Ishan Shivanand

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Acharya

Ishan Shivanand
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Born
India
OccupationAuthor, Academic, Spiritual teacher, Mental health researcher
Notable work
The Practice of Immortality, Yoga of Immortals
Parent(s)
  • Avdhoot Shivanand (father)
Websitehttps://ishanshivanand.com https://www.yogaofimmortals.com

Ishan Shivanand is a mental health researcher, author, and spiritual teacher. He is the founder of Yoga of Immortals (YOI), a meditation-based programme that incorporates elements of yogic practice.

Studies published in Frontiers in Psychiatry have examined the YOI programme's effects on symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia..[1][2] A clinical trial led by researchers at Rutgers University, with results published in the Journal of Urology, studied its impact on bladder control and quality of life in patients with urinary incontinence.[3]

Shivanand is the author of The Practice of Immortality (2025), published by Penguin Random House and Hachette Book Group.[4][5] His work has been covered in media including India Today, DNA India, News18, and Khaleej Times.

Early life and education

Ishan Shivanand was born in India into the ShivYog Sanatan tradition and grew up in an ashram in Rajasthan. In his book The Practice of Immortality, Shivanand writes that he received early guidance from his father, Avdhoot Shivanand, under whose mentorship he began training in ShivYog. His early education included yogic sadhana (meditation), Sanskrit mantra recitation, yoga, martial arts such as Kalaripayattu, and studies in herbal medicine and Shaivite philosophy. Shivanand was initiated as an Acharya in the ShivYog Sanatan tradition in 2006.[4]

In 2024, he completed a Doctor of Business Administration at the Swiss School of Business and Management (SSBM) in Geneva, with a dissertation focused on mental health innovation.[6][7]

Career

Yoga of Immortals (YOI)

In the early 2010s, Shivanand began conducting wellness programmes, focused on emotional resilience and mental health. He later developed Yoga of Immortals (YOI), a meditation-based programme that incorporates traditional yogic practices. The programme has been studied for its effects on stress-related conditions.

Peer-reviewed studies published in Frontiers in Psychiatry noted reductions in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and insomnia among participants using the YOI programme. Participants included healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][2]

In 2023, Shivanand took part in a White House roundtable on the opioid epidemic, organised by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, to engage faith leaders in discussions on addressing substance use disorder. His participation was confirmed in the official White House readout.[8]

Academic and institutional roles

Shivanand is a Director of Mental Health Initiatives at the WHEELS Global Foundation, where he oversees digital health interventions in rural India and East Africa.[9]

He has been appointed as Adjunct Faculty at the Centre of Excellence for Holistic Wellbeing at the Indian Institute of Technology Ropar[10][11]

In the United States, Shivanand is listed as a provider of meditation-based services within the Wellbeing programme at the Hospice of Cincinnati. He is identified as the Health Resilience Training Facilitator for the "Guided Experience Towards Wellness" programme at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, which offers mindfulness and stress-management support to cancer survivors.[12][13]

In Mauritius, the Office of the President of Mauritius wrote about the visit during which Shivanand and President Gokhool discussed mental health promotion and the possible establishment of an Institute of Yoga-based Wellness in the country[14]

His research collaborations are discussed in the Research Publications section.

Books

Shivanand has published works on mental health and spirituality.

He is the author of The Practice of Immortality: A Monk's Guide to Discovering Your Unlimited Potential for Health, Happiness, and Positivity (2025), published by Penguin Random House and Hachette Book Group.[4][5] In the book, Shivanand presents the idea that "immortality" refers to developing awareness, emotional steadiness, and breath control, rather than indefinite physical life. In an interview with India Today, he described it as a guide to adapting yogic practices for modern mental health needs. [15]

The book was launched at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, in August 2025, covered by press including DNA India, Times of India, and News24Online.[16][17][18] It has been translated into Italian, German, and Portuguese.[19][20][21]

According to USA Today's Booklist, The Practice of Immortality was included in its national Top 100 bestselling titles in 2025.[22]

Research publications

Shivanand's work has been part of peer-reviewed studies assessing the effects of the Yoga of Immortals (YOI) programme on mental and physical health outcomes.

Two studies published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, in 2021 and 2022, documented reductions in symptoms of depression, insomnia, and anxiety among participants during the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][2]

A 2022 clinical trial led by researchers at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and published in the Journal of Urology, concluded that daily use of the YOI app improved bladder control and quality of life for patients with urinary incontinence. A Rutgers University news release summarised the findings, highlighting that 76 percent of participants reported reduced severity and frequency of urine leaks after four weeks of app use.[3][23][24]

Studies published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health and the Annals of Medical Research and Practice noted improvements in stress, sleep, and emotional well-being.[25][26]

Media appearances and lectures

Shivanand has delivered public talks and been interviewed by media on topics related to yoga, meditation, and mental health.

