Sivananda World News: The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashrams

Om Namah Sivaya, Greetings from the Headquarters. In September the Ashram closed its summer season, finishing off on a good note. We still had a great crowd join us for the Labour Day weekend. Many guests and families came to enjoy the Camp and spend the long weekend relaxing and recharging after the active summer months. September saw beautiful weather at the Camp, allowing many guests to help in the gardens. We offered a few events. We celebrated the Divine Mother at our Subramanya Temple. The guests and staff were able to partake in a beautiful lamp Puja. The night was full of great energy and devotion. One weekend theme was based on habits and how to cultivate good ones and deal with the bad ones. During that weekend Prahlada and Swamiji Shivabhaktananda spoke and read some excerpts from various books. The guests were pleased and left with a good foundation on how to work through their bad habits at home. We reached the last day for our ATTCs. After a full month of waking up at 4-4:30 in the morning, they were very proud of themselves and left feeling more endurance and strength in their practice. Immediately after ATTC many staff left the Ashram including Prahlada, Saraswati, and Satyabhama. It was such a pleasure having them here during the summer months and sharing their knowledge with us all. Also all the Ayurveda team left for India – Dr. Vishnu, Gopan, Ajitha, Sandhya and Lalitamma. They provided a wonderful service through all the months they were here helping many guests, staff and students. May the Grace of Master and Swamiji be with all. Om Shanti.

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Namah Sivaya to all. September was a blessed month in many ways. Highlights included Swami Sivasaranananda’s (Swamiji’s mother) birthday anniversary. We celebrated with some chanting, Arati and additional sweets for brunch. The next day Harihara Chaitanya  installed a beautiful hand carved, white marble lotus over Swami Rajeshwariananda’s Samadhi place. One of our guests, Rajeev Sethi is a well recognised designer. One evening, he gave a interesting presentation of the artisans of India and how they need to be supported. He was instrumental in creating the art exhibition in Mumbai International Airport Terminal 2. The Ashram participated in the Panchayat Onam procession. The group was led by King Bali and a female drum band. Staff stood out in their new Onam dresses. We celebrated Master Sivananda’s birthday with a morning Guru Pada Puja, performed by Swami Janardhanananda and Suresh ji. Sadhana Mandalam came to an end with graduation ceremony. Sadhakas shared their thanks and feelings.  We planned to make this an annual program. We bid Swami Janardhanananda adieu. We looked forward to having him back in November. On the same day some Sadhana Mandalam sadhakas and staff made a trip to Pattamadai to visit Master’s birth place. Pranams to all the Sivananda Family.

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Om Namo Narayanaya – Greetings from Uttar Kashi. The TTC students were fully absorbed by the final lectures, the special hath yoga classes and advanced pranayama and fully dedicating to reviewing in preparation for the exam.  To give the students an opportunity to express their gratitude for all they have learned and experienced, a Devi Puja was conducted, with all participating. The writing of the exam resulted in the successful graduation of all 37 students. The Ashram was then busy with the packing and departure of the students and visiting teachers, ending that day in stillness and peace again. We thank Swamiji and Master for the successful completion of another TTC. All are well. Pranams to all. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/uttarkashi

Om Namo Narayanaya. Thanking the Masters for their blessings being showered upon all. With Prem and Om from all Ashramites. Om.

www.sivananda.org/madurai

Om Namah Sivaya from the Ranch, where by the Grace of the Gurus, the Ashram in September saw the leaves begin to turn and a sense of Autumn in the air. The Yogis Beyond Borders course, led by Elaine Valdov, ran for a week. We thanked and bid farewell to two dedicated karma yogis, Jagadambika and Parina. We welcomed 23 guests for the Health, Happiness & Freedom workshop with Mukti Devi, and Yoga & Hiking weekend. 12 students were also inaugurated into the Sadhana Intensive course with a beautiful Ganesha Homa, performed by the Ashram Priest, Sankara Namboodri, at the Vana Durga Temple. We welcomed 4 guests for the Yoga Immersion for Beginners course. Staff are well, feeling grateful for the grace of the Gurus, and sending pranams to all. Om.

Om Namah Sivaya. In September staff and guests celebrated Master Swami Sivananda’s birthday with a beautiful and inspiring morning Puja in the Radha Krishna Hall, led by Swami Vasishtananda-ji, with offerings of many flowers, garlands, fruits and birthday cake. Shakti taught the 5-day Beginner Course, guiding students in the 5 Points of Yoga. The group greatly appreciated the teaching and enjoyed a wonderful visit to the Yuba River. The Stress Relief Relaxation workshop, taught by Rudra, helped students to understand their stress and how to apply Yoga to reduce and manage stress, understanding prana and tools for positive thinking. Om Namah Sivaya to all Blessed Selves, from the Yoga Farm.

http://www.sivananda.org/farm

Om Namo Narayanaya, Blessed Selves. In September we bid farewell to Swami Swaroopananda, Swami Prema Swaroopananda and Swami Shambhudevananda, who left the Ashram after a wonderful and most inspiring season in the Ashram. They travelled to Israel and we will welcome them back during the next season. We also bid farewell to Rukmini Chaitanya, Jnaneshwari Chaitanya and Kumari, who followed. Swami Brahmananda opened a new program, titled “Teachings of the Bhagavad Gita”. During four Satsangs he gave inspiring lectures on the 2nd chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. Narayani Chaitanya taught a 5-day “Essentials of Meditation Course”. Otherwise Ashram was busy with intense preparations to make the grounds and buildings secure for the coming hurricane, Irma. By God’s grace, the hurricane had no significant impact on the area around Nassau and the Ashram didn’t suffer any damage. Om.

