Have you heard about Akhanda Yoga? Do you wish to experience and get benefited by this unique yoga practice? Then the right place to be aware of this yoga and indulge in its practice is at Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram. It is located in Tapovan, in Shivananda Nagar (Rishikesh), in the district of Tehri Garhwal, in the state of Uttarakhand, in Northern India. Kaintura Plaza on Badrinath Road is the landmark to spot this ashram. It is just 30 minutes drive from Dehradun. The nearest railway station is at Haridwar and airport is at Dehradun. Rishikesh bus terminal is the nearest bus station from where one can easily reach this ashram.

About Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram

Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram was founded by Chetana Panwar and Yogrishi Vishvketu ji in 2007. The main aim of this ashram is to successfully create a nurturing and comfortable sanctuary for seekers of spiritual needs and requirement from within the nation and abroad where they will have clean food, safe stay arrangement, drinking water and proper guidance for their desired yogic journey in a successful manner. This particular ashram promotes Akhanda Yoga. This yoga practice is the holistic and non-sectarian yoga teachings and practice of its founders. At this ashram, students are rightly encouraged to wholeheartedly practice different aspects of the yoga' diverse tradition such as pranayama, satkarma, asana, kiirtan, Vedic mantra and meditation plus various traditions in yoga philosophy like Vedanta, Samkhya, Tantra and Classical Yoga.

Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram is situated in Ganges river valley plus the dynamic international village called Tapovan. On the other hand, the word Tapovan that is Tapo means the practice of spiritual disciplines and van means means forest so the forest of the yogis. Yogrishi Vishvketu Ji who is affectionately called as Vishva-ji has with interest and enthusiasm studied plus practiced Raja yoga and Hatha yoga. On the other hand, Chetana Panwar actually came to the path of yoga through a special meditation class in the year1993, on his return from a two-year stay in different parts of Asia.

Residential Yoga classes at Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram

Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram wholeheartedly welcomes different types of yoga practitioners who really wish to stay at the ashram plus indulge in the daily yoga sadhana classes. This ashram allows a minimum stay of two weeks in order to derive all kinds of benefit from the yoga practice and its unique lifestyle at this place. The ashram doesn't encourage long stay but short stay is always appreciated. The ashram conducts two yoga classes daily and provides three meals and allows the participants for spending time in the library and stroll in the Ganga valley in the mid-day. A donation is collected for staying at the ashram with having meals and participating in yoga classes. Yoga classes are conducted twice a day that is from 6am to 7.45 am in the morning session and from 4pm to 5.45 pm in the evening session.

The yoga class includes:

• Sequence of postures interwoven with pranayama

• Mantra

• Methods of relaxation

• A brief meditation

• Approach to yoga classes Akhanda

• Agni Hotra is conducted daily at 8.30 am just before breakfast. It is an ancient Hindu ritual performed as per the Vedic rules and regulations. Ghee and herbs (samagri) are used to raise the fire. It is one of the aspects of starting the day and indulging in yoga practice.

• Karma Yoga is the right kind of the practice of selfless service without even thinking of the benefit from the action performed. It is one of the best paths towards enlightment.

• Kirtan is conducted twice a week that is on a Tuesday and Friday from 7 pm to 8.30pm. all the inmates, guests, visitors and students are invited to participate in it.

• Silent Times is practiced from9am till to the next day breakfast time. This allows a person to be calm and quiet.

Yoga Teacher Training at Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram

Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram conducts 200-hour plus 500-hour Yoga Teacher Training programs. These programs are conducted by Yogi Vishvketu through its World Conscious Yoga Family. Moreover, with the Yoga Alliance, these programs are registered. These courses give better insights into the science of Ayurveda and Yoga. On successful completion of these course is given teaching certification to handle independent classes and self indulgence. These courses are intensive 4-week training. The course focuses on yoga and teaching and its practice exclusively. On weekends, participants can visit Haridwar. They have time in order to explore the spiritual sites and local cultural plus will study 5.5 days a week. It is the best method to integrate truly the yogic teachings at a traditional ashram in Rishikesh with a lot of perfection. On the other hand, this teacher training program is also readily available in Japanese language.

Facilities at Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram

Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram comes with comfortable stay arrangements. It has 21 spacious rooms for yoga participants, 7 triple rooms, 11 double rooms and 3 single rooms. The rooms are equipped with bed, mattress, pillows and western toilet.

There are two practice halls, the Nataraj Yoga Hall (1900 square feet) is situated on the third floor and the Patanjali Sadhana Hall (1300 square feet) is situated on the lower level. The specialties of these halls are a vaulted bamboo ceiling, a wood laminate floor, natural space for Yoga practice, etc.

Library and Sitting Room- This library is filled with books, journals, magazine, etc in Hindi, English, Japanese language. It is open for one hour just after lunch and evening hours after dinner.

Food is provided as three meals a day in the dining hall. Sattvic vegetarian is the stable food at this ashram. Breakfast comes in the form of Bananas or Papaya, or Chickpeas; Ayurvedic Herbal Tea and Porridge with Dates and Raisins or Coconut. Lunch and Dinner comes in the form of Rice, Chapatti, and some raw vegetables, Vegetables (pumpkin, carrot, cauliflower, peas, spinach etc.) and Dal (pulses). The food is tasty yogic food, nourishing and clean. They provide milk free porridge and tea plus sugar free. The ingredients are hand picked from the nearest organic farms.

Dress Code - There is strict dress codes that need to be followed at this ashram.

The dress code is:

• Pants and skirts that are at least knee-length.

• Men, please wear shirts

• No bathing suits.

• Relaxed fit yoga pants

• Preference for light colors and less black.

• Capped sleeves

• Clothes that cover your undergarments

Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram has its own rules and regulations that need to be strictly followed while staying at this ashram and indulging in its short term and long term programs. The rules are to be followed very strictly by every individual who have come from across the region as well as from various region of the world and is to be maintained in a sound way.The participants should give their best cooperation and coordination to the instructors and ashrams management authorities in any conditions and prevailing situations and circumstance without fail. They should follow the given dress code in the ashram. They should have food in time and never indulge in skipping it. They should over eat or eat less because maintaining a good health for indulging in the activities and programs at the ashram premises is more important in many aspects. They shouldn't venture out of the ashram premises without the permission of the ashram authorities. They shouldn't indulge in smoking, use of alcohol and drug items.

After all, it is one such institute where the vary meaning of the Yoga is well preserved and taught in the best possible way to enlighten the minds of the people, making them aware of its benefits in life.