Sivananda World News: The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres

Om Namah Sivaya! Courses and classes were very good this month. During the Easter vacation we had an intensive course which was very successful, so that we spontaneously arranged a second level course the next week. Many regular 4 week courses started, among them a Pranayama course with a good group of inspired students and a meditation course with motivated participants longing to go deeper in their practice. The yoga philosophy course “Yoga wisdom for everyday life” attracted a good group of students, all of them keen on learning how to integrate Yoga philosophy into daily life. A small relaxation seminar was taking place on one of the Saturdays. The weather was warm as summer in the mid of April and we had the first outdoor classes on our garden platform behind the Centre. We did quite some deep cleaning around the house this month. Storage was cleared, window cleaning, asana platform painting and other maintenance projects were completed. Also our garden in front and behind the center was nicely made with vividly blossoming spring flowers. OM.

http://www.sivananda.org/berlin

Om Namah Sivaya. The month of April the students started returning from their vacations. Aditya joined the group of professors who did the TTC 2018 in Brazil.
Heyra de Venezuela is already adapted to the dynamics of the Centre. They started three Beginner Courses and two Meditation Courses. A new study cycle of Bhagavad Gita started, led by Swami Premananda. The Children’s Yoga classes started again.

By the middle of April Swami Premananda went to the Centre of Montevideo to participate in the activities of the Yoga Festival, directed by Kanti Devi. Harini, from Buenos Aires, TTC Bariloche, joined the group of teachers, to teach Yoga for Pregnant Women. Nandini (Ximena from Bolivia) who also took the TTC Bariloche 2018 returned to the Centre to stay for a few days to do Karma Yoga. On Saturday we gave a Yoga for the Back class. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/baires

In April open classes were going on smoothly. The Yoga Foundation Course also went on very well. We had day off for the public holidays. A highlight was the Satsang on Sunday where we did the Sunday Prayers together and shared reading from Thought Power. Ambika returned from Vietnam, Sivani went to Beijing, will meet with Swami Sitaramananda and Swami Adi Parashakti there. They will start a Retreat. A Yoga and Ayurveda Course, led by Swami Sitaramananda and Dr. Ramkumar, started in Chengdu. We did some preparations for that and looked forward to studying more!

As April continued it was eventful and uplifting for us. We first welcomed Swami Sitaramananda and Swami Adi Parashaktiananda in Beijing after their Japan teaching tour. It was Swamiji’s 2nd time visiting Beijing after 9 years and Swami Adi Parashaktiananda’s first time in Beijing. Swamiji initiated the new affiliated Centre, Vidya Yoga Centre, which is located on the outskirts of Beijing in the Changping district. Around 20 students joined the three day retreat including beginners, experienced practitioners, TTC graduates, etc. Swamiji totally transformed the Centre space by all the different arrangements and students were all very happy to participate in Karma Yoga. The spiritual atmosphere was uplifted by all the teachings, and everyone was very inspired by the depth of classical yoga. We thanked Vidya Devi, the organizer, and her family for their great devotion and hospitality. Swami Adi Prarashakti was able to see the Great Wall in between the tight schedule, and also visited Tiananmen square with Swamiji. Sivani and Chinmayi traveled back to Chengdu with the swamis. Dr. Ramkumar also arrived on the same day to join us in Chengdu for the the five-day Yoga and Ayurveda Intensive at the Centre. Swamiji led Satsang on the same night and over 40 students came. Everyone was very happy and at the same time inspired by all the stories Swamiji shared. The Centre was packed. We started the Intensive immediately. 23 students from different parts of China came to join the program together with staff members and karma yogis. We had to hire a hotel conference room to host Hatha Yoga classes. Classical Yoga, Vedanta and Ayurveda knowledge was very much new to many students who are already yoga teachers. Everyone was eager to learn. Staff were very happy to have the teachers visiting again. The whole Centre was charged with energy. Om.

http://www.sivanandayogachina.org

Om Namah Sivaya to all Blessed Selves from the Chennai Centre. We had a very strong start to April with a large number of students attending the new Morning Beginners Course. We did some karma yoga cleaning of the fans and all the posters in both asana halls. The Evening Beginners Course ended, segwaying to the second workshop of the month, Surya Namaskar. All the other classes continued well, with the blessings of our Gurus.

