Download - Sivananda Yoga Firenze

A Message of Hope for Turbulent Times 

Dear Friends, 

In 1969, as Swami Vishnudevananda sat in deep meditation in front of 

the altar at the Yoga Retreat temple, he experienced a powerful vision. In 

his vision, the whole planet Earth was engulfed in fire forcing everyone 

to run. As people tried to escape, they broke loose of their barriers: physical 

barriers, mental barriers, spiritual barriers, gender barriers, religious 

barriers, and racial barriers. All those barriers that we artificially restrict 

ourselves with suddenly became meaningless in the presence of that fire. 

Swamiji awoke from this vision trembling for he thought that a great 

calamity was imminent. Then he had a sudden insight. Swamiji realized 

that by transcending their barriers in order to escape this fire, humanity 

had actually become united. He saw our world progressing to a greater 

and brighter future even though the vision itself was terrifying. 

I believe that Swamiji’s vision is now upon us. The fire that he visualized 

is here and now and it is spreading. People are bewildered and do 

not know what to do; they are seeking answers and need help. Much of 

humanity is in need of shelter, food, and water. All of us want health and 

healing. But the ultimate quality that we really need at such a turbulent 

time is spiritual shelter and inner strength. If there is inner spiritual 

strength, then there is the possibility of overcoming this critical point in 

the life of humanity successfully. 

All of this turmoil in the world today is due to transformation. We are 

going through a time of transformation that will lead us toward a bright 

and wonderful future. Yet this transition period, just like any other 

transition, is by its very nature, chaotic. If we resist this transformation, 

we will suffer. If we understand it for what it truly is and choose the 

right path, then humanity will have a hopeful future. 

As yoga practitioners, we are key and essential partners in this transformation. 

We can and should participate. First, we can keep our true 

Self connected to the seed of inner peace within us by our daily practice. 

Then in our own humble way, we can offer this yogic knowledge to 

others. It will give people strength, hope and a clearer vision. The 

Hatha Yoga Pradipika describes Hatha Yoga as a “sheltering monastery”, 

saving humanity from the fires of suffering. Swamiji himself would 

say that each one of us, not only yoga teachers, must become that 

monastery where people can find refuge from the scorching fires of fear 

and confusion. We can all share the wisdom of yoga with others. This 

is our duty. We must help each other and in doing so, we unite in this 

transition toward a bright new human life. 

I invite you to join us this year at the ashram, to reconnect with your 

inner spiritual strength and to become a spiritual shelter for others 

upon your return. 

Om Shanti, Om Peace 

Swami Swaroopananda 

Director 

Table of Contents 

Our Teachers 4 

Welcome to the Ashram 5 

About the Ashram 6 

The Well-Being Center 8 

The Yoga Vacation Program 9 

Yoga Teachers’ Training Course 10 

Advanced Yoga Teachers’ Training Course 12 

Courses with Swami Swaroopananda 14 

Foundation Yoga Courses 15 

Calendar of Events 16 

Residential Study Programs 80 

Professional Accreditation 82 

Plan Your Visit 83 

Registration and Rates 84 

Program Guide 86 

Online Community 91 

2 sivanandabahamas.org 3

Our Teachers 

4 sivanandabahamas.org 

Swami Sivananda 

(1887-1963) 

One of the great saints of modern times, Swami Sivananda 

is the inspiration behind the International Sivananda Yoga 

Vedanta Centers. Born in India, he served for many years 

as a medical doctor before renouncing worldly life and 

establishing the Sivananda Ashram and Divine Life 

Society in Rishikesh. He is the author of over 300 books 

and his teachings continue to enrich the lives of millions 

world-wide. 

Swami Vishnudevananda 

(1927-1993) 

A world authority on yoga, Swami Vishnudevananda 

was sent to the west by his master, Swami Sivananda and 

founded the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers 

in 1957. He was a tireless campaigner for world peace, a 

master of Hatha yoga and Raja yoga, and author of the 

now classic Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga and Meditation 

and Mantras. 

Welcome to the Ashram 

Located across the bay from 

Nassau, on one of the finest 

beaches in the world, the 

ashram is an island paradise 

and a true oasis of calm and 

natural beauty. It offers a 

unique combination of a 

traditional ashram and a 

modern yoga retreat. 

Come by yourself, bring a 

friend, or bring your whole 

family. Our staff will be happy 

to welcome you and accompany 

you as you settle into 

your stay with us. 

Take a Vacation 

Rest, relax, and recharge. The Yoga Vacation 

Program offers the perfect balance 

between activities and leisure time. Enjoy 

daily yoga classes, silent meditation sessions, 

and expand your horizons with midday 

workshops and inspiring evening talks. 

Treat yourself to a healing session or a 

private yoga class. In between the activities 

you will have time to rest, reflect, and enjoy 

some quality time alone or with others. 

Offered year round, the Yoga Vacation 

Program allows you to come at any time 

and stay for as long as you wish. For the 

daily schedule see page 9. For a list of 

speakers and events, look for programs 

marked YVP on the Calendar of Events. 

Learn, Train, Get Certified 

Expand your knowledge, gain new skills, 

and get certified. Choose the course that is 

right for you from our wide variety of certification 

courses and professional trainings 

and deepen your practice as a yoga teacher, 

healer, counselor, or yoga practitioner. 

Many of our courses are approved for Yoga 

Alliance credits or Continuing Education 

Units (CEU). See page 82 for professional 

accreditation information. For a list of 

courses look for programs marked C 

on our Calendar of Events and for the 

CEU symbol for courses approved for 

Continuing Education Units. 

Join the Community 

Join the Residential Study Program and become 

part of the ashram community. Live a 

spiritual life, meet like-minded people from 

all over the world, and experience the joy of 

selfless service. See pages 80-81 for details. 

5

About the Ashram 

Accommodations 

Pleasant and simple lodgings include a 

choice of rooms overlooking the ocean, 

or comfortable wooden garden cabins. 

We offer a variety of accommodation 

options, ranging from self-pitched tents 

to luxurious beach-front suites, allowing 

you to spend your time with us in the way 

that is optimal for you. Please see pages 

84-85 for accommodation options and 

rates. Visit our website for further details 

about our accommodations accompanied 

by photos. 

Boutique, Bookstore 

and Health Hut 

In the cozy, welcoming Boutique, Bookstore, 

and Health Hut, you can find an 

inspiring reading selection and music with 

a wide variety of spiritual books, including 

best-sellers, and CDs published by our 

guest speakers. You can also get your 

favorite yoga equipment or souvenirs from 

our new line of organic cotton t-shirts, 

traditional attire brought from India, and 

other accessories. Share a snack with some 

friends or take a private break and delight 

yourself with a selection of natural products, 

freshly squeezed juices, and a variety 

of freshly baked delights from the health 

hut (the boutique is open from November 

to June and on a smaller scale during the 

rest of the summer). 

The ashram provides you 

with the optimal environment 

for your spiritual growth and 

relaxation. Experience the full 

benefits of a physical, mental 

and spiritual transformation as 

you retreat from the stressors 

and distractions of your life to 

discover a healthier, more 

relaxed you. 

The Ashram’s Setting 

Practice yoga on spacious platforms 

located in between the swaying palms of 

the garden, or facing the clear blue water 

of the Caribbean. Take your breaks on the 

white-sand beach or enjoy the shade of 

the ashram’s tropical garden. Relax amidst 

colorful flowers that bloom throughout the 

gardens, and the beautiful song of the birds 

which fills the air. 

The Temple 

The ashram’s main temple is a semiopen-air 

inviting structure built on a spot 

rich with spiritual energies. Two additional 

temples elevate the ashram’s spiritual 

vibration with grace and beauty. Several 

daily pujas (rituals) are conducted by our 

Tantric priest from India or by the ashram’s 

senior staff. 

Meals 

Enjoy a variety of delicious and nutritious 

vegetarian meals made with loving care 

according to yogic dietary principles for 

a healthy and calm body and mind. Savor 

the flavor of freshly baked bread, homemade 

granola, and breakfast spreads. 

Nourish your body with hearty soups, 

and bean, lentil, and vegetable dishes. 

Make your own salad with our raw 

vegetables buffet and relax with the daily 

herbal tea. Have your meal by the ocean, 

in the garden or in the dining area, in the 

company of other yogis and vacationers. 

Stay in Touch While Away 

Free wireless internet is available throughout 

most of the ashram grounds. A Skype 

phone is also available (a Skype account and 

balance are required and it is suggested that 

you set one up online prior to your arrival). 

Cellular coverage (via the local Bahamian 

carrier) is available as well. 


The Well-Being Center 

Take time between workshops 

and yoga classes to 

enjoy nurturing and healing 

treatments and consultations 

with our skilled practitioners. 

The services of the Well- 

Being Center include: 

Ayurvedic Consultation 

Ayurveda, a sister science of yoga, is an 

ancient system of holistic living that teaches 

us how to balance our daily life with our 

unique physical and mental constitution. 

An ayurvedic consultation is a two-hour 

meeting with an ayurvedic practitioner 

who will explore your unique constitution, 

evaluate the signs and causes of actual or 

potential imbalances, and design a treatment 

plan specifically for you. 

Ayurveda Body Treatments 

Bliss Therapy consists of abhyanga (a balancing 

warm oil body massage), followed by 

shirodhara (streaming of warm oil over the 

forehead and scalp) or nasya (a facial using 

gentle heat and application of oil to the nasal 

passages), bhasti (localized retention of oil), 

and ayurvedic facials. 

Panchakarma 

Panchakarma is the traditional ayurvedic 

method to cleanse, balance, and rejuvenate 

the body, mind, and spirit. Following your 

initial consultation, an experienced ayurvedic 

practitioner will customize a series of daily 

personalized treatments and practices for you, 

and offer you follow-up practices to use at 

home for rejuvenation and continued balance. 

Therapeutic Massage 

Therapeutic massage supports general health, 

increases circulation, releases stress, and 

enhances the immune system. It can relieve 

muscle strain, aches, and pains. Experienced 

therapists in energy and body work modalities 

will customize the massage for you to have a 

relaxing and rejuvenating experience. 

Thai Yoga Massage 

Thai Yoga Massage is a bodywork treatment 

that relieves muscular tension, improves 

circulation, boosts the immune system, and 

balances the body energetically facilitating 

mind-body integration. 

We recommend scheduling treatments in advance in 

order to secure the date. 

For more information please visit our website or 

contact Lalita Devi, the Well-Being Center Director, 

at Lalitadevi@sivananda.org 

The Yoga Vacation 

Program 

The Yoga Vacation 

Program was designed by 


to ensure that real relaxation 

and rejuvenation are 

achieved on all levels – 

body, mind and soul. 

Based on five simple principles - exercise, breathing, relaxation, healthy diet, and positive thinking 

& meditation - the Yoga Vacation Program offers you the ideal way to take a true break from your 

everyday life. Whether you are new to yoga or a well established practitioner, the Yoga Vacation 

Program will get you back in balance. You will return home peaceful, energized and better able to 

joyfully carry on with your daily routine. 

The Daily Schedule 

Morning 

Start the day at 6 a.m. with the serenity of 

early morning meditation, joyful chanting, 

and a spiritual talk. Energize your body while 

preserving the meditative mood with an 8 a.m. 

yoga class. Brunch will await you at 10 a.m. 

Midday 

Create your own optimal afternoon schedule. 

Take an experiential workshop, attend a 

lecture or enjoy a healing art session*. Relax 

on the beach or enjoy a swim or snorkeling 

experience. Have a snack break in the Health 

Hut, meet new and old friends, or read a book 

in the garden. 

* Healing art treatments are available at additional cost. 

Afternoon 

Start the third part of the day with a 4 p.m. 

yoga class and feel your body achieve its maximum 

flexibility. Observe as your breath gets 

calmer and your mind clearer in the serenity of 

your afternoon practice. Dinner will await you 

after the class. Take an early evening walk on 

the beach and enjoy a beautiful sunset. 

Evening 

Join the evening satsang at 8 p.m. and let the 

company of positive, like-minded individuals 

uplift you. Meditate, chant, and enjoy a lecture 

by a world-renowned presenter, or a devotional 

music or dance performance. Go to sleep 

feeling fulfilled and inspired. 

All Yoga Vacation Programs are open to all guests - look for programs marked YVP in the Calendar of Events 

pages. See pages 84-85 for rates. 


Yoga Teachers’ 

Training Courses 

(200-hour certification) 

December 4 - 31, 2011 

January 4 - 31, 2012 

February 4 - March 2, 2012 

March 5 - April 1, 2012 

April 5 - May 2, 2012 

May 6 - June 2, 2012 

The Sivananda Yoga Teachers’ Training Course (TTC) is a profound learning experience 

that will transform you on all levels. Drawing from the teachings of an ancient lineage, 

while integrating modern aspects of the practice of yoga, this course offers a unique 

opportunity for immersion in an authentic and comprehensive study of all aspects of the 

yogic practice. In addition to providing teacher trainees with an in-depth knowledge and 

practice of classic yoga, Swami Vishnudevananda, who created the TTC as part of his global 

peace initiative, structured it such that it will offer a unique opportunity for each trainee to 

undergo personal transformation and find inner peace. Thus, the TTC empowers graduates 

to become peaceful, self-controlled leaders and citizens of the world. You too can become a 

yogi, a teacher, and a leader. The TTC is open to anyone with a sincere desire for knowledge 

and personal growth. It fulfills the Registered Yoga Teacher requirements for the 200-hour 

certification by the Yoga Alliance. 

Curriculum 

• Learn how to competently and 

confidently teach a 2 hour Sivananda 

yoga class; gain versatile teaching 

skills including teaching beginners, 

intermediate and advanced classes; 

explore different techniques to teach 

children, the elderly, and prenatal yoga. 

• Find greater flexibility and comfort 

in your practice of asanas (postures); 

discover how to energize the body and 

calm the mind through the practice of 

pranayama (breathing); maintain 

physical and mental purity through the 

practice of kriyas (cleansing); learn how 

to nourish your body and make your 

body and mind fit for yogic practice with 

classes on yogic diet and nutrition; study 

the mechanics and innumerable benefits 

of the practice of yoga on the human 

body and mind through a focused study 

of human anatomy and physiology. 

• Learn meditation techniques and theory; 

enhance your concentration abilities and 

learn to dive deep within and find the 

peace in silence. 

• Open your heart and find your true 

voice through the practice of chanting; 

connect with the Divine and your higher 

Self through the repetition of mantras. 

• Become part of the ashram community 

and purify your heart and mind through 

one hour daily of karma yoga (the practice 

of selfless service). 

• Immerse yourself in the timeless 

teachings of the Bhagavad Gita; discover 

your true nature and be inspired to 

develop a steady and joyous yoga 

practice through the study ancient yogic 

texts; gain a precious understanding of 

the inner workings of your mind 

through yoga philosophy and 

psychology. 

Testimonials 

At the end of the TTC I felt a new excitement for 

life and I felt inspired to share the new found peace 

and love blossoming in my heart. The teachings are 

authentic and inspirational. The location is absolutely 

beautiful. I recommend this course for EVERYONE. 

Mahashakti, U.S. 

An excellent place to learn yoga; a life changing experience, 

and an opportunity to make friends with people 

from all over the world. 

Pranava (Mauricio), Columbia 

TTC brought yoga out of the classroom and into 

everyday life. The knowledgeable, dedicated teachers 

instructed not only how to give a balanced asana class, 

but how to live a balanced life. 

Hanuman (Marc), U.S. 

Practicalities 

Course Books: The Complete Illustrated 

Book of Yoga by Swami Vishnudevananda 

and the Bhagavad Gita with commentary 

by Swami Sivananda. These books are 

available for purchase at our boutique and 

at Sivananda centers world-wide. 

Course fees: 

Tent space: $2,400 

(please bring your own tent) 

Dormitory or Tent Hut: $3,290 

Please contact our reception office 

for single or double accommodation 

options and prices. 

For registration, a detailed curriculum, information 

about the daily schedule, arrival and departure and 

other useful information, visit our website. For all 

other inquiries, please contact our reception office. 


Advanced Yoga Teachers’ 

Training Course 

(500-hour certification) 

January 4 - 31, 2012 

Designed to deepen and expand the knowledge and practice of certified yoga teachers, the 

Advanced Yoga Teachers’ Training Course (ATTC) is a four-week immersion into advanced 

yogic practices. Whether you are an active yoga teacher, or otherwise a certified yoga teacher 

who would like to strengthen your own practice, this course offers the ideal training for 

you. Through in-depth work, both physically and mentally, the ATTC will provide you 

with valuable tools to advance your physical practice, take your Self study (Swadhyaya) to 

the next level, and create a distinguished teaching practice. Once you establish your practice 

on a firmer and broader base, your advanced teaching skills and teaching confidence will 

naturally flow and manifest as an increase in teaching opportunities. 

The ATTC is taught by the senior staff of the Sivananda organization, who are highly 

experienced practitioners and teachers. It fulfills the requirements for the Yoga Alliance RYT 

500 certification. 

Curriculum 

• Hatha yoga: Find new angles to your 

practice with advanced variations and 

prolonged holding of the asanas 

(postures); learn to better manage your 

energy flow with advanced pranayama 

(breathing), mudras (energy seals), and 

bandhas (energy locks). 

• Jnana yoga (the yoga of Wisdom): 

Expand your knowledge and get inspired 

to take your Self study (Swadhyaya) to 

the next level with the study of Vedanta 

philosophy including study of Jnana 

yoga theory and Vedantic meditation 

techniques. 

• Sanskrit: Learn the Sanskrit alphabet 

and correct pronunciation and 

spelling of mantras and hymns. 

• Raja yoga: Dive deeper into your 

mind through an in-depth study 

of the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. 

• Bhakti yoga: Open your heart to true 

love through studies of the nine modes 

of Bhakti and the five attitudes of 

devotion (Bhavas). 

• Karma Yoga: Explore karma yoga as 

an inner attitude of selfless service. 

Practicalities: 

Book: Meditation and Mantras 

by Swami Vishnudevananda 

(available for purchase at our 

boutique and in all of our centers 

world-wide). 

Course fees: 

See TTC course fees on page 11. 

Students registering simultaneously for 

the Yoga Teachers’ Training Course and the 

Advanced Yoga Teachers’ Training Course 

(500 hours Yoga Alliance Certification. 

See page 82) will receive a 10% discount 

on the total tuition for both courses. 

Prerequisite: 

Graduation from the Sivananda Yoga 

Teachers’ Training Course or Integral Yoga 

Teachers’ Training Course (please contact 

our reception if you are a graduate from 

another teachers’ training program). 

For registration, a detailed 

curriculum, information 

about the daily schedule and 

other useful information, visit 

our website. For all other 

inquiries, please contact us 

by e-mail or phone. 


Courses with 


Foundation Yoga Courses 

Start and Establish Your Practice 

March 11 - March 21 

Advanced Bhagavad Gita 

Certification Course 

Tuition: $490. Add 12 nights’ accommodation. 

The Bhagavad Gita is a superb exposition 

of the synthesis of all paths of yoga. Its 

teachings are filled with deep philosophy 

and practical advice for all life situations. 

It offers a source of help for human beings 

to solve the ever-present problems of birth 

and death: pain, suffering, fear, bondage, 

love, and hate. Swami Swaroopananda 

will take us into the timeless teachings 

of the Bhagavad Gita, continuing the 

teachings from last year’s course and 

starting instruction from chapter five. 

Students who did not participate in last 

year’s course are welcome to attend and 

are advised to read chapters one through 

four of the Bhagavad Gita with Swami 

Sivananda’s commentary. 

April 29 - May 9 

Advanced Raja Yoga 


Course III: Vibhuti Pada 


A unique opportunity for an in-depth 

study of Raja yoga, the royal path to 

Enlightenment, and its mother-text, the 

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Maharishi. Explore 

these ancient teachings and gain deep 

insight into your consciousness, as well 

as knowledge and wisdom that will guide 

you on the spiritual path towards lasting 

bliss, tranquility, and inner silence. Swami 

Swaroopananda will share his profound 

knowledge as we focus on the last three 

limbs of ashtanga yoga (concentration, 

meditation, and samadhi), as well as yogic 

perfections that accompany the different 

stages on the yogic path. 


is a senior disciple of Swami 

Vishnudevananda. A practicing 

yogi from a very young age, 

Swami Swaroopananda has 

dedicated the past thirty-six 

years to the practice and 

teaching of yoga. He is a 

member of the board of directors of the International 

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers. He is the 

director of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat and 

the Acharya for the Sivananda centers and ashrams 

on the West Coast of the United States, the Middle 

East, and the Bahamas. 

Beginners’ 

Yoga Course 

Tuition: $200. Add 6 nights’ accommodations 

Often, the first steps we take on a new journey 

determine our experience of the entire path. 

Embark on your journey along the path of 

yoga in the ideal setting of the ashram and 

immerse yourself in the basics of yoga. Receive 

a step-by-step introduction to yogic postures 

and breathing exercises in addition to 

yogic theory studies. Discover how 

the five points of yoga -proper 

exercise, proper breathing, 

proper relaxation, balanced 

diet, and positive thinking 

& meditation, will 

support your yoga 

practices and a healthy 

lifestyle. Through this 

course, you will build 

a solid foundation for 

a stable and joyous 

yoga practice. 

Course dates: 

November 18 - 22, 2011 

December 9 - 13, 2011 

January 16 - 20 

February 17 - 21 

April 12 - 16 

May 11 - 15 

June 4 -8 

Intermediate 

Yoga Course 


Take your yoga practice to the next level. 

Under the guidance of our experienced 

teachers, perfect your basic yogic postures 

and breathing exercises. Explore variations 

on the twelve basic postures and learn advanced 

yoga asanas. Ground your 

practice and give it a deeper meaning 

by becoming familiar with the core of 

yogic philosophy and yogic scriptures. 

Course dates: 

November 23 - 27, 2011 

December 14 - 18, 2011 



May 16 - 20 

June 9 - 13 

Fine Tune 

Your Postures 


This 5-day intensive is tailored for graduates 

of the Intermediate Yoga Course or 

individuals who otherwise have a solid 

practice that they wish to fine tune and 

expand. Develop a more focused asana 

practice through advanced practices and 

individualized guidance and adjustments. 

By achieving steady and comfortable 

postures, you will have a deeper experience 

of joy and tranquility in your practice, 

endowing your body and mind with the 

innumerable benefits of yoga. 

Course dates: 

November 29 - December 3, 2011 

December 19 - 23, 2011 

June 15 - 19 


YVP 

November 6 - 10 

YVP 


November 

YVP 

October 29 - November 3 

Restorative Yoga: 

Yoga Therapy for Stress Reduction 

Nora Benian (Sundari) 

Learn how to relieve tension, stress, and 

stagnant energy and work through injuries, 

chronic pain, and restlessness by working 

with acupressure points and massaging main 

energy lines (meridians, sen lines, or prana 

nadis). Moving through specifically selected 

yogic postures, incorporating breathing 

exercises, and following ayuvedic and Thai 

yoga massage principles, you will practice 

freeing the flow of the precious life force. 

