Sivananda World News: The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashrams

Om Namah Sivaya, Greetings from the Headquarters. In June we were blessed with the beginnings of a beautiful summer in the Laurentians, loving the Sun and our Karma Yoga gardening almost every afternoon. In addition to working in and maintaining the Ashram gardens, we worked the Samadhi Estates garden and pathways: raking, weeding and cleaning. Online classes went well. We had 620 people participating in various classes in one week. The staff enjoyed a beautiful hour long Mahabharata story telling session, led by Sriram Raghavan of Gurukula.com. It was inspiring, sartorial and captivating. We reviewed with the city and municipality regarding the protocol for when the government signals our kind of business classification can reopen.

As June continued, the summer continued with long warm days and cool nights in the Ashram and the Laurentians. We were all busy with a lot of outdoor karma yoga cleaning up our gardens, paving and lining paths, cleaning up the Temple surroundings, minor renovation projects, etc. Online classes continued well. We had 436 people participating in various classes in one week. Our 4 week long, 4 Paths of Yoga course created a beautiful study circle, spanning across India, South America and Canada. We had many enthusiastic people participating, asking questions and discussing in earnestness. The format was well received, anchored by Swami Shivabhaktananda and Srinivas, our teacher from India. Sriram Raghavan from Florida, USA led a Mahabharata storytelling series for us every Sunday. He covered the origin of Mahabharata. It was enlightening and sartorial at the same time, helping us to remember the story and the lessons, even for people who are not familiar with the mythologies of India. Many people from Canada, South America and India participated. All these classes and courses, were truly enriching for all the Camp Staff during this period of seclusion and lockdown. Studying, understanding, contemplating and reflecting created some new and welcome routine for us. We were truly grateful. The government showed some leniency in the conditions attached to the lockdown, making us hopeful that we should be able to gradually open the Ashram soon. With no guests around also we are taking some time for some photo shoots and video productions for further use either in advertising or educational departments. May God’s grace and the teachers’ blessings always remain with us and guide us into being of impeccable service to the people around the world. Om.

COVID-19 Update:
Canadian Ashram and Centres will continue to offer Online private and group yoga classes, courses, and workshops. Our Online classes/courses will help keep you connected, inspired and energized. Amidst the obstacles and concerns of life today, the Sivananda Community wishes to create a space for all yogis to come together at anytime and any place. We’ve seen how important community practice and study can be. By coming together to better ourselves, we help spread those positive vibrations out into the world. Let us take this time to reconnect with ourselves through the practice. https://sivanandacanada.org/camp/Online-courses/ Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/camp

Namah Sivaya to all. In June there was lots of Om Tryambakam repetition for the health, happiness and moksha of Swami Sivadasananda ji as well as some Ashram inmates. The youngest in the Ashram, Hari, son of voluntary staff, celebrated his first birthday. He has also just started walking independently and was already wielding a broom! However, a bit of training was still needed to be an effective karma yogi. We celebrated the birthday of one of our karma yogis from Delhi, and the birthday of Suresh’s son, Yogeshwara. So staff and guests were all thoroughly treated with lots of cake, sweets and the Kerala traditional birthday paysam (sweet milk rice). The Ashram program continued quietly. The karma yogis are busy with online hosting, teaching and demonstrating and maintaining the Ashram as well as possible given frequent heavy monsoon rain. The Ashram air was filled with peaceful chanting of Om Namo Narayanaya as part of the chanting for world health project, in addition to our daily online Om Namo Narayanaya chanting.

As June continued, and with the monsoon having easing off a bit, the beautiful infinite blue skies allowed a fair amount of weeding outside. The paid staff have also been busy in the agricultural area planting more banana plants. The Ashram guest programs continued smoothly. The management of the all India online programs was smoother with an online management team meeting inaugurated. Everyone was happy, particularly the voluntary staff who were bringing food and water, that Nataraj and the other returnees from Madurai completed their 14 days isolation. With the State now in unlocking, Phase 1, the paid staff who have been resident in the Ashram during two and a half months of lockdown, left for home and a break. They were mostly working in the kitchen and were given a special thank you send-off as they had really done a good job and we hope they may be brought back into the kitchen again later! Vipin, from the voluntary staff side, also left for home in North Kerala, having finished his commitment and also being needed at home. We thank him for his unreserved support. Three guests also left in various directions bringing the guest number down to 14. May all be blessed with peace of mind. Om.

