Sivananda World News: The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashrams

Om Namah Sivaya. The Yoga Camp Ashram will remain closed until further notice. Continue your practice from the comfort of your own home with our online classes/courses to assist in keeping you connected, inspired, and energized. Let us take this time to reconnect with ourselves through the practice.
https://sivanandacanada.org/camp/Online-courses/

In April we welcomed the official opening of the Ayappa-Subrahmanya Temple. 25 of the closest Temple devotees joined the Ashram staff after the morning Satsang to carry the murthis charged with the prana of the main Temple murthis from their winter residence in the Krishna Temple back to the Subrahmanya Temple on top of the hill. Manjunath, our Temple priest, performed all the inaugurating Pujas to transfer the energy back to the main murthis and the day was concluded with Arati. Prasad was distributed to all participants. Swami Sankarananda gave a successful yogic diet workshop including a cooking class to 5 very satisfied students. Atmaram continued to teach a study group on the wisdom from the Upanishads. May the grace of God and the guidance of the teachers be with us in extending our service to the aspirants, students and all others who visit the Ashram website. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/camp

Namah Sivaya to all. The Ashram is presently closed. Visit www.sivananda.org.in/neyyardam/Covid-guidelines We look forward to welcoming you back and practicing together one day in the future. We continue with online classes, courses & programs. Please visit www.sivananda.org.in/weekly-schedule

In early April, our energy was focussed on the TTC. They were deeply engrossed in the Teaching Groups and were working on corrections during their classes. We gave them the option of doing 108 Sun Salutations on their day off, and over three-quarters turned up for the work-out. It was very inspiring to see them. Vinod took them through. A group from the TTC and staff, again led by Vinod, then went into the kitchen and produced a mountain of Masala Dosa for our meal which was devoured very quickly and with great relish by all. We celebrated three birthdays in a row, so we were spoiled with cake and other goodies, enough to see us through for a good few weeks. It is very heart-warming to see the camaraderie and joy amongst both staff and students. We had a beautiful Devi Puja to give thanks for the success of the course. Our Online program continued and we had successful courses on Vedanta and “Desk Yoga”. Another highlight in April was the festival of Vishu, welcoming in the Kerala New Year.  We had the beautiful ritual of waking up, being led to the Temple with eyes closed, placed in front of the deity and then opening our eyes. The purpose of this exercise is to facilitate the first thing one sees to start off the New Year – to see God. We could not ask for anything better. It was the last week of the TTC culminating in the exam but also in the the Yoga Certification Board (a central government body) exam, held at the Ashram for the first time. Srinivas, Ashwattha Rekha (external teachers) and Kalyani ji were the examiners for the practical part. 25 or so students opted to sit for it. Everything went very well, along with the TTC graduation and a heart-felt final talent show.  Our two-week Fasting & Detoxification Program, led by Rohini, was inaugurated at the same time.  On-line programs continue apace.  Suresh ji and Swami Gayatrianandsa ji left for the Kids’ Camp in Madurai Ashram and Mahalakshmi ji back to Chennai. We also said goodbye to staff Preetham, Gauri, Harsha, Rashmi and Shahina and to Dr Jayalakshmi, long-serving member of our SIH team. She will be very much missed.

By mid April we were in good form, tidying up after the TTC and getting ready for the next. However, God’s will prevails and not ours and we were again asked to close down the Ashram. After almost 5 months of being open, albeit at a reduced level,  we are now back where we were in March of last year. A quick adaptation and we are now holding our own schedule within the Ashram, online. So we have a teachers’ teaching class, a guest yoga class and Satsang all online and each is checking in from their own accommodation. This is apart from the online courses we are giving for the outside students. It is with regret and great sadness that we announce of the passing of Pottiswami. He was a victim of Covid-19 and unfortunately was unable to receive devotees and family during his last days. The final rituals will follow current strict government guidelines. Our prayers and condolences go to his family and to those who were close to him at this sad time. India is a little under siege as most will have seen from the news. We are praying that COVID will reach its peak soon and relieve the sadness and anxiety that prevails at the moment. All the staff are sending their love. May Master and Swamiji bless all with a pure will to continue steadily in Sadhana. We hope everyone is well. May all have health and peace of mind. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/neyyardam

Om Namo Narayanaya from Uttar Kashi. We are happy to announce that Sivananda Kutir reopened in April.

