ABOUT US @ ARSHA YOGA PEETHAM

He studied Iyengar yoga for many years with Br. Sri Rudra Dev and Smt Usha Devi, two of the senior-most disciples of Guruji BKS Iyengar. He attended Iyengar yoga programs with Iyengar teacher Nanda Kumar and went to Pune to study at the Ramamani Iyenger Memorial Institute.
His interest in different traditions of yoga led him to visit Mysore in 2010 where he studied Ashtanga yoga at the K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute with Amma Saraswati ji, the daughter of Pattabhi Jois.
After more than a decade of committed yoga study and practice, Rakesh completed two teacher training courses in two different yoga schools (RYS) with additional 500 Hrs of yoga training. Arsha Yoga Peetham is registered with the Association of Yoga Teachers and Yoga Schools, Yoga Alliance – USA and conducts yoga teacher training courses with Yoga Alliance certification spanning over 200 & 300 hours.
Rakesh began teaching yoga himself as an assisting teacher for the Iyengar yoga teachers Diwan S. Bisht and Silvano Beltramin in their Iyengar yoga retreats. He taught workshops and retreats in Thailand and conducts classes, workshops and retreats in Rishikesh and abroad.
In his teaching, Rakesh uses predominantly the main elements of the Iyengar tradition, like precise alignment, sequencing and props. In keeping with his admiration & gratitude for yoga traditions, he blends to his practice Ashtanga Yoga flow, pranayama, meditation, Kirtan and Indian philosophy, imparting a deep and complete yoga experience.

He unfolds Vedanta in a systematic, lucid manner and while retaining all of its profundity, makes it very easy to understand. As the Acharya of a 3-year course in Vedanta and Sanskrit conducted at Swami Dayananda Ashram in Rishikesh (2003-2006), he unfolded the Sanskrit commentaries of Adi Shankaracharya on the Upanishads, as well as taught the Bhagavad Gita and Sanskrit.
The depth of his assimilated understanding of Vedanta is apparent in his nature which expresses as heart-touching simplicity of being, love, compassion and extraordinary patience.
He has an ashram near Vadipatti, Tamil Nadu, and is currently teaching another 3 years course on Vedanta and Sanskrit at Swami Dayananda ashram in Rishikesh.

Sixteen years of his life Ram spent next to his Guru on the banks of the Holy Ganga in the ashram in Rishikesh. He studied and taught Sanskrit, Vedic chanting, conducted and took part in rituals and ceremonies, being the essential part of the Vedic tradition. Besides that, Ram is a certified yoga teacher on hatha-yoga in Swami Sivananda Yoga tradition. Additionally he graduated from Nagarjuna Aurvedic institute (Kerala-Kalady) as a panchakarma & massage therapist. Read More
Since 2009 Ram permanently lives in Moscow, Russia, visiting India regularly. He conducts classes on mantra chanting, lectures on the Vedic philosophy, gives consultancy on the Vedic astrology (jyotisha). Ram participates in pujas and ceremonies on the occasion of Indian festivals, yoga studios opening ceremonies and other important events.
These activities might be interesting and very useful for those who are looking for the harmony, peace and integrity within themselves being involved in the whirlpool of the modern life.
Ram is married to Victoria (Iyengar Yoga Teacher-Moscow) and has three children, two sons and one daughter. Om.