The middle of April was rich of events and celebrations starting off with the Ladies Beginners course. We worked all together doing some Karma Yoga cleaning all the windows in both asana halls and painting the altar statues. We had Ganapati Homa with all staff and some students participating. The Pooja increased good vibrations and positive energy in the Centre. In the evening we decorated the altar and all around in preparation for Vishu Celebration. The day after we had Pranayama Workshop with a very good number of Students and then Sadhya Feast was extremely successful with 70 people coming. Everybody enjoyed the food and left the Centre with a big smile. With the Grace of God and our Masters, everything continued to run smoothly. Pranams! Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/madras

Om Namah Sivaya. April brought some snow showers but that is not stopping our students from coming to class. We started a Yoga and Meditation 1 course. They were a very dedicated and inspiring bunch. Spring cleaning began and we have scheduled our air ducts in the Annex to be cleaned and will start fundraising and seeking donations to help offset the costs. We were all looking forward to breathing a little deeper after the completion of this project. Lots of new courses have been scheduled including Yoga 2, a positive thinking course, meditation course and cooking workshop. Radha left for the Ranch and we thanked her for all her hard work and dedication to the Chicago Centre and to the Gurus. May the grace of the Gurus be with her on this next stage of her spiritual journey. Staff were happy and well and send Pranams to all! Om Shanti, Shanti, Shantihi. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/chicago

Om Namah Sivaya. The month of April we saw some staff changes. Durga Devi finished her 7 month staff contract and left Dalat Centre while Siva Shakti and Samadeva moved from the Ashram to Dalat Centre. They stayed in Dalat Centre for 2 months. The students came to Open classes regularly and enjoyed Satsangs. Jaya Devi, a resident, assisted Open classes to learn how to teach.

By the middle of April a Yoga Beginner course opened, taught by Samadeva. Siva Shakti trained Samadeva how to teach the Beginner course. He enjoyed teaching this course very much. There were more new students arriving to evening Satsang, led by Siva Shakti. They enjoyed it. We welcomed another Vietnamese resident to our Centre. She enjoyed practicing yoga lifestyle and vegetarian food. Resident, Jaya Devi (TTC March 2018) started to teach a full asana class. She taught confidently. We pray for the Guru’s grace to be always with us. May the grace of the Masters be with you. Om.

https://sivanandayogavietnam.org

Om Namah Sivaya. During the month of April the brochure got redesigned for this quarter including many new workshops and courses. Some changes in the timings and prices were made. A Beginner’s Courses started at 10:00 A.M. & 6:30 P.M. An Advanced Pranayama workshop was conducted and looking at the response from the students, soon Advanced Pranayama course will start regularly at the Centre. A weight loss course also started to help participants shed the extra inches. This course will last for 2 weeks subjecting participants to practice asanas, Pranayama and multiple rounds of Surya Namaskaras. Our Trial Class was conducted, aiming at making participants understand what Yoga really is all about. Washrooms were reconstructed on all the 3 floors, including the one on the ground floor. We had a teachers’ meeting and we discussed on several points for betterment of Centre as well as to Humanity. The Staff managed the Centre efficiently plus, were deeply engrossed in their spiritual practice.

