About Ishan Shivanand

Ishan Shivanand is a globally acclaimed Acharya (Vedic educator), yogic scholar, and mental health researcher. Born into a revered lineage of yogis spanning twenty-one generations, he spent his early years in Indian monasteries, immersed in intense yogic grounding by his father and mentor, Dr. Avdhoot Shivanand. From breathwork to ancient martial arts, Ayurvedic medicine to deep meditative practices, Ishan mastered the long-guarded sciences of the Indian Knowledge Systems for over 20 years.

For centuries, these teachings remained hidden, passed down to only a select few. But Ishan chose a different path—one of sharing, healing, and transformation. His journey has taken him across the world with a singular mission: to make timeless yogic wisdom practical and accessible to all. Through the creation of Yoga of Immortals (YOI)—a set of revolutionary, evidence-based meditation protocols—he has helped millions overcome trauma, mental health conditions, and even life-threatening situations, empowering individuals and communities to reclaim vitality and redirect to their life purpose. 

This impact extends far beyond personal transformation. Ishan is also a leading professor with expertise in non-pharmaceutical non-invasive meditative modalities. His mindfulness programs have reached students, corporate leaders, veterans, athletes, healthcare providers and everyday seekers alike, with Fortune 500 companies such as Google, Meta, Boeing, and Microsoft turning to his expertise for mindset-performance enhancement and resilience. His YOI wellness programs are derived from the ancient integrative healing sciences of India and consist of a combination of breathwork, disease-preventive yogic techniques, and cognitive and emotional stimulation. With a clinical efficacy of 72-82% on anxiety, depression and insomnia, these modalities further reduce academic stress and corporate burnout, prevent physician burnout and sports injury, and support trauma-focused recovery. 

At the heart of it, Ishan is the current face of a legacy that goes back thousands of years. Using yogic and meditation protocols that are powerful, transformative, and practical, his simple aim is to help good people become better.

Select International Awards and Recognitions

  • White House Roundtable with Faith Leaders on the overdose epidemic: Invited by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
  • Conferred with Global Civility Icon Award for 2023 by H.R.H.Dr. Clyde Rivers, Representative to the United Nations from Interfaith Peacebuilding Initiative, for contributions to global peace and holistic healthcare
  • Earned the doctorate degree of Global Doctor of Business Administration by Swiss School of Business and Management, Geneva, on successfully defending his dissertation titled "Efficacy of App-based Yoga of Immortals Meditative Intervention on the Mental Health of the Global Population during COVID-19"
  • Recognized by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India for providing scientifically validated intervention for wellbeing
  • American Flag flown over the US Capitol by US Congress for contribution to stress reduction and mental wellness
  • American Flag presented by US Congress for efforts made to improve healthcare in USA & world
  • Proclamation of Ishan Shivanand Day by the President of Borough of Brooklyn, NY for contributions to preventive and promotive healthcare
  • Appreciation by the Canadian Ambassador for supporting mental health by YOI amidst pandemic
  • Ministry of Ayush, India commended his contribution to alleviating stress & anxiety via YOI
  • Conferred with Bharat Gaurav Award for groundbreaking research in integrative healthcare for mental wellbeing
  • Recognized by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, India for providing scientifically validated intervention for wellbeing
  • American Flag flown over the US Capitol by US Congress for contribution in stress reduction and mental wellness
  • American Flag presented by US Congress for efforts made to improve healthcare in USA & world
  • Proclamation of Dr. Ishan Shivanand Day by President of Borough of Brooklyn, NY for contributions in preventive and promotive healthcare
  • Recognition by President of the Senate NJ, USA for Holistic healthcare for global wellness
  • Appreciation by Canadian Ambassador for supporting mental health by YOI amidst pandemic
  • Ministry of Ayush, India commended his contribution to alleviate stress & anxiety via YOI
  • PMO Office and States Govt. of Haryana, Karnataka, Goa & Rajasthan, India, recognized his efforts in supporting India during COVID pandemic
  • Senator, NJ, USA recognized efforts in combating stress, and overcoming mental hardship

Scientific Research Publications

Reductions in anxiety, depression and insomnia in health care workers using a non-pharmaceutical intervention: Frontiers Front. Psychiatry Sec. Digital Mental Health.

Effectiveness of App-Based Yoga of Immortals (YOI) Intervention in Urinary Incontinence: The Journal of Urology, American Urological Association.

Intervention on depression and insomnia symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: Annals of Medical Research and Practice (ANMRP).

Yoga of Immortals Intervention Reduces Symptoms of Depression, Insomnia and Anxiety: Frontiers Front. Psychiatry Sec. Digital Mental Health.

Effectiveness of App-Based Yoga of Immortals (YOI) Intervention for Insomnia in Asian Population during Pandemic Restrictions: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH).

Associations and Affiliations

YOI Mental Wellness Programs for healthcare workers delivered at:

YOI has partnered with international government agencies including:

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India

Ministry of Health and Wellness, Mauritius

Ministry of Youth & Sports, Mauritius

Department of Veterans Affairs, USA

Ishan Shivanand is currently collaborating as:

Director

School of Integrative Health and Wellness
Mauritius

Director

Mental Health Initiatives of the Health Council
WHEELS Global Foundation (an initiative of IIT Alumni)
Virginia, USA

Head of Department of Yoga

University of SiliconAndhra
Professor, 3-credit Yoga Based Resilience Training (YBRT)
course
California, USA

Adjunct Faculty, Integrative Yoga Therapy

Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research (SJICSR)
Bangalore, India

Faculty of Students Wellness

Neotech Institute Technology
Vadodara, India

Advisory on Students' Wellness

Rungta Universities
Chhattisgarh, India

  • Visiting Faculty, Mental Resilience Training

Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University) Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra

  • Head of Department of Yoga

Professor, 3-credit YBRT course (Yoga Based Resilience Training)

University of SiliconAndhra, California, USA

https://www.uofsa.edu/team/ishanshivanand/

  • Faculty of Students Wellness

Neotech Institute Technology, Vadodara, India

https://neotech.ac.in/Core_Team

  • Advisory on Students Wellness

Rungta Universities, Chhattisgarh, India

https://rungta.ac.in/advisory-board.php

  • Director, Mental Health Initiatives of the Health Council

Wheels Global Foundation (an initiative of IIT Alumni), Virginia, USA

https://wheelsglobal.org/health-council/

  • Visiting faculty of Integrative Yoga Therapy

Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research (SJICR), Bangalore, India

http://jayadevacardiology.com

  • Head of Department of Yoga

Professor, 3-credit YBRT course (Yoga Based Resilience Training)

University of SiliconAndhra, California, USA

https://www.uofsa.edu/team/ishanshivanand/

  • Faculty of Students Wellness

Neotech Institute Technology, Vadodara, India

https://neotech.ac.in/Core_Team

  • Advisory on Students Wellness

Rungta Universities, Chhattisgarh, India

https://rungta.ac.in/advisory-board.php

  • Director, Mental Health Initiatives of the Health Council

Wheels Global Foundation (an initiative of IIT Alumni), Virginia, USA

https://wheelsglobal.org/health-council/

Ishan Shivanand Videos