Sivananda World News: The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Zentrum, Berlin, Germany

Om Namah Sivaya! In January courses restarted after the Christmas break and many students came back full of positive resolves for their yoga practice in 2020. The Centre was very active with the preparations for the upcoming Yoga Festival. Everybody was looking forward to the daily asana workshops, lectures and the Bhagavatam Recitation with Sri Venugopal Goswami from India. This festival, at the beginning of the year, was one of the spiritual highlights of the Centre. Many students and teachers from Berlin, Hamburg, Russia, Ukraine and Poland joined together for the program. Everybody enjoyed the positive atmosphere and the common yoga practice. In two teachers’ meetings, statements and guidance of the organization were given to teachers and close students. OM.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Buenos Aires, Argentina, South America

Om Namah Sivaya. In January we received Nandini from Bolivia. She will stay at the Centre until the end of January. A Beginners’ Yoga course began. Also two Meditation Courses were offered. We had a Trial Class with many people attending. January brings summer vacations in Buenos Aires, hence people had more free time to come to help in the Centre, including 3 more karma yogis joining the karma yogi group. With extra hands we tidied and cleaned the Centre deeply. During the summer months the Class for Children was suspended but for the Pregnancy Class more pregnant women partook. We also offered a Conquest of Wrath Workshop. We are blessed with the many Karma Yogis helping at the Centre. We hope all of you are well. Pranams. Om.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Chengdu, China

Om Namah Sivaya from Chengdu. In January a highlight was the Sunday morning workshop with Chinese Medicine doctor, Ms. Wan, who talked about what to expect in the upcoming year and how to eat properly and take good care of ourselves during the upcoming Spring Festival. Open classes were steady but with less students as the holiday New Year approached. We spent much of our energy closing this year of Pig and announcing programs for the upcoming year or the Rat. We wrapped the year with a one day intensive, with workshops and chanting. A few students joined, but all enjoyed preparing dumplings together and celebrating the end of the old year and the coming of the new. Amazingly, we received a message from Swami Sivananda on wishing us a prosperous and happy new year during the Satsang! By Guru’s grace, all staff are strong. May Guru’s Grace bless everyone. Om Shanti. Om.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Om Namah Sivaya to all Blessed Selves from the Chennai Centre. In January, as the heart of Chennaites, the weather also grew warmer. We jumpstarted the over flowing enthusiasm with a Beginner’ Yoga class, with 11 people participating. We were honoured and proud to propagate Yoga & Sivananda Lineage to the cream of Class One officers of the Reserve Bank Of India who were to be retired shortly, giving them the knowledge and confidence of the possibilities of enhancing their physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing through yoga. The class was attended by 24 enthusiastic participants actively in both theory & practical session. Our Kriya coaching classes picked up, with good numbers trying the kriya practices. We also had a Backward Bending Techniques workshop for a stronger back by Shanthi Vijaya with the elaborate theory on understanding the essentials of doing the backward bending asanas and the different types of asanas which enhances the benefits. Our Kids class picked up with new children, trying out the classes. We held a divinely filled Satsang, by Gopan, attended by our staffs, students, and their families.

Chennai weather gradually became hotter at January progressed. We offered a new Beginners’ Yoga course. To welcome the new Tamil month ‘Thai’ we had a Ganapathi Homa, and celebrated Pongal with the Centre’s staff making Pot Pongal outside, dressed traditionally with dresses gifted by the Centre, and praying to the Sun God, the harvest festival, celebrated widely all over Tamil Nadu, and celebrated by all students & staffs. The Chennai Centre had a less attendance, because of the extended festival holidays. We celebrated the birthday of our youngest karma yogi, Anjaneya, the toddler, and son of our staff, sharing yummy black forest cake. We viewed a video of practicing yoga, by our Karmayogi, Yosef. Gopan & Sandhya attended Sandeep’s marriage at Madurai, wishing & blessing the new couple. Meanwhile the Centre had a Headstand coaching session, attended by many of our students & also outsiders. We had a divine filled Sunday Satsang by our staffs, students, and their families. Otherwise all our classes, and courses continued just fine. All staffs are doing their personal Sadhana. May all live under the grace of Master and Guru. Prayers and Greetings from Chennai Centre. Pranams! Om.