Nora Benian, DIHom, R.P. 

Counsellor, is a Sivananda 

yoga teacher, yoga therapist and 

Thai yoga massage practitioner. 

She prescribes yogic practices 

along with counseling techniques 

to bring clients back 

into alignment, build strength, 

open energy channels, and 

increase the life force. 

YVP 


Align Your Spine, 

Align Your Mind 

Michael Pyfrom 

A healthy spine is key to looking and feeling 

your best. Proper care of your spine will 

enable you to maintain an optimal flow 

of energy throughout your body, keeping 

both your body and mind in good balance. 

Together, we will explore the connection between 

the spine, the mind, and the spiritual 

path. Expand your knowledge about how 

to use movement and breath to achieve a 

healthy back, balance, and internal harmony. 

Learn several simple techniques to loosen 

and release your spine that will allow you to 

re-balance your body and mind. 

Homeopathy and Yoga: 

Philosophy and Practice 

Dennis Chernin 

Learn the basic principles of homeopathy, 

selecting an appropriate homeopathic remedy 

and understanding chronic diseases from a 

homeopathic perspective. We will analyze 

in-depth several important homeopathic 

remedies. Exploring the connection between 

homeopathy and yoga, we will study the 

relationship of vital force (energy), remedy 

characteristics, and miasms (inherited disease 

patterns) to prana (vital energy), the chakras 

(energetic centers), the koshas (sheaths), and 

Raja yoga. 

Dennis Chernin, MD, MPH, 

a holistic physician who has 

taught yogic meditation and 

breathing techniques for over 

30 years. His publications 

include: How to Meditate Using 

Chakras, Mantras and Breath, 

and The Complete Homeopathic 

Resource for Common Illnesses. 


The Art of Concentration 

Swami Brahmananda 

Concentration is the ability 

to focus the mind on 

one single thought. It is 

an important skill both in 

daily life and on the spiritual 

path. Learn to concentrate 

your mind to increase your 

efficiency and success in the performance of 

all tasks, endowing you with more satisfaction 

and leisure. Practice concentration and meditation 

techniques that will allow you to gain 

peace of mind. Like the calm water of a lake, 

a focused mind absent of distracting waves of 

thought becomes tranquil, allowing for an indepth 

exploration of your true nature. 

Michael Pyfrom, DC, is a chiropractic 

doctor and Sivananda 

yoga teacher. He maintains 

an active chiropractic clinic in 

Nassau, Bahamas, where he 

integrates the ancient wisdom 

of yoga with modern science 

and the concepts of chiropractic 

medicine as an integrative approach. Dr. Pyfrom 

practices in accordance with his belief that the purpose 

of our physical body is to express our divinity 

Swami Brahmananda: see biography on page 19. 

through service. www.familyislandchiropractic.com 

16 sivanandabahamas.org 17 

YVP 

Writing from the Spirit 

Virginia Frances Schwartz 

Unleash your creative self. Learn how to 

fuse yoga with writing. Daily freewrites in 

the garden with easy yoga poses, breathwork, 

meditation and intention. Discussions, 

sharing of work with mild critique. Allow 

your stories to find their way onto the page 

without judgment. Writing from a spiritual 

perspective increases our awareness of original 

mind and develops patience, persistence 

and self acceptance (ahimsa). Sessions are 

designed for all levels of writers and yogis. 

Virginia Frances Schwartz, 

a Sivananda yoga teacher, 

Virginia teaches creative 

writing at UCLA Extension 

online using a spiritual 

approach. The author of seven 

YA novels, she has trained 

adults and children in The 

Writing Process for over 25 years. Her approach 

to building a writing practice focuses on accessing 

original mind through meditation, Hatha yoga, 

breathing techniques, freewriting, and ahimsa. 

virginiafrancesschwartz.com

C 

November 18 - December 3 

YVP 


C 


Foundation Yoga Courses 

Beginners’ Yoga Course: 

November 18 – 22 

Intermediate Yoga Course: 

November 23 – 27 

Fine-Tune Your Postures: 

November 29 – December 3 

Sylvie Boisclair (Saraswati) 

See page 15 for courses descriptions. 


is a Sivananda yoga teacher 

(RYT 500). Searching for a 

body-mind connection that did 

not link physical performance to 

self-worth, this life-long dancer 

found yoga as her path. A highly 

experienced teacher, Saraswati 

is an instructor in the Sivananda Teachers’ Training 

Courses. She is known for her resourcefulness and 

ability to assist students in improving their inner 

attentiveness and meditative faculty. 

YVP 


Energy Medicine: 

The Hidden Link Between 

Emotions and Physical Health 

Cairo Rocha 

Explore the foundations of energy medicine as 

taught for centuries by ancient healing 

systems such as Chinese and Tibetan 

medicine. Understand the link between 

your body, mind, and emotions. Get simple, 

yet powerful, tools that can help you detect 

early signs of disease and vastly improve your 

health and overall sense of well being. 

Cairo Rocha, OMD, PhD, 

is a Brazilian-born researcher, 

acupuncturist, doctor of 

oriental medicine, and author 

of the book, Anger Goes Up, Fear 

Goes Down: Emotions and the 

Hidden Link. He teaches energy 

healing and oriental medicine in 

various locations around the world. 

www.cairorocha.com 

Thanksgiving Celebration 

and Family Program: 

Discover the Joy in Gratitude 

Swami Brahmananda, 

Arjuna and Kumari 

Celebrate Thanksgiving at the ashram. 

Immerse yourself in the joyful mood of 

gratitude. Learn how to cultivate the feelings 

of gratitude and appreciation that are the essence 

of this holiday. Draw inspiration from 

all that is good and beautiful, and allow the 

healing natural beauty of the ocean and lush 

gardens to refresh, relax, and re-invigorate 

you. All are welcome to celebrate together 

as an extended family - bring the kids, your 

mom, siblings, friends, or just yourself. The 

regular ashram schedule will be supplemented 

by family and children yoga classes, 

special workshops, and children’s satsang during 

the second half of the program. You are 

also welcome to take part in the preparation 

of the Thanksgiving feast by joining a cooking 

workshop that will offer valuable tips and 

guidance on delicious and nutritious vegetarian 

cooking. You will return home uplifted 

and energized in body, heart, and soul. 

Swami Brahmananda: 

see biography on opposite page. 

Arjuna and Kumari have been Sivananda yoga 

teachers and practitioners for nearly thirty years. 

Studying and serving for many years under the 

direct guidance of Swami Vishnudevananda, they 

are currently the directors of the affiliated Sivananda 

yoga center in Gatineau, Canada. They have three 

children and are well acquainted with the challenges 

of living a spiritual life as family in today’s world. 

Arjuna is currently the main teacher and director 

of yoga programs at their center. Kumari is the 

founding director of the center and offers specialized 

services in yoga therapy, healing, and creativity. 

www.yoga-aylmer.com 


Cultivating Love in Our 

Interpersonal Relationships 

Deirdre Fay 

Learn how to develop 

satisfying and nurturing 

interpersonal relationships. 

By deeply exploring our 

own needs and longings, we 

can identify the relationship 

patterns we have developed 

during our lifetime that hinder the realization 

of the companionship we want. Once 

we identify our relationship patterns, we can 

learn how to become free of them and begin 

to cultivate the relationships and lives we 

intrinsically desire. 

Deirdre Fay MSW, is a licensed clinical social worker, 

with a specialty in attachment and relationships, 

who has been practicing mediation for over 30 years. 

She is the founder of Becoming Safely Embodied and 

an author of a book by the same title. She is committed 

to finding concrete psycho-spiritual ways to alleviate 

suffering. A much loved and frequent workshop 

leader, Deirdre delights in supporting people in safely 

experiencing their body. www.dfay.com 

Sivananda Yoga Teachers’ 

Renewal Program 

Swami Brahmananda, Shyam and 

Mohini 

A Karma yoga based program. Participants pay half the 

rate on tent or dormitory accommodation (see pages 

84-85). There is no tuition fee. 

Join other Sivananda-trained teachers in 

this renewal program that will allow you to 

re-establish connection with the Sivananda 

tradition and enjoy the ashram environment. 

The renewal program gives you the 

opportunity to strengthen your practice and 

learn how to address the challenges in your 

teaching in the supportive environment of 

the ashram. Enjoy workshops, yoga classes, 

spiritual guidance, and the joy of karma 

yoga (3 hours daily). Learn how to start your 

own Sivananda affiliated yoga center. Return 

home refreshed with new tools for your 

practice and your teaching. 

Swami Brahmananda is the 

manager of the Sivananda 

Ashram Yoga Retreat and a 

senior staff of the Sivananda 

organization. A long-time 

practitioner of yoga, he regularly 

teaches yoga philosophy and 

meditation for the Sivananda 

Teachers’ Training Courses as well as Meditation 

Immersion courses. He is a much-loved, inspiring, 

and knowledgeable teacher. 

Shyam and Mohini are the founders and directors 

of the Yoga Warehouse, an affiliated Sivananda Yoga 

Vedanta Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Highly 

experienced practitioners and charismatic teachers, 

Shyam and Mohini are instructors in the Sivananda 

Teachers’ Training Courses. 

www.theyogawarehouse.com 


YVP

ThetaHealing 

Introduction and Teachers’ Training Courses 

YVP 

December 6 - 7 

C 


December 

YVP December 1 - 4 

C December 3 - 11 

Healing Chronic Pain: 

The Mind-Body Syndrome 

Paul Epstein 

Explore the nature of pain, which is an 

integral part of our lives. Learn how to relate 

to pain mindfully and compassionately, 

with unconditional presence. Acquire tools 

to avoid the development of feelings of 

resentment and anger towards pain that only 

aggravate the situation. We will explore the 

mind-body connection and how biography 

can become biology. By employing skillful 

means and practicing understanding, intention, 

and effort, we will embark on a healing 

journey as we work through old conditioned 

patterns to unlearn our pain. 

Paul Epstein, ND, is a naturopathic 

physician, mind-body 

therapist, mindfulness meditation 

and yoga teacher. Focusing 

on behavioral medicine, stress, 

and lifestyle counseling, Dr. 

Epstein lectures and presents 

workshops throughout the 

United States. www.drpaulepstein.com 



Lalita Devi 


A wonderful opportunity to learn the techniques 

of ayurveda body treatments with the 

ashram’s Well-Being Center Director. Learn 

the traditional oil massage (abhyanga), pouring 

of oil over the forehead (shirodhara), the 

introduction of oil into the nasal passages 

(nasya), and gentle heat therapy (svedana). Such 

treatments provide deep detoxification and rejuvenation 

helping to achieve ultimate balance 

for the body, mind, and spirit. The course is 

designed for massage therapists, ayurvedic 

practitioners, yoga teachers, and all others who 

have an interest in ayurveda body treatments. 

Optional: Two hands-on practical experience days in 

ayurveda body treatments (December 12 and 13). 

Tuition: $50/day plus accommodation. 

Lalita Devi, Clinical Ayurveda 

Specialist (CAS), a graduate 

of the California College of 

Ayurveda, and a Sivananda yoga 

teacher. She is the Director of the 

Well-Being Center at the Sivananda 

Ashram Yoga Retreat. 

Introduction to 

Theta Healing: 

The Healing Power of the Mind 

The theta state of mind is a one of very deep 

relaxation, almost trancelike. ThetaHealing 

is a healing method based on meditation and 

prayer that utilizes the fundamental creative 

life energy of the universe. During the ThetaHealing 

process, by going into a meditative 

state and channeling healing energy, the healer 

changes limiting conscious and subconscious 

beliefs, reads the indications inside the human 

body, and performs physical and emotional 

healing. Thus, ThetaHealing is one of the most 

effective and life-changing forms of healing. 


ThetaHealing ® 

Basic Teachers’ Training 


Taught exclusively by Vianna Stibal, founder 

of ThetaHealing, this class will prepare and 

certify ThetaHealing practitioners to teach 

Basic ThetaHealing Seminars. Learn how to 

download feelings from the Seventh Plane 

into large groups of people through conscious 

permission. Teach students to connect to the 

“Creator of All That Is”. Guide students to 

be a medical intuitive and to visualize a pure 

meditative theta-state in the body. Practitioners 

will learn discernment when working 

with guides and guardian angels, and how to 

teach Future Readings, balance of serotonin 

and noradrenalin levels, and the pulling of 

heavy metals and radiation. The course will 

also cover Gene Work and a deeper introduction 

to the laws of manifestation, soul mates, 

and the Planes of Existence. 

ThetaHealing ® Advanced 

Teachers’ Training 


Taught exclusively by Vianna Stibal, founder 

of ThetaHealing, this class prepares and certifies 

ThetaHealing practitioners to teach the 

Advanced ThetaHealing Seminars. Gain an 

in-depth understanding of the Seven Planes 

of Existence. Learn how to teach students to: 

clear old resentments, vows, and commitments 

that hold them back and understand 

how drama, resentment, jealousy, and anger 

are Fifth Plane elements that waste important 

time and energy. 

Vianna Stibal pioneered and 

refined the healing method now 

known as ThetaHealing after 

curing herself from cancer in 

1995. She and her many students 

now teach this technique 

world-wide. She is the author of 

five books, which were published 

by Hay House: Go Up and Seek God, Go up and work 

with God, ThetaHealing, ThetaHealing Advanced- All 

That Is, and Diseases and Disorders. 

www.thetahealing.com 


C

YVP December 6 – 8 

C December 4 - 31 

Perfect Your 

Balance Postures 




See pages 10-11 for details. 

Balancing postures can be 

a source of great relaxation 

once perfected. Yet many 

find them challenging to 

master, as they require 

refined technique. Join 

this program and learn 

how to reach a steady and comfortable asana 

when practicing balance postures such as the 

crow, the tree, the peacock and many others. 

Individual adjustments, explanations on the 

postures’ anatomy, guided imagery, and positive 

reinforcement techniques will be used to 

deepen your sense of balance. In the process, 

you will also develop better concentration 

and will power. Yoga practitioners of all levels 

will benefit from this program. 

Sylvie Boisclair (Saraswati): 

See biography on page 18. 

C 

CEU 


Thai Yoga Massage: Level I 

Kam Thye Chow 

Tuition: $525. Add 7 nights’ accommodation 

Thai Yoga Massage, an ancient yoga therapy, 

combines yoga postures with touch technique. 

It promotes deep relaxation and healing, 

improves circulation, boosts the immune 

system, and balances the body energetically, 

thus facilitating mind-body integration. As a 

therapeutic practice, Thai Yoga Massage is a 

dynamic form of yoga for the practitioner as 

well as the recipient, enhancing one’s sense of 

alignment, posture, and health. This course 

provides a strong foundation in the key elements 

of Thai Yoga Massage and prepares students 

to perform a full 90-minute customized 

Thai Yoga Massage session. It is suitable for 

all, including yoga practitioners and teachers. 

See page 51 for additional 

Thai Yoga Massage courses 

(level I, II and III) offered in 2012. 

Kam Thye Chow pioneered 

a methodology that combines 

Thai Yoga Massage with its 

yogic and ayurvedic roots. He 

founded the Lotus Palm School 

in Montreal. He is the author 

of several books, including 

Thai Yoga Massage and Thai Yoga Therapy for Your 

Body Type: An Ayurvedic Tradition. He teaches 

worldwide with skill, humor, and an ever-present 

sense of loving kindness. www.lotuspalm.com 

YVP 


Yoga and 

Life Enhancement 

Dale Buegel 

Learn practical tips on diet, exercise, and 

energy work. Explore the benefits of specific 

physical ailments, the mind-body connection, 

memory, and the unconscious mind and personality 

from Western as well as yogic perspectives. 

With medical and psychology training, 

in addition to many years of experience in 

yoga, Dr. Dale Buegel will guide us through 

an examination of the many applications of 

yoga practices for the healing and balancing of 

the body and the mind. 

Dale Buegel, MD, has practiced 

complementary medicine for 

twenty five years and has taught 

yoga for over thirty years. He 

integrates his vast training in 

conventional medicine, bodywork 

disciplines, and energetic 

medicine into yoga practice in a 

clear and unique teaching style. He offers trainings 

in manual therapy disciplines and ayurveda and yoga 

certification programs worldwide. He is the author 

of Homeopathic Remedies. 

YVP 


Kirtan with Ragani 

Ragani 

Join Ragani and her band for a heartfelt journey 

into the world of kirtan. With inspired 

stories of her rare days with her guru, Swami 

Rama, Ragani offers unique insights and inspirations 

into the world of yoga. Experience 

the powerful renewing and transformational 

energies of ancient chants, which serve to connect 

us to the ever present and Eternal Being 

that lies within us all. Open your heart to the 

Divine through repeating His name. 

Ragani, a long-time disciple of 

Swami Rama of the Himalayas, 

has been leading kirtan and 

yoga workshops internationally 

for the past thirty years. Her 

award-winning recordings and 

live events have been featured 

on primetime television. The 

story behind her kirtan will be featured in the documentary 

movie, Sutra. Ragani’s CD’s include Ancient 

Spirit and Best of Both Words. www.raganiworld.com 


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YVP 


YVP 


Foundation Yoga 

Courses 








See page 15 for details. 

. 

YVP 


Step Out of Stress: 

Ultimate Self-Care Retreat 

Susan Lord 

Step out of the stress and imagine who you 

would be without the stress of your daily life. 

This experiential retreat will guide you to 

identify and transform stressors that deplete 

your energy. Cultivate the courage and will 

power needed to make positive life changes. 

Discover how awareness and mindful living 

can enhance your resiliency, prevent 

and heal stress related illness, and offer a 

creative, meaningful approach to living your 

life. Learn how to use yoga, meditation, 

self-inquiry and other practical mind-bodyspirit 

tools to transform stressful patterns of 

thought and behavior into a deeply rewarding, 

sustainable lifestyle. 

Susan Lord, MD, is a holistic 

medicine consultant specializing 

in mind-body approaches, 

energy medicine, functional 

medicine, nutrition and lifestyle 

counseling. She works at the 

Kripalu Center for Yoga and 

Health where she leads retreats 

and provides consultations. She also works with 

individuals and groups in her private practice. 

www.drsusanlord.com 

YVP 


Healing Trauma 

through Deep Relaxation 

Molly Asebey-Birkholm (Madhavi) 

Discover how you can transform the 

most challenging experiences of your 

life into powerful vehicles for healing 

and self-transformation. Using deeply 

restorative breathing, asana, and iRest 

Yoga Nidra guided meditation techniques, 

we will explore the ways in 

which deep relaxation can reconnect 

you with your true nature, help you 

heal from the effects of trauma, and 

find the inner meaning that each 

situation in life presents. 

Molly Asebey-Birkholm 

(Madhavi) is a Sivananda 

yoga teacher (RYT 500) and a 

certified Integrative Restoration 

(iRest) instructor. She worked 

at the Department of Veterans 

Affairs where she conducted 

clinical research measuring 

the effects of iRest Yoga Nidra on veterans with 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She has 

been teaching iRest and deep relaxation 

workshops in Florida. www.blissdivineyoga.com 

The Power of Prayer 

Swami Brahmananda and 

Bahamian Clergy 

Prayer is communion 

with God. It is giving 

an opportunity to God 

to comfort you. It is an 

invocation and a mighty 

spiritual force. Through 

prayer you will be filled with the Lord’s 

blessings and protected by His grace. 

Prayer will lighten your heart, fill 

your mind with peace, strengthen and 

purify you. Join us for a series of talks 

in which we will explore the mighty 

power of prayer that will inspire you 

to embrace prayer as a regular practice. 

Bahamian clergy will share with us 

inspiring teachings on prayer and the 

Christmas spirit. 



Meditation, Healing and 

Inner Peace 

Tom Spector (Kumar) 

Do you suffer from stress, fear, worry, 

anxiety, anger, or guilt? Do you want 

to learn how to relax and live a calmer, 

more efficient life? Discover the causes 

of suffering and learn specific techniques 

to attenuate its effects. We will 

explore two types of meditation and 

learn simple techniques that will serve 

you in your daily life and throughout 

your spiritual path. The program is 

suitable for all levels of practitioners. 

Tom Spector (Kumar) studied 

with Ram Das and other 

meditation teachers. He is the 

founder of Hatha House and 

teaches meditation and healing 

workshops internationally. He 

is known for his ability to reach 

individuals of all levels of practice 

and help them to immediately experience the 

benefits of meditation. www.hathahouse.com 


YVP 

December 22, 2011 - January 1, 2012 

Christmas and New Year 

Symposium and Celebration 

Unity in Diversity: 

Realizing the Oneness 

of Life 

Many are the shapes and forms within 

creation; many are the forms of worship. Yet 

in essence, we are all the same divine light, 

reflected through the different facets of the 

prism of nature. Join us this holiday 

season as we follow our tradition of bringing 

together spiritual leaders, mystics, and 

musicians from the world’s major spiritual 

traditions to celebrate the unity within our 

diversity and the common aspiration to bring 

peace, love, and harmony to the world. 

Swami Swaroopananda is 

a senior disciple of Swami 

Vishnudevananda, the director 

of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga 

Retreat, and the Acharya for the 

Sivananda centers and ashrams 

on the West Coast of the 

United States, the Middle East, 

and the Bahamas. 

Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo 

practiced under the 8th Khamtrul 

Rinpoche and became one 

of the first Westerners to be 

ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist 

nun. She founded the Dongyu 

Gatsal Ling Nunnery. She was 

given the rare title of Jetsunma 

in recognition of her spiritual achievements and promoting 

the status of female practitioners in Tibetan 

Buddhism. She is the author of Reflections on a 

Mountain Lake: Teachings on Practical Buddhism. 

www.tenzinpalmo.com. 

Grandmother Sara Smith is 

of the Mohawk Tribe, Iroquois 

Nation, and is of the Turtle 

Clan. She has lived her entire 

lifetime on the Six Nations 

Reserve in Ontario, Canada. 

She has travelled extensively 

internationally, carrying the 

peace message. She is a ceremonialist, Keeper of 

the Dreamtime Spirituality, and is a member of the 

Spiritual Elders of Mother Earth. She is the founder 

of the Roots 4 Peace Sharing Centre on 

her reservation. 

