Sivananda World News: The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres

Om Namah Sivaya. We started with an open house, which saw a good group of newcomers, all activities like cooking workshop, asana demonstration, trial class and introduction to meditation were well visited. The weekend after we went to our annual springtime retreat: 40 people gathered for the weekend at Finkenwerderhof, a very nice place located in Northern Germany between Berlin and Hamburg. It was a good group of students, newcomers, many students and teachers. Participants came mainly from Berlin and Hamburg. Everybody enjoyed the classical Ashram schedule with Satsangs, Asana classes and lectures. The daily walks were highly appreciated, as it was the first warm weekend this year with lots of sun and high temperatures. On Sunday afternoon everybody was recharged and left happy. The two cooking workshops –one in the beginning and one in the end of the month- went very well. The first one was on the right usage of protein, the second one easy dishes for busy people. Both were well visited, all dishes came out very nice, people left happy and inspired. A preparation day as well as in introduction to meditation were other weekend courses this month. The regular activities of the Centre went on as usual, Yoga 1 courses are running smoothly as well as higher asana courses. OM.

http://www.sivananda.org/berlin

Om Namah Sivaya. Hello from Buenos Aires. At the beginning of March we opened two “Beginner Courses” and a lot of people showed up. We opened a “Meditation Course” and we cancelled the “Conquer of Anger” for due to lack of annotated. The “Trial Class” was delivered and a lot of people showed up.

Mid-March was very hot and very quiet here at the Centre. There were no worshops and few teachers due to “TTC Course” and ” Refresh Course”. There were some Karma Yogis who came to help. Prem & Om to all.

http://www.sivananda.org/baires

http://www.sivanandayogachina.org

Om Namah Sivaya to all Blessed Selves from the Chennai Centre. At the beginning of March we started new morning Beginners course, with good number of students. We had many activities going on. Prahladji directed a teachers’ meeting where the main subject was on how to teach according to the Sivananda Guidelines. Teachers and Staff enjoyed a nice dinner after the meeting. The South Indian Yatra Group came for a class with Prahladji. During the afternoon the Yatra Group enjoyed a Kerala Feast dinner. Same day Chennai Staff and Prahladji went to teach a special Stress Management Program at the Reserve Bank of India. Thirty people attended the course with very good feedback at the end. The South Indian Yatra concluded their visit with a dance program and Tamil Nadu dinner. Fireworks accompanied the evening. Prahladji went back to Canada. Classes and all our daily activities continued nicely; all thanks to the Grace of the Masters.

Mid-March saw the Centre begin three beginners batches with a good number of students: Evening Beginners, Gentle Yoga Beginners and Weekend Beginners. Nittin came back from Kerala and Arjun and Jishnu went back to their home places to arrange personal things. Rinjit, new Staff from Neyyer Dam, joined our Staff for three months. Swami Jnaneswarananda, after finishing TTC arrived. She led the Satsang with inspiring and energetic words from Swami Vishnudevananda’s Upadesa. Also Yaspar and Parvati, Madurai Staff, attended. They are on their way to Sikkim TTC. The climate became hotter, but we are lucky to have the ocean breeze near. The month was pleasant, thanks to the Grace of the Masters. Teachers and staff are well and sending pranams to the Sivananda family.

http://www.sivananda.org/madras

Om Namah Sivaya. Greetings from Chicago Centre, where it was a very good beginning to March. Weather became warmer and sunnier, giving the city a more Spring-like feel and Chicagoans more spring in their step. Attendance for Satsang and open classes was up, new sessions of Yoga 2 and Yoga 3 began, and it felt like the Centre was thriving. We remain profoundly grateful for the grace and guidance of the Gurus, which makes all this possible.

