Guinness World Record holder Yogaraj C.P shows his Yoga moves at the closing ceremony of International Yoga Festival at Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India.
Yogaraj CP was initiated into Yoga at the age of 5 by his father, S. Chidhambaram, who was an ex-service man from the Indian Military. He later learned Yoga from Yoga Acharya A. Yesudas Antony, who has studied Yoga in the world renowned International Sivananda Ashram in Kerala, India.
Yogaraj has participated and won many Yoga Competitions since 1988. In 1991, he won the championship award at the State Yoga Competition, in Tamilnadu, India and was awarded the title Yogaraj meaning King of Yoga. In 1997, he was awarded The International Best Yoga Demonstrator by the Government of Pondicherry. He has received awards from the Chief Ministers of three Indian States Karnataka, West Bengal and Pondicherry.
He started teaching Yoga at the age of 17. To enhance his potential as a Yoga Teacher he completed a Diploma in Naturopathy and Yogic Science at Yoga and Natural Living Development Trust, Chennai, India. He also completed a teacher training course at Divine Life Society (Sivananda) in Chennai and received the title Yoga Ratna, meaning Jewel of Yoga.
Yogaraj came to Hong Kong in 2003. He attempted Guinness feat in September 2004 by staying in headstand posture for 2 hours and 40 minutes, which was appreciated by South China Morning Post and the Phoenix News Channel. While he worked in China, he did Ashtanga Vinyasa and Rhythmic Yoga television programs for Star Media Group which was telecast by Shenzhen TV Channel 5.
Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, India organizes the annual International Yoga Festival.
The International Yoga Festival was originally a creation of Uttar Pradesh Tourism, in the days when Rishikesh was still part of Uttar Pradesh. Held at Hotel Ganga Kinare in the first week of February, the Festival ran for many years and attracted a small number of participants. In 1
