Our Team

Dr H R Nagendra a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering, started his profession as a faculty in prestigious institutions like NASA, IISc, University of British Columbia, Imperial College of Science and Technology, London & Others.

In 1975 Joined Vivekananda Kendra, a service mission, as Director, dedicating his life for service for humanity. Served at different positions in Vivekananda Kendra and yoga research foundation until 2002, he became the Vice-Chancellor (SVYASA) Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation, (A Yoga University) in Bangalore. A teacher & a researcher par excellence, he has devoted over 35 years of his life to Yoga research, Teaching, consultancy especially Yoga therapy for different aliments, Stress management etc. He has published nearly 35 books in Yoga and has authored and co-authored 100 research papers.

Dr. R. Nagarathna is one of the pioneers in the field of Yoga therapy. She is the Dean, Division of yoga and life sciences and chief consultant at Arogyadhama, SVYASA. Dr Nagarathna did her MBBS from Bangalore medical college, MD in internal medicine fromMysore medical college, Her MRCP and FRCP from Edinburg, UK. She has over 80 publications in national and international journals and has 11 books on series of yoga for different ailments published. She been felicitated with numerous awards such as the: Rajyothsava Award, Patanjali Award, Dr P S Shankar Vaidya Shree award,Woman of Excellence award, Karnataka Kalpavalli award,  “Doctor’s Day” award.

She combines her medical Knowledge along with her deep understanding of yoga therapy to develop safe and evidence based protocols for different aliments. She has tested and established yoga therapy protocols for asthma, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, digestive problems, and cancer. She has to her credit, authored and co-authored over 35 books on yoga, numerous clinical publications on yoga therapy for specific aliments. Dr. Nagaratna also has guided hundreds of students into their masters and Ph.D thesis at SVYASA. She is a very simple, kind and loving person, who has helped thousands of patients through her practice.

Sri. N V Raghuram  is the founding Chairman of Yoga Bharati, he   is a yoga philosopher and a spiritual master. He is an engineer by training and turned into human engineering through yoga and spirituality. Sri.NV Raghuram travels extensively around the globe training and spreading message of yoga and inspiring thousands into yogic life for over 35 years. He collaborates on various yoga research projects like, Middleborough general hospital UK, Northern Colorado Allergy and Asthma Center, Fort Collins, Neurological Rehabilitation Center, Bad Griesbach, Germany and Vivekananda yoga studies here at MD Anderson Cancer center to name a few. He has published research papers in international medical journals on these research projects. He was also a member of the Indian delegation to the Third International Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials responsible for Physical Education and Sport organized by UNESCO in 1999.

Dr. Manjunath N K a very well-known personality, Nationally and Internationally in the field of Yoga and Naturopathy. Currently, The Director (International Affairs), at S-VYASA University (A deemed to be University recognized by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India), Bengaluru and Professor & Head, Anvesana Research laboratories, S-VYASA University, Bengaluru.

Dr. Manjunath N.K , holds BNYS Degree from the very famous SDM College of Yoga and Naturopathic Sciences, Mangalore in the year of 1995. He further holds a PhD from SVYASA University in the field of Yoga and Geriatric Medicine. Recently he also received DSc from the very famous SVYASA University, for his contribution in the field of Research and Yoga.

Dr. Sudha Rajan has been practicing family medicine for 35 years in the Clear Lake area. She is certified Yoga Instructor.  Her passions are natural self-healing, utilizing yoga as a therapeutic tool, heart attack and stroke prevention. She is a certified yoga teacher, yoga therapist and has had advanced training in Diabetes, Heart Attack and Stroke prevention.

Dr. Rajan hails from a Vedic family honoring the traditions of millennia of sages, rishis and munis. Having had her maternal grandmother as her primary Guru and role model, adoring & surrendering to the Divine mother comes naturally to her.

Mr. Vishwarup is the Director at SVYASA Houston Center.  He has studied traditionally Sanskrit Scriptures & Krishna Yajurveda  at Veda Vijnana Gurukulam, in Bangalore, India which is dedicated to yoga & Vedic education in a scientific lens. He is also trained in Hatha, Vinyasa and Astanga yoga forms. He has been teaching yoga and Sanskrit for over 15 years, and worked in schools, colleges and universities in bringing yoga curriculum into education.

Since his time at SVYASA – Houston, he has expanded yoga teacher training program, yoga therapy certification, and other yoga certification programs. He has also expanded community yoga programs by collaborating with organizations like India House, Museum of fine arts, Asia Society Texas Center, SEWA international and others. He has led many yoga therapy camps for Houstonians like Yoga for Diabetes, yoga for back ache and others. He believes in the abundant knowledge of yoga philosophy and practice for the modern-day health problems. According to Vishwa “yoga is a way of life that helps one in returning to one’s own nature, which is health and happiness”.

Smitha Mallaiah is a Program Director at SVYASA Houston since 2011. She received her Master’s in Yoga therapy from S-VYASA, Yoga University at Bangalore India. Smitha has been practicing yoga therapy for specific aliments for over 18 years at various hospitals and clinics. Some of her special areas of expertise include Cancer, Special needs Children, pregnancy, Post-Traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and others. She has conducted many Yoga teacher training programs, yoga therapy training courses, Personality development camps for children, retreats and other courses at SVYASA Houston. In addition to yoga practice and philosophy, she has also studied Psychology, Ayurveda, Naturopathy and chaplaincy which gives a holistic approach to her patient care. She is passionate about studying the impact of Yogic life style changes for disease management & patient related outcomes.