By the middle of April the weight-loss workshop came to an end resulting in happy students who lost considerable amount of weight by the end of 2 weeks. Yoga Beginners’ course begin on Mondays at 6:00 A.M. & 4:00 P.M., introducing a new set of students to Yoga. The Shat Kriya workshop was conducted to help participants learn techniques to cleanse their body using the elements of nature. Our Satsangs were as blissful as ever. The Trial Class conducted aimed at making participants understand what Yoga really is all about. The Staff was managing the Centre efficiently. By the grace of God and the blessings of Gurudev all is well here. We hope the same for all of you. We send our Pranams to all. Om Namo Narayanaya! Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/dwarka

Om Namo Narayanaya. With the blessings of the Masters we started April with a Beginners’ course. We started the “Foundation to Meditation” course on Wednesdays at 10:00am. The course comprised of 6 classes, every Wednesday & Friday. A weekend Beginners’ Intensive course was also offered. We received the pending payment of boutique from Rudraprayag TTC team & Dwarka Centre. We received donations from our students following our donation request for changing the old ACs which were not working properly during high summer months in the Asana Hall. As a result, the highest income was registered. We replaced the two ACs in Vishnu Hall.

With the blessing of the Masters we started the middle of April with two Beginners’ course, one at 6:30am and the other at 4:00pm with good number of students. The meditation course continued. The 8 limbs of Raja Yoga was explained, the 12 steps to Meditation plus, Tratak (Candle gazing) was practiced during the two classes. We conducted the “Summer Cooler – Salad & Drinks” workshop. Three variety of salads & two types of drinks were made by students with the guidance of the teacher. Everyone enjoyed eating together. Satsangs, open classes, gentle yoga, kids yoga, prenatal, special Sun Salutation class along with few private sessions and the Centre went well, with the grace of our Gurus. We send our Pranams and hope everyone is happy and peaceful. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/delhi

Om Namah Sivaya. For the month of April the Centre was open for all the open classes and Satsangs. Mahadev came to help for one week at the Centre. Girija spent the Easter week in Orleans and Ananta went to the UK, to join the Easter retreat of the London Centre, which took place in Wales. In Geneva spring is on the way. Om Sri Ramaya Namaha. OM.

http://www.sivananda.org/geneva

Om Namah Sivaya. During the month of April Swami Sitaramanada and Swami Adiparashaktiananda left the Centre for Japan, after being in Vietnam for several months to teach the TTC, ATTC and SI, as well as several very successful and well-attending programs here in the Centre. We thanked them for bringing such wonderful energy, insight and inspiration to the Centre. The first week of April was very full with one of the highest student counts on record. We had a well-attended workshop for Prenatal Teacher Training, with Padma, with 15 people coming. We held a workshop for making and using mala beads with visiting Dalat-Ashram staff, Dharmini, with 10 people attending. We did a special class to train the February TTC graduates on how to teach open classes and courses in English with Tushti, attended by eight new teachers.

By the middle of April we had the highest student count on record. Swami Pranavananda returned from Dalat after teaching TTC, ATTC and SI, full of energy and inspiration from the beautiful Ashram and those wonderful courses. Ganga Chaitanya taught the very popular Restorative Yoga Course, with six people coming, some from far away. Also helping (translating and assisting) with the Ashram courses (TTC, ATTC and SI) was Padmavati. While translating for the SI for the third year in a row, she also just finished the written translation of the book Hatha Yoga Pradipika into Japanese, complete with the commentary of Swami Vishnu-devananda ji! Although still working intensely to finish the book, she was able to teach a course training teachers how to teach Gentle Yoga, with 17 people attending. Everyone was happy to receive her positive energy. Pranams to the Sivananda Family. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shantihi. Om.

Om Namah Sivaya. All is well here with the blessings of our Gurus. All other classes went well. May the Gurus’ blessings of be with us all. OM.

http://www.sivananda.org/london

Om Namo Narayanaya! A Yoga One Course began in early April, while students continued to gratefully expand their knowledge in Y2 and Y3 courses. Guru Puja brought students and staff together in gratitude and devotion. Jaya (Jeff Sims) offered a workshop on Pain and Yoga. Everyone learned tools for dealing with and reducing pain. Karma Yogis continued supporting in abundance. Hamsa Chaitanya went to the Ashram Yoga Farm for the SYHET course. She was accompanied by a Karma Yogi Joey who got to visit the Ashram for the first time! Deviyani arrived to help at the Centre during Hamsa Chaitanya’s absence. May the Blessings of Gurudev be upon all. Pranams. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/la

Om Namah Sivaya, Blessed Selves! At the beginning of April the Centre resumed full schedule after the Easter break. Two new courses started with good participation: a Vedanta course with Gopala and also a Pranayama course. We welcome Gopika, a close teacher, as resident for 10 days. One weekend was dynamic with 6 residents staying for the continuation of the first aid course for yoga teachers. We were happy to see so many yogis for the two-hour asana workshop “Psychosomatic Effects of Asanas”. Our Masters were sending lots of helpers in all departments of the Centre.

