International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres celebrate the International Day of Yoga
True World OrderFounded in 1957
International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta CentresSwami Sivananda (1887 – 1963)
The spiritual strength behind the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres, Swami Sivananda’s teachings are a synthesis of all the formal doctrines of yoga. Author of more than 300 books on yoga, Swami Sivananda was a medical doctor before renouncing
worldly life for the spiritual path. He founded the Divine Life Society and the Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy, Rishikesh, Himalayas. His main message was: Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realise. In 1957 he sent one of his foremost disciples, Swami Vishnudevananda to the West to spread the ideals of yoga. Swami Sivananda entered Mahasamadhi on July 14th 1963.
Swami Vishnudevananda (1927 – 1993)
Born in South India in 1927, Swami Vishnudevananda entered the ashram of Swami Sivananda at the age of 18. A world famous authority on Hatha and Raja Yoga, Swami Vishnudevananda founded the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta
Centres in 1957 and was author of The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga, Meditation and Mantras, Karma and Disease and a com- mentary on the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Swami Vishnudevananda entered Mahasamadhi on November 9th, 1993.
The Executive Board
The Executive Board of the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres is comprised of senior disciples of Swami Vishnudevananda, personally chosen and trained by him to direct the organisation after his departure. Each of them has had many years’ experience in teaching all aspects of yoga. They are renowned for their devotion to Swami Vishnudevananda and Swami Sivananda
and for their profound knowledge and inspirational teaching and guidance, wisdom imparted to many thousands of students throughout the world. Swami Durgananda Swami Sivadasananda Swami Swaroopananda Swami KailasanandaSrinivasan Swami Sitaramananda
After over 50 years of promoting Yoga both in the West and
helping to rekindle the interest in Yoga in India,
the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres,
are honoured to collaborate with the
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian Government
to take this promotion to the next step with the first
UN sponsored International Yoga Day
on June 21st, 2015.
True World OrderFounded in 1957
Contents
Yoga – an ancient guide to healthy living — 4
Peace 7
Turn Inward 9
The Yogic life: the 5 points of Yoga — 14
The Benefits of the 12 basic Asanas — 18
International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers — 25
4
Yoga – an ancient guide to healthy living
Yoga is a centuries-old guide to healthy living developed by ancient Indian sages. With its unique blend of physical exercises, psychological insight, and philosophy, it can help you to bring your body, mind, and spirit into better balance. Yoga takes a holistic approach to life, enabling you to experience complete equilibrium inside and out.
Yoga for everyone
Swami Sivananda
Swami Vishnudevananda
5
Teacher training
Swami Vishnudevananda during Yoga Teachers’ Training Course in the 1980ies in Sivananda Ashram Yoga Camp, Val Morin, Canada.
14
The Yogic life: the 5 points of Yoga
“Yoga is a life of self-discipline built upon the tenets of simple living and high thinking. If you follow these five points, which compose a true holistic approach to our whole system of body, mind and soul, you will gain strength and balance in this demanding stressful world. Obstacles become stepping stones to success, and life is a school for the development of character and compassion and the Realization of the Divine all-pervading-Self.”
1. Proper Exercise – Asanas2. Proper Breathing – Pranayama3. Proper Relaxation – Savasana4. Proper Diet – Vegetarian5. Positive Thinking and Meditation –
Vedanta and Dhyana
1. Proper exercises
18
The ancient Hatha Yoga scriptures of India* give detailed descriptions of pranayama and meditation techniques, but offer only little instruction on the practice of asanas. It appears that the classical asana sequences known to us today are based on oral tradition. The twelve basic asanas taught by Swami Sivanananda and Swami Vishnudevananda combine in a masterly way health-promoting effects with the awakening of subtle energies, and thus prepare for the practice of pranayama and meditation.
