Sivananda World News: The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres

Om Namah Sivaya. The Berlin Centre yoga courses, classes and Satsangs continued as usual, with the addition of new Yoga 125 and Yoga 1 courses in early October. The highlight of the month was the celebration of daily Navaratri Pujas, concluding with a beautiful Vijaya Dasami Puja on the tenth night. Students came with lovely flowers and the atmosphere was joyful and devotional. The altar radiated peace and bliss.

In early October we held a four-day Autumn Retreat in a wonderful retreat house two hours north of Berlin. The weather was sunny and mild so that we could have nice walks every day. At the end of the retreat everybody felt recharged, happy and full of resolve for future practise.

Midway through October we began new Yoga 2, 5, 6, 8 and 14 courses, as well as a Meditation course with a good group of mainly new students, supported by some dedicated Karma Yogis. In the garden leaves turned yellow and fell, and we enjoyed the beautiful autumn ambience.

Later in October we had new Yoga 1, 2, 4 and 5 courses, as well as a course, “Body Awareness in the Asanas”. We celebrated Diwali with a joyful Puja, the altar full of lights and flowers. Teachers as well as new students were here and enjoyed the celebration of light, leaving happy and inspired.
Towards the end of the month a new Yoga 3 and a Yoga 126 started, and we had a Workshop about “Yoga and Detox” which was well received. It included both the theory and practise of how to purify body and mind with yogic techniques.
Many of the new students are beginning to feel at home at the Centre. It is wonderful to see them come for tea before the class and stay for soup and cookies afterwards. Staff also enjoy supporting the online-programme with teaching classes and other activities. Om shanti.

http://www.sivananda.org/berlin

Om Namah Sivaya. You can contact us for any questions about practicing yoga at home through e-mail: [email protected] Call: 11 4804 7813.

For any queries, contact us. If changes or news arise, we will inform you. We salute you with a fervent desire for peace and health for all. We hope you are all well. May Masters blessings always guide us. Pranams. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/baires

Om Namah Sivaya. We started the month with two new Beginners’ courses, however the unpredictable weather, festivals, and nearby construction work kept attendance low. We also had an opportunity to teach two sessions on “Yoga for Leadership” and “Yoga for Discipline” at the Reserve bank of India, Chennai. Around 50 people attended the session which was very pleasing.

Later, we farewelled our SIYVAM students. Even though their stay was short, they uplifted the energy at the Centre and one of the students has promised to return as a long term staff member. We also organised a 108 Surya Namaskar online and in-person challenge.

Navaratri was celebrated with nine days of archana and prayers, the victory of Goddess Durga being honoured on Vijaya Dasami with a Puja and Satsang. On the same day we began a Beginners course in the neighbourhood of KNRA (Kasturbai Nagar Residents Association) followed on the next Sunday by a class at another resident association at Adyar.

On Monday we began two online Open class groups with 15 participants. On the same day we started a new evening Beginners’ course at the centre. A three-day workshop on “Pranayama Practice” with Uma Natarajan had six participants and proved to be quite an interactive session. We also spent time scheduling upcoming courses and workshops.

Later in the month we began Diwali Celebrations, and students brought sweets and traditional snacks to the Centre to share with all. On the Sunday evening, fireworks and lights faded away the darkness on the Diwali Night.
The following Saturday we had a staff day out to Mahabalipuram.
We ended each week with Satsang.

All the staff are happy and doing their sadhanas.
Sending our pranams to all.

http://www.sivananda.org/madras

Greetings from Dalat City. Thanks to the Guru’s blessing, the Center keeps up a strong energy to serve the community.
Classes went well early in the month, buoyed by the increasing energy of Navaratri celebrations. We celebrated the Victory Day of Navaratri with Karma Yogis and guests and started a new Beginner’s course.
Later in the month we held a Workshop on “Yoga for the Spine” taught by Harini and concluded the Beginners’ courses and a Meditation Course.
Staff enjoyed visiting a pagoda and local flea market which sold organic vegetables and handmade products on their day off.
Finally, we began new online “Positive Thinking” and “Yoga for Stress and Insomnia” courses, as well as a Yoga Outdoor class on the last Sunday of the month.
In the last week, Sivashakti Chaitanya trained two new staff (Vidya and Radha) to teach the Gentle Class, as well as training staff in English. We also held an Open House on Sunday. All Staff of the center have Birthdays in November and December, and we would like to use this as an opportunity do fund raising for repairing the asana room and kitchen.

