation and Sudarshan Kriya which is a breathing technique that allows pranavayu to flow freely. Sudarshan Kriya is an integral part of guruji’s programs. His communities-The art of Living and International association for Human Values work hand in hand in promoting peace, conflict resolution and develop human values. He has won several awards globally like highest civilian award of Colombia, Mongolia and Paraguay, Padma Vibhushan and many more.
Sri S Sridharan
Sri S. Sridharan is a renowned yoga expert in India and abroad. He underwent his yoga training under the aegis of eminent yoga teachers like T. Krishnamacharya and TKV Desikachar for over 30 years. He was a senior banker in his previous life. Sri Sridharan is an adept yoga Therapy consultant and trainer with over 40 years of experience. He has shed his light of wisdom on many bureaucrats, judges, media personalities and artistes. His forte is asana, Dhyan and Pranayama. He has travelled to internationally recognized schools on invite in order to impart training to students. Sri Sridharan has been a strong resource in the making of present yoga teachers. He integrates vedic chants in yoga practice as per the teachings of Sri Krishnamacharya, to create a holistic yoga experience knowing how the sound and vibrations improve yoga practice. He has also been a content developer for KYM publications and a member of the governing body of Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga under ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. He is also a Chairman, Standing Finance Committee of Indian Yoga Association, formed under MDNIY by all leading yoga institutes of India in order to develop and promote yoga education in India. Currently Sri S. Sridharan is the trustee and senior yoga expert at Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram. He is the member of Indian Yoga Association.
Sudhir Tiwari
Yoga journey of Sudhirji began under the guidance of his teacher Swami Digambarji and Sudhirji’s father Sri Om Prakash. Sudhirji attempts to present yoga as an experience rather than just asana. His teachings incorporate the traditional practices of yoga and the various sutras mentioned in ancient yoga scriptures in order to achieve balance and spiritual contentment through techniques that lead to Ishwarpranidhana-surrender to God. He conduct programs and workshops across different countries. His profound knowledge and western medicines coupled with expertise in yoga allows holistic healing and right vision towards healthy lifestyle for the practitioners. He is enriching lives of people through his mantra Breathe Positive, Breathe Yoga.
Sunaina Rekhi
Sunaina Rekhi is a remarkable Ashtanga and Ashtanga Vinyasa teacher with a unique approach to teaching. When she initiated yoga, it was a quite challenging task to understand and comprehend the various transformations happening both physically and spiritually. Moreover she could map her transcendence both physically and intuitively after she made yoga her way of life. Her consistency and training in psychotherapy and counseling helped her evolve as the most sought after yoga trainer. Sunaina is the modern day yogi who has her roots strongly fixed with the traditional yoga. After undergoing multiple experiences in life, the evolutionary phase came when she moved to Rishikesh where she intensified her training in the serene and soothing ambience of the Himalayas with Ganges flowing seamlessly, and the holiness spread in the air. Her teaching includes Vinyasa flow inspired from Ashtanga yoga with arms balances, inversions, sun salutations and laughter therapy. She also teaches holding and balancing the body through long poses in between rigorous practice. Moreover she also incorporates restorative poses like back bending, hip opening and others.
Sunil Sharma
Sunil Sharma has been teaching yoga since 2001 in India and abroad with specialization in Asana, Pranayama, Meditation and Yoga Counseling. He is trained in traditional and scientific yoga from Kaivalyadham, a renowned yoga institute, Lonavla. He is a post graduate in psychology and International Diploma in Guidance and counseling from National Council of Educational Research and Training – NCERT, New Delhi. Sunil has trained several students in Senior Secondary Schools under the scheme named Promotion of Yoga in Schools, introduced by HRD ministry of India. Moreover he has served as a Director of Yoga Teachers Training Department in Yoga Summit in Hangzhou, China and has delivered several lectures on Yoga and Philosophy. Sunil has conducted many yoga sessions and workshops on Pranayama and Meditation, yoga therapy sessions for corporate personnel and Yoga Teacher Training courses from 2006 to 2010 in China. He has a strong hand in healing problems related to stress and mild psychological disorders. He has the credit of writing various articles on yoga and Niramaya Jivan, a health magazine. He likes teaching the philosophical and psychological aspects of yoga with a caring and healing touch in treatment and training.