We would also like to share a video, highlighting the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in Chennai, India. There’s an endearing section on family yoga. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFfdbT2iChg]

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Chicago, USA

Om Namah Sivaya. In January students slowly returned to classes after holidays away. Classes and Satsangs continued well with everyone in good spirits. Students and teachers continued with their Sadhana, while, at the same time, sitting in the unknown of what will happen re: the organization in 2020. Mid January classes and Satsang were quiet, perhaps due to a winter storm that brought snow and the coldest temperatures of the winter. Staff and karma yogis prepared to close the annex building and return all activities back to the main Centre building. We were grateful to the Gurus for continuing to protect and inspire our Sadhana. We wish you awareness of Guru’s Grace. Pranams to all. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shantihi. Om.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta DÀ LAT Centre, Dà Lat, Vietnam

Om Namah Sivaya from the beautiful DaLat Centre. In January we opened a new Beginners’ Yoga course Y1 with 3 students register. Beginners’ Yoga Y2 course was finished with students continuing with an all levels class. With the Lunar New Year holiday coming, people were busy so the number of students in the Centre was a little bit low. The Centre closed for 7 days. We arranged the end of year party for staff and Karma Yogis, giving gifts for the house owner and started to deep clean the whole Centre before the holiday. All the classes in the Centre ran well, with stable student numbers. Staff maintained their Sadhana, helping to keep the good energy of the Centre. We pray that the Guru’s grace to always be with us. Om.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta DWARKA Centre, Delhi, India

Om Namah Sivaya. Staff maintained Sadhana and Karma Yoga well. Om.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta NATARAJA Centre, Delhi, India

Greetings from Sivananda Nataraja Centre. In January started with one Beginners’ Yoga course at 6:30 pm. We could not start the Beginners’ Yoga course at 10:00 am because of cold. The number of students marginally increased because the winter holidays were over. Air quality index was variable but still too much of air pollution. Kapoorji attended the Indian Yoga Association Executive Committee at Bangalore. The weather in Delhi improved mid January. The temperature increased and because of this the number of students also increased. Satsangs were attended by teachers and students which gave lot of energy to the Centre. The rest of the Centre’s activities went well, with the Grace of Gurus. Good wishes to all the Sivananda community from Nataraja Centre. Om.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Geneva, Switzerland

Om Namah Sivaya. In January we had the visit of the priest, Yagneshwara. He performed 2 Pujas during the evening Satsang, one Siva Puja and one Durga Yantra Puja. He also performed morning Pujas and a purification ceremony. The students felt uplifted by the good vibrations and we also heard some stories about Siva and Shakti, told by the priest and the staff. We had a session “Yoga for Children and Parents” with Saraswati & Ananta. 5 families came and we had a nice playful Yoga session. Girija cooked a wonderful meal and some of them stayed for the meal. We also had weekend Yoga 1 Intensive course with 4 people and a session “Preparation for the TTC” from 15h30 to 20h00. A 5 week Ayurveda course started with Parameshwari, who has studied Ayurveda for 20 years, which included a cooking course. We also had a retreat on the Salève with 9 people. It was great to go on the mountain and have a walk in the snow (there is no snow in Geneva), 2 classes and a Satsang. OM.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Om Namah Sivaya. The Hochiminh Centre continued having a good number of students for courses and open classes in January. We offered students the Ayurveda Workshop taught by Durga Leela with 23 attendants. Durga Leela taught the Ayurveda portion in SYHET course in Dalat Ashram and came to HCM Centre and stayed here for three nights on her way to India. We had the pleasure to welcome Swami Vasishtananda and Jaya Krishnan for a few hours in HCM city on their way to the Ashram. Swami Pranavananda went to Dalat Ashram, staying for the New Year Holidays. Ganga Chaitanya and Durga Chaitanya continued to translate for SYHET. We looked forward to their return. Devika continued a Yoga Two course. The Students attended classes regularly. The other courses continued. Pranams to the Sivananda Family. Om.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, London, England