https://sivanandayogavietnam.org

Namaste. By God’s grace and Guru’s blessing the courses and classes are going well in the Centre. Early in the month we started a 6 am Beginners’ course and some Gentle Yoga classes. A Kriya workshop conducted by Vijay ji was well attended.
Later in the month we began painting the Centre. We also started a 10 am and 4 pm Beginners’ course as well as a Headstand workshop. Kids’ classes are going well.
We conclude each weekend with Satsang, Arati and prasad. Pranam to all. OM

http://www.sivananda.org/dwarka

Greetings from Nataraja Centre. All is well at the Centre with the Grace of Gurus. This month we started new Beginners’ courses at 6.30 am and 4 pm with a good number of students after a long gap. We also started a “Foundation to Meditation” course. The Gentle Yoga and Kids’ classes are continuing as usual. Staff are well. Om shanti.

http://www.sivananda.org/delhi

Om Namah Sivaya. This month we had a visit from Swami Sivadasananda who gave a very inspiring Yoga class and Satsang. The whole program was very uplifting and well attended. Open classes and Beginners’ courses are going on as usual.
Early in October we began a new session of classes for pensioners organized by the city of Geneva, and later the Center was well animated with a workshop “Yoga for Children and Parents” and a “Positive Thinking” course. Slowly more students are coming to the Open classes. Best wishes for health and peace. OM.

http://www.sivananda.org/geneva

Greetings from Ho Chi Minh City. Late September/early October was a wonderful time for the Center beginning with a workshop taught by Swami Narayanananda on “How Meditation can bring Balance between Work and Life” for a company which has 35 people. Although completely new to Yoga the participants enjoyed the workshop very much. Later on the same day, Swamiji did the first Navaratri Puja in the evening with the participation of around 30 students, starting the series of colourful events and huge success in this Navaratri. We celebrated the festival continuously for nine nights, attracting about 10 – 30 people to come and join each time. The students also brought flowers and prasad to contribute to the Puja. After the Puja, everybody looked so bright and happy. In total, we welcomed 147 people coming for Navaratri.
In addition to these events, we had a Mala beads workshop and an Open House. Despite the busy schedule of Navaratri, staff did their best to keep up the sadhana and pray for Devi to bless the Center with peace and sattvic energy.
In mid-October we welcomed Dr Sharma from India en route to Dalat ashram to teach the SYHET course. During the week, he led a beautiful Satsang with over 30 attendees. He spoke about Ayurveda and the importance of Agni for our health. The students were very inspired by the talk and many of them signed up for his two-day workshop about Ayurveda and Yoga practices to help improve digestion. We also finished most of the courses begun last month such as “Yoga Corrections for Teachers”, “How to Teach a Bilingual Asana Class”, an Advanced Asana course and two Beginners’ courses. We also started our kitchen makeover project.
Later, we began three new courses: “Anatomy and Physiology for TTC”, “Restorative Yoga”, and “Introduction to Ayurveda”. We also had a weekend Kirtan Workshop and finished a Beginner Course training for TTC.
In addition to Dr. Sharma we also had visits from special guests Lila Loling from the USA and Swami Dharmananda from the Yoga Farm .
At the end of the month, in addition to a new Yoga for Beginners course, we successfully organized an outdoor class in Tao Dan park which was very energetic and attracted more than thirty students. We were honoured that Swami Dharmananda stayed with us for five days. He gave wonderful lectures about Karma Yoga in the weekend workshop and Satsang. Swamiji and staff enjoyed serving together in the Center as a family.
The kitchen project was nicely completed and the Ayurveda room continued to receive new guests.

