Sivananda Ashrams: Yogic Traditions, Teachings & Way of Life
For decades, Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres & Ashrams have welcomed spiritual seekers from around the world, offering authentic yogic living in serene, nature-rich settings across India. In this conversation, Acharya Prahlad Ji shares how they balance tradition with the evolving needs of today’s wellness travellers—without diluting the essence of classical yoga. From the Ganga’s banks in the Himalayas to Kerala’s lush landscapes and Tamil Nadu’s temple-rich countryside, each location offers a unique path to stillness, clarity, and self-awareness. With programmes ranging from Yoga Vacations to internationally respected Teacher Training Courses, and with Ayurveda complementing the yogic lifestyle, Sivananda Ashrams remain sanctuaries for holistic well-being, discipline, and deep spiritual growth.
Sivananda Ashrams have long been sanctuaries for spiritual seekers. How do you preserve the authenticity of traditional yogic teachings while remaining relevant to modern wellness travellers?
At our ashrams and centres, authenticity is not something we preserve for tradition’s sake—it’s the very core of what we offer. Our teachings come directly from Swami Sivananda and were systematised for the modern world by Swami Vishnudevananda, who understood that the ancient wisdom of yoga must be practical, not theoretical. The daily schedule, discipline, and practices we follow are time-tested. They remain deeply relevant, because the problems people face today—stress, anxiety, disconnection—are the same inner struggles yoga has always addressed. Instead of diluting the teachings, we help guests step into a yogic way of life that is accessible, even in today’s fast-paced world.
With locations across such diverse geographies—from the Himalayas to Kerala—how do the natural surroundings of each ashram shape the guest experience and practices offered?
Every ashram is intentionally located in a natural setting that supports inner reflection. The ashram in the Himalayas, for example, sits on the banks of the Ganga, surrounded by mountain silence. Life here naturally turns inward. In Kerala, the lush greenery and calm waters of Neyyar Dam create an environment ideal for healing and slowing down. The Gudur Ashram, on the eastern coast, offers a quiet, spacious retreat just hours from major cities—making it a hidden sanctuary. The Meenakshi Ashram in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, is unique in that it combines the peace of the countryside with the rich cultural energy of one of India’s oldest temple cities. Set against rolling hills and open skies, it offers a quiet space just outside the city—a place where guests can tune out the noise but still feel rooted in a living spiritual tradition. Nature is not just a backdrop here. It plays an active role in the yogic experience. It simplifies, softens, and opens the mind.
The Yoga Vacation Programme is one of your most popular offerings. What makes this structured lifestyle retreat so impactful for first-time participants?
Many first-time guests arrive expecting a wellness retreat. What they find instead is a daily rhythm that gently returns them to themselves. The Yoga Vacation Programme isn’t about escaping life. It’s about experiencing it with more clarity and calm. With a structured day of yoga, meditation, yogic philosophy talks, healthy meals, karma yoga and silence, people discover how little they need to feel centered. The simplicity is disarming. In just a few days, many realise that stillness isn’t boring—it’s medicine. This impact lasts long after they’ve left, because it’s not based on consumption, but on conscious living.
Many come to your ashrams for teacher training. What sets the Sivananda Yoga TTC apart in terms of philosophy, discipline, and global recognition?
The Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course (TTC) is one of the oldest and most widely respected yoga certification programmes in the world. What sets it apart is its foundation. It’s not a fitness course with some philosophy added. It’s a full immersion into classical yoga: asanas, pranayama, meditation, Vedanta, and service. Students live in the ashram for a month, following a disciplined daily routine that transforms body, mind, and perception. The training is rigorous, but also deeply supportive. With over 50,000 graduates worldwide, the Sivananda TTC continues to be a benchmark for sincere and holistic yoga education.
You incorporate Ayurvedic principles and Panchakarma in select centres. How does Ayurveda complement the yogic path to healing and self-awareness?
Ayurveda and Yoga come from the same source. While yoga purifies the mind and expands awareness, Ayurveda supports the body’s natural intelligence to heal. At the Dhanwantari, Kerala and Meenakshi, Tamil Nadu ashrams, Panchakarma and Ayurvedic consultations are offered as part of a broader yogic lifestyle. Guests often find that Ayurveda gives them a language to understand their imbalances—and yoga gives them the tools to change. Together, they offer a complete system for sustainable well-being, grounded in self-knowledge, not quick fixes.
With growing interest in yoga worldwide, how do your ashrams ensure a balance between discipline, inclusivity, and spiritual depth—especially for international guests and beginners?
Discipline and inclusivity are not opposites in our tradition. In fact, the structure of ashram life creates the space where people from all walks of life feel held, not judged. Whether someone is new to yoga or a long-time practitioner, the daily schedule is the same. But how they engage with it is personal. The environment is supportive, not strict for the sake of being strict. Many of our guests are from abroad, and our multilingual staff, orientation sessions, and open community make it easy for newcomers to feel at home, while still being part of something larger than themselves.
What does wellness mean in the Sivananda tradition? How is it understood beyond just physical fitness or relaxation?
Wellness, for us, means alignment—with the body, breath, mind, and the higher Self. It’s not just about feeling good in the moment. It’s about returning to a state of inner steadiness, clarity, and purpose. Physical health is important, but it’s only the starting point. Real wellness includes mental discipline, emotional maturity, and spiritual insight. That’s why our teachings always bring the focus back to self-inquiry, service, and connection with something deeper than the ego. In this way, wellness becomes a way of life, not just a goal to chase.
