Sivananda World News: The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashrams

Om Namah Sivaya, Greetings from the Headquarters. Early September saw the Ashram’s maintenance staff working on cleaning up at the Subramanya Temple after the Labour Day long weekend, plus beginning various painting jobs. A lot of the guests checked out after the Labour Day long weekend, keeping the housekeeping team busy for a few days! We celebrated Master Sivananda’s birthday with an Abhishekam by Master and Swamiji’s statues. There were over 10 guests and some lucky visitors. Bharata, Sita, Shambu, Ramdas, Sukhadev, Mahadev, Sashi and Sivaram attended the Pooja. It was a sunny day and a beautiful Pooja. All the staff together gave the kitchen a much needed deep cleansing after the busy summer months. That evening most of the staff went to the Montreal Centre to celebrate Swami Sivananda’s birthday. Manjunath performed the Pooja at the lively Satsang, with over 45 students and teachers from the Centre. The following weekend was relatively cold and quiet, with around 30 guests. Vijay from Toronto conducted a North Indian cooking workshop that Saturday, attended by 12 guests. The staff numbers slowly reduced as we settled into the winter schedule. Everyone was busy with their duties, keeping the energy up for the guests. May Master and Swamiji’s blessings be with us and that their light and teachings continue to guide us all.

http://www.sivananda.org/camp

Namah Sivaya to all. Early September saw Swami Sivananda’s birthday anniversary, starting with description of his life in the morning Satsang for the YV guests. Staff chanted his holy name throughout the day. We had a beautiful Puja during the evening Satsang with many oil lamps. Staff and guests were able to participate with mantra chanting and offerings. We welcomed new staff member, Hywel, from Wales. He was promptly given the spiritual name Hanuman. We held with two outside events; et marriage of Rohini, daughter of kitchen staff Padmini and house warming of Anil (SIH therapist). The house warming was a spiritual affair with Bhajan chanting and Lalita Sahasranama Puja, followed by simple meal.

During mid-September we started and finished on an auspicious note. Nataraj attended the foundation stone laying ceremony for the to be constructed Siva Temple on Kalipara hill. This is a popular destination for our silent walks to have a panoramic view of God’s Own Country. We prayed for Guru’s blessings to make the new Temple in good time.  The Ashram held the monthly free Medical Camp for the community. Over one thousand people appreciated the service. There has also been some staff movements. Arathy has transferred to the new Noida Centre, Chika is taking two weeks break for homeo treatment, Pri has gone to Sri Lanka to renew his visa and Asmeena has joined as a new staff. Pranams & Om Namah Sivaya from all staff at Neyyar Dam.

http://www.sivananda.org/neyyardam

Om Namo Narayanaya – Greetings from Uttar Kashi. Please note: The Yoga Vacation program at Sivananda Kutir will not be available for the rest of 2015, due to a number of factors. Pranams to all.

http://www.sivananda.org/uttarkashi

Om Namo Narayanaya. Pranams from Madurai. Early September saw a celebration week, marking Swami Sivananda’s birthday on September 8th. We had a quite Satsang in Temple, amidst cool breezes and blue morning. As usual, staff chanted Master’s name in rotation. A feast was prepared, adding interesting dishes and desserts to the menu. That night, during Satsang, a video on Master’s teaching was shown. On the Ashram activity side, we focused on breaking, building, shifting, ordering goods, shopping, cleaning and reorganizing all in preparation for TTC. Construction was initiated in the old yoga hall, above permanent women dormitory. As preparation, de-thatching the roof started completed in two days. Floor tiles were removed. The housekeeping store which was functioning from the room behind old yoga hall was shifted to the office block. The old roof of the kitchen was removed, due to the front space of Shanti Nivas is our new kitchen, breezy and bright. Two rooms served as a store. The library space became our new dining space. The required course materials were ordered. Boutique stock was completely checked and new orders of books, mats, CDs, posters, and clothing were placed. Complimentary TTC bags saw a new look that will possibly overcome the minor deficiencies of previous design. New registration cards, with improved layout, were made. Five compact sized karma yoga bamboo huts, both aesthetic and functional, were fabricated to be installed in different areas which will hold all the cleaning aids neatly concealed within its space. Nalini returned from Madurai Centre. Om Shanti. All are well and conveying Pranams.

