Guruji Dr. Asana Andiappan

7 - Dec - 1930 to 03 - May - 2021

Dr. Asana Andiappan is a highly accomplished yogi of international repute. He first trained in Yoga with Yogacharya S.Sundaram of Bangalore as a child, and later developed his own sequence of curative asanas based on the teachings of Sage Thirumoolar. He was endowed with the title of Asana by Swami Sri Sankaracharya for his unrelenting pursuit of yogic therapy for common ailments. This privileged title is passed down the generations.

Dr. Asana Andiappan established the Sundara Yoga and Natural Living Trust. This is a popular and immaclately run yogic healing centre in South India that administers disease-specific therapy through a yogic discipline endorsed by leading medical practitioners. Dr. Asana Andiappan was awarded the Yogarathna (Jewel of Yoga) for his distinguished yogic achievements, and has been especially commended for his approach to yoga in curing senility and dementia, and quite recently for his immaculate research on yoga for a healthy heart.

He obtained his Ph.D. in Yoga from the Medicinal Alternative Institute in Sri Lanka, and is currently Honorary Professor of Yoga at various colleges in TamilNadu, including Siddha Medical Colleges in Chennai and Palayamkkottai.

Dr. Asana Andiappan also charis Adhoc Yoga Committees at well-established Universities. Among other things, Dr. Asana Andiappan is a long standing President of the Tamil Nadu State Yogasana Association. As Vice President of the Indian Yoga Federation, he has organized over 3000 yoga programs in India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Sri Lanka. He has also Participated in several yoga programs for the world media, and successfully co-ordinated innumerable district, state, and national level yoga competitions in India. As a successful yogic practitioner for over 60 years,

Dr. Asana Andiappan firm spiritual foundation is a beacon of light to those in search of peace and good health. A recognized coporate trainer, he has customized yoga practice modules for several high-powered government officials, senior executives, movie stars, and law enforcement personnel. Today, Dr. Andiappan is the Founder and President of Asana Andiappan College of Yoga, with thirteen centres in South India that cater to clients, students, and teacher trainees from all from all over the world.

Dr. Asana Andiappan has trained and motivated hundreds of yoga teachers around the world in the powerful and therapeutic techniques of Sage Thirumoolar. Besides editing two monthly journals, Yoga Kalai and Asana with a combined circulation of over 40,000 copies, Dr. Asana Andiappan has published 25 books on copies Dr. Andiappan has published 25 books on Yoga, until now in Tamil, the pre-dominant language in South India.

Dr. Asana Andiappan was recently recognized for his tremendous contribution to Yoga with the 2003 Gandhi Award. A prestigious award in India, this the first time someone has been acknowledged in the field of Yoga. Such recognition, along with the medical validation of his research, the popularity of his televised yoga series around the world, and the many success stories among the patrons at his various Yoga Therapy Centers, have all given rise to a new need - the need to be heard by the English - speaking majority around the world. The result is this book - an elegant adaptation in English that is simple enough for a begineer, yet exhaustive enough for a beginner, yet exhaustive enough for the more experienced practitioner. A family of dedicated yoga practitioners,

In recognition of his contributions to yoga therapy and research 7th December is celebrated as World Yoga Research Day


Amongst many achievements of Guruji Andiappan in the development of yoga within India, he has also introduced the benefits of yoga globally to many from all walks of life.


His many achievements include:-


  • He formed the State Yoga Association to bring teachers and students of all different yoga traditions together 

  • He was featured in daily telecast for decades on the benefits of yoga through radio shows and TV programmes to the general public

  • He published over thirty books on yoga in the Tamil language, four in English and one in Malaylayam on the therapeutic benefits of yoga for various conditions

  • He published over ten yoga DVD and audio CDs on various chronic illnesses which can benefit from regular yoga practice including asthma, diabetes, hypertension as well as pregnancy disorders

  • He conducted and wrote numerous research papers collaborating with various Medical Universities in India on the Therapeutic benefits of yoga
    As the State President of Yoga, he organised many District, Zonal, State and National level yoga competitions to bring the benefits of yoga to children

  • He initiated various yoga programs for Government School children, Government Hospitals as well as for prisons in the State of Tamil Nadu India.

  • He conducted numerous Yoga Therapy camps for the public to bring awareness about the benefits of yoga in collaboration with the Central Council of Yoga Therapy and Research

  • He was pivotal to the recognition of yoga as a sport in India, and to having it listed within the Sports Authority of India, thereby winners of yoga competitions were able to be accepted within the sports quota in professional degree courses

  • He helped formulate and syllabus of Bachelors of Naturopathy and Yogic Science for Colleges in India

  • He chaired various ad hoc committees in Universities in India to help set up various professional yoga courses

  • He travelled to over ten countries to introduce and spread the art of yoga and its many therapeutic benefits

  • He played a major role to include yoga as a key subject for the medical science syllabus in India

  • He was instrumental in forming the guidelines and regulations on the registration of trained and certified Yoga Professionals within the Yoga Council

  • He was awarded the prestigious Patanjali award for his life long contribution to the development of yoga by the Government of India