Tulku Sherdor is the executive 

director of Blazing Wisdom 

Institute. He has studied 

Buddhist philosophy and 

practiced meditation intensively 

since 1981. He is a heart disciple 

of the crazy wisdom master 

Orgyen Kusum Lingpa, and an 

enthroned reincarnate lama at a major monastery in 

Tibet. He presides over the annual Buddhist Prayer 

Festival for World Peace and teaches extensively 

internationally. www.blazingwisdom.org 

Sheik Kabir Helminski studied 

Sufism with Suleyman Hayati of 

Konya and was officially recognized 

as a Shaikh of the Mevlevi 

Order of Sufism in 1990, by 

the late Celalettin Celebi, Head 

of the Mevlevi Order. He is the 

co-founder and co-director of 

the Threshold Society. He is the author of Living 

Presence, A Sufi Way to Mindfulness and the Essential 

Self, that has been translated into more than eight 

languages. www.sufism.org. 

Stephane Vaillancourt studied 

and practiced meditation for 

twenty five years. Undertaking 

in-depth studies with the 

Franciscan friars of Quebec, 

he did many retreats each year 

under their guidance. He is the 

director of Emmaüs Center of 

Christian meditation and yoga. 

www.lenoblechemin.org 

Rabbi Daniel Sperber, PhD, 

is the Milan Roven Professor 

of Talmud, the President of the 

Institute of Advanced Torah 

Studies at Bar-Ilan University, 

Israel and a rabbi in the Old 

City of Jerusalem. He has 

written extensively on how 

Jewishlaw can and has evolved, including addressing 

the possibility of inclusion of women in certain 

ritual services. 

Nathan Katz is a Professor of 

Jain Studies and Professor of 

Religious Studies. Arguably the 

world’s leading authority on 

Indian Jewish communities, 

he is a pioneer in the field of 

Indo-Judaic Studies. His books 

include Spiritual Journey Home: 

Eastern Mysticism to the Western Wall, Who Are the 

Jews of India? and others. www.indojudaic.com 

Krishnan Namboodiri is a Tantric 

priest from South India. He 

is trained in the classical tradition 

of mantras (sacred sounds), 

pujas (prayer ceremonies), 

homas (fire rituals), and yantras 

(sacred geometric designs). 

He will perform several special 

rituals during the Symposium. 

Ken Whiteley has led gospel 

singing concerts for people from 

all walks of life with dynamic 

energy and a spirit of inclusion. 

He has recorded numerous CDs 

which feature his award winning 

original material, heartfelt vocals, 

and instrumental virtuosity. 

www.kenwhiteley.com 

December 27 - January 3 

Family Holiday 

Yoga Vacation 

Tara Rachel Jones (Omkari) and 

Sandrine Remi (Sanatani) 

Additional $70 material fee applies for this program. 

Take time to practice and rejuvenate yourself 

while your children enjoy the ashram community 

with other children. There will be 

special yoga classes, chanting, crafts, karma 

yoga, and lots of games and fun. We offer 

a flexible, yet predictable, schedule for the 

children allowing them to bond, get to know 

one another, and participate in ashram life. 

Tara Rachel Jones (Omkari), 

MEd, RCYT, is a Sivananda 

yoga teacher (RYT 500) and 

a Montessori teacher. She has 

worked professionally with 

children since 1989. Omkari 

has developed her approach to 

children’s yoga under the guidance 

of Yashoda (Sarabess Forster), a senior disciple 

to Swami Vishnudevananda. Her system is a synthesis 

of education, developmental movement and yogic 

teachings. She is the author of Its Time for Yoga. 

Sandrine Remi (Sanatani) 

is a Sivananda yoga teacher 

(RYT 200). She specializes in 

teaching yoga to children. 

Sanatani assisted in the Sivananda 

Yoga Kid’s Camp in Neyer 

Dam India and in the Easter 

Family Yoga Program at the 

ashram. She brings her joyful andplayful spirit 

into each class, making the practice of yoga a fun 

experience for the children. 

Karnamrita Dasi is a talented 

and moving singer. She received 

training in Indian classical 

vocals in Vrindavan, India, and 

now travels in the United States 

giving kirtan concerts and singing 

songs from her album Dasi: 

Prayers by Women. 

www.karnamrita.com 


YVP

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YVP 





Becoming a Perfected Yogi: 

Teachings from the Second Chapter 

of the Bhagavad Gita 

Swami Tattvavidananda 

January 

C 

January 2 - 5 

Advanced Asana Course 

Shyam and Mohini 


Take your practice to the next level by learning 

advanced variations of the standard asana 

sequence and how to hold postures longer. 

Strive towards the one-pointed integration 

of body, breath, and mind in asana; achieve 

steadiness (sthira) and comfort (sukham) in 

your practice. Find yourself moving closer 

to the underlying purpose of asana and 

pranayamas practice and the attainment of 

meditation (dhyana). Familiarity with the 

twelve-posture series taught at Sivananda 

centers and ashrams is recommended. 

Shyam and Mohini: See biography on page 19. 

YVP 

January 2 - 5 

The Mystical Tradition of 

Eastern Christianity 

Kyriacos Markides 

Join us for an introduction to the basic principles 

and practices of the two-thousand-yearold 

spiritual tradition of Eastern Christianity 

that has been preserved in the monasteries 

and hermitages. Through clear presentations 

of mystical wisdom, Professor Markides will 

sensitively guide you, step-by-step, through 

complex teachings that will foster your own 

personal growth and serve as your spiritual 

seeker’s muse. 

Kyriacos Markides, PhD, 

is a Professor of Sociology at 

the University of Maine. His 

research ranges from projects 

related to political sociology 

and nationalist movements 

to the sociology of religion, 

non-medical healing, and 

Christian mysticism. For the last twenty years he has 

been exploring the lives and teachings of Christian 

mystics, healers, and miracle workers and monastics 

around the world. He is the author of Fire in the 

Heart: Healers, Sages, and Mystics, Riding with the 

Lion: In Search of Mystical Christianity, and others. 

January 4 - 7 

Breath, Mind, 

and Hormones: 

Transforming the Mind and Balancing 

Hormones through Gentle Pranayama 

Claudia Welch 

Ayurvedic and Tantric texts present breath 

as one of the most powerful and instantaneous 

tools we can use to transform our 

minds, hearts, and bodies. In the modern 

world, stress affects each of us in surprising 

ways. Stress is a major culprit in the hormonal 

imbalance that lay at the root of most 

women’s health concerns. Join us as we learn 

a simple approach to understanding stress 

and hormones, and apply channel theory to 

practically address hormonal balance through 

pranayama (breathing exercises). 

Claudia Welch is a Doctor of 

Oriental Medicine and a practitioner 

of ayurvedic medicine. 

She lectures on oriental and ayurvedic 

medicines internationally. 

Her recent book, Balance 

Your Hormones, Balance Your 

Life, presents a look at women’s 

health that offers a combined perspective from 

western science, ayurveda, and traditional Chinese 

medicine. She has served on the teaching faculty of 

The Ayurvedic Institute, Southwest Acupuncture 

College, and the Kripalu School of Ayurveda. 

www.drclaudiawelch.com 


Advanced Yoga Teachers’ 


The characteristics of an enlightened sage 

are the sadhana or the spiritual practices of 

those on the spiritual path. In Chapter 2 of 

the Bhagavad Gita (Verses 54 – 72), Lord 

Krishna describes to Arjuna the virtues of a 

liberated sage. This beautiful section of the 

Bhagavad Gita is considered a spiritual guide 

to aspirants on their quest for spiritual liberation. 

Join us for an in-depth study of this 

inspiring section from the Bhagavad Gita 

and get inspired to deepen your practice and 

model your life after the characteristics of 

those of have attained the highest Wisdom. 

Swami Tattvavidananda is an 

eminent Vedanta scholar and 

exponent of Vedantic treatises, 

epics, the Bhagavad Gita, and 

many Upanishads. He is an 

inspiring and knowledgeable 

speaker who possesses a rare 

combination of knowledge 

(vidya) and humility (vinaya). He lectures with 

great clarity, wisdom, and force that have a 

tremendous effect on the thinking of the listener. 

www.arshavidya.org 



YVP 

C

C 


New Year’s Detoxification 

and Juice Fasting Program 

Manu Dawson, Sita Chaitanya and 

Grace Van Berkum 


Start the New Year by rejuvenating and revitalizing 

your body, mind, and spirit through 

detoxification. Juice fasting is the fastest and 

safest way to eliminate toxins from the body. 

It allows the body to stay slim, healthy and 

vital, and overcome negative eating patterns. 

The program begins gradually with a few 

days of raw food followed by fruit and vegetable 

juice fasting, and ends with a raw food 

diet for the last days of the program. The 

process is supported by detoxifying herbs and 

supplements. You will also enjoy special yoga 

classes and lectures on nutrition. 

Manu Dawson is a nutritional 

consultant at the Integral Yoga 

Natural Apothecary in New 

York. He is a radio show host 

and dynamic teacher of yogic 

diet and nutrition. He leads 

workshops on cleansing, fasting, 

and detoxification. 

www.integralyoganaturalfoods.com 

Sita Chaitanya is a direct 

disciple of Swami Vishnudevananda, 

and a senior staff of the 

Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat. 

She has over twenty-five years 

of experience teaching yoga and 

yoga teachers’ training courses. 

She directs fasting retreats and 

has wide experience in supporting individuals on 

this transformative journey. 

Grace Van Berkum is a Registered 

Holistic Nutritionist, 

certified personal trainer, and 

Sivananda yoga teacher. She 

is passionate about increasing 

vitality and preventing disease 

through balanced eating, exercise, 

and yoga. She offers Gracious 

Living Yoga Adventure Retreats in Nicaragua 

where she teaches her guidelines for healthy living. 

www.gracevanberkum.com. 

YVP 


Gentle Yoga for the 

50 Plus 

Gloria McCartney (Radha) 

Yoga is an effective practice and therapy 

for all ages and all health conditions. The 

many benefits yoga has to offer to the 50+ 

population have made it more and more 

popular among such population. Learn 

how revitalizing yoga practice can benefit 

you: increase your mobility and enhance 

your flexibility. Learn how to alleviate sleep 

disorders, Arthritis symptoms, anxiety or 

chronic pain through a safe and healing yoga 

practice. Join us for this practical workshop 

and discover how yoga can benefit you. 


is Sivananda Yoga Teacher 

(RYT 500 since 1978). 

Spiritual and spirited, 

Radha offers over 30 years 

of teaching experience in 

the U.S., Canada, India, 

and the Bahamas, Radha sets a personal example 

for the benefits of continuous practice 

for many years. Her classes are described as 

“yoga that puts your head in the clouds but 

keeps your feet on the ground.” 

Divine Creativity: 

Sacred Art Programs with Mavis Gewant 

Sacred Art cultivates inner silence and 

attunes one with the energy and essence 

of the divine aspect that is being evoked. 

Join us for a week of painting, chanting, 

and peace of mind. 

Additional $30 materials fee applies for each of 

the Yoga Vacation programs. No previous painting 

experience is required. 

January 7 - 9 

Yantra Painting: 

Transformation through Sacred Form 

Immerse yourself in the joy of sacred 

painting. Learn how to paint yantras, 

sacred geometric patterns, which have been 

used for ages by Vedic astrologers to help 

balance, give strength, and calm the energies 

of the karmic cycles represented in your 

Vedic astrological chart. Chanting the bija 

(seed) mantra while painting these sacred 

designs, you will be guided to choose your 

own yantra and connect with the power 

inherent in sacred geometry. 


Chakra Immersion: 

Painting, Chanting and Understanding 

Sacred Centers 

Discover the imagery of the chakras (psychic 

energy centers), as the stage upon which the 

interaction between higher consciousness 

and desire get played out. Experience these 

subtle centers of transformation, coming 

from the Tantric tradition, through painting 

and visualization. Learn the imagery, colors, 

elements, deities, and mantras associated 

with each chakra. 


Painting Planet Mandalas 


Indian astrology has long understood that 

the energy released by the orbiting planets 

affects our lives and can be directed and 

harnessed to improve our spiritual, mental, 

and physical well being. Mandalas, sacred 

circular energy patterns, reflect our inner 

nature. By working with specific colors and 

mantras, this meditative painting practice 

will connect you to the deeper energies of 

the planets creating more harmony, peace, 

and energy in your life. A basic overview of 

Indian numerology will also be offered as 

part of this course. 

Mavis Gewant is a disciple of 

the great Tantric Master, Sri 

Harish Johari. She is an artist 

who specializes in the ancient 

techniques of yantra, deity, and 

chakra and mandala painting. 

She teaches sacred art courses in 

the U.S. and internationally. 

www.sacredmotherarts.com 


YVP 

YVP 

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YVP 


Inner Tuning: 

Yoga, the Chakras and 

Psychological Wellbeing 

Shyamji Bhatnagar 

Each chakra (energy center) manifests as a 

mind of its own, expressing desires and strategies 

to achieve the contentment to which it 

aspires. Join us to learn techniques to balance 

your five elements (tatvas) and three qualities 

(gunas), synchronize the brain hemispheres, 

and experience contentment. Discover how 

intuition and meditation happen naturally 

when the tatvas and gunas are dancing 

harmoniously. 

Shyamji Bhatnagar is the 

founder of SRI Center International, 

Inc., created to synthesize 

Eastern and Western approaches 

to healing. He is the originator 

of Microchakra Psychology 

and InnerTuning and has been 

teaching in the U.S., Europe, 

and India for over 30 years. He has co-authored the 

book Microchakras: InnerTuning for Psychological 

Well-being. www.innertuning.com 

YVP 

January 14 

Ayyappa Puja 

Lord Ayyappa, the presiding supreme deity 

of Sabari Hills, was born out of the union 

between Mohini (Lord Vishnu) and Lord 

Siva. Worshipping Lord Ayyappa is said to 

bring contentment and spiritual advancement. 

Join us to a celebration of Lord Ayyappa 

with a puja conducted by the ashram’s 

Tantric Priest Krishnan Namboodiri. 


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Cooking for Life Force: 

Vegan Nutrition Course 



Become your own vegan 

chef and learn how to 

create versatile, delicious 

vegan meals full of life force 

and sustainable energy. 

Through experiential workshops, 

we will create several 

menus composed of tasty, sattvic, and energizing 

vegan dishes including main courses, 

side dishes, dressings, and scrumptious 

deserts. During the course you will also be 

introduced to the principles of vegan nutrition 

and learn creative ways to increase fiber 

intake and stabilize blood sugar conducive to 

alkalinizing, and nourishing the body. 

Grace Van Berkum: See biography on page 30. 

YVP 


On the Wings of Ecstasy: 

Interfaith Devotional Singing and 

Sacred Dance Festival 

“Singing God’s name with feeling, love and 

faith is the easiest method for attaining God 

consciousness.” (Swami Sivananda, Bliss 

Divine). Devotional singing as spiritual 

practice is common to all religions and 

spiritual traditions. Join us for a week of 

celebrating the joy of music with performers 

from various traditions and countries, which 

will bring joy and excitement to your heart. 

Juan De la Sierra, PhD, is a 

performer, composer, and 

music educator of Jewish 

Sephardic who has delighted 

audiences world-wide for over 

four decades. He has studied 

Arabic and Sephardic music, 

language, and literature. 

He is the author and performer of numerous 

books, recordings, and articles featuring Spanish 

musical literature from Medieval through 

contemporary compositions. 

Shantala (Benjy and Heather Wertheimer) has 

lead kirtan worldwide. The weaving of Benjy’s Indian 

classical singing and instrumentation with Heather’s 

soaring vocals is freshly original and profoundly 

moving. In the summer of 2008, they were named 

as one of the top “Wallahs to Watch” by Yoga + 

Joyful Living. www.shantalamusic.com 

Davod Azad is an accomplished 

multi-instrumentalist and vocalist 

from Azerbaijan. He is a master 

of Azeri folk music, ancient 

Persian music, and Persian Sufi 

music.www.davodazad.com 

Parvathy Baul is well known for 

her masterful solo rendering in 

the oldest style of Baul song and 

dance. She inherited this style 

from the lineage of Shri Sanatan 

Das Baul, and Shri Shasanko 

Goshai. Parvathy performs 

world-wide, and has recorded 

several CDs, including RadhaBhav, and Soulful 

Baul Songs. www.parvathybaul.mimemo.net 

Silvia Nakkach, MA, MMT, 

has cultivated a voice that 

transports the listeners into the 

heart of devotion. She is an 

award-winning composer and 

voice-culturist, who pioneer in 

the field of sound, consciousness, 

and music shamanism. She is 

the founding director of Vox Mundi School of the 

Voice, which is devoted to teaching and preserving 

sacred music traditions in schools throughout the 

world. www.voxmundiproject.com 

Val Serrant is a steel pan/ 

traditional drummer from the 

Republic of Trinidad and 

Tobago. He frequently performs 

and teaches about Caribbean 

music in schools. He is also a 

member of Afrika Heartbeat, 

founded by Sikiru Adepoju. 

The Gospel Band of the 

Trinity Full Baptist Church 

is a Bahamian gospel band, 

headed by Bishop Trevor 

Williamson who presently 

serves as the Founding and 

Senior Pastor of the Church 

located in Nassau Bahamas. 


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CEU 


YVP 


The Yoga of Sound and Voice 


John Beaulieu and Silvia Nakkach 


This course is a precious opportunity to experience 

the transformative power of sound and 

music with two renowned scholars and clinicians. 

Join us and explore various dimensions 

of healing with sound: the scientific, the yogic, the creative, and the shamanic. Such practices promote 

a state of euphoria leading to enhanced wellness and greater possibility for accomplishment 

and success in all aspects of life. The practice combines master classes, lectures, devotional chanting 

sessions, clinics, movement, and music making. It is not necessary to be a musician to take this 

course. Everyone, regardless of musical training, will learn to use music and sound to heal. 

YVP 


John Beaulieu, ND, PhD, is a world leader in the use of sound for healing and well-being. 

He is a naturopathic doctor, composer, and sound therapist. He is the founder of BioSonic 

Repatterning and the author of Human Tuning and Music and Sound in the Healing Arts. 

He currently oversees molecular research on sound and the healing effects of tuning forks, and 

has published numerous research papers. He has practiced meditation and yoga for over 40 

years. www.biosonics.com 

Silvia Nakkach, MA, MMT, has cultivated a voice that transports the listeners into the 

heart of devotion. She is an award-winning composer and voice-culturist, author, former 

psychotherapist, and a pioneer in the field of sound, consciousness, and music shamanism. She 

is the founding director of Vox Mundi School of the Voice, which is devoted to teaching and 

preserving sacred music traditions in schools throughout the world. She has created and serves 

on the faculty of the Sound, Voice, Music Healing Certificate at the California Institute of 

Integral Studies. www.voxmundiproject.com 

The Five Elements and Polarity Therapy 

John Beaulieu 


Discover self-healing and self-regulation with the five pillars of the Polarity healing art: awareness, 

counseling, bodywork, yoga, and nutrition. Polarity is a holistic health system based around 

ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, alchemy, traditional European medicine, and western 

medicine. This workshop provides an introduction to the healing art of polarity and is a recommended 

preparation to the Polarity Therapy and Five Element Bodywork Training Course 

(see opposite page). 

John Beaulieu: See biography on this page. 

Polarity Therapy and 

Five Element Bodywork 


John Beaulieu, Andreas Ledermann, 

and Brigitta Raimann Ledermann 


Become a certified Polarity Wellness® 

therapist. Learn how to work with life 

energy using bodywork sessions, polarity 

yoga, and sound to balance each of the 

five elements: ether, air, fire, water, and 

earth. Emphasis will be given to the 

application of five element knowledge in 

daily life through an understanding 

of modern stress science and polarity 

therapy. This course offers a valuable 

training either as a stand-alone practice 

or as a complement to existing massage, 

yoga, nursing, counseling, physical 

therapy, and medicine practices. 

John Beaulieu: 

See biography on opposite page. 

Andreas Ledermann is a 

Polarity Therapy specialist, 

naturopath, teacher, and author. 

He has a profound knowledge 

of kinesiology, reflexology, 

process-oriented psychology, 

lymph drainage, qigong, tai-chi 

chuan, and yoga. He is the 

co-founder of the School of Holistic Naturopathy 

in Zug, Switzerland. www.shn-international.com 

Brigitta Raimann Ledermann 

is a naturopath, social educator, 

and a polarity therapist and 

instructor. She practices and 

teaches bodywork, dreamwork, 

process-oriented psychology, 

yoga, dietetics, meditation, 

and Zen in the art of the tea 

ceremony. She is the co-founder of the School of 

Holistic Naturopathy SHN in Zug, Switzerland. 

www.shn-international.com 

Yoga @ Home: 

Making Yoga Part of Your Daily Routine 


Infuse joy and tranquility 

to your life by integrating 

the five points of yoga 

into your daily routine. 

Learn how to create your 

own sacred space at home. 

Discover how you can fit 

breathing and posture exercises into any 

daily schedule. Transform your experience 

of life through positive thinking and reach 

higher levels of concentration and efficiency 

through the practice of meditation. 

Recharge through proper rest. Enjoy the 

nourishment and rich flavors of the yogic 

cuisine. Join us and acquire valuable and 

practical tools for the home practice 

that is suitable for you and a better life. 

Gloria McCartney (Radha): 



Creative Writing and 

Yoga Programs 

with Jeffery Davis 

YVP 


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Awakening Your 

Authentic Voice: 

Becoming a Writer through Yoga 

Yoga as Muse: 

Creative Writing Course 


Two hindrances stand in the way of 

writers to hearing their own internal 

voice: mistrusting their inner voice and 

the noisy mind. Learn how to write 

from your own voice’s authority while 

honing your craft. Suitable for people 

of all backgrounds –fresh as well as 

veteran writers and artists—this program 

will fill you with a grounded versatility, 

confidence, and authenticity. It is highly 

recommended as a preparation for the 

Yoga as Muse: Creative Writing Course. 

Jeffrey Davis is the 

director and founder 

of Tracking Wonder 

Consulting & Programs, 

a coaching and 

mentoring organization 

for creatives and is the 

author of The Journey from the Center to 

the Page: Yoga Philosophies & Practices As 

Muse for Authentic Writing. He is a writing 

coach, editor, creativity consultant, 

and teacher. His in-depth studies of 

yoga’s myriad tools for the embodied 

mind add to his versatility. 

www.trackingwonder.com 

The elusive muse has teased and evaded 

writers for centuries. Distractions, busyness, 

fear, self-criticism, and lack of compassion 

threaten to keep the muse away. Yoga As 

Muse integrates yoga’s tools into a creative 

writing process that leads to authentic 

heart-centered writing. Through unique 

exercises, discussions, mini-lectures, short 

readings of professional writing, and optional 

read-aloud sessions in a safe and supportive 

environment, you will experience how yoga 

helps you develop confidence, versatility, and 

authenticity on the mat and on the page. 

Ultimately, you will develop your own Yoga 

As Muse practice to take home. Writers and 

yogis of all backgrounds are welcome and 

will benefit. 