Mid-March saw we enjoyed a period of Spring-like weather followed by snow. It was Spring Break for many Chicagoans, and several teachers, students, and karma yogis were traveling, which made for a quieter environment. One weekend was lively, though, with a visit from Swami Shivabhaktananda, presenting programs called “City Sadhana: Life as a Learning Process,” and Sushila, presenting a workshop called “Freeing Yourself from Habits.” Both programs were well attended and well recevied. We were grateful for their presence, energy, and inspiration. As the latest batch of snow melted, Karma Yogis were making initial preparations for the gardening season. We looked forward to more warm, sunny weather. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shantihi.

http://www.sivananda.org/chicago

Om Namah Sivaya. At the beginning of March both the weather and the positivity have been radiantly flowing at the Dalat Centre! We started teaching Yoga 1 in English at the Centre and have seen the students flourish with understanding of the Sivananda lifestyle and the breakdown of the asana poses. It has been lovely to watch the transition of how it has affected a resident into adjusting more comfortably in the open class. We have been fortunate to have such great helping hands around the Centre willing to assist and participate in karma yoga.

https://sivanandayogavietnam.org

Om Namah Sivaya. At the beginning of March the climate showed impressive figures on all our papers and Centre is livelier now. We started a meditation course and a beginner course and another one on weekends. It was Holi on Friday – the festival of colors; we took a break from teaching after first open session in the morning. Rest of the day was solely for jollification – throwing colors, making and distributing ghujiya (a special sweet snack) with our students and some visiting staff. Other than that all other sessions like Gentle, Prenatal and regular open& intermediate sessions happened in a good pace. As usual we had Satsang on Sunday evenings with more students than we used to having.

By the God’s grace and Gurudev blessing all the activities went very well in the Centre, during mid March. We started new beginners course with sufficient numbers of students. All the classes and course continued very well. All the staff were busy with their karma yoga and enjoying their spiritual practice. We started the Navaratry Puja for next nine days every morning 4:45 to 6am. All the staff enjoyed the devi Puja. Otherwise weather was getting pleasant. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/dwarka

Om Namo Narayanaya. At the beginning of March we started with two beginners’ course one at 6:30am and the other at 4:00pm. We also started the “Foundation to Meditation” course on Wednesdays. Due to the unexpected rain and the Holi holiday, the no. of students reduced. We celebrated the festival Holi with colors on Friday March 6th morning with the students from morning 6:30am class as they finished their yoga practice. We conducted a Shat Kriya workshop one Saturday which was attended with good no. of students. With the blessings of the Masters the rest of the activities awent well.

During mid March, with the Grace of the Masters, we started two beginners’ course one at 10:00am and the other at 6:30pm with good no. of students. On Wednesday March 11th Neelkanthji & Karoonaji left from the Centre for Maynmar. We conducted a flexibility on move (Surya Namaskar) workshop on Saturday March 14th. The Sunday Satsang was attended by good number of people and it was uplifting and energizing as usual. In general, the week was good and all the activities went well with the blessings of the Gurus. Pranams to All. Prem and Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/delhi

Om Namah Sivaya. At the beginning of March a highlight included a special program with the south Indian priest. It started with a beautiful Krishna Murti Puja on Saturday and continued with a Sudarshana Yantra-Puja on Sunday. The energy was up, everyone left inspired and with shining faces. Before one of the Pujas one of our teachers was here with his wife and his one month old baby to receive the blessings from the priest. We chanted mantras in front of the Yantra and the baby was very quiet and sweet. The weekends were busy with an open day, a beginners’ intensive course and a TTC-preparation day. We also had a fasting day with 10 students which went very well and everyone was inspired by the conjoint practice. The purification could be heard during the chanting in the evening Satsang after the fast which was especially energetic and harmonious. A few maintenance and household-projects were completed and the search for a new Centre continued with a detailed evaluation of possible new places.

Mid-March saw Courses and classes continuing as usual. A Yoga 1 and Yoga 2 started with a good number of interested students. On the weekend we had a Yoga 2 crash course which was also well visited. Throughout the week we had nice support from karma yogis in various departments of the Centre. Deliveries for the boutique arrived which was restocked and rearranged. Om Shanti.

http://www.sivananda.org/geneva

Om Namah Sivaya. The beginning of March was a start after Tet for students so all are very positive and a lot of energy, more students coming to Satsang every Wed and Sun and morning and become more regular, most of them are foreigners. The Ho Chi Minh Centre welcomed 2 new residents from New Zealand and 1 old resident from Japan with Canadian citizenship staying in the Centre before Tet now coming back. The Centre started Yoga 1 with 14 students in one class. Most of Staff come to TTC in DaLat so only 3 in the Centre with 2 working during the day. Still the energy of the Centre was high and positive as we are all grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve.

