President (1929 - 2018) Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra
Dr. Jayadeva Yogendra, fondly known as Dr. Sahab, was a true yogi who showed the world how to live a balanced and perfect yogic life. He served as the President of The Yoga Institute and continued his father’s legacy with aplomb until he took samadhi in 2018. Dr. Jayadeva’s teachings, filled with deep wisdom, holds answers to life’s various problems problems even today.
Dr. Jayadeva completed his Masters in Samkhya and Yoga in 1952 from Mumbai University. He was awarded the Hargobindas Scholarship for a Ph.D. (Dr. of Philosophy), in 1955, for his thesis on ‘Moksha Parvan’. He was a guru, a guide, and an ideal to millions who came to him. His uniqueness lay in his simplicity and ability to provide simple solutions to complex problems. Dr. Jayadeva was a true yogi in the middle of a bustling world; never desiring publicity or self-renown for himself. Yet experts from a wide array of fields thronged to him for guidance and mentorship.
Dr. Sahab is the architect of the Institute’s signature courses and curriculum – The Teacher Training Courses, Camps, And Other Wellness Programs. He specially designed these for the common man and his common problems. He integrated attitude-based concepts into yoga training and life activities which was the greatest contribution to the school of yoga. He also served as the Editor of the Institute’s monthly Journal, “Yoga & Total Health.”
Dr. Jayadeva founded the International Board of Yoga in 1975 to counter misinformation that was being propagated in the name of Yoga. He decoded the classical systems of yoga to present them in a way which would make them easily acceptable and adoptable. He made yoga easy to follow for the 21st century man. He carried forward the main principle of the Institute – application of knowledge. Dr. Sahab was a man of simple words and a perfect example of how to lead a life in modern times. It cannot be said of many that they practice what they preach but Dr. Jayadeva was the true embodiment of this saying. He never taught anything that he did not practice himself. Students at the Institute continue to draw inspiration from his wisdom, compassion, wit, and unflinching commitment to truth.