The logic behind the sequence of the
12 Basic Asanas
19
This is how the 12 basic poses work in conjunction with conscious breathing and deep relaxation:
The Benefits of the Postures
20
Sirshasana – The Headstand
Sarvangasana – The Shoulderstand
Halasana – The Plough
Matsyasana – The Fish
The 12 Basic Asanas
The Headstand
The Shoulderstand
The Plough
The Fish
The Benefits of
21
The 12 Basic Asanas
The Forward Bend
The Cobra
The Locust
The Bow
the Postures
Paschimottanasana – The Forward Bend
Bhujangasana – The Cobra
Salabhasana – The Locust
Dhanurasana – The Bow
22
Ardha-Matsyendrasana –
The Half Spinal Twist
Mayurasana – The Peacock
Padahastasana –
The Standing Forward Bend
Trikonasana – The Triangle
The 12 Basic Asanas
The Half Spinal Twist
The Peacock
The Standing Forward Bend
The Triangle
23
Savasana – Final Relaxation
the Inner Pathswami durgananda
INTERNATIONAL SIVANANDA YOGA VEDANTA CENTERS
25
International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta
Centers and Ashramsall over the world www.sivananda.org
Ashrams
Centres
Argentinia Austria
True World Order Founded in 1957
27
Affiliated CentresAustralia
Bolivia
Brazil
Canada
Germany
India
Indonesia
Iran
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Lebanon
New Zealand
Poland
Portugaloja
1700 - 257 Lisbon
ananda.pt
Russia
Singapore
Spain
Sri Lanka
United States
Vietnam
United States of America
Uruguay
Vietnam
28
Swami Sivananda(1887 – 1963)
Swami Vishnudevananda(1927 – 1993)
2015–2016 Dates and Locations
www.sivananda.org www.sivananda.eu
Over 35,000 Yoga Teachers
Certified since1969
ALUENDA, SPAINAugust 17 – September 13, 2015August 15 – September 10, 2016
BARILOCHE, ARGENTINAMarch 6 – April 3, 2016
CHENGDU, CHINASeptember 26 – October 24, 2015
DALAT, VIETNAMFebruary 13 – March 12, 2016
GAROPABA, BRAZILJanuary 6 – February 3, 2016
GRASS VALLEY, CA, USA October 17 – November 14, 2015May 14 – June 11, 2016October 15 – November 12, 2016
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOMMay 28 –June 25, 2016September 3 –October 1, 2016
MADURAI, SOUTH INDIAOctober 18 – November 15, 2015November 22 – December 20, 2015January 3 – January 31, 2016February 7 – March 6, 2016October 16 – November 13, 2016November 20 – December 18, 2016
NEAR VILNIUS, LITHUANIA July 4 – August 2, 2015
NASSAU, BAHAMASJune 8 – July 6, 2015December 4 – 31, 2015January 4 – 31, 2016February 3 – March 1, 2016March 4 – 31, 2016April 3 – 30, 2016May 3 – 30, 2016June 2 – 29, 2016December 4 – 31, 2016
NETALA, HIMALAYAS, INDIAJune 14 – July 12, 2015August 2 – 30, 2015September 27 – October 25, 2015April 3 – May 1, 2016May 8 – June 5, 2016June 12 – July 10, 2016July 31 – August 28, 2016September 25 – October 23, 2016
NEYYAR DAM, SOUTH INDIANovember 8 – December 6, 2015January 10 – February 7, 2016March 20 – April 17, 2016November 6 – December 4, 2016
ORLEANS, FRANCEJuly 3 – 31, 2015August 2 – 30, 2015November 20 – December 19, 2015May 18 – June 15, 2016 July 1 – 29, 2016 July 31 – August 28, 2016 November 22– December 20, 2016
QUEBEC, CANADAJune 28 – July 25, 2015November 15 – December 12, 2015
RUDRAPRAYAG, HIMALAYAS, INDIAOctober 17 – September 15, 2015 February 20 – March 20, 2016October 22 –November 20, 2016
TAIWANDecember 1 – 29, 2015
THAILANDOctober 4 – November 1, 2015
TYROL, AUSTRIAJuly 25 – August 23, 2015August 29 – September 27, 2015Dec 12, 2015 – Jan 10, 2016April 30 –May 29, 2016July 30 –August 28, 2016September 3 –October 2, 2016Dec 17, 2016 –Jan 15, 2017
USTKA, POLANDSeptember 1 – 30, 2015September 3 – October 1, 2016
WOODBOURNE, NY, USASeptember 8 – October 6, 2015March 6 – April 3, 2016June 2 – 30, 2016September 7 – October 5, 2016
An intensive four week immersion in the yogic way of life: Open to students of all levels who have a sincere desire to learn. Certificate given upon successful completion of the course. Recognized by Yoga Alliance.
In depth study of: Asanas, Pranayama, Meditation, Mantras, Vedanta, Bhagavad Gita, Kriyas, Yogic Diet, Anatomy & Physiology.
The International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta
Teachers’ Training CourseTrue World Order Founded in 1957