Sivananda World News: The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashrams

Om Namah Sivaya, Greetings from the Headquarters. The Sivananda Yoga Camp is now open. The Ashram was opened in July for retreats only. In August, due to the restrictions on the number of people allowed at the Ashram, we will be able to welcome only the Teacher Training Course students. Shorter stays won’t be possible due to COVID-19 sanitary restrictions.

Meanwhile, during July we saw summer time glee and frenzy amongst the staff readying to open the Ashram to regular guests starting 15th of July, preparing ourselves and the premises for the precautionary and mandatory social distancing in line with our government’s advisory. All efforts got underway as we eagerly awaited the pleasure of serving our community and guests. On 9th July we had a Homa for Lord Shiva at the Samadhi Estates and on 11th we celebrated the anniversary of the Krishna Temple with a special Puja. We all loved the rituals and enjoyed the chanting of special kirtans when the Puja was on. We also enjoyed an online sitar recital evening with Hasu Patel. Social distancing norms were strictly in place throughout the Ashram and followed indoors at all times in dining areas, kitchen, yoga halls, Satsang halls etc. We had a wonderful time interacting with the guests. There were 16 guests for the program on meditation, led by Swami Vairagyananda and other walk-in guests for the asana classes from the surrounding communities. It was an interesting experience to adjust to all the sanitary regulations and after receiving positive feedback from the visitors we found some improvements for the coming retreats. We planned to receive the guests on Wednesdays and they all leave on Sundays. That left us with 2 days for a complete clean up and disinfection. It also helped us to complete all the procedures only once. On 14th July we had a Puja at the Pond shrine for Swami Sivananda’s Mahasamadhi, attended by all the staff. We started gearing up for the TTC in August, our first onsite in residence course for 2020. The staff were happy to receive the guests and excited about how to make things work well and serve in the best possible way under the restrictions. 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:
The Canadian 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. The Neyyar Dam Ashram continues to be temporarily closed. Join us through online classes, courses and programs online.

In early July Karma yogis, Adinath and Priya finished their service at the Ashram. We were grateful for their many months of service and looked forward to seeing them back again in the future. The rest of the staff continued to look after the few guests, the running of the Ashram, supporting the online programs as teachers, demonstrators or hosts plus, continued with their Sadhana. The paid staff took turns coming in to the Ashram on alternate days as the work is less and the funds low. They were mostly looking after the agriculture and the grounds, and of course the kitchen and meals. Tuesday and Friday evening Satsangs are now taking place in the Rajarajeshwari Temple with Archana on Fridays. Padmini Mathur (Gurgaon) conducted a two day program: Tips for Teaching Seniors, which was well attended. Swami Janardhanananda (Uttarkashi) gave a two day talk on Mantra and Yantra which was equally well attended. Srinivas (Hyderabad) led a 5 day Introduction to Sanskrit. Nirmala Chaitanya’s Micro Steps to Advanced Asanas conducted from Madurai, continued to attract a good number of students. An additional 7 day Weight Loss Challenge was offered (from Chennai) in the mornings and proved more popular than the evening batch.

As July continued the weather continued to be quite good although heavy rain was forecasted. Online programs conducted across India continued with good participation for the most part. Specials events were a weekend workshop “Yoga for the Back”, a Meditative Mandala short course with Rohini, Yoga for Anxiety and Depression with Padmavati and Suresh gave his first online program – an Intermediate course in the evenings, whilst Nataraj conducted a two day look into the Astral Body. A spiritual highlight was a well attended and much appreciated Guru Puja for Masters Samadhi anniversary. That evening we watched the DLS movie on Swami Sivananda for inspiration. We thank Master and Swamiji that we continue to be useful for many. 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

Om Namo Narayanaya from Uttar Kashi. The Uttar Kashi Ashram continues to be temporarily closed. Due to the lockdowns announced by the Indian government, we will not be accepting any new visitors or guests to the Ashram until further notice. 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. The Madurai Ashram continues to be temporarily closed. Join us through online classes, courses and programs online. 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. The Sivananda Yoga Ranch continues to suspend all in-person, public events until further notice. Join us online for courses, studies, Satsangs and yoga classes.

In early July we were so blessed with warm weather. We continued the programs online. We set up a new webpage for a more easily accessible way to sign up for class passes. Daily Srimad Bhagavatam Study continued online in the mornings and evening Satsangs online on Wednesdays & Sundays. On Sunday mornings we started an ‘Asana Focus’ Challenge live from Kenya, with Sivaraj, who was here in the Ashram last year – offering classes with specific variations each class. Also, two staff – Kumari and Kamala – finished their service at the Ashram. We were thankful for their service in the past months and wished them all the best. Next, we welcomed a dedicated student from the NYC Centre, named Elias, to stay for 2 weeks with the Karma Yoga Program, dedicating his time here in the garden.