YVP 


Evolve Your Brain: 

The Science of Changing Your Mind 

Joe Dispenza 

Learn how to reach your specific goals and 

visions by eliminating self-destructive habits. 

Adopt new ways of thinking, change beliefs, 

and re-wire your brain. Joe Dispenza will 

give teachings about the role and function of 

the human brain. He has taught thousands 

of people how to re-program their thinking 

through scientifically proven neuro-physiological 

principles. The premise of this work 

is that every person on this planet has within 

them the latent potential for greatness and 

true unlimited abilities. 

Joe Dispenza, DC, is one of the 

scientists featured in the award 

winning film What the Bleep 

Do We Know!? He has taught 

thousands of people how to 

re-program their thinking. His 

book, Evolve Your Brain: The 

Science of Changing Your Mind 

connects the subjects of thought and consciousness 

with the brain, the mind, and the body. 

www.drjoedispenza.com 

YVP January 29 - February 1 

Life after Life 

Raymond Moody 

Dr. Raymond Moody, author, psychiatrist, 

teacher, and eminent scholar ,will bring his 

40 plus years of working in the field of grief, 

near-death and shared death experiences, as 

well as profound spiritual experiences of the 

dying and their loved ones, to this program. 

Learn to recognize the predictable physical 

and psychological manifestations of grief and 

comprehend grief as a complex process with 

medical, psychological and spiritual implications. 

Explore common features reported by 

people who have had near-death and shared 

death experiences, as well as other profound 

spiritual experiences, and be able to appreciate 

their clinical implications. 

Raymond Moody, MD, PhD, 

is a globally renowned psychiatrist 

and best-selling author. He 

has written 11 books to date, 

with several more currently in 

process. His critically acclaimed 

book Life After Life, sold over 

13 million copies world-wide. 

In this book about near-death experiences, he coined 

this term and inspired a rapidly growing field of 

scientific exploration. He is a sought-after speaker, 

lecturer, facilitator and consultant. 

www.lifeafterlife.com 


February 

YVP 


From Religion to Spirituality 

Thomas Moore and Hari Kirin Kaur Khalsa 

Suitable for anyone who is trying to sort out religious tradition from a spiritual path, this workshop 

will explore the ways to deepen your connection to spiritual life while maintaining your existing 

religious roots. Join us for four days of self-inquiry, lecture, discussion, and creative-arts exercises, 

which will allow you to find your own path and create a deeper, more engaged spiritual practice. 

Thomas Moore, PhD (Religion), 

has been a monk, a musician, 

a university professor, and 

a psychotherapist. He lectures 

widely on holistic medicine, 

spirituality, psychotherapy, and 

the arts. He is the author of the 

bestselling book Care of the Soul 

and fifteen other books on deepening spirituality 

and cultivating soul in every aspect of life. 

www.careofthesoul.net 

Hari Kirin Kaur Khalsa is an 

artist and teacher dedicated to 

healing through yoga and art. 

She is the author of Art & Yoga: 

Kundalini Awakening in Everyday 

Life. www.artandyoga.com 

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February 2 -8 

Introduction to Jyotish 

(Vedic Astrology) 


Alan Wiuker (Krishna) 


According to Vedic astrology, the birth chart 

can show your past, predict your future, 

explain difficulties in the present, and suggest 

changes and remedies. This certification 

course provides an introduction to classical 

Vedic astrology and its relationship with 

yoga practice and philosophy. Students will 

learn to identify past and present mental 

tendencies and individual karmas, the time 

of their fruition, and possible remedies. 

Acquire the tools you need to understand 

the karmic situation of each individual, their 

potential talents or obstacles, and integrate 

this understanding with the wisdom of yoga 

and Vedanta. 

Alan Wiuker (Krishna) is 

a direct disciple of Swami 

Vishnudevananda and has been 

a yoga and meditation teacher 

for over twenty-five years. He is 

a certified jyotish consultant and 

an approved teacher and tutor 

by the American College of 

Vedic Astrology in the U.S. He is also a certified and 

approved tutor by CVA (Council of Vedic astrology) 

having earned the titles of, “Jyotish Visharada” and 

“Jyotish Kovid”. www.9graha.com 

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CEU 


Cardiac Yoga Teachers’ 

Training Program 

Mala Cunningham 


This comprehensive training program is 

designed to educate and train yoga instructors 

and medical personnel to work with 

cardiac patients and their support network. 

Participants in this program will learn to 

adapt the basic concepts of yoga and meditation 

to the special needs of cardiac patients. 

This competency-based program educates 

the participant in anatomy and physiology 

of the heart, stress and the psycho-social 

factors of heart disease, adaptation of yoga 

postures, how to design Cardiac Yoga classes, 

principles and philosophy of mind-body 

medicine and yoga and meditation as a 

mechanism for healing. 

Mala Cunningham, PhD, is an 

author and educator on mindbody 

medicine and health 

psychology. She is the president 

of Positive Health Solutions and 

the founder of the 

renowned training program 

Cardiac Medical Yoga. She 

lectures internationally and is an authority in health 

and business psychology, sleep enhancement, stress 

management, and medical yoga. She has taught and 

practiced yoga and meditation for over thirty-five 

years. www.cardiacyoga.com 


YVP 


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February 4 - March 2 

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The Healing Power 

of Hatha Yoga 

Laurier-Pierre Desjardins 

Discover the secrets of the functional 

anatomy of Hatha yoga. Learn what happens 

in your body physically and energetically 

when you practice yoga postures. Explore 

the biomechanics of the postures and how to 

increase your strength, flexibility, and vital 

energy through yoga practice. 

YVP 


Beginners Yoga 

Immersion Week 

Arjuna 

Laurier-Pierre Desjardins, 

PhD, is a professor of osteopathy 

and an experienced Hatha 

yogi. He is a popular international 

teacher of the functional 

anatomy of Hatha yoga and 

the biomechanics of asanas 

(yoga postures). 

Immerse yourself in the basics of yoga and 

gain a strong foundation for your practice. 

Receive a step-by-step introduction to yogic 

postures and breathing exercises. Discover 

how proper relaxation, meditation, positive 

thinking and a balanced diet will support your 

yoga practices and a healthy lifestyle. Get the 

most from yoga classes and meditation at the 

ashram and at home with the solid understanding 

that you will gain in this course. 

Arjuna is the director of the 

Sivananda affiliated yoga center 

in Gatineau , Canada, and an 

experienced yoga teacher. He 

spent five years training with 

Swami Vishnudevananda. He 

has been teaching family yoga 

programs in International Sivananda 

Yoga Vedanta centers and ashrams for many 

years. www.yoga-aylmer.com 




YVP 

February 6 – 12 

The Descent of Grace: 

Teachings from the Hanuman Chalisa 

and the Bhagavad Gita 

Swamini Paramananda Saraswati 

Lord Hanuman, the devoted servant of Lord 

Rama and Sita, and the embodiment of 

devotion and might, has kindled the light of 

devotion and service in the hearts of many. 

The Hanuman Chalisa tells the story of Lord 

Hanuman’s heroism and Divine virtues, 

which make him a role model for spiritual 

aspirants. As such, the Hanuman Chalisa 

is a guide for leading a spiritual life. Join us 

as we celebrate the glories of Lord Hanuman 

through the teachings of the Hanuman 

Chalisa. The teachings from the Hanuman 

Chalisa will be complemented 

by teachings from 

the Bhagavad Gita. 

Swamini Pramananda 

Saraswati is a senior disciple of 

Swami Dayananda Saraswati. 

She has been teaching Vedanta, 

Sanskrit, and Vedic heritage for many years. She is 

the founder of the Purna Vidya Ashram in India 

and spends most of her time in retreat, occasionally 

leaving her solitude to share her vast knowledge with 

seekers around the world. www.purnavidya.com 

Advanced Sadhana Retreat 

for Yoga Teachers: 

Hatha Yoga as a Stairway to Raja Yoga 

Alan Wiuker (Krishna) 


Hatha yoga is described by the Masters 

as a means to attain Raja yoga, or the experience 

of deep meditation, inner silence, and 

realization of the Self. This immersion retreat 

is focused on intense spiritual practice 

(sadhana), with guided and personal practice 

on advanced asanas and pranayamas, Japa, 

and meditation. This course is open to all 

yoga teachers. Give yourself the opportunity 

to recharge, deepen your personal practice 

and enhance your inner meditative and 

spiritual experience. 

Alan Wiuker (Krishna) is 

a direct disciple of Swami 

Vishnudevananda and has 

been a yoga and meditation 

teacher for over twenty-five 

years. He is the main Hatha 

yoga instructor in many 

Sivananda Yoga Teachers’ 

Training Courses and has an in-depth knowledge 

of Hatha yoga, Raja yoga, and Vedanta philosophy. 

He is a certified jyotish consultant and an approved 

teacher. www.9graha.com. 

Ayurveda and Yoga 

Wellness Advisor 


Lalita Devi and the Well-Being 

Center Staff 


Deepen your knowledge 

of the use of yoga and 

ayurvedic lifestyle principles. 

In this program 

designed for yoga teachers, 

ayurveda practitioners, and 

healthcare professionals, 

you will learn how to advise your students 

and clients regarding effective ayurvedic 

and yogic daily routines, including 

body-mind care, diet, and yoga practices. 

Topics include: history and philosophy of 

Ayurveda; the three great qualities (maha 

guna), five elements (maha bhutu), ten 

pairs of qualities (guna) and three doshas; 

tissue formation (dhatu) and channels of 

flow (srota); digestion (agni), toxin formation 

(ama) and waste elimination (mala); 

ayurvedic and yogic psychology; the disease 

process and its treatment with daily practices 

(dinacharya); ayurvedic and yogic nutrition; 

color therapy; aromatherapy; and yoga 

postures and breathing techniques. 

Lalita Devi: See biography on page 20. 


YVP February 12 - 18 

YVP February 19 - 24 

Deeper into the 

Five Points of Yoga 

Arjuna 

Learn how to maximize 

energy and health by 

bringing yoga into your 

daily life. This in-depth 

exploration using Swami 

Vishnudevananda’s guidance 

on the five points 

of yoga: proper exercise, proper breathing, 

proper relaxation, proper diet, and meditation 

and positive thinking. Discover how 

proper practice and the yogic vegetarian 

diet can invigorate your life. Combine 

theory with practice to increase your 

vitality with yogic postures and breathing 

techniques. Manage stress and calm the 

mind through proper relaxation, positive 

thinking and meditation. 

Arjuna: See biography on page 40. 

Realizing the 

Ultimate Reality: 

Teachings on the Self 

Swami Atmananda 

Take this precious opportunity to explore 

the essence and goal of yogic practices with 

Swami Atmananda, a prominent practitioner 

who was blessed to practice under the direct 

guidance of Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh. 

During this program we will discuss the 

qualities of the Self and how to transcend 

our sense of separate individuality and realize 

the ultimate reality or the Self. Join us and 

gain wisdom and inspiration that will take 

your practice to higher spheres. 

Swami Atmandanda is one of the few living 

direct disciples of Swami Sivananda. He is a 

simple Swami living in the U.S., practicing and 

teaching yoga and Vedanta philosophy. 

YVP 


Explore the Bahamas, 

Explore Yourself! 

Arjuna 

Join us for a week of outings, games, and 

fun activities combined with a yoga vacation 

program for families and individuals. We 

will visit historical places in the Bahamas 

and weather permitting, go on a snorkeling 

trip (some of the trips will involve an 

additional cost). Special family yoga classes 

will be added to the ashram’s standard 

schedule. Come and enjoy the beauty and 

rich heritage of Nassau. 

YVP 


Classical Indian Music 

and Dance 

Festival 

“Music melts the hardest hearts... If at all there 

is anything in this world which can change 

the heart of a man in a very quick time, that 

is music and dance.” (Swami Sivananda, 

Bliss Divine). Join us for four days of 

inspirational, meditative music concerts, 

and dance performances as accomplished 

performers of classical Indian music and 

dance come together and share their 

musical mastery with us. 

G.S. Sachdev is recognized 

world-wide as a master of the 

bansuri (North Indian flute). He 

is one of the premier performers 

on this traditional instrument. 

His pure and classical approach 

instills tranquility and carries 

listeners beyond the mind into 

deep meditation. bansuri.net 

Aashish Khan is a renowned 

master of the sarod, the famous 

North Indian string instrument. 

He was initiated into North 

Indian classical music at the age 

of five by his grandfather, the 

legendary Acharya Baba Allauddin 

Khan. aashish-khan.org 

Swapan Chaudhuri is considered 

one of the top masters of 

tabla in the world. He is the 

director of Percussion at Ali 

Akbar College of Music in San 

Rafael, California. He developed 

his skill through years of 

accompanying Ali Akbar Khan 

and other leading musicians of India. 

www.swapanchaudhuri.com 

Ramesh Mishra, master of 

the Sarengi, is the son of great 

sarangi maestro Pt. Ramnath 

Mishra. He has earned a niche 

in the hearts of millions of 

music lovers. He won several 

awards, including India’s most 

prestigious Sangeet Natak 

Akademi Puraskar (Akademi Awards) and produced 

numerous recordings including his own solo records. 

www.rameshmisra.com 

Sanhita Nandi is a prominent 

exponent of Hindustani Classical 

Vocal, Kirana Gharana in 

the Khayal and Thumri genres. 

She was trained by Late Pandit 

A. Kanan, Kolkata and Pandit 

Vinayak Torvi. Snahita has 

won several awards in state and 

national-level competitions, and performs frequently 

in India and the U.S. at universities, chamber music 

series, music festivals, and concerts. 

www.sanhitanandi.com 

Suba Ramesh Parmar is an 

award-winning dancer and choreographer 

of the South Indian 

Bharatanatyam dance style. She 

is the founder and director of 

Shubanjali’s school of performing 

arts and is known for grace 

and dynamism in her expression 

and movement. www.shubanjali.org. 

Shyam Kane has been a tabla 

player for over thirty years. He 

trained under the guidance 

and supervision of great tabla 


maestro Ustad Zakir Hussian 

and has performed worldwide. 

He has accompanied such great 

artists as Ustad Ali Akbar Khan 

and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. 


C February 20 - 25 

C February 20 - 24 

C CEU 


Meditation 

Immersion Course 


Sound, Healing, 

and Consciousness 

Zacciah Blackburn 

Guided Imagery and 

Creative Visualization: 

Awareness Adventures for the Body, 

Mind, and Spirit 



Julie Lusk 

To achieve lasting happiness 

and absolute peace, 

we must first know how to 

calm the mind, to focus, 

and eventually to transcend 

the mind. By turning 

the mind inward, we can 

deepen our concentration and attain a state 

of meditation. This course is designed to 

suit those who wish to deepen and improve 

their meditation practice, as well as those 

new to meditation. Learn about the nature 

of the mind and how to develop concentration 

and inner stability. You will be guided in 

basic meditation techniques and inspired to 

establish a daily meditation practice. 



YVP 

February 20 

Maha Sivaratri 

Maha Sivaratri, the night of Lord Siva, is 

one of the most sacred nights on the yogic 

calendar. We will celebrate this auspicious 

night with homas and pujas (traditional 

ceremonies) conducted throughout the night 

by Krishnan Namboodiri, the ashram’s priest 

(see biography on page 27). Senior staff of 

the ashram will lead us in continuous Siva 

chants from dusk until dawn, following 

which we will all gather to enjoy a variety 

of prasads (offerings) in the morning. 

Sound is the vibrational nature of creation, 

as well as our human structure, from our 

energetic (subtle) bodies to our physiological 

and sub-atomic form. Drawing from 

contemporary and ancient cultures’ wisdom 

and methodologies, we will utilize techniques 

with voice and simple instruments to 

enhance awareness and integration of sound 

in personal and professional practice. Explore 

the nature of authentic healing, and experience 

how esoteric sound practices enable you 

to realize heightened states of wellness and 

Self-realization. No musical talent or prior 

experience is necessary. 

Zacciah Blackburn, PhD, is 

a gifted intuitive, teacher, and 

sound healer, trained in classical 

healing and shamanic traditions, 

and sacred sound cultures. He 

teaches internationally, and 

practices in the Center of Light 

Institute of Sound Healing and 

Shamanic Studies. He is Director of Education at 

the International Sound Healing Network and the 

co-founder and director of the World Sound Healing 

and All One Now Network, both of which are 

organizations working for global peace. 

www.thecenteroflight.net 


Experience the potency of guided imagery 

and creative visualization - a powerful 

mind-body-spirit technique that everyone 

can apply. Through this practice you will 

reach states of deep relaxation, activate your 

natural capacity to heal, promote the eradication 

of undesired behavior patterns, reveal 

the power of your intuition, and unlock your 

highest potential. Together we will practice 

several types of guided imagery within the 

context of the seven major chakras (energy 

centers) and the five koshas (sheaths). We 

will also explore personal experiences, and 

understand scientific principles relevant to 

our practice. 

Julie Lusk, MEd, is the president 

of Wholesome Resources 

and the author of 30 Scriptsfor 

Relaxation, Imagery and Inner 

Healing, Yoga Meditations,Mind- 

Body Mastery, and numerous 

guided imagery and meditation 

CDs. She leads workshops on 

stress management, wellness, yoga, meditation and 

guided imagery. www. wholesomeresources.com 


YVP 


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The Yoga of Chant Retreat 

Krishna Das 

Nourish your heart, inspire your mind, 

and uplift your spirit in this retreat of 

chant, music, and devotion with chanting 

virtuoso Krishna Das. Sharing his heart 

through music and chanting is the basis 

of Krishna Das’ spiritual work. In his 

concerts and workshops, he uses the power 

and joy of chanting to lead his audiences 

beautifully into the inner heart space. 

There will be evening kirtan concerts and 

afternoon workshops with chanting, musical 

accompaniment, and teachings on Bhakti 

yoga, the yoga of devotion. 

Krishna Das is one of the foremost devotional 

singers in the world. He is a disciple of Neem Karoli 

Baba and has been chanting on a regular basis in 

yoga centers all over the world. He has taught with 

Ram Dass and sung for many saints and yogis in 

the U.S. and in India. Over the years Krishna Das 

has made numerous pilgrimages throughout India, 

meeting teachers and saints of many spiritual traditions 

on his quest to open and purify his heart. His 

CDs include, among others, Pilgrim Heart, Greatest 

Hits of the Kali Yuga, Door of Faith, Live on Earth, 

and Breath of the Heart. He is also the author of 

Chants of a Lifetime. www.krishnadas.com 

Sacred Art: 

Express Divine Inspiration 

Sita Chaitanya 

Tuition: $320 (materials included). 

Add 4 nights’ accommodations. 

The universal language 

of sacred art has evolved 

throughout human history, 

inspired by the beauty of 

creation, and used for spiritual 

practice and healing. 

Learn how to express divine 

inspiration with simple methods of drawing, 

painting, and chanting. Expand your creative 

horizons with a step-by-step study of basic 

techniques using a compass, a ruler, a brush, 

and paint, while cultivating the skills of 

observation and perseverance. 

Sita Chaitanya: See biography on page 30. 

YVP 


Practical Spirituality: 

Life and Teachings of 


Arjuna 

Learn the relevance and 

benefit of yoga philosophy 

in modern daily life. Drawing 

from his rich personal 

yoga experiences, Arjuna 

will offer techniques for 

translating the theories 

of yoga philosophy into practical tools for 

everyday life. Arjuna’s approach is dynamic, 

personal, and inspiring, including many 

instructive stories from his times with 

Swami Vishnudevananda, making the study 

a most enjoyable and satisfying experience. 

YVP 


Becoming a Peace Leader 

Elaine Valdov 

Global events unfolding day in day out make 

peace and social responsibility more relevant 

than ever. As the challenges faced by the 

global community grow, the need for capable 

and motivated peace leaders is becoming 

more and more pressing. Dr. Elaine Valdov 

will share with us her vast experience in 

conducting peace missions world-wide and 

inspire us to become better global citizens 

and actively promote inner and outer peace. 

Elaine Valdov, PhD, is the 

director of the International 

Institute for a Culture of Peace 

in the United Nations and the 

former chair of the Executive 

Committee of NGOs affiliated 

with the U.N. She is a peace 

and human rights’ activist and 

founder of the Yogis without Borders movement. 

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Yogis Without Borders: 

Training for Activist Yoga Teachers 

Elaine Valdov, Nirmala and Satyadev 


The Yogis Without Borders movement was 

originated by Dr. Elaine Valdov. Its mission 

is to encourage yoga teachers to travel to 

post-conflict or post-natural disaster areas 

and help individuals relieve stress and tension. 

It offers tools to deal with the suffering 

of such populations and utilize it to lead 

them on a path of spiritual growth. This 

program offers theoretical as well as practical 

guidance on how to develop and carry out a 

specific project as part of the Yogis Without 

Borders mission. Bahamian guest speakers 

will share with us their experience and offer 

opportunities to promote social responsibility 

programs in the Bahamas during your 

stay. Gain valuable leadership skills and learn 

how to combine yoga practice and leadership 

skills in order to take part in significant 

humanitarian efforts. 


Elaine Valdov: See biography on this page. 


Yoga for Seniors Week 

YVP 

March 4 - 6 

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March 7 - 10 

MarchYVP 

YVP March 1 - 5 

March 4 - 8 

The Beautiful Legend 

of God: 

Teachings from the Srimad 

Bhagavata Purana 

Edwin Bryant 

The Srimad Bhagavata Purana, literally ‘the 

Beautiful Legend of God,’ is dedicated exclusively 

to the various modes of bhakti, the path 

of devotion. It portrays the accounts of Lord 

Vishnu’s incarnations and activities, and the 

lives and practices of the most famous yogi 

exemplars. All the teachings of the Patanjali 

Yoga Sutras and Bhagavad Gita are to be found 

in these narratives. Join us for a celebration 

of devotion and inspiring stories which will 

take you into the realms of bliss, and learn 

the main practices of devotion - devotional 

meditation, kirtan chanting and puja as well 

as the main philosophy associated with the 

path of devotion. 

Edwin Bryant, PhD, is a 

Professor of Indic languages 

and cultures. He teaches 

Hinduism at Rutgers University. 

He has published six books on 

Vedic history, yoga, and the 

Krishna tradition among which 

is Krishna: The Beautiful 

Legend of God. www.edwinbryant.org 

Yoga and Permaculture: 

Vedic Ecology in Practice 

Swami Omkarananda 

The goal of yoga is to re-connect ourselves 

with our divinity. Permaculture reminds 

us to re-connect with the natural world, of 

which we are an inseparable part. In this 

program we will demystify what permaculture 

is: Explain the three core values and 

the 12 principles of permaculture; review 

the Vedic teachings which remind us of the 

need for reverence for nature; explore how 

we can apply the teachings of Patanjali Yoga 

Sutras and express them through the practice 

of permaculture in our daily lives; and offer 

practical tools and strategies for living a more 

sustainable lifestyle. 

