Yogacharya Rakesh
Director, Samyak Yoga
My Journey into Yoga
I was introduced to Yoga, and guided on this journey of self-discovery holding my hands by Dr Ramachandra Bhatt, the chief Acharya of Veda Vijnana Gurukulam, Vice-Chancellor of SVYASA Yoga University, Bangalore.
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Veda Vijnana Gurukulam is a Vedic-Yogic monastery wherein students study, speak and live in Sanskrit. The Yogic, Vedic and Vedanta texts are studied in Sanskrit while practising what you study is given the most importance.
By doing so, you receive the knowledge of the tradition and practice of Yoga from the source while practising as it is taught makes you live with what you learned.
Journey in glimpses
Training at Samyak Yoga
Pre-Samyak Yoga
2007-2011
My Studies in Brief
Training Yoga Teachers at Samyak Yoga since 2012
Taught 100 + Yoga Teacher Training Courses for 2000 + students
Offering Yoga Mentorships to Samyak Yoga Alumni post-training
Taught Samyak Yoga Courses in Paris, Bali, Cambodia etc.
Trained Ayurvedic Doctors in the Sanskrit language in Ayurveda Medical College, Bangalore
Have been a Personal Yoga Trainer for high-profile celebrities
Presented research papers on Yoga practice & philosophy in Bangalore, Pondicherry, Varanasi etc. recognised by the world of scholars in the field
Translated 'Yoga Sudha' a monthly English Yoga magazine to Sanskrit
First exposed to the practice & philosophy of Yoga in Veda Vijnana Gurukulam
Guruji Dr Ramachandra Bhatt has been the guiding light for the practice
Obtained a post-graduation degree in Sanskrit literature along with the study in Veda Vijnana Gurukulam
Obtained the Masters in Yogic Sciences, Bangalore
Awarded for the best presentation in the Master’s study
My Studies in Darshana Shastra
The Vedas
I have studied the complete Krishna Yajurveda Mula for 6 years in the traditional method.
Bhagavad Gita
Being a part of Prasthana Traya, the Bhagavad Gita is an essential dimension of Yoga Darshana. I have studied based on Shankara-Bhashyam.
The Upanishads
I have studied all the 12 major Upanishads in Sanskrit along with Bhashya (commentary) of Sri Shankara Bhagavatpada in Advaita Vedanta tradition.
Hatha Yoga Pradeepika
Swatmarama’s Hatha Yoga Pradeepika is another significant text that I have studied and this is also part of teacher training along with Yoga Sutras.
Brahmasutras
This complex text elaborates the study of the Vedanta Darshana. I have studied the complete Brahmasutras with Shankara-Bhashya.
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
There are many commentaries to deepen your knowledge of Yoga Sutras. The most significant one is Vyasa Commentary which was my primary focus in my studies.
Hatha Yoga
I was first exposed to Hatha Yoga practice in its traditional method during my Gurukula days by Shankara Narayan Ji.
Iyengar Yoga
Though Guruji B K S Iyengar has always maintained that it is Hatha Yoga, it has become popular as Iyengar Yoga.
I was introduced to it by Lakshman Ji and Raghavendra Shenoy was an inspiration in this method.
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Practice has been inspiring me to deepen my practice for a long time.
Saraswathi Jois, and John Scott have been my primary mentors in this practice method.
Yoga Therapy
A detailed study of Yoga Therapy was part of my study in MSc in Yoga & Consciousness, SVYASA Bangalore
Vinyasa Yoga
Vinyasa Yoga always offers a lot of freedom and develops the creativity of the teacher.
Hence, I love to teach in the traditional method.
I was first introduced to it by Vijay Amar Sen Ji.
Ayurveda & Yoga
I have been fascinated by the influence of these two fields on each other. In the last few years, this has been my focus of study under the guidance of Dr Meghana Narayana (my wife too).