Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres and Ashrams

India

Our Ashrams in India

Dhanwantari Ashram, Neyyar Dam Tropical natural beauty steeped in the history of Ayurveda. Peaceful forested surroundings offer an ideal atmosphere for the practice of yoga and meditation.

Meenakshi Ashram, Madurai The unspoilt natural beauty of this protected forest reserve provides a perfect environment for yoga and meditation.

Sivananda Kutir, Uttarkashi Located on the banks of the sacred river Ganges, 8km north of Uttarkashi. The high altitude and majestic Himalayan peaks provide a naturally elevating atmosphere for yoga practice.

In India in ancient times, the tradition was for students to live, work and study with their teacher (guru). Our ashrams provide a spiritual retreat to live and study under the guidance of a teacher.

Our Centres are an oasis of peace in the midst of the bustle of city life. They provide a calm environment conducive to the study and practice of yoga. Click on one of the centres above to find out more on our courses and programs at each centre.

Each of the centres and ashrams offer the opportunity to learn and practice Swami Sivananda's Synthesis of Yoga and Swami Vishnu-devananda's 5 Points of Yoga.

Our Centres in India

Chennai Just 3 minutes from Kottivakkam beach, south of the City. This quiet neighbourhood centre overlooks the ocean and provides a tranquil setting for the practice of yoga meditation	Delhi - South The Nataraja centre has been a popular favourite of Delhiites for many years. Located in Kailash Colony, the centre is a peaceful sanctuary for yoga practice and Ayurvedic treatments.	Delhi - West Our newest centre is in Dwarka, a leafy suburb of Delhi. A calm, light and modern space perfect for the practice of yoga and meditation.	Madurai Located in the heart of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, within easy reach of the Meenakshi Temple. A wide variety of classes and courses are available to suit all ages and abilities	Trivandrum A peaceful space located in the heart of Trivandrum, close to Padmanabhswamy Temple…year round classes and courses in yoga for all ages and abilities.

Promoting the ancient science of Yoga for a more peaceful world

The International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres were founded in 1959 by Swami Vishnudevananda, disciple of H.H. Swami Sivananda with the aim of promoting the ancient science of Yoga for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being and to thereby create a more peaceful world.

H.H. Swami Sivananda (1887 - 1963)

Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realize.

One of the greatest saints of modern times, he is the spiritual strength behind the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta centers. Swami Sivananda's teachings are a synthesis of all the formal paths of yoga. He trained many exceptional disciples in yoga and vedanta - among them, Swami Vishnudevananda, whom he sent to the West in order to reawaken the spirit of the teachings of yoga.

Swami Vishnudevananda, founder (1927 - 1993)

Health is wealth, Peace of mind is happiness, Yoga shows the way.

Disciple of Swami Sivananda, founder of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres, is a world renowned authority on hatha and raja yoga. By closely observing the lifestyles of the people of the west, he synthesized the ancient wisdom of yoga into five principles that could be easily incorporated into a more modern lifestyle to provide the foundation for healthy living.

Acharya Swami Mahadevananda

Senior disciple of Swami Vishnudevananda, Swami Mahadevananda is the Acharya for all India Ashrams and Centres.

He has been the director of the Dhanwantari Ashram in Neyyar Dam since 1978. As with all the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers and Ashrams, Dhanwantari Ashram is run by volunteer staff.