http://www.sivananda.org/nassau

Om Namah Sivaya. We went on several hikes this month, enjoying the last days of summer and the fresh autumn morning air. The guests had lectures on meditation, setting up one’s own meditation practice at home and we had a preparation weekend for the TTC. Further topics focussed on power and positive thinking, the three levels of relaxation, a beginner’s weekend and asanas for a better posture. The guest lectures and classes were led in part by Padmavati from the affiliated Centre in Klosterneuburg near Vienna. The students of the August TTC made one last effort with their studies and all passed the exam. We closed of this TTC with a touching graduation and farewell gathering amidst a fierce summer storm and power cut. Staff then made preparations for the arrival of the September TTC. The group of 44 participants arrived amidst pouring rain and plummeting temperatures. They soon settled in and enjoyed the beautiful inauguration ceremony. The group is open, eager to learn and making good progress. We received a large delivery of books which had gone out of print. We are especially delighted to have the new German translation of Swami Sivananda’s book ‘How to cultivate Virtues and eradicate Vices’. Swami Narayanananda taught a 4-days program for Yoga teachers “Upgrade your Teaching Skills” with teaching groups on gentle, meditative, dynamic and instructive asanas classes. Nischala Joy Devi came from the USA and taught a well-attended 7-day course on the healing potential of yoga. The priest, Yagneshwara Dixit, and his wife Rajeshwari were with us. The priest preformed daily Pujas at our main altar uplifting the energy at the Seminar House and gave several workshops. We also had Pujas for Ganenasha and Swami Sivanananda’s birthday, a powerful Siva Yantra Puja and a Sarasvati Puja that left us fully inspired to challenge ourselves to develop and learn. The Bhagavata Saptaha with Sri Venugopal Goswami and accompanying musicians was a very special week. We were uplifted by the profound message of the scriptures and soul touching music. Spirits amongst students and staff were up in this week of spiritual and musical upliftment. We valued Swami Durgananda’s presence, advice and guidance, Swami Kailasananda’s TTC lectures and Swami Sivadasananda’s asanas workshops and Satsangs. OM.

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Om Namah Sivaya. A successful season came to an end with the Sadhana Intensive-students departing. Swami Kailasananda left for the Paris Centre, also many staff who supported us during the summer. Madhava was teaching the guest programme “Asana Intensive” with lectures followed by asana classes of the same topic, allowing students to develop a deeper understanding of Yoga. His dynamic approach was much appreciated by the students. Chandrika arrived from Munich to give the Certificate course “Develop your brain, expand your mind” with lectures about how asanas and pranayama can change the functioning of the brain. We also had a small successful photo shoot with Rukmini and her sister. The reduced number of staff was a new challenge for the planning. Staff took on new responsibilities with all departments  covered. Kailas left for the Retreat House Ashram in Reith. Narayana came back from Reith inspired and recharged. The construction of the wooden chalet was completed and the trees next to the garden shed were cut in preparation of the construction of the new building. We had heavy rain and falling temperatures, but spirits were up in the familiar atmosphere of the Ashram. OM.

http://www.sivananda.org/orleans

In September, after the Vietnam Independence Day yoga retreat, it was quiet at the Ashram, with the highlight being the celebration of Swami Sivananda’s birthday with Puja and chanting for the whole day. Other activities continued as normal, the staff taking advantage of the quiet time to build up their Sadhana and practice. Swami Sitaramananda started the TTC in China and Swami Narayanananda spent a week end  teaching an intensive in Affiliated Ashram named “Gokula Yoga Retreat” near Tai Chung, Taiwan, organized by affiliated teacher Lakshmi and translated by Chandrika, a TTC graduate. This visit included a visit to Chinese Yoga association of Taiwan Headquarters to celebrate Swami Sivananda birthday with 15 CYA members. The retreat of 2 days has a total of 40 students, plus many karma Yogis. The Ashram made many improvements to the facility in its first 9 months of operation and now the feeling is noticeable – we are in a Sivananda Ashram.  Much work was done on the grounds and garden, providing a very pleasant environment. An altar was set up in a proper manner with deities and Guru statues, large pictures of Master and Swamiji hung in the Yoga Hall. Proper protocols were followed for all activities, yoga classes, prayers beginning and end of the class properly done. Students wore yellow and white uniform. Karma yogis were very well organized. Classes were given on the life and teaching of Swami Sivananda, on how Yoga helps to manage stress, on basic Yoga philosophy of 3 Gunas, three bodies and 5 sheaths, on Yoga for healthy relationships, plus an introduction to Ayurveda, the 5 elements, 3 doshas and constitution.  Traditional format was followed for Satsangs with 30 minutes guided meditation followed by kirtan, talk, prayers and arati. Classes were well received, and feedback at the end of the retreat was very positive, they were particularly pleased with the practical nature of the teaching feeling that they had some tools and ideas to apply in daily life. The Ashram care and hospitality was exemplary. It’s clear that Lakshmi, the affiliated teacher was sincere in wishing to bring the pure, classical teachings to Taiwan. Om.