Honorary Members
We are honored to welcome our Honorary Members, distinguished individuals who have made remarkable contributions to yoga, wellness, education, and society. Their association with the Surat Yoga Teachers Association adds depth, credibility, and inspiration to our mission of nurturing conscious yoga teachers and preserving the true spirit of yoga.
Abhishek Pokhriyal
Abhishek Pokhriyal ji is a devoted Iyengar Yoga practitioner and an accomplished yoga teacher, widely recognized across digital platforms as @apyogaindia. With over 13 years of dedicated teaching experience, he has been instrumental in sharing the depth, precision, and transformative power of yoga with students from diverse cultural backgrounds. His teaching journey has taken him across **India, China, Thailand, Indonesia, and Mauritius, where he has collectively trained and guided more than 16,000 students worldwide
Yogacharya Dhakaram
Yogacharya Dhakaram is an internationally renowned yoga master and the Founder of YogaPeace Sansthan, based in Jaipur. A visionary teacher and spiritual guide, he has consistently emphasized that yoga is not merely a system of physical exercise, but a **complete science for living a healthy, happy, and peaceful life*. His life’s work is devoted to making the profound wisdom of yoga accessible to people from all walks of life in a simple, practical, and effective manner.
Dr. Omanand Guruji
Dr. Omanand Guruji is a simple, compassionate, and spiritually awakened yogi whose life stands as a beacon of inspiration in the fields of yoga, spirituality, and human upliftment. A born yogi adorned with profound virtues, Guruji has dedicated his entire life to the welfare of humanity, blending deep spiritual realization with practical wisdom. An accomplished author, he has written over 70 books, and as a gifted linguist fluent in six languages, he connects effortlessly with seekers from diverse cultures across the world.
Dr. Nutan Pakhare
Dr. Nutan Pakhare is a distinguished Ayurvedic doctor, yoga scientist, Garbhasanskar educator, author, and international speaker with over 20 years of clinical, academic, and teaching experience. She is the Founder and Director of AYG Academy India, established in 2020 with a vision to revive, systematise, and globalise authentic Indian wellness sciences through education, clinical excellence, and community outreach.
Dr. N. Ganesh Rao
Dr. N. Ganesh Rao is a distinguished yoga scholar, philosopher, author, and educator, and the Founder of ACT YogA. With a rare blend of academic excellence, practical yogic insight, and real-world experience, Dr. Rao stands among the most respected voices in contemporary yoga education. He has been recognized as one of the 100 most inspiring Yoga Teachers in India, reflecting his lifelong commitment to authentic yogic teaching.
Prof. Rekha Diwekar
Prof. Rekha Diwekar is a distinguished academician, wellness educator, and author, known for her unique ability to bridge science, yoga, nutrition, and conscious living. With a strong foundation in science, she holds an M.Sc. in Organic Chemistry and served with dedication as a Lecturer at Sathye College, Vile Parle, for an illustrious 35-year teaching career, retiring in 2010.
Hira Yogi
Hira Yogi, whose full name is Hira Lal Bhardwaj, is a prominent Indian yoga teacher, digital creator, and wellness entrepreneur, widely recognized for making yoga, Ayurveda, and holistic health relevant to the modern generation. With over a decade of experience in yoga, mindfulness, and wellness education, he has emerged as one of India’s most influential voices in the digital wellness space.
Dr. Ashish Shukla
Dr. Ashish Shukla is a medical professional, spiritual educator, and lifelong seeker devoted to understanding the human mind, consciousness, and inner transformation. With a rare synthesis of scientific training and deep spiritual inquiry, he serves as a bridge between modern medical knowledge and timeless wisdom, guiding individuals toward clarity, balance, and conscious living.
Dr. Satya Brat
Dr. Satya Brat is a pioneering sound healing practitioner, spiritual educator, and researcher dedicated to exploring the transformative power of sound, vibration, and consciousness. Known for his grounded yet experiential approach, Dr. Satya Brat works at the intersection of ancient sound traditions and contemporary wellness practices*, helping individuals reconnect with inner balance, emotional harmony, and deep relaxation.
Gurudev Sri Anish
Gurudev Sri Anish is a revered spiritual master, visionary humanitarian, author, and sought-after public speaker whose life exemplifies a rare synthesis of leadership, renunciation, and compassionate service. Once a successful corporate CEO and co-founder of PeopleStrong, his life took a profound turn when an intense wave of vairagya bhav (dispassion) awakened within him. Answering this inner call, he renounced worldly pursuits and retreated to the Himalayas, where he immersed himself in twelve years of intense spiritual sadhana, exploring the deepest questions of Death, Consciousness, God, the Nature of Reality, and humanity’s role in the cosmic play of life.
Ritesh Patel
Ritesh Patel has been teaching yoga for 25 years and is dedicated to creating a safe and secure environment for practice. Above all, he focuses on alignment and sequencing, as well as the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. He began his journey with Kaivalyadham in 2003 and has continued teaching in yoga studios and private sessions across India, including Rishikesh, Dharamsala, Goa, and Pondicherry. To further his studies, Ritesh completed a traditional Thai Yoga Bodywork course in 2005 under the guidance of Prabhat Menon from The Sunshine Network. This Ayurvedic technique combines principles of energy balancing, stretching, acupressure, and yoga exercises to create a powerful massage therapy.
Yoga Guru Dheeraj
Yoga Guru Dheeraj is a devoted seeker and contemporary teacher of Sanātan Yoga, and the founder of the Vashistha Yoga Foundation (Vashistha Yoga Ashram) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. His work is a humble offering toward the revival of ancient yogic wisdom as revealed by the sages, adapted for the rhythm of modern life. Rooted in the sacred traditions of alignment-based Hatha Yoga and Ashtanga Vinyasa, his teachings unite body, breath, and awareness. He is especially known for the propagation of “Vashistha Pranayama,” a subtle science of prāṇa for inner balance and self-realization. Through the Yogabali Campaign, he carries yoga beyond institutions, bringing it to homes, streets, and hearts through free camps and teacher trainings. His digital satsangs on the YouTube channel “Yoga Guru Dheeraj” have touched over 12 lakh seekers worldwide.
Dr. Ritesh Patel
Dr. Ritesh Patel is a senior yoga educator, yoga therapist, and corporate wellness strategist with over 15 years of experience in teaching, training, and program design. He holds a Master’s degree in Yoga and has strong grounding in Ayurveda and Wellness Management. Widely respected for integrating classical yogic wisdom with modern anatomy, neuroscience, and lifestyle science, his work focuses on developing competent teachers, sustainable wellness systems, and performance-oriented yoga programs. He regularly conducts advanced workshops for yoga teachers and designs yoga-based practice modules that support holistic human growth. He firmly believes that yogic philosophy holds the potential to address contemporary global challenges and contribute to the creation of a more conscious and harmonious human society.