Swami Omkarananda is the 

director of the Sivananda Yoga 

Center in Los Angeles and has 

over twenty years of experience 

in teaching yoga and meditation. 

She earned her Certificate 

in Permaculture Design and 

Advanced Permaculture from 

Mid-West Permaculture and is passionate about 

bringing yoga and the environment together. 

Yoga for Seniors Retreat 

Catherine Gilies (Kumari) 

Let yoga meet you where you are. Geared 

to the particular needs of seniors this retreat 

will focus on the challenges of the golden 

age. Learn how yoga can help you maintain 

independent living skills and improve the 

quality of your sleep. Explore the principles 

of a practice that is enjoyable and beneficial 

for you and conducive to strengthening 

mobility, improving circulation, promoting 

good digestion, and calming the nervous 

system. No prior experience necessary. This 

retreat is an ideal preparation to the Yoga for 

Seniors Course (see this page), in which you 

will get an in-depth training in the practice 

of yoga for seniors. 

Catherine Gilies (Kumari) has 

been a Sivananda yoga teacher 

for over 30 years. She is the 

founding director of Sivananda 

yoga affiliated center in Gatineau, 

Quebec. Kumari has taught 

50+ and seniors yoga for the 

past 10 years. Her teaching approach 

is warm and joyful. She creates a relaxed and 

safe environment that allows participants to practice 

with grace and ease. www.yoga-aylmer.com 

Yoga for Seniors Course 


and Rene Engels 

Tuition $290. Add 6 nights’ accommodations. 

Stay strong, prevent falling injuries, and 

maintain your independence through an 

enjoyable yoga practice. Increase your 

strength, focus, and confidence. Take care 

of your back and joints, breathe deeper, 

reach higher energy levels, and enjoy guided 

deep relaxations. Chair yoga will complement 

yoga on the mat. Learn fall prevention 

practices based on the Canada Fall Prevention 

Curriculum, including risk factors, 

individual assessments, and fall proofing. 

Catherine Gilies (Kumari): 

See biography on this page. 

Rene Engels is a certified 

FallProof Balance and 

Mobility Instructor, teaching 

Steady as you Go (SAYGO) 

Falls Prevention workshops. 

She is the coordinator of 

Fall Prevention exercise and 

education classes in the Alberta 

Health Services in Canada. 


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CEU 

March 4 - 10 

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March 5 - April 1 

C CEU March 6 -25 

Pregnancy Yoga Teachers’ 


Kashi Richardson 


Yoga offers the very best support to women 

during pregnancy and prepares them for 

childbirth and motherhood. It also nurtures 

the fetus in the womb. Open for yoga teachers, 

this course offers tools for becoming a 

professional, confident, and sensitive pregnancy 

yoga teacher. Learn how to modify 

yoga postures and breathing techniques for 

pregnancy. Explore the anatomy and physiology 

of pregnancy, stages of labor, birth 

preparation, basic yoga therapy, embracing 

mental and emotional changes, conscious 

relaxation and visualization, and guidelines 

for the post-natal time. 

Kashi Richardson has been 

dedicated to the practices of 

classical yoga for over 25 years. 

She teaches Hatha yoga at the 

Sivananda Yoga Teachers’ Training 

Course and offers Pregnancy 

Yoga Teachers Training Courses 

and courses in adaptive yoga in 

various locations, as well as her studio. In addition 

to a strong background in Sivananda yoga, Kashi is 

certified in yoga therapy through Rocky Mountain 

Institute of Yoga and Ayurveda. She specializes in 

yoga for pregnancy and childbirth, therapeutic yoga 

for illness and injury. 




YVP 

March 5 - 8 

Ancient Wisdom for 

a New World: 

The Spiritual Teachings of the Avatars 

Jeffrey Armstrong 

An Avatar, a Divine Being that descends 

from the transcendental realm to restore 

peace and harmony to the earth, is a 

manifestation of the Ultimate Being that 

can appear at will in human or animal 

form. At the heart of the Avatars’ teachings 

is respect for all life, the concept that we are 

each part of the same Ultimate Being, and 

that everyone is able to make the journey 

back home to the Divine. With the social, 

economic, environmental, and political 

unrest in the world today, these lessons from 

the Avatar are more important than ever. 

Join us and discover how the teachings of 

Avatars can guide you to become a better 

citizen of the world. 

Jeffrey Armstrong is a scholar 

of the Eastern teachings and has 

spent the last 40 years studying 

and practicing Vedanta, Raja 

yoga, Tantra and Mantra practices, 

having been initiated into 

these mysteries by Masters of 

these traditions. He has degrees 

in Psychology, Literature, and Comparative Religion. 

He is a member of the American Council of Vedic 

Astrology and has been practicing Vedic Astrology 

for over 40 years. He is the author of The Spiritual 

Teachings of the Avatar, Karma The Ancient Science 

of Cause & Effect, The Vedic Astrology Learning Deck, 

and others. www.JeffreyArmstrong.com 

Thai Yoga Massage: 

Yoga Therapy 

Practitioner Program 

Levels I, II and III 

Level I: March 6 - 11 

Level II: March 13 - 18 

Level III: March 20 - 25 

Kam Thye Chow and Mariana Mosca (Mirabai) 

Tuition: Level I, Level II or Level III only $525. Add 7 nights’ accommodation. 

Any two levels $940; Add 14 nights’ accommodation. Level I, II & III together: $1,400. Add 21 nights’ accommodation 

Thai Yoga Massage is an ancient yoga therapy which combines yoga postures with touch 

technique. It promotes deep relaxation and healing, improves circulation, boosts the immune 

system, balances the body energetically, and facilitates mind-body integration. As a therapeutic 

practice, Thai Yoga Massage is a dynamic form of yoga for the practitioner as well as the 

recipient, enhancing one’s sense of alignment, posture, and health. Gain a strong foundation in 

the key elements of Thai Yoga Massage and learn how to perform a full 90-minute customized 

Thai Yoga Massage session (or an expanded 2½ hour Thai Yoga Massage session in Level II). 

Level III will introduce you to the fundamentals of Ayurveda, the ancient Indian healing system 

and sister science to yoga. It bridges Thai Yoga Massage with its historical roots in Ayurveda. 

Learn practical methods of applying Ayurvedic knowledge to deepen the therapeutic quality of 

your practice and a new 60 minute Thai Yoga Massage session, customized according to the 

recipient’s body-type (vata, pitta, or kapha). 

Kam Thye Chow pioneered a methodology that combines Thai Yoga Massage with its yogic 

and ayurvedic roots. He founded the Lotus Palm School in Montreal and teaches around the 

world. He is the bestselling author of many books, including Thai Yoga Massage and Thai 

Yoga Therapy for Your Body Type: An Ayurvedic Tradition. He teaches with skill, humor, and 

an ever-present sense of loving kindness. www.lotuspalm.com 

Mariana Mosca (Mirabai) was raised in a family of Sivananda yoga practitioners and has 

been committed to yoga her entire life. She views Thai Yoga Massage as a natural extension of 

her yoga practice. Under Kam Thye Chow’s tutelage, Mirabai has taught throughout North 

and South America. 


YVP 

March 8 - 10 

YVP 

March 9 - 11 

YVP 

March 12 - 17 

Introduction to Ayurveda: 

Ancient Yogic Medicine for Healing 

Body and Mind 

Lalita Devi and the Well-Being 

Center Staff 

Ayurveda is the knowledge 

of life, as revealed to the 

Rishis (seers) of ancient 

India. Offering a complete 

system of health and healing 

to guide the body in 

journeying back to optimal 

health, it has been practiced for over 5,000 

years by millions of individuals. Learn the 

basics of ayurveda, including the doshas and 

the individual constitution, the cause of 

disease, proper individualized nutrition, 

and ayurvedic psychology. 

Lalita Devi: See biography on page 20. 

Nirvana 

Immersion Retreat 

Geshe Michael Roach 

Think of the one negative emotion that’s 

been holding you back for your whole life. 

Now imagine never having that emotion 

ever again. Think about being filled instead 

with the complete opposite of it. That’s 

nirvana. Nirvana Immersion is a retreat to 

change your life. We start with three days 

in New York City, including personal 

meetings to tailor the practice suitable for 

you, evening meditations and yoga asana 

practices (call us for the possibility to join 

only the ashram’s part of the workshop). 

We then fly together to the Sivananda 

Ashram Yoga Retreat, for four more days 

of continued teachings and practice, following 

which we will return together to New 

York, and to a world where our one worst 

emotion has been transformed into joy. 

Geshe Michael Roach is the 

first American to have been 

awarded the degree of Geshe, 

or Master of Buddhism, after 

more than 20 years of study in 

Tibetan monasteries. He has 

used this training to become a 

prominent international teacher, 

businessman, philanthropist, author, educator, public 

speaker, textual scholar, and musician. His book, 

The Diamond Cutter, has become a global bestseller 

in 20 languages. He is the founder of the Asian Classics 

Institute, Diamond Mountain University, and 

many others. www.geshemichaelroach.com 

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March 11 - March 21 




YVP 

March 17 - 18 


will take us into the 

timeless teachings of the 

Bhagavad Gita, the superb 

exposition of the synthesis 

of all paths of yoga. 


Exploring our 

Essential Nature: 

Teachings from the Drig Drishya Viveka 

Swami Shantananda 

The Strings of the Heart: Sitar Concerts 

Anupama Bhagvat and Shyam Kane 

Drig-Drishya-Viveka literally means the 

wisdom of discrimination (viveka) between 

the seer (drig) and the seen (drishya). In 

his scripture of the same title, Adi Shankaracharya 

takes us through an inquiry into 

our own essential nature by discriminating 

between the seer, which is the pure consciousness, 

and the seen – the field of 

enquiry. Join us for an inspiring and elevating 

teaching that will propel you to deepen 

your practice of meditation and swadhyaya 

(Self study) and deepen your desire for 

spiritual liberation. 

Swami Shantananda, a 

disciple of Swami Chinmayananda, 

has dedicated his 

life to mission work and 

Vedantic teachings. He is 

presently the resident Acharya 

of Chinmaya Mission centers 

in New Jersey, Pennsylvania 

and New York. His lectures are filled with 

wonderful insights into life. People respond 

instantly to his wisdom and affectionate nature. 

www.chinmayamission.org 

Let the sounds of the sitar open your heart, calm your mind, and take you into a meditative state, 

full of bliss. Join us for a celebration of authentic and elevating classical Indian music, originating 

from Divine sources. 

Anupama Bhagwat has performed on the sitar internationally to critical acclaim. She is a 

leading disciple of the world-renowned Pandit Shri Bimalendu Mukherjee. Her sensitivity 

and erudition have taken her to the highest levels of the modern genre, while allowing her to 

remain true to tradition. www.anupama.org 

Shyam Kane: See biography on page 43. 


YVP 

March 18 - 24 

Meditation as a Path 

to Enlightenment 

An Interfaith Symposium 

Ayurveda and Yoga 

Therapy Programs 

with Dr. Marc Halpern 

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March 19 - 21 

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CEU 

March 23 - April 1 

Meditation is the royal road to super 

consciousness. It is the ladder that will 

elevate you from bondage to truth, bliss, 

abiding peace, and knowledge. The practice 

of meditation is prescribed as part of the 

spiritual practice under all major religions 

and spiritual traditions. Join us and learn 

from prominent spiritual leaders the theory 

and practice of meditation, how it can take 

you beyond your mind, and how it can 

open the deepest chambers of your heart. 

Swami Swaroopananda is 

a senior disciple of Swami 

Vishnudevananda, the 

director of the Sivananda 

Ashram Yoga Retreat, and the 

Acharya for the Sivananda 

centers and ashrams on the 

West Coast of the United 

States, the Middle East, and the Bahamas. 

Karma Kunzang Palden 

Rinpoche (Rodney Devenish) 

is one of the spiritual directors 

of the Dharma Fellowship of 

H.H the Gyalwa Karmapa. 

He is a disciple of the Karma 

Namgyal Rinpoche of the 

Kagyu School of Tibetan 

Buddhism. He is co-founder of The Hermitage, 

a meditation retreat center in Canada. 

www.dharmafellowship.org 

Father Joseph Mitchell is 

a member of the Passionist 

Community and a priest in 

the Roman Catholic tradition. 

His current work engages the 

relationship between the 

emerging scientific cosmology 

and Christian theology, the 

cultural implications for human institutions, and the 

role of humanity in the story of the Earth. Toward 

this goal, he initiated the Passionist Earth & Spirit 

Center, where he currently serves as director. www. 

earthandspiritcenter.org 

Daniel Matt, PhD, is one of 

the world’s leading authorities 

on Kabbalah, the Jewish mystical 

tradition. He is currently 

engaged in an immense project 

of translating and annotating 

the Zohar, the masterpiece of 

the Kabbalah. 

Yoga Nidra: 

The Practice of Deep Relaxation 

Marc Halpern (Siva) 


Learn techniques that will allow you to reach 

new states of conscious awareness with acute 

perception of both your physical and subtle 

body through yoga nidra - the art of conscious 

relaxation. Feel the flow of prana move 

through physical, emotional, and energetic 

blockages, healing the body and mind and 

facilitating an expansion of the consciousness. 

During this program, students will both 

experience yoga nidra and learn how to teach 

it to others. 

Marc Halpern (Siva), DC, 

CAS, PKS, Ayurvedacharya, is 

a pioneer in ayurvedic medicine 

in the U.S. and a Sivananda 

yoga teacher. He is the founder 

and director of the California 

College of Ayurveda 

- the first ayurvedic 

college to train practitioners of ayurveda 

outside of India. He received the award 

for Best Ayurvedic Physician from India’s 

Minister of Health and Family Welfare. 

www.ayurvedacollege.com 

Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy 


Marc Halpern (Siva) 


Learn how to teach individualized and group 

yoga programs based on the nature of the 

student’s ayurvedic constitution and imbalance. 

This course emphasizes the energetics 

of each asana and each form of pranayama. 

Using pose and breath you will learn how to 

balance the mind and body’s subtle physical 

energies, facilitating healing for the client. 

You will also be introduced to yoga nidra and 

ayurvedic nutrition in the healing process. As 

an ayurvedic yoga therapist, you will be able 

to work independently holding classes in studios, 

or work as a part of an integrative team 

in a healing center. This professional training 

program is excellent for yoga teachers of all 

traditions and practitioners of healing arts. 

Alan ‘Abd al-Haqq Godlas, 

PhD, has been involved in 

Swami Brahmananda is the 

traditional Sufi practice and 

manager of the Sivananda 

its academic study for 36 years. 

Ashram Yoga Retreat and a 

He belongs to the Naqshbandi 

senior staff of the Sivananda 

Sufi order and is the founder 

organization. A long-time 

of Sufis Without Borders, an 

practitioner of yoga, he regularly 

international online community 

teaches yoga philosophy and 

of Sufis. 

meditation for the Sivananda 

Teachers’ Training Courses as well as Meditation 

Immersion courses. He is a much-loved, inspiring, 

54 sivanandabahamas.org 

and knowledgeable teacher. 

55

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C March 25 - 31 


Adapt, Adjust, 

Accommodate: 

Adaptive Yoga Teachers’ Training 



Expand your yoga teaching 

skills by learning how to 

adapt classical Hatha yoga 

for students with injury, illness, 

obesity, advanced age 

or any other limiting condition. 

Explore a wide range 

of modifications for students who require assistance 

in a regular yoga class. Learn how to 

offer a gentler, modified practice for a variety 

of specific needs, including through the use 

of ‘chair yoga’ and of structural yoga therapy. 

Develop confidence through personal 

practice and practice teaching throughout 

the course. 

Kashi Richardson: See biography on page 50. 

Kirtan and the 

Bhakti Mandala: 

Healing through Chant 

David Newman (Durga Das) and Mira 

Join us for a blissful weekend exploring the 

healing power of Kirtan and the ageless 

teachings of Bhakti Yoga (the yoga of devotion). 

David Newman (Durga Das) and Mira 

will guide us on an inspirational journey 

into the wisdom of the heart and the joys of 

devotional chanting. 

David Newman (Durga Das) 

is a kirtan chant artist, sacred 

singer-songwriter, and a practitioner 

and educator of Bhakti 

yoga. His CDs include Lotus 

Feet: A Kirtan Revolution, Soul 

Freedom, Leap of Grace: The 

Hanuman Chalisa, Love Peace 

Chant, Into the Bliss and his latest release To Be 

Home. www.davidnewmanmusic.com 

Mira is a vocalist, musician, 

and poetess. She has recorded 

on many well-known chanting 

CDs, sharing her vocals talents 

on cajon, kartals, and kaimini. 

In 2006, Mira released her 

debut album entitled A Living 

Prayer. sacredcymbals.com 

Warriors at Ease: 

Teaching Yoga in Military Settings 

Molly Asebey-Birkholm (Madhavi), 

Robin Carnes, Karen Soltes, 

Pat Lillis-Hearne 


Learn how to bring the benefits of yoga 

practice to military settings with active duty 

service-members, veterans, family members, 

professional caregivers, and civilian staff. Focusing 

on trauma and PTSD, this course offers 

a unique training which is very relevant 

to our times. As the U.S. military adopts 

evidence-based mind-body approaches and 

seeks to hire competent instructors, specialized 

training focused on military culture and 

combat-related conditions will allow you to 

offer such services and expand the scope and 

potential of your teaching skills. 

Molly Asebey-Birkholm (Madhavi): 


Robin Carnes, MBA, E-RYT 

500, is the President of Warriors 

at Ease, LLC. Robin has served 

as the yoga and iRest® instructor 

for a Defense Department 

PTSD treatment program at 

Walter Reed Medical Center, 

and was the instructor for the 

first feasibility study of yoga nidra for service members 

with PTSD symptoms. 

Karen Soltes, LCSW, RYT, is a 

clinical social worker, registered 

yoga teacher and a certified 

iRest® Yoga Nidra teacher. She 

has taught classes in iRest® 

Yoga Nidra at the Washington 

DC Veterans Hospital, offering 

an adjunctive treatment for 

alleviating the symptoms of PTSD, substance abuse, 

anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. 

Foundations of Vedanta 

Swami Medhananda Puri 

“Vedanta is the Moksha-Sastra or the Science 

of Emancipation.... It reveals the majesty of 

man in his essential nature.... The message of 

Vedanta is fearlessness, soul-force and unity 

of conciousness” (Swami Sivananda, Bliss 

Divine). Join us for an exploration of the 

principles of Vedanta which will give you 

a deeper insight into the philosophy and 

practices through which you can transcend 

from the mundane to the Divine. 

Swami Medhananda Puri is 

a senior monk in the Kailash 

Ashram in Rishikesh, India. His 

knowledge of Hindu scriptures, 

and his ability to explain 

Vedantic topics in a lucid, and 

humorous way, make him a 

gifted Vedanta teacher and one 

of the most respected spiritual teachers in India. 

March 28 – 31 

Preventing Diabetes 

with Yoga and Nutrition 

Manu Dawson 


Discover complementary approaches to 

prevent diabetes and safely support diabetes 

medical treatment.* Explore nutrition 

strategies and meal-planning for addressing 

metabolic issues that often accompany 

diabetes. We will also discuss obesity, heart 

disease, high blood pressure, and kidney disease. 

Participants will enjoy diabetes-friendly 

vegetarian meals and daily yoga classes in the 

supportive environment of the ashram. 

* All diagnosed diabetes patients should receive 

medical clearance from their physician. 

Pat Lillis-Hearne, MD, MPH, 

RYT, is a yoga instructor, 

Oncologist, and is well versed in 

Complementary Medicine. She 

Manu Dawson: See biography on page 30. 

has had over 30 years service in 

the military before retiring from 

the Army Medical Department 

in 2010. 


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April 

YVP April 1 - 10 

Easter and Passover Symposium and Celebration 

Yoga and Sacred Healing 

Swami Sivananda taught that health is 

the basis of all virtues and as such it is 

an invaluable asset to any spiritual aspirant; 

one who has good health has hope, and 

whoever has hope has everything. Join 

us for an exploration of healing method 

under various traditions, and learn how 

to connect to the divine energy for healing 

and spiritual prosperity. 

Master Ou Wen Wei created 

the Pan Gu Shengong (PGSG) 

in order to enable practitioners 

to absorb the life force of the 

universe and to temper and 

improve their own life force 

and immune systems. PGSG 

has successively treated many 

patients with ailments such as cancer, heart diseases, 

diabetes, rheumatoid, apoplexy, lupus and others. 

Master Ou is the author of seven books including, 

The Path of Life and Pan Gu Mystical Qigong. 

www.pangushengong.org 

Amarananda Bhairavan® As a boy in India, 

Amarananda Bhairavan® was initiated into Kali 

worship, and trained by his teachers in related mystic 

practices. Part of this training was on preparation 

and specific uses of herbal energy oils, which he uses 

in his yoga and healing practices. Details at ambikabotanicalsinc.com. 

Amarananda Bhairavan travels 

internationally conducting lectures and seminars on 

yoga and healing, and uses his in-depth training and 

insight to assist serious yoga practitioners to move 

beyond karmic limitations and into deep sadhana. 

He has authored two books, Kali’s Odiyya, and 

Medicine of Light. A specialist in yoga sadhana from 

his family tradition, Bhairavan’s upcoming book is a 

workbook for students of yoga. 

Swami Sitaramananda is the 

director of the Sivananda Ashram 

Yoga Farm in Grass Valley, 

California, and a direct disciple 

of Swami Vishnudevananda. She 

has many years of experience 

teaching meditation, yoga philosophy 

and positive thinking all 

over the world. www.sivanandayogafarm.org 

Grandfather Duncan Sings- 

Alone is a Cherokee healer 

and spiritual teacher. He has 

been a practicing ceremonialist 

for nearly forty years. He 

is part of the Georgia Tribe of 

Eastern Cherokee Indians and 

the founder and Grandfather 

Chief of the Free Cherokees, an inter-tribal cultural 

organization. www.freecherokee.org 

Priscilla Cogan is an awardwinning 

bicultural novelist, 

screenwriter, storyteller, clinical 

psychologist, and sacred pipe 

carrier in Native American 

ceremonies. Along with her 

husband, Grandfather Duncan 

Sings-Alone, she offers 

workshops and story-telling programs about the 

spiritual journey. 

Shirley Telles, PhD, directs 

research at Patanjali Research 

Foundation, Haridwar, India. 

She is the head of the Indian 

Council of Medical Research 

Center for Advanced Research 

in Yoga and Neurophysiology in 

Bangalore, India. She researches 

the physiological effects of yoga and higher states 

of consciousness induced by meditation. She has 

published 3 books, and over 100 research articles. 

