Dr. Ram Jain (PhD, Yoga) – Founder of Arhanta Yoga

Early Days and First Steps

I was born into a family where yoga has been a way of life for five generations.
When I was eight, my parents sent me to a traditional Vedic school, where each day began before sunrise with yoga.

My first class was awkward. I had seen my father practice, but in class I felt lost and nervous. My teacher, Guruji, walked between rows with a stick in his hand, correcting our postures. I wanted to do well, but I stumbled. Still, something inside me made me return every morning.

One day, Guruji asked me to demonstrate new poses. My knees shook as eighty classmates watched. I was shy, but proud too. That day taught me something I have never forgotten:

Courage is not the absence of fear — it’s choosing to show up even when you’re afraid.

As the years passed, I began helping Guruji teach others, even students older than me. He saw a teacher in me long before I did.

A New Life in the Netherlands

In 2007, I left India with years of yoga experience, €1400 in savings, and two suitcases mostly filled with food.
I dreamed of a new beginning, but life in the Netherlands was much harder than I expected.

Because I didn’t speak Dutch, I couldn’t find a job as a yoga teacher. I worked in cleaning services and factories during the day, then came home to a small room where I slept on the floor. Each month, I sent half of my income to my family in India.
Slowly, hope began to fade.

Then came the night that changed everything.

Finding My Calling

It was a freezing winter night in Tilburg. I was biking twelve kilometers to my night shift on an old bicycle. The chain kept slipping and finally broke. I fell again and again on the icy road. My clothes were wet, my hands numb, and I was scared of losing my job.

Sitting in the snow with the broken chain in my hands, I cried. For a moment, it felt like my whole life was falling apart.

Then, in the quiet, I heard a voice inside say:

“If things are to change, it has to begin with me.”

That night became my turning point.

After my shifts, tired but determined, I started teaching yoga again in the evenings. In early 2008, I found a closed school gym and turned it into a small yoga space. I drew my own posters and pinned them around town.

At first, only a few students came. But week by week, the hall began to fill. My financial worries eased, but more importantly, I found peace again. Watching students leave calmer and happier reminded me that this work had meaning.

I also noticed something missing — most yoga trainings focused on poses, not on how to teach.
I wanted to create courses that helped students become confident and skilled teachers.

That dream became Arhanta, meaning “Yoga is the path to mastering the five senses.”

Growing Arhanta Yoga Ashrams

In 2009, I opened the first Arhanta Yoga Ashram in India, a place where students could live and breathe yoga as a complete way of life.

In 2013, we opened the second Arhanta Ashram in the Netherlands, for those who wanted the same authentic training closer to home.

Over the years, I have continued learning — studying Yin Yoga with Paul Grilley, Ashtanga Yoga with David Swenson, and Anatomy and Dissection Training at the Medical University of Poland under Julian Baker.

In 2017, we launched online teacher trainings, allowing students worldwide to learn authentic yoga at home.

Since then, more than 21,000 yoga teachers from over 100 countries have trained with us.
My book, “Hatha Yoga for Teachers and Practitioners,” has been translated into four languages and sold over 30,000 copies worldwide.

But for me, numbers are not the goal. The same truth that guided me on that cold night still guides me today:

“When you are not at peace with yourself, you cannot be at peace with anyone else.”

That is what Arhanta stands for — not just practicing yoga, but living it and sharing it with clarity, confidence, and compassion.

Education & Credentials

• PhD in Yoga
• Formal yoga education at a traditional Vedic school (since age 8)
• Certified E-RYT 500 & YACEP with Yoga Alliance
• Over 40,000 hours of teaching experience
• Founder of Arhanta Yoga Ashrams in India (2009) and the Netherlands (2013)
• Author of “Hatha Yoga for Teachers and Practitioners” (translated into 4 languages, over 30,000 copies sold worldwide)
• Completed Anatomy and Dissection Training at the Medical University of Katowice, Poland under Julian Baker
• Trained with Indian masters and Western teachers, including Paul Grilley (Founder of Yin Yoga) and David Swenson (Ashtanga Yoga Master)
• Has trained 21,000+ yoga teachers worldwide since 2009

Student Reflections

“I’ve practiced yoga for over 20 years and studied with many teachers, but Ram’s clarity, depth, and humility stand out. His ability to connect ancient knowledge with modern understanding is remarkable.”
— Dr. Arjun Mehta, India

“Ram has a rare gift, he makes complex yogic ideas simple and practical. His teaching is clear, logical, and never tied to any religion or belief. He teaches yoga as a living science for everyone, no matter where they come from.”
— Lisa Carter, PhD, UK

“Ram’s life coaching helped me see my life as a whole,  not as separate parts fighting for attention. Through his Six Pillars of Fulfillment, I learned how to bring balance to my work, relationships, and inner world. He doesn’t give quick fixes, he helps you create lasting change with calm, clarity, and self-awareness.”
— Julia Martin, Entrepreneur, Germany

Dr. Ram Jain

Founder & Director, Arhanta Yoga
Author | Teacher | Life & Business Coach