Surinder Singh
Surinder Singh was a mechanical engineer by profession who later took up yoga as his purpose in life. Surinder was encouraged and educated towards yoga by his guru Sri Swami Dharmananda of Ved Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh. Surinder has taught thousands of yoga practitioners at his academy Swasti Yoga in Rishikesh. Surinder is expert in Hatha yoga and focus on asana alignment and adjustment and also conducts workshops on the same. He infuses positivity and a support which every new trainee looks for while starting anything new. He adroitly puts his knowledge of mechanical physics to help students achieve proper alignment and balance in Hatha yoga.
Sushant Pandey
Sushant is an expert yoga trainer who guides all levels of yoga seekers. His childhood and schooling is from Bihar and has wisely invested 8 years in esteemed Bihar school of Yoga where he delved into the learning and roots of traditional yoga and built a strong foundation of yoga teacher. He merged his traditional learning with modern lifestyle to evolve an approach that caters to modern world yoga seekers and yogis. Sushant initiated his yoga discipline from Bihar Yoga Bharati Deemed University in 1997. He completed his post graduation in Psychology and gained an exposure at various prisons, hospitals, corporates and army about their environment and psychology. Sushant is the Head of Yoga at Ananda and has directed his consistent efforts in formulating as well as executing Yoga initiatives and programmes thereby maintaining its repute of award winning destination Spa. Sushant is a revered and dedicated teacher who enjoys guiding students towards traditional and authentic yogic wisdom and understanding. He tries to build a connection as a teacher with his students to create an ambience of harmony and positive vibes paving the way for evolution and transition through yoga. Sushant is adept in asanas, flexibility and posture and also focuses on breathing, meditation. He allows the practitioners to get engrossed in the practice and seamlessly move through the asanas.
Dr. S.V. Karandikar/ Acharya Yoganand
Inspired by his guru Sri B K S Iyengar, Dr. S. V. Karandikar started yoga therapy at Kabir Baug Sanstha, in 1989. He was M.B.B.S. and army personnel by profession in 1962. Dr. Karandikar started his practice as family physician in 1966. He underwent extensive training in the science of yoga. Presently he is the Director of Sunjeevan Yoga Therapy Project at Kabir Baug. His intense knowledge and profound research of 20 years gave birth to a new system of therapy which is a blend of scientific knowledge and traditional yoga applied in healing a patient. This therapy earned strong support not only in India but in abroad too. This system is known as Sunjeevan Yoga and is applied to patients suffering from diseases wherein first the modern medical science is used to diagnose the ailment thereafter yoga therapy is put to work. Cotton straps, belts ,ropes, pillows, blankets are used to perform traditional asanas in a simplified and modified form.
Swati and Rajiv Chanchani
Both Swati and Rajiv are husband and wife-Founders and Directors of Yog- Ganga Centre for Yoga Studies, Dehradun. They learned yoga under BKS Iyengar and have spent several months practicing and teaching yoga at Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, Pune. They have made significant contributions to promote yoga as a part of syllabi in Indian Educational institutions. Their book Yoga for Children: A Complete Illustrated Guide to Yoga Including a Manual for Parents and Teachers has been acknowledged and reprinted 35 times and has been translated in different languages. They have taught yoga in premier educational institution and have designed diverse intensives of yoga. Moreover they have delved deep into the roots, philosophy and stories behind traditional yoga to refine the yoga practices and incorporate the moral and ethical elements in their yoga teachings.
