About Us

Welcome to Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram, Tapovan, Rishikesh

This ashram was founded by Yogi Vishvketu jiand Chetana Panwar, and had its opening ceremonies on Deepavali, Nov. 9, 2007.  The vision for the ashram is to create a comfortable, nurturing sanctuary for spiritual seekers from around the world where they will have safe, clean food and water, and guidance for their yogic journey.  The ashram also promotes Akhanda Yoga, the holistic, non-sectarian yoga teachings of its founders, in which students are encouraged to practice all aspects of the diverse tradition of yoga: satkarma, asana, pranayama, Vedic mantra, kiirtan, and meditation, as well as to contemplate various traditions in yoga philosophy: Vedanta, Tantra, Samkhya and Classical Yoga.

The ashram is located in the dynamic international village of spiritual seekers in an area of Rishikesh called Tapovan, about 250 kms. north or Delhi.  The Ganges river valley here is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and it is considered the gateway to the Himalayas.  Tapovan is an ideal location for yoga sadhana; it is named for its heritage as a site for spiritual disciplines.  Tap, represents tapas, the practice of spiritual disciplines.  Van means forest.  So, Tapovan is the forest of the yogis.  Anand Prakash is on a headland above the banks of the Ganges, one of the first open spaces down river from the source of the Ganges.  The wind and all the prana carried from the Himalayas whistle down the river valley and blow out over this headland invigorating the ashram area.

We welcome you for an inspiring stay in this spiritual community.

About Yogi Vishvketu ji (Vishva ji or Yogi ji)

Yogi Vishvketu (Vishva-ji) has studied and practiced Hatha and Raja yoga and the Vedic healing arts in northern India since childhood.  From the age of 8, he studied Vedic wisdom at Kanvashram in the foothills of the Himalayas.  With its historic temple and Ayurvedic clinic, Kanvashram attracts many yogic saints and Ayurvedic masters, and was an ideal place to absorb these ancient healing and consciousness-raising traditions.  Vishva-ji went on to attain a Bachelor’s degree from a renowned Sports College with a specialization in yoga and its use in optimizing athletic performance, followed an M.A. and Ph.D. in Yoga Philosophy at Gurukul Kangri, the Sanskrit university of Haridwar.  He then moved to Yoga Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, seeking advanced teachings in Pranic purification from Yogi Nath, while teaching and inspiring students from around the world to live the yogic life with joy and dedication. 

He moved to Canada in 2001, and began to teach internationally, bringing a passion for yoga and his fun-loving nature to the classes. In October 2003 he released an instructional DVD entitled Moving into Bliss with Yoga, presenting a balanced sequence of asana and pranayama techniques in a harmonious and meditative flow set to classical Indian music.  Vishva-ji has been a much-loved teacher and demonstrator at the Yoga Show and Conference in Toronto for the past five years, since its inception

Vishva-ji is committed to offering holistic yoga workshops internationally, incorporating diverse aspects of the practice: asana, pranayama, cleansing kriyas, Ayurveda and Vedic chanting, as well as to offering Yoga Alliance registered 200- and 500-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) programs in Canada and in Rishikesh (India).  He calls this holistic style of teaching Akhanda Yoga, meaning whole and indivisible.  It is in this spirit that in January 2007, he and his wife, Chetana Panwar, founded Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram in Rishikesh (India) where they live and teach six months of the year (Oct. – April).

Vishva-ji esteems for their teachings in traditional Hatha yoga, the great saints Baba Prem Nath and Guru Yogi Nath of the ancient lineage of Nath; and for teachings in naturopathy and Ayurveda, the master Baba Hari Nam and Swami Yogananda.

About Chetana Panwar

Chétana was introduced to meditation and yoga in 1993.  Upon returning from a two-year stay in Asia, she adopted yoga as an all-encompassing lifestyle, faith and culture: the path of self-realization and service to humanity.  Born a mystic to an agnostic intellectual family, she has found that her true nature blossoms through integrating Jnana and Bhakti yoga: philosophical contemplation, and devotional practices.  “Yoga is unity in diversity, and allows us to recognize that the apparent duality between mind and heart is illusory”.  This merging of mind and heart is apparent in her writing, which often explores themes of mysticism and spiritual culture.  Her article The Path of the Yogini was published in New Renaissance magazine; she has also written for Yoga Magazine (UK Edition).

Chétana enjoys leading kiirtan at satsang gatherings, and brings chanting and inspirational messages to her classes.  Blending insights from her Master’s degree in adult education, and her training in yoga, philosophy and meditation, she developed the curriculum and manual for World Conscious Yoga Family’s Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) courses.  Chétana teaches Philosophy-lifestyle-ethics, Methodology, Prenatal Yoga and Transformational Experiences for the 200- and 500-hour YTT programs.  Along with her husband, Yogi Vishvketu, she co-founded Anand Prakash Yoga Ashram in Rishikesh (India) where they live six months of the year with their daughter Uma.

Karma Yogis

Surendra Dutt is the Manager of the ashram.  His open, friendly presence help to create the warm residential feeling of the ashram.  His organization and attention to detail also keep the ashram running smoothly.

Parmod Kumar, Vishva ji's brother, is an ashram trustee and Purchaser.  His general caretaking of the ashram is invaluable!

Raj Yogini is our yoga teacher during the season when Vishva ji is not teaching classes.  She is a naturopath and certified yoga teacher having experience in private classes and groups.  He joyful nature and beautiful mantra chanting create an uplifting yoga experience.

Sanjay Kumar is a resident and Karma Yogi at the ashram who conducts the morning Fire Puja.  He has an MA in Yoga from Gurukul Kangri University, certificate from Bihar School of Yoga, and completed the World Conscious Yoga Family Yoga Teacher Training course in March 2008.  Sanjay offers retreats at the ashram and internationally.

Suresh ji and Ratori ji are our esteemed cooks whose smiling faces you will see around the kitchen and dining hall.  They consistently cook tasty sattvic vegetarian foods, and often surprise us with special corriander/mint chutney or mustard/sesame sauce!