The best place to learn Yoga - The Yoga institute,

The Teacherji's survey of Yoga institutes across the country to find best places to learn Yoga Schools in India got a tremendous response. We are featuring all the Yoga institutes that responded to our Survey questionnaire. As part of this series we are featuring Yoga institute, Santacruz Mumbai in this article.

YOGA Institute: The Yoga Institute, Santacruz, Mumbai 1. Who founded your Yoga institute and when? Shri Yogendraji in the year 1918 2. How big is your facility for yoga training? One acre land w1th 3 buildings with 2 floors each. 3. How many trainers do you have? Permanent vs Visiting? The institute has about 4 permanent and 30 visiting trainers. 4. Can you share profiles of your best Yoga Trainers? All the trainers are well qualified and hold international yoga certifications. Some of the trainers of the institute include big name including Dr Jayadeva Yogendra who is also the president of the Yoga institute. In the past he was also the president of International Board of Yoga. Other prominent trainers include Smt Hansaji Jayadeva Yogendra, who was selected as "Woman of the Year 2000" by the American Biographical Institute, U.S.A for her outstanding accomplishment and the noble example she has set for her peers and entire country. She was recognized for her contribution to Women's Health through the award presented by SPARC. Another famous trainer Dr  Shantaram Shetty is Secretary and chief research coordinator at International Board of Yoga. 5. How many students does your organization teach yoga every month? About 1000 every month. 6. What are the different yoga courses/ programmes that you conduct?

• Special one hour classes for  women  4 times a week (12 classes a day).  For men 4 times a week.
• 21 days Better Living Course for one hour a day once a month.
• Weekend special classes for one and half hour.
• 2 days camps for specific medical conditions like diabetes, weight management, respiratory.
• Yoga for Children and special vacation camps.
• Couples Class twice a month for 3 hours for a year.
• Various Yoga Teachers Training certificate Courses of 1/3/7/12 months duration.
• National School Teachers Training Programme conducted through the Moraji Desai National Institute of Yoga under the Ministry of Health and Family Planning.
• Gujarat Board of Secondary Education school teachers programme for 3 weeks
• One week training through Rastriya Ayruvedic Sansthan

7. Do you conduct programs for Yoga trainers? Yes, We conduct several Yoga TTC courses. Some of the TTC courses are:

• 1 month 5 times a week - 6 hours  a day suitable for teaching Yoga to school students and young adults without any health problems.
• 3 months comprehensive full time course -- 14 hours a day equipped to teach persons with or without health problems.
• 7 months comprehensive part time courses in English for 2 ½ hours a daily, equipped to teach persons with or without health problems.
• 1 year comprehensive part time courses in Hindi for 2 ½ hours daily -- 5 times a week, equipped to teach persons with or without health problems.
• Special 6 days courses -- 2 hours a day for the Mumbai personnel.

We trained about 100 Yoga trainers in last 12 months. 8. Tell us about some of your major affiliations, awards and certifications (if any) Affiliations - International Board of Yoga, Indian Yoga Association, All India Board of Yoga. We also introduced Yoga courses at Mumbai University. 9. Is your institute involved in to Yoga Research? If yes, give some details? Yes. We invest significant resources in research. Following are the some of the researches conducted by our Institute:

• Indological Research Publishing Cyclopedia Yoga in 4 volumes.
• Yoga Therapy for Asthma (results published in the book Yogic Life Cure of Asthma and Bronchitis)
• Research in Diabetes (results in book Yogic Life Control of Diabetes)
• Orthopedic Research (results published in book Yoga for Back and Joint Disorders).
• Heart Research (results published in Yoga Daily Planner Heart Care and How to Reverse Heart Disease the Yogic Way -- research, facts programme and Journal of Association of Physicians of India (April 2000)

10. Has your organization organized/conducted any major Yoga event? Yes -- Many in its long 92 years history. In the past we have organized All India Board of Yoga Conference at Patkar hall in Mumbai. Some other events conducted were 'Yoga the need of the hour' conference at Patkar hall, National Campaign on Yoga and Naturopathy for Holistic Living in 2010. IN addition to this we also organize Big Yoga events every year on foundation day on 25th December and Founder Shri Yogendraji’s birthday on 18th November, Mother Sitadevi’s birthday on 1st June, Smt. Hansaji’s birthday on 8th Oct, Dr. Jayadeva’s birthday on 27th April. 11. Any other comment or Information that you would want to provide. The Yoga Institute -- Santacruz is the oldest organized centre of Yoga in the world.  It has been doing pioneering work in Yoga education and therapeutics since the last 92 years.  Shri Yogendraji is known as the Father of  Modern Yoga Renaissance as he spread Yoga for householders.  The teachings are based on Classical Yoga of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra.  The Yoga institute has been publishing books on various education in indological and therapeutic aspects of Yoga.  At present, 55 titles are available. Contact Details The Yoga Institute, Mumbai Shri Yogendra Marg, Prabhat Colony, Santacruz (East), Mumbai - 400055, India Ph: 91 22 2611 0506, 91 22 2612 2185 Email : yogainstitute@gmail.com, yogainstitute@rediffmail.com