Hatha Yoga MAYURASANA - Peacock - Intermediate Level While in this pose the body resembles a peacock with its feathers spread out behind. Mayurasana is a balancing posture. Start in a kneeling position, then move your knees apart. Place your arms between your legs, bringing your elbows in close together and into your abdomen. Next, lay your hands flat on the floor, with your wrists together and your fingers pointing back toward your feet. Starting Pose: sit on your heels with your knees wide apart. Keep your hands directly under your abdomen. Lean forward, [...]

Vegetarian Cuisine CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES These truffles, created by Prema, one of our affiliated teachers in London, are irresistible. They are outrageously sweet, the perfect prasad. Makes 20 large or 40 small. Ingredients: • 2 1/4 cups confectioners sugar • 1/2 cup chopped nuts • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder • 4 tablespoons margarine • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 1 to 2 tablespoons soy milk • Hot chocolate mix for coating Directions: 1. Combine the confectioners sugar, chopped nuts, cocoa powder, margarine, and vanilla extract in a bowl. Slowly add the soy milk; the [...]

Sivananda World News: The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Zentrum, Berlin, Germany Om Namah Sivaya. December started with a good yoga 1 course and several higher courses and good participation in courses and classes. Highlight was the Christmas party, which was well prepared due to dedicated help of many karma Yogis: Presents for children were organized, calendars where nicely packed, the tree was decorated with the help of the kids from Kids Yoga, the preparation of the Christmas meal and the rehearsals for the Christmas play. The Christmas party itself was very [...]

Sivananda World News: The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashrams Sivananda Ashram Yoga Camp, Sivananda Headquarters, Val Morin, Quebec, Canada Om Namah Sivaya from the Yoga Camp! In early December the November TTC concluded, now we are quiet and slowing down a little, to gather our thoughts and energy for Christmas and New Years. The last few days of the course were peaceful and light hearted. We covered theory of advanced pranayama followed by practice. The students felt the effects of the pranayama very much and spent most of the practice fairly quiet and reserved. By [...]

Sivananda Yoga FAQ Q 1: What is Vairagya? A: Vairagya is the opposite of raga. It is dispassion or non-attachment. It is indifference to sensual objects herein and hereafter. Vairagya thins out the fatty sensual mind. It turns the mind inward (antarmukh vritti). This is the most important qualification for an aspirant. It is the one and the only means to enter into nirvikalpa samadhi. There are four stages in vairagya: 1. Yatamanam. This is an attempt not to allow the mind to run into sensual grooves. 2. Vyatirekam. In this stage some objects [...]

Gurugram January 2014 | Preface Blessed Self, Om Namah Sivaya By the grace of Master and Swamiji, the Sivananda Organization is thriving with activity. We are looking at the brighter side in the year 2014. Ashram and Centres are all doing well. Their staff are working hard to impart the true knowledge of the scriptures, as taught by Swami Vishnudevanandaji. It is good news for all that Teachers Training Courses offered around the globe are little more than 50 this year. We thank all of you for your continued support for us to grow. [...]