Acharya Prashant Jakhmola

Hi, I am Yogacharya Prashant Jakhmola

Yoga started in my life from ShivanandaYoga Ashram, when I was only 17 years old. At that time I joined the yoga classes only for physical health. But there is a saying that if at any time you engage yourself dedicatedly in spiritual activities, your whole body and mind continue to motivate you to go in the right direction. This is what happened to me. During my practices at Sivananda, I was in numerous thoughts and life was progressing towards spirituality. I learnt Iyengar Yoga at Shivananda Ashram for two years and then I chose the way for SatyanandaYoga Institution in Bihar (first yoga university in India).

I completed my graduation while staying at Shivananda Ashram. Since I done my graduation with Biology, it has further increased my relationship with Yoga, especially the anatomy and how it affects the deeper body, mind and emotions. As soon as I finished my established studies I went to Bihar School of Yogain 2012 where I practiced Karma Yoga, and that was a turning point of my life. From here I gave the right direction to my life and made yoga as my ultimate aim. I met my first yogini guru - SwaminiSatsangini ji from whom I took Diksha and entered intoa deeper yogic life.

After one year of practicing in BiharYoga Institute and receiving the instructor letter I came back toRishikesh for my post graduatation. As it was already cleared in my mind, when I was in Bihar school of Yoga, so I continued my post-graduationin the field of Yoga at Uttarakhand Sanskriti University.On the side, I was also exploring the ancient texts and vedicpractice with scholars at various Ashrams like Kailash Ashram in Rishikesh. While pursuing my postgraduate degree, I was introduced to Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga by SaraswathiJois (daughter of K. PattabhiJois, father of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga). She became my second guru, who taught me Ashtanga vinyasa in Mysore, the place I visit regularly for my practice. My past journey and experience in Yoga motivated me to do PhD in Yoga.

After coming from Bihar school of Yoga, I started teaching drop-in classes in Rishikesh and started sharing my experience to the world. At beginning I was teaching for free and started teaching early in the morning 4:30 AM to local students. I always wanted to create disciplined Yogis who can spread this discipline of Yoga tradition to the World.

While teaching drop-in classes in Rishikesh I met so many practitioners from different parts of the World. Looking at the transformation and positive changes in my students, it motivated me more to continue my practice and teachings. I was invited by numerous yoga schools in Rishikesh to teach Hatha Yoga. During this timeI taught in Yoga Teacher Training, Workshops, Yoga Festivals, Retreats and Health events and seminars in India and abroad. I was invited as guest speaker at Yoga Conference by Yoga Journal in Russia.

During this journey of teachings at different places, I was continuously asked to start my own programs for those who want to deepen their yoga practices. So I decided to create residential yoga school; Yoga Vidya School at Rishikesh in 2016. Yoga Vidya School was created with the aim to spread authentic yoga knowledge through special Yoga Programs, Yoga Teacher Training, Workshops, Retreats and Mind developingpractices. In this yoga school, I am continuously putting efforts to build a team of dedicated yogis who can share the tradition of yoga in its purest form.

During Covid, I decided to help and serve my students and the world through Online offerings and so I created exclusive courses like Breath Detox and Pranic Purification, focused on Pranayama and Breath Work. During this time, I created Youtube; Prashant J Yoga to reach the masses and guide people with right techniques of yoga. The channel is accepted by the audience with so much love and that it has garnered lakhs of followers and practitioners in a very short span of time. This motivated me to offer more educational content to the world and so I have created many short-term and long-term courses related to Pranayama, Ashtanga Yoga Practice, Adjustment & Alignments, Ancient Yogic Texts and Spirituality.