Om Namah Sivaya. In January we were very happy to see Vishwakarma. He designed a new wooden altar for the upstairs hall, doing a very nice meticulous job. Ramapriya taught her first Beginners’ Yoga course level 1, assisted by Kailas, to many inspired students. Savitri gave the Introduction to Positive Thinking. Kailas and Chandra continued to work on the brochure guided by Swami Kailasananda and Swami Jyotirmayananda. Sivapriya took care of the reception and administrative tasks with lot of energy and devotion. We had a lot of help, Amine, a new yogi karma who finished his TTC in Orleans in December came to do karma yoga at the Centre. He distributed flyers in the city to promote the New Year festival. Jnaneshwari was still very active with many projects in the house. We were very happy to see Sitabhanu back to the Centre. Ishwari Yumiko cleaned all the lamps on the altar. Saraswati and Jnaneshawari spent time preparing and cleaning the Centre and the rooms for the course. Thursday, Manisha took care of the altar, flowers and reception. Chandra and Kailas finally finished the brochure. They were very happy present the new brochure. The students started arriving for the training “How to Teach Yoga to Seniors”. We were happy to welcome Jaya Bharati, from Paris, to give the further training course one weekend. Sivapriya continued to work on the administrative tasks for the Centre and in charge of welcoming the students and guiding them in the Centre. Kailas gave the Asanas course “Develop your Flexibility” with 12 motivated students, then he gave the evening Satsang with beautiful Kirtans. We had a inspiring morning Satsang, inspired by the Bliss Divine book by Swami Sivananda, on the Bhakti chapter. The house was full. Saraswati gave the intermediate class to 26 students. Savitri successfully taught the first class of Beginners’ Yoga level 1 with 12 students and the vegetarian cooking class to 12 students and generously assisted by Lucien. Sitabhanu taught the Yoga Level 2 and Ramapriya was very happy to give his first kids class. The further training with Jaya Bharati started with the first two workshops, the students were delighted. We were happy to have new teachers close to the Centre coming to join the workshops of Jaya Bharati. Kailas led evening Satsangs. Jaya Bharati’s training ended. The students were very happy. It was a success, busy and positive with different activities. We had one hour of Svadhyaya, led by Kailas and in the evening, he taught the headstand workshop. Ramapriya gave her first yoga course level 1 and Savitri the positive thinking course. Peter came for the accounts all day and Sivapriya (Andrea) mainly took care of the reception and worked on different projects. Colin, a student close to the Centre, came to do karma yoga for the whole day. He arrived regularly for two weeks to support the Centre. Saraswati returned to the Paris Centre. Kailas gave the yoga course level 1 assisted by Kanti Devi (Gosia) and Ishwari Yumiko gave the yoga course level 2. Wednesday morning, Jnaneshwari returned to Geneva after three weeks of precious service. Kailas distributed flyers and brochures in the street to promote the activities of the Centre in particular the New Year festival. The Bhagavad Gita study group was led by Kailas. Savitri taught the pregnancy class. Manisha took care of the altar with devotion. It was precious to have her presence and help at the Centre. Sitabhanu continued her project on MindBody. She also checked the information and compared it with the brochure. Ramapriya continued teaching the Yoga course level 1 with generosity. We had a good team of karma yogis bringing a lot of energy and support to the Centre. Amine and Olivier distributed around 500 flyers in the street to promote the activities of the Centre. Kailas finalized the preparations for the New Year festival. He gave also the Asanas Course “Develop your Flexibility” to 15 inspired students and the evening Satsang. We had a busy and dynamic day. It was the New Yoga festival and the house was full of people. Kailas gave the talk on the subject: “Health is wealth. Peace of mind is happiness. Yoga shows the way”. Then, Jaya Sarah gave the trial class for beginners with a group of 36 people and Kailas gave the intermediate trial class. Savitri gave the introduction to yogic cooking workshop, Raksha the cooking demonstration, the students really appreciated all the activities. Jaya Sarah taught the introduction to meditation and Kailas the TTC/ Yoga retreats presentation. Students were very happy and well taken care of by the many karma yogis fully present to make this New Year Festival successful. Their help was very precious. Kailas led Satsang and read about Yayati’s story and concluded with one letter by Master. The Sunday Prayers were dynamic. All other activities unfolded very smoothly, positively with a successful New Yoga Festival. The Masters sent us an army of karma yogi to support the Centre. It was a real blessing to have so much support. We felt blessed and grateful to be able to continue the Swami Vishnudevananda’s Peace Mission. May the Master’s and Guru’s blessings be with all in 2020. OM.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Om Namo Narayanaya. In January, Pundits Samavedula and Manisharma performed a five-hour Chandi Homa at the Centre for the benefit of the entire Organization. The names and nakshatras of the EBM (when known) and many staff were read during the Sankalpa. Although rain was not forecast, a light rain fell before and afterwards. An otherworldly peace could be felt. The Centre’s theme in early January was relaxation, offering a 2-hour Restorative Yoga workshop and a Yoga Nidra session. Many students stayed for dinner after class, including several Psychology students looking for spirituality. Rich conversations ensued. A dozen students from Soka University visited the Centre for a 4-hour program designed for them, including asana and pranayama, an intro to Ayurveda, a talk on concentration, a meditation practice and a vegetarian lunch. They were struck by the peaceful atmosphere at the Centre. An enthusiastic new contact, Meng Gong, gave a delightful Ayurveda Talk, encouraging all to participate. She even concocted some teas for us to try. Her attitude towards service was striking. In addition to open classes, we offered a Hip Opening Workshop and Vegan Thai Cooking Workshop. Both were well-attended. We started reading from the Ramayana at Sunday evening Satsangs. By the grace of Master and Guruji, may everything be well for all. Om.