https://sivanandayogavietnam.org/ho-chi-minh-center/

Om Namah Sivaya. Everyone at the Centre was greatly uplifted with the celebration of Navaratri here. We chanted the Devi Mahatmyam onsite every morning and in the evenings we had three onsite public Pujas and a couple of online Pujas with the Sivananda family. The altar was looking beautiful in red, then pink, and finally in white. Devi’s sweet and powerful energy remained in the air. The staff fasted on kecheri when possible during the Festival.
The house was alive with a “Yoga Psychology” residential course which the Karma Yogis supported by preparing meals. The students were very grateful for the teachings and the opportunity to have experienced the yogic life. They were proud of their certificates.
Parallel to the regular classes and courses there were Satsangs on the topics of the middle path, prayer, silence, Devi kirtan and unity in diversity. There was also a Headstand Workshop and two silent walks with perfect weather.
In early October a group of UK students enjoyed a five-day Autumn Rejuvenation Retreat in the French countryside at the Orleans Ashram.
Two new teachers have committed to teaching on a weekly basis in the Centre allowing us to add additional morning classes to the weekly drop-in class schedule. Students are now also able to join classes on Thursday and Sunday mornings.
In mid-October we focused on the promotion of the upcoming activities of the Centre with Open House flyers, posters and Newsletters. We also began two new Open classes: a Gentle class in the morning and an Intermediate class in the afternoon. Two Beginners’ courses started with groups of motivated students.
Christmas is in the air. Everyone is inspired to participate in the Christmas play. The Main altar looks joyful on yellow blue and pink. The peace garden looks beautiful with golden trees.
At the end of October we celebrated an uplfting Diwali Puja with an inspiring and luminous Diwali story. Many little wicks were lit on the altar. There was a cheerful atmosphere with the presence of close teachers, students and Karma yogis. We all appreciated being together for the occasion. At the end of the day we gathered to have a warm soup as a big family. In spite of a big storm that evening many people could come for the Puja.
In the final week we had a “Positive Thinking” course parallel with the regular courses and Open classes, all aided by our regular Karma yogis and teachers.
On the final Saturday, the Centre was happy to welcome a group of sincere newcomers, eager to start their practice. Everyone appreciated the teachings of the Masters, the uplifting energy of the place and the delicious and healthy snack and prasad. Spontaneous karma yogis helped the staff with the washing up and the tidying of the halls. For the public Satsang we had inspiring words of Swami Sivananda on the topic of “Peace” from Bliss Divine
In the morning satsangs we continue to read Master Sivananda’s inspiring book Dhyana Yoga. The staff was grateful to have a Kirtan Workshop and a silent walk on Sunday.

http://www.sivananda.org/london

Om Namah Sivaya. We concluded our joyful and transformative Navaratri Festival on Viaya Dasami with showers of rose petals falling on our instruments of karma. We printed out images sent by students participating online to include in the blessing on the extended altar. Afterwards, we shared a breakfast feast. Puja energy continued with a student requesting a Puja for her son on his birthday.

Swami Sivasankariananda was invited by the St Jude Brain Injury Network to give an overview of our Grief Group (via Zoom). She ended up fielding many questions about meditation. We briefly attended a soiré at Stephen Longfellow Fiske’s home to bid him farewell. He and Nikki will move to Virginia, near the Satchidananda Ashram in Yogaville. He will be missed.

By the middle of the month more people were dropping in for Open classes and some old students returned. Swami Sivasankariananda flew to the Yoga Farm to teach Chair Yoga, Yoga Nidra and Non-Violent Communication for the SYHET students in their third Module of the training and we began a Meditation 1 course and ran a four-day Global Village Grief Support Retreat. The participants shared deeply and found solace in the teachings. We discussed a monthly online meeting to stay connected. We also presented a musical performance—Oindrila Mallick added striking emotion in her Bharatanatyam performance, especially when impersonating both Yashoda and Krishna.

At the end of October Karma Yogis distributed tea lights all around in preparation for our Diwali celebration. We offered Lakshmi lots of sweets and showered her with bright pink rose petals. She showered us with her blessings. We shared samosas, decaf chai and sparklers on the front porch to conclude. We also offered an online Yantra Painting Workshop and concluded a Yoga 1 course.

