Our Faculty
Namaste, dear students. I am Yogi Vishnu — I welcome you warmly to Samadhi Yoga Ashram. The relationship between teacher and student is sacred to us. After years of teaching, I have come to believe that this relationship is built on wisdom and shared experience — not just information.
We are fortunate to have a faculty of highly qualified, experienced teachers, each rooted in the Himalayan yogic tradition. Our students consistently tell us they feel the ashram is their own home — safe, quiet, and dedicated entirely to the quality of yoga education.
A yoga teacher is a teacher of love and compassion. They share not only information, but experience — and that experience is what opens the eyes of the student.
— Yogi Vishnu Panigrahi
Born in a Brahmin family in western Odisha, Yogi Vishnu's childhood unfolded around the Radha-Krishna temple his grandfather had built. Today he travels extensively to teach yoga, meditation and inner-faith and remains dedicated to guiding disciples at Samadhi Yoga Ashram into the path of self-awakening.
Born in the UK to an Indian family, Maa Haripriya returned to India and immersed herself in the wisdom of yoga, learning from many Himalayan masters and qualifying as a Kundalini Yoga teacher. She brings Sound Healing, Cacao Rituals and Reiki into her Kundalini practice.
Born and raised in Rishikesh, Ashutosh holds a Bachelor's in Yogic Science from the University of Patanjali and a Master's in Yoga Therapy from Uttarakhand Sanskrit University. His teaching style combines intelligent sequencing and alignment tailored to each student's condition.
Mr. Naveen has been teaching Yoga Teacher Training since 2015 and has trained over 1,000 teachers in India and abroad. He holds a Master's in Yogic Science and a 500-hour Yoga Alliance USA certification, and is a certified Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga teacher trainer.
Yogi Sunil Bisht began learning yoga and Ayurveda from his father at the age of four. He studied at Kriya Yoga Ashram, the Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy at Sivananda Ashram, and Kaivalyadham in Pune. He is a master of Hatha, Pranayama, Mudras, Bandhas, Mantra, Yoga Nidra and Ayurveda.
Mandeep Bhatt has been an ardent student of Vedic Study for over 20 years. He teaches Pranayama, Mantra and Kundalini Yoga across teacher training programmes, bringing both scriptural depth and a clear, practical approach into every class.
Born in Rishikesh and fascinated by yoga from a young age, Yogi Praveen specialises in Meditation, Philosophy, Relaxation, Swara Yoga and Pranayama. His simple, approachable techniques make complex teachings accessible even to beginners.
A long-time Yogabhyasi with an M.A. in English Literature and an LL.B. in Law. Rohit's disciplined practice has given him deep insight into the theoretical and practical aspects of different branches of yoga, especially Kundalini.
Born in Jagannath Dham, Puri, Guna trained for over a decade in Mallakhamb (Pole Yoga) before deepening into Marma Therapy under Dr. Madhusudan Ray. He combines hands-on Marma work with Ayurvedic lifestyle guidance, helping students balance modern life through traditional mind-body practices.
Sujata grew up healing herself through naturopathy, yoga and acupressure under her father's guidance. A former national-level gymnast and Mallakhamb player, she now blends her early healing experience with disciplined practice and inspires students with the transformative power of naturopathy.
A devoted teacher of Vedanta philosophy, Swami Shiv Ji guides students into the deeper wisdom of the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. With over two decades of study and practice, he has a gift for making ancient scripture feel direct and alive.
Dr. Hemlata blends classical Hatha with therapeutic yoga, helping students heal through alignment, breath and mindful practice. Her gentle, precise approach makes her a trusted guide for those who come to yoga for healing as much as for strength.
An Ayurveda doctor and diet consultant, Dr. Devyani guides students towards balanced living through dosha-friendly food and daily routine. Her guidance helps students carry the principles of sattvic living home with them long after the course ends.
Yogi Siddha holds space through sound healing and silent meditation, leading students into stillness with mantra, singing bowls and breath. Students often describe his Yoga Nidra and sound journeys as the deepest rest they have known.
Dr. Sanjeev specialises in advanced pranayama and yogic breathwork. His classes reveal how the breath, properly understood, becomes a doorway to meditation and steadiness of mind.
Rooted in Balinese spiritual tradition, Yogi Yansa teaches asana and meditation with a calm, grounded presence that draws students into deep stillness. His teaching blends Indonesian yogic culture with classical hatha foundations.
Yogi Shakti combines naturopathy with classical yogic science, helping students reconnect with the body's natural rhythms and its capacity to heal. His sessions move beyond technique into the science of how yoga, food, and breath work together.
Train With Us
Every teacher here teaches what they live. Enrol in a course or write to us — we are happy to help you choose the right teacher and the right path for your practice.
We Follow
Samadhi Yoga Ashram follows the teachings of generations of Himalayan masters and saints who lived in the cave hermitages of the Himalayas. The teaching lineage stretches back nearly 5,000 years and includes Adi Shankaracharya, Swami Rama of the Himalayas, and his student Swami Veda Bharati. This tradition was practiced for centuries without a single name — we refer to it simply as the Tradition of the Himalayan Masters.
Yogi Vishnu Panigrahi, the founder of Samadhi Yoga Ashram, is a student of Swami Veda Bharati — who was, in turn, a student of Swami Rama. Through this unbroken teacher-student chain, the practical methods of pranayama, meditation, kriya and yoga philosophy have been transmitted from one generation to the next without being diluted by trend.
Although yoga has roots in Hindu culture, it is not a religion. The Himalayan path is open to anyone — regardless of religion, language or nationality. What it asks of you is sincerity, regularity, and willingness to learn from a teacher. The classical teacher-student relationship is still the foundation of how we work.
The ashram teaches the full eight-limbed path of yoga — including Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Raja Yoga, Kundalini Yoga and Tantra Yoga. A central instruction of the Himalayan tradition is "to be free of fear, become aware of the reality within." The work is practical, daily, and grounded — not abstract, not religious, not performative.
Vedic Era
Author of verses of Rig Veda
4th Century BC
Father of Yoga Sutras
550 BC
Tamil Siddhar & Yoga Master
1925 — 1996
Founder, Himalayan Institute
1933 — 2015
Himalayan Tradition Master
1974 — Present
Lives in Rishikesh
If you have any queries about courses at Samadhi Yoga Ashram, please reach out. Our team usually replies within 24 hours and can help with course details, schedules, accommodation, payment options and travel logistics.
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