Privacy & Data Policy

Privacy & Data Policy Of Samadhi Yoga Ashram

Effective Date: February 01, 2020 | Last Updated: March 25, 2026

Samadhi Yoga Ashram (‘we’, ‘us’, or ‘our’) is a Yoga Alliance registered ashram and spiritual learning centre rooted in the Himalayan tradition of Kriya Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, and Vedic wisdom. We are located on the sacred banks of the Ganga River in Laxman Jhula, Rishikesh, India, and offer a wide range of residential and online programs including Multi-Style Yoga Teacher Training Courses (YTTC), Kundalini YTTC, Ayurveda Teacher Training, Reiki Training, Yin Yoga TTC, Kids and Prenatal Yoga TTC, Yoga and Meditation Retreats, and Online Certification Programs.

This Privacy & Data Policy governs the collection, use, storage, and protection of personal information provided by visitors and students through our website (https://samadhiyogaashram.com/) and in connection with our programs. It has been prepared in accordance with the Information Technology Act, 2000, the IT (Amendment) Act, 2008, the IT (Reasonable Security Practices and Procedures and Sensitive Personal Data or Information) Rules, 2011, and India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023. For students from the European Union or European Economic Area, we align our practices with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). For California residents, we adhere to the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information Provided by You

When you register for a course, submit an enquiry, book a retreat, or contact us through our website, we may collect the following personal information:

Full legal name, email address, mobile number, and nationality
Country of residence and correspondence address
Yoga background, experience level, and health or medical disclosures relevant to program participation
Passport or travel document details required for residential program administration
Selected program, course dates, and batch preferences
Payment reference details (we do not store card numbers or banking credentials)

1.2 Enrollment Consultation Data (Proponent Technologies Pvt. Ltd.)

A portion of the enrollment process is handled by Proponent Technologies Pvt. Ltd., our authorized enrollment consultation partner. During the pre-enrollment consultation stage, Proponent Technologies Pvt. Ltd. may independently collect personal data including your name, contact information, course preferences, and travel timeline. This data is used solely to deliver the enrollment consultation and facilitation service and to coordinate your enrollment with Samadhi Yoga Ashram. Only information strictly necessary for enrollment processing is shared with us by Proponent Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Both entities operate independent data protection practices.

1.3 Automatically Collected Technical Data

When you visit our website, our systems automatically record technical information including your IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers, pages visited, session length, and referring web addresses. This data helps us maintain website security, understand visitor behaviour, and improve our digital experience.

1.4 Communications Records

We retain records of all communications submitted through our website enquiry forms, email, and WhatsApp. These records are used exclusively for service delivery, administrative follow-up, and continuity of student support.

2. Purposes for Which We Use Your Data

Your personal data is processed solely for lawful and transparent purposes directly connected to your engagement with Samadhi Yoga Ashram, including:

Processing course registrations and issuing enrollment confirmation for all YTTC, retreat, and online programs
Communicating program timetables, pre-arrival guidance, ashram protocols, and important updates
Delivering ongoing student support during and after your residential or online program
Sending spiritual insights, course news, and promotional content where you have opted in
Evaluating website traffic patterns to improve our content, pages, and user experience
Detecting and preventing fraud, security breaches, or technical disruptions
Fulfilling our obligations under Indian law and applicable international data protection frameworks

3. Media Consent

By enrolling in any Samadhi Yoga Ashram program, you grant Samadhi Yoga Ashram a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use photographs and videos captured during your course or retreat for promotional, educational, and marketing purposes across our website, social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest), printed publications, and advertising materials.

This licence does not permit the sale or transfer of your images to unaffiliated third parties for their own commercial purposes. Should you wish to withdraw media consent, please send a written request to contact@samadhiyogaashram.com. We will make all commercially reasonable efforts to remove identifiable images within 60 days of receiving your request, except where images are already embedded in printed or archived materials.

4. Legal Basis for Processing Your Data

4.1 Indian Law — DPDP Act, 2023

Under India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and the associated IT Rules, we process your personal data on the basis of your informed consent, or as necessary to fulfil a lawful purpose directly connected to your enrollment in and participation in our programs.

4.2 GDPR — EU and EEA Residents

For students resident in the European Union or European Economic Area, we rely on consent, contractual necessity (such as enrollment processing), legal compliance, and legitimate interests — including the improvement of course delivery, ashram safety, and student wellbeing — as the legal basis for processing your data.

4.3 CCPA — California Residents

We do not sell personal data under any circumstances. California residents may request access to, deletion of, or an opt-out from certain data processing activities by contacting us using the details at the end of this policy.

