BMC To Open Three New Shiv Yoga Centres In Prabhadevi, Mahalaxmi, And Worli Koliwada
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will open three new Shiv Yoga Kendras this month in Prabhadevi, Mahalaxmi, and the Worli Koliwada area within the city's G-South ward. The addition of these new centres comes in response to an overwhelming community turnout in the G-South ward, which already hosts four functional Shiv Yoga centres.
The civic body's free yoga initiative was originally launched in 2022 with a proposal to establish free yoga centres in all 227 electoral wards across Mumbai. Operations for the initiative, including the allocation of physical space for classes, are managed and overlooked by the assistant municipal commissioner of each respective administrative ward.
Since the inception of the scheme, 133 yoga centres were established across 24 administrative wards. However, some of these locations closed down over the past four years. Centres located in posh areas, such as parts of South Mumbai, received a lukewarm response due to the widespread availability of private yoga centres and gymkhanas.
In contrast, the initiative has seen much higher participation in densely populated localities such as slums, where residents often lack adequate space for physical exercise. The centres have proven especially popular among women seeking dedicated space and time for self-care, physical well-being, and mental health benefits.
According to Dr Daksha Shah, executive health officer at the BMC, approximately 5,000 citizens benefit from the BMC-run yoga centres. Shah noted that while response varies across different wards, the overall civic interest remains strong in several areas, offering immense physical and mental health benefits to participants.
As of June 2026, Mumbai had 111 operational Shiv Yoga centres conducting around 140 batches. More than 48,000 people across the city have benefited from the initiative. All batches remain free for participants, and the BMC awards certificates to individuals who complete 50 yoga sessions within a three-month period.
The BMC currently holds civic approvals to operate the yoga centres through 2027. Once that period concludes, the civic public health department will need to obtain revised approval from the municipal commissioner to continue running the program.
