Neighbourhood Haven The Yoga Institute

Hidden behind roads parallel to the Western Express Highway in Santacruz is a 94-year-old haven, The Yoga Institute. Founded by Shri Yogendra, it is one of the oldest organised yoga centres in the world. Now run by his son, Dr Jayadeva Yogendra, and daughter-in-law, Hansa Yogendra, it is a non-profit organisation that works towards propagating the concept of balanced living.

Though reaching the institute can seem challenging, students, teachers and visitors willingly mark their daily attendance. “With a hundred strong teaching staff, the institute receives a little over thousand visitors and students per day. They have access to courses as short as a day-long camp to as long as a year’s teacher training programme. Courses are designed for individuals, addressing physical and mental  ailments, from all walks of life,” says Mrs Desai, caretaker and manager of the Institute. 

Samattvam, a wellness check-up conducted at the institute every Saturday, is a good base for beginners. Herein medical practitioners and yoga teachers hear out your list of woes, help identify the root cause, and suggest remedies, exercises and yoga classes for the same. You can follow this up with a health camp relevant to your ailment–be it hypertension, respiratory problems, orthopaedic issues or stress.    

The courses do not end here, but extend to a host of extensive teacher training programmes as well. Antonio Jupiter, a yoga practitioner from Costa Rica is at The Yoga Institute for a three-month teacher training course, says, “I was keen to learn about the Sankhya philosophy, one of the oldest philosophies in the world. That and my interest in yoga brought me to the institute.”

“Students of the teacher training programme are involved in medical camps, workshops, talks about yogic ways of living, eventually transitioning into teachers conducting their independent classes,” says Garima Bali, a professional in the pharmaceutical industry and a student at the teacher training programme. When asked about her attachment with the institute, she adds, “I am familiar with the institute since childhood. My grandparents and parents were regulars, now I frequent the institute with my husband for the couple’s classes.”

Hansaji, as she is fondly known, says, “We constantly incorporate new formats of teaching that the youth will relate to. From conducting classes, publishing books in different languages for the convenience of locals and foreigners to collaborating with hospitals for research on preventive therapies. Even our website is a ready reference for activities here. But the essence of the yogic way of life remains the same.”

Rightly so, a constant in the middle of constant change–that is something all of us need from time to time.