Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI)

RIMYI in Pune is the institute B.K.S. Iyengar founded in 1975 and the mother institute of Iyengar Yoga worldwide. It isn't a resort: it's a working yoga school for committed Iyengar students, who apply a year or two ahead and arrange their own lodging in the city.

What it's like

The Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, usually called RIMYI, is where Iyengar Yoga comes from. B.K.S. Iyengar, the teacher who gave the method its name, opened it in Pune in 1975 and named it after his late wife, Ramamani. Iyengar national associations around the world still describe it as the mother institute of the method.

It's important to know what you're signing up for. RIMYI isn't a retreat resort with rooms, meals and a pool. It's a busy teaching institute in Shivaji Nagar, a central part of Pune, where students come for structured classes in the precise, alignment-focused style the Iyengar family developed. You'll practice in a hall full of dedicated students and then head back to your own lodging in the city.

Classes are taught by members of the Iyengar family and senior teachers who trained directly with B.K.S. Iyengar. The US association names Prashant Iyengar, Abhijata Iyengar and Sunita Iyengar among the current teachers.

The programs

Overseas visitors usually come for a month of general classes, and women can also attend the ladies' classes. The institute publishes a class timetable on its website, and the current one covers June 2026 to April 2027, along with student guidelines, workshop listings and a holiday list. Local classes and admissions for Pune residents run separately.

To be considered as a foreign student, you'll need:

• At least eight years of regular Iyengar Yoga practice
• A steady inversion practice, including headstand and shoulderstand held for 8 to 10 minutes
• Familiarity with the introductory chapter of Light on Yoga
• For women, knowledge of what to practice during menstruation

Applications go to the institute by email and are handled first come, first served. Places are limited and are usually booked one to two years ahead. If you're accepted, you'll receive a confirmation and schedule, and you must reconfirm at least two months before you arrive. Fees are paid in person in Pune.

Who it suits (and who it doesn't)

RIMYI suits serious Iyengar students who want to study at the source, often as a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage. Teachers who are certified in the method, or working toward it, get a lot from a month here.

It doesn't suit beginners, people looking for a relaxing holiday, or anyone who wants an all-inclusive package. There's no accommodation, no meal plan and no spa, and you'll need to plan a long way ahead.

Getting there

The institute is at 1107 B/1 Hare Krishna Mandir Road, Shivaji Nagar, Pune. Students sort out their own rooms and meals, and visitors often find places to stay within walking distance of the institute. The office keeps morning and late-afternoon hours, Monday to Saturday, India time.