Everything went well here in April. We had a very beautiful Mritunjaya Puja, tuning us all to a long life and good health.  The TTC students look happy and settled in now. We lost one student who had to return home because of family issues. We were very happy to re-open our Medical Clinic after one and a half years of closure. Our humble and long-serving Dr Chandhok was on hand to make sure everything went smoothly. We feel very blessed that we can serve again in this way. The Vedanta & Bhakti Camp also continued on well. We made plans to run it again in late October this year. As the TTC students reached their third week they started their teaching practice. The usual nerves were there, but quickly disappeared once they got started. The Anatomy and Physiology lectures also began with Dr Ganshyam. We had a very sweet graduation of the Vedanta & Bhakti Camp. Everyone was very happy with the course.

Mid April saw We hope everyone is well. Everything is fine here. We are on our fourth week of the Teachers’ Training Course, which was blessed with heavy rain. It was also quite cold, keeping the students very active, for if they sit for too long they started to struggle. The Kutir was lively with busy-ness to ward off the inclement weather.  We were all clothed in blankets. The course continued to go well. We are very happy that we are still open with the blessings of the Gurus. We are sending our pranams to everyone.

Our Ashram will following the MHA guidelines closely to ensure the safety and comfort of all. The continued practice of social distancing and limited class sizes are to meet these requirements. These guidelines will be posted in all our India Centres and Ashrams. Please familiarize yourself with these safety precautions: MOH Guidelines for Yoga Institutions. We look forward to having you at the Ashram.

Please note we also continue to offer classes, courses & programs online. Details regarding this can be found at https://www.sivananda.org.in/Online-sessions. Please like our Facebook page to stay notified about live open classes, Satsangs & other programs. Our thoughts are with you all and we pray that you keep well and positive during these challenging times. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/uttarkashi

Om Namo Narayanaya. Namaste from Madurai. We are happy to announce that we are accepting guests to the Ashram. Pre-booking via [email protected] is necessary. Terms & conditions apply. Visit https://sivananda.org.in/madurai/covid-guidelines/ We look forward to welcoming you back and practicing together. We are continuing classes, courses & programs online. Please visit www.sivananda.org.in/weekly-schedule
Sending Prem and Om to all from our family of guests and staffs. Our thoughts are with you all and we pray that you keep well and positive during these challenging times. Namaste. Om.

Meanwhile in April at the Meenakshi Ashram we had a brief visit from Nataraj ji, Lalitha Amma, Narayani Amma and Oshyane from Kerala Ashram. They were here mainly for vaccination and medical consultation by our Trustee Doctor Narayanasamy ji. Thanks to him, getting vaccinated against Covid is made easier in Madurai than in Kerala. We are keeping our spirits high for the upcoming Kids Camp with cleaning and other necessary arrangements. On the online class front, we had an Advanced Hatha Yoga class in the morning and continued with the even otherwise free Sponsored Open Class in the evenings, attended by a good number of students. The weekend days were given a much needed cool off by not so heavy rain but quite enough to bring down the soaring temperature levels.