We are preparing the massage room for our upcoming Ayurveda Weekend and did a Fall planting in the garden. We found we needed to surround the beds with “deer fencing” to hopefully keep out the raccoons. It is a joy to serve. Om shanti.

http://www.sivananda.org/la

Om Namah Sivaya. All activities went smoothly in the Center. At the beginning of the month we started Yoga 1 with 12 participants. The inspiring Navaratri online pujas were translated and followed by many Spanish speaking students.
With the beginning of the Fall, long-time students returned to the Center and three new teachers from TTC Spain started to assist in Open classes. Swami Santoshananda returned from Reith and was happy to see everyone again. A new potential TTC place in North Spain was visited, followed by the traditional weekend retreat in the beautiful Vasque Country mountains. The retreat was a success with 51 participant and a positive, dynamic energy. Many expressions of gratefulness were received after the retreat.
Several courses started in the middle of October including Introduction to Meditation and we also had a small Open Day. The Childrens’ class resumed after three years and it was a joy to see them back. The Center was represented in the V Madrid Yoga Congress with Swami Santoshananda and Gopala participating in the teaching activities and a permanent stand.
Several courses started towards the end of October with good participation. Preparations for the November Festival started with some maintenance projects as well as special promotion on the media.
The Spring-like weather still allowed many activities to take place outdoors.
Close teachers are taking good care of the Center. Pranams to all!

http://www.sivananda.org/madrid

Om Namah Sivaya to all. We thank our Masters for all blessings and support bestowed. May all be blessed with equanimity and steadiness in practice. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shantihi. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/madurai

Om Namah Sivaya from the Montevideo Centre. We are happy to serve, love to all. We pray intensely for peace and harmony in this world. May the Grace of Gurudev and Swamiji be upon us all. Om Shanti. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/montevideo

Om Namah Sivaya. May God’s grace and the teachers’ blessings always remain with us and guide us into being of impeccable service to the people around the world. Pranams to all. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/montreal

Om Namah Sivaya. The spiritual highlight of the month was the celebration of Navaratri. Every morning we performed a Puja and read from the Devi Mahatmyam. A number of close teachers joined us and helped thereby to build up a strong energy of collective sadhana. On Saturday we had announced a Karma Yoga Day. A group of devoted Karma yogis came and enjoyed to be together while making the Center more beautiful.
During Navaratri we were invited by an Indian Temple society to teach two Yoga sessions at their Durga Puja Festival. In the Center the energy of Navaratri had already quite strongly built up and we concluded the festival by celebrating morning Pujas on the last two days and on Vijaya Dasami day. After the last Puja all the participants (many of them had come to almost all the Pujas) got a beautiful poster of the Divine Mother as a present. An Indian snack was served and we sat together in a joyful mood.
In mid-October we had two special events: a Kirtan Workshop during which the participants learned about the benefits of kirtan and enjoyed the chanting very much; and a TTC-prep afternoon with a talk about the Course. The Yoga class and Satsang which followed was a good opportunity to get a feeling for the TTC. We were happy to welcome Swami Durgananda and Swami Sivadasananda for one day at the Center before they left for the TTC in Rudraprayag.
We had a Saturday cooking class, Yogic Vegetarian Cooking, during which the participants were very happy to get many new ideas. They enjoyed the meal we had cooked together afterwards.
A Saturday Trial class was very well attended.
The spiritual highlight later in October was Diwali Puja. A good group of close students and teachers came for this beautiful and peaceful event.
Finally, we started two new courses – a Yoga 2 and a Yoga 5 course – both with groups of very motivated participants. Om shanti

http://www.sivananda.org/munich

We send our blessings for all to stay healthy, positive and strong in Sadhana. Join us online for courses, studies, Satsangs and Yoga classes. May Gurudev’s blessings continue to light our path. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/ny

