Expand Your Horizons
NOVEMBER 2019–JULY 2020 yoga vacations • courses • yoga teacher trainings
sivanandabahamas.org
sivanandabahamas.org | 800.123.4567 1
Welcome.............................................................1 Around the Ashram........................................2 Choose Your Experience..............................4 Our Lineage......................................................8 Program Calendar........................................10 Planning Your Stay.......................................74 Presenter Index............................................. 79
2 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are open to all and part of the all-inclusive accommodations; see page XX.
OM NAMAH SIVAYA As we look ahead to 2020 and beyond, we opened the Sivananda Upanishad (handwritten letters by Swami Sivananda) to receive a message. The message that came is on the power of prayer, truly an appropriate message for this time. Swami Sivananda encourages us to pray from the bottom of our hearts and assures us that prayer is effective and can move mountains. Following his inspiring words, we send prayers to all those who need it at this time and wish for them and for all of us that the coming year will be a year of good health, peace, love, light, and joy.
17th July 1943 Beloved aspirants, There is a mysterious power in prayer. Prayer can work wonders. It can move mountains. It should come from the bottom of your heart with feeling. Hold on to prayer, no matter how numerous the temptations and difficulties that assail thee may be. Thou shalt build an impregnable fortress by prayer. Prayer is thy refuge and shalt anchor. —Sivananda
sivanandabahamas.org 1
AROUND THE ASHRAM THE ASHRAM EXPERIENCE The Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas was established in 1968 by Swami Vishnudevananda to teach classical yoga and Vedanta and serves as home to an active residential spiritual community. We invite all guests, students, and visitors to join us in the practices of our lineage and experience the heart of yoga, in community.
SATSANG We hold satsang in the morning and evening every day as a time for meditation, prayer, and spiritual teachings. Talks, panels, special programs, concerts, and ceremonies are led by senior teachers from the Sivananda lineage alongside well-regarded experts, religious leaders, cutting-edge scientists, traditional healers, and musicians. In Sanskrit, “satsang” means “to be in the company of truth.” We hold satsang in the morning and evening as a time for meditation, chanting, daily prayers, and spiritual teachings. We welcome everyone to join in satsang during their stay to truly benefit from the ashram immersion and yogic teachings of unity in diversity.
TEMPLES & DAILY PUJAS The ashram is home to three temples, each maintained in alignment with the yogic and Vedic traditions of our lineage by the resident Vedic priest through daily rituals. Everyone is welcome to attend, observe, and participate in the daily pujas at the ashram’s temples. Learning and teaching is considered sacred in the yoga tradition and the temples are also where we hold inaugurations and graduations for our courses, cleanses, and trainings.
2 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are open to all and part of the all-inclusive accommodations; see page 76.
MEALS
Enjoy nourishing twice-daily meals featuring a variety of delicious and nutritious vegetarian dishes made with loving care according to yogic dietary principles for a healthy and calm body and mind.
SETTING
THE WELL BEING CENTER
Located on Paradise Island across the bay from Nassau, Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas offers a spiritual sanctuary of peace and natural beauty for yoga-curious and yoga-committed people to get away and learn, practice, and grow.
Our skilled therapists provide treatments that promote deep relaxation and healing by working with the flow of prana (life force) to bring the mind and body into balance. Find out more on page 78.
Discover the white sands and blue waters of our oceanfront setting, eat meals outdoors under the palm trees, and enjoy gardens, ponds, and other beautiful outdoor spaces around the ashram.
THE BOUTIQUE & HEALTH HUT
Browse an inspiring selection of books, music, yoga gear, and souvenirs, including organic cotton t-shirts, traditional attire, and accessories from India. Enjoy fresh smoothies and a variety of homemade treats in the Health Hut.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Book your stay on your own, with a friend or loved one, or as a family. Pleasant lodgings include a choice of rooms overlooking the ocean, comfortable garden cabins, and spacious tent huts, affording options for a variety of budgets. See page 76 for Registration & Rates.
NOON WORKSHOPS YOGA CLASSES
Experience the benefits of 2-hour asana classes offered twice daily and taught in the classical Sivananda Yoga style to promote well-being on all levels. Choose from beginning and intermediate.
Deepen your learning and experience a wide array of practical and inspiring workshops on wellbeing, spirituality, the sacred arts, and healing with leading presenters and instructors.
sivanandabahamas.org 3
CHOOSE YOUR EXPERIENCE 365 days a year we welcome people from all walks of life to participate in a vibrant yoga community immersed in the ashram’s daily rhythms and a yogic lifestyle. We invite you to choose from short and longer stays, including: • Our signature Yoga Vacations • Courses, cleanses, and trainings • Yoga Teacher Training Courses (TTC) • Karma Yoga residential study programs.
DAILY SCHEDULE The ashram’s daily schedule creates the rhythm of each day for the whole ashram community. This structured immersion creates positive changes that last long after you leave. 6:00 AM SATSANG meditation, chanting, and a talk — or a silent walk 8:00 AM YOGA CLASS beginning and intermediate options 10:00 AM BRUNCH nutritious vegetarian meal 11:00 AM — 4:00 PM PROGRAM SESSION AND/OR FREE TIME the heart of your day 4:00 PM YOGA CLASS beginning and intermediate options 6:00 PM DINNER nutritious vegetarian meal 8:00 PM SATSANG meditation, chanting, and a talk or performance Please note Individual schedules may vary depending on your unique program, course, cleanse, or training.
4 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are open to all and part of the all-inclusive accommodations; see page 76.
Find spaciousness within.
Dive a little deeper.
TAKE A YOGA VACATION.
COURSES. CLEANSES. TRAININGS.
The promise of a Sivananda Yoga Vacation is that you will return home renewed, refreshed, and ready for your life — with practices to continue enjoying the benefits of a yogic lifestyle.
The ashram’s daily rhythm creates the perfect container for courses, cleanses, and trainings.
• Spend your days in the incredible natural beauty of the ashram’s tropical island setting. • Take morning and afternoon yoga classes and feel the benefits of practice immediately. • After yoga, enjoy a nutrient-rich yogic diet that naturally supports health. • Take part in daily satsangs and experience the ashram’s devotional practices. • Participate in afternoon workshops, go for a swim, and find a special spot where you can relax for a while. ALL-INCLUSIVE RATES Our all-inclusive rates include accommodations, meals, twice-daily yoga classes, community gatherings, inspiring talks, and midday workshops — and, of course, access to our beautiful Paradise Island beach. You choose when to arrive and how long to stay. (You won’t want to leave!) See page 76 or get online for rates. YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS These programs are included in your stay and are usually offered through evening presentations and afternoon workshops that focus on health and well-being, the spiritual path, yoga practice, and positive lifestyle change. Yoga Vacation Programs also include holiday celebrations, music and dance festivals, and symposia on special topics. TAKE NOTE: VEDANTA IMMERSIONS These programs are included in your stay and provide a special opportunity to study with renowned guest teachers with a gift for illuminating sacred texts and bringing their wisdom to life.
• Learn and grow in an enriching educational environment that integrates mind, body, and spirit. • Choose from a variety of health, healing arts, and yoga-related topics. • Study with experienced, highly respected instructors with years of experience. • Balance your course time with healthy meals, walks by the ocean, yoga classes, and community gatherings for meditation and inspiring talks. • Gain new skills, expand your knowledge, and learn how to sustain positive change. TUITION RATES Each course, cleanse, and training has a unique tuition that includes all of the program sessions with the instructor and staff; accommodations are additional. You will find the tuition listed with the individual programs on pages 10-73 and accommodation rates on page 76 — and everything online. Plan to arrive at least the day before your course’s start date and depart the day after the course’s end date; we encourage you to take a few days of Yoga Vacation before or after your course whenever possible. CALENDAR Browse pages 10–73 to find the courses, cleanses, and trainings offered. We’ve highlighted a few: CLEANSES — Detox, relax, and restore ESSENTIALS — Discover the keys to your best life TRAININGS — Expand your professional potential
on pages 10-73 to see what’s taking place Look for when you want to come.
sivanandabahamas.org 5
YOGA TEACHER TRAINING
28-DAY SIVANANDA YOGA TEACHER TRAINING COURSE (TTC) Earn 200-hour certification Ready for a transformation? Uplift your life through a transformational learning experience at a traditional yoga ashram and develop teaching skills that are rooted in your own practice and study. The TTC offers you: • A solid foundation in a classical yoga tradition, including asanas, pranayama, meditation, and mantra • Training in how to teach from a team of expert instructors • Participation in Karma Yoga, the practice of selfless service • Vegetarian meals and teachings on nutrition and the yogic diet, including Ayurveda • Study of yoga philosophy, Vedanta, and teachings from the Bhagavad Gita and other ancient yogic texts. Trainings offered monthly, November through July. 2019: November 4–December 1; December 4–31 2020: January 4–31; February 3–March 1; March 4–31; April 3–30; May 3–30; June 3–30; July 3–30; November 4–December 1; and December 4–31. The TTC is open to students at all levels of experience and welcomes aspiring yoga teachers as well as those seeking to deepen their practice and understanding of yoga. You will graduate with the ability to confidently teach classes of the Sivananda Yoga 2-hour yoga sequence, and a 6-lesson beginner course.
Take your next step! Get online: • Find cost, curriculum, what to bring, and more • Watch a TTC video • Register — all you need is a $300 deposit. Have Questions? We’re happy to help. You can reach us at 1-877-268-4091 or by email: ttcbahamas@sivananda.org
6 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS
are open to all and part of the all-inclusive accommodations; see page 76.
ADVANCED TEACHER TRAINING COURSE (ATTC) 500-hour certification Deepen your practice, deepen your life. The ATTC enhanced my spiritual development, self- and collective understanding, and commitment to develop Karma Yoga projects. Overall, I have a more genuine sense of what it means to be a yogi. —ATTC graduate Designed for certified Sivananda Yoga teachers, the ATTC offers a 4-week immersion into advanced yogic practices and teachings. This course provides the ideal training for expanding and deepening your knowledge and advancing on your spiritual path. When you graduate, you will receive Yoga Acharya, or Master of Yoga, certification. Visit our website for a full description, cost, housing options, and more. Upcoming ATTC Dates November 4—December 1, 2019; January 4—31, 2020; April 3—30, 2020; November 4—December 1, 2020
Curious? Please get in touch. Call: 1-877-268-4091 Email: ttcbahamas@sivananda.org
SELFLESS SERVICE RESIDENTIAL STUDY/ KARMA YOGA Live, serve, learn, and grow spiritually.
Karma Yoga is the yogic path of action and selfless service. Actively engage with a spiritual path, live in a community with like-minded people, and receive guidance on your quest for self-improvement.
36-Day Introduction
Participants in this program contribute five hours of selfless service a day. The daily schedule includes mandatory attendance at morning and evening satsangs as well as one yoga class. Cost: $29/day ($1,044 for 36 days). This price includes accommodations, meals, and daily yoga classes.
Karma Yoga Immersion
Early-Bird Savings for TTC & ATTC We offer discounts for booking in advance. • Save $350 when you register 5 months in advance. • Save $200 when you register 3 months in advance.
Join us for a full immersion in ashram life for a minimum of three months. Through your work assignments, you engage in selfless service 6–8 hours a day, finding joy in acting from the purest motivation of service for others and doing your best to carry out your duties. There is no charge for this program. A prior interview with a Karma Yoga coordinator is required. Please note This is a popular program; sign up at least 2–3 months in advance.
Take your next step! Find out more online, including start-date options.
sivanandabahamas.org | 800.123.4567 7
OUR LINEAGE The Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas follows an unbroken lineage of teachers who practice the classical yoga wisdom of Swami Sivananda, which was introduced to the West by his disciple Swami Vishnudevananda. We are part of an ever-growing international organization of Sivananda ashrams and centers (sivananda.org), with the mission to share peace, health, and joy through yoga. OUR MISSION is to spread peace, health, and joy through the practice and philosophy of yoga and Vedanta. OUR VISION is to serve as a beacon of light in the world as a gathering place for learning and the exchange of ideas and experiences that impact individuals and the world in important ways.
Swami Sivananda (1887–1963)
One of the great saints of modern times, Swami Sivananda is the inspiration behind the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center. 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. A prolific writer, he authored more than 300 books that offer knowledge and spiritual guidance to millions around the world. His mission can be summarized by his saying: “Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realize.”
Swami Vishnudevananda (1927–1993)
Recognized worldwide as an authority on Hatha and Raja Yoga, Swami Vishnudevananda founded the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center in 1959. After spending 10 years with his guru, Swami Sivananda, Swamiji was sent to the West to disseminate the teachings of Yoga and Vedanta. He was a visionary, dynamic leader for world peace, and he wrote the practical classics, Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga and Meditation and Mantras.
8 sivanandabahamas.org
The Divine within you is stronger than anything that is without you. Therefore be not afraid of anything. —SWAMI SIVANANDA
Questions & Answers on
YOGA & SPIRITUAL LIFE
with Swami Swaroopananda Join us for an evening of Q&A with the ashram’s spiritual director, Swami Swaroopananda. Ask anything you ever wanted to know about yoga practice and philosophy and the spiritual path. The answers are steeped in rare wisdom and deep understanding of the teachings and practice of yoga. Swami Swaroopananda is well-known for his clear, concise, and complete answers. While presented in simple terms, his answers are illuminating and hold within them vast knowledge. He dispels doubts and fears, clears troubled minds, and inspires listeners to strive and advance on the spiritual path and become better citizens of the world. The popular Q&A evenings with Swami Swaroopananda are offered as part of the ashram’s Yoga Vacation option; see page 5. Upcoming Q&A dates 2019: November 25, December 28. 2020: January 28, February 25, March 28, April 22, May 27, June 8, July 27.
Swami Swaroopananda
is a senior disciple of Swami Vishnudevananda. A practicing yogi from a very young age, Swami Swaroopananda has dedicated his life to the practice and teaching of yoga. He taught in Yoga Teacher Training Courses throughout the world and is currently teaching advanced yoga philosophy courses and lectures internationally. He has been Director of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat in the Bahamas for 28 years and Acharya (spiritual director) for the Sivananda centers and ashrams in the Middle East and the Caribbean. Swami Swaroopananda is also a member of the Board of Directors of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres.
Inspired? Get online!
Find numerous Q&As with Swami Swaroopananda from previous seasons: • Videos on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/sivanandabahamas • Posts on our blog: www.sivanandabahamas.org/blog
sivanandabahamas.org 9
NOVEMBER HIGHLIGHTS See the full calendar online. YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
November 12–14
November 1–4
The Universe Hangs on Sound: The World of Raga and Indian Classical Music
Introduction to Vedic Numerology Christina Richa Devi
Introducing the mythologies and mathematics of the nine planets.
Steve Gorn
The right sound, at the right time, in the right place, nurtures the synchronization of the body and mind.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
November 14–17
Mantras, Ragas & Voice: Harmonizing Our Lives with Sound
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
November 5–7
Training the Mind in Compassion Lama Karma Chötso
Karnamrita Dasi
Discover the basic concepts of classical Indian ragas and the harmonizing gifts that they offer.
True spiritual warriors assume the responsibility of mastering their own minds.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
November 15–17
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
Detox Basics: Cleanse at Home
November 8–12
Essentials of Yoga I: Create a Daily Practice Senior Sivananda Instructors
Tuition $240. Add 6 nights accommodations.
Engage with the tools of Sivananda Yoga for enlivening physical, mental, and spiritual health. Learn a routine of yoga postures, breathing exercises and relaxation to uplift your life.
Sanatani
Hands-on juice and salad preparations as well as principles and recipes to support healthy detox in your own kitchen.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
November 15–17
Essentials of Meditation: Cultivate Your Full Potential Senior Sivananda Instructors
REFRESH AND REJUVENATE
November 10–14
Fall Cleanse, Detox, and Juice Fast
Tuition $166. Add 4 nights accommodations..
Learn meditation to improve your concentration and happiness and reduce stress and anxiety in daily life.
Manu Dawson
Tuition $450. Add 6 nights accommodations.
Prepare for winter and the holidays–come cleanse, rejuvenate, invigorate, and firm up healthy habits for the months ahead.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
November 22–24
Present Moment, Wonderful Moment Brother Phap Hai
Explore the foundational Buddhist meditative practices with a direct disciple of Thich Nhat Hanh.
10 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
Spend Thanksgiving in the Bahamas.
Celebrate with kindred spirits. Take a Thanksgiving Yoga Vacation and get away for renewal and nourishment. Enjoy time at the beach on your own, with family, or friends and participate in the ashram’s offerings and experiences. YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
November 27–28
Cooking the Thanksgiving Feast
A special opportunity to join the kitchen staff for this annual tradition! Pitch in and learn a few cooking tips at the same time. Stop by the kitchen when you are here and tell us you’re interested and we’ll gladly find something for you to do.
November 4–December 1
200-Hour Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course
Learn how to bring the benefits of classical yoga to others and take your yoga practice to a deeper, more meaningful level.
November 4–December 1
Advanced Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course
Swami Brahmananda, Swami Shambhudevananda, Krishna Chaitanya, and Iswara Chaitanya Earn your 500-hour certification. Deepen and expand your knowledge and practice as a yoga teacher through Sivananda advanced asana, pranayama, Vedanta, Raja Yoga, Sanskrit, and anatomy and physiology.
