Yogacharya Santhosh Kumar
RASHTRA VIBHUSHAN AWARD WINNER
Yogacharya Santhosh Kumar was born on 8th April, 1983 in the small village of Koluru, located in Kundapur Taluk near the coastal region of Udupi district, Karnataka, as the eldest son of Sri Bhaskar and Smt. Bhavaniyamma.
From a young age, he showed a deep connection with art, nature, and spirituality, and was naturally drawn to classical and folk dance, showcasing his innate talent as an artist. His journey into yoga began early, practicing under the guidance of Sri Kumar, a well-known Yakshagana artist and yoga teacher, and later with Dr. R. Pai at the Shanthivana Trust’s Yoga and Naturopathy Center in Dharmasthala, a renowned spiritual and healing destination.
These early influences laid the foundation for his lifelong dedication to yoga, blending artistic expression, traditional wisdom, and disciplined sadhana, which would later become the hallmark of Yogadarshanam.
Trained 3100+ Certified Yoga Teachers form 100+ Countries under the brand of “YOGADARSHANAM®” in Gokulam, Mysore.
Today, Yogacharya Santhosh Kumar stands as a highly accomplished yoga educator and practitioner. He is a graduate in Education from the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB), Government of Karnataka, and holds a degree in Nutrition and Health Education from the University of Mysore, where he graduated with distinction.
He further deepened his expertise by completing his Advanced Yoga Teacher Training at the renowned Sivananda Vedanta Centre in Kerala and Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, earning excellent grades. In recognition of his exceptional dedication and contributions to the field of yoga, he was also honored with an honorary degree by Swami Sudhir Anand in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand.
His academic achievements, combined with decades of practical experience, reflect his commitment to authentic yogic education, blending tradition with modern understanding for the benefit of students worldwide.
Later, Yogacharya Santhosh Kumar had the valuable opportunity to train extensively under a direct student of B.K.S. Iyengar, one of the greatest yoga masters of our time. This profound experience inspired him to undertake a rigorous two-year Sadhana based on the teachings in “Light on Yoga,” B.K.S. Iyengar’s legendary text.
His dedication eventually led him to personally meet and train under B.K.S. Iyengar himself, along with his son Prashant Iyengar and daughter Geeta Iyengar, deepening his understanding of alignment, precision, and therapeutic applications in yoga. In addition, he gained significant insights from other established yoga traditions, including the Art of Living system and the practices of Baba Ramdev Guruji.
These diverse and enriching experiences shaped his unique and integrative approach to yoga, rooted in classical tradition while open to modern applications—forming the foundation of Yogadarshanam’s authentic and holistic training system.
Presently Santhosh Kumar is preparing for future Research Work in Yoga Field on “Yoga and Illness.”
During his childhood, Yogacharya Santhosh Kumar suffered from various health issues such as knee pain, sinusitis, and tonsillitis. However, through consistent yoga practice and natural healing, he was able to completely overcome these conditions. This personal transformation sparked a deep and lasting interest in the field of yoga, which he pursued alongside his formal education.
Driven by his own healing journey, extensive qualifications, and rich practical experience, he was inspired to share yoga in a more authentic, holistic, and accessible way. This led to the founding of his own yoga institute, “Yogadarshanam”, which has since become a respected name in the yoga community.
Over the years, he has trained thousands of students from diverse backgrounds, including schools, colleges, hospitals, and major IT companies such as WIPRO, INFOSYS, and L&T. His unique teaching style, rooted in traditional yogic wisdom and adapted to modern needs, continues to transform lives across various sectors.
He is also one in Mysore, South India training and educating both Indians and westerners as well as conducting Yoga workshops, Yoga Retreats, and Teachers Training in different countries through his overseas journey.
