Integral Yoga Institute was started 40 years ago by Swami Satchitananda in NYC. He was a "hip" swami, well known as the Woodstock Guru, and friends with many artists and musicians of the 1960's.

As students, you may not realize it, but the school were you come to for yoga is actually an urban Ashram in the middle of NYC.

Shri Swami Satchitananda lived there (in "Heaven") until the end of his natural life. IYI still has swamis (monks) in permanent residence, as well as a handful of resident "ashramites" who help take care of the building and the school, making it a special place for you to come practice yoga.

So that is one of the reasons that IYI is so special -- it is not just another yoga studio, it is an ashram.