Find more details on page 6 and online.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
November 25–30
Thanksgiving Family Yoga Holiday Program: For Children Ages 4–12 Sanatani and Gauri Devi
Tuition $75. See children’s rates on page 75.
Children will be introduced to yoga through short asana classes, chanting, crafts, storytelling, and lots of games and fun. See important information online.
Health is wealth. Peace of mind is happiness. Yoga shows the way. —SWAMI VISHNUDEVANANDA
sivanandabahamas.org 11
PROGRAM CALENDAR
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
November 29—December 1
Essentials of Positive Thinking: Wake Up Your Mind
Senior Sivananda Instructors Tuition $166. Add 4 nights accommodations.
Discover the connection between your thinking, your emotions, and your health and learn simple tools for enhancing the power of your mind to create a life from joy.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
December 2–5 YOGA VACATION PROGRAM | SPECIAL EVENT
November 27–December 1
THANKSGIVING FESTIVAL OF MUSIC, POETRY, AND DANCE Latif Bolat, Malika Anderson, and the Kirtaniyas
C
ome together with us to share in gratitude and celebrate life through the sacred arts of music, poetry and dance. Enjoy uplifting performances of Sufi music and the exquisite poetry of Jelaluddin Rumi, brought to life by the distinguished performer Latif Bolat, a leading scholar and composer of Turkish music and folklore. Open your heart to the Divine through the ancient practice of moving meditation called whirling. Enjoy devotional music with the Kirtaniyas. Join us for this special Thanksgiving gathering to fill our hearts with Divine love through the devotional arts. Latif Bolat is an expert in Sufi music and ancient Turkish mysticaldevotional music, who creates an intimate, storytelling atmosphere. He teaches Turkish folk and mystical music and its cultural elements. Malika Anderson serves as a senior teacher of the Mevlevi Order of America, facilitating classes in the work of Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi. She is one of few women authorized to preside over the sema ceremony, the great whirling dance. The Kirtaniyas are a California-based global collective of musicians, producers, and dancers who grew up in a Vedic culture of song, dance, philosophy, and devotion in ashrams and temples in India and the West.
12 sivanandabahamas.org
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Kate Mitcheom
Developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, MBSR is an extensively researched methodology used worldwide to alleviate chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and trauma. Through your own direct experience, you will learn the principles of mindfulness through MBSR practices and feel the benefits for yourself. You will gain tools to cope with stress, heal trauma, and relieve anxiety and depression and return home with more composure, energy, and enthusiasm. Kate Mitcheom, MSN, CNM, RYT, has been practicing and teaching mindfulness and meditation for more than 20 years. She trained with Jon Kabat-Zinn and founded the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program at the Fair Haven Community Health Center and is a Senior Certified MBSR teacher for the Center of Mindfulness at UMASS Medical Center.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
December 7–9
Healing Movement for Body, Heart, and Soul Zuleikha
Explore the science of movement and somatic intelligence and their relationship to yoga and spirituality. Through performances and workshops, Zuleikha will invite you into an ancient union of soul and body in spiritual conversation. When you inhabit your body and discover what unfolds from awareness through movement, you’ll unwind old habits and patterns and re-create your story. Zuleikha is an international performer and educator renowned for her Rumi collaborations, innovative teaching, and her Take a Minute™ vitality program. Her international nonprofit organization, the Storydancer Project, serves girls, women, and families in challenging circumstances.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
December 5–7
Nada Yoga and the Chakras Shyam Bhatnagar
Learn to apply sounds and mantras to increase the light and benefits of each of the chakras and microchakras, and experience the light of who you truly are. Shyam Bhatnagar realized the functioning of the microchakras during a deep meditation, leading him to develop Microchakra Psychology. He founded the Chakra Institute in New York City and was head of the department of Chakra Studies at the University of Lugano, Switzerland, for more than 10 years. He teaches and performs internationally.
REFRESH AND REJUVENATE
December 7–10
Paradise Beauty from the Inside Cleanse Sanatani
Tuition $380. Add 5 nights accommodations.
Give yourself the healthy, detoxifying, and restorative experience your body needs Also offered January 29–February 1, see page 25; and May 12–15, see page 56. Sanatani bio on page 25.
December 4–31
200-Hour Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course
Learn how to bring the benefits of classical yoga to others and take your yoga practice to a deeper, more meaningful level.
Find more details on page 6 and online.
Discover ThetaHealing Powerful healing modality created by Vianna Stibal to heal from a range of mind and body ailments. Anna Scorik (Ambika) is a Sivananda Yoga teacher and a certified ThetaHealing practitioner and instructor. She teaches ThetaHealing seminars throughout the world, facilitating deep healing.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
December 5-7
Introduction to ThetaHealing PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
December 8-10
ThetaHealing: Basic DNA Tuition $440. Add 4 nights accommodations. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
December 11-13
ThetaHealing: Advanced DNA Tuition $440. Add 4 nights accommodations.
sivanandabahamas.org 13
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
December 8–12
Essentials of Yoga I: Create a Daily Practice Senior Sivananda Instructors
Tuition $240. Add 6 nights accommodations.
Engage with the tools of Sivananda Yoga for enlivening physical, mental, and spiritual health. Learn a routine of yoga postures, breathing exercises and relaxation to uplift your life.
Learn how to relax, ease pain, and gain strength. YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
December 11–15
Restorative Yoga and Healing Therapies Retreat Nora Benian (Sundari)
Learn how to restore yourself regularly with practices that will help you reduce pain, develop a positive outlook, and increase strength and vigor. You will explore a variety of tools for physical relaxation, selfhealing, and self-care, including acupressure points, breathing exercises, meditation, and visualization.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
December 9–11
Transformation Through Interconnectedness Mallika Dutt (Parvati)
In a divided and fractured world, how might we explore new paradigms that enable people and planet to live together and thrive? How do we create the transformations we so desperately need? Come deepen your understanding of how the spiritual concept of interconnectedness offers the potential for moving beyond “us” versus “them.” Recognizing and drawing from our diversity is the starting place for our shared mission as activists for peace and greater social equity. Mallika Dutt, a graduate of the Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course and the Light Body School for shamanic studies, is internationally recognized for her work with women’s empowerment. She is a leading innovator in human rights, multimedia, and culture change.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
December 11–15
Restorative Yoga Teacher Training Nora Benian (Sundari)
Tuition $550. Add 6 nights accommodations.
Expand your teaching skills with a solid foundation in Restorative Yoga, a very gentle yoga practice designed to calm the nervous system and create overall health in the body. Learn and practice simple yet powerful postures, breathing, and meditative techniques that you can use to teach restorativespecific classes or integrate into existing yoga classes and healing treatments. Through direct experience, practice teaching, and feedback, you will leave with the ability to confidently teach a primary series of restorative poses — as well as incorporate them into your own practice. More information online.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
December 10–13
Yoga of the Supreme Reality: Chapter 15 of the Bhagavad Gita Swami Prakashananda
What does God mean to you? In chapter 15 of the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna reveals the virtues and characteristics of God. He describes God as omnipotent, omniscient,and omnipresent — and he explains the importance of knowing and realizing God. Learn from this ancient scripture how God can be found everywhere … especially when you look within. Swami Prakashananda is founder and acharya of the Chinmaya Mission of Trinidad and Tobago and travels extensively giving spiritual discourse. He met Swami Chinmayananda while studying for a bachelor’s degree in Toronto and soon joined the Chinmaya Mission. He studied scripture in Mumbai and taught for several years in India and Nepal before returning to his native Trinidad.
14 sivanandabahamas.org
EXPERIENTIAL COURSE
December 16–20
Passive Yoga Retreat: Deepening into Stillness Nora Benian (Sundari)
Tuition $385. Add 6 nights accommodations.
Experience deep renewal and take home practices you can continue to use to create balance in your life. Passive yoga is based on the Taoist concept of balancing the yin and the yang, the opposite and complementary principles in nature. Life often keeps us moving quickly without much time to slow down; passive yoga postures support us by releasing longheld tensions, allowing prana (life force) to flow more easily for increased energy and overall well-being. Nora Benian (Sundari) is a Sivananda Yoga teacher, yoga therapist, registered professional counselor, and Thai Yoga Massage practitioner with a diploma of homeopathy from the British Institute of Homeopathy in Toronto, Canada. YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
December 14–16
December 16–20
Essentials of Meditation: Cultivate Your Full Potential
Senior Sivananda Instructors
Tools for Awakening: The Divine Names and the Divine Feminine
Tuition $240. Add 6 nights accommodations.
Learn meditation to improve your concentration and happiness and reduce stress and anxiety in daily life.
Acharya Mangalananda
Enhance and elevate your spiritual practice by diving more deeply into the Divine Names of the yogic tradition through chant and mantras. Learn the importance of the Divine Feminine in your life and in society. Discover the many different manifestations of the Divine Mother and engage in guided meditations to feel her healing presence in your heart. With a foundation in kirtan and mantra repetition, you will begin to witness profound healing effects in your daily life.
December 18–20
Acharya Mangalananda is a direct disciple of Sri Anandamayi Ma, a venerated Indian saint of the 20th century. He hosts a small ashram near San Francisco, California, sharing kirtan and classes. A lifetime of Indian culture has given him a deep immersion into the traditional spiritual music and teachings of India’s rural villages.
Cultivate mindfulness and awareness that allows you to face every moment of modern life with wisdom, presence, and delight. In this program, we will explore the teaching of the Heart Sutra of Lord Buddha using the mantra of the Prajnaparamita, the Mother of All Buddhas, and contemplate the wisdom of the teachings at the heart of the Dharma. Learn how the daily practices of mantra, meditation, and noble silence support the awakening of altruistic lovingkindness for the benefit of all Mother beings.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
December 16–18
Ayurvedic Wisdom Practices: Keys to Healing & Prevention Marisa Laursen (Sri Devi)
Based on the laws of nature itself, Ayurveda provides the wisdom that explains the conditions necessary for you to thrive as an individual–physically, psychologically, and spiritually. It is the oldest system of medicine in the world and yoga’s sister science. Learn the Ayurvedic framework for health and the spiritual journey, about your body’s connection to the rhythms of nature, how to eliminate disease at its root, and how to take proper care of yourself to ensure optimal health and balance. Marisa Laursen (Sri Devi), CAS, PKS, AYT, is the lead faculty at the California College of Ayurveda, where she also works in curriculum development. A contributing writer to various magazines, including the Ayurveda Journal of Health, she is also a Sivananda Yoga teacher and a former member of the board of the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
A Call to Awakening: Being the Lotus Tenzin Dasel
Tenzin Dasel is a lead teacher and meditation instructor in Tibetan Buddhism at her home center Tashi Gatsel Ling, founded in the Gelugpa lineage. She is founder of Maine Mindfulness Project and holds many honors for her work with women, children, and youth throughout the US, India, and the world.
DECEMBER YOGA GETAWAYS A season of health and well-being
Awaken to new layers of vitality through a daily routine of yoga practice, nourishing meals, meditation, and more. Learn skills and explore refreshing perspectives in programs, courses, and trainings as you meet people from around the world interested in yoga and the spiritual path.
sivanandabahamas.org 15
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM | SPECIAL EVENT
December 22–January 2
Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s Symposium
UNITY IN DIVERSITY: DISCOVER YOUR INNER Swami Swaroopananda, Snatam Kaur, Nathan Katz, Kabir Helminski, Daniel Matt, Ernesto Ortiz, Kyriacos C. Markides, Lama Karma Chötso, Emily Markides, Gaura Vani, and Krishnan Namboodiri
S
wami Vishnudevananda arrived at the San Francisco airport in December 1957, having been sent to the West by his Guru, Swami Sivananda, who told him, “People are waiting.” More than 60 years later, we come together in his honor for this symposium to celebrate light, truth, and peace. We will welcome in a new year with deep hope for our shared humanity. The teaching of Unity in Diversity was at the core of Swami Vishnudevananda’s mission. According to yoga philosophy, the one God or Ultimate Reality manifests as a multiplicity of names, forms, shapes, and colors. “Unity” and “diversity” are one and the same, and their essence is our own essence: pure existence, pure consciousness, and pure bliss. Join us for a gathering of spiritual leaders, mystics, and musicians from major spiritual traditions and gain a direct glimpse of this truth. Through talks, concerts, spiritual practices, discussions, and more, we will participate in breaking down artificial barriers and experience the underlying unity in our diversity.
Swami Swaroopananda, a senior disciple of Swami Vishnudevananda, is Director of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, Acharya (spiritual director) of the Sivananda centers and ashrams in the Bahamas and Middle East, and a member of the Board of Directors of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres. Snatam Kaur is an American kirtan singer and peace activist, who learned to sing in the Sikh musical style with her mother. She has been recording music since 2000, and her popular CDs include Shanti, Grace, and Liberation’s Door. Nathan Katz, PhD, is an expert on Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Author of 15 books, he serves as Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Florida International University, where he has served in many roles, including Director of Jewish Studies. Kabir Helminski is a Sufi teacher, author and translator of the works of Jelaluddin Rumi, and spiritual teacher in the Mevlevi lineage. In 2009 and subsequent years, Kabir was named as one of the “500 Most Influential Muslims in the World.” Daniel Matt, PhD, a leading authority on Kabbalah, recently completed a translation and annotation of the Zohar, the masterpiece of the Kabbalah. He is the author of more than a dozen books, including God and the Big Bang. Ernesto Ortiz uses shamanic practice to guide people in unifying the spiritual and the mundane. His training began at an early age in Mexico with curanderos and shamans. He leads workshops and retreats and is also an artist and author. Kyriacos C. Markides, PhD, is a professor of sociology at the University of Maine and the author of nine books, many on Christian mystics and spiritual guides. He lectures and leads workshops throughout the world.
16 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
December 28
and Celebration
BLISS Lama Karma Chötso is a Buddhist nun and has been practicing within the Kagyu lineage for more than 35 years. She is the resident teacher of the Open Awareness Buddhist Center in Miami, Florida, and practices as a meditator, teacher, writer, singer, and painter. Emily Markides, PhD, received her doctorate from the Counselor Education Program at the University of Maine, where she teaches as adjunct faculty on issues concerning peace and the environment. Gaura Vani started studying sacred music in Vrindavan, India, at the age of six. Today, he shares that magic, performing extensively with his kirtan ensemble throughout the world. His albums include Ten Million Moons and Nectar of Devotion. Krishnan Namboodiri is a Tantric priest from South India, trained in the classical tradition of mantras (sacred sounds), pujas (prayer ceremonies), homas (fire rituals), and yantras (sacred geometric designs).
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ON
Yoga & Spiritual Life SWAMI SWAROOPANANDA
Join us for an evening of Q&A with Swami Swaroopananda. Ask anything you ever wanted to know about yoga practice, philosophy, and the spiritual path. The answers are steeped in rare wisdom and deep understanding of the teachings and practice of yoga.
BRING THE KIDS Enjoy your daily yoga classes while your children have their own yoga experience. See children’s rates on page 75.
December 26–January 1
Family Yoga Holiday Program: For Children Ages 4–12 Sanatani and Gauri Devi Tuition: $75
Children will be introduced to yoga through short asana classes, chanting, crafts, storytelling, and lots of games and fun. Important information online. Sanatani bio on page 25. Gauri Devi is a Sivananda Yoga teacher specializing in yoga for children and teens, who started Young Flower Yoga, an after-school program for schools in Westchester County, New York.
December 26–January 1
Teen Holiday Yoga Program Shambhavi Tuition: $75
This program provides a great opportunity for teens to learn and experience new practices while enjoying a yogic lifestyle in a beautiful setting. See important information online.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
December 25–27
Heart of the Universe: Chanting with Snatam Kaur
Shambhavi is an advanced Sivananda Yoga teacher and has been guiding teen programs at the ashram for the past few years. She regularly assists in the Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Courses and is an iRest Yoga Nidra practitioner and a ThetaHealing master.
We are delighted to welcome Snatam Kaur back to the ashram. Join one of the most inspirational singers of devotional music of the Sikh tradition as she shares her angelic voice in two evening satsang performances. She and her husband, Sopurkh Singh, will also offer two afternoon workshops, sharing practices from the Sikh tradition on sound, mantras, and yoga. Sanatani
Gauri Devi
Shambhavi
WATCH Snatam Kaur on our YouTube Channel.
sivanandabahamas.org 17
On New Year’s Eve, participate in a very special puja (ritual) led by the ashram’s Vedic priest, Krishnan Namboodiri, for an auspicious start to 2020 and a peacefilled future.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
December 31–January 2
January 2–24
Hearts Wide Open: New Year’s Kirtan with Gaura Vani
Foundations of Raja Yoga Srinivasan
Come celebrate as we sing in the New Year together, hearts wide open, connected by love with ashram friend and devoted kirtan artist, Gaura Vani. Join us for an auspicious start to the New Year, immersed in Divine love and sacred song.
Raja Yoga, often referred to as the royal path of yoga, focuses on the purification and control of the mind and different yogic practices for your lifestyle. In January, Srinivasan leads an in-depth journey into the theory and practice of Raja Yoga during morning satsang, with a special focus on cultivating virtues, ethics, and morality.
