The Yoga Institute is one of the oldest organised yoga centres in the world and is situated at Prabhat Colony in Santa Cruz, Mumbai, India. The institute was established by Shri Yogendraji in the year 1918. Shri Yogendraji was interested in Yoga since his young age and he studied Yoga at Paramahamsa Madhavadasaji`s Ashram in Malsar, Gujarat. After completing his Yoga studies, he felt that the benefits of Yoga could be given to all instead of keeping it a secret for very few and thus established The Yoga Institute. Soon, The Yoga Institute became famous as a non-sectarian and non-profit organisation for Yoga practices through physical, moral and psychic self-education. Shri Yogendraji was also referred to as the Father of Modern Yoga Renaissance in India for his extraordinary contributions.
The Yoga Institute is situated in an acre of land with lush greenery. The simplicity, sincerity and non commercial approach of the institute draw many people from across the world. The institute offers various courses and conducts training sessions and health camps for people suffering from different diseases and ailments. The institute conducts Health camps for solving the health disorders like cardiac problems and hypertension, respiratory problems, diabetes, orthopaedic conditions and stress related problems, etc. It is famous for catering to people from the womb to tomb, as it provides guidance for all stages of one`s life. The institute also conducts couples` classes about guidance for harmony in marital life, pregnancy and ante natal and post natal classes conditions.
The Yoga Institute conducts children`s classes, including some for teenagers and also classes regarding adult life. Apart from these, some Personal Growth workshops are also organised in the Yoga Institute. These workshops are organised to nurture the concepts of Self Development, Concentration, Relaxation and Mind and Memory Training. All these courses are conducted based on the Samkhya principles of the Bhavas or attitudes which have to be inculcated for a healthy state. Many people come to the institute to find assistance, guidance and help. There is a fee structure in the institute and the people are required to pay different amounts of fees for pursuing different courses. The health camps of the institute usually have two to seven days of duration.
Apart from the Health camps, the Yoga Institute also organises Yoga Teacher`s Training Programmes in English and Hindi. Only the people who have successfully completed the seven-day Yoga Health Camp are considered eligible to get enrolled in the Yoga Teacher`s Training course. The Yoga Teacher`s Training course in English has seven months of duration. Each month is considered a unit and different topics are taught in each month. During this course, the participants are required to take part in six health camps and four educational camps. They also need to assist in a 7 day Health Camp and in a 21 day Better Living Program.
For the Yoga Teacher`s Training Course in Hindi, the admission criterion is the same. This course spans for 1 year and the participants are required to attend six Health Camps and four Educational Camps, during the course. They are also required to assist in a 21 day Better Living Class and a seven day Residential Camp. The people pursuing these courses are required to carry their personal belongings to the institute. Apart from the Yoga Teacher`s Training courses spanning seven months and 1 year, the institute also conducts training programmes with duration of 1 month. There is a 3-month Comprehensive Yoga Teacher`s Training programme offered in the institute as well.
The courses and training classes in The Yoga Institute start at dawn from 6:30 am every day and go on for the whole day. A unique feature of the institute is that, Yoga is combined with medical check ups here. A special session named `Samattvam` is organised in the institute every Saturday at 1:30 pm. This session helps people to get relief from various physical and emotional problems. The session lasts for about three hours and includes video presentation, a question answer session between the patients and the experts and guidance of both medical and yogic practitioners. The medical expert initially examines the individual and determines the problems and or illness. Based on these examinations proper asanas, yogas and further courses are suggested.
Besides conducting the health camps and organising the Yoga Teacher`s Training course, the Yoga Institute also houses a top class library where several books on yoga written by various authors are found. Camping facility is available to organise special individual and group sessions. The Yoga Institute also organises symposium and panel discussion with the important people at regular interval in this institute. It is indeed playing a crucial role in spreading Yogic education in India.