مسعود مهدوی

Masoud Mahdavipour, born on 30 May 1952 – Tehran

Masoud Mahdavipour became interested in yoga at an early age. He traveled to India in 1975 for the first time and learned the techniques with various instructors. He began teaching yoga in Iran in February 1976 and this was followed by numerous other trips to India and Nepal.

In 1979, he established the first and largest yoga center in Iran called Kanoon Yoga, which was active until 2020. From 1976-2002, he taught the asana and pranayama exercises while running the center with over 3700 students and 800 new enrolments in each term.

During the Iran-Iraq war, he spent the years 1982-1985 doing voluntary work with paraplegic veterans under the supervision of the State Welfare Organization of Iran and was able to improve the physical and mental health of many of them. This work introduced the health aspects of yoga to the Iranian government as only its philosophical and mystical dimensions were known in Iran previously. His endeavors led to the official recognition of yoga by the Physical Education Organization in 1995 for the first time in Iran and the Yoga Association was formed within the organization.

He spent many years organizing 3-day workshops as nature tours around the country called Here and Now. From 2008-2011, he also held three workshops in the US at Stanford University, Land of Medicine Buddha in Santa Cruz, and Carmichael Library in Sacramento. He held three other workshops in Dubai in the same period.

In the years 1999-2013, he organized various courses on theoretical and practical topics in yoga. These included:

• Here and Now
• Ahimsa
• Aparigraha
• Tapas
• Patanjali Ashtanga yoga
• Asteya
• Healthy eating
• Pranayama
• Meditation
• Chi
• Shakti Pranayama
Throughout the years, Masoud Mahdavipour has trained hundreds of instructors and students interested in Yoga. One of his unique characteristics is that he talks about the ancient, classical, philosophical, and mystical topics of this science in today’s language in line with the lifestyle of this day and age. Hence, it is very practical and effective.

He has published four books, as follows:

• Practical Lessons in Yoga

First published in 1979, the book has been re-printed 15 times, selling over 60 thousand copies in Iran. This is a reference book for instructors and yoga students alike.

• Each Day is its Own Day

First published in 2014, the book has been re-printed 10 times, selling over 40 thousand copies. The book is an extract of his experiences and views on life and yoga and the content is a good introduction to his character. Each Day is its Own Day is also available on Amazon. It has been translated into English and is under print.

• Void

First published in 2017, it has been re-printed twice.

• From Alienation to Unification
His techniques and teachings include: inner communication through meditation in motion and meditation in stillness, effective dialogue, being in touch with nature and conservation of natural resources, a change of habits, breathing and physical exercises for the physical and mental condition of each person, connecting with nature and minimizing the use of natural resources overall (fuel, water, food, clothing, etc), optimizing the efficiency of inner and mental resources, healthy eating based on individual constitutions, and cleansing to maximize the health of body and mind.
These techniques, rooted in experiencing the “present moment” and connecting with nature, form the basis of his teachings. After participating in one course, students begin to experience a change in lifestyle, picking up simple healthy habits according to their own nature and physical and mental condition. Eventually, they have a healthier and more balanced return to life.

Thousands of people who have attended the center, suffering from diminished quietness in the mind, anxiety, psychological disorders, addiction, and physical ailments resulting from these have managed to start a new life with their many achievements and noticeable improvements. Masoud Mahdavipour has over 45 years of experience in this field. His students are from all walks of life with varied educational and cultural backgrounds. The effectiveness of his teachings is due to his first-hand, personal experiences in life. His skills include giving short, simple, effective, complete, practical answers to complicated philosophical questions. He is gifted in talking about a specialized topic in simple language which is understandable for everyone.

He always highlights that he is not a master but a coach, in that he becomes an attentive listener at the heart of practicing the techniques with the students before coaching the course. He throws the ball to the players like a soccer coach and participates in the training. He even takes one for the team every once in a while…