Gaura Vani bio on page 17.
Srinivasan is a senior disciple of Swami Vishnudevananda, a member of the Board of Directors of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres, and a practicing yogi for more than 35 years. He is Director of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Ranch and Acharya of the Sivananda centers and ashrams on the East Coast of the United States.
WATCH Gaura Vani on our YouTube Channel. YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
January 2–5
Yogic Tools for Stress Management Pranava Chaitanya
Cultivate the courage and willpower needed to make positive life changes. Learn how to use yoga, meditation, self-inquiry, and other practical mind-body-spirit tools to transform stressful patterns of thought and behavior into a deeply rewarding, sustainable lifestyle. Pranava Chaitanya is senior staff of the ashram and an advanced Sivananda Yoga teacher who teaches Teacher Training Courses (TTCs) at the ashram as well as workshops on stress management and healthy living.
18 sivanandabahamas.org
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
January 3–5
Essentials of Positive Thinking: Wake Up Your Mind
Senior Sivananda Instructors Tuition $166. Add 4 nights accommodations.
Discover the connection between your thinking, emotions, and health and learn simple practical tools for enhancing your thought power.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
REFRESH AND REJUVENATE
January 5–14
New Year’s Cleanse, Detox, and Juice Fast Manu Dawson
Tuition $705. Add 11 nights accommodations.
Explore sacred art
Immerse yourself in the practices of sacred art in these magical afternoon workshops of painting, visualization, silence, and creative expression. No previous art experience required, just an open heart. YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
January 3–5
Yantra Painting: Transformation Through Sacred Form January 6–8
Chakra Immersion: Understanding Sacred Centers January 9–12
Painting Planet Mandalas Mavis Gewant, a popular presenter at the ashram, is a sacred artist, educator, and practitioner of Vedic astrology. She learned the ancient techniques of yantra and silk deity painting from Tantric master Dada Shri Harish Johari.
Start your year off with an invigorating cleanse to detox your body, mind, and spirit and boost your energy for the year ahead. We begin with a few days of raw food, followed by fruit- and vegetable-juice fasting, and ends with a raw food diet — all supported by detoxifying herbs and supplements. Yoga classes and beach walks will enhance digestion, elimination, and integration for optimum cleansing and health. See important information online. Manu Dawson is a certified Yoga Nutrition Therapist and Integral Yoga teacher, who has worked in the natural foods industry for more than 25 years and directed hundreds of people in detoxification protocols. Manu is a direct disciple of Swami Satchidananda, who was a direct disciple of Swami Sivananda.
January 4–31
200-Hour Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course Start the new year as a certified yoga teacher. Learn to bring the benefits of classical yoga to others and take your yoga practice to a deeper level.
January 4–31
Advanced Yoga Teacher Training Course Srinivasan, Swami Brahmananda, Swami Shambhudevananda, Krishna Chaitanya, and Iswara Chaitanya Advance your knowledge and skills as a Sivananda or Integral Yoga teacher.
Details on page 6 and online. sivanandabahamas.org 19
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
January 5–8
Teachings on the Mandukya Upanishad and Karika of Gaudapada
January 10–12
Of all the Upanishads (ancient Vedic scriptures), the Mandukya Upanishad is the shortest — consisting of just 12 mantras — however, it is considered the most direct and the most powerful. The Karika composed by Gaudapada Acharya 1,500 years ago is a beautiful commentary on the Mandukya Upanishad. Its goal is nothing short of transcendence of sorrow and the attainment of unshakable serenity by the direct intuition of your own non-dual nature.
These deeply transformative series of lectures, attunements, and energy activations will help you realize how your true potential is inexorably linked to the wellbeing of others and our planet. You will learn practices to support your movement through and beyond any physical and emotional blocks that keep you from manifesting your higher nature.
I Am the Word: The Energetics of Consciousness Paul Selig
Swami Sarvapriyananda
Swami Sarvapriyananda is the minister and spiritual leader of the Vedanta Society of New York and a popular and sought-after teacher of Vedanta philosophy. He joined the Ramakrishna Math and Mission in 1994, received sannyas 10 years later, and was acharya of the monastic probationers’ training center at Belur Math.
Paul Selig is considered to be one of today’s foremost spiritual intuitives, described as “a medium for the living.” Paul has written multiple breakthrough books, leads programs at several institutes, and is a noted playwright and educator.
WATCH Swami Sarvapriyananda on our YouTube Channel.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
January 6–10 January 16–20
Essentials of Yoga I: Create a Daily Practice Senior Sivananda Instructors Tuition $240. Add 6 nights accommodations.
Engage with the tools of Sivananda Yoga for enlivening physical, mental, and spiritual health. Learn a routine of yoga postures, breathing exercises and relaxation to uplift your life.
20 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
January 11–15
Essentials of Yoga II: Deepen Your Practice
Senior Sivananda Instructors Tuition $240. Add 6 nights accommodations.
Deepen your experience with the 12 basic postures of Sivananda Yoga, each day focusing on a new theme in practicing asanas.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
January 12–14
Peace Building as Experienced Through the Yoga of Living Ethics Dot Maver
Learn pragmatic techniques for peaceful conflict resolution and healthy communication. In a world full of turbulence, you can be the key for positive change, wisdom, and joy. When you embody peace, express your essence, and choose kindness, you proactively lay the foundation for a culture built on peace and cooperation. Dot Maver is an educator and peace builder who has founded and co-founded many peace initiatives, including the National Peace Academy USA. She serves on multiple committees, including the UN International Day of Peace NGO Education Peace Team. EXPERIENTIAL COURSE
January 13–17
Thought Power for Life Mastery: Creating Success and Happiness Swami Hridyananda
Tuition $275. Add 6 nights accommodations. Learn how to use thought power for healing, creativity, organization, and overcoming habitual and intrusive thoughts. Swami Sivananda taught that “thoughts are living things.” Any thought that crosses the mind of a person gives rise to vibrations that travel far and wide in all directions, creating success or damage in their path. In this program based on his teachings, we will use a combination of theory and daily practice to learn how to align our bodies, food choices, and surroundings to increase our thought power. Swami Hridyananda, a direct disciple of Swami Vishnudevananda, is senior staff of the Yoga Retreat and has spent 30-plus years teaching yoga and Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Courses, supporting individuals on this transformative journey.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
January 15–17
Frontiers in Mind-Body Medicine: Harnessing the Healing Power of the Mind Joan Borysenko
With illness and disease on the rise, this is an important time to explore the emergent opportunities for selfhealing. Based on decades of cutting-edge research and medicine, this program looks at how our beliefs affect gene expression, brain function, and our health and well-being. Join one of the leaders in mind-body medicine as she brings us news of what’s possible. You will learn how to optimize your body and mind and unleash your true nature of kindness, compassion, and unity. Joan Borysenko, PhD, is a Harvard Medical Schooltrained cell biologist, psychologist, spiritual educator, and New York Times best-selling author. A pioneer in stress management, resilience, and personalized nutrition, Joan is well-known for her tender exploration of the human spirit and how we create meaning that heals and inspires. WATCH Joan Borysenko on our YouTube Channel.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
January 15–17
Detox Basics: Cleanse at Home Sanatani
A recommended addition to Manu Dawson’s New Year’s Cleanse, learn hands-on juice and salad preparations as well as principles and recipes to support a healthy diet and detox in your own kitchen. Also offered November 15–17.
The mind is responsible for the feelings of pleasure and pain. Control of the mind is the highest Yoga. —SWAMI SIVANANDA
sivanandabahamas.org 21
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
January 17–19
Heart of Kirtan: Explorations in Sound and Vibration Ragani Journey deep into your heart with Ragani and her band as they share the timeless practice of kirtan. The ancient mantras and chants of India are designed to lead us into deep contemplation and meditation, reconnecting us to the powerful divine presence within. Lovers of music and prayer are invited to come together and share the transformational effects of sound and vibration. Dive into your heart and sing! Ragani is an award-winning producer and recording artist who leads Milwaukee’s renowned Kirtan with Ragani, one of the largest ongoing independent kirtan scenes in the US. At age eight, Ragani met the yoga master Swami Rama, who personally trained her in yogic sciences, meditation, and Eastern music. WATCH Ragani on our YouTube Channel.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
January 18–20
The Yogic Diet: The Art of Healthy Eating Pranava Chaitanya
Learn the principles of a healthy and balanced way of eating and cooking. Discover the connection between the food we eat and our thoughts, and how to create a positive, happy, and peaceful state of mind, beginning in the kitchen. Pranava Chaitanya bio on page 18.
WINTER YOGA GETAWAYS Warm up your toes and your heart with a daily schedule that includes yoga classes, meditation, and nourishing vegetarian meals. See our all-inclusive Yoga Vacation rates on page 76.
22 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
|
SPECIAL EVENT
January 20–24
7th Annual Sivananda Ayurveda Symposium: ACHIEVING OPTIMAL HEALTH Marc Halpern (Siva), Paul Dugliss, Ram Rao,
Jayarajan Kodikannath, and Acharya Shunya
A
yurveda is the science of reaching the full potential of your health, physically, psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually. It is a timeless medicine through which we reduce our suffering, speed up our healing, and enjoy a longer and healthier life. Each person has a certain potential that is encoded in their prakruti, or constitution. This potential is compromised when we live out of harmony with nature. Through Ayurveda, each person learns what makes them unique and what specifically they need to do in order to come into harmony with nature. Join an extraordinary panel of leaders in the field of Ayurveda who will inspire, support, and guide you as you move forward on your journey to express your highest potential. WATCH presentations and Q&As from previous years of the Sivananda Ayurveda Symposium on our YouTube channel.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
REFRESH AND REJUVENATE
January 20–24
Ayurvedic Kitchari Cleanse: Restore Natural Balance Cynthia King (Narayani)
Tuition $495. Add 6 nights accommodations.
Marc Halpern (Siva), DC, CAS, PKS, is founder and President of the California College of Ayurveda and the author of Healing Your Life: Lessons on the Path of Ayurveda. A Sivananda Yoga teacher, he is cofounder of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association and the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine. Paul Dugliss, MD, practices Ayurvedic medicine, Ayurvedic counseling, and internal medicine. The author of many books, including Ayurveda: The Power to Heal and Yoga and Ayurveda, he is the founder, director, and academic dean of New World Ayurveda School, which provides online training. Ram Rao, CAS, PhD, works on ageassociated neurodegenerative diseases at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. From a family of Ayurvedic practitioners and Vedic teachers in India, he serves as faculty at the California College of Ayurveda, where he trained. Jayarajan Kodikannath is an Ayurvedic scholar, clinician, and educator with more than 20 years’ clinical experience. He represents a lineage of vaidyas (Ayurvedic doctors) in Kerala, India, and since 2010, he has worked extensively with Kerala Ayurveda USA.
This nourishing 5-day cleanse will empower you in addressing your health goals with the personalized support of an Ayurvedic practitioner. In addition to daily nourishment of traditional Ayurvedic kitchari, a simple rice and mung bean dish with vegetables and spices, you will receive a daily routine, hydration protocol, and stress-relieving practices tailored to your unique constitution to support your healing. Cynthia King (Narayani) is a registered Ayurvedic practitioner and Sivananda Yoga teacher. Also a licensed massage therapist, Cynthia holds certifications in advanced Ayurveda body treatments, panchakarma therapies, and aromatic botanical medicine.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
January 24–26
Essentials of Meditation: Cultivate Your Full Potential Senior Sivananda Instructors Tuition $166. Add 4 nights accommodations.
Learn meditation to improve your concentration and happiness and reduce stress and anxiety in daily life.
Acharya Shunya is an internationally recognized Vedic spiritual teacher and founder and director of the wisdom school Vedika Global. Author of Ayurveda Lifestyle Wisdom, Shunya serves as an advisor to the government of India on international Ayurveda and yoga affairs.
sivanandabahamas.org 23
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
January 27–31
Yoga for Osteoporosis Teacher Training Beata Barnard (Savitri-Devi)
Tuition $375. Add 6 nights accommodations. Advance your skills in supporting yourself and others in healthy aging. This training for yoga teachers, physical therapists, holistic practitioners, and interested individuals will teach you everything you need to know about how to use yoga for healthy bones through enjoyable lifestyle choices. Learn how weight-bearing yoga postures and Swami Vishnudevananda’s Five Points of Yoga can work together to support bone growth. Find out more online. Beata Barnard (Savitri-Devi) is an advanced Sivananda Yoga teacher with more than 20 years’ experience, who was initiated by Swami Vishnudevananda. A Yoga and Ayurveda Wellness Counselor, she has developed a comprehensive yoga system for healthy aging and people with osteoporosis. She teaches in many Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Courses.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
January 25–28
A Tale of Two Seekers: Lessons from the Chandogya Upanishad Swamini Svatmavidyananda Saraswati
Join a well-loved Vedic teacher and explore the 8th chapter of the Chandogya Upanishad, where we find the parable of the King of Gods, Indra, and the King of Demons, Virochana, who approach Lord Prajāpati, the Guru of Gurus, looking for the knowledge of the Self. What does this ancient tale, laden with symbolism, reveal to us as contemporary seekers of self-knowledge?
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
January 28
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ON
Yoga & Spiritual Life
Swamini Svatmavidyananda Saraswati, PhD, is a widely recognized international scholar of Advaita Vedanta and a founding member of the Global Women’s Peace Initiative. A disciple of Pujya Sri Swami Dayanandaji Saraswati, she is Acharya of Arsha Vijnana Gurukulam and its centers throughout the US.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
SWAMI SWAROOPANANDA Swami Swaroopananda answers aspirants’ questions, clears troubled minds, and inspires listeners to advance on the spiritual path. Find out more on page 9.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
January 27–31
Essentials of Positive Thinking: Wake Up Your Mind
January 29–31
Tuition $240. Add 6 nights accommodations.
Chant your heart out and deepen your connection to your soul. Immersed in sacred chants, mantras, and meditation, allow your tensions to melt away and invite peace into your mind and heart. Here is a chance to nurture yourself, offer love and compassion, and sing your way to bliss.
Sounds of Devotion: Kirtan from the Heart Gurunam Singh
Senior Sivananda Instructors Discover the connection between your thinking, emotions, and health and learn simple practical tools for enhancing your thought power.
24 sivanandabahamas.org
Gurunam Singh is a kirtan artist and poet, taking inspiration from gospel, folk, country, classical Indian ragas, Sikh hymns, and devotional chants. He studied with Yogi Bhajan for a number of years and tours nationally and internationally, leading kirtans and yatras in India annually.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
REFRESH AND REJUVENATE
January 29–February 1
Paradise Beauty from the Inside Cleanse Sanatani
Tuition $380. Add 5 nights accommodations. Take time for a winter reset! Give yourself the healthy, detoxifying, and restorative experience your body needs. In a beautiful and peaceful environment, you will experience a guided and supportive approach to healthy cleansing. Your body will feel light and vibrant with alkalizing nutrient-dense foods, super smoothies, raw juices, herbal teas, fruits, and vegetables. You will learn to listen more closely to your inner wisdom, incorporate healing from ancient and modern methods, and use your intuition and body type to know what’s best for you. Sanatani is a Sivananda Yoga teacher who serves as manager of the Annapurna Devi Detox and Juice Fast House. In her cleanses and workshops, she shares a great deal of practical knowledge and experience.
February 3–March 1
200-Hour Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course Learn how to bring the benefits of classical yoga to others and take your yoga practice to a deeper, more meaningful level.
Find more details on page 6 and online.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
February 1–3
Touching the Jaguar: Facing Fear to Create New Paradigms John Perkins
We have the strength to create a new reality for humans and this planet. Join John Perkins as he highlights sections of his upcoming book, Touching the Jaguar, a story of affirmation and transformation of the individual and the collective. Find out about what John calls “crossing the perception bridge” — but first, you must face the jaguar who guards the bridge. John Perkins is a leading authority on shamanism and institutional transformation, teaching throughout the world. He is the 2012 winner of the John Lennon/Yoko Ono Peace Prize, a best-selling author with translations in more than 35 languages, and founder of the Dream Change Coalition. WATCH John Perkins on our YouTube Channel.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
February 1–3
Essentials of Meditation: Cultivate Your Full Potential Senior Sivananda Instructors
Tuition $166. Add 4 nights accommodations.
Learn meditation to improve your concentration and happiness and reduce stress and anxiety in daily life.
sivanandabahamas.org 25
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
Expand your yoga teaching skills. Experience in-depth, hands-on training that prepares you to share yoga in meaningful ways — for yoga teachers from all styles, traditions, and lineages. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
February 2–6
Passive Yoga Teacher Training Nora Benian (Sundari)
Tuition $550. Add 6 nights accommodations.
Passive yoga helps students regulate energy levels and promote better mobility in the body. Learn how to take your students into deeper levels of relaxation, providing opportunities for deeper tissues to release long-held tensions. Gain skills for guiding students into a space of natural healing using specific therapeutic postures, adjustment techniques, and verbal cues that invite the mind to consciously turn inward, and the body to de-stress. This training is open to teachers from all traditions. Find out more online. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
February 7–9
Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training Nora Benian (Sundari)
Tuition $375. Add 4 nights accommodations.
