Rishikesh Yoga Classes:

Yoga originated nearly 5000 years ago in India. The term “Yoga” comes from the term “Yuj” which means the union of individual consciousness or soul with the Universal Consciousness or spirit. Yoga classes in Rishikesh gained popularity over the years and it proved as the best place for yoga and meditation. 

Rishikesh could be the best option if someone is searching for yoga in the Himalayas, here various ashrams, institutions, and camps are spreading the goodness and benefits of yoga to each aspirant. India has emerged as the prominent center for Yoga and meditation and Rishikesh is leading the country in the field of practices related to Yoga and meditation. 

Many people all around the globe visit Rishikesh in search of Peace and finding the real meaning of their life. Here is the list of best Yoga classes present in Rishikesh.

Best Yoga Classes In Rishikesh:

1. Parmarth Niketan Ashram:

Photo Courtesy – Sadhvi Bhagwati

Lying on the holy banks of Mother Ganges, Parmarth Niketan is one of the most preferred yoga and meditation centers in Rishikesh. Asharam is beautiful and serene. It is one of the best ashrams for stay, where you can feel the spiritualism and meditation senses. 

 Daily Schedule of Parmarth Niketan Rishikesh

• ​5:00 am to 6:00 am  Morning universal prayers in Sanskrit language and lecture.
• 6:30 am to 7:30 am  – General Yoga & Meditation in English
• 9:00 am to 10:30 am  – Gita Paath & Pravachan in Hindi
• 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm – Ramayan Paath & Pravachan in Hindi
• 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm (Mon-Sat) – General Yogasana in English
• Around Sunset – Ganga Havan & Aarti at Main Ghat (on the riverbank) (Be there before half an hours for Yagna) – This could be a devine exprience.
• Immediately after Aarti –  Darshan & Satsang (Lecture) in the Satsang room in Pujya Swamiji’s reception area. it runs usually for 30-45 minutes and this is the time when people meditate in the presence of Pujya Swamiji and listen to live kirtan and ask any questions they have about their spiritual path. 
• 8:30 pm – 9:00 pm Kirtan (call & response) & Meditation with the Rishikumars.

You can also join the online restream of renowned Ganga Aarti of Parmarth Niketan every night on the Facebook page of Parmarth Niketan at 6pm, and a livestream of Satsang on both Facebook and YouTube every night at 7pm.

As a visitor you can also visit them. They are always there to welcome you. Visiting time is from 6am to 9pm.

Highlights 

• Parmarth Niketan Room Charges & Ashram Cost – Rs. 1600 for AC rooms and Rs. 600 for Non AC rooms.
• Visiting Time – 6:00am to 9:00pm.
• Click here for making the reservations.

Also join here for 2022 Parmarth Yoga classes.

2. Sivananda Ashram:

Photo Courtesy – Shivananda Ashram 

This Ashram is located near Ram Jhula. The Divine Life Society runs this Ashram. One of the best ashram and meditation centers in Rishikesh as they are teaching and practicing classical yoga. This includes five paths of yoga (Karma Yog, Bhakti Yog, Raj Yog, Jnana Yog) and Five points of yoga (Proper Exercise (Asana), Proper Breathing (Pranayama), Proper Relaxation (Savasana), Proper Diet (Lacto-vegetarian), Positive thinking and meditation (Vedanta and Dhyana).

• Different Courses offered by the Ashram for – Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced, and Weight loss.
• They are also offering open, private, and corporate classes and not charging any fee for their courses however a donation is always welcome.
• This is free ashram in Rishikesh providing free yoga classes, stay and food if only you are attending the courses. But all you need is, a prior registration (at least one month before)

Highlights 

• Ashram in Rishikesh with free  Yoga Courses with free stay and food.
• Need prior online registration, at least a month ago.
• Food severed will be vegetarian.

You can contact them through what’s-app – +918860954455 and the Email Id is delhi@sivananda.org.

