Yoga's practice predates written history. A history provided by the American Yoga Association reveals that archaeologists have found 5,000-year-old stone carvings showing people practicing the ancient technique. According to the AYA, "The tradition of Yoga has always been passed on individually from teacher to student through oral teaching and practical demonstration. The formal techniques that are now known as Yoga are, therefore, based on the collective experiences of many individuals over many thousands of years." Returning to the practice's roots in India provides an opportunity for you to take classes as both a student or prospective teacher.
Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute
Located in the Indian city Pune in the nation's western state of Maharashtra, the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute focuses on silencing the vibrations of the chitta, or the conciousness that includes the mind, intellect and ego. The school's founder, B.K.S. Iyengar, is a world-renowned instructor who opened the institute in 1975. In 2002, the Indian government awarded him the Padma Bhushan honor for his achievements and citizenship. A link is in the Resources section.
K Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute
The K Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute is named for its founder, who studied alongside B.K.S. Iyengar. The institute, located nearly 100 miles southwest of Bangalore in Mysore, expects students to enroll for at least one month, with visits lasting up to six months. Classes are conducted by the founder's daughter and grandson, who have carried out the tradition of the late family patriarch. A link is in the Resources section.
Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram Institute of Yoga Studies
T. Krishnamacharya was one of the preeminent teachers of yoga prior to his death in 1989. His students, including Jois and Iyengar, have spread his brand of yoga around the world. A yoga school opened in the coastal city Chennai in 1988, welcoming students from around the world for two-week or one-month intensive classes, as well as a two-year degree program for those seeking to teach.
The Yoga Institute
The oldest organized center of yoga in the world is situated in India's largest city. The Yoga Institute in Mumbai offers programs based on the teachings of the late Shri Yogendraji, who opened the center in 1918 and taught until his death in 1989. Classes are offered in multiple formats, from seven-day workshops, to the 21 Days Better Living Course, to teacher training courses in one-, three-, seven- and 12-month durations.
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