Our story

A yoga school in Whitefield, rooted in an unbroken lineage.

Pratyaksha Yogashala has been teaching on ECC Road since 2018. Our work is to share yoga the way it was given to us — as a practical science for cultivating awareness, clarity, and independence in everyday life.

गुरुर्ब्रह्मा गुरुर्विष्णुः गुरुर्देवो महेश्वरः।
गुरुः साक्षात् परब्रह्म तस्मै श्रीगुरवे नमः॥

The teacher is Brahma, the teacher is Vishnu, the teacher is Maheshwara. The teacher is, in truth, the supreme Brahman itself. To that revered teacher, our salutations.

Our lineage

The tradition we carry.

Our school traces its roots to the lineage of Adi Shankaracharya, whose teachings on the unity of the self have shaped the spiritual landscape of India for over a thousand years. We belong to the Daśanāmi Sannyāsa Sampradāya, transmitted in our time through the Bihar School of Yoga.

  1. 01

    Adi Shankaracharya

    Vedic scholar and teacher whose works present a harmonising reading of the śāstras, with the liberating knowledge of the self at the centre.

  2. 02

    Swami Sivananda

    Developed a system of yoga that integrates the faculties of head, heart and hands, and from whose work the modern transmission of the tradition continues.

  3. 03

    Swami Satyananda

    Founded the Bihar School of Yoga and authored more than eighty books, including the widely used manual Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha.

  4. 04

    Swami Niranjanananda

    Successor of Swami Satyananda. Awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2017 for his contribution to the field of yoga.

Philosophy

Our approach.

Pratyaksha Yogashala was founded by Yashwanth Panyam with the intention to bring the real depth of yoga into people's lives. After rediscovering himself through practice, Yashwanth understood that yoga is not a technique — it is a complete science of living, one that cultivates consciousness, personality, and creativity from the inside out.

Our teaching integrates the traditional wisdom of Adi Shankaracharya, Swami Sivananda, and Swami Satyananda with a grounded understanding of how people actually live and move today. The result is a practice that is both ancient in its roots and immediately relevant in its application.

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

We are an institution looking for people who are like-minded — people we can share this journey with, grow alongside, and build something meaningful with over time. You are not a customer here. You are part of what this place is becoming.

His approach is very holistic — addressing everything from the technical aspects of asana to yoga philosophy, which made the learning deeper. He takes his time to explain the fundamentals, ensuring that we have a strong foundation for the topic at hand. He is there to guide us patiently and yet give us the space for our own experiences.

Sheetal Jayaraj · Workshop participant, 2020

Your guides

Our teachers.

Dedicated practitioners sharing what they have learned from authentic lineage and from their own years of practice.

YP

Yashwanth Panyam

Founder & Director

My journey began as an aerospace engineer — trained to understand structure, precision, and systems. Yet, somewhere along the way, I felt that understanding machines was not enough. I was searching for something deeper, something meaningful that addressed the human system itself.

That search led me to yoga.

What started as curiosity slowly became inquiry. Inquiry became practice. Practice became discipline. Under the guidance of my teacher, Pradeep Sattvamaya — a direct disciple from the Bihar School of Yoga lineage — I began to understand yoga not as exercise, but as a complete science of cultivating consciousness, personality, and creativity.

My work today is rooted in application. I believe yoga should make a person independent — physically stable, mentally clear, emotionally balanced, and capable of self-observation. “Sharing is caring” is not just a phrase for me; it is the foundation of my teaching. The goal is not to create dependence on a teacher, but to develop the ability within each student.

JR

Jalyssa Roycroft

Psychology & Yoga Integration

Educational background in Psychology and Sociology. Passionate about yoga as personal evolution and improving social interactions.

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Natraj Padmanabhan

Adventure & Yoga

Natraj comes from a life of travel and lived experiences. That sense of curiosity gradually turned inward, leading him to explore himself more deeply.

Along the way, he has learned through many paths — and continues to remain a student. Yoga is one of those ongoing journeys. For the past five years, he has been practicing and teaching with us at Pratyaksha Yogashala.

His teaching emerges from experience rather than theory alone, with a growing sensitivity towards body movement, awareness, and individual needs.

PL

Preethi Lokesh

Yoga Teacher & Classical Singer

Preethi Lokesh comes from a background in classical singing and has always explored disciplines that support her artistic journey. Her connection with yoga began when she experienced how naturally it brought balance both within and outside.

She started her practice with Pratyaksha Yogashala and went on to complete her Teacher Training with us in 2023. Following this, she assisted in yoga therapy sessions, where her understanding deepened through practical application. She further refined her skills through our Teacher Development Program, continuing to grow in her role as a teacher.

Today, Preethi is an integral part of our teaching team. She remains a student at heart — learning, observing, and evolving. Her sensitivity as a musician blends seamlessly with her approach to yoga, bringing a sense of calmness and depth into her classes.

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Jyoti Anand

Yoga Teacher & Experiential Learning

Jyothi grew up in a family deeply rooted in Bhakti Yoga, where devotional practices, family satsangs, and spiritual gatherings were a natural part of everyday life. From an early age, she was immersed in an environment where yoga was not just a practice, but a way of living and relating to the world.

This early exposure nurtured a deep curiosity about the seen and the unseen, and the many ways we interact with life. Over time, this curiosity evolved into a more conscious personal practice and a natural inclination toward guiding others.

In 2023, Jyothi completed her formal yoga teacher training, bringing structure and depth to a path she had been connected to since childhood.

Her approach to yoga is rooted in sustainability and care. Jyothi's teaching reflects her personality — present, thoughtful, and open to exploring different ways to support her students. She encourages a practice that is adaptable, supportive, and integrated into daily life, helping students build a meaningful and lasting relationship with yoga.

© 2025 Pratyaksha Yogashala · ECC Road, Whitefield, BengaluruPratyaksha Yoga Private Limited · CIN U85320AP2020PTC115789 · IGST 29AALCP4392A1Z9