Om Namah Sivaya. At the beginning of March the main focus was on the new format London brochure, with two photo-shoots and proof reading taking place. Preparations for the London TTC and discussions with prospective bookers also continued. A 10-day program of special themed classes has been running with Swami Jyotirmayananda and Girija, continuing the mission of raising the standard of classes. There was a successful ‘Ayurveda in Daily Life Weekend’ program with Angela Hope-Murray. This attracted several new and enthusiastic students, and others who are known to the Centre but live further afield. The participants were very pleased with the informative lectures and the cooking workshop and there was an air of joy in the Centre throughout the weekend.

Mid-March saw a new wooden floor installed in the asana hall in front of the altar, replacing the floor that had been damaged last summer due to a flood. The floor is beautiful and is a nice uplift of the meditation area. TTC London and Wales retreat bookings continued to come in. One Thursday evening, a meeting with the council and the neighbours took place to feedback on the remedial measures taken by the Centre to alleviate the complaints of the neighbours about noise disturbance and parking issues. There was much appreciation from the majority of residents in attendance for what the Centre has done since the last meeting. A nice group of close Centre students joined for the Saturday workshop on the topic “Finding Meaning in Life”. Staff are well and send OM & Prem to All.

http://www.sivananda.org/london

Om Namo Narayanaya! At the beginning of March Lakshmana left staff after 6 months of good service at the Centre. We wish him well on his return to ‘the material world’. We had an excellent turn out for the Devi Puja at Satsang one Sunday night. Warm, sunny weather affected Centre attendance – the beach is more attractive! Sending our Pranams to all.

http://www.sivananda.org/la

Om Namah Sivaya, Blessed Selves! At the beginning of March Lakshmi taught the Headstand asana to 9 students. During the weekend we began an intensive course for beginners. On Saturday we had an Open Day, with 24 people. Some of them registered for beginners courses. For the Easter Retreat we have at the moment 17 enrolments.

Mid-March we began a course for beginners with 9 students. Gopala taught the Concentration workshop. On the weekend we had the conclusion with final exam of first aid course, which the Centre had organized for Sivananda TTC graduates from various parts of Spain. The themes of the Satsangs were “Guru” of Upadesha and “Proper diet”.
Rukmini returned to Lisboa after serving at the Centre for three months. Pranams to all.

http://www.sivananda.org/madrid

Om Namah Sivaya. Staff convey their Pranams to all. Om Shanti!!

http://www.sivananda.org/madurai

Om Namah Sivaya! At the beginning of March Kanti Devi travelled to Bariloche, Argentina is performed where the TTC. Chandra travelled to Bariloche and returned on Monday 9th. The Beginner course concluded and the meditation course, guided by Chandra began. The newest beginners’ courses is full. The students are very excited and happy. Uruguay Karma Yogi, Bárbara arrived. She is Karma Yogi of Brazil TTC in Garopaba 2015. She will in the Centre for 2 months. Prema guided the Meditation with a significant number of students who sang with much devotion. The energy was wonderful! The rest of the activities were carried out normally.

Mid March continued, with the regular classes and meditation course. A beginner course started on Mondays, with a beautiful group of the students showing interest for learning. The Wednesday meditation course finished. The students were interested in the practice and have got books and CDs to keep connected with it. The beginners course on Wednesday and Thursday kept going with a lot energy and enthusiasm. There were few people in Open Doors Journey, but many of them already inscribe themselves to the next beginners curses. The rest of the activities follow as usual. Om Shanti to all!!

