Rishikesh is one of the most popular centers to study yoga in India, but with so many different ashrams and styles of yoga and meditation to choose from, it’s important to do your research and find the one that best suits your needs.
This article provides an overview of some of the Yoga Centers in Rishikesh and what they teach, in addition to other courses offered beyond Yoga Teacher Training.
If you’re looking for the best yoga centers in Rishikesh, you’ve come to the right place. From beginners to experts, anyone can enjoy the services of the best yoga centers in Rishikesh. Some of the top yoga centers in Rishikesh include Parmarth Niketan, Yog Niketan & Omakarananda Ashram.
Parmarth Niketan
Parmarth Niketan is one of the top yoga centers in Rishikesh. It is located on the banks of the Ganges River in Rishikesh. The campus is eight acres and has 1,000 rooms with different rates depending on the accommodations and view. Initial stays are up to 15 days.
Two yoga classes and three meals are included in the price. The ashram also has a program of yoga, Vedic heritage and spirituality, and teacher training courses. Outsider visitors can attend daily classes by giving a donation. The ashram’s evening Ganga aarti is popular.
Sivananda Ashram
Sivananda Ashram, one of India’s most well-known yoga centers, was founded by Swami Sivananda. The ashram teaching style is based on the five points of yoga–postures, breathing, relaxation, meditation, and diet.
They offer free yoga and meditation classes daily; however, if you are looking to stay at the ashram (also for free), you must be a serious spiritual seeker and apply at least one month in advance. The ashram is located near Ram Jhula and is easily accessible from the main road.
Omkarananda Ganga Sadan
Omkarananda Ganga Sadan, the guesthouse of the Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, is home to the Patanjala Yoga Kendra yoga center which specializes in Iyengar yoga. The center is located in the Muni-ki-Reti area of Rishikesh, on the banks of the Ganges River. It has its own ghat, and daily aarti is performed.
Daily (except Sundays) yoga classes are open to everyone but reservations need to be made months in advance for the intensive yoga courses. Lectures on the Bhagavad Gita are also offered. Accommodations are reasonably priced and clean, and many rooms have river views.
Yoga Niketan
Yoga Niketan was founded in 1964 by a renowned master of Raja Yoga, who spent most of his life in the Himalayas. The teachings of this traditional ashram are based solely on the Eight Fold Path as per the Patanjali Yoga Shastra.
Daily yoga, meditation, and lectures are required of students who wish to stay in one of the 100 comfortable rooms available, all with private bathrooms and hot water. The ashram is located in the Muni-Ki-Reti area of Rishikesh.
Sadhana Mandir
Sadhana Mandir was founded in 1966 by Swami Rama, who is also the author of “Living with the Himalayan Masters” and many other well-known spiritual books. The ashram focuses on meditation, which is a 5,000-year-old Himalayan Tradition.
It is located on the banks of the Ganges River, but away from the noise and commotion of Rishikesh. The ashram offers retreats that range from weekend getaways to longer 10-day retreats and is supposed to be one of the best Yoga Centers in Rishikesh
Swami Dayananda Ashram
This ashram was established during the 1960s by Swami Dayananda Saraswati, who was a teacher of Vedanta and a scholar of Sanskrit. The ashram is located in picturesque surroundings and is only a 10-minute walk from the Ram Jhula area.
The courses that are offered regularly have a focus on Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads. In addition, students who come to visit can also participate in Iyengar and Hatha yoga retreats (these are suitable for beginners and intermediate students).
The ashram has more than 150 rooms that come complete with attached bathrooms – this is all available for students who want to stay on the premises.
Phool Chatti Ashram
Situated in a tranquil natural setting upriver from Laxman Jhula, Phool Chatti ashram is founded in the late 1800s and is renowned for its seven-day yoga and meditation program.
The program focuses on the full spectrum of the yogic path, not just asanas (postures), but also meditation, breathing (pranayama), cleansing, chanting, Mauna (silence), puja (worship), kirtan (sacred singing), and other important aspects. There are also opportunities for meditative walks among nature.
If you’re looking to learn more about Osho’s teachings, the Osho Ganga Dham ashram is the perfect place for you. Situated on the Ganges River at Brahampuri, the ashram offers various types of Osho Active Meditation practices, as well as meditation camps throughout the year.
You can also choose to simply listen to discourses or do nothing but relax. Accommodations range from dormitories to deluxe private rooms, so there’s something to suit all budgets.
Rishikesh Yoga Centres
Rishikesh Yoga Centres was established in 2004 by a group of locals who wanted to promote yoga. Its main campus, called Abhayaranya, is situated on a hill just outside Rishikesh near a village called Patna. The only way to reach it is by a short but hard trek from Neelkanth Mahadev Road, just before Phool Chatti.
Rishikesh Yoga Centres offers a variety of courses, including 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Courses (four weeks duration), 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training Courses, and 500-hour Yoga Teacher Training Courses. Seven-day yoga retreats are also offered.
Accommodations consist of 18 well-appointed cottages for either single or twin occupancy. Standard 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Courses (three weeks) take place at the riverside Ganga campus at Phool Chatti. This campus has 10 cottages.
