Yog Ganga Centre for Yoga Studies
Please visit our new, frequently updated official website: http://www.yog-ganga.com/
THE CENTRE AND ITS ACTIVITIES: AN OVERVIEW
The Yog-Ganga Centre For Yoga Studies was founded in June 1988 by Swati and Rajiv Chanchani. Its aims are to promote the study of Yoga in the tradition of the revered sage Patanjali. The activities of this centre are guided by the renowned Yoga-master, Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar of the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, Pune, India.
The Yog-Ganga Centre was initially based in Mussoorie. In 2002 the centre was shifted to a quiet, forested suburb of Dehradun known as Old Rajpur, which is in the lower Himalayas.
This new centre comprises of a specially designed building constructed of brick and locally mined limestone. This building encloses a 1500 sq.ft. well equipped Yoga hall, a library, a venue for lectures and demonstrations, a reception and changing rooms. Well landscaped gardens on terraced slopes abounding in trees, shrubs and flowers make the situation idyllic for the practice of Yoga.
Yoga training at the Yog-Ganga Centre consists of ongoing general classes, children's classes, remedial classes and intensive courses. Asana and pranayama are taught. Talks on aspects of Indian philosophy, and ayurveda are also held. On important occasions special cultural events are staged.
The directors of the Yog-Ganga Centre also conduct Yoga courses at other venues in India and overseas.
THE LOCATION
The Yog-Ganga Centre is situated in a quiet, forested suburb of Dehradun, known as Old Rajpur. Dehradun is the capital of the state of Uttaranchal and is located in the foothills of the lower Himalayas. This ancient settlement is today known for its many academic and research centres, as the original source of basmati rice and for the national parks that surround it. Dehradun is located between the rivers Ganga and Yamuna. Situated at the height of 3,300 feet Dehradun is the gateway into the western Himalayas. These mountains abound in places of scenic beauty, cultural and religious significance and provide the enthusiast with opportunities for hiking
THE TRADITION
The activities of this centre are to propogate Ashtanga-Yoga of Sage Patanjali as taught by the renowned Yoga-masters Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar, Srimati Geeta Iyengar and Sri Prashant Iyengar of the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, Pune, India.
Yogacharya B.K.S.Iyengar is the foremost pupil of the distinguished Yoga master T. Krishnamarcharya. B.K.S.Iyengar was born 1918 in South India and commenced practicing Yoga at the age of 14. Today, at the age of the eighty seven B.K.S Iyengar is the foremost exponent of Yoga in the world. In over six decades of intense and steadfast practice he has evolved a wide range of methodologies and techniques. He has discovered numerous esoteric facets of this profound science. Using his own being as a laboratory he has created and propagated unique ways of practising and imparting the science of Yoga. B.K.S. Iyengar's therapeutic work has earned him the reputation of being the foremost healer in the Yogic tradition.
Furthermore, numerous Yoga props were and continue to be invented by Yogacharya Iyengar to enable people to safely and beneficially practice Yoga. Iyengar Yoga is accessible to all irrespective of their age, caste, gender, ethnic or cultural background. B.K.S Iyengar is the author of the authoritative and best selling works Light on Yoga, Light on Pranayama and Light on the Yogasutras of Patanjali. He has taught numerous luminaries including Yehudi Menhuin, Aldous Huxley, Elizabeth, the Queen Mother of Belgium, and J Krishnamurthi. B.K.S Iyengar is regularly honoured both in India and overseas. Honours bestowed on him include the prestigious Padmashri and Padmabhushan awards, and doctoral degrees from renowned institutions of learning.
Srimati Geeta Iyengar is the foremost woman exponent of Yoga in the world. This illustrious daughter of BKS Iyengar has been practicing and teaching Yoga for over four decades. A graduate in Philosophy and Ayurveda, she has been propagating Yoga with single minded devotion and penetrating insight. She is the author of Yoga, a Gem for Women and has taught Yoga in various continents.
Sri Prashant Iyengar, a musician, philosopher and Yoga teacher par excellence continues to unfold esoteric truths of Yoga philosophy and practice through his intense researches of the connections of body and mind. Prashant Iyengar is extremely well versed in the classical scriptures and shares his unique gems of insight with Yog-Sadakas from all over the world.
