A Serene Space for Yoga

Spearheading the “Yoga for the Householder” movement in the world, the Institute interacts with over a thousand people everyday for training, health benefits and consultations. It also offers Yoga teacher-training courses, and brings out books on yoga therapy, asanas, pranayam, couples counseling, traditional scriptures, ethics for everyday life, and a variety of other subjects on yoga education.

The Yoga Institute, with its greenery and its flowering plants, is the perfect place to escape the city without leaving the city. A simple walk on the premises can become an opportunity to learn from Mother Nature, a healthy way to exercise, and an escape from the pollution outside. Step in to the gated premises to discover the walking track which is well-lit and even-surfaced, fringed by a variety of flowering and other plants. Designed to allow easy access to all the other areas of the institute, the path is surrounded by greenery all around, enhancing the positive vibe of this peaceful little island.

The family of squirrels that live here occasionally add a jingle to this peaceful environment. It’s a joy to watch them as they run around, chase each other, bicker, and help themselves to the food the Institute lays out for them.



The jewel in the crown is the Kailashpati tree, which is considered to be a sacred tree in India. It is named `Kailashpati’ due to the resemblance of its inner flower with the Shiva linga. It is also known as the Cannonball tree as the fruit it bears resembles a cannonball. This rare tree possesses antibiotic, anti-fungal, antiseptic, and analgesic qualities, and is used for medical purposes.

The Yoga Institute, one of the oldest yoga schools in the world, provides hostel accommodation that can be best described as a home away from home. The renovated rooms are spacious, ventilated, well lit and adequately furnished.

The Shri Yogendra Library was inaugurated on 18th November, 1978, at The Yoga Institute.

The Shri Yogendra Library contains more than 6,000 books in various languages and on various subjects related to the study of yoga and spirituality. Besides several scriptures and their commentaries, there are books on Samkhya philosophy, Ashtanga Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Tantra Yoga, etc.

The collections on philosophy, human physiology, psychology, history, and culture, etc. are enough to satisfy the needs of the keen students and teachers of yoga.

You are what you eat. As the food, so is the mind; as the mind, so is the man. Yet, as the pace of life changes, as our lifestyles transform, we adopt new foods, not necessarily healthy, and discard beneficial foods from our diet. We create an imbalance in our overall well-being due to our callous attitude to our diet as well as our confusion over what to eat, when to eat, and how to eat.

Adjoining the kitchen is the Dining Hall which is designed to promote eating with a Sattvic state of mind. As it is not advisable to eat food in a disturbed state of mind, diners are advised to eat their meals in silence. The Institute also keeps a check on its environmental footprint by serving meals only in reusable, stainless steel utensils; we also refrain from using paper napkins and paper towels.

The diners sit on the floor to eat their meals in the Dining Hall. This is an ancient Indian tradition and has its roots in yoga. It requires the diners to sit cross-legged in the Sukhasana posture. Some of the health benefits of eating in this manner include better digestion, improved posture, feeling calm, and also weight management. However, those with physical health limitations have access to chairs too.

The huge, open-to-sky rooftop space is ideal for practicing Yoga in the open. Offering stunning views of the city’s skyline, the 4000 sq. feet terrace is a favourite outpost to greet the sunrise and gaze at the sunset.