5. Sharing of Your Personal Data

5.1 Authorized Partners and Service Providers

We share your personal data only with entities that have a direct and necessary role in supporting your enrollment or ashram experience, including:

Proponent Technologies Pvt. Ltd. — our authorized enrollment consultation partner, which independently processes student data as part of the pre-enrollment consultation service
Payment gateway providers for secure and compliant processing of course fee transactions
Website analytics providers including Google Analytics and Statcounter for traffic monitoring and performance improvement
Email and communication platforms used for sending enrollment confirmations and program updates

5.2 No Commercial Data Sharing

Samadhi Yoga Ashram does not sell, lease, rent, or trade your personal data to any third party for marketing, advertising, or commercial purposes. All third-party partners who access your data are bound by contractual obligations to process it exclusively for the purpose agreed and in compliance with applicable data protection laws.

5.3 Legally Required Disclosures

We may disclose your data when required to do so by a court order, statutory authority, or government directive, or where necessary to protect the rights, safety, or property of Samadhi Yoga Ashram and its students.

6. International Data Transfers

Samadhi Yoga Ashram is headquartered in India, and all personal data is primarily stored and processed within India. Students enrolling from outside India should be aware that their information will be transferred to and processed in India. We take all reasonable steps to ensure such transfers comply with applicable data protection laws including the DPDP Act, 2023.

7. How Long We Retain Your Data

We retain personal data for the duration necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this policy. Enrollment records, attendance data, and certification documentation are generally retained for a minimum of five (5) years following the completion of your program. You may request deletion of your personal data at any time, subject to our legal obligations to maintain certain records.

8. Your Rights as a Data Principal

8.1 Rights Under the DPDP Act, 2023 (All Students)

The right to obtain a summary of personal data held about you and how it is being processed
The right to correct or update any inaccurate or incomplete personal information
The right to withdraw consent for data processing at any time, subject to lawful obligations
The right to nominate a trusted person to exercise your data rights on your behalf
The right to raise a grievance with our designated Grievance Officer or the Data Protection Board of India

8.2 Additional Rights Under GDPR (EU/EEA Students)

Students resident in the EU or EEA hold additional rights including the right to erasure (‘right to be forgotten’), the right to data portability, the right to restrict processing, and the right to object to processing where it is based on legitimate interests.

9. Children and Minor Students

All programs offered by Samadhi Yoga Ashram are designed for adults aged 18 years and above. Students aged 16 to 17 may be considered for enrollment on submission of verified written consent from a parent or legal guardian. We do not knowingly collect or process personal data from individuals under the age of 16. If we become aware that data from a minor has been inadvertently collected, we will take immediate steps to delete it securely.

10. Data Security

We implement industry-standard technical and organisational safeguards to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These include encrypted data transmission (SSL/TLS), role-based access controls, and regular internal audits of our data handling practices. No system of data transmission or storage is entirely risk-free, and we encourage all users to take appropriate precautions when sharing personal information online.

11. Official Communication Channels

Only information published on the official Samadhi Yoga Ashram website (https://samadhiyogaashram.com/) and confirmed via our official email (contact@samadhiyogaashram.com) constitutes a binding representation by Samadhi Yoga Ashram. Any information shared by third-party agents, travel blogs, aggregator platforms, review websites, or social media accounts not officially managed by Samadhi Yoga Ashram is not binding on us.

12. Updates to This Policy

We may revise this Privacy & Data Policy from time to time to reflect changes in applicable law, our programs, or our data practices. Material changes will be communicated to registered students via email or through a prominent notice on our website. The effective date shown at the top of this page will always indicate the most recent revision.

Reach Out To Us

Samadhi Yoga Ashram

Behind Police Station, Laxman Jhula, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand 249302, India

Email: contact@samadhiyogaashram.com
Phone: (+91) 8126230256
Website: https://samadhiyogaashram.com/contact.php

All Reviews Of Us From Students

What Students Says About Samadhi Yoga Ashram

Student Testimonials at Samadhi Yoga Ashram

Hannah

Germany

I attended the 300 hour Kundalini Teachers Training course in January 2025. I have attended several other training programs over my 26 years of practicing yoga. This experience was the BEST! The Ashram was really fun, and the food was great. The training was the most excellent curriculum I have experienced thus far, the teachers were enthusiastic, heart centered and brilliant. Rishikesh is the most mystical place I have ever been held by the Himalayan mountains and the energetic greatness of the Ganges River. The town people were the kindest souls, the food in town was great too. I also loved the eco system of people and animals all existing together in such peace. My wife and I had such a beautiful experience, we feel that the friends we made in the program will likely be lifelong. We are already looking at our calendar to see when we can go back and finish the 500 hour program. My only request would be that they create a 1000 hour opportunity for those who want to continue on and on. Our daily practice is deeper than ever as are the gifts that come with a string Sadhana.

