What is RIMYI?

RIMYI is the heart and soul of Iyengar Yoga. To visit the Institute is to experience firsthand the legacy of BKS Iyengar’s life and teachings.

Classes in asana and pranayama, as well as workshops, are taught by members of the Iyengar family and senior teachers who studied directly under BKS Iyengar. Special classes for women, children, sportspeople and those with medical conditions are also offered at the Institute.

Established on 19 January 1975, the Institute is dedicated to Smt. Ramamani Iyengar, the beloved wife of Yogacharya BKS Iyengar. Smt Ramamani supported, encouraged and inspired Iyengar to teach yoga throughout the world.

Going to RIMYI

Travelling to Pune is an exciting and immersive experience, and the Institute is an ideal place in which to deepen your practice under the guidance of the Iyengar family. Most practitioners stay in Pune for a month and practice between three and five hours of yoga daily. While it’s not possible to stay at the Institute, there is plenty of affordable accommodation within walking distance.

About Pune

Pune is a large city about 300 kms south east of Mumbai on the high Deccan Plateau. It is a great place to explore, with a rich local scene. Pune is a major centre for the telecommunications industry, with a respected university, many colleges and a variety of industries.

Attending classes at RIMYI

Attending classes at RIMYI gives you a deep sense of the humility, strength and heart of the Iyengar teaching method. Visitors attend one class a day as well as a personal practice in a group setting. When you visit the Institute, you will also have the opportunity to observe some classes.

How to apply to go to RIMYI?

Applications to RIMYI are made directly to the Secretary of the Institute. The pre-requisites set by the Institute are as follows:

• You should have been practicing Iyengar Yoga for at least 8 years and should include a regular practice of inverted postures such as Sirsasana, Sarvangasana for 8-10 minutes.
• Before attending classes you should have read, at the minimum, the introductory chapter to Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar and be familiar with the terms and principles covered in that chapter.
• Women should know what is to be practised during menstruation.

Please note that classes are generally booked one to two years in advance.

Keen to visit Pune? These are the steps you’ll need to take:

An application form can be downloaded from the BKS Iyengar web site. It must be endorsed by a certified teacher and emailed to the Secretary at info@rimyi.org.

Please note the right to admission is reserved by RIMYI. On receipt of the application an acceptance will be emailed to those who are granted permission to attend the classes. Admissions do not have to be reconfirmed before attending and students will be notified if there are any changes.

The cost of tuition is currently $590US per month and is subject to change. The amount can only be paid at the Institute on arrival in INR currency or by credit card.

Students will not be permitted to the classes if they do not present the acceptance confirmation when they arrive at RIMYI. The schedule for classes will be given to the student on arrival and will be for a maximum of 6 classes per week for 1 month.

What’s it like to visit RIMYI?

Thinking of visiting the Institute? Here is a detailed Guide written by Bobby Clennell.

Accommodation in Pune

There is no accommodation available at the Institute and students have to make their own arrangements for lodging. Accomodation options are provided in the above guide. In addition, Lynn Holt is an Australian Iyengar Yoga teacher currently living in Pune and studying at RIMYI, she can be contacted for accommodation options in Pune lhsunshinerising@gmail.com or Skype/ mobile number is +91 7620766394.

Pune Contact

Mr. Pandurang Rao
Secretary RIMYI
1107/B1 Hare Krishna Mandir Road
Shivaji Nagar Pune 411 016 India
T: +91 20 2565 6134
E: info@rimyi.org