COVID-19 Update:
Due to the lockdowns announced by the Indian government, we will not be accepting any new visitors or guests to the Ashram. During this phase, we’ll be offering various classes, courses & programs Online. https://sivananda.org.in Details regarding this can be found at sivananda.org.in/Online-sessions. Please like our Facebook page to stay notified about live open classes, Satsangs & other programs. Our thoughts are with you all and we pray that you keep well and positive during these challenging times.

http://www.sivananda.org/neyyardam

COVID-19 Update:
Due to the lockdowns announced by the Indian government, we will not be accepting any new visitors or guests to the Ashram. During this phase, we’ll be offering various classes, courses & programs Online. Details regarding this can be found at www.sivananda.org.in/Online-sessions. Please like our Facebook page to stay notified about live open classes, Satsangs & other programs. Our thoughts are with you all and we pray that you keep well and positive during these challenging times.

http://www.sivananda.org/uttarkashi

Om Namo Narayanaya. Namaste from Madurai. Sending Prem and Om to all from our family of guests and staffs. Om.

COVID-19 Update:
Due to the lockdowns announced by the Indian government, we will not be accepting any new visitors or guests to the Ashram. During this phase, we’ll be offering various classes, courses & programs Online. Details regarding this can be found at www.sivananda.org.in/Online-sessions. Please like our Facebook page to stay notified about live open classes, Satsangs & other programs. Our thoughts are with you all and we pray that you keep well and positive during these challenging times. Namaste. Om.

www.sivananda.org/madurai

Om Namah Sivaya from the Ranch. In June we were so blessed to be surrounded by the glorious beauty of spring in New York State. We kept busy in the sunshine, working in the garden and the grounds. The karma yogis had the opportunity to contemplate the Vedantic philosophy of the snake and the rope daily as there are lots of garden snakes around! We remembered to breathe as we watch them peacefully pass by. We continued our online classes and courses. We started an Introduction to Sanskrit course and two Yoga 1 courses. We had a workshop on the Importance of a Spiritual Dairy. We added an Early Morning Class and a Midday Meditation. We continued to have good attendance and positive feedback on the availability of online classes. We continued our morning Srimad Bhagavatam study with Srinivasan. Overall, our staff are healthy and well, staying dedicated and strong in our Sadhana, communication, and support of each other. Sending our pranams to all!

COVID-19 Update:
Om Namo Narayanaya Blessed Self, dear friends and students,
Join us live Online via Zoom for our yoga classes. We will continue to share our practice with you, as well as to bring to you, teachers and musicians outside of the Ashram for as long as this crisis continues and we cannot meet in person. Though our income stream has been cut off since the closings, we know that you too are being challenged economically and we are making all of our sharings free of charge. However, if you have the means and the concern we will accept any donations to help support our full-time staff during these challenging times. With the blessings of Master and Swamiji all are in good spirits. Our Staff send Pranams to all! Om.

www.sivanandayogaranch.org/‎

Om Namah Sivaya. In June our weekly course offerings continued with the Sri Suktam course with Pandit Samavedul and the Good Karma Diet online workshop with MahaLakshmi. MahaLakshmi shares a specific recipe each week along with cooking and health tips. Swami Vasishtanandaji led a beautiful Siva Puja for the lunar eclipse in the Radha Krishna Hall. Swami Sitaramanandaji led an online Satsang with the Farm for a question and answer session, giving inspiration to all. Our weekly online West Coast Teacher meeting gathers teachers from all around. Swami Sitaramananda introduces a topic and vision for discussion to inspire the teachers to seek ways to share the teachings in our community and online. The staff visited the Yuba River weekly for pranayama, meditation, and swimming.

