ABOUT US

We are a group of volunteers inspired by Hathayogi Nikam Guruji, who dedicated his life to selflessly propagating Yoga. Since the 1960s, his initiative of teaching Hatha Yoga free of charge through volunteer instructors has been highly successful in Mumbai. This movement was introduced to Singapore by one of his disciples, Atul R Deshpande, with the first free Yoga course conducted in November 1997 at Bartley Road under the auspices of the Ramakrishna Mission, Singapore.

The overwhelming response to that first 12-week course naturally led to more such programs. Eventually, a group of talented participants was selected and trained to become yoga instructors who can ensure high-quality instruction with personal attention to students. Driven by selflessness, they voluntarily dedicated their time and efforts to teaching yoga. This cycle—conducting free courses, training volunteers, and spreading yoga through service—forms the bedrock of our organization's growth.

As demand grew, we recognized the need for more centers across Singapore. To fulfill this, Nikam Guruji Yoga Kutir collaborated with various like-minded organizations willing to support the cause of promoting health and happiness through Hathayoga. They provided the infrastructure while we contributed the expertise. This successful partnership model has allowed us to successfully bring Hatha Yoga to the masses.

Over the years, we have structured our courses into Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced/Instructor levels. We provide specialized training for our volunteer instructors, equipping them with skills to address ailments, perform demonstrations, and lead mass practices. To further enhance our certified instructors’ expertise, we conduct regular programs such as Sunday morning practice sessions, quarterly outdoor yoga, retreats, and workshops.

In 2008, our group was formally registered as a society in Singapore. Since then, we have conducted free Hatha Yoga courses at 18 centers in collaboration with schools, temples, monasteries, and clubs. With the generous support of these host organizations, our volunteers have shared the benefits of yoga with over 66,000 participants as of 2024 — completely free of charge.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our host organizations, volunteers, and participants for their unwavering support in making this journey a success.