Sivananda yoga

Sivananda is one of the largest schools of Yoga in the world, principally due to its accessibly to beginners. It is taught in many different places around the world through its network of Sivananda-affiliated ashrams, centres and teachers (the organisation claims to have trained more than 10,000 teachers).

Sivananda was developed by Swami Vishnu-Devananda specifically for a western audience. He first brought it to the US in 1957, establishing the and first Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center in Montreal, Canada, in 1959. Named after his teacher, Swami Devenanda was a powerful force behind his new organisation: there are now close to 80 Sivananda locations (ashrams, yoga centers, and affiliated centers) around the world.

It follows a set structure incuding breathing, classic asanas, relaxation, as well as principles of diet and positive thinking. The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga, written by Swami Vishnu-Devananda and first published in 1960, was – and remains - one of the first and mostly widely influential yoga books available.