This training is open to teachers from all traditions. A certificate of completion is awarded qualifying for 20 CEUs from Yoga Alliance. Learn to create a safe, joyful, and enriching practice for mother and baby at each stage of pregnancy. Discover the benefits and explore special poses, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques to help women prepare for a smooth delivery and a joyful parenting experience.
February 4–5
Awakening the Peaceful Heart and Warrior Spirit Dan Millman
Take a fresh look at the keys to happiness and wellness to transcend fear and self-doubt on whatever path you are on. This explorative journey will take you through the map of the three selves: from the inner-child, through the learningego, to the bridge to higher consciousness. Unlock the keys to motivation, energy, and healing; call forward your own personal evolution; and live every day with a warrior spirit and a peaceful heart. Dan Millman is a former world-champion athlete, university coach, and college professor. He is the best-selling author of the spiritual classic Way of the Peaceful Warrior, and he is the author of 16 more books that have inspired millions of readers in 29 languages worldwide. WATCH Dan Millman on our YouTube Channel.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
February 4–6
Introduction to Reflexology and Foot Massage Pierre Montpetit
Bring people you love the rejuvenating, stress-relieving, and blissful experience of reflexology. Based on the acupuncture points of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic marma points, sites on the feet and hands are linked to specific organs and areas of the body via the nervous system. Learn the basic reflex zones of the feet along with massage techniques to restore balance to the vital energies. Also offered April 2–4. Pierre Montpetit is a therapist in the ashram’s Well Being Center and has been dedicated to self-healing and Eastern philosophy since the age of 19 when he was initiated into meditation and yoga. He has trained with Deepak Chopra and John Douillard in pulse diagnostics, marma therapy, and Ayurvedic body treatments.
Nora Benian bio page 14.
26 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
February 6–10
Essentials of Yoga I: Create a Daily Practice
Senior Sivananda Instructors Tuition $240. Add 6 nights accommodations.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM | SPECIAL EVENT
February 6–9
Mindfulness, Vitality, and Transformation: The Art and Science of Thriving Cassandra Vieten and Elissa Epel
Create the conditions for positive, profound, and lasting transformations. Join two uniquely qualified experts in the science of resilience, aging well, and thriving in modern times, along with like-minded individuals to explore questions about life, our intersecting paths, and the unfolding mysteries. Experience scientifically validated practices, including embodied exercises, mindfulness practices, and transformative inquiry to guide you toward your short- and long-term goals. Cassandra Vieten, PhD, is a scientist at California Pacific Medical Center’s Mind-Body Research Group, and a psychologist, researcher, author, and international workshop leader. Her current projects focus on spirituality in mental health care, extraordinary experiences from meditation, and virtual reality approaches to induce perspective-shifting experiences. Elissa Epel, PhD, is a professor of psychiatry at University of California San Francisco. Coauthor of the New York Times bestseller The Telomere Effect: A Revolutionary Approach to Living Younger, Healthier, Longer with Nobel laureate Elizabeth Blackburn, Elissa studies chronic stress and psychological and physiological thriving.
Engage with the tools of Sivananda Yoga for enlivening physical, mental, and spiritual health. Learn a routine of yoga postures, breathing exercises and relaxation to uplift your life.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
February 7–9
The Path of Devotion: Talks on Srimad Bhagavatam Swami Gopal Sharan
Become inspired with the essential teachings of Bhakti Yoga. Srimad Bhagavatam is one of the great Puranas and it narrates the story of the life of Lord Krishna. It focuses on devotion and love of the Divine as the path to Self-knowledge and spiritual liberation. This is a rare opportunity to learn about the path of devotion with one of the most renowned spiritual teachers of India. Swami Gopal Sharan comes from the Nimbarka Sampradaya, one of the four traditional Vaishnava teaching lineages. In 2009, he was chosen by Hinduism Today as the recipient of the Hindu Renaissance Award, becoming Hindu of the Year for 2009. He travels extensively and is the force behind the construction of new temples worldwide.
WATCH Cassandra Vieten on our YouTube Channel.
sivanandabahamas.org 27
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM | SPECIAL EVENT
February 10–14
INTERFAITH DEVOTIONAL SINGING FESTIVAL ON THE WINGS OF ECSTASY Davod Azad, Ken Whiteley, Sushri Rameshwari Devi, Aviva Chernick, Maggie Wheeler, and Emile Hassan Dyer
C
ome together for an experience of sacred music and sound as devotional practice. Devotional singing is a widespread practice in religions and spiritual traditions worldwide, in monasteries, temples, shrines, churches, ashrams, and other places of worship. This year, we celebrate Unity in Diversity with the sacred sounds of Sufi music, the living spirit of gospel, the heart-awakening practice of call-and-response kirtan, the soulful vocals of Jewish cantorial singing, and the harmonies of communal sound. Come sing your heart open, honor the Divine, and nourish your soul.
28 sivanandabahamas.org
Davod Azad is a vocalist, composer, and multi-instrumental musician and virtuoso. A prominent master of Sufi music, he has performed extensively over the last two decades. Ken Whiteley leads gospel singing workshops across Canada and has performed throughout North America in his long career. He has made 30 recordings and has won a Canadian Folk Music Award. Sushri Rameshwari Devi received training in scriptural knowledge and music from her guru, Jagadguruttam Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj. Her unwavering love for God and Guru is the driving force of her enchanting music and spiritual talks. Aviva Chernick is lead singer of the Canadian world music group Jaffa Road, inspired by her work as a cantorial singer and prayer leader and her study of the Balkan Judeo-Spanish tradition. Maggie Wheeler is an actress, passionate song leader, singer-songwriter, choir director, workshop facilitator, and cofounder of the Golden Bridge Community Choir in Los Angeles.
Emile Hassan Dyer is a vocalist, percussionist, vocal improviser, and storyteller. Raised in France and Senegal, he was influenced at an early age by the rhythms and music of West Africa.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
EXPERIENTIAL COURSE
February 10–14
VEDANTA IMMERSION
Peace of Mind and Heart: Annual Meditation Retreat with Swami Hridyananda
Tuition $275. Add 6 nights accommodations. Disengage from the distractions of your busy life in this 5-day meditation immersion. Swami Sivananda taught that meditation is a practice used to realize our true nature, to transcend the turmoil of the mind, and to align with our inner state of peace. Under the experienced guidance of Swami Hridyananda, you will explore meditative theory, sitting practice, mauna (silence), asanas (postures), and mindfulness. Discover more online. Swami Hridyananda bio on page 21.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
February 10–16
The Secret of Unconditional Love: Teachings on the Narada Bhakti Sutra Rukmini Chaitanya
Discover the key to opening the doors of your heart through the ancient Vedic text the Narada Bhakti Sutra. This program with Rukmini Chaitanya is also offered June 5–9; see page 62.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
February 13–15
Essentials of Positive Thinking: Wake Up Your Mind
Senior Sivananda Instructors
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
February 13–April 2
Taittiriya Upanishad Immersion Swamini Atmaprakashananda Saraswati
Hear and experience the masterful telling and teachings of a masterful work. Of the 108 Upanishads, ten are considered to be the most important, including the Taittiriya Upanishad, which discusses all major issues in Vedanta. If you choose to join this program while you are here, we request that you attend once per day during your stay. Swamini Atmaprakashananda Saraswati is Acharya of Arsha Vidya in the United Kingdom. She is a disciple of renowned Vedantic teacher Swami Dayananda Saraswati of Rishikesh. Swaminiji warmly delivers Vedantic discourses internationally and conducts ceremonies and worship within the Vedic tradition.
REFRESH AND REJUVENATE
February 14–17
Pure Body Cleansing and Healing Retreat
Katie Papo (Ambika) and Sanatani
Tuition $166. Add 4 nights accommodations
Tuition $325. Add 5 nights accommodations.
Discover the connection between your thinking, emotions, and health and learn simple practical tools for enhancing your thought power.
Detox your body with nutrient-dense cleansing foods and juices and nurture your whole self. Explore the guidance of your body’s wisdom as you overcome food cravings, ease bloat, calm your thoughts, and raise your vitality. Practice effective strategies for clearing old eating patterns, uprooting negative emotions, and shifting unhelpful behaviors. You will emerge light and free, with the practical know-how to use these transformative tools at home. Katie Papo (Ambika) is the former director of the Shane Diet, a Sivananda Yoga teacher, and a leader of yoga, food, and wellness programs for the past decade. She frequently presents within the Sivananda organization on the topics of stress management, self-care, and the art of eating. Sanatani bio on page 25.
sivanandabahamas.org 29
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
February 16–20
Essentials of Yoga III: Advance Your Studies
Senior Sivananda Instructors Tuition $240. Add 6 nights accommodations.
Develop a more precise and focused asana practice and deepen your knowledge of yoga philosophy.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
February 16–22
Beginners Yoga Immersion Week
February 15–17
The Metaphysical Mind: Probing the Biology of Spiritual Experience
Arjuna
Andrew Newberg
With pioneering expert Andrew Newberg, we will explore the basic principles of the emerging field of neurotheology—the study of mystical and religious experiences. By studying the brain during practices such as meditation, yoga, and prayer, new insights have emerged on how mystical or enlightenment experiences change the brain in the moment and in the long run. These brain changes can significantly positively alter our sense of purpose, well-being, and understanding of reality and the spiritual path.
Receive a step-by-step introduction to yoga postures, breathing exercises, and more. You will gain a solid, well-rounded understanding of yoga and discover how to easily fit yoga into your lifestyle when you return home. Arjuna bio on page 39.
Andrew Newberg, MD, is Director of Research at the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health at Thomas Jefferson University and Hospital in Philadelphia, where he is also a professor. Coauthor of Why God Won’t Go Away: Brain Science and the Biology of Belief, Dr. Newberg has appeared in numerous media and news platforms and in the movie Awake: The Life of Yogananda.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
February 17–19
The Vision of the Bhagavad Gita Swamini Atmaprakashananda Saraswati
Traverse the philosophical wisdom offered by the Bhagavad Gita under the guidance of a knowledgeable and practiced teacher. You will follow Arjuna’s pilgrimage through the vexing problems of this earthly plane and discover how to approach your life with higher understanding and clarity of perception. The purpose of the Bhagavad Gita is to show us how the Upanishads can be practiced in daily life, to bring us into a higher state of right understanding. Swamini Atmaprakashananda Saraswati bio on page 29.
30 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM | SPECIAL EVENT
February 21
MAHASIVARATRI Celebrate with us.
A Night of Pujas and Chanting Krishnan Namboodiri and Senior Staff with Special Guest Krishna Das Mahasivaratri, the night of Siva, is celebrated throughout India and the world. Join us in celebration of this sacred night in the yogic calendar for chanting, pujas, and morning prasad. We will celebrate throughout this auspicious night with homas and pujas — traditional fire and prayer ceremonies — conducted by the ashram’s Tantric priest. Senior staff of the Yoga Retreat will lead continuous Siva chants from dusk until dawn. Together, we will enjoy a variety of prasads (blessed offerings) in the morning. Om Namah Sivaya! Krishnan Namboodiri is a Tantric priest from South India, trained in the classical tradition of mantras (sacred sounds), pujas (prayer ceremonies), homas (fire rituals), and yantras (sacred geometric designs). He performs many daily and special rituals for the ashram.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
February 20–21
Saivism and the Significance of Mahasivaratri Menas Kafatos
At this time of Mahasivaratri, take this exciting new opportunity to study the sublime foundation of Saivism, the Siva Sutras. Gain new perspectives on some of life’s most important questions: What is reality? How do we live our daily lives? What answers does science provide that can inform our practical steps to a fulfilling and loving life? Expand your worldview with practical spiritual insights with the goal of elevating, expanding, and fulfilling your own life. Menas Kafatos, PhD, is a quantum physicist, cosmologist, and climate-change researcher who works extensively on consciousness. He has 44 years of experience in undergraduate and graduate teaching and research, and has authored more than 300 articles and published or coauthored 19 books.
We are especially delighted that Krishna Das will be chanting with us for some of Mahasivaratri on February 21. YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
February 21–23
Yoga of Chant Retreat Krishna Das
Nourish your heart, inspire your mind, and uplift your spirit through chant, music, and devotion. Krishna Das shares the heart of his spiritual practice through his concerts and workshops, using the power and joy of chanting to lead you into your inner heart space. Join one of the foremost devotional singers in the world for evening kirtan concerts and afternoon workshops with musical prayer and teachings on Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of devotion. Krishna Das is a disciple of Indian sage Neem Karoli Baba. Grammy-nominated for Best New Age Album, he performs traditional Hindu kirtan with accessible melodies and modern instrumentation. Krishna Das has become a worldwide icon and the best-selling Western chant artist of all time.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
February 23
Chanting the Hanuman Chalisa Nina Rao
The Hanuman Chalisa is a sacred 40-verse devotional hymn that has been recited for hundreds of years in India to the Hindu god Hanuman, who represents selfless devotion. Chanting the Chalisa together, with musical accompaniment, we discover the beauty and relevance of this ancient practice today. Nina Rao learned traditional chants from her grandfather in South India when she was nine years old. She is Krishna Das’ business manager and assistant and accompanies him on tour. A kirtan leader herself, she has released two CDs: Antarayaami: Knower of All Hearts and Anubhav. WATCH Krishna Das and Nina Rao on our YouTube Channel.
sivanandabahamas.org 31
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
February 23–25
Cultivating Virtues and Eradicating Vices Swami Paramananda
Cultivating virtues, morality, and ethics is a prerequisite for success in meditation. It is the foundation of spiritual practice. Cultivating virtues generates peace of mind and helps concentration, memory, and other cognitive functions. It also brings joy to the heart. Swami Paramananda is the manager of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Ranch and longtime teacher of Sivananda Yoga Teacher Trainings in the Bahamas, New York, and India. A much-loved teacher admired for his humor, warmth, and devotion to the practice, he seamlessly weaves classical yoga teachings with modern daily life.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
February 25
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ON
Yoga & Spiritual Life
SWAMI SWAROOPANANDA Swami Swaroopananda answers aspirants’ questions, clears troubled minds, and inspires listeners to advance on the spiritual path. Find out more on page 9.
32 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
February 26–28
The Healing Way of Huichol Shamanism: Connect with Your True Nature Brant Secunda
Explore the path of traditional Huichol shamanism with renowned shaman-healer Brant Secunda. In this program, you will dive into the indigenous wisdom of the Huichol, one of the last tribes in North America to maintain their pre-Columbian traditions. Come experience the sacred Dance of the Deer Ceremony and discover ancient wisdom for the modern world. Brant Secunda is a shaman, healer, and ceremonial leader in the Huichol Indian tradition of Mexico who teaches worldwide. Director of the Dance of the Deer Foundation Center for Shamanic Studies, he is coauthor of the awardwinning Fit Soul, Fit Body: 9 Keys to a Healthier, Happier You.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
February 28–March 1
Essentials of Positive Thinking: Wake Up Your Mind
Senior Sivananda Instructors Tuition $166. Add 4 nights accommodations.
Discover the connection between your thinking, emotions, and health and learn simple practical tools for enhancing your thought power.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
REFRESH AND REJUVENATE EXPERIENTIAL COURSE
February 26–March 1
Gracious Living Detox Cleanse Grace Van Berkum
Tuition $425. Add 6 nights accommodations. Watch your digestion and metabolism improve with a menu of fresh juices, superfood smoothies, and healing gazpachos prepared in creative, delicious ways. Reduce inflammation, refresh your taste buds, and clear your mind under the guidance of an experienced health practitioner. You’ll return home feeling great — with practical tips, tools, and recipes to continue your healthy lifestyle. Also offered May 23–26; see page 59. Grace Van Berkum is a registered holistic nutritionist, Sivananda Yoga teacher, certified personal trainer, and founder of GLO Selfcare Center in northern Nicaragua. She is known for her nutrient-dense and delicious raw, vegan, plant-powered recipes, and she leads retreats on nutrition, conscious eating, and yoga worldwide.
Combine two healing traditions: Ayurveda and Thai Yoga Massage. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
February 28–March 4
Ayurvedic Thai Yoga Therapy Level 1: A Lotus Palm Certification Sukha Wong
Tuition $650. Add 7 nights accommodations.
Train in the practical methods of Ayurvedic knowledge to deepen the therapeutic quality of a Thai Yoga Massage. Learn to determine an individual’s Ayurvedic constitution so you can customize a 60-minute massage according to their body type (dosha) and incorporate a deeper understanding of energy movement into the massage. There is no prerequisite to take this course. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
March 6–11
Ayurvedic Thai Yoga Therapy Level 2: A Lotus Palm Certification Sukha Wong
Tuition $650. Add 7 nights accommodations.
February 27–March 2
Refilling Your Well: The Art of Sacred Self-Care Priti Robyn Ross
Tuition $375. Add 6 nights accommodations. There comes a time when you know you need to take a break for self-care — when body and soul are searching for sacred space to relax and let go. Come spend a restorative time-out immersed in nurturing activities that replenish your soul, increase your joy, and transform your stress into bliss. Experience gentle yoga classes, massage, meditation on the beach, metta (loving-kindness), breathwork, and Yoga Nidra or “yogic sleep.” Awaken your inner peacemaker using creative journaling, guided imagery, and joyful movement. Priti Robyn Ross has been leading yoga and wellness workshops for more than 25 years. She is cofounder of the Pranotthan Yoga School, has directed teacher trainings, and she pioneered a cardiac yoga program at ColumbiaPresbyterian Medical Center with Dr. Mehmet Oz.