The Los Angeles
SIVANANDA YOGA VEDANTA Centre
3741 W 27th St, Los Angeles, CA
310-822-9642

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Madrid, Spain

Om Namah Sivaya, Blessed Selves! In early January our regular schedule resumed and students were happy to be back after the holidays. The focus was the promotion of Centre activities in the neighbourhood and preparing for the upcoming season. We offered a well received Sanskrit course, led by Lakshmi, plus many newcomers for trial classes. Several maintenance projects started, such as refurbishing of the office and setting up a new Puja kitchen. Students were happy with the new advanced class on Friday evenings. A small pranayama workshop took place. Priest Yagneshwara Dixit arrived for a special program: workshops about mudras and mythology were appreciated by our regular students. Spiritual highlights were the Ganesha Murti Puja and Sudharshana Yantra Puja, bringing much energy and Sattva to the Centre. We also had the first Open Day of the year with many inspired newcomers enrolling for the coming courses. We are grateful to Master and Swamiji for inspiring so many souls on their path. Pranams to all. OM.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Madurai, India

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

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Montevideo, Uruguay

Om Namah Sivaya! In January we continued closure of the big building as work continued on rebuilding the structure eroded by termites. Kanti Devi and Chandra went to Garopaba TTC-ATTC Retreats and Courses. Geraldine went on vacation. May the Grace of Gurudev and Swamiji be upon us all. Om.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Om Namah Sivaya and Greetings from the Montreal Centre! In January we had a very cold and a pretty white start to the new year in Montreal. Although the student numbers were low, we were happy that slowly the students started to come back from holidays full of enthusiasm to start the year with yoga. The membership and the one month unlimited promotion for January attracted new students. All the classes ran smoothly and two courses of Beginners’ Yoga started. We had a hip opening workshop with Bhagirathi. We participated in an uplifting Satsang with Swami Shivabhaktananda, including his lecture on contentment, giving a lot of inspiration to the students. By the grace of the Masters and all the support of the community, everything else ran well at the Montreal Centre. Pranams to all! Om.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Munich, Germany

Om Namah Sivaya. In January the last staff returned from the holiday program in the Sivananda Yoga Retreat House in Reith/Tyrol/Austria and we started with full prana into the new year. We had the first Open House of the year. It was very successful with a good number of participants who were very happy and booked many courses afterwards. We held a stress management course consisting of a workshop, a special yoga class and a Satsang. The topic proved to be very popular with a good number of students coming for the course. We started a new meditation course with a group of very open minded students. One weekend we had a TTC preparation afternoon. All participants expressed their intention to enroll for one of the TTCs this year. We also taught a “Thought Power and Positive Thinking” weekend course. From we had an information stall at the main annual yoga fair for three days in Munich. We talked to many people about the activities of the Centre, the yoga vacation programs and the TTCs. We also gave two well-attended asana workshops at the fair. OM.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Neuquén, Argentina

Om Namah Sivaya from Neuquen. Om Shanti and Prem to everyone. Om.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, New York, USA

Om Namah Sivaya from Manhattan. In January the first full week of 2020 classes went well. Many people were away with colds or flu, yet registrations were strong for the upcoming courses. Bhavani returned to the Centre. Swami Paramananda came from the Yoga Ranch, along with Ganga and Dharmini, to lead the evening Satsang. Attendance was very good, and we were grateful for Swamiji’s visit and time to connect. Mokshapriya went to the Yoga Ranch to support weekend programs there. Meanwhile, we offered a Pranayama Workshop with Swami Satyapremananda. We experienced unusually Spring-like weather. Lalita Chaitanya arrived from a visit to the Ranch Ashram, together with Mokshapriya, to lead the evening Satsang. The chanting was particularly joyful, and her presence was wonderful. Staff were grateful for the community and the grace of the Gurus and send pranams to all. May Gurudev’s blessings continue to light our path. Om.

