18 to 26 February intensive course 2026
yoga philosophy by Siddhartha Krishna
Reflections on a Journey of Discovery: The Bali Yoga Retreat with Ushaji
31 january to 8 February
By Marisa
My recent experience at Ushaji’s yoga retreat in Bali was nothing short of transformative. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the island—through both the radiant sunny days and the calming tropical rain—I found a sense of peace and purpose that stayed with me long after the retreat ended.
A Teacher of Wisdom and Presence
Ushaji is an exceptionally intelligent and knowledgeable teacher, blending skill with a deep passion for her students’ well-being. Even before our formal sessions began, I would often see her practicing in the quiet of the early morning. She always greeted me with a warm, genuine smile that set a positive tone for the day.
While she is incredibly caring, Ushaji is also a strict and precise instructor. Despite the large size of our classes, her "eagle eyes" never missed a detail. I vividly remember the first day during Utthita Trikonasana. She paused the class to correct my form, noting that my right shin was dropping and my big toe wasn't grounded. She explained with great clarity how these subtle misalignments could eventually impact my knees—a level of insight that truly impressed me.
Rediscovering the Basics
The depth of Ushaji's instruction made me realize how much I had yet to learn. In Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog), she taught us the subtle mechanics of the body: the extension of the fingers and palms, the engagement of the limbs, and the lengthening of the lumbar area.
I realized that, previously, I had only been practicing on the surface. Her teachings opened my mind to the true meaning of alignment.
Inclusivity: When students felt overwhelmed or ready to give up, Ushaji refused to let them quit. She always found a creative way to adapt the pose so they could succeed.
Care: She provided thoughtful, specific guidance for students who were menstruating, ensuring everyone’s practice was safe and restorative.
Variety: From standing poses and inversions to deep backbends and twists, the curriculum was comprehensive and inspiring.
More Than Just Physical Posture
Ushaji shared profound wisdom from Guruji, reminding us that a yoga teacher should always give more than they receive and, above all, strive to be a good human being. She encouraged us to leave our "body issues" at the door and approach the mat with a focused mind.
This retreat sparked a new curiosity in me. I’ve learned that yoga is a journey of endless learning and practice—one that continues until the very end of our days.
Acknowledgments
My deepest gratitude goes to Ushaji for sharing her invaluable techniques and inspiring me to maintain a positive, "can-do" attitude toward my practice. I also want to extend a special thank you to Ming for the hard work in translation and to Amy for her support.
I am already looking forward to reuniting with my teacher and classmates. Wishing everyone a wonderful and prosperous Lunar New Year! 🧧
From Fear to Foundation: My Journey with Ushaji
By Yiyang Li
I have been practicing Iyengar Yoga for about a year. Since the very beginning of my journey, I have heard fellow students speak of Ushaji with profound respect. Even as a beginner, I felt a strong aspiration to study with her one day, though I admit I was intimidated by stories of her strict discipline and the intensity of her classes.
Over the past year, something within me shifted. As my body grew stronger and more connected, my courage grew along with it. When the announcement for her course finally appeared, I didn't hesitate; I knew I was ready.
The Power of Trust
The classes were exactly as I expected: physically demanding and mentally rigorous. The asanas required absolute precision, endurance, and unwavering attention. However, what touched me most was discovering the immense integrity and care that lie beneath Ushaji’s strictness.
Her teaching comes from a place of deep commitment and a genuine love for the practice. This realization built a tremendous sense of trust within me. Because of that trust, I felt empowered to push past my perceived limits and truly explore what I was capable of.
A New Internal Geography
Through Ushaji’s guidance, I discovered a completely new perspective on my own body. For the last year, I had focused primarily on my stiffness, believing my limitations were purely a lack of flexibility. Under her watchful eye, I began to realize that my joints are actually quite mobile—the real challenge was a lack of integrated strength.
This isn't the kind of strength one builds in a gym. It is a deeper, quieter strength that arises from the core and radiates outward through the limbs—a strength that supports extension rather than fighting against it. I began to understand the vital importance of:
Structural Integration: Properly seating the femur head into the hip socket.
Stability: Drawing the arm bones deeply into the shoulder joints.
Centering: Moving from a stable, intelligent center.
When the bones are correctly positioned, the pose feels grounded and expansive at the same time.
A Shift in Understanding
This experience has fundamentally shifted my understanding of yoga. It is not about forcing the body into flexibility; it is about creating stability, intelligence, and inner support so that true extension can happen safely and fully.