Learn to identify and massage the 18 marma points (vital energy points) and how to recognize immediate imbalances and needs of an individual based on their body type (dosha). Practice creating a four-session Thai Yoga Massage wellness program that takes into account nutritional, lifestyle, and yoga recommendations according to a person’s body type and constitutional tendencies. The prerequisite for this course is Lotus Palm Ayurvedic Thai Yoga Therapy 1 or Lotus Palm Thai Yoga Massage Level 3. Please note You can combine these two trainings for a total tuition of $1,140. Sukha Wong is part of a long line of Thai masters. She studied closely with Kam Thye Chow and is owner of the Lotus Palm Institute of Thai Yoga Massage. A certified massage therapist, she develops bodywork courses and teaches internationally.
sivanandabahamas.org 33
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
March 2–6
Essentials of Meditation: Cultivate Your Full Potential Senior Sivananda Instructors
Tuition $240. Add 6 nights accommodations.
Learn meditation to improve your concentration and happiness and reduce stress and anxiety in daily life. YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
February 29
March 2–4
Spiritual Connection: Bahamian Music Concert
Karma Yoga: Love in Action Jnaneshwari Chaitanya
Tanya and Paul Hanna (Shakti and Narayana) Music is an art form of harmony, peace, and complete tranquility. Leave the stresses of daily life behind and soothe your soul with beloved Bahamian musicians and friends of the ashram. Tanya and Paul Hanna (Shakti and Narayana) are Bahamian music icons as well as producers, songwriters, musicians, and vocalists who have toured widely and performed with many Grammy winners, including Stan Getz. Both graduates of the Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course, they are also wellness advocates and are actively involved in their local community.
What is your purpose, and how do you choose to serve others in this life? A purifier of the heart, Karma Yoga offers a broad outlook on life, allowing you to live generously and joyously. Learn how you can be of true service to others through your actions and how to radiate positivity and devotion in all aspects of your life. Jnaneshwari Chaitanya is a senior staff member of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat. A knowledgeable, experienced teacher and yoga practitioner, she has been teaching courses on yoga, meditation, positive thinking, and other related topics for many years.
WATCH Tanya and Paul Hanna on our YouTube Channel.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
March 1–5
Yoga for Householders Arjuna
Take the ashram home with you. Discover key teachings to guide you in simple, adaptable daily practices that fit your busy lifestyle. Also a vegetarian chef and a father, Arjuna will share tips on following a yogic diet that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Arjuna bio on page 39.
34 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
March 4–31
200-Hour Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course Learn how to bring the benefits of classical yoga to others and take your yoga practice to a deeper, more meaningful level.
Find more details on page 6 and online.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
March 2–6
Healing Through Sound, Yoga, and Movement
John Beaulieu and Thea Keats Beaulieu
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
March 2–6
Chair Yoga Teacher Training: Making Yoga Accessible to Everyone Stacie Dooreck (Saraswati)
Tuition $380. Add 6 nights accommodations. Learn how to make yoga accessible to seniors, individuals with disabilities or limited mobility, the chronically ill, and those recovering from injuries or surgery. You will learn to teach modified yoga postures in chairs, including sun salutations, and offer breathing practices, chanting, and meditation. Find out more online. Stacie Dooreck (Saraswati), a Sivananda Yoga instructor since 1995, is the creator of SunLight Chair Yoga and author of SunLight Chair Yoga: Yoga for Everyone! She offers Chair Yoga teacher trainings at Sivananda ashrams in the US and Bahamas and has taught at a variety of health clubs, senior homes, hospitals, and corporations.
Learn about the true nature of sound as understood by ancient yogis and modern scientists and explore the nature of the five elements (ether, air, fire, water, earth). Experience a special concert of BioSonic tuning forks and learn techniques for using tuning forks to work with acupuncture points, meridians, and trigger points. You will also experience a special yoga session that merges energy healing, sound, and yoga. John Beaulieu, ND, PhD, is a naturopathic doctor, counseling psychologist, boardcertified polarity therapist, composer, pianist, and sound therapist. A world leader in the use of integrative energy medicine for healing, he is also an author, researcher, and professor. Thea Keats Beaulieu is a dance and movement therapist and a registered Polarity practitioner. Previously a principal dancer with the Isadora Duncan Dance Company, she is also the author of Color Love Journal, an internationally best-selling book on how we can use colors for healing.
sivanandabahamas.org 35
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM | SPECIAL EVENT
March 6–9
HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL MUSIC AND DANCE FESTIVAL
Swapan Chaudhuri, Pandit Habib Khan, Pooja Goswami Pavan, A. Pavan, Raginder Singh Momi, Shambhavi Dandekar, and Nilan Chaudhuri
T
he late GS Sachdev originated and then organized this festival for many years, also originating and directing the Classical Indian Music School, now in its 4th year. We are grateful to his wife Saroj and his son Amar for organizing this year’s festival and school and for carrying on the mission.
Raginder Singh Momi is a violinist and music composer and a disciple of renowned Indian classical violinist Dr. Sisirkana Choudhury.
Shambhavi Dandekar is a classical Kathak dancer who has performed to wide acclaim worldwide and brings a modern vision to the traditional form.
Join us for an uplifting and inspirational experience of classical Indian music and dance, as renowned masters come together to share their musical gifts and messages. This is a rare opportunity to listen to and watch masters of classical Indian music and dance, who have practiced all their life and obtained perfection, each on their own instrument.
Nilan Chaudhuri has spent his life steeped in the tradition of Indian Classical Music and has accompanied some of India’s most celebrated Indian classical musicians worldwide.
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. Pandit Habib Khan began his sitar training at the age of five and has become an important contributor to the Indo-American classical music world as well as to the jazz scene in the US.
EXPERIENTIAL COURSE
March 7–10
4th Annual Classical Indian Music School
Pooja Goswami Pavan and A. Pavan Tuition: $405. Add 5 nights accommodations.
Pooja Goswami Pavan, PhD, is a versatile singer with a repertoire that includes Thumri, Dadra, Ghazal, Bhajan, and various folk genres in addition to Khayals. A. Pavan, PhD, is a tabla player who has studied with several masters over the years and serves on the advisory board of the Indian Music Society of Minnesota.
36 sivanandabahamas.org
This is a rare opportunity to study directly with acclaimed musicians and performers of North Indian classical music, who also each have extensive teaching experience. Learn the foundational concepts of voice, raga, melodic form, tabla, and time measures; experience vocal lessons, exercises and group performance of bhajans, or kirtans; and take tabla lessons directly with A. Pavan. Find out more online.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
March 7–10
Creating Sacred Space with Vaastu Shastra Design: Heal Your Home Olga Mandodari Sokolova
Vaastu Shastra is a 10,000-year-old ancient science of architecture and design that maximizes the peace, harmony, and prosperity you can attain in your home or office. By understanding every building as a unique living organism, you can use layout, design, and space arrangement to bring healing benefits into your life. Learn practical strategies based in this ancient science to bring balance, abundance, and peace into your home and work space. Olga Mandodari Sokolova, PhD, is a certified Vaastu Shastra consultant, who studied under renowned architect Dr. V. Sthapati Ganapati. She received her certification from the International Institute of Mayonic Science and Technology in Chennai, India, and holds a master’s degree in civil engineering from the Architectural University of St. Petersburg, Russia.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
March 7–11
Essentials of Yoga I: Create a Daily Practice
Senior Sivananda Instructors Tuition: $240. Add 6 nights accommodations.
Engage with the tools of Sivananda Yoga for enlivening physical, mental, and spiritual health. Learn a routine of yoga postures, breathing exercises and relaxation to uplift your life.
Two opportunities to experience Family Constellations. Get freed up. The Family Constellation system helps people navigate the intergenerational map of their ancestors through a guided format that releases entanglements still unconsciously influencing them. YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
March 10–12
Introduction to Family Constellations: Uncovering the Origins of Family Conflict Suzi Tucker
In this series of lectures and short workshops you will learn how key elements of your life, like success, failure, joy and sadness, may be linked to historical family events; why we are drawn to certain relationships (even when they are not a good fit); and how to turn ancestral burdens into blessings. EXPERIENTIAL COURSE
March 13–15 YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
March 10–12
Sadhana: How to Stick to Your Practice at Home Jnaneshwari Chaitanya
Learn how to cultivate self-discipline and maintain a spiritual practice amidst the stress of daily life. Swami Sivananda described sadhana as spiritual movement that is consciously systematized. It is the touchstone to which we return, in times of ease or challenge, and supports our spiritual progress. These talks provide inspiration and guidance in establishing and committing to sadhana. Jnaneshwari Chaitanya is a senior staff member of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat. A knowledgeable, experienced teacher and yoga practitioner, she has been teaching courses on yoga, meditation, positive thinking, and other related topics for many years.
Family Constellation Retreat: Turning Ancestral Burdens into Blessings Suzi Tucker
Tuition $375. Add 4 nights accommodations. In a safe and confidential container, you will be guided into your family systems to uncover both the wounds and hidden resources that reside there. Embody the energies in a family’s emotional field, discover why love is being diverted, and clear the energetic blockages. Together we will identify and break unconscious contracts with earlier generations and you will take home techniques to incorporate into any therapy or healing work as well as self-healing practice. Suzi Tucker has been exploring the dynamics of family origins and ancestral groups with Bert Hellinger in the US, studying and collaborating on all of his books in English. Her unique work has made her sought-after in diverse healing centers.
sivanandabahamas.org 37
Learn iRest® with Anne Douglas.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
March 12–14
The Yogic Path of Right Livelihood Urmila Devi Dasi
The Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavat Purana emphasize linking our natural tendencies, talents, and tastes to our means of livelihood as a key to harmony with universal truth. Uncover your ideal livelihood through yogic teachings on the six ways to have a rich life and the four main fields of vocation. Everyone is welcome, especially those who struggle with questions around livelihood and abundance and those who guide others to their suitable work. Urmila Devi Dasi (Edith Best, PhD) has been practicing Bhakti Yoga and meditation since 1973 and teaches internationally. The author of many books and dozens of articles, Urmila earned her Doctor of Education from the University of North Carolina and has been a professor in sociology and education at Bhaktivedanta College in Belgium.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
March 12
Living Your Heart’s Desire with iRest Yoga Nidra
Alive in your very being are all the seeds you need to grow into a fulfilling and purposeful life. With the profound relaxation practice of Yoga Nidra comes the opportunity to listen deeply to your heart’s calling and allow your internal call to manifest into external reality.
EXPERIENTIAL COURSE
March 13–16
March 12–14
iRest Yoga Nidra Retreat: The Heart of Healing
Essentials of Positive Thinking: Wake Up Your Mind
Tuition $554. Add 5 nights accommodations.
Senior Sivananda Instructors Tuition: $166. Add 4 nights accommodations.
Discover the connection between your thinking, emotions, and health and learn simple practical tools for enhancing your thought power.
Yoga is a life of self-discipline built upon the tenets of simple living and high thinking.
Experience this important research-based meditation, relaxation, and healing protocol.
The practice of iRest enables you to deeply calm your nervous system and integrate difficult thoughts and emotions. It offers a portal for awakening to your essential nature. Learn the principles of iRest and experience the variety of ways it can be used to restore healing, balance, and wellness. This transformative retreat is open to everyone. Find out more online. Anne Douglas is Director of Trainers and Certification Supervisor and a senior retreat leader for the Integrative Restoration (iRest) Institute. She has been teaching yoga and meditation for more than 30 years and has a thriving yoga therapy practice in which iRest is the primary resource.
—SWAMI VISHNUDEVANANDA
38 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
March 15–18
Ancient Teachings for the Modern Yogi: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Arjuna
While the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali were born of ancient times, the teachings themselves are timeless. Learn how to bring yoga into your daily life, making its principles part of your natural state of being.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
March 14–16
Arjuna is a direct disciple of Swami Vishnudevananda who teaches regularly at the ashram. A professional vegetarian cook of 25 years, he taught family yoga programs in Sivananda centers and ashrams for many years.
You Are Enough Panache Desai
Contemporary thought leader Panache Desai teaches that somewhere along the way, some time in the past, we began to believe that we were not enough. It is time to unravel this essential untruth and release what is preventing us from achieving our true potential. It is time to remember that everything you are searching for already exists within you and start living the magnificent life you were born to lead. Panache Desi is a best-selling author, storyteller, and business and life catalyst who has been changing lives through energetic transformation for more than 10 years. He is author of the best-selling Discovering Your Soul Signature and has appeared on countless media outlets, including Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday and Dr. Oz. WATCH Panache Desai on our YouTube Channel.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
March 16–19
The Road to Spiritual Liberation: Viveka Chudamani Swami Tattwamayananda
Explore the tenets of Advaita Vedanta in this lucid and poetic dialogue between Guru and disciple on some of the fundamental questions of life. The Viveka Chudamani is one of Adi Shankaracharya’s introductory treatises, studied and memorized by students in the Vedanta tradition. Tune into the secrets of the disciple’s highest Advaitic experience. Swami Tattwamayananda is the minister overseeing the Vedanta Society of Northern California in San Francisco. He has served in various centres of India’s Ramakrishna order and teaches Sanskrit, Vedic scriptures, and Indian philosophy. He came to the United States in 2012 to serve the organization and spread the teachings of Vedanta.
March 13–16
The Secrets of True Happiness: Teachings on Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita Rukmini Chaitanya
We are all seeking true happiness in our lives — and guidance for how to attain it. In this inspiring program with a senior ashram teacher, you will discover the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, with very practical instruction on how to turn your daily life into spiritual practice. Rukmini Chaitanya is a senior staff member of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat and personal assistant to Swami Swaroopananda, the Ashram Director. A knowledgeable and experienced teacher and yoga practitioner, she has been teaching yoga classes and offering lectures on yoga philosophy for many years.
sivanandabahamas.org 39
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
SPRING TRAINING IN THE BAHAMAS
March 17–20
Choose from an array of life-changing options, including yoga teacher trainings, energy medicine, iRest, Ayurvedic therapies, Thai Yoga Massage, chair yoga, and much more.
Theodore Tsavoussis
Healing the Light Body: Exploring Shamanic Medicine Shamanic medicine is an ancient transformational approach to restoring power, creating healing, and harmonizing the mind, body, and spirit through the light body. The light body consists of a luminous energy field that envelops the physical body and holds a record of all our emotional, physical, and spiritual traumas. Theodore Tsavoussis earned professional certification in energy medicine from the Light Body School of the Four Winds Society, developed by Alberto Villoldo. Theodore has traveled to numerous sacred sites in South America, where he worked with indigenous shamans and wisdom keepers. He practices energy medicine in Nassau, Bahamas.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
March 20–22
Essentials of Meditation: Cultivate Your Full Potential
Senior Sivananda Instructors PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
March 17–23
Ayurveda Marma Therapy Course Isvari (Mary Ann Johnson) and Vidya (Denise Chapman)
Tuition $166. Add 4 nights accommodations.
Learn meditation to improve your concentration and happiness and reduce stress and anxiety in daily life.
Tuition $785. Add 8 nights accommodations. Marma (acupressure) points are energy pathways for healing body, mind, and consciousness. Students will become acquainted with the 117 vital energy points and understand their relationship with the organs, tissues, and channels. Learn about the basic principles of Ayurveda and how to analyze the tongue, hands, and face. Practice dinacharya (daily routine) and aromatherapy. This course is ideal for practicing healing arts therapists and those interested in learning this profound self-healing modality. Find out more online. Isvari (Mary Ann Johnson) has been a dedicated practitioner of Ayurveda and yoga for more than 20 years. An advanced Sivananda Yoga teacher and graduate of Dr. Vasant Lad’s Ayurvedic Institute, she teaches internationally and is the director of Ayurveda at the Sivananda Yoga Ranch. Vidya (Denise Chapman) is a certified Sivananda Yoga Instructor, licensed massage therapist, panchakarma therapist and a graduate of Dr. Vasant Lad’s Ayurvedic Institute. She is passionate about integrating Vedic sciences, teaching yoga, and sharing Ayurveda for well-being.
40 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
March 20–22
Yoga of Sound Russill Paul
Music and sound healing can rejuvenate your body and brighten your soul’s path. Release your inhibitions and engage in spiritual sing-along, and open yourself to greater joy, wholeness, and vibrational healing. Led by a world-class spiritual musician, you will be guided through methods of chant, allowing you to experience remarkable benefits regardless of your musical background. Russill Paul (Anirud Jaidev) is a pioneer of the sound healing movement in the West, and a leading authority on the sonic applications of yoga. Integrating his years of Sanskrit chanting and music in India, he authored The Yoga of Sound: Tapping the Hidden Power of Music and Chant. WATCH Russill Paul on our YouTube Channel.