By the middle of April we had a successful Open House day. Classes and courses continued as usual. The new TTC Aluenda website was seen online and several inquiries came regarding the course. Spring cleaning started and Masters sent lots of helpers. The Centre was shining. We welcomed new staff Samadhi who will be serving in Madrid. We held a peaceful Kirtan workshop and inspiring Sunday Satsang. The Staff are well. OM.

http://www.sivananda.org/madrid

Om Namah Sivaya. Namaste. We thank our Masters for all blessings and support bestowed. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shantihi!!

http://www.sivananda.org/madurai

Om Namah Sivaya! The month of April we started a Beginners’ course. There was a very good assistant of students. A new staff member, Abhaya, arrived. Chandra directed the Satsang with very good energy. We prepared the diffusion and organization of the Yoga Festival from 13th to 15th April. The regular programs continued to be supported by the grace of Masters.

By the middle of April the courses and Regular classes developed very well. The highlight was the Yoga Festival. We started the celebration with a night Satsang, directed by Kanti Devi, with the participation of Swami Premanda from Buenos Aires. Kanti Devi also prepared delicious Prasads. Staff and students participated with great devotion. Kanti Devi gave a yoga asana class to advanced students and Sivananda teachers. Swami Premananda gave a workshop “The Gift of Forgiveness”. We repeated Om Namo Narayanaya for peace. Then Chandrashekar taught the yoga asana class with a topic “Sacrifice and Relax in the Practice of Asanas”. We finished the Yoga Festival day with a Satsang, directed by Swami Premanada, with a projection of “Holy Temples of South India”. We did a contemplative and meditation walk to the coast. After that Lalita taught the asana class and short meditation after relaxation. Swami Premananda gave a beautiful workshop about mantras for the each day of the week. We closed the Yoga Festival with a short repetition of the mantra for peace. Regular classes continued on as well. Love to all. May all live under the Masters’s grace. With Prem and Om. Om Shanti!! Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/montevideo

Om Namah Sivaya from the Montreal Centre! The month of April at the Centre saw a slow build up of returning students. Class and course attendance was stronger with the promise of Spring just around the corner. Swami Shivabhaktananda led the Satsang with 20 students. We started a Meditation 1 course. We cleaned the Centre and prepared for Prahlad’s arrival. It was a jam packed weekend. Saturday morning Prahlad led an advanced class with 33 students and in the afternoon a 3 hour corrections workshop for the teachers. Sunday morning he taught advanced class with 32 students and in the afternoon led an Open House for TTC with 25 students. The 5 pm yoga class was packed with 38 students and the Satsang was lively with 97 in attendance. We were very grateful for his presence at the Centre and the students are already looking forward to his return.

By the middle of April the class attendance was strong. Two new courses started: positive thinking course with Narayani and Meditation course for beginners. Satyabhama gave a workshop called “Yoga for the Eyes”, with 23 students. The students were very happy after the workshop. Swami Shivabhaktananda conducted the evening Satsangs. We were very grateful for his visit. The students were always happy for his dynamic and uplifting Satsangs. By the grace of the masters and all the support of the community, everything was running well at the Centre. Pranams! Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/montreal