Rick Hanson, PhD, is a neuropsychologist 

and the co-founder 

of the Wellspring Institute for 

Neuroscience and Contemplative 

Wisdom. He has practiced 

mediation for over 35 years. His 

latest book, Buddha’s Brain: The 

Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, 

Love and Wisdom shows readers many effective 

ways to light up the brain circuits that relieve 

worry and stress, and promote positive relationships 

and inner peace. www.rickhanson.net 

Amy Weintraub, MFA, 

E-RYT 500, is the author of 

Yoga for Depression, founder 

of the LifeForce Yoga Healing 

Institute, a leader in the field 

of yoga and mental health, and 

teaches around the world. She is 

involved in on-going research on 

the effects of yoga on mood. Amy’s evidence-based 

yoga protocol is featured on award-winning CDs 

and the DVD series LifeForce Yoga to Beat the Blues. 

www.yogafordepression.com 

Marilyn Rossner, PhD, is a 

close disciple of Swami Vishnudevananda, 

the co-founder 

of the International Institute 

of Integral Human Sciences, 

and founder-president of The 

Spiritual Science Fellowship of 

Canada. She is a retired professor 

of special care counseling, and one of the world’s 

most gifted intuitives. www.iiihs.org 

Komilla Sutton is the cofounder 

and Chair of the British 

Association for Vedic Astrology. 

She is an internationally renowned 

consultant, teacher and 

lecturer. She is on the faculty of 

The American College of Vedic 

Astrology. She is the author 

Personal Panchanga, The Essentials of Vedic Astrology, 

and others. www.Komilla.com 

April 6 

Passover Seder 

Celebration 


Join us for a traditional 

celebration of the Passover 

Sedder. Enjoy a delicious 

vegetarian feast, reading 

the Haggada, chanting 

the Passover chants, and 

teachings from Swami 

Swaroopananda (see biography on page 14) 

on the main historical and spiritual components 

of Passover. 

April 8 

Easter Sunrise Service 

Swami Swaroopananda, Fr. John 

Rossner, Bishop Elkin Symonette 

and the Ebenezer Baptist Choir 

Celebrate with us this beautiful Easter 

morning with devotional gospel singing 

and stories and a message from Bishop 

Elkin Symonette, with a Missionary 

Baptist Church. 


C CEU April 1 - 4 

C April 2 - 5 

C 

April 2 -11 

YVP 

April 1-8 

Easter and Passover 

Family Program 

Barb van Maris (Omkari) and 

Sandrine Remy (Sanatani) 

Celebrate Passover and Easter with your 

family in Paradise. Children will enjoy 

a wide range of activities including an 

introduction to yoga, short asana classes 

designed specifically for children, chanting, 

crafts, karma yoga, and lots of games and 

fun. They will learn about the stories of 

Passover and Easter, along with stories from 

the yogic scriptures that provide similar 

teachings. Parents will enjoy free time to 

practice and rest. 

Barb van Maris (Omkari) is a 

Sivananda yoga teacher, a longtime 

practicing yogini and a 

mother of five children. She has 

many years of experience working 

with children and is known 

for her ability to reach children 

of all ages and temperaments 

with patience, compassion, 

and joy. 

Emotional Freedom 

Technique (EFT) 


Karen L. Arthur (Kamala) 

Tuition: $300. Add 5 nights’ accommodations. 

Discover the wisdom of Emotional Freedom 

Technique (EFT) and how it can help you 

experience an abundant and stress-free life*. 

Discovered by Gary Craig, the tapping, 

along with focused intentionality, balances 

the energy meridians to produce rapid, long 

lasting relief. Learn how to improve the quality 

of your life and overall wellness, alleviate 

anxiety, depression, sadness, grief, and sorrow 

by using this gentle, yet profound technique. 

This program is suitable for professionals (as 

a training) and for those seeking personal 

growth and better quality of life. 

* This course is not a substitute for personal 

counseling or psychotherapy. 

Karen L. Arthur (Kamala), 

LCSW, BCD, is a Sivananda 

yoga teacher and a practicing 

psychotherapist specializing in 

trauma, anxiety, grief, stress, 

and performance enhancement 

for artists and athletes. She has 

extensive training in body-mind 

healing therapies including 

Shiatsu, martial arts and yoga. Kamala teaches 

EFT courses throughout the United States. 

www.centerformindfulliving.com 

Healing through 

Mystical Qigong 

Master Ou Wen Wei 


Based on simple yet 

powerful techniques, 

Mystical Qigong uses the 

power of the universe for 

healing oneself and others. 

Pan Gu Shen Gong 

(PGSG) is a unique Qigong 

system that was developed by Master Ou 

Wen Wei. Learn the three major aspects of 

the PGSG system, including: 

• The Moving Form, designed to promote 

health through strengthening of the 

life-force. 

• The Healing Skill, teaching the skill to 

provide healing treatments to others. 

• The Non-Moving Form, designed to 

strengthen the nervous system and 

intuitive ability. 

There will also be a special class on developing 

spiritual vision. 

Master Ou Wen Wei: See biography on page 58. 

C 

April 5 – May 2 




Vedanta and 

Silence Course: 

Self-Discovery and Contemplation 

Practices 

Swami Sitaramananda 


Immerse yourself in the 

teachings of Vedanta and 

dive deeper into the inner 

silence. Learn Vedantic 

meditation theory and 

practice, the yoga of Selfenquiry 

and the practice 

of silence. Participants will practice mauna 

(silence) all day except for three hours of 

study and two hours of dialogue with the 

teacher. A daily yoga class and mantra 

chanting will enhance the experience and 

allow you to reach higher levels of tranquility 

and focus. It is recommended that 

students stay in a single accommodation to 

support the practice of mauna. 

Swami Sitaramananda: See biography on page 58. 

Sandrine Remy (Sanatani): 



Yoga of Recovery 

Programs 

C April 5 - 11 

C CEU April 12 - 21 

C 

CEU 

April 6 – 12 

Yoga for Depression: 

Practitioner Training Course Level I 

Amy Weintraub with guest teacher Shirley Telles 


The Yoga of 

Recovery Retreat 

Catherine O’Neill (Durga) 


This program draws parallels between the 

ancient wisdom of yoga, ayurveda, and the 

daily practical tools used by members of 

12-step programs. It offers supportive 

tools for overcoming self-destructive and 

addictive tendencies. You will enjoy daily 

meditation sessions, talks on yoga as it 

relates to the 12-step program (especially 

the 11th step), yoga classes, ayurveda workshops, 

and a daily open 12-step meeting. 


is a clinical ayurveda and 

pancha-karma specialist, trained 

at the California College of 

Ayurveda and in India. She has 

been involved with the 12-Step 

Fellowship for over seven years 

and teaches recovery programs 

internationally. 

www.yogaofrecovery.com 


Certificate Course 

for Counselors 

Swami Sitaramananda and 



The program is designed 

for yoga teachers and health 

professionals who work with 

people recovering from addiction, 

and for people with 

personal histories or family 

members with histories of 

addiction. It combines ayurveda and yoga 

with traditional recovery tools to offer a holistic 

approach to addiction and self-destructive 

behaviors. Counselors will gain additional tools 

and a comprehensive approach to wellness, 

emotional sobriety, and sustained spiritual 

development using ayurveda and yoga as 

extension therapies to any 12-step work. 

Yoga teachers will be qualified to teach yoga 

to people in recovery from any addiction. 

Swami Sitaramananda: See biography on page 58. 

Catherine O’Neill (Durga): See biography on this page. 

Learn an evidence-based yoga protocol to help students and clients focus, relax, and have greater 

access to feeling states. This program interweaves ancient yogic wisdom with current findings in 

neurobiology. Yoga teachers and mental-health professionals will learn strategies appropriate for 

a clinical setting that can safely release chronically held physical tension and repressed emotion. 

While learning yogic techniques to help clients manage their moods and increase self-efficacy, you 

will also be practicing tools for self-care. 

YVP 

April 10 – 13 

Living a Life that Matters: 

A Retreat on Socially Engaged Spiritual Practice 

Amy Weintraub and Shirley Telles: See biographies on page 59. 

Roshi Bernie Glassman and Roshi Eve Myonen Marko 

Amy Weintraub will be assisted by Rose Kress, a yoga teacher (RYT 

500), a LifeForce Yoga Educator and Mentor and a Functional Yoga 

Therapist; and Kathryn Shafer, PhD, LCSW, CAP, RYT500, 

a psychotherapist and a LifeForce Yoga® Practitioner. 

How do we live a meaningful life? In their own special and engaging way, Roshi Bernie Glassman 

and Roshi Eve Myonen Marko will introduce the art of making a real difference. They will share 

their experiences of living the life of a homeless person during street retreats and other social activism 

projects, such as the Bearing Witness project. Through spiritual teachings, personal stories, 

and a good dose of humor, these two distinguished and charismatic spiritual leaders will inspire 

you to take action and make your life matter to you and to others. 

Roshi Bernie Glassman, PhD, 

is a world-renowned pioneer in 

the American Zen movement. 

He is a spiritual leader, author, 

and businessman. He teaches 

at the Maezumi Institute and 

the Harvard Divinity School 

and is the founder of Zen 

Peacemakers. www.zenpeacemakers.org 

Roshi Eve Myonen Marko is 

a founding teacher of the Zen 

Peacemaker Order and resident 

teacher at the Montague 

Farm Zendo. She co-founded 

Peacemaker Circle International 

and has written and edited 

numerous articles about Zen 

Peacemakers. www.mfzendo.org 


Yoga for Children 

Teachers’ Training Courses with Mira Binzen 

Tuition for one course: $600; Two courses: $1,125; Three courses: $1600. 

Add 6 nights’ accommodations for each course. 

Children who practice yoga are likely to be better able to regulate their emotions, manage stress, 

and calm themselves. Body image issues leading to anorexia and obesity can also be alleviated by 

practicing yoga from a young age. Movement, breath awareness, and relaxation inherent in a yoga 

practice can help children develop better body awareness and improved self-esteem, which are 

both powerful components of a healthy body image. Join Mira Binzen’s courses and learn how to 

bring the gift of yoga to children. You may choose to focus on one or more age group. 

C 

April 14 - 18 

Planting Seeds: 

Teaching Yoga to Children Under Age 8 

At this age group, children are active, playful 

and enthusiastic, and do not wait for demonstrations. 

We will therefore focus on games, 

imagination, stories, and simple practices to 

introduce them to yoga. Learn ways to move 

with the children, focusing on enjoying yoga 

through play. Study children’s social, emotional, 

physical, and cognitive development, 

along with engaging interaction and enthusiastic 

communication skills and methods for 

creating a positive classroom environment. 

C 

April 19 - 23 

Taking Root: 

Teaching Yoga to Ages 8-12 

Having developed better impulse control 

than earlier ages, children 8-12, can more 

fully assimilate the concepts of yoga as a 

methodic practice. Physical adjustments 

in the asanas will be effective with this age 

group. We will focus on observing and 

reinforcing positive behavior through classroom 

activities and will create a cooperative 

community in class all the while observing 

the evolving cognitive and emotional intelligence, 

social awareness, and physical growth 

of the children. 

C 

April 25 - 29 

Branching Out: 

Teaching Yoga 

to Teenagers 

Teenagers want to learn in deeper 

ways and are ready for more subtle 

aspects of the practice. They are 

bombarded by adult-sized stressors and can 

benefit greatly from stress reducing techniques 

that address their unique stage in life. 

We will explore ways to express the essence 

of each pose in a clear, simple, engaging way, 

all the while keeping the atmosphere relaxing 

and soothing. With an emphasis on respect, 

we will address each student as individual. 

Mira Binzen is a Sivananda 


a yoga therapist. She holds a 

degree in child psychology and 

is the founder of Global Family 

Yoga, an organization that 

focuses on child development 

through yoga. She is a highly 

experienced yoga for children teacher, who brings 

joy and enthusiasm to her practice and teaching. 

www.globalfamilyyoga.org 

YVP 

April 13 – 15 

From Physical to 

Mental Digestion: 

The Ayurvedic Perspective 

John Douillard 

Learn about the intelligence of the gut (the 

“second brain”) and how the digestive tract, 

which produces 95% of the body’s serotonin, 

is designed to manage stress. Ancient 

ayurvedic texts teach us that stress tolerance 

can be increased through strengthening 

the digestive system. Join us as we explore 

ayurvedic wisdom on how to balance the 

mind and protect the body from the ravages 

of stress by healing the gut. Discover how to 

increase your digestive strength and heal your 

digestive system to achieve optimal absorption 

of nutrients and rid your body of accumulated 

toxins. Understand how to reset 

digestive and detox channels while balancing 

mental health, mood, and energy. 

John Douillard, PhD, received 

his ayurvedic training in India 

and holds a PhD in Ayurvedic 

Medicine. He directs the 

LifeSpa School of ayurveda and 

practices ayurveda and chiropractic 

at LifeSpa in Boulder, 

Colorado. He is a charismatic 

speaker and a highly experienced healer. He is the 

author of The Yoga Body Diet, The Encyclopedia of 

Ayurvedic Massage and others. www.lifespa.com 

C 

April 15 - 20 

Meditation Immersion 

Course 

YVP 

April 15 – 17 


See details on page 44. 

From Science to God 

Peter Russell 

Modern science now suggests that the 

fundamental essence of the cosmos is 

consciousness rather than matter. With his 

distinctive blend of physics, psychology, 

and philosophy, Peter Russell will guide us 

through the connection between matter and 

consciousness and show that we are on the 

threshold of a revolution in worldview that 

bridges science and spirituality. Spiritual 

awakening-opening to our true naturebecomes 

a natural part of our evolution, 

connecting us with the peace, joy, and love 

that lay within. Join us to a journey of inner 

exploration, addressing questions such as 

what is consciousness and what is reality? 

Peter Russell, MA, DSC, FSP, 

is recognized as one of the leading 

thinkers on consciousness 

and contemporary spirituality 

and a revolutionary futurist. 

Combining meditation practice 

with theoretical physics, experimental 

psychology, and computer 

science, his work integrates Eastern and Western 

understandings of the mind. His multi-image shows 

and videos, The Global Brain and The White Hole in 

Time, have won international praise and prizes. He is 

the author of ten books including The Global Brain, 

Waking up in Time, and From Science to God. 

www.peterrussell.com 


YVP 

April 18 – 20 

C 

April 20 – 22 

YVP 

April 23 – 26 

The Three Waves of 

Volunteers and the 

New Earth 

Dolores Cannon 

Discover how it all began: The creation of 

our world and the development of our species. 

Understand your role on Earth. Are you 

one of the volunteers that has come to help 

earth with her transition? Gain unique insight 

into the order of creation, as explained 

beyond the unexplained. 

Dolores Cannon is a past-life 

regressionist and hypnotherapist. 

She is an expert on the 

prophecies of Nostradamus and 

has written Conversations with 

Nostradamus, which contains 

about 1000 prophecies, all 

interpreted for the first time, as 

well as several other books. She teaches her unique 

technique of hypnosis internationally, and appears 

regularly on TV and radio. www.ozarkmt.com 

YVP 

April 19 – 21 

Yoga and Emotional 

Regulation 

Richard Panico 

Yoga teaches us how to dynamically and 

skillfully encounter emotions. Discover 

how yogic principals can help you wisely 

experience emotions as you integrate life 

experiences and adapt to your world. Together, 

we will explore the physical and mental 

mechanism of emotional regulation and the 

tools yoga offers for achieving emotional 

balance and a lasting sensation of joy. 

Richard Panico, MD, is a psychiatrist, 

an internal medicine 

expert, and a yogi who specializes 

in the integration of yoga 

and medicine. He is the founder 

and director of the Athens 

Regional Mind Body Institute, 

where he treats patients, in addition 

to directing research and 

training on the integration 

of yoga into Western medicine. 

Sacred Art: 

Express Divine Inspiration 

April 21 - 25 


See details on page 46. 

Visual Yoga 

Teachers’ Training Course: 

Teaching Yoga to Hard of 

Hearing Persons 

Lila Lolling 


Gain tools to serve the hard of hearing, deaf 

and visually-based learning community 

members. With about 28 million deaf and 

hard of hearing people in the US alone, this 

training course is a valuable resource for 

any yoga teacher. Learn a variety of visual 

techniques to suit a multitude of students; 

whether hard of hearing senior citizens, deaf 

yogins, or people with autism or apraxia. Explore 

the deaf and hard of hearing cultures, 

American Sign Language (ASL), natural 

gesturing and a variety of other subjects related 

to the visual method of teaching yoga. 

Deepen your spiritual practice and expand 

your teaching skills with a visual approach to 

yoga and meditation. 

Lila Lolling is a Sivananda 

yoga teacher and the founder of 

Deaf Yoga Foundation. She has 

been studying, integrating and 

sharing yoga philosophy within 

the Deaf community for over 5 

years. She has been featured in 

leading yoga magazines, and is 

the producer of the Deaf Yoga for Beginners DVD. 

www.yogawithlila.com 

Devotion and Grace: 

Chanting Retreat 

Jai Uttal and Daniel Paul 

Ride on the wings of kirtan to feel whole and 

to feel free. Learn to chant and tune your 

voice and heart to that which is sacred. Jai Uttal, 

accompanied by Daniel Paul, will invoke 

a space of prayer and heartfelt expression 

through music and chant. 

C 

April 26 - May 5 

Jai Uttal is a pioneer and inspiration 

to many in the world of 

kirtan music. His many albums 

include Beggars and Saints, Siva 

Station, and the Grammynominated 

Monda Rama. 

www.jaiuttal.com 

Daniel Paul is a tabla player 

and vocalist. He earned his 

degree in the classical music of 

India from the Ali Akbar College 

of Music. He is Jai Uttal’s 

principal accompanist. 

www.tabladaniel.com 

Spring Detoxification and 

Juice Fasting Program 

Manu Dawson, Sita Chaitanya, 

and Grace Van Berkum 


Spring is an excellent time to detoxify - start 

your spring cleaning with yourself. 

For program details see page 30. 

YVP April 26 – May 2 

The Yoga of Divine Love: 

A Bhakti Yoga Retreat 

Radhanath Swami and Gaura Vani 

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a Vaishnava saint, is 

considered an incarnation of Lord Krishna. 

An advocate of Bhakti yoga, he inspires many 

to connect to the divine love through the 

worship of Lord Krishna and Radha and the 

chanting of the Maha Mantra. He composed 

the Siksastakam – the eight verses of instruction 

which are considered to contain the complete 

philosophy of Gaudiya Vaishnavism in 

condensed form. Join us as Radhanath Swami, 

will teach the principles of Divine life based 

on the life and teachings of Lord Chaitanya, 

accompanied by the soul lifting chanting of 

Gaura Vani and As Kindred Spirits. 

Radhanath Swami has 

studied with some of the most 

prominent spiritual teachers of 

his era. Ultimately meeting his 

own guru A.C. Bhaktivedanta 

Swami, he committed himself to 

the path of Bhakti and has been 

inspiring thousands internationally 

through heart to heart guidance, beautiful 

story-telling, and enthusiastic kirtans. He resides in 

Mumbai, India, where he is actively involved with 

humanitarian activities. He is the author of The 

Journey Home-Autobiography of an American Swami. 

www.radhnathswami.com 

Gaura Vani started studying 

sacred music in Vrindavan, 

India at the age of six. Today, he 

shares the magic he received and 

performs around the world with 

his kirtan ensemble, As Kindred 

Spirits. His CDs include Ten 

Million Moons and others. 

www.gauravani.com 


C 

CEU 

May 5 - 11 

C 

May 6 – June 2 

Yoga for the 

Special Child ® LLC 

Sonia Sumar 





May 

C April 29 - May 9 

YVP May 3 - 6 

Sonia Sumar authored Yoga for the Special Child and is considered a leading authority on this 

matter. She started teaching yoga for children with special needs after her second daughter was 

born with Down syndrome. The enhanced quality of life that yoga made for her own daughter 

inspired her to teach other children with special needs and to train other yoga teachers to do 

the same. www.specialyoga.com 

Learn yoga techniques designed to enhance healthy development and quality of life for children with 

special needs. Acquire valuable skills for working safely with special needs children. This style of yoga 

is specifically for babies and children with Down syndrome, Cerebral palsy, microcephaly, autism, attention 

deficit disorder (ADD) and other developmental and learning disabilities. We will explore the 

practical techniques of Yoga for the Special Child. 



Course III: Vibhuti Pada 



A unique opportunity for 

an in-depth study of Raja 

yoga, the royal path to 

Enlightenment, and its 

mother-text, the Yoga Sutras 

of Patanjali Maharishi. 


Science of the Sidhis: 

Exploring Yogic Perfections 

Dean Radin 

Ancient yogic texts such as Patanjali Yoga 

Sutras, describe extraordinary mental powers 

(‘siddhis’), associated with advanced meditative 

practice, such as telepathy, clairvoyance, 

and psychokinesis. These phenomena do 

not fit easily into the modern scientific 

worldview, and as such, are often dismissed 

as fantasy. However, scientists have reached 

scientific proof of their existence through 

testing. Join us for this exploration of the 

nature of the siddhis from a scientific as well 

as yogic perspective. 

Dean Radin, PhD, is a senior 

scientist at the Institute of 

Noetic Sciences (IONS). 

Experimentally probing the far 

reaches of human consciousness 

for decades, principally hypnosis 

and psychic phenomena, he has 

concluded that some psychic 

abilities are genuine, and are important aspects of 

the prevailing scientific worldview . He has authored 

and coauthored of over 200 technical and popular 

articles, a dozen book chapters, and several books 

including the bestseller The Conscious Universe and 

Entangled Minds. www.deanradin.com 

C 

May 6 - 8 

Raw Food and 

Yoga Welness Retreat 



Learn how to prepare nutritious, 

satisfying, and detoxifying 

raw food dishes that are 

simple, creative, and energizing. 

Together we will prepare 

and enjoy delicious raw 

soups, salad dressings, pates, 

dips, entrees, and desserts. 

We will discuss the ways in which raw foods 

affect your body, mind, and spirit, promote 

good health and make your attitude towards life 

more joyful and positive. You will gain a fresh 

and natural approach to eating in addition to 

a take-home recipe book that will help you in 

maintaining your raw foods practice. 

Grace Van Berkum: See biography on page 30. 

C 

May 6 – 12 

Yoga Peace Ambassadors 


Elaine Valdov 


Become a peace leader in 

local, national and international 

communities. Learn 

about the humanitarian challenges 

the world is facing, 

and how you can join the 

effort of promoting the eight 

United Nations millennium goals: eradicating 

poverty and hunger, providing education for 

all, empowering women and gender equality, 

providing health care for all, decreasing childhood 

mortality, protecting the environment and 

others. In the process you will develop a broad 

vision of the global community. 