Taran Dhillon
Taran Dhillon is an expert Ashtanga yoga teacher. She has the privilege of acquiring training from School of Ashtanga Yoga founded by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Her dedication and consistent practice earned her the reputation of being the first Indian certified to teach Ashtanga Yoga apart from the Jois family At the age of 16 years she was introduced to Ashtanga yoga practice by her mother who is a Hatha yoga teacher. Her practice evolved under the esteemed guidance of her Guru Sri Sharath Jois. This center holds a very prominent place in her life as it is this place from where she imbibed the yogic qualities of dedication and discipline along with excellence in Ashtanga yoga. She keeps revisiting this place to continue the process of evolution. She keeps conducting workshops in places like Africa, U.S. London while still being strongly connected to her native land India. Taran has completed the Special Training Course Level 2 to teach Intermediate series of Ashtanga Yoga.
Usha Devi
Usha Devi is also a resident teacher at Patanjala Yoga Kendra .Usha Devi started yoga in 1993 with her guru Sri B K S Iyengar and still spends several months at his center in Pune. When another accident left Usha incapacitated and almost handicapped, she finally decided to take shelter of yoga to heal her completely. Finally she recovered well and today she is there giving training to several students and managing the organizational responsibilities at the ashram quite well. It is the result of unwavering trust in her guruji and yoga that made her stand strong at the time of difficulties wherein her patience and will power were put to test. As a trainer Ushaji is quite disciplined and strict as far as practice is concerned. This is because she has a deep connection and bonding with her students and wants them to receive her teachings well that empowers them and enrich their lives. Moreover yoga is a revered art which can be learnt through proper discipline and conduct.
V. Balakrishnan
He is an expert practitioner trained under the guidance of her mother V. Nanammal. He is well versed in traditional yoga and teaches at his own center Ozone Yoga Center established in 1972, Coimbatore. Balakrishnan has taught yoga to more than 1 lakh students. Many students trained by him have been selected for International yoga competitions and gold medals. Balakrishnan himself was among 17 Indian representatives selected for the championship organized by South Asian Yoga Federation. He floated for an hour in water at the Ramakrishnan Kalyanamandapam for Yoga awards. Balakrishnan is expert in Naturopathy and yoga while his wife Chitra is a National gold medalist in Yoga.
V. Nanammal
Popularly known as Amma, a 99 years old yoga gem is an inspiration to people of all ages who try to excuse themselves for not staying fit. This grand old lady is the oldest yoga practitioner in India and perhaps the second oldest in the world. She is doing yoga under the guidance of his father since she was just 10. She knows more than 50 asanas and performs most of them even today. Never been to a doctor for any ailment, she teaches yoga at her institute Ozone yoga Center in Coimbatore, with her son Balakrishnan. Amma has won Padma Shri award and Nari Shakti award to name a few.
V Srinivasan
V Srinivasan is the yoga expert and one of the senior teachers of Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (KYM). He acquired yoga wisdom under Yogacharya Shri T.K.V. Desikachar as a student of Teacher Training Program at KYM and gained profound and comprehensive insight of Yoga in theory and practice. He delved into the study and research of all the important texts in Yoga and application of Yoga for illnesses and spirituality for over 15 years. He provides yoga therapy to care seekers at KYM. He has done his Masters in Yoga from Tamil Nadu Sports and Physical Education University Chennai. His area of specialization is yoga philosophy and yoga therapy. He is also well-versed in Vedic Chanting and functions as a Healing Chant Teacher.
Yogacharya V. Sheshadri
Yogacharya V. Sheshadri is one of the rarest gems in traditional Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga, who is admired for his experience and wisdom. He is giving training in Ashtanga Vinyasa and Pranayama since 1994. He has travelled extensively in the quest of yoga and Transcendental Meditation. Yogacharya Sheshadri has done intensive training at Parakala Mutt Yoga shala (Mysuru) under the guidance of his guru Sri BNS Iyengar. He learned Pranayama, Mudra, Bandha and Yoga Philosophy. Sri Sheshadri has a keen insight for details in posture and understands the needs of old as well as new practitioners. His remarkable sense of guidance and support enables the student to reach to its full potential in posture and alignment. With firm belief in Guru Shishya Parampara Sri Sheshadri has shared his wisdom of traditional yoga with his son Harish. In 2008 Sri Sheshadri along with his son Harish started training students at their new yoga shala Patanjala Yoga Shala, Krishna Murthypuram, Mysuru.