Click here to join the online yoga classes, courses, and workshops of Sivananda Ashram.

3. Sadhana Mandir and Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama Ashram:

Photo Courtesy – Sadhana Mandir

Here you can practice the same yoga techniques which used to be practiced for many centuries. Here the old methods of yoga and meditation are included in the scientific and systematic ways.

• They are not offering the daily classes, rather offering the scheduled events of 4 to 10 days.
• For attending the programs you need a prior registration, many of their programs have a long waiting list so make sure to book it early.
• unlike other yoga classes in Rishikesh, they have also a fixed scheduled programs, retreats, and calendar.
• After your registration,  they will provide you a single room with organic food.

Highlights 

• Do not offer daily classes, only scheduled events.
• Nominal charges (Almost Free)​​​​
• ​Prior registration is must

Click here to register yourself.

4. Yoga Niketan:

Yoga Niketan was established by Vyas Devji. He was one of the renowned Yogis of the 20th century. This meditation centers is located in the Muni ki Reti area of Rishikesh.  

 The doors of this place are open to all without any discrimination of caste, creed, gender, or nationality.  But, children below the age of 12 years are not permitted to stay within this Ashram.

Yog Niketan having a pre-decided schedule of the year for yoga programs/retreats. You need to register and book for them. The courses generally require 5 days and below is the daily schedule from day 1 to day 5.

Daily Schedule of Yoga Niketan-​​​​​​

• It will cost you Rs. 999/per day for single Non AC room and Rs. 1904/day for A.C. room and Rs. 2128,day for Double sharing non AC room and RS. 2688/day for double sharing AC room.

Highlights 

• Yoga and Meditation programs of 5 days.
• Online registration is must
• Click here for making the reservations.

Click here to for registration and booking.

5. Swami Dayananda Ashram:

Photo Courtesy – Swami Dayananda Ashram

This ashram was founded by the founder of Arya Samaj, Swami Dayanand Saraswati (Mula Shankar). This ashram holds a big library which holds a repository of knowledge with more than 5000 titles on various subjects like Vedanta, Sanskrit Grammar, Philosophies, religion and yoga.

• Can accommodate a huge number of people with its 150 rooms, but this ashram does not run a guesthouse and the rooms are available only to the students of the Ashram.
• It offers short and long term Vedanta courses and programs. It also provide facility to the other yoga organizers to organize the yoga programs.

Highlights 

• No Guest House for visitors.
• Yoga programs can be organized by different organizers.

Check the details here.

6. Himalayan Yog Ashram:

Photo Courtesy – Himalayan Yog Asharam

Another ashram situated in Tapovan, north of Lakshman Jhula is Himalayan Yog Ashram. Founded by Yogi Ram in 2012, this small meditation center in Rishikesh is known for stunning surroundings and enriching yoga and meditation sessions. Like many ashrams, it also follows a disciplined routine that yogis are asked to follow.  

• The day begins here at 5:30 AM with pranayama and is followed by a combination of Hatha Yoga and meditation sessions. A silence period from 9 PM onwards till 5:30 AM is observed in the ashram.
• Check-in is allowed here only on Monday so you need to stay for a minimum of 6,13, 20, or 27 nights.
• Charges for the rooms is € 300, include 3-time meals, daily practice sessions, bedsheets, heater/air conditioner, and attached bathrooms with running hot water. You can also book extra sessions for Yoga therapy and Ayurvedic treatments.
• Charges may differ for single and shared rooms depending on the duration slot of your stay.
• This ashram also provides 200 Hrs yoga teacher training in Rishikesh for the duration of 25 Hrs.

Highlights 

• Provides Ashram Stay for 6,13,20 and 27 nights.
• Provides Yoga teacher training in Rishikesh.

Check here the link

7. Osho Gangadham Ashram:

Photo Courtesy – Osho Ganga Dham

The Osho Gangadham Ashram is situated on the banks of river Ganges. This is the place where you can explore yourself in a perfect meditative environment. You will get pure vegetarian food and for staying you will have the option to choose from staying in common rooms, dormitories, or in deluxe rooms.