Elaine Valdov: See biography on page 70. 

Guest Teachers: Andrew Cunningham and Daniele 

Giovanucci (see biographies on page 70). 


YVP 

May 7 - 12 

C 

May 12 - 16 

YVP 

May 13 - 18 

Yoga 

for Peace 

Symposium 

Changing the World 

from the Inside Out 

In remembrance of Swami Vishnudevananda 

and his peace missions, we are delighted to 

host the fifth Yoga for Peace Symposium. 

Now more than ever, humanity is in great 

need of the harmony, silence, and calm 

that follow peace. Join us for this gathering 

of peace leaders who will share with us 

inspiring stories from their peace and social 

engagement missions. In the process you will 

acquire tools for the promotion of peace and 

well-being of yourself and others. 

Elaine Valdov, PhD, is the 

director of the International 

Institute for a Culture of Peace 

in the United Nations and the 

former chair of the Executive 

Committee of NGOs affiliated 

with the U.N. She is a peace 

and human rights’ activist and 

founder of the Yogis without Borders movement. 

Daniele Giovannucci is the 

co-founder and Executive 

Director of the Committee 

on Sustainability Assessment 

(COSA) - a global consortium 

of institutions and U.N. agencies 

advancing innovative ways 

to measure sustainability. He is a 

former senior consultant to the World Bank Group. 

He is the author of Guide to Geographical Indications: 

Linking Products and Their Origins. 

www.dgiovannucci.net 

Kenneth Johnson spent over 

twenty years in prison (until 

1997), in which he undergone 

spiritual transformation. He 

is now a spiritual teacher, a 

proponent of non-violence and 

consultant to families and to 

those who have been out of or 

may be going to prison. He passionately shares the 

message that “God’s Grace Is Here Now” with 

others and is the author of the book The Last Hustle. 

thissacredspace.org 

Dada Nabhaniilananda is a 

monk, a musician, a writer, and 

a meditation teacher with the 

spiritual movement Ananda 

Marga – “The Path of Bliss.” 

He has won three international 

songwriting awards, and 

produced seven musical albums. 

He is a peace activist who chants for peace. His 

chant recordings include The Fire Dragon Suite, The 

Return of The Magic and several others. He is also 

the author of Close Your Eyes & Open Your Mind, 

and After Capitalism. www.eternalwave.com 

Andrew Cunningham cofounded 

the Women’s Institute 

for Secondary Education and 

Research (WISER) in Muhuru 

Bay, Kenya as the first girls 

secondary boarding school and 

community center for development 

in the region (www. 

wisergirls.org). He is currently pursuing his M.Sc. 

in Comparative International Education, focusing 

his individual research on participatory assessment 

of quality education through the Child Friendly 

Schools initiative in Kenya. 

Yoga and Sports 

Brian Culkin and Grace Van Berkum 

Tuition $500. Add 6 nights’ accommodations. 

Join us for an exploration of how the 

application of yoga practice and philosophy 

can dramatically improve athletic performance 

and experience. Learn how yogic postures, 

breathing technique, relaxation, yogic diet, 

positive thinking and meditation can improve 

your game, physically and mentally. Increase 

your flexibility and gain core strength, 

stability, balance, efficient breathing, and 

physical and mental endurance. Learn how 

to reduce recovery time and risk of injury. 

Enjoy a special class on optimal nutrition for 

athletes. Athletes and yoga practitioners of 

all levels are welcome to join this course. 

Brian Culkin is a Sivananda 

yoga teacher and a former 

NCAA Division 3 Regional 

All American basketball player, 

who also had a professional 

basketball career in Europe. 

He is the founder of Jai Yoga. 

www.brianculkin.com 

Grace Van Berkum: 


Cultivating True Love: 

Teachings from the Bhaja Govindam 

Swami Prakashananda 

“O deluded minded friend, chant Govinda, 

worship Govinda, love Govinda” thus Adi 

Shankaracharya opens the Bhaja Govindam, 

which has become India’s most known bhajan 

(devotional song). In this prayer, the listeners 

are encouraged to leave behind worldly desires 

and attachments and immerse themselves in 

worship and association with saints until they 

attain the Absolute. Join us for an in-depth 

exploration of this precious scripture and 

become inspired to deepen your spiritual 

practice and strive for the realization of Truth. 

Swami Prakashananda is a 

respected teacher of Vedanta, 

and the resident Acharya of 

Chinmaya Mission, Trinidad 

and Tobago. He holds a B.A. in 

Political Science and a Law degree. 

He studied for many years 

with Swami Chinmayananda in 

India and currently travels and lectures internationally. 

www.chinmaya.org/acharya 

May 14 – 20 

Yoga for Grief Teachers’ 


Antonio Sausys 


Learn about the physical symptoms of grief, 

their psycho-neuro-immunological basis and 

a set of simple yoga exercises to address them 

while aiding the psychological transformation 

of grief into a resource for personal growth. 

This training is suitable for Yoga Teachers, 

Health Care professionals and those interested 

in deepening their knowledge of how yoga can 

aid the grieving process. 

Antonio Sausys, BA, MA, 

CMT, is a somatic psychotherapist 

with over 30 years of 

experience combining 

psychotherapy and yoga. He 

teaches yoga for Grief Relief 

internationally. He founded 

and produces the International 

Yoga Therapy Conference and is a TV host for 

YogiViews. www.yogaforgriefrelief.com 


C

C 

May 18 - 20 

YVP 

May 21 – 24 

YVP 

May 25- 27 

Chair Yoga Training Course 

Stacie Dooreck (Saraswati) 


Make yoga accessible to seniors, those with 

disabilities, limited mobility and the chronically 

ill. Corporate yoga will be introduced 

as well. You will acquire tools to offer chair 

modifications in mixed level classes (standing 

and sitting), breathing, chanting and meditation 

in chairs. Learn the business and marketing 

of chair yoga to start your own classes at 

senior or community centers, hospitals, health 

clubs, corporations, and more. The course is 

open to all yoga teachers as well as those who 

would like to learn chair yoga for their own 

practice. 

Stacie Dooreck (Saraswati) is 

a Sivanada yoga teacher, Gentle 

Integral Yoga Certified and a 

Kundalini yoga and prenatal 

certified instructor. She has 

been creating new chair yoga 

programs for senior homes, 

hospitals and corporations in 

the bay area, NM and now in Miami. Saraswati was 

featured most recently on CBS Ch. 4 News Health 

Watch as “breathing new life into South Florida 

seniors” for her chair yoga classes. www.sunlightchairyoga.com 

YVP May 18 – 21 

Natural Healing: The Doctrine of Signatures 

Cairo Rocha 

The Yoga of Sleep: 

Sacred and Scientific Practices to Heal 

Sleeplessness 

Rubin Naiman 

Deep, refreshing sleep is the cornerstone of 

well-being and an essential foundation for 

spiritual practice. Research has linked sleep 

problems and dream loss to depression, 

obesity and other serious illnesses. Learn how 

to addresses insomnia and improve the quality 

of your sleep, based on an integrative, body, 

mind and spirit approach to sleep and dreams. 

This informative and consciousness enhancing 

program will include engaging discussion as 

well as experiential practices. 

Rubin Naiman, PhD, is a 

psychologist, sleep specialist 

and clinical assistant professor 

of medicine at the University of 

Arizona’s Center for Integrative 

Medicine. He is an internationally 

recognized expert in integrative 

and holistic approaches to sleep 

and dreams. In addition to professional publications, 

he is author of Healing Night: The Science and Spirit of 

Sleeping, Dreaming and Awakening and the audio programs 

The Yoga of Sleep, To Sleep Tonight, and Healthy 

Sleep (with Andrew Weil). www.drnaiman.com 

The Doctrine of Signatures considers a plant’s form, shape, color and texture as the key to understanding 

its healing properties. It is the foundation of Asian, European, African and American 

natural medicines. By connecting energy and form, it allows us a deep look into the plants kingdom, 

the energetic signature and the healing properties of plants. Join us for an exploration 

of the healing potential of plans, through theoretic discussions and fascinating specific observation. 

During this program, workshops on The Japanese Five Elements Diagnosis and Treatment will 

be offered as well. 

Introduction to The Work of Byron Katie ® : 

Find What is True for You 

Kathy White 

The Work is a process that involves identifying and questioning the beliefs or thoughts that are 

causing stress in your life. By asking four questions and finding turnarounds you find a way of 

experiencing the opposite of what you believe. The Work is an inquiry and an invitation to find 

for yourself what is true for you. It is an accessible tool that anybody can use to find joy, freedom 

and peace. A special talk will be dedicated to raising children with love - understanding the root 

cause of hardships with raising children - why we get angry, overwhelmed or frustrated with 

them. Learn how to turnaround your stressful thoughts, behavior and feelings towards children 

and find peace and understanding, so that you can do your part to raise the next generation with 

kindness, connection and love. 

YVP 

May 27 -30 

Sensing the Sacred 

Lench Archuleta 

Kathy White is a certified facilitator of The Work of Byron Katie, a qualified Art Psychotherapist 

and a Sivananda yoga teacher. She has worked in charitable and national healthcare 

settings. She is a staff member of the Findhorn Foundation, a spiritual community and 

eco-village. www.coachthework.co.uk 

Join us for an experience of Native American 

spirituality and medicine. Discover the part 

of you that is beyond body and form, in 

harmony with life and has clarity and focus. 

Reclaim your sacred nature and learn how 

to transcend the energetic pull of modern 

times which draws us away from honoring 

ourselves in ways that nourish the fires of 

our spirit. 

Lench Archuleta is a Yaqui 

Indian and traditional native 

healer from Southern Arizona. 

He collaborates with numerous 

medical doctors, health practitioners, 

therapists, and other traditional 

healers as a counselor, 

consultant, advisor, and spiritual 

guide. www.windspiritteaching.com 

YVP 

May 30 - June 2 

Songs of the Beloved 

Atmarama dasa 

Experience beautiful devotional singing and 

jubilant Kirtan. Prepare to be uplifted and 

deeply moved through music made to praise 

and glorify the Divine. Revel in the bliss 

and pure ecstasy that Atmarama dasa’s music 

arouses in the hearts of all. 

Atmarama Dasa is a devotional 

singer and composer of sacred 

music. For the past 25 years he 

has been residing in Vrindavan, 

India, the holy dham of Lord 

Krishna. His unique style and 

sincere desire to share his spiritual 

understanding creates an 

atmosphere of profound spiritual vibration. 

Through his ecstatic kirtan everyone can relish the 

mood of transcendental joy and bliss. His CDs 

include On the way to Krishna, Radha Govinda, and 

many others. www.atmaramadasa.org 

Cairo Rocha: See biography on page 18. 


C 

June 4 - 19 

Foundation Yoga 

Courses: 

Start and Establish 

Your Practice 


June 4 - 8 


June 9 -13 

June 


June 15 - 19 



YVP 

June 10 - 15 

YVP 

June 3 - 7 

Inspiring Stories: 

My Time With the Guru 

Sita Chaitanya and 

Brahmachari Shankar 

“To think of saints, to live 

in their company, to have 

good fortune of receiving 

their blessings, is to draw 

forth upon yourself a shower 

of purity, inspiration 

and divine consciousness” 

(Swami Sivananda, Bliss Divine). Studying 

the life of saints and sages is considered a 

high form of swadhyaya (Self-study), and 

equal to their company. Join us for a journey 

into the lives of Swami Sivananda and 

Swami Vishnudevananda as captured in their 

biographies. Staff of the ashram who had the 

privilege to practice under Swami Vishnudevananda 

and other senior disciples of Swami 

Sivananda will share with us their personal 

memories of those great masters. 

Sita Chaitanya: See biography on page 30. 

Brahmachari Shankar is a 

senior staff member of the 

Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat. 

He spent about three years in 

India with Swami Chaitanyananda, 

a senior disciple of 

Swami Sivananda, and met 

with some remarkable people 

in the Himalayas. Well versed in the Scriptures and 

fluent in Sanskrit, Brahmachari Shankar teaches the 

Bhagavad Gita classes in the Sivananda Teachers’ 

Training Courses and frequently gives talks on yoga 

philosophy and practice. He is a gifted teacher and 

story teller, and his courses are taught with much 

joy and love. 

YVP 

June 8 – 10 

You and Your Purpose 

Celeste Barrett (Rev. K. ) 

Join us for an experiential and participative 

experience of awareness and acceptance of 

who you are and why you are here. 

“Everyone has a purpose in life…a unique gift 

or special talent to give to others. When we 

blend this unique talent with service to others, 

we experience the ecstasy and exultation of our 

own spirit, which is the ultimate goal of all 

goals.” Deepak Chopra. Through a process 

of discussion, visualization, exercises, journaling 

and sharing you will discover your 

personal purpose and unique talent to 

impart to others. 

Celeste Barrett (Rev. K.) is an 

ordained minister, teacher, 

counselor, coach, healer and 

woman of God. As an inspirational 

and empowerment 

speaker, she has spoken and 

facilitated workshops throughout 

North America. Named 

“Woman of the Millennium” in 2001 and recipient 

of the Global Vision Award in Religion in 2005, she 

holds a B.A. in Business, a Masters in Therapeutic 

Counseling and is a certified Reiki Master. 

Non-Violent 

Communication: 

Cultivating Compassionate Interactions 

Kiran Patel 

Learn to refocus your consciousness from 

a sense of separateness to an experience of 

Oneness through the internationally-used 

Nonviolent Communication process (NVC) 

developed by Marshall Rosenberg. This shift 

will facilitate transforming painful conflicts 

into heartfelt connection. Explore the four 

components of NVC - observations, feelings, 

needs and requests - which serve both 

as a spiritual practice and a practical tool. 

Understand and practice these components 

and combine them to develop empathy, selfempathy 

and compassionate expression. It is 

recommended to participate in the complete 

series of workshops in order to enjoy the 

benefits of full NVC process. 

Kiran Patel, MA (social 

psychology), is a Sivananda 


a certified conflict mediator. 

Her workshops have reached 

thousands of individuals and 

numerous organizations in 

the U.S. and in India. Her 

writing on non-violence and yoga has been 

published in “India West”. 


YVP June 13 – 18 

YVP 

June 16 – 17 

Miraculous Moments: 

True Stories Affirming That Life 

Goes On 

Nature’s Gifts of Healing 

Ida Thompson Rose 

Elissa Al-Chokhachy 

Does life continue after death? Will we be 

reunited with deceased loved ones? Does 

love ever die? Certified hospice nurse and 

author of Miraculous Moments: True Stories 

Affirming That Life Goes On, Elissa Al- 

Chokhachy will share inspiring, hope-filled 

accounts from those who have seen, heard 

and felt from beyond. 

Elissa Al-Chokhachy, MA, 

RN, CHPN, FT, is a certified 

hospice and palliative care 

nurse, a fellow in thanatology. 

She is the recipient of the 

Boston College Alumni Award 

for Excellence in Nursing 

and the American Red Cross 

Health Care Hero Award. She is the author of three 

books to help with loss and grief. Her newest book, 

Miraculous Moments: True Stories Affirming That 

Life Goes On, is a moving collection of eighty-eight 

testimonials of after death communication, nearing 

death awareness and near death experiences. 

www.miraculousmoments.com 

YVP 

June 18 – 22 

Yoga for Home Practice: 

Establishing a Daily Spiritual Routine 


Learn how to combine yoga with your daily 

routine and find peace, lasting happiness and 

calmness. You will also grow more efficient 

and confident. Explore Swami Sivananda’s 20 

Spiritual Instructions which will give you a 

firm foundation for a steady spiritual routine 

and become better equipped to cope with 

the complex demands of modern life. 

Learn the medicinal qualities of natural 

juices. Prepared based on recipes that were 

handed down from generation to generation, 

natural juices and soups can be a most 

potent source of healing for various ailments. 

Join us and discover how readily available 

materials can aid you to keep a healthier 

body and overcoming disease. 

Ida Thompson Rose is the 

owner and operator of Seclusion’s 

Best Plant Beverages and 

practioner of spiritual truth, 

whose life was influenced in the 

art of making plant beverages 

and bush preparations for good 

health by an aunt and step 

mother. She directly experienced the potential for 

healing within plants through her relationships with 

chronically ill and diseased individuals who were 

naturally cured by plant treatments. 

YVP 

June 22 – 24 

Healing the Light Body: 

Exploring Shamanic Medicine 

Theodore Tsavoussis 

Explore the Shamanic body-mind Medicine. 

Learn how to shed your past and it’s 

worn out stories, break free from the grip 

of fear and unfavorable heritages, drop your 

limiting roles and beliefs and discover the 

original wounds that derailed your destiny. 

Bring balance to mind, body and soul and 

walk through life as a fully conscious being, 

bringing light, peace and beauty to everyone 

around you. 

Theodore Tsavoussis earned 

a professional certification in 

energy medicine under the Four 

Winds - Healing the Light Body 

program. He traveled to the 

Amazon and the Andes where 

he worked with indigenous Shaman 

in numerous sacred sites 

including Machu Picchu. He currently practices energy 

medicine in Nassau and is also a Reiki Master. 

YVP 

June 24 – 30 

Meditation and 

Mind Control 

Our spiritual growth depends on our ability 

to turn inwards, focus the mind and attain 

a meditative state. The more we are able 

to control our mind and prevent it from 

wandering in search of sensual objects, the 

closer we get to a meditative state. Explore 

the nature of the mind and thought 

patterns. Learn methods to improve your 

concentration and inner stability. Practice 

basic meditation techniques and overcome 

obstacles in your meditation practice. You 

will find that you are better able to handle 

physical and emotional stress, and regain you 

peace of mind. 

The program will be taught by senior staff of the 

ashram. 

Sylvie Boisclair (Saraswati): 



Summer/Fall 2012 

Programs Preview 

JULY 

AUGUST 

SEPTEMBER 

July 1 - 5 

Independence Day and Canada Day: 

The Power of Thought and Positive 

Thinking 

July 3 

Guru Purnima: Celebration of the Guru 

August 3 - 5 

Depression and Anxiety: 

Yogic Perspectives and Remedies 

August 6 - 8 

Reaching Lasting Happiness 

Through Yoga 

September 4 - 6 

The Yogic Diet: 

Theoretical and Practical Aspects 


Conquest of Anger: 

Finding Peace of Mind Through Yoga 

July 6 - 8 

Tips for Maintaining a Steady 

Home Practice 

July 9 - 12 

Cultivating Dispassion: 

Finding Your Inner Balance 

July 13 - 15 

Kirtan Special: 

The Beauty and Magic of Sacred Chant 

July 14 

Swami Sivananda’s Mahasamadhi 

July 16 - 19 

Yoga for the Spine: 

Back Awareness Workshops 

July 20 - 22 

The Wisdom and Silence Within: 

The Art of Meditation 

July 23 - 26 

Proper Relaxation: Body-Mind Benefits 

July 27 - 29 

The Yogic Diet: 

Theoretical and Practical Aspects 

July 30 - August 2 

Karma Yoga Immersion: 

Healing through Selfless Service 

August 9 

Krishna Jayanti 

August 10 - 12 

Yoga, Mind and Consciousness: 

Tools for Transcending Fear and Anxiety 


Living with Purpose: 

Practical Teachings from the 

Bhagavad Gita 


The Joy of Kirtan: 

Opening the Spiritual Heart with 

Sacred Chanting 


The Power or Prayer: 

Reaching True Prosperity 


Tasting Absolute Consciousness: 

The Wisdom of the Upanishads 


Meditation and Self-Enquiry: 

Theory and Practice 

August 31 - Sept 3 

Labor Day Special: 

The Joy of Vegetarian Cooking 

September 8 

Swami Sivananda’s Birthday 


Non-Violence, Non-Covetousness 

and Non-Stealing: The Foundation 

of a Spiritual Life 


Unity in Diversity Weekend: 

The Joy of Oneness 

September 16 

Rosh Hasha’na: Jewish New Year’s Eve 


Cleanliness, Contentment 

and Self-Discipline: 

Practices for Spiritual Evolution 


The Pathway to Happiness: 

Understanding and Working with 

the Law of Karma 


In Giving That We Receive: 

Introduction to Selfless Service 


Kirtan Special: 

Open Your Heart and Find Your 

VoiceThrough Chanting 

OCTOBER 

October 1 - 4 

The Art of Concentration 

October 5 - 8 

Columbus Day Weekend Retreat: 

The Art of Positive Thinking 

October 8 - 11 

Breath Deeply, Relax Completely: 

Pranayama Sadhana 


Hatha Yoga: Theory and Practice 


Navaratri: Celebrating the Nine Nights 

of the Divine Mother 


Tools for Creating a Daily Spiritual 

Routine at Home 


Karma Yoga Weekend: 

Healing through Selfless Service 


Residential Study Programs 

“Karma yoga or the practice 

of selfless service is the best 

preparation for the practice of 

meditation. Without purifying 

the heart and the mind from 

selfishness and other negative 

emotions, success in meditation 

is not possible. The ashram is 

the best setting for such a practice. 

Serving others with joy, in 

the company of other spiritual 

practitioners is a safe way to 

practice karma yoga and eventually 

attain success in meditation 

and enjoy the bliss of the 

spiritual life.” 


The Practice of Karma Yoga 

Open your heart to Divine love and discover 

the bliss of selfless service. Karma yoga or 

‘selfless service’ is the path of action. Find 

the joy in acting from the purest motivation 

of service for others and doing your best to 

carry on your assigned duty. Through this 

process you will develop a stronger sense 

of discipline and will power, purify your 

heart, and march forward along the path in 

your spiritual evolution. Make the time to 

experience living as part of a community 

of like-minded people and be guided by 

the ashram’s senior staff on your quest for 

self-improvement. In your free time you 

can enjoy the ashram’s beautiful white sand 

beach, and participate in a variety of ashram 

programs. 

Karma Yoga Program 

Participants in this program contribute 

five hours of selfless service a day and 

enjoy the various programs that are offered 

in the ashram during satsangs (meditation, 

chanting and lecture) as well as some of 

the afternoon workshops. The daily schedule 

includes mandatory attendance at morning 

and evening satsangs (meditation, chanting 

and lecture) as well as one yoga class. 

Spiritual guidance and advice is provided by 

senior staff of the ashram. 

One-month minimum commitment is 

required. Cost: $899 per month. This price 

includes accommodations*, meals, yoga 

classes, and participation in some of the Yoga 

Vacation Programs (see calendar of events). 

For information or an application form 

please visit our website or contact us by 

e-mail or phone. 

* From Mid November – Mid June: Tent accommodations only 

(please bring your own tent); 

From Early/Mid June – Mid November: Accommodations will 

be in dormitories (hotel tax will apply). 

Advanced 

Karma Yoga Program 

Join us for a full immersion in the ashram’s 

life. This program is suitable for yoga 

teachers and those interested in making 

a deeper commitment to a spiritual life. 