http://www.sivananda.org/montevideo

Om Namah Sivaya. At the beginning of March we began to see signs of Spring, and it is encouraging to know that winter will soon be passing. The Centre was fairly quiet due to spring break, as many students went away on vacation or spent time with their families. We were pleased to welcome a new group of 8 students to the Meditation 1 course. The group were curious and open to learning about the practice and philosophy of meditation. Roy, a long term teacher taught the course. His precision and care was appreciated by the students and Centre. A devotional chanting course also started. The group of 8 came to learn how to chant and gain more confidence. They also spent time learning about how to expand their Sadhana through the principles of Bhakti yoga.
We finished the week with a beautiful Satsang lead by Swami Shivbhaktananda. In celebration of ‘International Women’s Day, he spoke of Shakti and understanding the nature and effects of the female energy. It was wonderful. We are ever grateful for the guidance of Master and Swami ji.

Mid-March arrived and the Centre continued with its regular schedule. Sankara led a chanting workshop at the beginning of the week, where 4 students learned how to correctly chant the opening and closing prayers. We began a new Sanskrit course on Tuesday evenings, with Mirabai teaching a few eager students. Sankara left for Toronto to celebrate his birthday and take care of some family affairs. Sunday came with a full kid’s class of 10, some old and some new. A new teacher, Chloe, was there to assist and learn the structure of the class and to continue to assist in the future. Sunday also had a workshop on yoga and relaxation, with 9 students attending. The students were very interested and willing to do the asanas. Om Namo Narayanaya. Pranams from Montreal.

http://www.sivananda.org/montreal

Om Namah Sivaya. At the beginning of March the special events were a yoga and fasting day, a workshop “How to Overcome Anger” and a further training day for yoga teachers with the topic “Pranayama and Relaxation”. We also had a program with a South Indian priest who performed beautiful Krishna and Hanuman Pujas. We are looking forward to see you in the Sivananda Yoga Centre Munich!

Mid-March starting were Yoga 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 21, 24, 30, 59, 114 and our longest running course 138. We had a further teachers training with the topic “Pranayama and Relaxation”. The teachers were happy to get a lot of inspiration. They had a yoga class for their own practice, a lecture, a correction workshop and a Satsang. Pranams to all the Sivananda Family. OM.

http://www.sivananda.org/munich

Om Namah Sivaya! At the beginning of March we welcomed back Karma yogi and cooking teacher Sri Devi from Japan, who will be staying with us for the month of March. The Centre was busy for Saturday’s Open House, with around 35 new visitors arriving throughout the day. We were pleased to welcome Mahadev Chaitanya, who taught an advanced class, then led our evening Satsang with an inspirational talk on positive thinking.

Mid-March was high in vibrations with Swami Sivabhaktananda and Sushila from Canada staying with us. They helped us with some major deep cleaning and painting activities, in particular the repainting of our largest asana room which has become much more bright and sattvic. It was a real blessing to have them both here with us and we were sad to let them leave for the Chicago Centre. The same day, Swami Omkarananda arrived from the Bahamas and stopped over for the weekend on her way back to Los Angeles. It was very inspiring to have her here. We also had three groups of students coming in from the next door Fashion Institute of Technology for a yoga class and a vegetarian meal, they left with sparkling eyes. Also the Karma yogis coming in from the city did a great job cleaning the backyard and it is now fully ready for flowers to be planted. We are all hoping that the temperatures will rise soon. All staff are well & sending pranams to all the Sivananda family.

http://www.sivananda.org/ny

Om Namah Sivaya. At the beginning of March we felt the Masters giving us an uplifting week for the Centre with 3 powerful Pujas and the beautiful Sudarshana Yantra remaining in the Main Hall for five days. The South Indian priest Sri Krishna performed a Puja for Lord Krishna on Wednesday evening, a Puja for Ganesha and Hanuman on Thursday and a Durga Puja on Friday. Everyone appreciated the Mantras and the kirtans chanted by Sri Krishna. A positive thinking course started on Monday and a Gita course on Thursday. Both courses with little groups of motivated students. We had an Inspiring and busy weekend with a special program on the topic of the Beauty of Asanas with Ananta and a cooking class on the topic ‘soups and healthy easy plates’ with Ganga. The students were happy with the program and relax thanks to the 3 asana classes, the couching workshop and the Satsang given by Ananta. We all enjoyed the delicious food prepared by Ganga and her team. The spring is in the air beautiful sunny days, the chant of the birds and smiles in the faces of the people. Pranams to all. OM.

