Hatha Yoga THE FULL YOGIC BREATH – Pranayama When practicing pranayama, the control of breath increases the flow of prana in the body, renewing and recharging energy for body and mind. It is important to have mastered the full yogic breath for any pranayama exercise. To do this successfully, one must learn and practice abdominal breathing correctly. Full use is made of the respiratory muscles, filling and emptying the lungs to the maximum in a relaxed and controlled way. Initial relaxation: 5 minutes of deep abdominal breathing is recommended in initial relaxation before yoga [...]

Vegetarian Cuisine NUTTY PARSNIP SOUP – This easy to prepare, warming and satisfying yet light vegetable soup recipe taken from the Yoga Cook book: Soup Samskaras section was devised by Stephen Cooke, who was a guest chef from Australia. The peanut butter adds body and a nutty flavour to the sweeter vegetables particularly complementing the parsnip. Parsnips are higher in potassium than carrots and a good source of dietary fibre.  Serves 4-6. Ingredients: 2 carrots, chopped 2 sticks of celery, chopped 3 parsnips, chopped 1 tablespoon fresh thyme or cilantro leaves 1 ½ quarts [...]

Sivananda World News: The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Zentrum, Berlin, Germany Om Namah Sivaya! Beginning of August our yearly summer retreat took place. Many students had registered for the five day retreat, mostly coming from Berlin and Hamburg and several other parts of northern Germany. The weather was nice most of the time, allowing to have one Yoga class a day outside and having silent walks in nature. Students tuned more and more to the Ashram rhythm day by day. Everybody enjoyed living in the yogic community and practicing together. [...]

Sivananda World News: The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashrams Sivananda Ashram Yoga Camp, Sivananda Headquarters, Val Morin, Quebec, Canada Om Namah Sivaya, Greetings from the Headquarters. Early August, reflected just how the summer has been running... like a marathon, and this month felt like the last mile. Everyone pulled forces to offer a good experience for the families who spent the annual Family Week with us. Children’s laughter filled the Camp, parents chasing their children as the children chased butterflies, frogs, and other children... Parents were happy to leave their children in good company [...]

Sivananda Yoga FAQ Q 1:  How to put a permanent end to all doubts and questions? A: As one advances in spiritual Sadhana and attains a greater and greater degree of evolution day by day, by regular and unremitting practice of the Yoga of Synthesis, the clouds of doubts, delusion and interrogation disperse by themselves. As the sun rises, the mist disappears. Even so, as you progress in the spiritual path by the Grace of Guru and God, all the intricate problems of life and death dissolve themselves into the ever-abiding Truth of existence. [...]