By mid July the hot weather arrived in the Catskills! Sundari left us after some time of service. We were grateful for her skills and talent that she brought to the Ashram. Online programs continued on and thanks to Master’s Blessings and Gurus Grace we continued on well. Krishnapriya, who usually leads our TTC & ATTC Anatomy, led an informative workshop for yoga teachers called ‘Anatomy of Asana’. There was also a Yoga 1 Beginner Course that began, taught by one of the dedicated NYC teachers – Sharada Devi. Sunday morning 6 am- Sivaraj streamed live from Kenya with his continuing Asana Focus Challenge – these classes take place outside with various sounds of the animals and nature. It has really been a beautiful, uplifting opportunity to reach so many locations in the world. In some of our earlier morning classes we also had teachers from Lebanon, Israel and India! Here in the Ashram, the ongoing maintenance projects continued. The garden thrives and the small gardening group we do have are focused and energetic. We also welcomed a new Karma Yogi, Mukundapriya, who will be staying with us for 3 months. Mukundapriya is a familiar face who took TTC here last year. We are happy to have her here. Overall, our staff are healthy and well, staying dedicated and strong in our Sadhana, communication and support of each other. We feel blessed and send our pranams to everyone! Om.

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 sends Pranams to all. Om.

www.sivanandayogaranch.org/‎

Om Namah Sivaya. Warm greetings to you from the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm. We are grateful for your love and support as the Yoga Farm continues to thrive in this challenging time. We are adapting along with you to keep Satsang with each other and to share the teachings in new and creative ways. The Grass Valley Ashram will remain closed at least until September 2020. We will keep you updated as events unfold as we consider the health of our guests and staff and the pandemic situation. Please visit https://sivanandayogafarm.org/yoga-classes-online/ to easily join Online workshops, classes and courses. We encourage you to stay connected with the Ashram and LA Centre in these ways:

Yoga Stress Relief Counseling Service – Swamis, senior teachers, and Yoga Health Educators provide free 30-minute support services.
Satsang with Swami Sitaramananda – Join us every Sunday 5:30AM (CA time) for Satsang with Swamiji on relevant topics for our current times.
Satsang – Satsang live from LA Centre daily at 6am.
Hatha Yoga Classes – Live Hatha Yoga classes 4 times a day.
Online Courses – The Ashram and Centre continue to offer our foundational courses: Meditation, Positive Thinking, Hatha Yoga Sadhana, Bhagavad Gita, and more…
Online Workshops – Join senior teachers and special guests for relevant topics to build Stress Resilience, Increase Immunity, Yoga and Ayurveda Health, Jyotish, Vastu, and Sound Healing.

The Ashram remains an oasis of peace in the world. We look forward to welcoming you back to your spiritual home in the near future.

Your generous support to Swamiji’s mission will keep the Yoga Farm strong and vital during the pandemic. Please donate here: https://sivanandayogafarm.org/donation/

Meanwhile staff at the Ashram have been busy. In July Manas Ksirsagar taught the well-attended online Ayurveda seminar to introduce Ayurveda practices and concepts. The group was very inspired to learn daily routines and simple Ayurveda practices from Manas. Niranjan Babu taught “Make Your Home Interiors Vastu Appropriate”. Anandamayi taught a weekend online Beginners’ Course, introducing the 5 Points of Yoga to a new group of eager students. Swami Vasishtananda ji led a beautiful Guru Puja in the Radha Krishna Hall. We are in the midst of summer and began to harvest the second batch of lavender as we look forward to turning the flowers into essential oil. Staff also worked on orchard irrigation successfully as the garden produced delicious greens and herbs!

As July continued, Swami Vasishtanandaji led a beautiful MahaSamadhi Puja for Master Sivananda. Staff were very inspired to remember the shining example of Master’s life and his teachings. Swami Vasishtananda ji also began the 10-day Bhakti Yoga course on the Ramayana, delving into the scripture and its significance with stories, chanting and discourse. Swami Dharmananda taught the 5-day Bhagavad Gita course focused on chapter 4, with teachings on the essence of karma yoga and righteous action. Ayurveda Practitioner Arun Deva presented a wonderful workshop on Ayurveda and the Mind, introducing Ayurveda psychology and lifestyle. We welcomed Swami Sivasankarianandaji from the LA Centre as she takes a short retreat at the Yoga Farm. Meanwhile, Sw AdiParashaktiananda visited the LA Centre for a short time. Garden and landscaping work were going strong. Weekly Yuba River trips were an essential part of staff Sadhana. We enjoyed Durga Temple morning Satsangs. The lavender harvest continued. We are grateful for this opportunity to serve. May all feel Master and Swamiji’s blessings. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/farm