EXPERIENTIAL COURSE
March 20–24
Wholly Healing: From Soul to Cell
Joyce Hawkes and Helen Folsom Tuition $365. Add 6 nights accommodations. Join internationally recognized healing facilitators Joyce Hawkes and Helen Folsom in an exploration your inherent healing abilities. Learn steps you can take to come into alignment with the body, the mind, and the higher self to embody health and to assist others in healing. Joyce and Helen teach that while the mind plays its part in healing, and the deep soul is there to guide us along the way, true healing happens in our cells. Joyce Hawkes, PhD, is a biophysicist and cell-biologist whose near-death experience in 1984 caused her to embark on extensive exploration of indigenous spiritual and healing traditions, which she incorporated into her book Cell-Level Healing. Helen Folsom, hypnotherapist, altered states therapist, healing facilitator, and musician, is certified by the Institute for Therapeutic Learning as an advanced practitioner. She is also author of the award-winning children’s book series Runt Farm.
sivanandabahamas.org 41
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM | SPECIAL EVENT
March 22–25
12th Annual
YOGA FOR PEACE SYMPOSIUM
Nathan Katz, Elaine Valdov, Iqbal Akhtar, Zafreen Jaffery, Fleet Maull, and Swami Brahmananda
W
hy do we fail to attain outer peace? The answer is within.
How can we move from our hearts’ desire to manifest every religion’s promise of peace in our world that emerges from the peace of our inner beings? This yoga and peacemaking symposium will look at that promise. Peace workers from Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism will teach on how they have accessed inner peace and share stories of bringing that peace into the outer world, demonstrating how our actions can bring us closer to our goal. Swami Vishnudevananda founded the Sivananda Ashram in the Bahamas in 1968 with a mission to spread peace in the world through yoga and Vedanta. He himself undertook peace missions to troubled areas of the world, and he created the first Yoga Teacher Training in the West with a goal of training peace ambassadors who would take their yoga peace training into the world. We are honored to present this year’s exploration of his mission. We invite you to uplift yourself with these direct, heart-driven endeavors and bring peace into your heart.
Nathan Katz, PhD, is the author of 15 books and is Distinguished Professor, Emeritus, at Florida International University, where he has served in many roles, including as the Bhagwan Mahavir Professor of Jain Studies, Director of Jewish Studies, and founding Chair of the Department of Religious Studies. Elaine Valdov, PhD, a representative to the United Nations, is a peace and human-rights activist, conflict-resolution specialist, and founder and President of Yoga Peace Ambassadors, Yogis Beyond Borders, International Peace Ambassadors, and the International Institute for a Culture of Peace. Iqbal Akhtar, PhD, is an assistant professor at the Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs. He is currently exploring the origin of the Khojo peoples in the Indian subcontinent through extant oral traditions.
Zafreen Jaffery, EdD, works at the Children’s Trust as a research and evaluation analyst for the early childhood development initiative, has written many publications, and has worked on programs throughout the US, including one funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Fleet Maull, PhD, CMT-P, is a fully empowered senior meditation and Dharma teacher in both the Tibetan and Zen Buddhist traditions, as well as a Dharma successor of Roshi Bernie Glassman cofounder of the Zen Peacemakers, an international movement integrating Zen with social action. Swami Brahmananda is Manager of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat and senior staff of the Sivananda organization. A longtime practitioner of yoga, he regularly teaches yoga philosophy and meditation for the Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Courses as well as other immersion courses.
42 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
EXPERIENTIAL COURSE
March 22–26
Moving Beyond Anxiety and Depression with LifeForce Yoga Rose Kress and Alyce Wellons
Tuition $640. Add 6 nights accommodations. Learn empowering, accessible, and evidence-based practices for optimum mental health. LifeForce Yoga, created by Amy Weintraub, uses ancient yogic practices adapted for those struggling with any mood issue, from daily energy swings, to disorders like anxiety, depression, and trauma. This experiential workshop is open to yoga teachers, mental-health professionals, and everyone seeking to learn additional mood-management tools. Rose Kress, ERYT-500, C-IAYT, is the Director of LifeForce Yoga Healing Institute and created the Mantra Chanting with Rose and Pathways to Relaxation recordings. Rose integrates LifeForce Yoga techniques into yoga for back pain, cancer, pulmonary disease, structural wellness, and yoga therapy. Alyce Wellons, LCSW, has been a psychotherapist for more than 18 years, working with individuals and couples in short- and long-term psychotherapy. A LifeForce Yoga practitioner, she incorporates body-based healing modalities for wellness in both work and life.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
March 25–29
Essentials of Yoga II: Deepen Your Practice
Senior Sivananda Instructors Tuition $240. Add 6 nights accommodations.
Deepen your experience with the 12 basic postures of Sivananda Yoga. Each day focuses on a new theme while practicing asanas.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
March 26–28
The Art of Positive Thinking Swami Shambhudevananda
Watch your life change from the inside out. Explore the power of the subconscious mind, teach your mind to appreciate life’s lessons as they come, and learn how to fail forward by growing from any seemingly negative situation. Swami Shambhudevananda bio on page 51.
In partnership with the California College of Ayurveda YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
March 26–27
Yoga Nidra for Self-Healing
Marc Halpern (Siva) and Andrea Deerheart Explore the healing possibilities of Yoga Nidra with Marc Halpern, an expert in the field with more than 30 years of personal experience in practice and teaching, and Andrea Deerheart, who works to bring Yoga Nidra to the end-of-life community. Through presentations and a Yoga Nidra experience, you will learn an important practice to incorporate into your self-healing journey. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
March 28–April 1
Yoga Nidra Teacher Training: The Art of Conscious Deep Relaxation and Healing
Marc Halpern (Siva) and Andrea Deerheart Tuition $795. Add 6 nights accommodations.
Yoga Nidra is the art of conscious deep relaxation that allows you to begin to experience the flow of prana in your physical and subtle bodies. You can then identify and release blockages to the flow of prana and ultimately bring healing to the body and mind and expand consciousness. During this course, you will experience Yoga Nidra and learn how to teach it to others. Topics covered will include the history, physiology, science, and practice of Yoga Nidra. Marc Halpern (Siva), DC, CAS, PKS, is founder and President of the California College of Ayurveda and the author of Healing Your Life: Lessons on the Path of Ayurveda. A Sivananda Yoga teacher, he is cofounder of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association and the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine. Andrea Deerheart, PhD, RYT-500, is founder of The HeartWay, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to embracing life and honoring death. Using her wisdom gathered from decades of guiding the living and dying, Andrea provides loving care on physical, spiritual, and psychological levels. WATCH Marc Halpern on our YouTube Channel.
sivanandabahamas.org 43
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
March 26–28
March 28
Yogic Techniques for Happiness and Peace of Mind
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ON
Yoga & Spiritual Life
Parvati Chaitanya
SWAMI SWAROOPANANDA Swami Swaroopananda answers aspirants’ questions, clears troubled minds, and inspires listeners to advance on the spiritual path. Find out more on page 9.
Yoga provides time-tested strategies that bring us closer to our birthright of true happiness. Learn how to improve your mood and balance your emotions through your food, environment, and daily routine. Return home with a variety of methods to create a positive and healing mindset. Parvati Chaitanya is a senior staff member of the ashram with many years of experience teaching, studying, and practicing yoga. She currently serves the ashram as caretaker of the gardens. REFRESH AND REJUVENATE
March 27–31
Ayurvedic Detoxification Rejuvenation Retreat Manas Kshirsagar
Tuition $475. Add 6 nights accommodations. Join a special cleansing week consisting of a diet of kitchari, a nourishing rice and lentil dish that is the foundation of an Ayurvedic detox and gives a break to the digestive system. Regular cleanses are an important part of the Ayurvedic seasonal routine as they aid in disease prevention and wellness. During this detox retreat, you will have a detailed evaluation so you can bring home a personalized lifestyle plan. Manas Kshirsagar is a certified Ayurvedic practitioner who comes from a Rig Vedic Brahmin tradition. Manas graduated from the Aloha Ayurveda Academy and Maharishi University of Management and is an acclaimed wellness and Ayurveda consultant and health educator.
44 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
March 29–31
Peace Is My Religion: Music of the Mystics Omar Faruk Tekbilek
“When I play, I leave a corner for God. I believe we should have direct contact with God, this is the beauty of music.” —Omar Faruk Tekbilek Blending mysticism with his own visions of peace, Turkish master musician Omar Faruk Tekbilek elegantly weaves Sufi, folk, and contemporary Middle Eastern music into an expression of devotion and love for the Divine. Omar Faruk Tekbilek is honored as a peacemaker and virtuoso and performs in celebrated concert halls internationally with musical luminaries across political and religious boundaries. A musical prodigy from a young age, Omar Faruk has been touring the world since he was in his 20s, playing music for live audiences, recorded albums, television, and film.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
April 3–30
200-Hour Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course Learn how to bring the benefits of classical yoga to others and take your yoga practice to a deeper, more meaningful level.
April 3–30
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
April 1–3
The Vision of the Bhagavad Gita Swamini Atmaprakashananda Saraswati
Traverse the philosophical wisdom offered by the Bhagavad Gita under the guidance of a knowledgeable and talented teacher. This program is also offered February 17–19; see page 30 for more information.
Advanced Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course Swami Brahmananda, Swami Shambhudevananda, Krishna Chaitanya, and Iswara Chaitanya
Earn your 500-hour certification. Deepen and expand your knowledge and practice as a yoga teacher through Sivananda advanced asana, pranayama, Vedanta, Raja Yoga, Sanskrit, and anatomy and physiology.
Find more details on page 6 and online.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
April 1–4
Practical Spirituality: The Life and Teachings of Swami Vishnudevananda Arjuna
Learn practical ways to tap into your inner power to enhance every aspect of your daily life. It’s common to feel drained from work, relationships, daily frustrations, or hardships. With Divine inspiration and depth of purpose, we can elevate ourselves from the mundane. Arjuna bio on page 39.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
April 1–5
Essentials of Positive Thinking: Wake Up Your Mind
Senior Sivananda Instructors Tuition $240. Add 6 nights accommodations. Discover the connection between your thinking, emotions, and health and learn simple practical tools for enhancing your thought power.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
April 2–4
Introduction to Reflexology Foot Massage Pierre Montpetit
Learn the basic reflex zones of the feet along with massage techniques to restore balance to the vital energies. See program description and Pierre Montpetit’s bio on page 26.
sivanandabahamas.org 45
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM | SPECIAL EVENT
April 4–12
HEALING FROM WITHIN: Annual Easter &
Passover Yoga for Healing Symposium Swami Swaroopananda, Amy Weintraub, Karla Helbert, Shamini Jain, Reverend Normandi Ellis, Tzivia Gover, Marilyn Rossner, and Bishop Trevor Williamson
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Empower your natural healing gifts. April 4–9
Energy Medicine Certification
Andreas Ledermann and Brigitta Raimann Tuition $590. Add 7 nights accommodations.
Learn how to work with life energy using bodywork sessions, Polarity Yoga, and sound therapy to balance the five elements — ether, air, fire, water, and earth — as well as the five- and six-pointed stars. Valuable on its own or as a complement to massage, yoga, nursing, counseling, physical therapy, and medical practices, the training emphasizes the application of five-element knowledge to the modern science of stress, Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Polarity Therapy. Andreas Ledermann is a naturopath, Polarity therapist, craniosacral osteopath, lecturer, and author of Polarity Therapy. He cofounded and directs the School of Holistic Naturopathy in Zug, Switzerland. Brigitta Raimann is a naturopath, Polarity therapist, craniosacral osteopath, and social worker. She is cofounder of the School of Holistic Naturopathy in Zug, Switzerland.
46 sivanandabahamas.org
S
wami Sivananda taught that health is a positive state. It is not simply negation of disease. It is our birthright, as natural as being born. Throughout millennia, humans have explored this immense healing potential within and the spiritual truths from which it emerges. Experience your own radiant inner health. This symposium brings together leaders representing a number of important therapeutic modalities that draw on ancient spiritual wisdom, modern psychology, and the shared focus on healing from within. From yoga for anxiety and depression to ancient Egyptian healing rites, dreamwork to narrative medicine, we will further our understanding of the nature of healing from a contemporary spiritual perspective, grounded in experience and science. Through afternoon workshops, participants have the opportunity to explore these modalities for their own personal healing journey and as healers themselves. Spring is a season of rebirth and renewal, a holy time for many, when individuals of diverse faiths and beliefs engage in spiritual practices and rituals that hold great meaning and opportunities for healing. We invite you for a time of celebration, learning, and healing.
Yoga philosophy does not quarrel with any religion or faith and can be practiced by anyone who is sincere and willing to search for the Truth. —SWAMI VISHNUDEVANANDA YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
Swami Swaroopananda a senior disciple of Swami Vishnudevananda, is Director of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, Acharya (spiritual director) of the Sivananda centers and ashrams in the Bahamas and Middle East, and a member of the Board of Directors of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres. Amy Weintraub, MFA, E-RYT 500, is founder of the LifeForce Yoga Healing Institute. Her protocol integrating yoga into clinical settings is used worldwide and available through her awardwinning library of yoga and meditation resources.
April 6–11
Annual Spring Family Yoga Holiday Program: For Children Ages 4–12 Sanatani and Gauri Devi
Tuition $75. See children’s rates on page 75.
Children will be introduced to yoga through short asana classes, chanting, crafts, storytelling, and lots of games and fun. Family programs also offered November 25–30 and December 26– January 1. See important information online.
Karla Helbert is a licensed professional counselor, yoga therapist, and bereaved mother. Her award-winning book Yoga for Grief and Loss is widely used by teachers, leaders, and experts in the fields of yoga, grief, and loss. Shamini Jain, PhD, is known for her research in biofield healing practices. She is the founder of Consciousness and Healing Initiative (CHI) and an assistant professor of Psychiatry at UC San Diego.
April 8
Passover Seder Celebration Swami Swaroopananda
Reverend Normandi Ellis is a Spiritualist minister, clairvoyant, and astrologer. She is author of multiple books, including Awakening Osiris, a translation of hieroglyphs from the Egyptian Book of the Dead.
Join us for a traditional celebration of the Passover seder with Swami Swaroopananda. Enjoy a delicious vegetarian feast, a reading of the Haggadah, Passover chants, and teachings from Swami Swaroopananda on the main historical and spiritual components of Passover and their relationship to yogic principles.
Tzivia Gover, CDT, MFA, is a certified dream therapist, Director of the Institute for Dream Studies, and author of Joy in Every Moment and The Mindful Way to a Good Night’s Sleep.
April 12
Marilyn Rossner, PhD, an internationally prominent intuitive, is cofounder of the International Institute of Integral Human Sciences, and founder and President of the Spiritual Science Fellowship of Canada. Bishop Trevor Williamson presently serves as the Founding and Senior Pastor of the Trinity Global Cathedral Baptist Church in Nassau, Bahamas.
Easter Sunrise Service
Swami Swaroopananda, Bishop Trevor Williamson, and Marilyn Rossner Celebrate a beautiful Easter morning with us in paradise. Listen to traditional stories and receive messages of hope and faith from Swami Swaroopananda and Bishop Trevor Williamson of the Trinity Full Baptist Church of Nassau, Bahamas. There will also be traditional Easter chanting by the choir of Trinity Full Baptist Church.
April 13–14
Life After Death: Exploring the Mystical Marilyn Rossner
Join well-known intuitive Marilyn Rossner for talks on the intriguing topic of life after death. A longtime friend of the ashram, Marilyn will share her knowledge of mysticism and life after death experiences and offer us messages from beyond — as well as practical advice for life on this plane. She will also share personal stories of her encounters with the ashram’s founder, Swami Vishnudevananda.
sivanandabahamas.org 47
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
April 10–12 [weekend]
Essentials of Meditation: Cultivate Your Full Potential
Senior Sivananda Instructors
Tuition $166. Add 4 nights accommodations. Learn meditation to improve your concentration and happiness and reduce stress and anxiety in daily life.
VEDANTA IMMERSION YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
April 10–22
The Path to Illumination: Teachings on the 15th Chapter of the Bhagavad Gita Swami Chidananda Puri
The 15th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, titled The Yoga of the Supreme Person, is the shortest chapter. Nonetheless it contains the essence of all the Vedas and is known as the Gita within the Gita. Experience traditional Vedic teachings, passed from teacher to student and find their relevance in your own understanding of life. If you choose to join this program while you are here, we request that you attend once per day during your stay.
SPRING TRAINING IN THE BAHAMAS Gain valuable skills and knowledge at a renowned destination for study and training in yoga and the healing arts. Look for the green icons in this catalog.
Swami Chidananda Puri is founder and acharya of the Advaita Ashram and a renowned teacher of Vedanta and Hinduism. He is a visiting professor at the University of Calicut, a leader in preserving the spiritual and cultural legacy of India, and the author of more than 40 books.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
April 14–23
Ayurvedic Body Treatments Certification Course Isvari (Mary Ann Johnson) and Vidya (Denise Chapman)
Tuition $890. Add 11 nights accommodations.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
April 13–16
Raja Yoga: The Royal Path to Enlightenment Swami Brahmananda
Join us on a journey exploring the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga, as described by the great yogi and Rishi, Patanjali Maharishi. We will dive deep into yogic practices and enjoy experiential sessions, alongside in-depth study of yogic theory. Swami Brahmananda is Manager of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat and senior staff of the Sivananda organization. A long-time practitioner of yoga, he regularly teaches yoga philosophy and meditation for the Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Courses as well as other immersion courses.