Studying with Ushaji has given me more than just physical awareness—it has given me a newfound confidence in myself. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have learned from such a master.
14 January intensive course 2026
Under the Guidance of Siddartha Krishna ji the wiscom of the five koshas
December Intensive Course 2025
Siddhartha krishna ji
explains that in the Yoga Sūtras, the kleśas do not always appear in an active form; they often remain in a potential or seed state within us. Ignorance is the root of all kleśas, and from it ego, attachment, aversion, and fear arise when conditions support them. Sometimes these tendencies are hidden, sometimes weak, and sometimes fully active, but even when they are not visible, they still exist as potential impressions. Through yoga practice, these potentials gradually become weaker and lose their power.
November intensive 2025
Be with what you are doing: reflections from the November 2025 intensive course with Usha Devi ji
The lecture of
Dr. Namrata Sharma
As we transitioned from one pose to the other, so from the asana class we transitioned to the study room to learn more about nature & life.
Dr.Namrata Sharma is no stranger to Patanjala Yoga Kendra. She is a long-time student of Usha ji and a plant biologist from the University of Jammu (J&K, India). She gave a fascinating lecture on plants, their evolution and adaptation to the changing climate.
Dr. Namrata shared profound wisdom concerning the inherent knowledge within every plant, underscoring the critical truth: "As an evolved race, how we interact with plants could actually be the very thing that leads to our downfall."
Plants are more than simple greenery; they carry significant cultural and spiritual weight in various societies. Consider oxygen production: most plants absorb CO2 during the day. However, a select few release oxygen after sundown. The Ficus religiosa, known as the Peepal tree or the sacred Bodhi tree, exemplifies this nocturnal oxygen release.
Furthermore, Bhojpatra, or birch, possesses a rich history, with its bark having been utilized for ancient inscriptions.
Finally, the Brahmakamal (Saussurea obvallata), a flower endemic to India, is highly valued for its medicinal properties and was historically offered in temples. Regrettably, it is now facing the imminent threat of complete extinction.
Plants are silent messengers of what’s happening to the climate. We should be more generous with them, alert to the signs they give us and treat them as friends. Even just by cutting a single plant we are cutting an entire.
The greatest gift
The morning of the last day of the course was full of vigorous practice as we progressed to backbends. We raised, we fell, we clapped with the thighs in Urdhva Dhanurasana, we lifted the dorsal spine higher and higher, became taller and taller, and held the posture for longer and longer. Afterward, there was quietness, peace and no energy or need for conversation.
The course concluded with a pranayama class. Quiet and alert we were able to penetrate deeper and observe the breath objectively, without forcing anything.
“Pranayama teaches humility and frees us from greed or hankering after the fruits of our actions. Nothing can be forced; receptivity is everything,” as B.K.S. Iyengar said.
As we were finishing with Savasana, we heard a gentle bansuri sound. It was as if the heart itself became an instrument, resonating in the same key as the bansuri. The melody was played by one of the students in the course, Virgil Lazar.
In that moment, suspended between the echo of the flute and the silent rhythm of our own breath, we understood that the truest gift of our practice was not the depth of a pose. But the open heart that was now shining with peaceful joy and love, a melody we would carry long after we left the yoga school.
On November 13 Patanjala Yoga Kendra opened its doors to the yoga students, those hungry for deep experiential learnings and ready for intense work, as another yoga intensive course with Usha Devi ji began.
The next 8 days were full of demanding practice, learnings and unlearnings, profound insights and immense joy.
As we stood on our mats the self-study, svadhyaya, began, and it began with the feet. We spend so much time on our feet, yet most of the time we're not even aware of them. Our feet are the foundation of the body, just like the roots of a tree. Usha ji had us focus on our feet by practicing different variations of Virasana and Sankatasana (Sanskrit: "being in a difficult situation"). Guruji's words really came to life: "Practice isn't just about feeling good. It's about awareness, and awareness is what allows us to notice and understand both the pleasure and the pain."
In the first few days, we also worked on establishing a strong foundation in the legs by practicing standing asanas. It was an eye-opening experience to see how the different parts of the legs often function in a disjointed way - the shins are aggressive, the quadriceps are passive. We were learning the proper way to engage these areas and bring life to the legs.
"Be with what you are doing" - Usha ji has been constantly reminding us about. This gentle refrain is deceptively simple. It demands considerable intentional effort to anchor the restless mind entirely to a single action, a singular point of focus.
