Namo Narayana.  Welcome HOME.

​Ishtadev Niwas is an Ashram run by the Living Yoga Society; a non-profit society guided by an experienced, dedicated Board of Directors with Spiritual Direction by Sannyasi Shivani Howe. Founded and created in 2010, the Ashram is dedicated to, and inspired by the Spiritual Masters of the Saraswati Lineage and the ancient teachings of Yoga.  We aspire to live and share the teachings of these spiritual visionaries.
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Within the teachings delivered through Ishtadev Niwas Ashram, students will be fully immersed in Yoga as a lifestyle and spiritual path, guided by teachers who hold an integral Guru-Disciple relationship and who practice and recognize Yoga teachings at some of the highest levels of understanding and dedication.  Direct students of the Ashram are those who are sincere seekers on the path of Yoga, have been studying, practicing and/or teaching Yoga for at least 5 years, and are those that want to humbly learn integrity, right communication and expand into the flow of awareness around oneself.

At the same time, the Ashram is a community of dedicated Yogis and, as such, offer intentional opportunities for new or unpracticed students to explore and be provided initial guidance on how to start on a sincere and dedicated path of Yoga.  We also practice the critical Yogic instructions of “Serve. Love. Give.” from our Gurus and consistently identify areas within Community wherein service can be practiced and offered. The Living Yoga Society is dedicated to being an integral contributor to the vitality of ancient Yogic teachings, elevating the quality of teaching delivery within the “West,” and enabling authentic opportunities for experiencing the immersive benefits of Yoga in daily life. 
The Living Yoga Society’s members include not only students of Ishtadev Niwas Ashram, but also any Yoga teachers, likeminded organizations, Community members, citizens and/or institutions that believe in our Vision and Mission. We serve these members’ belief in the value of the teachings in which we hold with passion and dedication, and with the goal of creating a culture that recognizes Yoga as an essential part of society and a valuable means for engagement and human potential.
​In the Ashram there are two kinds of labour always going on. Firstly, the spiritual effort made for one's evolution is hard work. Secondly, the physical work each sannyasin contributes in Ashram life is hard work. Ashram comes from the Sanskrit 'shram', meaning 'effort'. The Ashram is a place, separate from society, where one makes this double effort." 

​-Swami Satyananda Saraswati

What guides us

Vision

Ishtadev Niwas teaches and inspires individuals through Yogic lifestyle to awaken their gifts and abilities and empower them to manifest their highest vision for themselves, their community and the planet.

Mission

To create and hold sacred space to experience living Yoga for personal transformation and healing. Facilitate working in partnership with nature as conscious co-creators.

Values

LIVE: In conscious relationship with all living beings.
EMBODY: Higher states of consciousness.
HONOUR: The wisdom of our teachers of the Saraswati Lineage, the beings of light who guide us on this path.

Our Philisophy - Yoga Ecology

At Ishtadev Niwas, we believe that the entire Universe is interconnected. As individuals living in a complicated world, each of our actions has an effect on everything around us. The choices we make, our actions, our thoughts, all emit energy that leads us toward peace, or toward chaos.

Ishtadev Niwas Ashram  designed to guide people of all ages toward a better understanding of their inner dynamic. Our courses and classes teach people how to apply the principles of Vedic and Tantric philosophies to the modern Western lifestyle, rooted in the traditional 5 paths of Yoga and centering around Yoga Ecology, Ashram Life, and the science of Karma Yoga.  We support people with tools to assist their exploration of their inner Self, the Universe as a whole, and techniques for living in harmony with all the day-to-day challenges that everyone must face. 

We believe that Yoga is not something you practice, it is something you Live.

An individual’s journey through the Universe is greatly aided by a deep understanding of their own role, and the steady balance of their emotional, financial, intellectual and spiritual lives. From the health of the body to the health of the planet, the health of the mind to the healing of the soul, ‘Niwas guides people on the path toward improving themselves, and thereby improving the world around them.  This is what Yoga Ecology is all about.