Sivananda World News: The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashrams Sivananda Ashram Yoga Camp, Val Morin, Quebec, Canada Om Namah Sivaya. We had a very inspiring festive week with Acharya Kanti Devi, Swamis and senior staff sharing elevating lectures, «Thought Power in the Yoga Practice", "Vedanta - A Positive Approach to Life", "The Power of Self-effort", and "Maintaining Spiritual Practices". We also had an Ayurvedic doctor Sonal Bhat with us, who gave well-appreciated programs on the basic principles of Ayurveda as well as a cooking workshop entitled "Warm Up your Winter Wellness and Immunity with [...]

Sivananda World News: The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Zentrum, Berlin, Germany Om Namah Sivaya. Teachers and Karma Yogis took care of the center while it was closed for the holidays. Students were happy to be able to practice and a small but inspired group came for the Christmas intensive course. The staff were in the Retreat House in Reith for the Christmas and New Years program. We had a good group of newcomers for the first trial class of the year in early January, and some registrations for the forthcoming [...]

Sivananda Yoga FAQ Q: When I sit for prayers, the lower mind wanders astray, but the other mind recites the Stotras without the slightest flaw, because of habit. But when I consciously try to recite the prayers, I sometimes miss the link, and have at times to repeat a Stotra from the beginning. Thus, are there two minds? How to overcome this difficulty? A: No. There are not two minds. But the mind gets concentration little by little, and the portion of the mind which is spiritually inclined – call it the higher mind – engages [...]

Hatha Yoga Tip DANCING LORD SIVA – Naṭarājāsana – All Levels Focusing on the vertical position of the leg and arm on one side of the body creates a stable base. Then you can easily develop the backward bending movement on the other side of the body. Beginner and Intermediate: 1. Stand firmly on both feet. Balance on your left foot, lift your right ankle, and grasp it with your right hand. Establish your balance by breathing slowly and rhythmically. 2. With an inhalation, stretch your left arm up, taking it alongside your left [...]

Vegetarian Cuisine Potato soup Among foods, potatoes are well known for their grounding energy; among asanas, it is the balancing exercises (crow, peacock, tree) that have that distinction. Traditionally served cold as a delightful summer soup, this version can also be heated (be careful that milk or soya milk is not boiled) with no loss of flavour. Serves 6. Ingredients: 450 g (1 lb) potatoes, peeled and diced 200 g (7 oz) turnips, diced 1 stick of celery, chopped 25 g (1 oz) butter or 2 tablespoons oil 500 ml (18 fl oz) water [...]