As June continued, the Farm had 16 students in a Meditation course in the evenings with Swami Dharmananda.  We also had a 3 days, 12 hours online Vaastu course with Olga Mandodari, with 17 students. We had 3 online classes with Swami Sita, one online Satsang just for the staff, one teachers meeting for Sivananda teachers and one Satsang for the general public. We also had the weekly Mantras class with Pundit Samavedula and the cooking workshop with Mahalakshmi Chaitanya. The Lavender came into full bloom and wafted a strong aroma around the Ashram. We are grateful for this opportunity to serve. May all feel Master and Swamiji’s blessings. Om.

COVID-19 Update:
The Sivananda Yoga Farm is presently closed, but we are happy to let you know that you can connect to the Ashram and to each other through our Online classes, courses, and workshops. We are offering Online Yoga classes and workshops. Please visit https://sivanandayogafarm.org/yoga-classes-online/ to easily join. We also offer Satsangs Online with Acharya Swami Sitaramananda. This challenging time is our opportunity to turn inward, deepen our practice, and to keep our community strong and healthy. Through Satsang and our collective positive thoughts we support each other and the world. Om Shanti.

http://www.sivananda.org/farm

Om Namo Narayanaya, Blessed Selves. June was eventful in the Bahamas. We celebrated Swami Swaroopananda’s birthday with a morning Pada Puja, many delicious plates of Prasad and greetings from near and far. The Temple was beautifully decorated and everyone put in great effort in preparation for the event. In the evening, there were musical performances, an interactive play, an asana competition and a recital of Bharatanatyam dance via Zoom with Shuba and Madhu Pramar. Swamini Atmaprakashananda concluded the teaching of the Dakshinamurti Stotram. We celebrated the conclusion of both this text and the Taittiriya Upanishad with a Puja. Throughout the evening Satsangs, there were many guest presenters via Zoom as part of the symposium on consciousness held in honor of Swamiji’s birthday. Guest speakers included Menas Kefatos, Subash Kak, Prantik Kundu.
On Thursday we bade a fond farewell to Sri Devi and to Omkar, who returned to the United States. Sri Devi serves in the Ashram regularly and she had spent the last year keeping us all well-fed and cared for. Omkar had been with us since February, helping greatly with running the online courses and social media. Safe travels to both of them and we look forward to seeing them back next season!

As June continued, the we began the study of the Aitareya Upanishad under the skillful guidance of Swamini Atmaprakashananda Saraswati. Evening Satsangs consisted of several guest presenters as a continuation of the symposium in honor of Swami Swaroopananda’s birthday. Sleep expert Rubin Naiman gave a preview for his webinar on ‘The Art of Sleep’ To conclude the symposium, Gaura Vani gave an evening of kirtan and storytelling from his home. Online students had the opportunity to learn from Swami Brahmananda and Krishna Chaitanya in the courses “Positive Thinking for Radiant Health and Peace of Mind” and “Essentials of Yoga: Deepen Your Practice.” As we move into summer, the trees shed their blooms with the change of the seasons and a delightful bed of crimson flower petals coated the forest floor while the hummingbirds and fish returned in greater numbers to their respective native environments. Around the Ashram, we continued to maintain the grounds, practice The Four Paths and The Five Points of yoga, cook and eat nourishing food and work toward mental purification and steadiness in order to perceive the subtlest reality implied by the term “Atman.”

We send our prayers to the worldwide community and wish everyone a blessed week. May all be well and may this be an opportunity to turn inward to that which is eternal and ever-free. Om Shanti.

COVID-19 Update:
https://www.sivanandabahamas.org/travel-update/

https://sivanandabahamas.org/yogic-tips-for-staying-healthy-during-uncertain-times/

Our Online courses are fully operational. https://sivanandabahamas.org/visiting-the-Ashram/Online-program/ Please visit our Online Program page for the latest schedule. We look forward to continuing to add Online programs, courses and guest speakers to our calendar. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/nassau

Om Namah Sivaya. In June we continued with the live online yoga classes, webinars and Satsangs. We had a beautiful celebration for Swami Sivadasananda’s 60th birthday. We held a TTC Refresher course with both students and staff enjoying the inspiring Satsangs, morning pranayama sessions and teaching workshops. Dr. Kamlesh gave a lecture on strengthening the immune system with Ayurveda. The second online TTC began mid-June. The students were very open and eager to learn. From India the priest led us in a Sarasvati Puja. S.K. Kamlesh gave a lecture on the six tastes in Ayurveda. Preparations for the reopening of the Retreat House started in early June for a re-opening late June. OM.