Om Namah Sivaya. One of the special events of the last weeks was a one-day asana retreat “Happy Back”. Swami Sivadasananda was here and gave several inspiring Satsangs. Furthermore we held a workshop “How to Overcome Fear” and had a lecture with our teacher and Ayurveda therapist Chandrika on Ayurvedic home remedies. We also started new rounds of the Meditation course and the Positive Thinking course as well as a Bhagavad Gita course. We performed two Pujas on the occasion of the spiritual festivals Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanthi. Greetings from the Sivananda Yoga Centre Munich! OM.

http://www.sivananda.org/munich

Prem for Everyone from the CSYN. The previous week was regular in the practices. Neuquén began to feel the drop in temperature and the intense yellow colour of the ash trees that dress in autumn, It is very nice. We enjoyed this season. Jayadevi began a cycle of workshops of three classes, which consist of stopping in four asanas per class, to observe the aptitude and attitude in each position. The practitioners were happy! Radhika opened a Pranayamas workshop. The karma yoga group worked on cleaning and sorting the Centre. They also planned a garden, which will be built in the cold season, to see it bloom in primavera. We are excited watching this project! The karma yoga team was constant and attentive. We were happy and grateful. Shanti and Prem to everyone! Om.

Om Namah Sivaya from Manhattan. By Guru’s Grace and Masters Blessings we had a great and successful April. A few new courses started including one new course. We introduced a “Positive Thinking & Meditation.” A Satsang was led by Tandava who briefed on Bhakti and Jnana Yoga. The Ranch Ashram, located upstate New York State, held an East Coast Teacher’s Meeting which a lot of the NYC Centre’s teachers attending, including Neeti and Shakti. Mokshapriya and Tandava stayed in the Centre. We held Open House day and it ran very smoothly with a good number of people! Everyone returned from the Ranch along with Swami Paramananda ji! Swamji taught the advanced class, followed by Satsang. His Satsang brought lots of familiar faces as always and he gave a step to step guide on how to Cultivate Vairagya. We were feeling blessed and with much gratitude for Swami ji’s visit.

By the middle of April the flowers in our garden were blooming, looking a lot like Spring! One of our Satsangs was led by special guest Swami Satyapremananda. With her lovely chanting and storytelling, we felt very grateful for her visit! It was a lovely Satsang and we looked forward to having her back soon. Mokshapriya left for the Ashram for one week where she will be attending the Hatha Yoga Intensive. Saturday was a busy day with two workshops – one on headstands, taught by Tandava and the other on Pranayama, taught by Neeti. Shakti led the Satsang and talked about world peace. By Gods Grace and Masters Blessings all continued well. We work with gratitude for this beautiful opportunity to serve. We are all well and send our blessings to the Sivananda Family! Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/ny

Om Namah Sivaya. Spring is in the air, life gave us pleasant weather with blue sky and a little rain. This month the Centre was uplifted a couple of Satsangs given by Swami Kailasanandaji and with some Pujas and ceremonies led by the priest. We had a Sarasvati Puja led by two priests, some extra mantras in an evening satsang, we had also a joyful Puja for hanuman Jayanti and a Sri Yantra Puja. This month, Sivakami enjoyed preparing and giving a Kirtan course and a Sanskrit course. We all enjoyed and learned a proper pronunciation of the Sanskrit sounds. She also enjoyed going to the ashram to teach a Sanskrit course for the staff. There were workshops on the topics: ‘how to overcome fear.’ ‘ the 12 basic postures’ and Yoga at home. We had the first month out of three months of public transportation strike. By the end of the month the people started to get used. God gave us a big family. Because of the strikes, Swami Kailasananda, the priest and whoever was passing by in Paris had to stay a little longer at the Centre. Rukmini stay for some days and she took beautiful pictures for our new website. On Wednesday 4th life gave us a perfect Satsang with Swami Kailasananda. We had beautiful Kirtans, Slokas recited by the priest and a beautiful letter of the Master. Everyone was uplifted by Masters’ words and the commentary given by Swami Kailasananda. There was a cheerful mood. In spite of the strike, 76 people were there for the Satsang. We had a cheerful weekend with a programme given by Kailas. He gave two very useful asana workshops for the teachers, an inspiring asana class for every one and a joyful and spontaneous Satsang. Rukmini did photo shoots of the workshops and a video with a drone. The Centre was happy to see Swami Gopalananda who came to work on the accounts and to give a Satsang. We appreciated his presence and his joyful and spontaneous Satsang on the topic of meditation from the 6th chapter of the Gita.
Three intensive courses created a joyful mood during the two weeks of school holidays. There was a yoga 1 in the mornings and a meditation course and a nutrition course in the evenings. There were less students than usual for the open classes and for the Open House but there was a festive atmosphere with the holidays and the intensive courses. The Centre has a new teacher. Asha started to give Open classes every day. God gave us cheerful and uplifting celebration of Swami Kailasanandas’ birthday on Sunday the 22th. In spite of the holidays, of the strikes and of the beautiful weather, 120 people came to express to her their gratitude and love. Swamiji gave and inspiring Satsang from the book “Swamiji Said”. She got many flowers, two special Prasads, a healthy cake, a photo book from the Paris Centre April 2017-April2018, and Prem from all. OM.

