Celebrating The First International Day of Yoga
Yoga_Life_Winter_2015_WEB
Yoga_Life_Winter_2015_WEB
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EDITOR’S LETTER<br />
<strong>International</strong> Sivananda <strong>Yoga</strong> Vedanta Centres<br />
Swami Sivananda (1887 – 1963)<br />
<strong>The</strong> spiritual strength behind the Sivananda<br />
<strong>Yoga</strong> Vedanta Centres, Swami Sivananda’s<br />
teachings are a synthesis <strong>of</strong> all the formal<br />
doctrines <strong>of</strong> yoga. Author <strong>of</strong> more than<br />
300 books on yoga, Swami Sivananda was<br />
a medical doctor before renouncing worldly life<br />
for the spiritual path. He founded the Divine Life<br />
Society and the <strong>Yoga</strong>-Vedanta Forest Academy,<br />
Rishikesh, Himalayas. His main message was:<br />
Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realise. In 1957 he sent one <strong>of</strong> his<br />
foremost disciples, Swami Vishnudevananda to the West to spread the ideals<br />
<strong>of</strong> yoga. Swami Sivananda entered Mahasamadhi on July 14th 1963.<br />
Swami Vishnudevananda (1927 – 1993)<br />
Born in South India in 1927, Swami<br />
Vishnudevananda entered the ashram<br />
<strong>of</strong> Swami Sivananda at the age <strong>of</strong> 18.<br />
A world famous authority on Hatha and<br />
Raja <strong>Yoga</strong>, Swami Vishnudevananda founded<br />
the <strong>International</strong> Sivananda <strong>Yoga</strong> Vedanta<br />
Centres in 1957 and was author <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong> Complete Illustrated Book <strong>of</strong> <strong>Yoga</strong>,<br />
Meditation and Mantras, Karma and Disease<br />
and a commentary on the Hatha <strong>Yoga</strong> Pradipika. Swami Vishnudevananda<br />
entered Mahasamadhi on November 9th, 1993.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Executive Board<br />
<strong>The</strong> Executive Board <strong>of</strong> the Sivananda <strong>Yoga</strong> Vedanta Centres is comprised<br />
<strong>of</strong> senior disciples <strong>of</strong> Swami Vishnudevananda, personally chosen and trained<br />
by him to direct the organisation after his departure. Each <strong>of</strong> them has had<br />
many years’ experience in teaching all aspects <strong>of</strong> yoga. <strong>The</strong>y are renowned<br />
for their devotion to Swami Vishnudevananda and Swami Sivananda and for<br />
their pr<strong>of</strong>ound knowledge and inspirational teaching and guidance, wisdom<br />
imparted to many thousands <strong>of</strong> students throughout the world.<br />
We welcome Swami Sitaramananda, Acharya for our West Coast<br />
and Asian Centres, as a new member on the Executive Board.<br />
Swami Durgananda<br />
Swami Swaroopananda<br />
Srinivasan<br />
Swami Durgananda<br />
Swami Swaroopananda<br />
Srinivasan<br />
Swami Sivadasananda<br />
Swami Kailasananda<br />
Swami Sitaramananda<br />
Swami Sivadasananda<br />
Swami Kailasananda<br />
Swami Sitaramananda<br />
Welcome<br />
2015 has been a landmark in the planetary<br />
awareness about the benefits <strong>of</strong> yoga: the<br />
celebration <strong>of</strong> the first <strong>International</strong> <strong>Yoga</strong> <strong>Day</strong> on<br />
June 21, an initiative <strong>of</strong> prime Minister Narendra<br />
Modi endorsed by the United Nations, has indeed<br />
given yoga a new platform in the world.<br />
It was celebrated by millions <strong>of</strong> enthusiastic<br />
practitioners, and people <strong>of</strong> all countries became<br />
increasingly aware that yoga is not just about<br />
flexibility, but is a life-style aiming at inner and<br />
outer peace. <strong>The</strong> words <strong>of</strong> the Indian Prime Minister<br />
‘<strong>Yoga</strong> embodies unity <strong>of</strong> mind and body, thought<br />
and action, restraint and fulfilment, harmony<br />
between man and nature, a holistic approach<br />
to health and wellbeing’, echo the teachings <strong>of</strong><br />
Swami Sivananda and Swami Vishnudevananda,<br />
who worked tirelessly throughout their lives to<br />
promote the true spirit <strong>of</strong> yoga. <strong>The</strong>y taught that<br />
<strong>Yoga</strong> does not only bring individual health and<br />
wellbeing, but that it reconnects us with our true<br />
self. It carries a powerful message <strong>of</strong> unity and<br />
peace. It <strong>of</strong>fers clear and practical solutions to help<br />
overcome the consciousness crisis the world is<br />
going through.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Sivananda Centres participated in the cele -<br />
bration worldwide, from Tokyo to San Francisco,<br />
Buenos Aires to London. This issue’s main article<br />
features a report on this wonderful celebration.<br />
May <strong>Yoga</strong> help each and all to expand<br />
and remove the barriers that separate us from<br />
one another.<br />
Om Shanti,<br />
<strong>The</strong> Sivananda <strong>Yoga</strong> Vedanta Centre, London<br />
Cover<br />
<strong>International</strong> <strong>Day</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Yoga</strong>:<br />
Swami Keshavananda<br />
teaches a free yoga class<br />
to 600 people at London’s<br />
South Bank in the heart<br />
<strong>of</strong> the City<br />
Est 1957<br />
HEADQUARTERS<br />
SIVANANDA ASHRAM YOGA CAMP<br />
Eighth Avenue, Val Morin, Quebec, Canada JOT 2RO<br />
Tel: +1 819 322 3226<br />
email: hq@sivananda.org<br />
With ashrams and centres located around the world see page 60 for addresses<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>International</strong> Sivananda <strong>Yoga</strong> Vedanta Centres, founded by Swami Vishnudevananda<br />
is a non-pr<strong>of</strong>it organisation whose purpose is to propagate the teachings <strong>of</strong> yoga<br />
and vedanta as a means <strong>of</strong> achieving physical, mental and spiritual well-being and<br />
Self-realisation.<br />
4 YOGALife |Autumn/Winter 2015
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