Olga Benko

Australia

Kundalini called me, as well as many others. Choosing a school, I saw the website of the Samadhi Yoga Ashram and a photo of Hari Priya and realized that I needed to go to this place. I had no idea what is Kundalini, and I did not expect the awakening of energy, I just followed my inner voice. I am very pleased with the training and grateful to all the Gurus for the knowledge and invaluable experience gained during the training. I got a lot more than I expected. During the practice, I found answers to my personal questions, as did everyone who was trained. I watched how I changed and how the people around me changed. We have undergone a colossal transformation, we have changed, we have become stronger, more confident, calmer, happier. I am grateful to the universe for this opportunity and wish all the best to the Ashram and all the Gurus. I will definitely return to Rishakesh. Namaste

Pauline

Japan

I have just completed by YTT200 training here. I will definitely miss here so much and in fact I don't want to leave and go back to my home country... It is my first time to India and I am coming here alone. There isn't any other student of the same nationality as me, but we are close friends now. I am glad that this yoga school is situated on this side of the river bank where it is more tranquil and suitable for study than the touristy centre on the opposite side. Food at ashram is so homey and in appropriate level of taste (not heavy like outside's and not bland), because the kitchen also cooks for the Guru's family who also lives here. With family members around, it feels not like a conventional/ business-driven school but experiencing local culture. Classes are well-organised and we learnt so much within a short span of time. It is out of my expectation that how focused we could learn yoga in such a way. Teachers speak good english and are serious in tackling our problems and make us improved quickly. Excursions offered by the school are fun and safe too (although we don't have much day off given the tight schedule of an intensive course). I would definitely love to visit India again, and if I do, I must come back and visit the school and the Guru's family. It can be said as my second home. I had such an amazing mind-changing journey and found my inner peace together with teaching techniques that I would definitely polish further in my yogi journey.

Montserrat

Russia

I had an amazing experience in SYA! The stuff became my family during my stay and I learn so much from them. Yogi Vishnu Panigrahi is such a beautiful being and so genuine! By spontaneity I met him and he brought me to this beautiful place! Which was on of my greatest experience here in Rishikesh! The teachers are dedicated and the food during my stay was marvellous! p.s they have hot water to shower with and all is super clean! Thank you! SYA for this time! Until next time! Namaste.

Melina

Italy

I completed the 300 hour kundalini yoga teacher training. This was offered by many different instructors providing their insight and knowledge in many different areas [asana practice, kundalini theory + practice, pranayama, anatomy, ayurveda, etc.]. Each instructor had a deep understanding of their subject and it was the perfect combination of class materials/content and practices to allow you to truly embody your practice. Would love to attend an in-person program one day.

Jessica

Greece

The first thing you should know about Samadhi Yoga Ashram is that it goes by several names. So if you’re like me and you spend hours or days researching and comparing different yoga schools, you may be surprised to find that they are actually all under one roof. The three that are connected are Samadhi Yoga Ashram, World Peace Yoga School, and Kundalini Yoga Ashram. So if you’re looking for a kundalini specific program, you’ll likely end up here. So whichever school you choose, you will still be in the same building studing the same curriculum with the same people who booked with other schools. I just wanted to make that clear so there’s no confusion. Whichever path you take to get here, it’s definitely worth it! The second thing you should know is, I highly recommend you bring your cash with you to pay for the balance of your tuition when you arrive. I thought I could just come and use ATMs but I was sadly mistaken. Most of the time you can only get up to $100 US per day from an ATM. The second thing to note is that most of the ATMs run out of cash before you can even get money out. The other option is to take money out down the street at a jewelry store that was actually very legit and safe, but they do charge extra fees from 5% to 12%. If you want to pay with your card at the ashram you’ll have to pay an additional 18% on top of your balance of your tuition. This proved to be a very difficult part of the stay and I would definitely recommend making it easy for yourself and bringing your money with you. It really should not have been as hard as it was, is but it is what is it. Now onto the fun stuff! The team here is really amazing! The teachers are first class! They’re very intelligent and I feel like I was learning from some of the top people in the industry! There were times when I felt like I was in college level classes. The team here and the teachers really cannot be compared to anything else. You will not get this type of experience doing a destination style yoga teacher training or online course. These people are teaching year-round and they know their stuff. Some of these teachers have doctorate degrees. Everybody that took the classes were very impressed and felt we got so much value for what we paid to be here. Most of us never wanted to leave! Also living the Ashram experience, is an experience all of it’s own! It’s kind of like living in a hippie commune on a college campus. That’s the best way I can describe! You eat together, you sleep at the same time, you take your classes together, and you become very bonded with your classmates. Honestly that part of the experience was one of the best parts! Even the difficulties added to the experience. You may not have hot water all the time, electricity goes off often, and it was very cold when I was here, but I wouldn’t trade anything for the experience I had! Every hardship was worth it in the end. This experience was very transformative for me. I came here for two months and did the 200 and 300 hour Kundalini courses and I booked with Samadhi Yoga Ashram. I would highly recommend coming here for your yoga teacher training. You’ll get more than you bargained for and you’ll come back home as a different person! You can’t beat the value for this experience! Highly recommended!