http://www.sivananda.org/paris

Greetings from Porto Alegre. Blessings and Peace to all of the Sivananda Family. In April, classes went well. Teachers came to teach and also work at the reception because we do not have permanent staff. Kanti Devi visited the Centre and she gave very inspired programs. One course on Raja Yoga, Satsang and a special Yoga class for teachers to correct theirs asanas and to correct their students. We have also a meeting with the teachers to organize classes and programs. Lila from Livramento (another city) came to help. Right after the class for teachers, Kanti Devi went to the Airport. She had programs that afternoon in Sao Paulo. We have two karma yogis that come every week to help in our beautiful garden. Besides bananas, tomatoes (cherries), maracuja we have 5 nice papaya trees!!! They are full of fruits and also lots of flowers with the promise of more fruits. Also in April we were working on improving one of the cabins that leaks when it rains. We were ready to print more “Meditation and Mantras” books in Portuguese, that sold out, plus a new digital edition of Meditación and Mantras. Teachers gather for Arati at Ganesha Shrine. The Centre kept its sattvic energy by the grace of our beloved Gurus. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/portoalegre

Om Namah Sivaya, Blessed selves. The beginning of April was rather slow after the holidays. We had a special class with Prema (model in the book “Yoga Your Home and Practice Companion”) who visited Rome for a few hours, the theme was “Expansion in the Asanas”. The hall was full and the students were happy and inspired after the class. Also a new Yoga 3 and Yoga 6 started. We were all well and send our blessings to the Sivananda Family! Om Shanti. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/rome

Om Namo Narayanaya, Blessed Selves. In the beginning of April we held our monthly Open House, followed by a talk on the Secrets of Ketu, by Komilla Sutton. Participants stayed for a potluck meal to continue the discussion with Komilla. We also offered a vegetarian Indian cooking workshop. Twelve happy students gathered around to learn and taste. A group of seven sincere students started a Meditation 1 course. A Yoga 1 course concluded.

By the middle of April the second series of six classes on Vedanta and Sanskrit ended with Gajananam. We hoped to resume both classes in the summer. We offered a TTC info session one Saturday afternoon, including a free asana class. Our music concert series continued with a beautiful Santoor concert given by Arshad Syed. Part 1 of a workshop on Managing Stress in the Urban World, which focussed on Proper Breathing was held, with Bhavani. A Yoga 1 course started. Swami Sivasankariananda went to the Yoga Farm for the second module of the Sivananda Yoga Health Educator Training. Sunday Satsangs were well-attended, with students staying on for soup, and more. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/sanfrancisco

Om Namah Sivaya from Sao Paulo. The month of April was joyful and busy with sunny days. Many students attended regular classes. The Centre was blessed with the presence of Acharya Kanti Devi. Sivananda teachers from Sao Paulo and other cities (Narayan and Shivani from Franca and Shivabandu from Ribeirao Preto) have also join us during Kanti Devi visit. Kanti Devi gave an inspiring lecture about “Raja Yoga for Mind Control” based on Patanjali teachings. Sunday Satsang and lecture was about “Mantras -A Divine Source of Energy”. There were very auspicious days, renewing resident staffs and Centre energy.