COVID-19 Update:
As the pandemic subsides, the borders to Germany and Switzerland and some other countries opened, so the Reith House is now open. You can enjoy a relaxing yoga holiday amidst beautiful nature.
The yoga Teacher Training Courses from 26 July to 23 August and from 30 August to 27 September 2020 will also take place, in addition to further education courses and further training for yoga teachers. SIVANANDA YOGA Teachers’ Training Courses are also available Online (TTCOL) as well as live Online Yoga, Workshops, Webinars and Group Meditations. Meanwhile receive all the latest information via our newsletter. https://www.sivananda.at/en/newsletter

http://www.sivananda.org/tyrol

Om Namah Sivaya. God gave us a special month of June starting with Swami Sivadasananda’s 60th birthday celebration by Zoom with beautiful Om Namo Narayanaya chanting by all the Sivananda Family. We had a very successful European TTC refresher on line. The teachers and the staff recharged with this four day TTC refresher retreat. Everyone irradiated joy, peace and gratefulness towards the Masters, the Acharyas and the whole organization. It was an inspiring program with many activities from Reith, Orleans and the different European Centres. We also enjoyed the programs with our priest from Bangalore and the weekly cooking class with Dr Kamlesh. We chanted Om Namo Narayanaya for a healthy planet. The staff had a little outing one Monday and we continued with the weekly courses of Meditation, Positive thinking and Mantras. A couple of close teachers continued taking care of the houses at the London and the Paris’ Centres.

As June continued, Life gave us inspiring days and the beginning of a new adventure with the starting of the second TTC online including three parallel courses and four languages. Beautiful combine effort of the Sivananda family from different parts in Europe and South America led by the The Acharyas. The Inauguration was very powerful with the recitation of the guru mantras by all the teachers of the course. The students seemed sincere and motivated. We all were very grateful for the workshops The Fire of Yoga, the Satsangs, the courses and the classes with the Acharyas and the Senior staff. Everyone continued to enjoy the programs with our priest from Bangalore and the weekly cooking class with Dr Kamlesh. The staff had a day off. We continued with the weekly courses. There were  Positive thinking and Mantras courses. There was also a Raja Yoga course and a Hatha Yoga Course as well as an adapted yoga course. Some teachers of the Paris’ Centre taught online classes from the Centre. The Masters keep sending prana and inspiration. The teachings of the Masters continued to inspire hundreds of people every day. OM.

COVID-19 Update:
The Ashram de Yoga Sivananda reopened to the public on the 26 June 2020. We continue to offer classes and Satsangs Online. You can keep in touch via our newsletter. For more information, please contact us on +33 (0) 2 38 91 88 82. SIVANANDA YOGA Teachers’ Training Course available Online – TTCOL. Let us use this time for a period of spiritual retreat, during which we can regenerate and give us a fresh impetus to our spiritual practice, and contribute to the peace and health of the planet. Change in the world starts with our lifestyle. Modern technology makes all this possible. We can be connected together Online!

Also,
Unite for a Healthy Planet – Every 1st Sunday of the month at 2PM Continental European Time for 30 minutes

http://www.sivananda.org/orleans

Om Namah Sivaya from DaLat Ashram. In early June the Ashram was quieter, with the departure of our large group of retreat guests. A small group arrived to take part in a 5 day course on Positive Thinking, led by Swami Narayanananda. Staff took time to recharge, and work on different upkeep projects in the Ashram. A larger group of guests arrived for the weekend retreat program. Swami Sitaramananda left the Ashram to visit the Ho Chi Minh City Centre, taking part in a TTC Information Day event to recruit students for the upcoming July TTC. In addition Swamiji visited the newly affiliated Sama Yoga Centre, in the busy District 7 of the city, run by former Ashram staff member Samadeva. Rainy season has now started in earnest, we often experienced heavy rain in the afternoons, which brought much life and prana to the landscape and surrounding forest. The Staff continued to be inspired and looked forward to busy times in the coming months, grateful for Guru’s grace and protection. Om.

www.sivanandayogavietnam.org/