Sivananda World News: The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashrams

Om Namah Sivaya, Greetings from the Headquarters. During February, Narayani, a long time teacher and karma yogi at the Montreal Centre, offered a workshop about the art of forgiveness. A very beautiful subject approached with finesse and lightness. Narayani was able to teach the workshop to small groups of guests and some local people that also came to attend. A small group of karma yogis travelled to represent the Ashram and the Montreal Centre at the annual Yoga Expo Montreal, taking place right in the heart of the city. There were a few thousands that passed by over the weekend, all curious to know more about the Camp and the Centre and the yogic lifestyle. Our karma yogis worked to clear the continuous snow, in addition to performing daily maintenance, cleaning and construction projects. May the Grace of Master and Swamiji bless you all. Om Shanti.

http://www.sivananda.org/camp

Namah Sivaya to all. As February rolled around the remaining January TTC students and teaching assistants departed the Ashram. Nagaraj ji was given a fond farewell and thanks for his efforts in diligently sharing the ancient teachings through the Bhagavad Gita, despite his advanced age. His interest and care for the well-being for each individual staff was much appreciated. Staff participating in the Gudur and Neyyar Dam TTCs re-joined the staff with fresh prana and ready to join the graduates teaching group for more practice. Suresh and Swami Janardhananda came from teaching the first TTC at the Gudur Ashram. The Feb- March 2019 TTC was inaugurated, with the initiation by Swami Janardhananda, Nataraj, Kalyani, Suresh, Padmavati, Anisha and Dr Vishnu. There were 74 students alongside 20 students for the Feb AWC. Chandra from Yoga Camp arrived to participate in the AWC and brought long time Yoga Camp karma yogi Narayani with her. Nataraj, Suresh and Kalyani made a brief visit to Madurai Ashram for the India Directors meeting with Trustees and EBM. Guidance from Swami Durgananda, Swami Sivadasananda and Prahlada was much appreciated. We wished blessings to Karoona who moved onwards and to Eri who went to renew her visa. May Swamiji and Masters bless all, both students, guests and staff! Pranams to the Sivananda family. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/neyyardam

Om Namo Narayanaya – Greetings from Uttar Kashi. The Ashram is now closed for the winter season. The plans are for the deconstruction of the Kailash building with a complete overhaul. This will be the first of a series of construction projects to take place over the coming two years, modernizing and improving the facilities of the Ashram. With Swamiji and Master’s blessings may this go smoothly. May Swamiji and Master’s blessings be with all. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/uttarkashi

Om Namo Narayanaya. With Master and Swamiji’s grace, we were very happy and grateful. Namaste. Om.

www.sivananda.org/madurai

Happy New Year from the Ranch! By the Grace of the Gurus, life in the Yoga Ranch Ashram went very well in February. We welcomed Swami Satyapremananda from the Chicago Centre, who stayed with us for several weeks to lead Satsangs and teach programs. She led a wonderful weekend program on Mantra Yoga & the Practice of Japa. Five participants learned about the power and techniques of mantra repetition through all four paths of Yoga. Through theory and practice, they experienced how mantras can protect and calm the mind, lift the heart, and illumine the intellect. All five were brand new to the Ashram and had a wonderful experience, and we look forward to welcoming them back again. Pranams to all from The Ranch. Om.

Om Namah Sivaya. During February we were very blessed to welcome Swami Sankarananda, visiting from the Divine Grace Ashram in Sedona, Arizona, for a week of teaching and Satsang. Swamiji taught the 4 Paths of Yoga with emphasis on our own Self- study and how to apply the practices of the 4 Paths for our spiritual growth and inspiration. Swamiji served on and off over the years at the Yoga Farm. We were happy for his return. Anandamayi taught a weekend Stress Management course while Hamsa Chaitanya taught the Yoga for Anxiety 5-day program with guests learning about fight-or-flight response and how Yoga practices help to activate the relaxation response, how to increase and balance prana, what is proper relaxation and positive thinking techniques to address unnecessary worry and anxiety. The Ashram received lots of rain. Many seedling starts began to grow in the greenhouse. The bath house project continued, supervised by Hara Mahadev. We are all feeling the blessings of Master and Swamiji. Om Shanti to all Blessed Selves from the Yoga Farm. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/farm