By the middle of April the Autumn weather was felt in the air. On April 9, our Acharya Kanti Devi, provided an interesting workshop for Sivananda Teachers about correction of asanas. Many students attended regular classes despite the cold weather. The Friday Satsang was very auspicious with Divyajyoti talking about Vairagya, based on Sivananda’s teachings from Kundalini Yoga book. We started a Meditation Course. Om Shanti Shanti to all the Sivananda family. Om.

Om Namah Sivaya. The month of April the staff brought all their attention towards the annual Passover Retreat, allowing over 100 yogis to join and have four days of yoga classes, inspiring lectures, excellent vegetarian food, and a general sense of living the yogic lifestyle. The program included talks about sacred mantras, using yogic tools in ‘real life’ and a wonderful classical Indian concert, to treat the guests. The, almost, thirty children were given a special program by qualified teachers, and were very well taken care of throughout the retreat. The Centre is looking forward to hosting another retreat in the summer. At the Centre in Tel Aviv, Pranava Chaitanya finished teaching a Yoga 2 course and also led the Sunday evening Satsang on the Raja Yoga topic of ‘Mind and Senses’.

By the middle of April after returning from the Yoga Retreat, the staff jumped straight back into the running of the Centre in Tel Aviv. A meditation and a meditation 2 course, as well as a positive thinking course, were successfully completed. Three introduction classes for new meditation courses as well as a positive thinking course, were held this week as well. The positive thinking course then opened successfully and also a course for ‘teaching yoga to children’, led by Guy Dekel, a long time teacher who was also leading the kids program at the Yoga Retreat. The Sunday Satsang was hosted by special guest ‘Rama’ who celebrated his birthday by leading a night of Kirtan at the Satsang. Many attended the evening and joyfully chanted the Sunday prayers, amongst other chants.Pranams and Peace to the Sivananda family from the Tel Aviv Centre. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/telaviv

Om Namah Sivaya. The month of April Swami Sitaramananda and Swami Adiparashaktiananda who had finished teaching at the TTC in Vietnam arrived in Japan. They offered various programs at Tokyo Centre from the following day. The topic of a talk given by Swami Sita was “Health and Stress.” For many people in Japan who have disease despite of their diligence and interest in yoga, the talks were very practical and they attained knowledge how to apply yoga to their day-to-day life. Asana workshops, taught by Swami Adiparashaktiananda, had full house of students. Prana and Pranayama workshop, especially, turned out to be a wonderful opportunity for a lot of students to experience actual effects of Pranayama exercise, thanks to a very detailed instruction by Swami Adi. We held an inauguration ceremony for Shojiko Retreat Centre located at the foot of Mt. Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan and well-known as one of spiritual spots. An opening special program at Shojiko Retreat Centre was attended by good number of participants; 11 people on Day 1, 15 on Day 2, and 19 on Day 3, and everyone enjoyed a yogic life just like one would in an Ashram. All staff for Tokyo Centre joined the ceremony in which a beautiful Puja was conducted, and we were deeply rejoiced that this is the first retreat facility of Sivananda Yoga Centre in Japan, which enables to provide an opportunity to experience a yogic lifestyle at deeper level.

