About Yoga Publications Trust

Yoga Publications Trust (YPT) was established in 2000, to disseminate and propagate the teachings of the Bihar Yoga tradition. The publication of books, magazines, DVDs and CDs presents the wisdom of sages and seers of all times in a practical and accessible manner for aspirants of today. YPT publications are authentic, scientific and systematic, easily understood, and above all, they are practical: embodiments of a sannyasin’s resolve to lift others out of imbalance and distress.

Since the beginning, the focus of the seva, or selfless effort and contribution of the Bihar Yoga tradition has been the propagation of the spiritual and yogic teachings through publications. This tradition began with Swami Sivananda in Rishikesh in the early 1920s, who worked tirelessly to record his experiences, and present his teachings for the benefit of all spiritual aspirants. Sitting in a small Kutir in the Himalayas on the banks of the Ganga, he published hundreds of useful books in all languages for circulation throughout the world.

Swami Sivananda had the knack of bringing the highest knowledge within easy reach of everyone. He never tried to exhibit his scholarship or to impress anyone, but he came easily to the level of the reader. He even wrote a book called Yoga for Businessmen, in an effort to appeal to all stratas of society. As a result, his spiritual writings could kindle spiritual awakening in millions of readers all over the world, and inspired them to tread the path of spirituality.

Just as Swami Sivananda looked always to the spread of spiritual knowledge, so too did his disciple, Swami Satyananda. Publication of yogic works was a vital foundation of his mission which began with writing and printing brochures and booklets, followed immediately by the Yoga Vidya magazine in Hindi, and subsequently the Yoga magazine in English. These were accompanied by a stream of seminal works on all aspects of yoga, including texts on yoga practices, techniques, teachings and philosophy, and on yoga practices for health improvement.

Swami Niranjanananda, following in the footsteps of his guru Swami Satyananda, delved into the yoga vidya and presented his findings in numerous publications. Definitive, pioneering texts in the fields of yoga practice and philosophy were presented bringing to light previously unknown aspects of yoga and spiritual life. Under his hand, many ancient scriptural and classical texts on yoga were given a new lease of life, rendered into an easily understandable and accessible format for the modern reader.

Over 350 books have been published, presenting a wide range of teachings, from definitive works on specific yoga practices, pranayama and meditation, to applications of yoga in the areas of health management, to classical and scriptural presentations, satsangs, and discourses. These texts have been translated into countless languages and received as classics all around the globe. Many of these publications are used as textbooks and educational and training aids by different yoga federations, colleges, universities and institutes across India and the world.