Our Roots
Our purpose is to bring authentic yogic wisdom to the world. I AM Yoga® is the natural evolution of ancient yogic practices passed down from Swami Kripalu to Gurudev Shri Amritji directly.
I AM Yoga® is the natural evolution of ancient yogic practices passed down from Swami Kripalu to Gurudev Shri Amritji directly. It is an entryway into the transformative, energetic depths of practice and is rooted in the ancient secrets of authentic yoga.
Bapuji
Swami Kripalu, lovingly known as Bapuji, is recognized today as one of the greatest yoga masters to have lived in the 20th century. His life is an amazing story of unwavering devotion marked by 30 years of sadhana, silence and meditation.
Today, our teachings, practices, and traditions are dedicated to preserving Swami Kripalu’s legacy of eastern mysticism and yogic science in a way that remains authentic, is accessible for the western psyche and relevant in today’s world.
1913
The story of our lineage is profoundly synchronistic, a convergence of divine grace and destiny. Below are only some of the highlights…
In 1913, Swami Kripalu was born.
1930
Swami Pranavanandaji encountered Swami Kripalu on the night he’d planned to commit suicide to intervene, even though he had told no one.
For the next 15 months, he privately trained Kripalu intensively in the yogic tradition and then spontaneously disappeared.
1932
Gurudev Shri Amritji (Amrit Desai) was born.
1937
Mataji (Urmilabhen) was born.
1942
Swami Kripalu took renunciate vows and began wandering as a monk. He would share lectures on the Bhagavad Gita from town to town. He had thousands of followers.
What makes I AM Yoga® Teacher Training unique?
In these times, yoga has become massively popular. Ancient practices previously unknown to the Western World have become ubiquitous and mainstream. What were once carefully kept secrets are now easily available. In modern yoga practice, what’s missing is not technique; we know what to do and where to learn more. What’s missing is how to approach the practice of yoga in a way that progressively awakens the experiential depths of peace and integration which it was born to unearth within each one of us. This is the unique contribution of the Integrative Amrit Method of Yoga.
1947
Gurudev was just 15 years old when he met Swami Kripalu (Bapuji) in his hometown of Halol, Gujarat, India. With great aspiration, unwavering devotion, and against all odds, Gurudev ultimately became one of his closest disciples. (OLD photo G and Bapuji with close disciples)
Meanwhile, young Urmila was also enchanted by Bapuji’s presence and attended Bapuji’s lectures from afar amidst the thousands who gathered from nearby villages to listen. (Young Urmila??)
Amrit and Urmila had been betrothed since childhood, but they did not interact until marriage years later. Their shared love of Bapuji and commitment to their spiritual practices deepened their bond and understanding of one another, laying a lifelong foundation of love, service and shared purpose.
1953
Bapuji had a profound energy (Kundalini) awakening and his sadhana deepened.
1958
Bapuji embarked on a 12-year period of complete silence and established Malav Ashram.
1960
Gurudev received Bapuji’s blessing to move to America.
1970
Bapuji initiates Gurudev into Kundalini Yoga. The initiation Gurudev received from Bapuji transformed his life and teachings and made him a carrier of the mystical lineage into the west.
1974
Through divine guidance and instruction, Bapuji facilitated the opening of Kayavarohan Temple, intended to house the meteorite statue of Lord Lakulish and preserve the ancient secret teachings of yoga through its iconographic imagery carved into the temple walls for generations to come.
What makes I AM Yoga® Teacher Training unique?
In these times, yoga has become massively popular. Ancient practices previously unknown to the Western World have become ubiquitous and mainstream. What were once carefully kept secrets are now easily available. In modern yoga practice, what’s missing is not technique; we know what to do and where to learn more. What’s missing is how to approach the practice of yoga in a way that progressively awakens the experiential depths of peace and integration which it was born to unearth within each one of us. This is the unique contribution of the Integrative Amrit Method of Yoga.
1977
After years of corresponding through letters mailed overseas, Bapuji agreed to visit America and stay with Gurudev and Mataji in their ashram in Pennsylvania they’d named after Kripalu.
Gurudev flew to India to escort Bapuji, and “Muktidham” (abode of liberation), the structure Gurudev had built for Bapuji to reside years prior in Pennsylvania, was prepared for his arrival.
Between 1977 and 1981, Bapuji stayed in the ashram, practiced his sadhana for 10 hours a day, for a time, shared lectures and chanting with the residents, and regularly trained Gurudev, Mataji, Vinit Muni and Ashutosh Muni privately in the secret teachings and practices of yoga which he reserved for his close disciples. He also showed special care, attention and blessings to the Desai family.
1980
Bapuji exclaimed that the name of his abode, Muktidham, had been aptly named and that he had reached the highest yogic stage of liberation. That same year, he bestowed upon Gurudev the sacred title of “Yogacharya”.
Bapuji chose to stay at the ashram longer than he originally planned because of the love and precise care that Mataji and Gurudev served him with.
1981
After staying with Gurudev and Mataji at the Kripalu ashram for four and a quarter years, Bapuji returned to India due to failing health. Bapuji left his body on December 29 in India.
PResent Day
Today, Swami Kripalu’s body is housed in the chambers of Kripalu Samadhi Mandir, in the town of Malav, Gujarat, India, where he practiced many years of sadhana. He leaves behind him a palpable energetic legacy of yogic practices, timeless traditions, writings and scriptural commentary, music and poetry.
Kripalu Samadhi Mandir and Kayavarohan Temple are a place of pilgrimage for seekers, greeting thousands from all over the world each year.
His disciples continue to share, practice and train students and initiates worldwide in dedication to keeping his energetic legacy alive for generations to come.
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