Gurudev Shri Amritji* (Yogi Amrit Desai) has been honoured for being the first yoga guru to bring the inner dimension of yoga to the West since 1960. His teachings got so widely adapted that the Yoga Society of Pennsylvania he established in 1966 became the largest of its kind by 1970. He later founded Kripalu Center, which became one of the largest yoga and health centers in North America with full time volunteer resident staff of over 350.

Over the past 57 years more than 10,000 yoga, yoga nidra and yoga therapy teachers have been certified to teach the inner dimension of yoga that he developed in over forty-five countries. This dimension provides in-depth healing, therapeutic and transformation benefits of authentic yoga that has been often missing in popular approaches to the practice Hatha yoga.

For his outstanding contributions to the global yoga community, Gurudev has been recognized by the world-renowned authorities and organizations with many prestigious accolades, including the titles “International Grand Yoga Master,” “Doctor of Yoga,” “Jagadacharya,” “Maharishi,” and many more. He has been awarded the “Global Service Award,” “The Patanjali Award,” and the “Vishwa Yoga Ratna” presented by the President of India. In 1992, he was nominated for the “Padma Vibhushan” by the late Prime Minister of India Shri Chandra Shekhar.

A globally revered spiritual leader, Gurudev Shri Amritji has reached millions through his international trainings, workshops, seminars, and conferences as well as his peace missions to Russia and Israel. His many publications include Kripalu Yoga: Meditation in Motion, Amrit Yoga: Explore, Expand, and Experience the Spiritual Depth of Yoga, and Amrit Yoga and the Yoga Sutras. The recent titles Ancient Wisdom, Modern Master (2012), Love and Bliss: Meditations on the Art of Living (2014), and The Yoga of Relationships (2015) have earned a total of fifteen literary awards from London, Paris, New York, Hollywood, Southern California, Nautilus, the Great Midwest, and Florida book festivals.

In 2000, Gurudev established the Amrit Yoga Institute, a thriving Yoga and Ayurveda center in Salt Springs, Florida, where he currently resides and teaches. To this day, he continues to promote the authentic teachings of yoga worldwide. He is recognized as one of the greatest emissaries of the ancient heritage of India and has made a significant impact upon the history of modern yoga.