Tsvetelina

Bulgarian

I truly love my stay in Samadhi Yoga Ashram. It was a life time transfomational experience for me and The best school of life, wisdom, love I have attended in my life. I came for YTTC Kundalini Yoga training with 200 hours looking to find where my path was guiding me. After I have completed one month of training, I knew my direction and have decided to stay and continue with YTTC 300 hours of Kundalini Yoga training. The training itself is absolutely transformational and amazingly enriching with morning Sadhana with Guruji Vishnu, Kundalini kriyas,Hatha yoga,Mantras, etc.. The quality, the knowledge, the experience, the disposition and the care of all the teachers were exceptional. The life wisdom, strength, the love of Guruji Vushnu were blessing. We were leaded by having them as example of what is to be so wise and in the same time so humble, so loving, so simple and so strong. You simply feel accepted, supported, empowered and loved the way you are. The group I stay with were such a loving people, with the same vibes of kindness between us, positive mind, shared values.., just as true friends and family. The food was great. There was cleanliness, variety, organization. The staff in the dining area were gorgeous and accommodating, and the staff in the rest of the Ashram were gentle, understanding, meeting your request if there was any in the closest for you way. We celebrated all together - teachers, students, and the rest of the people in the Ashram as family. We spent time together in a spiritual practices and in festive celebrations. Ashram is positioned in a central( with shops and restaurants area) ,but calm and queit area surrounded by Himalayas and Ghanga river. The landscapes are stunning and you feel the power of the energy. I am deeply grateful to the Universe,to Guruji Vishnu, to all my teachers and my friends there for been part of that journey together.

Natalia

England

I chose back Samadhi Yoga School to complete the 500 YTT because I felt I could truly immerse myself in the true and authentic Himalayan yogi tradition. I experienced a wonderful journey of personal development and self discovery that is never going to stop. My personal experience at the school has been completely fulfilling, and even though I was miles away from the teachers and colleagues the community created has made me feel part of the family. I truly recommend studying with Vishnu ji to get a deeper understanding of the true traditions and the techniques that every yogi and yogini should get access to. The teachings come from real love and understanding of the philosophy of yoga. Your life will change when attending a course with them. Shanti, shanti, shanti

Anna Müller

Germany

I came to Samadhi Yoga Ashram searching for peace and deeper meaning in my practice—and I found so much more. The teachers are incredibly knowledgeable and kind, blending traditional yogic wisdom with practical application. The location near the Ganga is serene, and the daily routine was grounding. I now feel confident teaching yoga and living more mindfully. Highly recommended for anyone looking to deepen their spiritual path.

Lucas

Australia

The 300-hour TTC at Samadhi Yoga Ashram was intense in the best way possible. The depth of the philosophy, pranayama, and meditation sessions really pushed me beyond the physical. It’s a full immersion into the yogic lifestyle, supported by a warm and knowledgeable staff. Rishikesh itself is a spiritual haven, and the ashram environment made it easy to stay focused. I'm grateful for the personal transformation this training offered.

Martinez

Colombia

I had some hesitation traveling to India alone, but from the moment I arrived, the staff at Samadhi Yoga Ashram made me feel like family. The course content was rich and well-structured, with great emphasis on philosophy, anatomy, and teaching methodology. I especially loved the morning meditations and evening kirtans. I leave not only with a certification, but with a more open heart and calm mind.

Nathaniel

Canada

Completing the 500-hour TTC was one of the most physically and mentally demanding things I’ve ever done—but also the most fulfilling. The curriculum is rigorous, and the teachers expect full dedication, but they are compassionate and supportive every step of the way. Samadhi Yoga Ashram has a beautiful balance of discipline and community. I’m going home not only as a certified yoga teacher, but as a more grounded human being.