Vijay Kumar
Vijay started yoga under the guidance of her mother, the initiator and inspiration for him and his brother Vinay. After assisting his brother for a few years, he moved to China for 5 years to help his brother’s student set up a yoga center there. He taught and gained new experiences in that country. He is deeply inspired by the dedication of his brother Vinay. Like his brother Vijay also believes in Ishwara Pranidhana-surrender to god. He took six months break from asanas to practice meditation and self- introspection. Vijay Kumar has his own Ashtanga yoga shala- Ashtanga Saadhana, Mysuru.
Dr. Vijaya Kumar Manja
Vijay Manja was born to a Brahmin family in Udupi, Karnataka. He is a multi-talented persona in traditional yoga and philosophy. He underwent Upnayana ceremony at the age of 8 years. After completing high school he went to Sringeri Sharada Peetham, one of the four advaita centres established by Shankaracharya which is renowned for Vedas and shastras and acquired a Sahitya degree. Thus he enriched his knowledge about Sanskrit literature and Rig Veda. Vijay furthered his learning in Sanskrit, Naveena Nyaya (medieval Indian logic) and Advaita Vedanta by studying in Maharaja Sanskrit University under the aegis of Vidwan Gangadhara Bhat. After 6 years he earned the degree of Vidwat. Vijay is PhD in Yoga Chikitsa and a Masters in Sanskrit from Karnataka Open University. Vijay initiated his yoga practice at the age of 16 years in Mysuru with Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga both basic and advanced series. Vijaya teaches at his yoga shala – Yogagurukula in Pandeshwar, Karnataka and enlightens the students about traditional yoga philosophy, Sanskrit, rituals, meditation, Pranayama and Patanjali yoga sutras apart from Teaching Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga.
Vijay Sen
Vijay Arun Sen is a richly experienced teacher with over 20 years of teaching yoga and practitioner with over 40 years of Ashtanga yoga practice. He has accumulated vast knowledge and experience by practicing in the renowned traditional yoga centers. After evolving his yogic techniques Vijay started teaching at Mamallapuram. In 1998 he was invited by his students to Dharamshala to teach yoga. Currently Vijay conducts classes at Goa, Mysuru, Rishikesh and Dharamshala-his present abode. As a result of his perseverance and dedication he developed Universal system of Hatha Yoga that allows student to gain profound understanding, relaxation and healing. In this form of yoga physical postures, breathing and meditation are used as instruments in order to release vital energy from within.
Dr. Vineeta Ketkar
Dr. Vineeta is MBBS from Mumbai University. Currently she is the family physician since 1980 in Pune. She is the founder of Gnosis Medical Yoga Center in Pune in 2006, where she imparts yoga health services apart from her profession as a physician. Dr. Vineeta has a rich experience of 35 years in clinical practice from Pune and around 14 years of profound training in yoga Education and training from Kabir Baug Yoga Center, Pune which works on the concept of Sunjeevan i.e. diagnosis and treatment based on medical science and science of yoga. She has also done training and education from BKS Iyengar Institute, Pune. Dr. Vineeta is a dedicated and disciplined personality who always tries to understand the cause of disease. This approach coupled with the wisdom of yoga and modern medicine made her more inclined towards the therapeutic aspects of yoga. Moreover she is also involved in the treatment of Degenerative Musculoskeletal and Psychosomatic Disorders through medical Yoga therapy.