www.sivananda.org/madurai

Om Namah Sivaya! In early September we saw the September TTC class inaugurated on Master Swami Sivananda’s birthday. We started the day with a beautiful Puja for Master in the Krishna Temple. Immediately after the Puja, we continued with Akanda Kirtan until the evening Satsang. The evening was the inauguration of our third TTC group this year. It is a diverse group of students, eager to study and practice yoga. The first week of classes went well and the students adjusted nicely to schedule and routine. We welcomed Swami Sivabhaktananda, Director of the Yoga Camp, who gave a weekend program on Yoga and Happiness. Swamiji gave very practical instructions in his humorous manner during Satsangs and in a workshop one Saturday. Swamiji then went into the New York City Centre to teach the advanced asana class and give the evening Satsang.  Molly Birkholm (Mahadevi) arrived with two assistants to teach the i-Rest Yoga Nidra level 1 TTC.  There were 27 students registered for the course, for the week long training, including our staff, Radha. The course provided participants the basic principles, history and theory of the practice and how to teach i-Rest. The Ashram is full of energy and prana.

Mid-September saw the second week of TTC with students doing well, asking probing questions during the lectures, fully engaged and eager to learn. Molly Birkholm (Madhavi) and her assistant Karen Soltes, taught iRest TTC level 1, providing basic principles of Yoga Nidra, theory and practice.  There were 26 students in the five day course, from varied backgrounds: yoga teachers, mental health counselors, and military veterans, incorporating this method of deep meditation into their daily practice, and trained as iRest teachers. The TTC had their Kriya class which is always a favorite.  Several staff helped assist, demonstrating the kriyas, and being available to support the students. Saraswati joined us from the Toronto Centre to lead Satsangs and give a workshop on how the yoga practice helps with stress and anxiety. Saraswati’s insightful and humorous manner in conveying the teachings were well received by the guests and staff, and we especially enjoyed hearing stories about Swamiji. Mahadev Chaitanya celebrated his birthday, as well as Parameshwara, well-being staff, plus, a guest named Diana. As our tradition, they each had their own home baked pie, baked lovingly by Ambika. It was a fun moment celebrating all three birthdays together. We all enjoyed the special pineapple pie and ice cream. A Saturday workshop was well attended as Saraswati gave practical tips on how yoga can relieve stress, using humour and laughter to get the message across. Saraswati then went to the New York Centre to lead the evening Satsang before heading back to Toronto. The TTC had a day off. Many of the weekend guests returned home, so the Ashram was quiet for a short day. All staff are well, strong in their Sadhana and send their pranams.

www.sivanandayogaranch.org/‎

Om Namah Sivaya! Early September saw Swami Sitaramananda departing to Japan and China, traveling with Ananta Chaitanya, to give programs in Tokyo Centre and to teach the inaugural TTC in Chengdu, China. Meanwhile, the Yoga Farm was bustling with energy with many programs and events. The Ashram celebrated Master Sivananda’s birthday with Akhanda Kirtan in the afternoon, a beautiful evening Puja/Homa led by Sw Vasishtananda at Swamiji’s house, and film of Swami Sivananda in Rishikesh. Swami Jnaneswariananda taught the Meditation and Self-study course, offering classical Raja Yoga meditation techniques and theory. We thank Bill Levacy for his wonderful Beginners Jyotish course covering the fundamentals of Vedic Astrology (and how it supports Yoga Sadhana) with great insight and depth. A Beginners’ Course taught by Sw Dharmananda was a full house with many new students introduced to the Ashram and the teachings.

The hot summer weather gave way to cooler Fall temperatures and even a little rain, last seen in May.

During mid-September Swami Vasishtananda led the staff and guests on a procession to honour Lord Ganesha for Ganesha Chaturthi, with Arati to all the Ganeshas and lovely Puja in the Radha Krishna hall. The uplifting ceremony, complete with the sounds of conch shells, concluded with ladoos for all. The Yoga Farm welcomed Dr. Siva (Dr. Marc Halpern) for the Yoga Nidra teacher training. Students received 4 days of training and practice into the subtle teaching of Yoga Nidra, its application and benefits. Simultaneously, students attended the inspiring “Food as Medicine” course with Bharata Surya, teaching the Ayurvedic medicinal qualities of foods and including daily hands-on cooking workshops. The Beginners week, taught by Savitri, was greatly appreciated as new yogis learned the Five Points and received detailed instruction in the asanas and pranayama. Om Namah Sivaya to all blessed selves from the Yoga Farm.

