Venkatesh and Hema are a husband and wife team who run the Atmavikasa Centre of Yogic Sciences in Mysore. They describe their yoga as “Traditional Hatha Yoga with the inspiration of the perfection of Iyengar and the intensity of Ashtanga”. At the age of thirteen, Venkatesh was attending yoga competitions (and winning them) and by…
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Yoga in the Modern World
By Yogacharya Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani Dr. Ananda is one of our new guest writers. He is the chairman of the ICYER (International Centre for Yoga Education and Research) Ananda Ashram in Pondicherry, India. You can find more information about him in our guest writer post or on his websites: www.icyer.com, www.rishiculture.org There is a modern trend found everywhere…
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Ashtanga Yoga Institute, Mysore
Nestled in a quiet neighbourhood in Mysore, Karnataka, and attached to the family home, the Shri Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute is one of the most highly esteemed yoga centres in India. Now lead by Pattabhi Jois’s grandson, R. Sharat Jois, the institute focuses on the austere tradition of Ashtanga yoga or “8-limbs yoga”. Attending the institute is…
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Phool Chatti Ashram, Rishikesh
Phool Chatti Ashram is located on the banks of the Ganges River near Rishikesh but far enough away to be secluded in nature. In the past, this was a place for weary travelers on their pilgrimage. Today, they still maintain their traditional character while also providing minor comforts for the western traveler. The ashram has…
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Sivananda Meenakshi Ashram Experience
Sivananda Yoga is well-known worldwide and follows the teachings of Swami Sivananda. There are five Sivananda Ashrams in India, the largest one being Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram, which you can also find in our book. Clare Hudson, a yogini from the UK, shares with us her experience at the Sivananda Meenakshi Ashram in southern India.…
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AMMA and Bhakti Yoga
‘Amma’ means ‘mother’ in many Indian languages. So thousands or millions of Indian women are called Amma. There is one Amma who has become world-famous: Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, known as the ‘hugging Amma’, a spiritual mother to millions. Born in the 1950s in Kerala she heard her calling early in life, giving unconditional and…
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Kaivalyadhama Ashram, Lonavla
In 1924, Kaivalyadhama Ashram in Lonavla near Mumbai started the first scientific yoga research centre in the world. In keeping in the tradition, the focus is on education, research and treatments while offering short and long-term yoga courses with diplomas certified by the Indian government. The lush village-like ashram sits on 180 acres and has single-sex accommodation.…
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3 weeks in an Ashram
For the last two weeks we have shared with you a little about Otto’s experience in the ICYER Ashram. This week Otto summarizes his three-week experience and what to expect in a traditional ashram. ICYER goes back to the really traditional style of learning yoga in India, and this means a Gurukula style: You live…
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All Night OM Chanting
Last week we started sharing with you about Otto’s experience in an Indian ashram. Here’s more on Otto’s first night in the ICYER Ashram. We arrived in Pondicherry on the 3rd of February, and on the same night there was a special event: the all-night Om chanting. Yes, chanting the magic “OM“ for hours and…
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Before going to an Ashram
One of our website founders, Otto, headed off to India this past spring to stay in an Ashram. We’d like to share with you some of his experiences and insights throughout his journey. For those of you who have never been hopefully this will be encouragement to go and for those of you who have…
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The Yoga Institute, Mumbai
In the middle of the hustle and bustle of one of the largest cities in the world, Mumbai, you will find the oldest organized yoga institute in the world – The Yoga Institute. Located on an acre of plush vegetation, The Yoga Institute draws people of all ages from across the world thanks to the simplicity,…
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