Sivananda Yoga FAQ Q 1: Is God conscious or unconscious? If He is conscious, He must have a forms for only a being who has a body can be conscious. A: God is pure consciousness. God is omniscient, all-knowing. God is Nirakara, formless or incorporeal. This physical body we wear has limited our universal consciousness. Consciousness is of various kinds, viz., physical consciousness, mental consciousness and absolute consciousness. You will experience the highest consciousness when you transcend the three bodies through constant and intense meditation. With a physical body and limited senses you experience [...]

Sivananda World News: The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Zentrum, Berlin, Germany Om Namah Sivaya! In December several higher courses started, classes and courses were well attended. The focus was on the preparation of the Christmas party, decorating, preparing the Christmas feast, packing presents and rehearsing the theater play. The party itself was very successful. Many students and teachers came and enjoyed the festive and elevating program. Santa Claus came and brought presents for everyone, children, teachers, Karma Yogis and all students. The atmosphere was very joyful. A highlight of the [...]

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. At the Yoga Camp and Sivananda Headquarters in December the Camp prepares for the busy holiday season. Although the mornings were cold the glittering snow was just beautiful. We welcomed Pierre to the Camp who offered a mala making workshop. Pierre has been staff for many years now and is full of knowledge and inspiring stories. Each year he offers this workshop during our TTC for everyone to enjoy. [...]

Vegetarian Cuisine BORSCHT – A soup originating from Eastern Europe, using beets and other vegetables. It is warming and satisfying in winter and can be served cold in summer. The colour of the soup is bright jewel red, nature’s way of emphasizing the nutrient power of beets for the blood. Beets contain a compound called betaine which have good vascular properties, thereby reducing chances of clotting and plaque build up in the arteries. Beet fibre content is also good for heart health. They contain B complex vitamins in the root and potassium and other [...]

Raja Yoga Discourse IV: "Kaivalya Pada - On Realization" IV.11. HETU-PHALASRAYALAMBANAIH SAMGRHITATVAD ESAM ABHAVE TADABHAVAH 'Desires are held together by cause, effect, support and objects; and when these disappear, so do the desires.' Commentary: What gives momentum to desires is cause and effect, past Karma, the activity of the mind which creates the desires and the objects of the desires. When these foundations are removed so are the desires. and... Discourse III: "Vibhuti Pada- On Divine Powers" III.56. SATTVA-PURUSAYOH SUDDHI-SAMYE KAIVALYAM 'Kaivalya (liberation) is attained when there is equality between "sattwa" (purity) and "Purusha"(the Soul)'. Commentary: Liberation takes place [...]

YOGA SANSKRIT GLOSSARYAPARIGRAHA - Freedom from covetousness. It is the practice of not receiving gifts or expecting gifts. Aparigraha is non-possessiveness, non-grasping or non-greediness. Aparigraha is one of the five canons of Yama, the preliminary discipline of Yoga.The precept of aparigraha is a self-restraint (temperance) from any type of want, where one's own material gain or happiness comes by hurting, killing or destroying other human beings, life forms or nature.Share what you have with others. This is Vedanta. Aparigraha (non-covetousness) is a very important item in the practice of Yama or self-restraint, in Raja Yoga teachings of Patanjali. Aparigraha is [...]

Hatha Yoga DHANURASANA - BOW - Advanced variations ONE-HANDED BOW ADVANCED VARIATION: 2. Lie on abdomen and while supporting yourself with an outstretched left arm in front, catch hold of your right foot just below the big toe. The left foot remains outstretched. 3. On an inhalation, pull your right foot closer to your shoulder. Push up the chest higher and increase the back bend, while looking straight ahead. Straighten the left arm further to maintain balance on the mat. 4. When the right foot is close to the right shoulder, lift your right [...]