http://www.sivananda.org/farm

Om Namo Narayanaya, Blessed Selves. During early September all guests were evacuated, due to the potential storm threat. Later, the numbers quickly rose as guests arrived to enjoy the “Cultivating Patience Through Yoga” and the “Power of Positive Thinking” retreats. During several Satsangs, we were given tools to power our minds with positivity, and cultivate patience through spiritual practice. The Ashram was flooded with new faces mid-week for our Labour Day Weekend Special. Our “Yoga For Busy People” workshops were well attended, giving our guests practical ways to maintain a daily practice regardless of their schedules. The highlight was our Krishna Jayanthi celebrations. It was an Ashram wide affair with guests and staff all participating to honor Lord Krishna. Many dishes were made. The Temple was decorated beautifully for the festivities. Many stories, chants, Pujas and teachings were done in the name of our beloved Krishna. The Satsang lasted well after hours, and everyone left the Temple with smiles on their faces.

During mid-September Rosh Hashanah concluded. We then began with a morning Satsang on taking fresh spiritual resolves. We welcomed Theodore Tsavoussis for a series of talks and workshops on healing the light body through Shamanic Medicine. Guests were taught a variety of shamanic methods to heal their light body (aura) for overall well being. Later we offered a selection of teachings by Swami Sivananda about the mind, it’s mysteries and control, taught by various senior staff. We bade farewell for a second time this season to Swami Brahmananda who flew to Israel, to return in three weeks. Om Shanti from all the staff in Nassau.

http://www.sivananda.org/nassau

Om Namah Sivaya. In early September, after a rather dramatic change in the weather, we experienced cooler and wetter weather than we experienced this summer. The TTC’s dove into their first week of teachings. The diverse group took some time to settle in, but seemed quite content by the end of the week. The TTC was also graced by the presence of Swami Kailasananda who gave some very inspiring lectures and Satsangs. We were also grateful for the invaluable support of a small but very dedicated team of Karma Yogis involved in cooking, cleaning, translating and helping at the reception. Stephen Quong shared his expertise on Vedic Astrology in three lively lectures. The students were fascinated in how the Vedic horoscope gives insights in health and personality, the effects of karma and free will and gives us guidance on the spiritual path. Meanwhile, in the Yoga Body-Check program, the guests explored the asanas and their effect on postural alignment, with personal guidance in the yoga classes and a much appreciated plumb-line workshop. The weekend was fully packed. The basic principles of yoga, concentration and meditation were introduced in the “Beginner’s Guide to Yoga”. Rajyashree Ramesh gave a beautiful program on South Indian Temple Dance. In three dance workshops Rajyashree taught how to communicate through dance and locate emotions in the body. The whole concept of space and emotion as specifically expressed in Indian dance makes it into a unique form of art. The absolute highlight however was Krishna Jayanthi. In a celebratory festival we honoured the many loving aspects of Krishna. The stage was decorated with fresh greens from the garden, transforming the stage into a Temple. At the Puja, some touching stories of Krishna were shared. The Puja itself was filled with Krishna’s loving and somewhat mischievous energy melting our hearts to butter. The evening continued with a wonderful dance performance by Rajyashree Ramesh. Rajyashree had selected several dances that gave a fine rendering of the many faces of Krishna. Tea and snacks were served afterwards and rounded of a long day with a sense of inner fulfillment and great joy. OM.

http://www.sivananda.org/tyrol

Om Namah Sivaya. Early September saw a reduced week, a week were students pay a reduced price. A group of 30 guests came. We celebrated Master’s birthday with a beautiful Puja, conducted by the priest. We also offered a further training for Yoga teachers on how to teach Yoga for pregnancy, taught by Chandrika, from Munich. A group of 20 teachers attended. It was a full success. Many of the teachers finished the TTC in the last 12 month here, and they came also for the how to teach children a few month ago. Now we have 30 bookings for the TTC in Nov-Dec.

During mid-September we had an Asana Intensive week. We had workshops on benefits of Asanas, inverted poses, Asanas and joints, Asanas and Chakras, etc… We celebrated Ganesha Chaturthi with a beautiful Puja. We offered the special topic of “Yoga for the Back”. Girija prepared a power point show and gave the lecture and Ananta gave a plumb line workshop where we could see some backs with scoliosis, kyphosis and lordosis. Students received personal advise on which Asanas are good for them. Kailas left for the weekend to Hamburg for a special program and Girija left for 10 days to help in Geneva and Paris for the special program with the Acharyas. Swami Gopalananda came for a weekend to help with teaching. We enjoyed his homourous Satsangs and good energy. Om Gam Ganapatayeh Namaha. OM.

http://www.sivananda.org/orleans