TEACHERS
The Yog-Ganga Centre was founded in June 1988 by Swati and Rajiv Chanchani. A husband and wife team, Swati and Rajiv Chanchani have been practicing Yoga for almost thirty years each. They have taught at several places in India and abroad, and at several important institutions such as the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, the National Defence Academy, the Indian Military Academy, The Doon School and the Welham Girls' School. Furthermore, they have performed Yoga demonstrations at venues such as: The India International Centre, New Delhi, The World Bank in Washington DC and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in London. Rajiv and Swati were actively involved in the organization of the 'International Yoga Week' at Rishikesh from the years 1994 to 1996.
In 1991 Rajiv and Swati assisted the Government of India to bring out postage stamps on Yoga. They have written a book entitled Yoga for Children, which has been well received and reprinted several times. This book has also been translated into French, Korean and Japanese. Translations in other languages are underway.
Rajiv and Swati have made a major break through by bringing Yoga formally into the Indian education system: Their syllabus on Yoga has been accepted by the I.C.S.E. as of March 1999. The I.C.S.E. is India's leading board of education. Besides, they have also prepared the Yoga syllabus for and launched the 'Diploma in Yoga For School Children' (a private Diploma awarded by the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune, India.
Besides Yoga, Rajiv and Swati are keenly interested in alternative systems of medicine, particularly Ayurveda. They are also interested in projects relating to ecology and environmental conservation, culture and traditional crafts.
They have two sons, Nachiket and Pranav who also enjoy practicing Yoga.
COURSES
The centre holds several Intensive Courses a year and each course is of about three weeks duration. Asana, Pranayama and basic Yoga philosophy are taught. Besides these three-week courses, short workshops and on-going 'General-Classes' are also conducted: these are held in Dehradun.Besides these courses Swati and Rajiv conduct various courses at other venues in India and overseas.
Various events in the Yogic and Hindu calendar such as Patanjali Jayanti, and Guru Purnima are marked by special celebrations at the centre.
Forthcoming Yoga courses at the Yog-Ganga Centre, Dehradun:
Course dates for the year 2006-2007
August 11 to August 29, 2006 This course consists of twenty-two lessons of asana/pranayama and three talks.
September 04 to September 22, 2006 This course consists of twenty-two lessons of asana/ pranayama and three talks.
October 09 to October 27, 2006 This course consists of twenty-two lessons of asana/ pranayama and three talks.
November 01 to November 19, 2006 This course consists of twenty-two lessons of asana/ pranayama and three talks
February 10 to February 28, 2007 This course consists of twenty lessons of asana/ pranayama and two talks.
March 05 to March 23, 2007 This course consists of twenty-two lessons of asana/ pranayama and three talks.
March 28 to April 15, 2007 This course consists of twenty-two lessons of asana/ pranayama and three talks.
July 30 to August 17, 2007 This course consists of twenty-two lessons of asana/ pranayama and three talks.
August 22 to Sept. 09, 2007 This course consists of twenty-two lessons of asana/ pranayama and three talks.
October 20 to Nov. 07, 2007 This course consists of twenty-two lessons of asana/ pranayama and three talks.
November 14 to Dec.03, 2007 Yoga and Ayurveda Course: This course will consist of twenty-two lessons of asana/ pranayama. During the first week there will be five lectures on Ayurveda and personal consultations with the Ayurvedic doctor Vishvas Ghatnekar. Dr. Ghatnekar, a resident of Pune, trained under the renowned ayurvedic physician the late B.P.Nanal.
An Orientation Session is held prior to the beginning of each course to familiarize students to the theme of the course, expectations and policies of the Centre. A typical day during a Yoga course would include a two hour asana class in the morning, and in the evening a two hour pranayama class or a lecture. Afternoons and Sundays are free for practising, and or local sightseeing.
For enquiries contact:
Rajiv and Swati Chanchani.
Yog-Ganga Centre for Yoga Studies,
101, Old Rajpur, Near Shahenshah Ashram
Dehradun - 248 001, Uttaranchal State
INDIA.
Tel. 91-135-2733653, 2735933
Fax. 91-135-2632793
Last Updated: July 19, 2006Other Places to go:
