Swami Satchidananda born as C. K. Ramaswamy Gounder, was an Indian religious teacher, spiritual master and yoga adept, who gained fame and following in the West.  Sri Swami Satchidananda was one of the first Yoga masters to bring the classical Yoga tradition to the West.

Invited to America in 1966 by iconic pop artist Peter Max, he taught Yoga postures, meditation, and a compassionate vegetarian lifestyle. In 1969, he opened the Woodstock Festival and became known to an entire generation as “the Woodstock Guru.” He was the author of many philosophical and spiritual books, including a popular illustrative book on Hatha Yoga. He is widely known in India as the spiritual guru of the Indian cinema superstar Rajinikanth.

Swami Satchidananda received many honors for his public service including, the Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Award, the Juliet Hollister Interfaith Award and the U Thant Peace Award.  Swami Satchidananda dedicated his life to the cause of peace—both individual and universal—and to unity and harmony among all people.

Satchidananda’s group trademarked the term “Integral Yoga” in the United States. He characterized Integral Yoga as “…a flexible combination of specific methods to develop every aspect of the individual: physical, intellectual, and spiritual. It is a scientific system which integrates the various branches of Yoga in order to bring about a complete and harmonious development of the individual.”  Satchidananda’s center was given the name “Yogaville.”