Dr Hansaji Yogendra is the Director of The Yoga Institute, Mumbai, the world‟ ‘s oldest organised Yoga centre. She is also the Chairperson of the Yoga Certification Committee for the Quality Council of India (QCI), President of the International Board of Yoga, and Senior Vice President of the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT). She is the leading face of householder Yoga and has conducted over 1,00,000 theoretical and practical yoga sessions. Hansaji Jayadeva Yogendra is a renowned yoga teacher, author, and the Director of The Yoga Institute in Mumbai. She is considered one of the foremost experts in the field of yoga and has been instrumental in promoting yoga practice in India and around the world.
Early Life
Hansaji J. Yogendra was born in Mumbai in 1947 and was raised in a family with a solid spiritual and cultural heritage. Her grandfather, a yoga practitioner and teacher, introduced her to yoga at a young age. She received her early education in yoga and Hindu philosophy from him and other spiritual teachers in her community.
Director of the Yoga Institute, Mumbai
In 1918, Hansaji’s grandfather, Shri Yogendraji, founded The Yoga Institute in Mumbai, the oldest organised yoga institute in the world. Hansaji J. Yogendra has been the Director of The Yoga Institute since 2001. He has continued her grandfather’s work in promoting the practice of yoga and Hindu philosophy in India and abroad.
Yoga promotion-related works
Hansaji J. Yogendra is a master of several styles of yoga, including Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga and Karma Yoga. She is known for her ability to teach yoga in a safe and accessible way and her emphasis on the spiritual and philosophical aspects of the practice. She has also written several books on yoga, Hindu philosophy, and meditation, including “The Art of Living” and “The Science of Living.”
Hansaji J. Yogendra’s teachings
Hansaji J. Yogendra’s teachings emphasise the integration of yoga into daily life and the importance of developing a healthy body, mind and spirit. Her teaching style is grounded in the classical tradition of yoga, and she encourages her students to explore their minds and bodies through yoga.
Awards
Hansaji J. Yogendra has received numerous awards and recognitions for her contributions to yoga and Hindu philosophy. Dr Hansaji Yogendra‟ ‘s guidance, The Yoga Institute won the prestigious PM’s award for spreading yoga goodness to all in June 2018. The Bharat Gaurav Award honours given to Dr Hansaji Yogendra for extraordinary contribution and excellence in yoga. The benefits were conferred at the UK House of Commons in the British Parliament in London on July 19th, 2019, by Sanskriti Yuva Sanstha.
Books & Publications
In addition to her yoga teaching, Hansaji J. Yogendra is a prolific author, having written several books on yoga, Hindu philosophy, and meditation. She has authored and co-authored over 50 books, of which Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and How to Reverse Heart Disease, Pregnancy, and Parenthood are pretty popular. Her books have been widely acclaimed and have been translated into several languages.
TV programs
Smt. Hansaji Yogendra is the celebrated presenter of the popular television series Yoga for Better Living, which was telecast thrice. She has also been an expert yoga presenter for the Yoga Sutra program aired on ZEE TV across the globe in 162 countries.
Philanthropic works
Hundreds of BMC schools have provided yoga education under her guidance over the decades. Khar Pupils School, Indian Education Society, New English School (Kherwadi), etc., In association with Majlis Legal Centre for Oppressed Women, Share Foundation, and Rescue Foundation, she is focused on protecting the girl child’s rights and creating an equal and safe world. Khet Asana is a specially curated programme for farmers that can be included in their daily routine for holistic health. Khet Aasana across 2,000 Indian rural villages will benefit more than 120,000 farmers. Also, Truckasana is designed to help lakhs of drivers each year. To care for Mumbai‟ ‘s lifeline, “Mumbai Dabbawalas,” a customised programme for Dabbawalas, will benefit thousands.
The Yoga Institute in Mumbai
The Yoga Institute in Mumbai continues to thrive under the guidance of Hansaji J. Yogendra and her team of highly qualified yoga teachers. It has become a leading centre for the study of yoga, Hindu philosophy and the practice of meditation. The institute offers a range of programs and classes for students of all levels.