Om Namah Sivaya. We had a beautiful celebration of Navaratri with onsite Pujas every day, mostly in the morning, apart from those held on the weekend and the Wednesday public satsangs.
Parallel to the regular classes and courses we had a couple of Beginners’ courses starting: a Kirtan course, a Meditation course and an Anatomy course.
We continue to chant for peace daily. On the first Sunday of the month we chant online with the whole Sivananda family and onsite with the students.
There was a festive atmosphere at the end of the first week for our Open House with many students and an army of Karma yogis. The yogis from Orleans came for the event. Parallel to the regular Open classes and the activities of the Open House, there was an inspiring workshop on Health for the Body and the Mind given by Swami Kailasananda. There was also a cooking demonstration and a snack which was appreciated by everyone. The priest led a Durga puja in the evening preceded by a talk by Swamiji on the topic of Unity in Diversity.
On Sunday the priest did a Siva Puja in the morning and the purification of the Centre with the whole family. After the Puja, Swami Kailasananda and the priest visited Paula (a Senior close teacher who was at the hospital). The yogis went back to Orleans in the afternoon.
For the last Satsang of the week, we had the Sunday prayers and inspiring words of the Master on the topic of peace. There was a cheerful mood for the Satsang and afterwards the gathering of all around a warm soup.
As the month progressed the cheerful mood of the Navaratri Celebrations was still in the air. We removed the decorations and welcomed newcomers during the week.
In mid-October, parallel to the regular classes and courses there was a Nutrition course, a course on Shankaracharya’s scripture Sadhana Panshakam, and a TTC introduction,
At the end of October we had a Lakshmi Puja for the celebration of Diwali which was well appreciated by all. A kolam was made at the entrance of the Centre to welcome the participants.
As in each week, we enjoyed chanting Om Namo Narayanaya daily, doing a weekly Puja on Wednesday morning and a silent walk on Sunday.
We also had a successful Open House, after which Vasishta gave an inspiring evening satsang on Sadhana Pancakam from Adi Sankararacarya. The course on the same topic continued this week with students, teachers and staffs.
The Masters keep sending precious help and many students for all the activities of the Centre. Om shanti.

http://www.sivananda.org/paris

Om Nama Sivaya. We had a beautiful two-day celebration of Rosh Hashana – the Jewish New Year. One of the days was an Open House day and people joined us for a big feast with many songs and an inspiring teaching.
We also celebrated Navaratri with beautiful daily Pujas. Swami Swaroopananda joined us for some of the Pujas and gave a beautiful explanation about the holiday.
At the beginning of the month we began a TTC in the Ashram in Mata. We had a wonderful group of 32 students and we were inspired to see their interest in the different teachings and practices. They asked a lot of questions and showed deep connection. We are very excited to see their quick transformation.
We are promoted many new courses in the Center and also a Weekend Retreat on the subject of Hatha Yoga.
May the blessings of the Masters be upon us all!

http://www.sivananda.org/telaviv

Om Namah Sivaya. We had several ongoing Yoga 1 and Yoga 2 courses as well as the conclusion of Meditation level 2. Early in the month we had a Kriya workshop.
We are working on updating some advertising designs and small filming projects for course promotion. We also started our Kids’ classes and have enjoyed having children back in the Center.
The weather is beautiful and it was nice for staff to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving by going to a local farm and enjoying forest colours, pumpkin pie and pumpkin donuts. Om shanti.

http://www.sivananda.org/toronto

Om Namah Sivaya. All is well here with the grace of Gurus and gods. People were in a festive mood to celebrate Navratri. We chanted Durga Amritvani for all nine days. It was good energy chanting with staff and some students.
Regular classes are going well, staff are fine and taking care of the Centre activities. The climate is good and sunny almost everyday.
Early in the month we conducted a Kriya Workshop with a few students.
Later in the month we started a Morning Beginners’ course with a good number of students. All regular classes are going fine. Staff are keeping well with their own sadhana and duties of the Centre. The month concluded with Satsang for the offline people as well as online seekers. Sending love and light to all.