Centre de Yoga Sivananda Vedanta, Paris, France

Om Namah Sivaya. The Masters keep sending teachers and help to the Paris Centre. Nine new teachers assisted the Open Classes while also training themselves by teaching the staff. The citywide strike was stronger with a couple of big demonstrations which passed close to the Centre. The stations and the streets nearby were closed. In spite of it all, many students and Karma yogis arrived to our Centre. Because of the strike, the family gets bigger in the evenings. The priest, staff, some karma yogis and teachers have to sleep in the Centre while passing on their way to the Orleans Ashram. We started to do the planning of the new brochure and put prana on the inventory. There was a positive thinking course at the Centre. There was also a sun salutation workshop with a small group of motivated students. Every day, the staff and some students chanted Om Namo Narayanaya for peace and the Divine Mother’s mantra. We also chanted the Gayatri before the Aarati. That day, we fasted because of the moon eclipse. We were happy to see Sivakami who came back from India. She gave a very successful cooking class. Daya assisted her and Vyasa and his team in the kitchen, prepared a delicious meal for over than forty people. For the evening Satsangs we had many kirtans and some inspiring words of Swami Sivananda on the topics of Joy, Mantras and Silence. We celebrated Swami Nityananada’s birthday with inspiring letters from the Master, with the Sunday prayers, a shower of Mantras and prayers and a special cake and a little zoom meeting with Swami Kailasananda. The Main Altar looked like a blooming garden.

In spite of the strike, the Masters keep sending many students and precious help. There was a one-week meditation course in the mornings. There was also a couple of Beginners’ Yoga courses starting, with big groups of students. We started also a pranayama course, a nutrition course and a positive thinking course with little groups of motivated students. There was a Ganesha and Siva Puja, led by the priest Yaneswra who passed by on his way to Orleans. After the Puja, Ganapati, Narayan and the priest went to Orleans Ashram. God gave us a big family in the evenings with a couple of teachers sleeping in the Centre because of the strike. We were happy to see Saraswati who came from London for a couple of weeks. The Centre was happy to have a Satsang with Swami Jyotirmayananda. Swamiji talked about Bhakti from a letter of Swami Sivananda. We started to do the planning of the new brochure and we put prana on the inventory. The staff and some teachers continued to chant the Divine Mother’s mantra in the afternoons. Life gave us a good Open House, in spite of the strike and the strong public manifestation just in front of the building. Some bikes were burnt and the bus stations nearby, were broken. Some people came to find shelter in the Centre from the chaos in the street. The new comers were eager to start their practice. Saraswati gave two interesting Yoga and Anatomy workshops on the topics of “alignment” and the “knee”. For the evening Satsangs we had beautiful kirtans and an inspiring words of Swami Sivananda on the topics of mind and purity. OM.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Porto Alegre, Brasil, South America

Greetings from Porto Alegre. May all live under Master’s and Guru’s grace. Om Shanti. Om.

Centro Yoga Vedanta Sivananda, Rome, Italy

Om Namah Sivaya, Blessed Selves. In January we got back to the regular schedule after the Christmas season. Students were happy to come back to the classes. We had a Puja for the beginning of 2020 and special class to inspire the practice for this coming year. We had a successful Open House with many registration for the new courses. Many participated in the whole Saturday program, the Sunday class and Satsang. We started the new beginner courses for yoga 1 and 2 in the morning and evening with good attendance. A highlight was a 3-hour yoga class with long period of pranayama and asana variations. It was very appreciated by the students. All the participants looked forward to the next class next month. OM.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, San Francisco, California, USA

Om Namo Narayanaya, Blessed Selves. We are always thankful to our teachers and Gurus that have created the space to hold so much important work. May the Truth be spread far and wide. Om.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, San Paulo, Brasil

Om Namah Sivaya. May the Masters continue to pour prana and harmony onto the Sao Paulo Sivananda Centre. Om Shanti Shanti to all the Sivananda family. Om Shanti.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Tel Aviv, Israel