By the middle of April after all the programs in Tokyo Centre and Shojiko Retreat Centre were finished, Swami Sitaramananda and Swami Adiparashaktiananda left for China for an opening event of the affiliate Centre in Beijing. We were truly thankful for them to have elevated us and the Tokyo Centre with such a tremendous energy and powerful guidance. A temporary staff Radha left the Centre after a 4-month service and returned her hometown, and will be going to India to deepen her spiritual learning. We were also grateful for her dedication and commitment to the Centre. Regular courses, Yoga 1 and Yoga 2, have been going well. A new monthly class on Vedanta, guided by Yashashvin, was joined by many students despite being taught on the week day. A Senior Yoga Teaching workshop was given by Padmavati Masako with good number of people attending. New Karma yogis, Narayani, Tejas, and a TTC graduate Ikuko started a training for teaching a class. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shantihi. Om.

http://www.sivananda.jp

Om Namah Sivaya. For the month of April the Toronto Centre started new Yoga 1, 2 and 3 course as well as Yoga for Little kids and Yoga and Meditation for Teens. Saraswati and Dr Upasana taught a workshop that was aimed to teach parents how to use yoga practice to help their children deal with anxiety they experience. The workshop was an intensive that some parents driving several hours from Toronto in order to attend. We also started a new series of courses for Sketch, a street youth drop in Centre. Our Staff spent some time organizing karma yogis for the upcoming Yoga Show. Chandrika was settling in nicely, while she continued her work on Japanese translation of Meditation and Mantras. We celebrated Bhavani’s birthday with a small surprise party, held by close teachers and students. Nalini left for Japan to get her visa for Canada and we hope to see her back soon. We send Om Namo Narayanaya to every one. Pranams to all. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/toronto

Om Namah Sivaya. With the blessings of God and revered Gurus we had started 3 new batches of classes in April – a beginners’ batch for ladies; a one month Kids vacation Yoga classes and an additional yoga class for the parents whose children are participating in the Kids yoga class. All other classes continued smoothly. Barbara returned after her visit to Srilanka. Satsang was led by Yashpal ji.

By the middle of April a Beginners’ batch started. Kids vacation Yoga classes were going smoothly. Ganapathy Homa was conducted on the first day of the new Malayalam month. We celebrated an auspicious day – ‘Vishu’. The festival follows the solar cycle of the Lunisolar Hindu calendar as the first day of month called Medam. We arranged ‘Vishukkani’. It means “that which is seen first on Vishu”. Vishukkani setting consists of items such as rice, lemon, cucumber, coconut cut open, jack fruit, metal mirror (Vaalkannadi), yellow Konna flowers (Cassia Fistula) which bloom in the season of Vishu, holy Hindu texts, coins or currency notes, oil lamp (Nilavilakku), and an idol of the Hindu God Krishna. The tradition has been that one of the senior members of the house, lights up the lamps at dawn, then goes to each member of the family one by one, blindfolds and wakes each one up, walks them to the front of the setting. He / She then releases the blindfold so one can see the Vishukkani, and then greets the Vishu day. To celebrate Vishu we distributed new clothes to the staff members. Satsang was led by Yashpal ji. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shantihi. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/trivandrum

Om Namah Sivaya. We celebrated Easter at the beginning of the month by speaking about the significance of Lord Jesus. In the Satsang on Easter Sunday we read from the chapter on “Jesus” from Swami Sivananda’s book „The Lives of Saints“. Most of the staffs went to Reith for the Easter programme there. Summer came with temperatures rising, which inspired staff to continue with various cleaning and renovation projects. During April we had a back workshop, a Kirtan Workshop and a TTC preparation day. The month of April a Yoga 2 began, our outside class resumed, the trial class saw a few newcomers and the coaching classes also continued. Open Classes had a good attendance. Spring came with warmer temperatures, which inspired staff to continue with various cleaning and renovation projects. Greetings from Vienna. Om Shanti. OM.

http://www.sivananda.org/vienna

Om Namah Sivaya. The month of April Classes and courses continued as usual. We had a big kid’s class with Radhika. The priest Yagneshwara arrived to the Centre. We were blessed with two Pujas. Ganesha Siva Murti Puja was performed. All enjoyed the beautiful energies, even novices joyfully took part in Abhishekam and other ceremonies. The highlight was highly uplifting Sri Yantra Lamp Puja. High energy attracted students for the open day despite that the weather was like in summer time and everyone in the city preferred to stay outside. Almost all participants registered for Yoga 1 or 2 courses. OM.

http://www.sivananda.org/vilnius