Mid April continued commenced with loads of enthusiasm for the Kids and Teens Summer Camp which kickstarted with a beautiful Ganapathi Homa at Maha Kali Temple. Kids seemed very happy to be with a real group of people, contrary to what their online life has been for more than a year. The campers were exposed to several new activities which also includes an interesting workshop on training memory and converting it to long term. Yoga Vacationers were also taking immense pleasure in joining the Kids Schedule of Satsang and games. Everyone at the Ashram had a blessed month, with the grace of our Gurus. We are grateful to Master and Swamiji for the opportunity to serve. Sending Prem and Om to all, from our Madurai Ashram family. Om.

www.sivananda.org/madurai

Om Namah Sivaya from the Ranch. The Sivananda Yoga Ranch is currently closed to the public. We have set up a residential program for those who are able to stay more longer term – https://sivanandayogaranch.org/residential-program/ Since the start of the pandemic, we have put all programs online and we are grateful for all your support and connection in these times! It has and continues to be an innovative time where we can see how easily accessible it is to connect & share the teachings with people everywhere in the world! https://sivanandayogaranch.org/

In April Prashanta led an Online Half Day Retreat on Sivananda Yoga & Ayurveda where we explored how Ayurveda relates to each posture of the sequence using both theory and practice. Online Classes continued twice per day. Bhagavad Gita study had a strong core of consistent people coming each Monday evening. Construction continued in Ananda Kutir in Durga Apt., repaired floorboards, newly tiled shower and bathroom floor made watertight. The kitchen received a good harvest of collard greens and mustard greens from the greenhouse, which was bursting with seedlings. New to the seedlings nursery were chard, bitter melon, lettuce, cucumbers, pumpkin, butternut squash and several varieties of flowers.

A tribute to a great devotee Potti Swami, who passed at the end of April 2021, as a result of the Covid-19 virus. Potti Swami was an embodiment of classical Vedic and Tantric devotion. We offered prayers and a remembrance of Potti Swami for our Sunday evening Satsang online at the Yoga Ranch. We chanted Mahamrityunjaya mantras for his Mahasamadhi and read from Master on Devi from Bliss Divine, as Potti Swami lived his life completely in service of the Mother. He also did several of our deity installations at the Yoga Ranch. He saw Swamiji as the great devotee that he was and cared for all of us as Swamiji’s children. Om and Prem, Srinivasan

May Masters’ Blessings and Gurus Grace be with us all. Pranams from the NY mountains. Om.

www.sivanandayogaranch.org/‎

Om Namah Sivaya. Warm greetings to you from the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm. We are grateful for your love and support as the Yoga Farm continues to thrive in this challenging time. We are adapting along with you to keep Satsang with each other and to share the teachings in new and creative ways. The Grass Valley Ashram remains closed. We will keep you updated as events unfold as we consider the health of our guests and staff and the pandemic situation. Please visit https://sivanandayogafarm.org/yoga-classes-online/ to easily join Online workshops, classes and courses. Your generous support to Swamiji’s mission will keep the Yoga Farm strong and vital during the pandemic. Please donate here: https://sivanandayogafarm.org/donation/

By the Grace of Master and Swamiji, in early April we welcomed (online) the Sivananda Yoga Health Educator Training (SYHET) students for their 21-day Module 3. The group began in November 2019 and have been busy with their Practicum and Distance Learning studies and now meet for training in Adapted Yoga techniques for specific health conditions; Therapeutic Relationship; how to develop Protocols; Yamas & Niyamas (ethics); as well as working with case studies and their own personal practice. The students were inspired to be together again sharing and learning from each other. Teachers include Swami Sitaramananda, Swami Jnaneswariananda, Swami Dharmananda, Swami Sivasankariananda, MahaVidya (Mary Thompson), Lila Lolling. Hamsa Chaitanya taught the 5-day Positive Thinking course online. Students were very appreciative to learn how to work with their thoughts, change negative to positive thoughts, how to cultivate virtues, and have greater awareness of their own thoughts and the influence of thoughts around them.