http://www.sivananda.org/paris

Om Namah Sivaya from Brazil. We finished a Wednesday Beginners’ course with 6 students. We are still working with a problem in the structure of the big asana class as well as looking for new houses. We went to a city to look for a place for the South American Ashram, but the land was not good and very expensive. Vasudeva arrived. He will stay some weeks after recently finishing the TTC at Garopaba. We worked hard to find a new house, The one we are now has too many problems and with the help of the Masters we can start a new age to Porto Alegre Centre, with a better and bigger house in a better area of the city. The student numbers were growing and also were the challenges. May the Masters bless us in this project. Kalyani came from São Paulo and painted a beautiful mandala.

During mid-March we worked on the big asana room. We also found a big house for the Centre in very good point of the city. Vasudeva left and Ambika helped us on the weekend. Pranams to the Sivananda Family.

http://www.sivananda.org/portoalegre

Om Namah Sivaya, Blessed selves. Mid-March saw Open classes running well. We started 2 “Yoga 1” courses. We held a vegetarian cooking workshop. The highlight of the week was a “108 Suryanamaskar” event, attended by 14 students. Pranams to all. Om Shanti to the Sivananda Family from the Rome Centre.

http://www.sivananda.org/rome

Om Namo Narayanaya, Blessed Selves. After a 7-month hiatus and the selfless efforts of many karma yogis and supporters, the Centre re-opened to establish a foothold in San Francisco for Swamiji’s mission and vision of peace, in the same place that Swamiji originally set foot in the West. The grand reopening of the Centre will be on May 3 with an Open House day. In the meantime a temporary asana class schedule will begin Tuesday March 12th. Visit our website for details. May Staff, Teachers, and Students throughout the world see a wonderful beginning to 2015 and that Master and Swamiji guide us in our Sadhana. Om Shanti. Pranams to all from the new San Francisco Centre.

http://www.sivananda.org/sanfrancisco

http://www.sivananda.org/telaviv

Om Namah Sivaya. At the beginning of March morning Satsangs at the Centre for the past few months were only attended by a few, due to cold weather, but the temperature became warmer, and more and more people were coming to the Satsangs. We enjoyed sharing Satsang with each other. Many karma yogis and students who graduated TTC in India at Feb 2015 were gradually coming to Tokyo Centre. Some of them were coming very often to take class and do karma yoga to help the Centre. We welcomed them, grateful to receive their help.

Mid-March we held a headstand workshop. led by Tara. Students learned how to do headstands, studying the details. Some student had made correct pose in the class. Everybody practiced seriously with calm and easeful attitude. Many student came to the Hatha yoga class on weekend mornings. This is the time of year in which is most student gather in Tokyo Centre. One kind of cherry blossom is blooming in Japan which is beautiful colour of pale pink.

http://www.sivananda.jp

Om Namah Sivaya. At the beginning of March we started a new Beginner’s course. Our evening Tuesday and Thursday meals for students was very popular as students appreciate having a dinner ready after the class and a long working day. It also helps create a strong sense of community, which is essential for supporting Sadhana. We trained a new karma yogis on reception, who were committed to spending several afternoons at the Centre. We reorganized some of the office filing system. Mayavan gave a Saturday workshop on the practice and theory of Sun Salutations. Students had the opportunity to learn in detail, how to do each step correctly as well as what the benefits of both individual postures as well as the overall practice.