• Gangadham is famous for Osho’s Meditation rituals and considered as one of the best meditation centers in Rishikesh.
• Situated in the middle of the forest on the bank of Holy river Ganga, approximately 10 minutes drive from Laxman Jhulla/Tapovan and 15 minutes drive from Rishikesh.

Daily Schedule of Osho Gangadham Ashram

• 07:00am – Osho Dynamic Meditation
• 10:30am – Osho Meditation Session including dance meditation
• 04:00am – Osho Kundalini Meditation
• 06:30am – Osho evening Satsang

Highlights 

• Organize the meditation camps/events every week.
• Prior registration is a must.

Click here to know about the upcoming events and register yourself.

8. Avatar Yoga School:

Photo Courtesy – Avtar Yoga School

This Yoga school was founded 20 years ago. It is one of the best yoga schools in Rishikesh. This yoga school follows an ancient and traditional way of teaching style which is suitable for all levels of Yoga students. This yoga school also affixes their students in research activities. 

• This school provides 100,200 and 300 Hours Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh.
• Fee for 200 Hours yoga teacher training course is US$1000, for 300 Yoga Teacher Training is US$ 1500 (Single room).
• They also provide 7 days and 14 days Yoga retreat program for US$ 300 US$ 500 respectively.

Highlights 

• Yoga teacher training course available.
• Course prior booking online.

Click here to check the status and booking for the course.

9. Omkaranand Ganga Sadan:

Photo Courtesy – Omkarananda Ganga Sadan

A beautiful guest house situated in Muni-ki-Reti, Rishikesh. its Room are clean, and many rooms have river views. Its specialty is Iyengar yoga classes. It has its own ghat, where a daily Ganga aarti is performed.

• They are conducting Daily (except Sundays) yoga classes and it is open to everyone but it needs the prior reservations to book the seat at-least one month in advance.
• Providing extensive yoga courses, general yoga courses, Beginners yoga classes and children yoga classes.
• Fee for Intensive Yoga classes is RS. 6350. General yoga classes starts from Monday to Saturday from 6:00pm to 7:30pm with the cost of RS. 600 for first class to RS. 1900 for 6 class.

Highlights 

• Daily yoga classes
• Prior booking is must
• Click here for more details and upcoming events.

Click here for knowing other staying options (Expensive/Inexpensive) if you are in Rishikesh for attending any Yoga conference.

Benefits of Yoga and Meditation ?

Health Benefits: Yes, yoga can increase your flexibility, improve your balance, and decrease your cholesterol. The European Journal of Preventive Cardiology shows that yoga reduces the risk of heart disease as much as conventional exercise.

On average, yoga participants lost five pounds, decreased their blood pressure, and lowered their low-density (“bad”) cholesterol by 12 points. There is a vast growing body of research on how yoga improves health problems including chronic pain, fatigue, obesity, asthma, and more.

Yoga offers self-reflection, the practice of kindness and self-compassion, and continued growth and self-awareness.

In a life where we always run after materialistic things, yoga opens up the possibility of connecting to what we already have — to who we already are. 

People are not there where they seem to be. They go on searching for the meaning of life and they miss it more often. What they need to do is to be present at the moment. 

Just remain present for any activity you are doing. You don’t have to do great work, become a world conqueror, save the earth, etc. It really does not matter what you do, what matters is your presence in the act you are doing. If you start being present in the moment, the meaning of life will start unfolding.

The feeling that something is being missed will fade away gradually. 

One of the ways to do this is to calm down your mind and soul, and you can achieve it by means of Yoga and Meditation.

Don’t just exist but Live. Be PRESENT at the moment.

So that was the list of best yoga ashrams and meditation centers in Rishikesh and hopefully now you can choose the best according to you. Any Query/Suggestions/Feedback, Please comment below. 

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