Dhan Palkhivala | The Smile Of Yoga

Dhan Palkhivala was known for her charming smile and radiant personality that shone in her yoga-asana classes she taught well into her 80s. It is with a sorrowful heart we share that Dhan Palkhivala has passed away at the age of 95 on October 28th 2024. She was well loved by those who knew her across the globe and closely in Mumbai, India. Her legacy lives on through her sons: Aadil Palkhivala and his daughter, Zenia Palkhivala; Jehangir Palkhivala and his children, Rishaya and Paritosh Palkhivala; and Phiroze Palkhivala and his children, Shalom and Shihan Palkhivala.

Dhan Palkhivala was a pioneering figure whose journey from advocate to influential yoga practitioner and teacher marked a unique blending of legal, spiritual, and holistic practices in India. Born Dhan Patel, she initially followed a path in law, working as an advocate alongside her husband, Behram Palkhivala, in Mumbai. The Palkhivalas were a distinguished legal family—Behram’s brother, Nani Palkhivala, was a renowned constitutional lawyer and economist known for his contributions to Indian jurisprudence. Dhan’s early career in law, however, was soon interrupted by health challenges that conventional medicine couldn’t resolve​.

In the late 1950s, suffering from chronic back and abdominal pain, Dhan was advised by her gynecologist, Dr. Burjor Dastur, to try yoga. This advice led her to B.K.S. Iyengar, an emerging figure in yoga who would later become a global pioneer in therapeutic yoga. Iyengar’s techniques were intense but transformative for Dhan, allowing her to experience remarkable recovery. Her success with yoga under Iyengar’s guidance turned her from patient to practitioner, and she developed a lifelong dedication to the practice. Even when she faced complications with her pregnancy, Iyengar’s guidance helped her persevere, and her first born son Aadil was born healthy in 1959. She attributed the ability to having her first born son to Iyengar’s incredible asana teachings. This deep experience made yoga not only a therapeutic practice but also a family tradition, inspiring each of her three sons to integrate yoga into their lives​.


Her sons Aadil, Jehangir, and Phiroze each engaged with yoga from a young age, Aadil training under Iyengar himself as a child. Aadil was exposed to Iyengar’s teaching through his mother, and he began formal training at age seven and at the age of 21 he was Iyengar’s youngest certified teacher. Iyengar’s approach was demanding; both Dhan and her children learned to balance discipline with the joy and health benefits yoga brought. Aadil, who initially followed his parents into law, eventually moved to the United States, where he established himself as a respected Iyengar yoga instructor and began traveling the world teaching thousands alignment based asanas and applied philosophy. Jehangir who also turned to law, shifted his career to focus on teaching yoga after seeing its profound impact on his students’ health teaching classes in Mumbai. Her youngest son, Phiroze, continued to practice law and even pursued a political career, running as an AAP candidate in the 2014 elections​.

Dhan’s teaching journey officially began in 1972 after encouragement from Mirra Alfassa, known as “The Mother” and one of the spiritual leaders of Auroville. Alfassa’s blessing marked a turning point for Dhan, who began teaching small groups in her Mumbai home. Her classes quickly grew in popularity, and she became one of South Mumbai’s best-known Iyengar yoga practitioners. Her eldest son, Aadil, would return from the U.S. to join her in teaching, allowing them to jointly share their family’s expertise and devotion to yoga. For Dhan, yoga was far more than a physical practice—it represented a way to heal, connect, and transform one’s life. She viewed her practice and teaching as intertwined with her personal identity and family legacy​.

The Palkhivala family’s relationship with yoga was strengthened by their close personal connection to Iyengar. Dhan often brought her children to his classes, where they not only learned postures but also absorbed Iyengar’s teaching philosophy. Iyengar became a mentor and family friend, often visiting their home, where he would playfully interact with the children. His influence had a lasting impact on both Dhan and her sons. Dhan’s husband Behram attended classes with Iyengar with his son Aadil since Aadil was 7 years old, the first born of the family. As adults, Aadil and Jehangir followed in their mother’s footsteps, focusing on therapeutic yoga that emphasized healing and wellness. This was evident in Aadil and Jehangir’s practices, where they became known for their ability to address complex health issues through tailored yoga regimens​.

Dhan’s impact extended beyond her immediate family, influencing her lineage. Aadil’s daughter, Zenia, was the first certified teacher from her father’s college, carrying on the legacy of authentic yoga and is a musician, artist, as well as an online developer. Jehingir’s daughter, Rishaya, now teaches yoga as well, carrying the family lineage forward while exploring her own interests in design and film. Rashmi, who became involved in the family’s yoga practice teaches English but also participates in family yoga activities, reflecting the enduring impact Dhan had on everyone around her. The family’s multi-generational commitment to yoga exemplifies Dhan’s philosophy of life, which intertwined personal wellness with community healing​.

Her husband Behram Palkhivala was a distinguished lawyer from Mumbai, part of the prominent Palkhivala family known for its contributions to law and public service. He was the brother of Nani Palkhivala, one of India’s most respected jurists and economists. Behram’s career was marked by his skill in law, but he and his wife, Dhan Palkhivala, also became notable for their association with yoga and Ayurvedic wellness, particularly through their connection with B.K.S. Iyengar, a legendary yoga master. Although his primary focus was law, Behram was integral in supporting his wife’s journey into yoga, which later became a central focus of their family life and legacy.

Through her lifetime, Dhan Palkhivala’s dedication to Iyengar yoga brought therapeutic wellness to many. Her legacy lives on in her family and students, and her contributions have become a model for integrating yoga into daily life as a means of holistic health. Her story highlights the power of perseverance, transformation, and the ripple effects of a practice that fosters unity and healing in both family and society.

Dhan will be sorely missed as not only a highly educated woman but one who brought yoga-asana to her family lineage in order to have her children she loved dearly.


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