Devki Desai began her study and practice of Iyengar Yoga in Mumbai at the age of 19, under the direct guidance of Sri BKS Iyengar. In 1988, marriage brought her to Pune and gave her the opportunity to further deepen her studies at RIMYI, under Guruji, Geetaji and Prashantji.
For the last twenty years, she has been teaching at the mother institute. Her teaching journey began with women and children, at the behest of Guruji. She accompanied Geetaji in 2003 to South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia for national conventions. In 2009, she was blessed to accompany Guruji to Russia. Devki annually travels internationally to teach workshops. She has taught in the United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Russia, France and Indonesia.
Her students often comment on her ability to beautifully incorporate the philosophy of Patanjali, the precision and discipline of the Iyengar practice, and the energy of youthfulness. As a Senior teacher at RIMYI, she currently instructs Intermediate level 2 classes, the Sunday children’s class, substitute teaches Advanced-level classes, and assists in the therapeutic classes.
Rajeshree Tupe has been a student of Guruji BKS Iyengar, Dr Geeta Iyengar and Shri Prashant Iyengar for over 2 decades and brings a unique blend of three brilliant teachers. She uses the holistic approach to health of body, mind and soul in an accessible way for her students through the intelligent practice of asana and pranayama. A certified senior Iyengar yoga teacher, she also holds a Diploma in Ayurveda & Lifestyle Management.
Her early days at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI) kindled the fire of yog and the gifts of the practice ignited a desire to share the teachings of this system. She began teaching after experiencing the tremendous healing and balancing power of yoga after the birth of her first child.
Teaching is in her blood and she takes on after her maternal grandfather who would ride long distances to teach Yog to children in schools. Her zeal for the subject and the desire to share her knowledge took the long route to slowly but steadily build awareness and interest in Iyengar yoga in Pune. It culminated in the birth of ‘Shriyog Institute’, named after her father and a symbol of the deep gratitude for the blessings of her parents and teachers. It is her offering of yog as her tribute to their yog.