Mid-March saw had a new Y1 and Y2 starting. Open classes continued to go full capacity and strong. Satsangs were getting more and more numbers in recent weeks, with even morning Satsangs attracting more students. Maheswari gave a successful workshop on Bhagavad Gita one weekend, to a few enthusiastic students. After a bitter February, in March the weather was getting a bit better and the registrations for new courses has picked up. Prahlada made a quick visit to Yoga Camp. Both Saraswati (Saori) and Durga working hard and Centre was very sattvic and full of positive energy with many other Karma Yogis coming in to help. All the outside teachers are quite involved and love what they are doing at the Centre, which helps their outside life at the Centre. Saraswati is pushing for promotion with the new team in place and we are hoping that we can increase our Beginners numbers in the coming months. Pranams to all.

http://www.sivananda.org/toronto

Om Namah Sivaya. At the beginning of March a new beginners’ batch started for ladies in the morning and a mixed beginners’ batch in the evening. All were in a celebratory mood as Trivandrum’s annual mammoth Pongala took place. It is a festival only for women; 40 lakhs (400,000) women assembled on the roads and pavements of Trivandrum. They cooked sweet pongal (rice pudding) on the streets as an offering to the Mother Goddess Aattu Kkal Amma. The most amazing thing is instead of cooking on a gas or an electric stove, they use the ancient method of placing their mud pots on bricks over a wood fire. The roads had to be closed, so there were no classes at the Centre that day. Instead the staff provided water, food and ingredients to Swami Rajeshwari Mataji from Neyyar Dam and many other female students, teachers and karma yogis whilst they cooked their pongal on the road outside the Centre and waited for one of a huge team of priests to come around to officially make their offering. A new cleaning staff (paid) joined the Centre. Lalitha Sahasra Nama Puja was conducted on Friday and Sunday Satsang, led by Swami Gayatri Mataji & Swami Rajeshwari Mataji.

Mid-March saw the Ladies and Evening beginners’ batches successfully completing their courses. All other classes went well. As usual, our regular priest conducted Lalitha Sahasra Nama Puja on Fridays. We did elaborate cleaning of the Centre. We arranged new stock of books in the Boutique. Sunday Satsang was led by Raviji. Pranams to all. Om Shanti.

http://www.sivananda.org/trivandrum

Om Namah Sivaya. In March there were many inspiring activities at the Centre:
A cooking course on dishes for busy people, introduction into meditation and Yoga 2 weekend courses, Yoga 22, 34 and 72 were beginning, as well as a course on integral Yoga and a 2-day weekend fasting seminar. Staffs on projects mainly concerning maintenance and Centre design. Every week there will be specific projects to work on, f.e. the refurbishing of our wooden stools and the wooden tea counter in the reception area and work on knew small alters in the asana rooms of first and second floor. Many Karma Yogis again supported the Centre with maintenance projects and help in the kitchen, household, boutique and reception. We furthermore had two inspiring special programs. The first was with Swami Gokulananda, many students and teachers came to meet her again. The second special program was with the South Indian Priest who guided the celebration of 2 wonderful and inspiring Pujas in honour of Sri Rama and Sri Hanuman. Over the month Madhava Chaitanya went for an extended weekend visit to Munich and Swami Vidyananda taught a 5 day seminar on “Yoga and Stress-Relief” at the Tyrol Retreat House. Last but not least the Centre participated in a first meeting for preparing the UN World Yoga Day in end of June. The meeting had been initiated in by the Indian embassy in Vienna – further meetings are to follow. Om Namah Sivaya from Vienna. OM.

http://www.sivananda.org/vienna

Om Namah Sivaya. At the beginning of March we started several well-attended courses like Yoga 1, 2, 3 and Meditation course. We welcomed a good group of students for the cooking class named “Vegetarian Dishes for the Beginner”. We learned how to prepare a balanced meal, as well as few easy to prepare sweets without sugar. Preparations, advertisement for the Yoga programs in different towns of Lithuania were in a good progress. Support of dedicated Karma Yogis helps to keep the Centre better organised and sattvic. We are happy Masters are sending many inspired and earnest students to learn way of Yoga.

Mid-March saw a good week with many different courses starting: Y1, 2, 7, 10. We were happy to see good attendance for the regular courses and open classes. We had a nice group of rather more advanced students for the “Yoga at Home” workshop. Theory, practice and small message for inspiration from Bliss Divine were well accepted. Ishwara Chaitanya and Durga Devi went to two different towns of Lithuania to represent way of Yoga and different TTC possibilities. All Staff are well and send Pranams to all and everyone! OM.

http://www.sivananda.org/vilnius