Yoga indeed echoes the rich legacy of an age-old civilization while unfolding the wise ancient culture of India. From the remote past yoga has played a great role in shaping life and above all in offering a rather spiritual meaning to "life". In the recent era Yoga therapy has even gained the status of an alternative medicine. A number of Yoga Ashramas have also been set up to carry Yoga to the next level of mellowness.
Amritapuri Ashram : The Amritapuri ashram is the ashram of Amma. It is located at amritapuri of Kollam district, Kerala. Amma worked for the betterment of poor souls. The ashram is situated near the backwater in a serene and calm environment. The ashramites devote their valuable hours to serve for the ashram and visitors.
Art of Living : The founder of Art of Living is Ravi Shankarji. The ashram is located amidst lush green near Bangalore. The ashram offers various courses for the improvement of the quality of our daily life by reducing the effects of stress. Presently, the Art of Living training is very popular in the corporate world.
The Astanga Yoga Research Institute : The Astanga Yoga Institute was established by K.Pattabhi Jois, the master of Hatha Yoga. The ashram is located at the Lakshipuram near Mysore. People from all over the India and specially the foreigners come to the ashram to get a stress free life through Yoga education.
Auroville: Auroville was established with the ideology and teachings of Sri Aurovindo and Sri Ma, located near the Pondicherry near the Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu. Auroville provides accommodation to the visitors. It has many activities like organic farming, research in food, agriculture, alternate energy source, education, language etc.
Isha Yoga Center/ Foundation : Isha Yoga Center was founded by Sadhguru Yaggi Vasudev , an enlightened master who helped in the change of lives of thousand of people from struggle and disappointment to the life of spirituality. Isha Yoga Center is located against the majestic backdrop of Velliangiri Mountains at Semmedi, Koimbatore, Tamilnadu.
ISKCON : ISKCON or International Studies for Krishna Consciousness is a huge foundation, established by Srila Prabhupada, whose work spans all over the globe. In India the main center of ISKCON is located at the Vrindavan, Uttarpradesh. It teaches the Vedantic literature and Vaishnava to expand the Krishna Consciousness all over the world.
Osho Dham : Osho Dham was established by Bhagavan Sri Rajneesh at Koregaon of Pune. It propagates the spirituality of Rajneesh. Most of the followers of Osho Dham are foreigners, specially the Americans.
The Ramakrishna Ashram : The Ramakrishna Mission and Math was established by Swami Vivekananda with the ideology of his Guru Ramakrishna Paramhansadev. Ramakrishna ashram has several wings including the cultural center at Golpark. The mission has several branches all over the India and abroad. The ashram works to seek God in Man.
Sai Baba Ashram : Sai Baba Ashram is known as Prashanti Nilayam, located at the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. The ashram includes temples, meditation tree, `KalpaVriksha` and a Darshan Hall. A hospital is also established in the ashram that renders many free services for the poor people.
Sivananda Ashram: Sivananda Ashram located at Sivanandanagar, Tehri, Garhwal of Uttarakhand. Swami Sivananda founded Sivananda ashram. Divine Life Society and yoga Vedanta Forest Academy are associated with the ashram, Sivananda ashram has a pharmacy where ayurvedic treatment is done. An eye hospital is also attached to the Sivananda Ashram.
Sadhu Vaswani Ashram : This ashram is located at Pune Maharashtra. Sadhu Vaswani at Sindh established the ashram with the `Mira movement of education`. Later the ashram shifted to Pune after partition and was involved with education and other social-welfare related jobs.
Transcendental Meditation Center : This is located at Noida, Uttar Pradesh and was founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The center offer various courses starting from the basic course to the advanced courses that enables the student to learn the art of transcendental meditation, that settles down all the consciousness and keeps the mind in a constant restful alertness.
Vipassana International Academy: This academy is located at Dhammaagiri, IgatPuri in the Nasik district of Maharashtra. The ashram was founded according to the last wish of U Ba Khin, the master of Vipassana Yoga of Rangoon. The ashram provides accommodation to the students and the monk, who come to adapt the art of vipassana meditation.