http://www.sivananda.org/trivandrum

Om Namah Sivaya. The highlight of the month was the celebration of Navaratri in the Centre. It was the first time since the pandemic the students could participate in the morning and evening Pujas in the centre. Many teachers and students came to join and celebrate, also to help and prepare the events. The atmosphere was elevating and full of joy.
Early in the month a Yoga 5 course started with inspired students. The trial class was well visited and many registrations for Yoga courses came in. On the weekend we had a successful Mantra Workshop and a well attended Asana Workshop on developing strength in the posture. Also a Yoga 1 weekend course was taking place with a small group of newcomers to Yoga.
We started a course on Body Awareness in the Asanas, focusing on the benefits of the asana practice on the different organ systems. On Friday evening we had a successful workshop on Yoga and Detox. Staff were also giving mentoring sessions to students of the Sivananda Yoga Academy programme on Bhakti Yoga.
Later in the month a Thought Power course began with a group of inspired students, also a Yoga 9 course as well as a Yoga 2 weekend course. The students were suffering from post-Covid and were very grateful for the inspiration and techniques enabling them to improve their health and well being. Many Karma Yogis supported the centre, among them two TTCs who want to start teaching soon at the centre.
The highlight of the final week was the Divali Puja on Sunday evening. Many students and teachers joined to celebrate together, they all felt uplifted and inspired by the celebration of the Divine light. On the same day we had a successful Teachers Meeting, sharing inspiration for the service to the students. Most of the Centre teachers were present and we introduced two new teachers who had just finished their TTC this summer. Drop-in classes and courses were well attended, and the Centre also contributed to several online Satsang lectures.
In our final week we had the first Yoga Retreat since the pandemic and we went to the Sivananda Yoga Retreat House in Reith Tyrol, Austria. Many students and teachers joined the staff for the long All saints day Yoga vacation weekend. The weather was summery and warm, and in addition to the inspiring Yoga programme there was time for relaxing walks in the beautiful autumn nature. For the time of the retreat some teachers were taking care of the Centre, teaching classes. Classes and courses during the week were well visited. On the Austrian national holiday on Wednesday the centre offered a regular class and a Satsang, also some Karma Yogis supported the centre.

http://www.sivananda.org/vienna

Om Namah Sivaya. Open classes, individual and Senior classes, and courses continued sucessfully. A Yoga 3 course started with a very good number of students. The energy in the Centre was uplifted with daily Navaratri pujas. The Victory Day Puja in particular was a good energy boost, supporting other events at the Centre. On the days when the official Satsangs were held at the Centre, the students and teachers participated willingly and happily. Even students who come to the Centre just for the Yoga classes felt that these days were special and some even wanted to participate for the first time.
The wall of the Meditation Room was freshly painted and we ordered two new paintings on canvas – one of Krishna holding Mount Govardan and a larger classical painting of Krishna with flute. Now the Meditation Room, with all the old and new paintings, looks very cosy and radiates divine energy from all the corners.
We are delighted that the evening Yoga 1 course has come back after a few years. We teach in two languages, as in addition to the Lithuanians, there is one German and one French participant. English is a lifesaver here.
We also had a cooking class, the practical part of which was given by Mother Parvati. The topic of the workshop was chosen at the request of the students: how to make a wholesome vegetarian soup and sweets. The centre was full of prana, with many of the young teachers who graduated from TTC Lithuania this summer. Narada came from another city with all the equipment so that we could have a small photo shoot for the new website. We haven’t seen the photos yet, but there was a very good energy and a genuine desire to make the photos interesting and beautiful. Everybody left bit tired but happy.
The weather in the middle of October was wonderful – a belated traditional thaw. This affected attendance at Yoga classes and Satsangs. The Beginners’ courses were well attended. Staff took advantage of the good weather to clean the windows. Also, more attention was paid to creating a homely atmosphere by cooking soups for the students, baking homemade bread, apple pie and making prasad. The idea of baking homemade bread came from the desire to use up the dry products left over after the TTC in July. The students liked the bread so much that we had to buy new products. In Lithuania, people are very used to eating soup with bread since childhood. Our bread is half rye, half wheat and with enriching ingredients such as seeds and oatmeal. We are grateful to the students who bring good quality vegetables and apples to the Centre.
Later in the month, as the children’s holidays started, many students left Vilnius. The students of the evening Yoga 1 want to continue with Yoga 2 and we will try to accommodate them at a suitable time. The staff is devoting part of their free time to the translation of Meditation and Mantras into Lithuanian. Om shanti.

http://www.sivananda.org/vilnius