Om Namo Narayanaya, Blessed Selves. Our reopening date is scheduled for November 1st, 2020. There is still a small group of us on property who are maintaining the Ashram way of life through daily Satsangs, yoga and teachings. The month of July was eventful. Around the Ashram acreage, the early-season avocados begin to fall and the poinciana trees continued to shower their scarlet blossoms upon passers-by. Many intricate spider webs were seen between the trees. One must be nimble of foot while walking the grounds in order to care for the snails as they cross the paths and to dodge the falling coconuts from the canopy of palm trees. Throughout the past several weeks, we have experienced an assortment of culinary flavors as the staff have begun a cooking rotation. Sounds of increased activity can be heard across the harbor as Nassau begins to re-open. We bade farewell to Sita, who had been serving dedicatedly since the early autumn in the Wellbeing Centre reception and then in the kitchen since mid-March. We wished her safe travels and continuation of her Sadhana and to see her in the Ashram again next season. We continue to send our prayers to the worldwide community. May all be well and may this be an opportunity to turn inward to that which is eternal and ever-free. Om Shanti. Om.

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

http://www.sivananda.org/nassau

Om Namah Sivaya. The Seminarhaus is open. We look forward to seeing you for a relaxing yoga vacation in the mountains and Nature. Yoga Teacher Training Courses in August and September. Meanwhile, live Online Yoga, Workshops, Webinars and Group Meditations continue online. Receive all the latest information via our newsletter. https://www.sivananda.at/en/newsletter

In July the further training on yoga for pregnancy came to a good conclusion. We continued with the live online yoga classes, webinars and Satsangs, much to the gratitude of the students. From India, the priest led us in a Durga Puja and S.K. Kamlesh continued with the Ayurveda Nutrition Course. The guests enjoyed the relaxing classes, walks and inspiring Satsangs. A group of 17 teachers took part in the further training Yoga for Children. The live online yoga classes, webinars and Satsangs are running parallel to our guest program. We had a beautiful online Puja for Masters Mahasamadhi with the priest Yagneswara from Bangalore. S.K. Kamlesh continued with the Ayurveda Nutrition Course. The guests enjoyed the relaxing classes, walks and Satsangs. OM.

http://www.sivananda.org/tyrol

Om Namah Sivaya. The Masters keep sending prana and inspiration. At the end of June the Ashram de Yoga Sivananda in Orleans reopened to the public. We continued to offer special interest courses online. You can keep in touch via our newsletter. The teachings of the Masters continued to inspire hundreds of people every day. Together, we can put to practice one of the instructions of Swami Sivananda: “Adapt to all situations”. Take care of yourself, take care of others. See you soon. OM.

Also continuing,
Unite for a Healthy Planet – Every 1st Sunday of the month at 2PM Continental European Time for 30 minutes. https://sivanandaorleans.org/unite-for-a-healthy-planet

http://www.sivananda.org/orleans

Om Namah Sivaya from DaLat Ashram. The DaLat Ashram is open. In July the Ashram offered a Yoga Teacher Training Course, a Yoga and Ayurveda for Beginners course and a Yoga Weekend Retreat. Following the graduation of our annual Kid’s Camp we received a group of 40 ‘Senior” guests, all retired staff of the Vietnam State Bank. Almost all of them were very new to the practice of yoga and yoga lifestyle, but in their 4 days with us they adapted well to new ways. Workshops were taught for them in Vietnamese by Swami Sitaramananda, including a morning walk to watch a beautiful sunrise. On their last evening with us all joined together for a traditional tea ceremony led by tea master Amba. While enjoying very special tea the group were entertained with meditation songs sung in Vietnamese by our staff, and themselves performed a traditional song for everyone to enjoy. After their departure on Thursday staff had to turn things around quickly to prepare for the arrival of 61 TTC students from Friday onward. All apart from 2 students, one from Italy, and one from Switzerland, are Vietnamese. The group was initiated at an auspicious time on Sunday morning, diving straight into practice on Sunday afternoon. In addition to these large groups we welcomed a group of 8 for an Introduction to Meditation course, along with a steady flow of Yoga Vacation guests. We welcomed a number of new staff and karma yogis who will be helping during the TTC time. 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/

Om Namah Sivaya. May Master and Swamiji bless us with true devotion and blessings be with us all! Pranams. 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 visit 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. Om.

http://sivananda.org.in/gudur