Meet The Team
Naveen Rana
Yogacharya Naveen Rana | Himalayan Yoga Teacher |
Co-Founder of Shivalayaa Yoga Shala
Namaste, and welcome to Shivalayaa Yoga Shala.
I was born and raised in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand, where yoga was not merely a practice but a way of life. Growing up amidst the mountains, rivers, and simplicity of village life, my family embraced agriculture and lived in close harmony with nature. This environment naturally nurtured the values of mindful living, balance, and spiritual inquiry that form the essence of yoga.
My desire to understand and share this ancient wisdom led me to the Sivananda Organisation, where I lived as a Karma Yogi and completed my training as a Yoga Siromani (200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training) and later as an Acharya (500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training). Living in the ashrams gave me a strong foundation in traditional yoga, yogic philosophy, and disciplined practice.
Over the years, I taught and travelled extensively, beginning at the Sivananda Yoga Centre in Delhi and later sharing yoga with students from diverse cultures and backgrounds. These experiences deepened my understanding that Hatha Yoga is a universal path that helps people cultivate health, inner balance, and a meaningful connection with themselves.
Through my travels and personal sadhana, I envisioned creating a space where yoga practitioners, seekers, and teachers could come together in a spirit of learning and community. During this journey, I met my wife, Diksha, and together we founded Shivalayaa Yoga Shala, a yoga shala where we immerse in Traditional Hatha Yoga Teacher Training & Retreats in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, India
Today, I teach at Shivalayaa Yoga Shala and continue to travel across Europe, Japan, China, and other parts of the world, offering Traditional Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Courses, yoga retreats, workshops, and immersive experiences.
Above all, I remain a lifelong student of yoga, dedicated to personal growth, sincere practice, and the continuous journey of discovering the divine within.
Hari Om
Hara Hara Gange
Diksha S Rana
Bhakti Yoga | Sanātana Dharma Philosophy | Purāṇic storytelling | Spiritual Storytelling from India
Stories of the Divine have been my companions since childhood. Today, as a Bhakti teacher and co-founder of Shivalayaa Yoga Shala in Uttarkashi, I have the privilege of sharing the Kathas of our Purāṇas and Itihāsas with seekers from around the world. I see these sacred teachings as a living bridge between ancient wisdom and everyday life. Above all, I remain a student—walking the path of Bhakti one step at a time, with wonder, devotion, and gratitude.
Hara Hara Gange
Brahmachari Durga Madhav Ji
He was born in a Hindu Brahmin family at Jagannath Puri in Odisha. Completing his graduation in 2008 in sociology, he wished to begin his spiritual quest. He was introduced and inspired towards spirituality by reading the Divine Life Society magazines and other books authored by Swami Sivananda (Divine life Society).
By the grace of Lord Jagannath Ji, he started his spiritual journey.
He first travelled to Rishikesh and pursued two months course of Yoga and Vedanta at Divine life Society. From there he travelled to Kerala. In Kerala, he met a disciple of Pujya Swami Dayananda Ji from Arsha Vidya Gurukulam. He then travelled to Tamil Nadu. At Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, he enrolled himself for a three and half year course of Vedanta and Sanskrit. Learning under the guidance of exemplary Guru’s- Pujya Swami Dayananda Ji and Acharya Swami Sakshatkritananda Ji he gained a lot of clarity and comprehensibility about Advaita Vedanta.
Residing there he was also introduced to the phenomenal teachings of Swami Parmarthananda Ji. He gained a lot of insight about the true teachings of Bhagwat Gita by Swamiji’s audio series on Gita Bhashya by Adi Shankaracharya Ji. Swamiji‘s talk on Gita Bhashya helped him build a fundamental ground in his studies.
On one of his travel to Uttarkashi we were blessed to meet him as a Teacher. Since then he has been and still humbly guiding us with his immeasurable knowledge on Bhagwat Gita and Advaita Vedanta with simplicity.
Brahmachari Durga Mahadev Ji, message :
Adi Shankaracharya Ji saved Sanatan Dharma and spread the message of Advaita Vedanta travelling across India. He established Dharmic institutions with a vision to teach, spread and re establish the Vedic social disorder that is impartial, free of exploitation and driven by only dharma.
Adi Shankaracharya Ji's words and works have been instrumental in the re-estabilishment and foundation of Sanatan Dharma for ages to come. His eternal and impartial teachings glorified true Advaita Vedanta. His works especially - Gita Bhashya and Brahmasutras inspired and moved Brahmachari ji immensely. Brahmachari Ji has been continuing to spread the authentic Spiritual heritage since then.
Har Har Gange!