In 2024, he appeared on NDTV for International Yoga Day to discuss the benefits of yogic practices and meditation.[27] On Doordarshan News, he was featured in a programme organised in conjunction with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, where he spoke on mindfulness strategies for students.[28]

His 2025 interview with India Today explored concepts from The Practice of Immortality, including breath work, mental health, and awareness.[15]

In a two-part interview with the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) on the programme Encounter, Shivanand discussed mental health, meditation, and resilience training, along with the global expansion of Yoga of Immortals.[29][30] He was featured in a Mid-Day article profiling the development of the programme and its applications.[31]

Shivanand delivered a public lecture at IIT Bombay titled "Improving Mental Health through the Yoga of Immortals", which was later published under a Creative Commons license by the institute.[32] He spoke at Talks at Google, where he presented on the topic of "Reversing Desensitisation".[33]

Other features include interviews on ABC 25 Columbia, The Speaking Tree podcast, Ever Forward Radio, and a webcast by India Today NE for World Mental Health Day, where he discussed resilience and yogic techniques for stress reduction.[34][35][36][37] In a 2024 interview with the Free Press Journal, Shivanand discussed workplace stress, anxiety, and the role of mindfulness and resilience practices in supporting mental health.[38]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Verma, Sadhna; Donovan, James; Tunuguntla, Hari S.; Tunuguntla, Renuka; Gupta, Babu V.; Nandi, Ayon; Shivanand, Ishan (22 June 2021). "Yoga of Immortals Intervention Reduces Symptoms of Depression, Insomnia and Anxiety". Frontiers in Psychiatry. 12 648029. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.648029. PMC 8257949. PMID 34239460.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Currie, Katherine; Gupta, Babu V.; Shivanand, Ishan; Desai, Amit; Bhatt, Shweta; Tunuguntla, Hari S.; Verma, Sadhna (2022-09-06). "Reductions in anxiety, depression and insomnia in health care workers using a non-pharmaceutical intervention". Frontiers in Psychiatry. 13 983165. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2022.983165. ISSN 1664-0640. PMC 9485445. PMID 36147990.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Tunuguntla, Hari Siva Gurunadha Rao; Tunuguntla, Renuka; Kathuria, Himanshu; Verma, Sadhna (1 September 2021). "MP52-18 EFFECTIVENESS OF APP- BASED YOGA OF IMMORTALS INTERVENTION IN URINARY INCONTINENCE". The Journal of Urology. 206. doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000002082.18.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Shivanand, Ishan (2025-05-15). The Practice of Immortality. Penguin Random House. ISBN 9780241687529.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Shivanand, Ishan (2024-06-24). The Practice of Immortality. The Hachette Group. ISBN 978-0-306-83456-1.
  6. ↑ Jakarta, Indoindians (2018-04-12). "Ishan Shivanand: Helping Good People Become Better". Indoindians.com. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
  7. ↑ Shivanand, Ishan (2024-06-20). "Efficacy of App-Based Yoga of Immortals Meditative Interventions on the Mental Health of Global Population During COVID-19 Pandemic". Digital Repository of Theses - SSBM Geneva. ISSN 2673-9690.
  8. ↑ "Readout of White House Meeting with Faith Leaders on President Biden's Unity Agenda Efforts to Beat the Overdose Epidemic | ONDCP". The White House. 2023-08-21. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
  9. ↑ "Health Council". WHEELS Global Foundation. Retrieved 2025-04-06.
  10. ↑ "#riseatiitropar #mentalresilience #studentwellbeing #holisticdevelopment #yogaofimmortals #wheelsglobalfoundation #highereducation #emotionalintelligence #iitinitiatives #mindmatters #pan_iit… | Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar | 21 comments". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  11. ↑ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  12. ↑ "Wellbeing – HOC Navigators". hospiceofcincinnati.org. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
  13. ↑ "Guided Experience Towards Wellness-Empowering Cancer Survivors". Retrieved 2025-09-10.