By mid April we were all blessed with Swami Vasishtananda leading a beautiful RamNavami Puja to celebrate Sri Ram’s birth, with offerings of mantras, flowers and devotion and all feeling Lord Ram’s sweet blessing. The SYHET group completed the 2nd week of online study. Swami Sitaramananda introduced Case Study practice with the group, with students practicing their assessment skills to create Yoga lifestyle protocols. Other topics include Trauma-sensitive Yoga, Yoga for Cancer, Yoga for Chronic Pain, Meditation, and Yoga Nidra and more. Swami Sitaramananda led morning Satsangs from Vietnam, speaking on the topic of Yoga of Relationships and how to see the Divine in all relationships. Mahadevika taught the online Asana for Strength and Flexibility 5-day practice course, guiding students through many variations throughout the week. We are grateful for this opportunity to serve.

It is with regret and great sadness to hear of the passing of Potti Swami, succumbing to the Covid-19 virus. Potti Swami was a great soul. It was a great lost. We pray for his moksha.  May all feel Master and Swamiji’s blessings. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/farm

Om Namo Narayanaya, Blessed Selves. There is still a small group of us on property who are maintaining the Ashram way of life through daily Satsangs, yoga and teachings.

April 2021 in the Bahamas: We continued to study the Mandukya Upanishad under the inspiring tutelage of Swamini Atmaprakashananda Saraswatiji. Satsangs returned to their pre-TTC schedule, with a weekly Puja led by Krishnan Namboodiriji and stories from the Mahabharata and Srimad Bhagavatam in the evenings, and teachings from Swami Sivananda and Swami Vishnudevananda in the morning Satsangs. Our team of Ashram dwellers spent a happy Saturday afternoon collecting the fallen leaves in the southern portion of the Ashram, followed by a snack of some delicious Sivananda cookies and homemade pineapple soda. The atmosphere was convivial and the Ashram grounds remained fresh and pristine. We celebrated the holiday of Ramnavami with a Puja led by our priest, Krishnan Namboodiri, as well as devotional songs to Lord Rama and sweet offerings that we got to enjoy at the end of the Puja as Prasad. A new online course began: The Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7: The Yoga of Wisdom and Realization, with Rukmini Chaitanya. Many students have been following the series of Bhagavad Gita courses since chapter one, and they are eager to continue their studies. We held a webinar in preparation for our upcoming Online TTC, scheduled to begin in May. Prospective students had the opportunity to ask questions, learn more about the program and participate in a short workshop with Swami Paramananda about increasing vitality through the practice of pranayama. Throughout the Satsangs, many devotees and seekers join us for stories from the Mahabharata and Srimad Bhagavatam, as well as for teachings from Swami Sivananda and Swami Vishnudevananda. May all be well and may this be an opportunity to turn inward to that which is eternal and ever-free. Om Shanti. Om.

Please visit our Online Program page for the latest schedule. https://sivanandabahamas.org/visiting-the-Ashram/Online-program/ We look forward to continuing to add Online programs, courses and guest speakers to our calendar. https://www.sivanandabahamas.org/travel-update/

http://www.sivananda.org/nassau

Om Namah Sivaya. The Seminar House is closed to the public. We continue to teach classes, webinars and Satsangs online. We offer live Online Yoga Classes, Workshops, Talks, Teacher Trainings and group Meditations. Receive all the latest information via our newsletter. https://www.sivananda.at/en/newsletter

Life online. During April one highlight was the Online Easter retreat with a very interesting lecture on “Yoga, Epigenetics and Lifestyle” with Chandrika and the evening Satsang given by Swami Kailasananda. During the Easter Retreat the Pranayama classes at 5am where well attended. The weekly Morning Pranayama course continued. 13 inspired students where initiated into the April Online TTC in a beautiful inauguration. The continuation of the online further training for yoga teachers “Yoga over 50” started with a summary of the first course. We had a new online further training on “Breath Work”. The new online course “Biology for Health and Happiness” started.  Chandrika presented interactively the researches on the subject of epigenetics and explaining, how lifestyle is influencing our genes. The online TTCs put together an entertaining and loving talent show. They studied anatomy and were inspired by a lecture on Ayurveda and Nutrition with Dr. Kamlesh from India. Finally, Spring is coming with wonderful fresh air and warm and sunny hours during the day. Due to the lockdown we had to cancel the on-site May TTC. Now we are hoping to reopen in June. Students and staff enjoyed the online morning Satsangs with readings from Concentration and Meditation, by Swami Sivananda.

