Welcome to the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat 
 

Dear Friends,

According to the ancient teachings of yoga, as we grow spiritually we feel an increased sense of profound joy. This profound joy is accompanied by great love and a desire to serve others. As we proceed on the spiritual path, we start to think less of ourselves and more about others. Self sacrifice becomes habitual and is done with great joy. Swami Vishnudevananda’s life was an example of such joyous sacrifice. He left his contented life in the Himalayas and came to the West to teach yoga to millions, to promote world peace and to help humanity make it into the twenty-first century. He did so with great joy, cheerfulness and love. It is now time for us to continue.

The scriptures teach us that the Divine manifests first in the form of our mother, then our father, next our teacher and finally, as our guest. And so we invite you to be our guest this year and wish that you make the most of your stay. We have prepared a rich program, carefully designed to help you progress on the spiritual path, deepen your yoga practice and enjoy teachings on yoga practice and philosophy, health and healing, science and consciousness, interfaith and sacred music.

Following the teachings of Swami Vishnudevananda and in the spirit of “Unity in Diversity,” we have invited spiritual teachers from all religions, sacred healers from all traditions and devotional singers from all cultures. In the old days, people from various traditions and schools used to sit together, study, debate and purify their own teachings by learning from one another. Swami Vishnudevananda revived this tradition in the twentieth century. His goal was to bring harmony and peace between people from different religions, to help individuals realize their Divine nature and to make sure that humanity marches forward into a bright future.

As you join us this season for a yoga vacation, course, retreat, or Karma Yoga, we hope that you return home more joyous, cheerful and compassionate. By sharing those qualities with those around you, you can transform lives and help the world become a better place.

Om Shanti, Om Peace

Swami Swaroopananda,  Director