  14. ↑ "Courtesy Visit: Dr. Ishan Shivanand – Office of the President". 2025-09-05. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "It's a mindset: Dr Ishan Shivanand breaks down what immortality really means". India Today. 2025-07-18. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  16. ↑ Gupta, Priyanka. "Renowned Monk and Mental Health Researcher Ishan Shivanand Launches International Bestseller "The Practice of Immortality" in India". DNA India. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  17. ↑ "Ishan Shivanand's Practice of Immortality debuts in India". The Times of India. 2025-08-29. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  18. ↑ Ranjith, Lakshmi. "Ancient Healing Meets Modern Medicine: 'The Practice Of Immortality' Launches In Delhi News24 -". News24. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
  19. ↑ Shivanand, Ishan. "La via segreta dell'immortalità - Ishan Shivanand". Newton Compton Editori (in italiano). Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  20. ↑ ""Yoga der Unsterblichkeit" von Ishan Shivanand - Buch - 2025". www.penguin.de. Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  21. ↑ "A Prática da Imortalidade - Penguin Livros" (in português). Retrieved 2025-09-12.
  22. ↑ "The Practice of Immortality: A Monk's Guide to Discovering Your Unlimited Potential for Health, Happiness, and Positivity". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2025-09-11.
  23. ↑ Tunuguntla, Hari Siva Gurunadha Rao; Tunuguntla, Renuka; Kathuria, Himanshu; Sidana, Abhinav; Chaudhari, Nidhiben; Verma, Sadhna; Shivanand, Ishan (2022-09-01). "App-Based Yoga of Immortals: A Novel, Easy-to-use Intervention in the Management of Urinary Incontinence". Urology. 167: 73–81. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2022.06.011. ISSN 0090-4295. PMID 35788018.
  24. ↑ "Yoga App Can Reduce Urinary Incontinence". www.rutgers.edu. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
  25. ↑ Tunuguntla, Renuka; Tunuguntla, Hari Siva Gurunadha Rao; Kathuria, Himanshu; Verma, Sadhna (2021-05-26). "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. 18 (11): 5706. doi:10.3390/ijerph18115706. ISSN 1660-4601. PMC 8199123. PMID 34073407.
  26. ↑ Verma, Sadhna; Donovan, James; Bhat, Surekha; Tunuguntla, Hari; Tunuguntla, Renuka; Gupta, Babu; Shivanand, Ishan (2021-06-29). "Intervention on depression and insomnia symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic". Annals of Medical Research and Practice. 2 5. doi:10.25259/ANMRP_4_2021. ISSN 2782-7631.
  27. ↑ NDTV Rajasthan (2024-06-21). International Yoga Day 2024: योग करने से बढ़ सकती है ताकत, तनाव और चिंता में कितना फायदेमंद। Health. Retrieved 2025-09-13 – via YouTube.
  28. ↑ Live: Pariksha Parv 7.0 with Dr. Ishan Shivanand | 11th April, 2025. Retrieved 2025-09-10 – via www.youtube.com.
  29. ↑ MBC Online (2025-08-22). Encounter with Ishan Shivanand. Retrieved 2025-09-12 – via YouTube.
  30. ↑ MBC Online (2022-12-05). Encounter - Ishan Shivanand. Retrieved 2025-09-10 – via YouTube.
  31. ↑ "Interview with Dr. Ishan Shivanand: Revolutionizing Mental Health with Yoga of Immortals". Mid-day. 2024-12-26. Retrieved 2025-09-06.
  32. ↑ Studio IIT Bombay (2022-11-27). Economic Impact of Mental Health - India by Ishan Shivanand. Retrieved 2025-09-13 – via YouTube.
  33. ↑ Reversing Desensitization | Ishan Shivanand | Talks at Google (Video). YouTube. 2017-11-14. Retrieved 2025-09-07 – via YouTube.
  34. ↑ Tyler Ryan (2023-09-01). For the Health of it: The Drug Problem. Retrieved 2025-09-13 – via YouTube.
  35. ↑ Speaking Tree (2025-09-05). How To Attract Mahadev Blessing in Life? । Shaivism, Shiv Yogi & Sadhna Secrets । Ishan Shivanand. Retrieved 2025-09-07 – via YouTube.
  36. ↑ Ever Forward Radio (2025-08-25). Modern Life Keeps Us SUFFERING! Meditation Master Explains SECRET to Immortality | Ishan Shivanand. Retrieved 2025-09-10 – via YouTube.
  37. ↑ IndiaTodayNE (2024-10-10). Let's Talk Mental Health with Dr Ishan Shivanand | World Mental Health Day Exclusive. Retrieved 2025-09-07 – via YouTube.
  38. ↑ "Mental Health Researcher Reveals Why Stress & Anxiety Are Among The Top Workplace Challenges". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 2025-09-13.

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