A Puja was held in honour of Sri Potty Swami’s Mahasamadhi late April. May Master and Swamiji bless his soul and may we remember him as a divine devotee and servant of the Divine Mother. A garland in the national colours of India was offered to Sri Potty Swami’s picture, remembering and praying for the peace and liberation of so many souls which have been leaving their body in India in the past days. We pray that all remain healthy and safe. OM.

http://www.sivananda.org/tyrol

Om Namah Sivaya. Please accept this invitation to join us for the Unite for a Healthy Planet worldwide meditation – Every 1st Sunday of the month at 2PM Continental European Time, for 30 minutes. https://sivanandaorleans.org/unite-for-a-healthy-planet OM. We continue to participate in the online European activities. OM.

http://www.sivananda.org/orleans

Om Namah Sivaya from Da Lat Ashram. The Da Lat Ashram is open.

In early April we enjoyed a beautiful second week of the ATTC as it ran smoothly. Students did well in practice and in study. One morning they enjoyed a long walk deep into the forest above the Ashram, and on another practiced early morning pranayama outside in the mountain platform. Tea master, Amba, led a traditional tea ceremony, with musical performance by a local group who perform songs on the theme of meditation and spiritual life. The ATTC students entertained us all with a talent show including Indian dance and a play. We also welcomed a group of more than 60 beginner students from the Ozen meditation group, many having their first experience of Yoga life and practice. Staff are well and inspired. Staff at the Ashram remained busy. We were grateful for Guru’s grace in being able to offer the course at this challenging time. Staff remain well, inspired and thankful for Guru’s grace. Om.

www.sivanandayogavietnam.org/

Sivananda Ashram Tapaswini, Gudur, Andra Pradesh India

Om Namah Sivaya. Namaste. Our Ashram will following the MHA guidelines closely to ensure the safety and comfort of all. The continued practice of social distancing and limited class sizes are to meet these requirements. These guidelines will be posted in all our India Centres and Ashrams. Please familiarize yourself with these safety precautions: MOH Guidelines for Yoga Institutions.

In April we conducted an online course with good numbers of students attending from various parts. It was quiet at the Ashram with the staff focusing on daily Karma Yoga. We did gardening, cutting fresh grass and feeding cows with them. They were very happy for this change in their diet, we plan to do this on a regular basis, whenever possible. All staff are good and engaged in their Sadhana. We celebrated Ugadi and Vishu with everyone last week. The Krishna Idol was beautifully adorned with Kanikonna flowers, fruits, vegetables and various kinds of pulses. The priest did a small Puja consisting of few rituals and mantras. Since Navratri is going on, in the evenings we are chanting Khadgamala Stotram, which is an invocational mantra with divine names of Devi. We are doing daily maintenance of the farm and the vegetables grown there are used for cooking.

Mid month was very quiet and calm at the Ashram. We spent Rama Navami by chanting Rama mantras at the Temple. We were very excited for the arrival of a new calf. An online course was also completed successfully, though the student numbers were not very high.   All staff are continuing with their daily Sadhana. The evening chanting and prayers at the Temple always keep us motivated and positive.

We will also continue to offer classes, courses & programs online. Details regarding this can be found at sivananda.org.in/Online-sessions. Please like our Facebook page to stay notified about live open classes, Satsangs & other programs. Our thoughts are with you all and we pray that you keep well and positive during these challenging times. May Master and Swamiji bless us with true devotion and blessings be with us all! Pranams. Om.

www.sivananda.org.in/gudur