Learn the deeply regenerative and healing techniques of Ayurveda body treatments, also known as “bliss therapy.” In this comprehensive training, you will learn traditional oil massage (abhyanga); the technique of pouring oil over the forehead (shirodhara); and how to introduce oil into the nasal passages (nasya). This course is designed as an extensive training for massage therapists, Ayurveda practitioners, yoga teachers, and all others who have a professional or personal interest in the ancient techniques of Ayurveda body treatments. This training is followed by Ayurvedic Body Treatment Experiential Days, April 24–25. Find out more online. Space is limited and this training always fills; please register early. Isvari (Mary Ann Johnson) and Vidya (Denise Chapman) bios on page 40.
48 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
April 14–16
Living the Ecstatic Life: A Journey into the Bhakti Path of Love
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
April 16–18
The Yogic Diet: The Art of Healthy Eating Pranava Chaitanya
David Newman (Durga Das)
Learn the principles of a healthy and balanced way of eating and cooking. Discover the connection between the food we eat and our thoughts, and how to create a positive, happy, and peaceful state of mind, beginning in the kitchen. Also offered January 18-20; see page 22.
Join a weekend of music, chanting, joy, and heart-centered wisdom on the path of Bhakti love into an ecstatic life. Connect your voice and your heart, and practice shifting from the habituated reflex of closing your heart when the going gets rough to keeping your heart open as a natural and effortless impulse. Tap into the sweetness of your heart and recognize that love is your true nature. David Newman (Durga Das) is a kirtan chant artist, singer-songwriter, and Bhakti Yoga practitioner. Dedicated to chant, he shares the spiritual and musical aspects of yoga. He founded the Stay Strong Project, Yoga on Main, and is author of The Timebound Traveler. WATCH David Newman on our YouTube channel.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
April 15–19
Essentials of Yoga I: Create a Daily Practice
Senior Sivananda Instructors Tuition $240. Add 6 nights accommodations.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
April 17–22
Living in Balance: An Introduction to the Dharma Upadesa of Taittiriya Upanishad Swami Chidananda Puri
Taittiriya Upanishad is one of the major writings commented upon by Adi Shankaracharya. It discusses all the major issues in Vedanta, including the nature of the embodied soul, the nature of the world, and the nature of Supreme Reality. It is a manual of life with universal appeal that equips us with a clear course for a balanced life. Take part in the ancient wisdom of the Dharma Upadesa, and get inspired bu wise teachings on how to follow your own natural course in this life. Swami Chidananda Puri bio on page 48.
Engage with the tools of Sivananda Yoga for enlivening physical, mental, and spiritual health. Learn a routine of yoga postures, breathing exercises and relaxation to uplift your life.
sivanandabahamas.org 49
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
April 19–22
Yoga for the Nervous System Erin Bidlake
Help your body return to a relaxed state, even in the middle of your busy day. In our culture of rushing, doing, and overcaffeinating to do more, we are too often operating in fightor-flight mode. When we are constantly on the go, we take less time to rest, digest, and recover from the stresses of life.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
April 16–17
How Yoga Saves Lives
Molly Birkholm (Madhavi) and Suzi Landolphi Yoga holds the potential to help shine a light in our darkest moments, giving us the courage to move through them toward profound purpose. Be inspired by stories of how yoga has transformed the experiences of human trafficking survivors, veterans, prisoners, and others who have survived immense trauma and emerged whole.
Luckily, yoga offers ancient solutions to our modern problems. Learn how to uplift your energy levels naturally and sustainably with breathing techniques, restorative yoga postures, and mindfulness practices aimed at relaxing the nervous system. Train your parasympathetic nervous system to be the default mode, and watch your busy turn from a race to an easy flow. Caring for our nervous systems is one of the most important and empowering things we can do to create balance and well-being in a turbulent world. Erin Bidlake, PhD, is a certified yoga and meditation teacher, hospice volunteer, and death doula in Ottawa, Canada. Known for her warm personality and supportive approach, Erin brings her love of yoga and passion for lifelong learning to everything she does.
WATCH Molly Birkholm on our YouTube Channel.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
April 18–22
April 22
Molly Birkholm (Madhavi) and Suzi Landolphi
Yoga & Spiritual Life
Transforming Trauma with Yoga and Meditation Certificate Course Tuition $650. Add 6 nights accommodations. This educational certificate course is intended for anyone interested in learning more about post-traumatic growth. Ancient yogic healing practices and cutting-edge research agree: yoga and meditation regulate the nervous system, release tension and trauma from the body and mind, support wellness practices that improve self-care, and increase emotional insight about ourselves and how we connect to others. Directly experience the healing potential within these practices and the “why” behind them to better integrate them into your life and the lives of others.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ON SWAMI SWAROOPANANDA Swami Swaroopananda answers aspirants’ questions, clears troubled minds, and inspires listeners to advance on the spiritual path. Find out more on page 9.
Molly Birkholm (Madhavi) is a Sivananda Yoga teacher, iRest Yoga Nidra and meditation teacher-trainer, and trauma educator. She is cofounder of Warriors at Ease and has helped pioneer evidence-based trauma-sensitive yoga programs for the military and other communities affected by trauma. Suzi Landolphi is a cocreator of the Progressive and Alternative Training for Healing Heroes program at Boulder Crest Retreat, which works with veterans and first responders. A licensed psychotherapist, she has also hosted her own radio and television shows, frequently appeared on Oprah, and has published two books.
50 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
April 23–25
Devotion of the Disciple Swami Shambhudevananda
Rekindle your spiritual fire with this series of inspiring talks about the dynamics within a Guru-disciple relationship. Consider the question, “How do we find a true Guru and become accepted as a disciple?” Sit with a devoted Sivananda senior teacher and learn the keys to remembering your own connection with the Divine. Swami Shambhudevananda is director of the Sivananda Yoga center in Tel Aviv and a senior staff member of the Bahamas ashram. A practitioner of yoga and meditation for more than 20 years, he regularly teaches Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga philosophy in the Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Courses.
Join two of the leading researchers and practitioners of the emergent science of consciousness. YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
April 23–25
The Self is not the individual body or mind, but that aspect deep inside each person that knows the Truth. —SWAMI VISHNUDEVANANDA
Becoming More Whole
Eben Alexander and Karen Newell In this program, you will have the opportunity to participate in sound journeys and explore the heart’s crucial role in accessing profound insight from personal experience. Explore the consciousness that underlies all of existence and how this understanding completely shifts Western medicine’s approach to mental-health issues. Dive into infinite awareness and integrate your soul’s journey through reflection, discussion, and embodied exploration. Medical doctor Eben Alexander will discuss the brain’s role as a filter and how to make sense of this new paradigm. Using advanced brainwave entrainment technology produced by Sacred Acoustics, Karen Newell will share some of the leading resources to improve stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, and insomnia, while also empowering people in the healing process. Eben Alexander, MD, was an academic neurosurgeon for more than 25 years, including at Harvard Medical School. He is the author of the New York Times #1 best seller Proof of Heaven, and he travels and speaks widely. Karen Newell is cofounder of Sacred Acoustics, an innovator in the emerging field of brainwave entrainment audio meditation. With Eben Alexander, she coauthored Living in a Mindful Universe.
WATCH Eben Alexander on our YouTube Channel.
sivanandabahamas.org 51
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
April 23–27
Healing and Transformation: Yoga Nidra Teacher Training Molly Birkholm (Madhavi)
Tuition $650. Add 6 nights accommodations. Yoga Nidra is a guided form of meditation that is easy to learn, practice, and share with other people. This training course is designed to give you the experiential, philosophical, theoretical, and spiritual understanding of Yoga Nidra that you can use for your own personal healing practice or with clients and students. Discover how to experience peace and equanimity amidst all of life’s unique challenges. Find out more online. Molly Birkholm (Madhavi) bio on page 50. WATCH Molly Birkholm on our YouTube Channel.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
April 28–May 1
Bhakti Yoga: Living in Devotion Jai Uttal
Express the deepest caverns of your heart and find the infinite well of peace within. Navigate the loud and demanding calls of the day by singing the ancient mantras of love and devotion. Honor your life’s responsibilities without letting go of your connection to the Divine. This blissful chanting and storytelling experience will have you opening your voice with your heart’s song and walking steadily on the path of Bhakti. Jai Uttal, Grammy-nominee, kirtan artist, and world-music pioneer has been a leading influence in the Bhakti tradition for the past 50 years. Jai considers devotion to be the core of his musical and spiritual life and he wholeheartedly shares his passionate heart through his voice and songs. WATCH Jai Uttal on our YouTube Channel.
REFRESH AND REJUVENATE
April 28–May 7
Spring Cleanse, Detox, and Juice Fast Manu Dawson
Tuition $705. Add 11 nights accommodations.
Spring is the perfect time to cleanse and rejuvenate, invigorate your natural body wisdom, and establish new habits. See page 19 for fuller cleanse description and important information online.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
April 30–May 2
Essentials of Meditation: Cultivate Your Full Potential
Senior Sivananda Instructors Tuition $166. Add 4 nights accommodations.
Learn meditation to improve your concentration and happiness and reduce stress and anxiety in daily life.
SPRING TRAINING IN THE BAHAMAS Fully immerse in the experience of a healthy yogic lifestyle that supports holistic learning and inner relaxation. Look for the green icons in this catalog.
52 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
May 3–30
200-Hour Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course Learn how to bring the benefits of classical yoga to others and take your yoga practice to a deeper, more meaningful level.
Find more details on page 6 and online. YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
May 1–3
Walking Each Other Home: How Yoga and Meditation Build Love Mirabai Bush
You can’t always change what is happening in the world, but with spiritual practice and self-care, you can learn to nourish calmness, awareness, and compassion and to process difficult emotions. We can practice loving-kindess and goodwill as an antidote to hatred and fear. Join us and explore how to express these forms of love and resilience as we walk through the world together.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
Mirabai Bush has decades of experience teaching contemplative practices, with a focus on the workplace. With Ram Dass, she coauthored Compassion in Action, and they just released, Walking Each Other Home. Her own spiritual studies include Bhakti Yoga with teacher Neem Karoli Baba and studies with several Tibetan lamas.
May 3–5
Essentials of Positive Thinking: Wake Up Your Mind
Senior Sivananda Instructors Tuition $166. Add 4 nights accommodations.
Discover the connection between your thinking, emotions, and health and learn simple practical tools for enhancing your thought power.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
May 2–6
Yogic Practices for Radiant Health and Peace of Mind
Sylvie Boisclair (Saraswati) Join an in-depth exploration of Swami Vishnudevananda’s teachings on the Five Points of Yoga: proper exercise; proper breathing; proper relaxation; proper diet; and meditation and positive thinking. Learn to increase your health and vitality, manage stress, and calm your mind. Sylvie Boisclair (Saraswati) is a dynamic Sivananda Yoga teacher who draws on her background as a classically trained ballet teacher and dancer to teach yoga thoroughly and precisely. She integrates more than 35 years of research, practice, and teaching diverse forms of movement arts into her classes.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
May 4–6
Practical Well-Being: Ayurveda for a Harmonious Body, Mind, and Spirit Jose Rugue Rubiera
Gain a more holistic and complete perspective on how to approach your well-being. When functioning harmoniously, the mind, ego and soul are perfect instruments of the Divine mind fulfilling the Divine plan; when they are out of proportion with each other, suffering and anguish occur. Ayurveda corrects these variances by working with the doshas, dhatus, and agni at the biological level, promoting sattva at the psychological level through yoga, and by practicing mantra, Vedic rituals, and Vedic astrology (Jyotish) at the spiritual level. Jose Rugue Rubiera is a medical doctor and specialist in internal medicine in Brazil. He is President of the World Movement for Yoga and Ayurveda and combines his love of yoga, Ayurveda, and medicine in his work with the Suddha Saba Yoga and Ayurveda Ashram in Brazil.
sivanandabahamas.org 53
VEDANTA IMMERSION If you choose to join these programs while you are here, we request that you attend once per day during your stay.
May 5–28
The Practice of Truth: Mundaka Upanishad Swami Paramananda Giri
Among the Upanishads, the Mundaka Upanishad is regarded as one of the most important. It illuminates the path of Knowledge for all people using a tale of two identical birds sitting on the same branch, one eating everything, the other only witnessing. This is a rare opportunity to study in a traditional way with an experienced teacher. Learn how the practice of truth leads to strength and true liberation.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
May 9–14
Upadesha Saram of Ramana Maharshi Swami Paramananda Giri
Sri Ramana Maharshi’s famous text, Upadesha Saram (“The Essence of Spiritual Instruction”), expounds the various paths to liberation, all of which culminate in the path of Self-inquiry. In the first 15 verses, Sri Ramana Maharshi has laid down the paths of selfless service, devotion, and meditation, which refine the mind and prepare it for the practice of Self-inquiry. The remaining 15 verses are devoted to the path of Self-inquiry, which leads to Self-realization and spiritual liberation. Join us for a series of satsang talks on this sublime text. See bio on page 60
EXPERIENTIAL COURSE
May 6–10
Meditation Retreat with Swami Shambhudevananda
Tuition $275. Add 6 nights accommodations. Study meditation with a senior ashram teacher. To achieve lasting happiness and absolute peace, we must first know how to calm the mind, focus, and eventually transcend the mind. By turning the mind inward, we can deepen our concentration and attain a state of meditation. Learn about the nature of the mind and how to develop concentration and inner stability. Be guided in basic meditation techniques and get inspired to establish a daily meditation practice.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM | SPECIAL EVENT
May 6–10
4TH ANNUAL SIVANANDA YOGA OF RECOVERY SYMPOSIUM Durga Leela, Ramkumar Kutty, Phil Valentine, Joan Ifland, and Isabel Allen (Devi)
J
oin those on the recovery path as we learn about, share, discuss, and practice tools from yoga and Ayurvedic medicine. These are proving to be the most sought-after, long-term solutions to sustainable emotional sobriety. Learn from renowned presenters about pioneering systems of care to meet the needs of people in recovery today. This symposium goes beyond being “sober” to include thriving in the community and being balanced emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. The presenters in this symposium have each developed programs and organizations, over decades of work and research, to address treatment, recovery, and healing from all issues related to addictions, eating disorders, dysfunctional families, intergenerational trauma, institutionalized racism, and suicide. Let’s raise our awareness about all issues surrounding addiction and how we, our families, and communities can heal from these issues.
WATCH presentations from previous Recovery Symposia on our YouTube channel.
The meaning of life is found by diving deep, deep within. —SWAMI VISHNUDEVANANDA
Swami Shambhudevananda bio on page 51.
54 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
L
Durga Leela is an Ayurvedic Specialist and the founder of Yoga of Recovery, a comprehensive program that integrates Ayurveda and yoga with recovery tools for those affected by addiction and self-destructive behaviors. She teaches a holistic approach to recovery, integrating mind, body, and spirit. Ramkumar Kutty is a lifelong student of Ayurveda and other traditional Indian knowledge systems and an internationally renowned speaker. He is a founder-director of Punarnava Ayurveda, an institution committed to universal well-being through authentic Ayurvedic practice. Phil Valentine is the Executive Director for the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery. An accomplished author, trainer, and presenter, he recently organized the annual “Recovery Walks!” Joan Ifland, PhD, has been creating breakthroughs in recovery from food addiction since 1999 and is the lead author of the first scholarly publication describing refined food addiction and the definition of addictive foods.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
May 11–17
Yoga of Recovery Between the Mat and the Meeting: Ayurvedic Healing for Addiction Durga Leela
Tuition $750. Add 8 nights accommodations.
Health and recovery from addiction and disease involve fully living in the wholeness that you are. By recognizing your innate strengths and stress-response tendencies, you can learn to revitalize your body’s systems rather than to depend on addictive, unhealthy behaviors. Build a strong foundation of living well, and learn about stress, digestion, sleep hygiene, and detoxification. Practice deep self-care and emotional regulation through simple Ayurvedic daily routines that you can practice at home. Optional 12-step meetings are available. Three months continuous sobriety required. Find out more online. Durga Leela bio at left. WATCH Durga Leela on our YouTube Channel.
Isabel Allen (Devi) is a Sivananda Yoga teacher certified in Yoga of Recovery who will teach special recovery yoga classes during the symposium. Isabel is a certified Positive Psychology practitioner and an Infinite Possibilities trainer.
sivanandabahamas.org 55
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
REFRESH AND REJUVENATE
May 11–14
May 12–15
Waterfall Qigong: A Moving Meditation Practice
Paradise Beauty from the Inside Cleanse
Steven Michael Pague
Qigong is one of the most eloquent and powerful methods of exercise and moving meditation. Delve into its mysteries through a blend of easy-to-learn, beautiful movements designed to increase vitality, strengthen immune function, enhance creativity, and achieve harmony and balance. Steven Michael Pague is a certified instructor of Chinese movement and healing arts with the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi, as well as a gifted musician and songwriter.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
Sanatani
Tuition $380. Add 5 nights accommodations. Give yourself the healthy, detoxifying, and restorative experience your body needs. This cleanse is also offered December 7–10, see page 13; and January 29–February 1, see page 25.