Prior interview with the ashram manager 

is required. The minimum length of stay 

under this program is three months. No 

tuition fee applies. For application forms 

and additional information please contact 

us by e-mail or phone. 

Doing karma yoga at the Sivananda Ashram 

Yoga Retreat in the Bahamas allowed me to 

actually serve people, make good friends from 

all over the world and practice yoga while 

enjoying an amazing stay on this beautiful 

Caribbean Island 

(Ambika (Anna)) 

My time at the Yoga Retreat allowed me a 

real opportunity to open my heart. The place 

is so beautiful and the people are so wise and 

kind that it is only natural to evolve mentally 

and emotionally. 

(Minakshi) 

“It is not all fun and games, however, there 

are moments that resonate with my soul at the 

deepest level.” 

(Bill) 


Plan Your Visit 

Professional Accreditation 

and Continuing Education 

Yoga Alliance Accreditation 

The Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat is a Yoga 

Alliance Registered School. The Yoga Teachers’ 

Training Course and Advanced Yoga Teachers’ 

Training Course fulfill the requirements for 

the Yoga Alliance 200-hour and 500-hour 

certification, respectively. Other certification 

courses fulfill the Yoga Alliance requirements 

for Continuing Education Units and may be 

used as credit towards RYT500 accreditation. 

Open International University 

for Alternative Medicine 

The Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat is 

affiliated with the The Open International 

University via the International Institute 

for Integral Human Sciences in Montreal, 

Canada. By graduating from the Sivananda 

Yoga Teachers’ Training Course or any other 

certification course at the Yoga Retreat, you 

can earn credits towards Bachelor (BTC) 

and Master (MTC) degrees in Therapeutic 

Counseling, and the Doctor of Philosophy 

(PhD) in Therapeutic Counseling. 

Continuing Education Units 

(CEU) 

We offer Continuing Education Units 

(CEU) in a variety of our courses to 

healthcare and mental care professionals, 

in addition to various other professional 

fields. Please check with your state board 

of licensure or professional association to 

determine if a particular program meets 

their continuing education requirements 

and look for updates on our website for 

CEUs approved for additional courses. 

Look for the CEU symbol in the Calendar 

of Events. 

* There is a $20 charge for each CEU certificate. 

Arrival and departure 

Students in all courses are advised to arrive 

at least one day before the first day of the 

course and depart at least one day after the 

course ends. Courses generally begin in the 

morning of the first day and end in the evening 

of the last day. You are welcome to arrive 

earlier or extend your stay and enjoy the 

Yoga Vacation Program or another course. 

Guests in the Yoga Vacation Program are 

welcome to arrive and depart at any time and 

can attend a whole program or any part of it. 

Room check-in time: 3 p.m. 

Room check-out time: 12 noon 

What to bring 

Recommended items include: Casual 

comfortable clothes, modest clothes 

(covered legs and shoulders) for meditation 

and satsangs, yoga mat (you may buy one 

at the boutique or rent one at reception), 

meditation cushion, meditation shawl, 

toiletries, slip-on sandals, clothing for 

warm days and cool mornings and evenings, 

rainwear, flashlight, insect repellent, alarm 

clock, beach towel, bathing suit, and snorkeling 

equipment. For tent space only, please 

bring tent, towels and bedding. 

How to get here 

Fly to Nassau International Airport (please 

contact your local Bahamian Consulate to 

enquire whether you are required to have a 

visa to enter the Bahamas). 

At the airport: Take a taxi to our dock at 

Elizabeth on Bay Marketplace and Marina 

(please visit our website for further details) – 

our boat will take you to the ashram, about 

a five-minute ride from the dock. You are 

welcome to consult with reception about 

the boat schedule prior to arrival. If you 

arrive during early morning or late night, 

call us from a pay phone at 363-2902 to 

let us know that you are on your way 

and our boat will wait for you at the 

dock. Please visit our website for further 

arrival information. 

Helpful reminders 

In order to maintain the proper ashram atmosphere, 

attendance at two daily satsangs 

and yoga classes is expected. Non-vegetarian 

food, drugs, alcohol and tobacco are not 

permitted on the premises. We also recommend 

maintaining silence from 10 p.m. 

to 8 a.m. daily to ensure a pleasant night’s 

sleep for all in the ashram. Sheets and blankets 

are provided for use in the rooms only. 

There are no safety deposit boxes available 

at the ashram - you are responsible for your 

personal belongings and valuables. 

All speakers and presenters were confirmed 

prior to publication; however, cancellations 

may happen with or without notice for reasons 

that are beyond the ashram’s control. Some 

courses are subject to minimum registration. 

The ashram will not be held liable for any 

cancellations or other changes in the program. 

Please consult our website or reception office 

for program updates prior to registering to any 

program. 


Registration and Rates 

How to Register 

You can register on-line or by phone. A deposit is required to hold your reservation as follows: 

• Yoga Vacation Program and Residential Study Program $100 

• TTC, ATTC $300 

• All other courses (unless specifically stated otherwise) $150 

The balance is due upon arrival. 

All prices are subject to change without notice. 

Payment Methods 

We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, traveler checks, cash (U.S. dollars) and U.S. certified 

bank drafts under the name of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat. 

We do not accept personal checks. 

All deposits and payments are in U.S. dollars only. 

Making a Reservation: To calculate the cost of your stay*, start with: 

(1) Accommodation Rates and add (2) Program Rates 

* TTC, ATTC and Residential Study Programs: 

These programs’ rates include accommodations and tuition fee. Please see the relevant program page for details. 

(1) Accommodation Rates 

The prices below are per person per day. A 10% hotel tax applies to all rooms. 

November 20, 2011 - May 31, 2012 1 - 6 days 7 - 13 days 14 - 20 days 21 days or more 

Tent Space $ 69 $ 64 $ 61 $ 58 

Dormitory (3 - 4 beds)+ $ 79 $ 74 $ 70 $ 67 

Tent Hut $ 79 $ 74 $ 70 $ 67 

Garden View Double Room+ $ 89 $ 83 $ 78 $ 75 

Beachfront Double Room+ $ 99 $ 92 $ 87 $ 83 

Single Room+ $ 99 $ 92 $ 87 $ 83 

Bay View Double with 

A/C & private bathroom $119 $111 $105 $100 

Beachfront View Double 

with A/C & private bathroom $129 $120 $114 $109 

June 1 - November 19, 2012 1 - 6 days 7 - 13 days 14 - 20 days 21 days or more 

Dormitory (3 - 4 beds)+ $ 79 $ 64 $ 61 $ 58 

Garden View Double Room+ $ 89 $ 74 $ 70 $ 67 

Beachfront Double Room+ $ 99 $ 83 $ 78 $ 75 

Single Room $ 99 $ 83 $ 78 $ 75 

Bay View Double with 

A/C & private bathroom $109 $102 $ 96 $ 92 

Beachfront View Double 

with A/C & private bathroom $119 $111 $105 $100 

(2) Program Rates 

(i) Yoga Vacation Program Rates 

For Yoga Vacation add the following amount to the accommodation rate 

(unless specifically stated otherwise under the program’s description): 

November 20, 2011 – May 31, 2012 

June 1 – November 19, 2012 

$29 per day 

$15 per day 

(ii) Rates and Discounts for Other Certification Courses 

Add the applicable tuition fee (see Calendar of Events) to the accommodation rate. 

Special tuition discounts apply if you register for two or more courses simultaneously and pay in full upon 

arrival for all such courses: 2 courses - 5% discount; 3 courses- 10% discount; 4 courses - 15% discount; 5 

courses and more - 20% discount. 

All discounts are on the aggregate price of the courses. Tuition discounts do not apply to Ayurveda Body 

Treatments Course. 

Children’s Rates 

Children under 5 years stay at no cost. For children of age 5 to 12 years there is a 50% discount on 

accommodation rates and Yoga Vacation Program fees do not apply (Except if enrolled in one of the 

children programs where a special material fee applies). 

Day Visitors 

Day visitors are welcome. Yoga Vacation Day Visit Rate is $45. 

Please call us or visit our website for drop-in pricing for the daily activities. 

Cancellation Policy 

Cancellation of reservation may be done by calling our reception office prior to your arrival date. 

• Refunds(1) are available: 

Up to 30 days prior to the scheduled arrival date - subject to deduction of Processing Fee(2). 

30 days or less prior to the scheduled arrival date - subject to deduction of the Deposit. 

• Credit Notes(3) will apply to cancellation following arrival date. Credit Notes will not be issued for 

the Deposit. Any amount in excess of the Deposit may be credited as follows: 

Yoga Vacation Reservation: A Credit Note will be issued in an amount equal to the amount paid for the 

cancelled portion of your original reservation. 

Teachers’ Training Course/ Advanced Teachers’ Training Course: A Credit Note will be issued in an 

amount equal to the amount paid for the cancelled portion of the course. 

Other Courses: A Credit Note will be issued in an amount equal to the unused accommodations fees 

only. No credit or refunds will be given for the tuition amount. 

(1) Refunds will be done solely by way of crediting the credit card used for the applicable payment. 

(2) Processing Fee in the amount of US $50 will be due in connection with any cancellation, in addition 

to any amount due. 

(3) Credit Notes are valid for two years from the date of issue. Credit Notes can be used for booking a 

Yoga Vacation Program, a course or a daily program in the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, Nassau, 

Bahamas only (specifically excluding boutique purchases and Well-Being Center services). Credit Notes 

are personal and may not be transferred. 

* No refund or credit notes will be available if you attend a program and are dissatisfied with its presentation or 

content or due to dissatisfaction with the ashram’s schedule or rooms layout. 

Accommodation Discounts for Groups 

10% discount for groups of 10 or more; 15% discount for a group of 20 people or more. 

Group discounts apply only for accommodation rates and only if all members of the group register and pay 

together as a group for the same period of time. + Add $10 + tax for air-conditioned room. 


Program Guide 

Yoga Teachers’ Trainings 

Yoga Teachers’ Training Course . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 

Advanced Yoga Teachers’ Training Course . . . 12 

Sivananda Yoga Teachers’ Renewal Program . . 19 

Swami Brahmananda, Shyam and Mohini 

Yoga Courses 

Beginners’ Yoga Course . . . . . . . . . 15, 18, 24, 75 

Sylvie Boisclair 

Intermediate Yoga Course . . . . . . . 15, 18, 24, 75 


Fine Tune Your Postures . . . . . . . . 15, 18, 24, 75 


Advanced Asana Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 

Shyam and Mohini 

Advanced Sadhana Retreat for Yoga Teachers . . 41 

Alan Wiuker 

Specialized Yoga Trainings 

Cardiac Yoga Teachers’ Training Program . . . . 39 

Mala Cunningham 

Pregnancy Yoga Teachers’ Training Course . . . 50 


Adapt, Adjust, Accommodate: Adaptive Yoga 

Teachers’ Training Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 


Warriors at Ease: 

Teaching Yoga in Military Settings . . . . . . . . . 57 

Molly Asebey-Birkholm, Robin Carnes, 

Karen Soltes, Pat Lillis-Hearne 

Yoga for Depression: 

Practitioner Training Course Level I . . . . . . . . 63 

Amy Weintraub with guest teacher, Dr. Shiley Telles 

Teaching Yoga to Children Courses . . . . . . . . 64 

Mira Binzen 

Visual Yoga Teachers’ Training Course: 

Teaching Yoga to Hard of Hearing Persons . . 66 

Lila Lolling 

Yoga for the Special Child® LLC . . . . . . . . . 69 

Sonia Sumar 

Yoga for Grief Teacher’s Training Course . . . . 71 

Antonio Sausys 

Chair Yoga Training Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 

Stacie Dooreck (Saraswati) 

Meditation 

and Yoga Philosophy 

The Art of Concentration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 


Meditation, Healing and Inner Peace . . . . . . . 25 

Tom Spector 

Ancient Wisdom for a New World: 

The Spiritual Teachings of the Avatars . . . . . . 50 

Jeffrey Armstrong 

Nirvana Immersion Retreat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 

Geshe Michael Roach 


Certification Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 53 


Meditation Immersion Course . . . . . . . . . .44, 65 


Meditation as a Path to Enlightenment: 

An Interfaith Symposium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 

Vedanta and Silence Course: 

Self-Discovery and Contemplation Practices . . 61 

Swami Sitaramananda 


Certification Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 68 


Inspiring Stories: 

My Time With the Guru . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 

Sita Chaitanya and Brahmachari Shankar 

Meditation and Mind Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 

Yoga Therapy 

Restorative Yoga: 

Yoga Therapy for Stress Reduction . . . . . . . . . 16 

Nora Benian 

Thai Yoga Massage Level I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 

Kam Thye Chow 

Yoga and Life Enhancement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 

Dale Buegel 

Breath, Mind and Hormones: 

Transforming the Mind and Balancing 

Hormones through Gentle Pranayama . . . . . . 29 

Claudia Welch 

The Healing Power of Hatha Yoga . . . . . . . . . 40 

Laurier-Pierre Desjardins 

Thai Yoga Massage: 

Levels I, II and III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 

Kam Thye Chow and Mariana Mosca 

Yoga Nidra: 

The Practice of Deep Relaxation . . . . . . . . . . . 55 

Marc Halpern 

Yoga and Sound 

The Yoga of Sound and 

Voice Certification Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 

John Beaulieu and Silvia Nakkach 

Sound, Healing and Consciousness . . . . . . . . . 45 

Zacciah Blackburn 

Ayurveda 

and Vedic Science 


Certification Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 

Lalita Devi 

Introduction to Jyotish (Vedic Astrology) 


Alan Wiuker 

Ayurveda and Yoga Wellness Advisor 


Lalita Devi and the Well-Being Center Staff 

Introduction to Ayurveda: Ancient Yogic 

Medicine for Healing Body and Mind . . . . . . 52 

Lalita Devi and the staff of the Well-Being Center 

Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy 


Marc Halpern 

From Physical to Mental Digestion: 

The Ayurvedic Perspective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 

John Douillard 

The Healing Arts 

Align Your Spine, Align Your Mind . . . . . . . . 16 

Michael Pyfrom 

Homeopathy and Yoga: 

Philosophy and Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 

Dennis Chernin 

Healing Chronic Pain: 

The Mind-Body Syndrome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 

Paul Epstein 

The Five Elements and Polarity Therapy . . . . 34 

John Beaulieu 

Polarity Therapy and Five Element 

Bodywork Training Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 

John Beaulieu, Andreas Ledermann and 

Brigitta Raimann Ledermann 

Easter and Passover Symposium and Celebration: 

Yoga and Sacred Healing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 

Sensing the Sacred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 

Lench Archuleta 

The Yoga of Sleep: Sacred and Scientific 

Practices to Heal Sleeplessness . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 

Rubin Naiman 

Nature’s Gifts of Healing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 

Ida Thompson Rose 

Healing the Light Body: 

Exploring Shamanic Medicine . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 

Theodore Tsavoussis 


Energy Healing 

Energy Medicine: The Hidden Link Between 

Emotions and Physical Health . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 

Cairo Rocha 

Introduction to ThetaHealing®: 

The Healing Power of the Mind . . . . . . . . . . . 21 

Vianna Stibal 

ThetaHealing® Basic Teachers’ Training . . . . . 21 

Vianna Stibal 

ThetaHealing® Advanced Teachers’ Training. . 21 

Vianna Stibal 

Inner Tuning: Yoga, the Chakras and 

Psychological Wellbeing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 

Shyamji Bhatnagar 

Healing through Mystical Qigong . . . . . . . . . . 61 

Master Ou Wen Wei 

Natural Healing: The Doctrine of Signatures . .72 

Cairo Rocha 

Nutrition and Cooking 

New Year’s Detoxification and 

Juice Fasting Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 

Manu Dawson, Sita Chaitanya and Grace Van Berkum 

Cooking for Life Force: 

Vegan Nutrition Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 

Grace Van-Berkum 

Preventing Diabetes with Yoga 

and Nutrition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 

Manu Dawson 

Spring Detoxification and 

Juice Fasting Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 

Manu Dawson, Sita Chaitanya and Grace Van Berkum 

Raw Food and Yoga Wellness Retreat . . . . . . . 69 


Interfaith 

The Power of Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 

Swami Brahmananda and Bahamian Clergy 

Christmas and New Year Symposium and 

Celebration Unity in Diversity . . . . . . . . . . . 26 

The Mystical Tradition of 

Eastern Christianity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 

Kyriacos C. Markides 

On The Wings of Ecstasy: Interfaith Devotional 

Singing and Sacred Dance Festival . . . . . . . . . 33 

From Religion to Spirituality . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 

Thomas Moore and Hari Kirin Kaur Khalsa 

Meditation as a Path to Enlightenment: 

An Interfaith Symposium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 

Music, Dance and Kirtan 

Kirtan with Ragani . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 

Ragani 

New Year’s Kirtan Concert. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 

Karnamrita Dasi 

On The Wings of Ecstasy: Interfaith Devotional 

Singing and Sacred Dance Festival . . . . . . . . . 33 

Classical Indian Music and Dance Festival . . . 43 

The Yoga of Chant Retreat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 

Krishna Das 

The Strings of the Heart: Sitar Concert . . . . . 53 

Anupama Bhagvat and Shyam Kane 

Kirtan and the Bhakti Mandala: 

Healing through Chant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 

David Newman and Mira 

Devotion and Grace: Chanting Retreat . . . . . 67 

Jai Uttal and Daniel Paul 

Songs of the Beloved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 

Atmarama dasa 

The Mind and Emotions 

Cultivating Love in Our 

Interpersonal Relationships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 

Deirdre Fay 

Step Out of Stress: 

Ultimate Self-Care Retreat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 

Susan Lord 

Healing Trauma through Deep Relaxation . . . 24 

Molly Asebey-Birkholm 

Evolve Your Brain: The Science of 

Changing Your Mind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 

Joe Dispenza 

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) 

Training Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 

Karen L. Arthur (Kamala) 

The Yoga of Recovery Retreat . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 

Catherine O’Neill 


Certificate Course for Counselors . . . . . . . . . . 62 

Swami Sitaramananda and Catherine O’Neill 

Yoga and Emotional Regulation . . . . . . . . . . . 66 

Richard Panico 

Introduction to The Work of Byron Katie®: 

Find What Is True For You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 

Kathy White 

You and Your Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 

Celeste Barrett (Rev. K.) 

Non-Violent Communication: 

Cultivating Compassionate Interactions . . . . . 75 

Kiran Patel 

Consciousness 

and the Spirit 

Life after Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 

Raymond Moody 

From Science to God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 

Peter Russell 

Miraculous Moments: 

True Stories Affirming That Life Goes On . . . 76 

Elissa Al-Chokhachy 

The Three Waves of Volunteers and 

the New Earth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 

Dolores Cannon 

Science of the Sidhis: 

Exploring Yogic Perfections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 

Dean Radin 

Wisdom from the Yogic 

Scriptures 

Becoming a Perfected Yogi: Teachings from 

the Second Chapter of the Bhagavad Gita . . . 29 

Swami Tattvavidananda 

The Descent of Grace: Teachings from the 

Hanuman Chalisa and the Bhagavad Gita . . . 40 

Swamini Paramananda Saraswati 

Realizing Ultimate Reality: 

Teachings on the Self . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 

Swami Atmananda 

Edwin Bryant 

Exploring our Essential Nature: 

Teachings from the Drig Drishya Viveka . . . . 53 

Swami Shantananda 

Foundations of Vedanta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 

Swami Medhananda Puri 

The Yoga of Divine Love: 

A Bhakti Yoga Retreat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 

Radhanath Swami and Gaura Vani 

Cultivating True Love: 

Teachings from the Bhaja Govindam . . . . . . . 71 

Swami Prakashananda 

Yoga for the Family 

Thanksgiving Celebration and 

Family Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 


Family Holiday Yoga Vacation . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 

Omkari and Sanatani 

Explore the Bahamas, Explore Yourself! . . . . . 42 

Arjuna 

Easter and Passover Family Program . . . . . . . . 60 

Barb Van Maris and Sanatani 

The Beautiful Legend of God: Teachings from 

the Srimad Bhagavata Purana . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 

Guided Imagery and Creative Visualization . . 45 

Julie Lusk 


Yoga for Everyday Living 

Perfect Your Balance Postures . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 


Gentle Yoga for the 50 Plus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 


Yoga @ Home: 

Making Yoga Part of Your Daily Routine . . . . 35 


Beginners Yoga Immersion Week . . . . . . . . . . 40 

Arjuna 

Deeper into the Five Points of Yoga . . . . . . . . 42 

Arjuna 

Practical Spirituality: Life and Teachings 

of Swami Vishnudevananda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 

Arjuna 

Yoga for Seniors Retreat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 


Yoga for Seniors Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 

Catherine Gilies (Kumari) and Rene Engels 

Yoga and Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 

Brian Culkin and Grace Van Berkum 

Yoga for Home Practice: 

Establishing a Daily Spiritual Routine . . . . . . 76 


Sacred Art and Creativity 

Writing from the Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 

Virginia Frances Schwartz 

Yantra Painting: 

Transformation through Sacred Form . . . . . . . 31 

Mavis Gewant 

Chakra Immersion: Painting, Chanting and 

Understanding Sacred Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 

Mavis Gewant 

Painting Planet Mandalas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 

Mavis Gewant 

Awakening Your Authentic Voice: 

Becoming a Writer through Yoga . . . . . . . . . . 36 

Jeff Davis 

Yoga as Muse: Creative Writing Course . . . . . 36 

Jeff Davis 

Sacred Art: Express Divine Inspiration . . 46, 66 


Yoga and Social 

Engagement 

Yogis Without Borders: 

Training for Activist Yoga Teachers . . . . . . . . 47 

Elaine Valdov 

Becoming a Peace Leader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 

Elaine Valdov 

Yoga and Permaculture: 

Vedic Ecology in Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 

Swami Omkarananda 

Living a Life that Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 

Roshi Bernie Glassman and Roshi Eve Myonen Marko 

Yoga Peace Ambassadors 


Elaine Valdov 

Yoga for Peace Symposium: 

Changing the World from the Inside Out . . . 70 

Holidays and Traditional 

Ceremonies 

Ayyappa Puja . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 

Krishnan Namboodiri 

Maha Sivaratri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 

Krishnan Namboodiri 

Passover Seder Celebration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 


Easter Sunrise Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 

Swami Swaroopananda, Fr. John Rossner, Bishop Elkin 

Symonette and the Ebenezer Baptist Choir 

Thanksgiving Celebration and Family Program: 

Discover the Joy in Gratitude . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 


Christmas and New Year Symposium and 

Celebration Unity in Diversity: 

Realizing the Oneness of Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 

Easter and Passover Symposium and 

Celebration: Yoga and Sacred Healing . . . . . . 58 

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