Sivananda Yoga FAQ Q: Does purity of food lead to purity of mind? Is non-vegetarian food not Sattvic? We have in the Mahabharata instances of people taking the meat of goats sacrificed to the Lord. A: Yes, purity of food leads to purity of mind. Aharasuddhau Satvasuddhih. Take a dose of champagne and sit for meditation. Take a dose of orange-juice and sit for meditation. You will know the difference. Different foods exercise different influences on different compartments in the brain. By taking champagne, meat and garlic, the mind will be confused and will become restless [...]

Vegetarian Cuisine Aubergine Pizzas Serve hot from the oven as a snack or add a grain dish and salad for a full meal. Serves 4-6 Ingredients: 1 large aubergine 4 teaspoons sesame seeds 4 teaspoons dried oregano 4 teaspoons dried basil Salt to taste 150 ml (5 fl oz) olive oil 2 or 3 large tomatoes, sliced 100 g (4 oz) vegetarian Cheddar and/or mozzarella cheese, grated Preparation: 1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C/350 degrees F/Gas mark 4. Slice the aubergine into 1 cm (½ in) rounds. Combine the sesame seeds, dried [...]

Hatha Yoga Tip Forward Bend – Paścimottānāsana – Beginner Bridge improves both the flexibility and strength of your spine. Steps 2-4 also provide an excellent tranining programme for strengthening your wrists. Relax afterwards in Corpse Pose. This pose can be very meditative. If you put equal emphasis on posture, breathing, and relaxation in your practice, this will balance the stimulation provided by the muscle stretches with your body’s quiet awareness of the pull of gravity. After Forward Bend, practice Inclined Plane as a counterpose, then relax in Corpse Pose. BENEFITS Physical • Stretches the [...]

Sivananda World News: The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Zentrum, Berlin, Germany Om Namah Sivaya. Our month began well. There was good attendance in classes and courses. We had a workshop on the topic of “Yoga Mind and Brain” with a good group of participants and we also did a small photoshoot to get new photos of the Boutique area and the different asana halls. It was a joyful and at the same time focused atmosphere. Karma yogis were supporting with polishing altar brass, cleaning, and baking cookies. The following week [...]

Sivananda World News: The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashrams Sivananda Ashram Yoga Camp, Val Morin, Quebec, Canada Om Namah Sivaya. The TTC started with an uplifting Ganesha Puja performed by Swami Vasishtanandaji who also gave an introduction on Bhakti yoga and the basic steps of worshiping in a temple. After the Puja everyone partook of the special prasad. The students are adjusting very well to the TTC schedule and showing enthusiasm and interest for all programs. On Thursday the warm weather allowed for a lively bonfire evening Satsang with enthusiastic Jaya Ganesha, kirtans sung [...]