Om Namah Sivaya. During January we put much energy into the Centre in so many different ways such as renovations and deep cleaning. A close student donated a new wooden floor to the reception area and so it was installed. It looked beautiful! We opened two new courses with Swami Shambhudevananda: Pranayama, and Advanced Asanas. Over 30 students registered to the Pranayama and over 20 to the asanas course. Staff was busy promoting many new upcoming courses. A quiet weekend allowed the staff to practice their Sadhana and rest. On one Sunday evening Satsang, Swami Shambhu continued with the inspiring talks on the 20 spiritual instructions, this time on the practice of Brahmacharya. After installing a new wooden floor at the reception, we created a new seating area for the students with a nice tea corner and moved the receptionist desk by the boutique. It looked very pretty, receiving many compliments from everyone. The Pranayama course, with Swami Shambhudevananda, opened very successfully with 32 students. We held introductory classes to the upcoming Meditation and Positive thinking courses. We held an Open House Day with over 80 people joining in Satsang, yoga class and a festive meal. Many long-time teachers from different parts of the country came and the reunion was lovely. Swami Shambhudevananda continued his series of talks about the 20 spiritual instructions, with this time on the subject of Charity. It was inspiring! Courses and classes went well. The staff is doing great, wishing everyone happy holidays full of light, strength, inspiration, and faith. May the Master’s grace be with all in 2020! Om.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Tokyo, Japan

Om Namah Sivaya. In January a Tattva Bhoda workshop and a Vedanta workshop were held. The regular asana classes were joined by more students than usual, both on weekdays and weekends. We had many people who signed up for our membership and purchased the 1-year pass to continue their yoga practice on a regular basis. There were 3 people visiting us at the Tokyo Centre for the first time after they learned about us when they attended the New Year program at the Shojiko Retreat. Sunday evening Satsangs were joined by more people than usual because it was a 3-day weekend. We held the monthly Vedanta workshop. Owing to the Year-end Vedanta workshop, larger number of students than usual attended the program, including 3 people who came for the first time. We offered trial classes twice a week. The Saturday Chi Nei Tsang workshops and the Sunday Headstand workshops were given. Despite the cold and snowy weather, our regular students came to the Centre for their practice as always. There were nearly twice as many people who joined a Sunday morning Satsang as usual. We had 5 applicants for the Japan TTC and also confirmed their payments completed. Gradual increase of applicants are exhibited. May Master and Swamiji’s grace be with all in 2020! Om Shanti, Shanti, Shantihi. Om.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Om Namah Sivaya. In January several Yoga 2 courses and a Beginners Yoga course started. Our Tuesday student meal was cooked by Kalyani. Teachers by now all returned from holidays and most of them resumed their teaching spots. We spent some time doing smaller maintenance projects. Gopala from Montreal joined us at the Centre. Bhavani extended her stay for another couple of weeks in Toronto. Mid month a Meditation course and several Beginners’ Yoga courses started. Saraswati started Teen Yoga and Meditation course. Mayavan offered a two part Yoga and Anatomy workshop, attended by ten students. We continued working on several smaller maintenance projects and on arranging some outside classes this week. All staff are well. We send Om Namo Narayanaya to everyone for 2020. Pranams. Om.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Trivandrum, Kerala, India

Om Namah Sivaya. We pray for one and all’s health in our large Sivananda family. Pranams to all from the Trivandrum Centre. Om.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Vienna, Austria

Om Namah Sivaya. In January a Y1, Y2, Y3 and Y18 started and we had nice groups here for the trial class and the Open House day with a few inscriptions afterwards. In preparation for the upcoming special program, staff moved rooms and with the help of karma yogis the Ananda – Kutir was freshly painted. Lamps and ventilators in the hall were dismantled to make space for the saptaha-stage, furniture and decorations which were retrieved from the basement. The stage was set up and the hall was decorated. Staff put prana into the planning. New items for the shop arrived and the boutique was restocked. The brochure came from the printer and a mailing was prepared and sent out. We enjoyed a nice Satsang about the three Gunas and action. Our teachers generously donated flowers and the altar looks already festive and radiant. Staff were happy about the lively and dynamic Centre and we are looking forward to welcome our guests.

We had a beautiful week with the Yoga Festival “Light, Strength and Wisdom” and we were happy to receive the visit of the Acharyas. A highlight of the program was a lecture with Swami Durgananda about “The Essence of Yoga” and many long long-time students were here to draw inspiration from the very special atmosphere and energy at the Centre. The various activities were well visited, also by new students. The evenings were beautifully enriched by a Nada Yoga concert and verses of wisdom by Sri Venugopal Goswami and accompanying musicians. Swami Sivadasananda and Swami Gokulananda gave lectures, classes and workshops. Swami Ramapriyananda stayed with us a few days before the program to support the preparations which was much appreciated. The Centre was radiating energy and light. We are looking forward to the continuation of the program. OM.

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Vilnuis, Lithuania

Om Namah Sivaya. OM.