As we progressed through the course, body awareness increased, the legs and arms grew stronger, the trunk lengthened, the pelvic area opened up, the abdomen softened, the body became lighter, and the breath steadied and softened. The brain became more receptive, and concentration came naturally.
Yoga Contribution Recognition
9 November Power Grid honours Usha Devi for her dedicated and impactful work in Yoga. Mr . Y.P.S Kanwal ji VP, Dean, executive education JIMS,ROHINI ,DELHI and Dr. Pooja Jain Director,JIMS, appreciating her sincere efforts in promoting physical fitness, mental well-being, and a culture of holistic health among employees.
Management Department Program
Lifestyle Re-engineering
30 October - 1 November 2025
27 - 28 November 2025
Intensive Course November 2022
After remaining closed for over two years due to the Covid pandemic, the Center finally opened on Diwali, 24 October 2022. After opening the Center, the first Intensive Course took place from 9 to 17 Nov. The Course consisted of 12 Asana classes and 1 Pranayama class taught by Usha Devi and 2 talks on the Yoga Sutra 2.46 by Siddhartha Krishna. Daily beginners’ classes and Sunday children’s classes were taught by Ekta Ghale.
Europe Tour of Usha Devi, 08 – 31 July 2022.
In the summer of 2022, Usha Devi conducted various workshops in Europe.
1. Porto, Portugal. 08 – 10 July 2022.
2. Paris, France. 14 – 17 July 2022.
3. Amberg, Germany. 22 – 24 July 2022.
A REPORT ON USHA MATAJI'S RECENT VISIT TO CHINA
原创： Jade Qin 玉琼 FREESOULYOGA归然瑜珈 6天前
I just finished 10-days intensive iyengar yoga training with Usha Devi, a survivor of 2 accidents and 23 surgeries. The training was absolutely soul awakening, being intense on a physical and especially a mental level. It’s exactly like what Usha said after her accidents, it takes mental strength to pursue physical endurance through yoga.
PATANJALA YOGA KENDRA HOSTS CHINESE STUDENTS
Senior Iyengar Instructor Zubin, who teaches in Mumbai taught a nine day intensive course to 52 students, including 35 students from China. This was Zubin's third year to teach a course in Rishikesh to a Chinese group mixed with students from Yoga Kendra.
YOGI SHIROMANI AWARD 2012
On 11th March 2012, Siddhartha Krishna received the Yogi Shiromani Award (2012) granted by Prakash Deep Institute of Ayurvedic Sciences (India, UK and the Netherlands). This came as recognition of Siddhartha’s work in spreading the traditional teachings of Yoga and Vedanta in India and abroad.
YOGA FOR SCHOOL KIDS
A Yoga Camp was organized on the 18th and 19th April 2011, at St. Fidelis Sr. Sec. School, Aligarh, UP. Around 500 children from class 10-12 participated in the event which introduced them to the benefits of yoga. With a strength of more than 3000 children, St. Fidelis ranks among the best schools of the city.
MR IYENGAR RETURNS TO PATANJALA YOGA KENDRA
The police are controlling the traffic between Sivananda Arch and the entrance to Patanjala Yoga Kendra in readiness for Guruji’s arrival in a few minutes. It is now the turn of the Iyengar Yoga Centre at Omkarananda Ganga Sadan to host B.K.S. Iyengar, a legendary figure in the world of yoga and named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2004 for his contribution to yoga.
VISIT BY YOGACHARYA SHRI B.K.S. IYENGAR TO PATANJALA YOGA KENDRA ON 3RD JANUARY 2011
It is the end of December 2010 in Rishikesh, the streets and businesses are quiet, tourism is down... yet the Iyengar Yoga Centre at Omkarananda Ganga Sadan is full to capacity as usual. “Listen everyone,” Usha is smiling and can hardly conceal her happiness. “Guruji is coming to Haridwar on the 2nd of January. He has been invited to attend an International Conference on Yoga for Health and Social Transformation. It is to be hosted by Yogrishi Swami Ramdev Maharaj at the University of Patanjali. Mr Iyengar will be the honoured guest.”
GURUJI AND THE DALAI LAMA IN CONVERSATION ON MIND-TRAINING AND HAPPINESS
New Delhi, India Habitat Centre. Guruji, deciphering the Yoga Sutras of Sage Patanjali in a scientific way, explained the seven stages of achieving happiness through Yoga. He explained that when the intellect of the heart and the mind meets, the ego or the "I" is nullified.