Om Namo Narayanaya, Blessed Selves. During February we had the privilege of welcoming Swamis Chidananda Puri and Vashistananda, as well as presenters Paul Dugliss, Tzivia Gover, Jeffrey Davis, and Nisha Manek. Swami Chidananda Puri offered teachings on Climbing the Spiritual Ladder: 40 Instructions from the Sadhana Panchakam of Adi Shankaracharya. Swamiji made relevant these ancient teachings on practical tips for spiritualizing one’s daily life. Swami Vashistananda began the program Poetry, Devotion, and Philosophy: Stotras of Bhagavan Adi Shankaracharya and continued to teach these beautiful hymns throughout the upcoming week. Throughout the morning Satsangs, Swami Chidananda Puri continued his program on the Sadhana Panchakam. As with any first week of any Teacher Training Course, the February cohort introduced themselves one morning and the Ashram community got to celebrate the Ganapati Vidya Homa with them and receive inspiration from the short film “In the Name of Peace”. Arjuna shared stories of Swami Vishnudevananda on a beautiful silent walk. Paul Dugliss gave the program Ayurvedic Psychology: Metabolizing Emotion and Experience. Throughout the course of two Satsangs and two workshops, he taught the Ashram community about how the practices of Ayurveda support wellbeing at the level of emotion and how this, in turn, supports physical and spiritual health. Nisha Manek kept the Satsang attendees in their analytical brains late into the evening with the presentation Psychoenergetic Science and Information Medicine/ Dinabandhu. Workshops on this topic included a deeper look at the theory behind psychoenergetic science. Tzivia Gover, a regular presenter at the Ashram, led a series of workshops on The Yoga of Dreams. Participants learned practical strategies for attuning themselves to the wisdom of dreams and came away with some tips to find a good night’s sleep. Jeffrey Davis offered workshops on Writing, Yoga, and the Practice of Wonder. These classes provided a mixture of coaching and theory on how to infuse one’s writing with yoga, and how the three practices each support the other two. Surya taught the Essentials of Yoga I course, which informed our newest staff members and vacationers of Swami Vishnudevananda’s Five Points of Yoga. Pranava Chaitanya taught the 5-day Essentials of Positive Thinking course. Participants were eagerly learning strategies for bettering their lives through the practice of positive thought. May all continue to receive the blessings from Master and Swamiji. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/nassau

Om Namah Sivaya. In the Winter Retreat Yoga Vacation program we focussed on different techniques for finding inner balance; from kriyas to asanas against stress, from pranayama to deep relaxation and from developing will power and ethical culture to a cooking workshop. In between the program we took time to enjoy the pleasant winter weather with some walks. We had 3 lectures with Chandrika (Cordula Interthal) on Ayurveda. The clear and insightful lectures were much appreciated by all as were the private consultations that were on offer. A group of 20 teachers came for the Further Training for Teachers: Yoga over 50. The great interest for this course highlights the need for gentle yoga in the current population. The teachers recounted the varied challenges they face in their classes and were very happy to learn and practice the possible variations and adaptations in the workshops. In the lectures more background knowledge was given on the general principles behind gentle yoga, the effects of aging on the different body systems and diet. The teachers left inspired and recharged. OM.

http://www.sivananda.org/tyrol

Om Namah Sivaya. February’s program “Yoga Fitness” focused on strengthening body and mind for all-round health through asana classes and lectures. We had a nice group of students, very open to the teachings and participating with all activities. We also had a Teachers’ Training preparation weekend. A group of 13 students came for that program and most of them have already booked for the TTC. The main projects at the Ashram were: the brochure, the web site and organizing the Hanuman basement. There was also the initiation for the first student of the Yoga LIT: Jyoti. OM.

http://www.sivananda.org/orleans

Om Namah Sivaya from DaLat Ashram. During early February we saw the celebration of “Tet”, the Lunar New Year. Everything in the Ashram was thoroughly cleaned and organized in preparation. The altar was decorated with a tree of fresh blossoms, along with other traditional fruits and flowers. Just before midnight the whole group went outside to the chant mantras around a large bonfire. After midnight, prayers were offered to the Gurus and also, following Vietnamese tradition, to the four directions. In the following days all staff returned to the Ashram to help in preparation for the upcoming TTC course which is full to capacity. May the Light of Atman shine on all and restore harmony, health and self knowledge in all! Staff are well and inspired to have the opportunity to serve Swamiji’s mission in Asia. Om.