Yogi Vishvketu
A yoga teacher who shares his knowledge and experience in a light and interesting manner. He is known to spread happiness and laughter with whomsoever he comes into contact with. He is a Himalayan yogi who started studying Vedic texts at the age of 8. After gaining advanced knowledge of Hatha yoga and pranayama from Yogi Nath, he motivated students from all across the world to live a contented yogi life. Yogi Vishvketu imparts training in holistic and Akhanda yoga through various workshops and conferences. He is also an expert in ayurveda and has written books on yoga philosophy. He continues to inspire the students towards gaining a holistic nurturing of mind, body and soul with the help of Satkarma, Pranayama, Asana, mantra, Kirtan and meditation along with the 8 sutras described by Patanjali. He actively provides training for Yoga Alliance registered programs in Rishikesh and Canada. Akhanda yoga is the type of yoga that encompasses all yoga forms and creates a balance emotionally, physically, intellectually and intuitively through the five elements of both practice and principles. Yogi Vishvketu is a compassionate and jovial teacher who encourages one to follow a non-competitive and contented approach to challenging tasks.
Vishwas Mandlik
Vishwas Vasant Mandlik is the founder of Yoga training and Naturopathy centre, Yoga Vidya Dham (1972), Nasik. He is also the vice chancellor of Yoga Vidya Gurukul (Yoga University) and has treated around 13,500 patients suffering from chronic diseases like Diabetes, Asthma, Spondylitis and Hypertension and has also cured people with psychosomatic disorders. Yoga Dham, a non-profit organization and a renowned institute in India, alone has 150 branches in India and is now expanding its roots in other parts of the world. Mr. Vishwas belongs to Pune and completed graduation in Electrical Engineering from Government College of Engineering, Pune University. Since 1995, he dedicated his life to the practice and preaching of yoga at Yoga Dham. Till now 250,000 people have completed the basic training course Yoga Pravesh and 8,500 teachers work all over India. Apart from establishing Vidya Dham and Yoga Gurukul he also founded Yoga Chaitanya Seva Pratishthan – A trust aimed to spread the yogic light in remote India, he also started Yoga Chintan, periodical magazine on yoga. Mr. Vishwas has the credit of authoring more than 18 books, more than 50 audio cassettes and 2 softwares on yoga education therapy for women and kids and presenting over 15 research papers in international yoga conferences. Due to his wisdom and commendable contributions in the field of yoga, Mr. Vishwas has earned several recognitions mainly Lifetime Achievement Award by College of Engineering Pune, Outstanding Achievement Award, initiated to Rushi Sannayasa by Paramhamsa Niranjanananda Saraswati on 6th March 2007 and gave him the title of Rushi Dharmajyoti. He also honored Mr. Vishwas with the title of Yogacharya.
Zubin Atre
Zubin Atre` is the founder of Atre`yoga studio, Delhi. Zubin has over 10,000 hours of yoga experience and a precise knowledge of human anatomy and a keen insight of ancient yoga. Zubin is an adept yoga trainer who is well acquainted with the kinesthetics and can understand individual needs and impediments during the practice. Zubin’s expertise and instructions allows the practitioners to smoothly work through his yoga. He can understand the physics behind force and movements of the body which works as a catalyst in formulating a tailor made series of yoga for different people and needs. His excellent knowledge and inclination towards yoga materialized into Atre`yoga. Atre`yoga is a combination of five series of asanas with modifications based on individual needs. These asanas are focused on flexibility, balance, breath and strength with in-depth awareness about anatomy and movement.
Zubin Zarthoshtimanesh
Zubin got introduced to yoga through his father who was getting treatment under the aegis of Sri B K S Iyengar as Zubin’s father was suffering from ankylosing spondylitis. It was Sri B K S Iyengar who made the recovery of his father possible with the help of Iyengar yoga. His father thus advised him to take up yoga in order to live a healthy and happy life. After his graduation he started teaching yoga. Zubin has travelled with his guru extensively and has been involved in educating about yoga and the best practices involved which leads to transformation in different aspects of personality. Zubin is the founder of Iyengar Yogabhyasa at Matunga, Mumbai which provides training to a large number of yoga trainees.