May 11–15
Essentials of Yoga III: Advance Your Studies
Senior Sivananda Instructors PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Tuition $240. Add 6 nights accommodations.
In partnership with the California College of Ayurveda
Develop a more precise and focused asana practice and deepen your knowledge of yoga philosophy.
This program qualifies for 120 hours of Yoga Alliance Continuing Education credit.
May 12–25
Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy Certification
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
May 11–13
Marisa Laursen (Sri Devi) and Margaret Koblasova (Yogapriya)
Happiness and Peak Performance Through Science and Yoga
Tuition $1,495. Add 15 nights accommodations.
Gopi Kallayil and Jay Kumar Come together with two thought leaders in the science, practice, and spirituality of happiness — what it is and how we can create and sustain happy, productive lives. Shared with humor and humility, both experts share their findings on the quest for answers to deeply personal questions. With the latest research on brain science and new insights on the role of technology in your life, this timeless, scientific, and practical prescription for happiness is sure to augment your perspective on living a good life.
Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy is an Advanced Yoga Teacher Training Program for yogis of all traditions and levels in which you will learn how to create healing yoga classes for yourself and your students based on Ayurvedic principles. In this in-depth 2-week program, you will learn to recognize the unique nature of individuals based on the doshas, qualities, elements, chakras, nadis, vayus, and more. Find out more online.
Gopi Kallayil is a graduate of the Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course and the Chief Evangelist, Brand Marketing at Google. He also worked on marketing the company’s flagship advertising product AdWords, and led the marketing team for AdSense. He is an avid yoga practitioner.
Marisa Laursen (Sri Devi), CAS, PKS, AYT, is the Lead Faculty at the California College of Ayurveda, where she also works in curriculum development. A contributing writer to various magazines, including the Ayurveda Journal of Health, she is also a Sivananda Yoga teacher and a former member of the board of the California Association of Ayurvedic Medicine.
Jay Kumar, PhD, is a renowned public speaker, thought leader, and professor of the popular Happiness course at Chapman University. His expertise spans brain science and behavioral health, culture, and Eastern religions. He is the author of Brain, Body & Being.
56 sivanandabahamas.org
Margaret Koblasova (Yogapriya) is the founder and Director of Ananda Ayurveda and a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist for 12 years, leading cleanses and retreats.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
May 17–21
Essentials of Yoga I: Create a Daily Practice
Senior Sivananda Instructors Tuition $240. Add 6 nights accommodations.
Engage with the tools of Sivananda Yoga for enlivening physical, mental, and spiritual health. Learn a routine of yoga postures, breathing exercises and relaxation to uplift your life.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM | SPECIAL EVENT
May 14–18
BHAKTI REUNION: Friends & Family in Paradise
Gaura Vani, Rukmini Walker, Raghunath Yogi, and Vineet Chander
J
oin the bliss! These five days bring us together for the perfect blend of celebration and vacation at the heavenly Sivananda ashram, with its beaches of white sand and azure ocean. Come with your family and friends, old and new. All are welcome. Together, we’ll dive into daily kirtan, sangha, and discussion, alongside outdoor time, snorkeling, hanging out, basketball, and even a joke night. WATCH and sing along with songs from previous Bhakti Reunions on our YouTube channel, as well as talks by Radhanath Swami. Gaura Vani started studying sacred music in Vrindavan, India, at the age of six. Today, he shares the magic he received and performs extensively with his kirtan ensemble throughout the world. His albums include Ten Million Moons and Nectar of Devotion. Rukmini Walker is a teacher of Bhakti Yoga and an activist in interfaith dialogue and in women’s spiritual empowerment. She is the founder of the Urban Devi collective held in New York City at the Bhakti Center. Raghunath Yogi started practicing yoga in 1987, then went to India and lived as a monk for 6 years, studying, meditating, and living the ancient yogic texts at a Krishna Bhakti Ashram. He now he leads retreats, workshops, and yoga teacher trainings. Vineet Chander discovered the practice of Bhakti Yoga in his youth. He is a sought-after speaker, who infuses ancient wisdom with humor and relevance. Vineet directs the Hindu Life Program at Princeton University and serves as the Hindu Chaplain on campus.
EXPERIENTIAL COURSE
May 18–20
Self-Care Retreat: De-Stress and Reboot Katie Papo (Ambika)
Tuition $240. Add 4 nights accommodations.
Feeling depleted? Time to put yourself on the front burner? This retreat will bring you back into a state of balance. Experience and learn practical strategies to support your personal well-being. These include yogic exercises for organ health and energy, healthy-eating guidelines, stress-management methods, deeprelaxation techniques, and specific insights for building a healthy routine for your ongoing self-care at home. Katie Papo (Ambika) bio on page 29.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
May 19–22
Assisted Yoga Using Thai Massage Mirabai
Learn to perform massage techniques and stretches to help the people close to you improve their health and ease the stresses of their daily lives. This course will introduce you to the unique art of healing that combines wonderful yoga stretches with gradual pressure on energy lines. These techniques unite into a body treatment that effectively relieves muscular tensions, improves circulation, and boosts the immune system. Mirabai, a close student of Kam Thye Chow, has practiced Thai Yoga Massage for more than a decade. Raised in a Sivananda Yoga family, Mirabai has been teaching yoga worldwide for 18 years.
sivanandabahamas.org 57
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
May 19–23
Know Your True Self: Teachings on the Dakshinamurty Stotra Swami Kashi Muktananda
The Dakshinamurty Stotra is a masterpiece poem composed by the great philosopher Adi Shankaracharya of the 8th century. Apart from the poetic excellence of this work, it is summarizing the highest teachings of the Advaita Vedanta teachings in a simple, clear, and direct way encompassed in just ten verses. Explore this most beloved text through discussions, talks, and meditations. Swami Kashi Muktananda has been living in the Himalayas of India and Sivananda ashrams for the past 20 years. He learned Sanskrit, Hindi, and Vedanta philosophy from his guru, Swami Chaitanyananda of Uttarkashi, a direct disciple of Swami Sivananda.
EXPERIENTIAL COURSE
May 21–24
Vedanta for Beginners Swami Brahmananda
Tuition $225. Add 5 nights accommodations. Vedanta is the culmination of the Vedas. It is entering into the study of the nature of Reality, which is our own true nature. It is the science which raises us above the plane of worldliness. In order to attain absolute freedom, one should know the nature and cause of bondage and the way of removing it. One should make a searching study of life and know its mysteries. This course will offer the gist of Vedanta theory and will also teach Vedanta practice by providing valuable practical instructions. It is a wonderful opportunity for those who are new to Vedanta to study with the ashram acting director and main teacher of Vedanta philosophy in our teacher training courses. Swami Brahmananda bio on page 48.
58 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
May 22–25
Healing Sleep and Dream Retreat: Scientific and Spiritual Practices for 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. Through engaging discussion and experiential practices, you will learn how to address insomnia and improve the quality of your sleep based on an integrative body, mind, and spirit approach to sleep and dreams. Rubin Naiman, PhD, is a psychologist, sleep and dream specialist, and clinical assistant professor of medicine at the University of Arizona’s Center for Integrative Medicine. He is the director of NewMoon Sleep, an organization offering international services and trainings, and author of Healing Night, Hush, and the audio programs The Yoga of Sleep, To Sleep Tonight, and Healthy Sleep. WATCH Rubin Naiman on our YouTube Channel.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
May 27
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ON
Yoga & Spiritual Life
SWAMI SWAROOPANANDA Swami Swaroopananda answers aspirants’ questions, clears troubled minds, and inspires listeners to advance on the spiritual path. Find out more on page 9.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
May 25–27
Kirtan and Bhakti: Yoga of the Heart
Prajna Vieira and David Estes Experience the beauty of traditional kirtan and the bliss of Bhakti Yoga. Using your voice as the main instrument of this devotional spiritual practice, you can awaken your own inner fire and love toward the Divine. Join us in singing, dancing, and celebrating stories of the deities. Led by a dynamic pair of musicians and kirtanists, you will be guided to open your heart and voice in the experiences of inner and outer music.
REFRESH AND REJUVENATE
May 23–26
Gracious Living Detox Cleanse Grace Van Berkum
Tuition $425. Add 5 nights accommodations.
Watch your digestion and metabolism quickly improve with a menu of fresh juices, superfood smoothies, and healing gazpachos prepared in creative, delicious ways. This program is also offered February 26 — March 1; see page 33.
Prajna Vieira is the lead singer of the Mukti Kirtan Ensemble, also known for her work with Jai Uttal and other artists. Introduced to kirtan as a young child by her father, Prajna has dedicated her life to studying, practicing, and sharing traditional yoga practices and Bhakti Yoga arts. David Estes is the lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist of Ananda Rasa, a kirtan band based in the San Francisco Bay Area. David grew up in India and spent years immersed in the practices of mantra chanting, meditation, and service as a full-time ashram resident.
Share with others what you have: physical, mental, moral, and spiritual. —SWAMI SIVANANDA
sivanandabahamas.org 59
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
May 28–31
The Science of Ayurvedic Longevity John Douillard
With the science of Ayurvedic longevity called “rasayana” you learn how to reboot the digestive system and immune strength with individualized foods, herbs, and spices. These time-tested treatments have been improving lives for thousands of years. Start here and continue at home with liver- and lymph-based panchakarma techniques Dr. Douillard will share that you can practice all year-round. John Douillard, DC, CAP, best-selling author of Eat Wheat and The 3-Season Diet, is a former NBA nutritionist and creator of LifeSpa.com, “where ancient Ayurvedic wisdom meets modern science.” WATCH John Douillard on our YouTube Channel.
VEDANTA IMMERSION
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
May 31–June 2
Effortless Meditation: Releasing into Divine Joy Peter Russell
Meditation awakens us to the peace and inner freedom that is our true nature. Peter Russell has taught meditation for 40 years and says the key is giving up all trying and effort. The mind in its natural relaxed state is already at ease; nothing needs to be done, changed, or eliminated. Through presentations, guided meditations, and discussion, you’ll discover how to free yourself from the thinking that creates dissatisfaction and suffering and release into Divine joy. Peter Russell is a leading thinker on consciousness and contemporary spirituality, whose books include The Global Brain and From Science to God. His multi-image shows and videos, The Global Brain and The White Hole in Time, have received wide recognition. WATCH Peter Russell on our YouTube Channel.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
May 29–June 30
Shrimad Bhagavad Gita Immersion Swami Paramananda Giri
The Bhagavad Gita or “Song of God” is a summary of the essence of the Vedas conveyed in a dialogue between warrior-prince Arjuna and his guide and charioteer Lord Krishna. It instructs on a broad range of spiritual topics and is the fundamental text for yogis. This monthlong immersion is an opportunity to learn this inspiring work in a traditional way. If you choose to join this program while you are here, we request that you attend once per day during your stay.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
May 29–31
Essentials of Meditation: Cultivate Your Full Potential
Senior Sivananda Instructors
Tuition $166. Add 4 nights accommodations.
Learn meditation to improve your concentration and happiness and reduce stress and anxiety in daily life.
Swami Paramananda Giri joined the prestigious Sri Kailas Ashram Brahma Vidya Peetha and was initiated into sannyas. He studied Panineeya Sanskrit grammar, Nyaya of Kapil, Patanjali Yoga Darshan, Prasthana Traya of Advaita Vedanta, and subsidiary texts. He teaches Vedanta and Sanskrit to his students.
60 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
June 3–30
SUMMER SEASON PRICES START JUNE 1 Take advantage of our lower summer rates. All the same ashram benefits at a little less of the cost. Summer pricing runs through October 31. See all rates on page 76. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
June 2–8
Warriors at Ease: Teaching Yoga in Military Settings
200-Hour Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course
Learn how to bring the benefits of classical yoga to others and take your yoga practice to a deeper, more meaningful level.
Find more details on page 6 and online.
Annie Okerlin
Tuition $790. Add 8 nights accommodations. Learn to teach a therapeutic yoga class to any segment of the military community, with relevant support as needed. Topics covered include the key distinctions between “yogic culture” and “military culture” and why they matter; traumasensitive teaching guidelines and precautions; and yoga asana (posture) sequence protocols and modifications for specific military populations, addressing physical and/or psycho-emotional challenges. Find out more online. Annie Okerlin is a Warriors at Ease faculty member and trainer and a regional program coordinator for Train, Teach & Transform in Florida. She founded and led the successful yoga studio Yogani for more than 17 years and teaches internationally through the Exalted Warrior Foundation to support wounded warriors.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
June 5–7
Essentials of Positive Thinking: Wake Up Your Mind
Senior Sivananda Instructors Tuition $166. Add 4 nights accommodations.
Discover the connection between your thinking, emotions, and health and learn simple practical tools for enhancing your thought power.
sivanandabahamas.org 61
Swami Swaroopananda’s BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION June 4–12
We invite all new, returning, and longtime members of the Sivananda community to come together for a week of exploration and celebration. In honor of the Sivananda lineage and the celebration of the birthday of the ashram’s Director and Acharya, Swami Swaroopananda, we fill the week with learning, music, dance, and spiritual diversity.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM | SPECIAL EVENT YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
June 4–7
June 8
THE NATURE OF THE MIND: THE SCIENCE AND SPIRITUALITY CONSCIOUSNESS
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ON
Yoga & Spiritual Life
SWAMI SWAROOPANANDA Swami Swaroopananda answers aspirants’ questions, clears troubled minds, and inspires listeners to advance on the spiritual path. Find out more on page 9.
Menas Kafatos, Subhash Kak, and Swami Brahmananda What does science say about the nature of reality, what do the scriptures say, and how are the common findings relevant for humans in our search for meaning in our lives? This symposium offered in honor of Swami Swaroopananda’s birthday celebration focuses on timeless issues on the nature of reality, the role of the mind, and non-dual consciousness. The presenters bring together scientific perspectives from quantum mechanics, ancient Vedic truths, and non-dual paths to weave an integrated vision of human spirituality in the present times, a vision corroborated by modern science theories and experiments. Menas Kafatos is a quantum physicist, cosmologist, and climate change researcher. He holds seminars and workshops on the natural laws that are the foundations of the universe and has authored many articles and books, including You Are the Universe with Deepak Chopra.
The Yoga of Divine Love: Teachings from the Narada Bhakti Sutra Rukmini Chaitanya
Discover the key to opening the doors of your heart. The Narada Bhakti Sutra is an ancient Vedic text that explains all aspects of the Path of Divine Love, said to be the most direct path to Self-realization. This program will assist the spiritual aspirant in exploring topics such as the nature of Bhakti and how to cultivate and practice Bhakti Yoga. Rukmini Chaitanya bio on page 39.
Subhash Kak is an American computer scientist and a Hindu historical revisionist. A Regents Professor at Oklahoma State University, he has translated several texts from Sanskrit to English, has done extensive work on the emerging science of consciousness, and discovered a long-lost astronomy of the Vedic period. Swami Brahmananda is Manager of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat and senior staff of the Sivananda organization. A long-time practitioner of yoga, he regularly teaches yoga philosophy and meditation for the Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Courses as well as other immersion courses.
62 sivanandabahamas.org
June 5–9
You approach a teacher to get the answer — how to escape this human bondage. … A teacher is one who shows you that you’ve forgotten your essential nature That Thou Art. Tat Twam Asi. The teacher is one who opens your eyes and gives wisdom. —SWAMI VISHNUDEVANANDA
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM | SPECIAL EVENT
June 9–12
SOUTHERN INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC AND DANCE FESTIVAL Suba Ramesh Parmar, Swamimalai K. Suresh, S. Sigamani Natarajan, Sankarapillai Sunilkumar, Gomathi Nayagam, Sakthivel Murugaanandhan
J
oin us for an elevating and stirring experience of Southern Indian classical music and dance, as renowned masters come together and share their musical gifts. One of the oldest systems of music in the world, the style of Carnatic music can be traced back to India from 5,000 years ago. This musical system is native to Southern India and evolved from a spiritual tradition emphasizing the voice — with rich lyrical compositions that span a tremendous range of style, nuance, and aesthetic value. Allow yourself to be moved by the unique rhythmic power of Indian music and inspired to open your heart, feeling the harmony, peace, and beauty within yourself and the music.
Suba Ramesh Parmar is an award-winning dancer of the South Indian Bharatanatyam dance style. Founder of the Shubanjali School of Performing Arts and the recipient of many awards, she is known for grace and dynamism in her expression and movement. Swamimalai K. Suresh is a veteran artist and an internationally recognized nattuvanar. Also a vocalist, composer, dancer, and choreographer, he holds advanced degrees in music and is a guest faculty at the Madras University Indian Music Department and Kalakshetra. S. Sigamani Natarajan is a violinist trained in the Carnatic style of music under his father Alandur Shri S. Natarajan. Sigamani has participated in leading music and dance festivals In India and abroad, winning many sought-after awards for his violin expertise. Sankarapillai Sunilkumar is an expert flutist trained under flute vidwan “Kalaimamani” Sri. T.S. Sankaran. A graduate of the Government Music College in Chennai, he is both a soloist and an accompanist for many of India’s leading artists. Gomathi Nayagam is an internationally recognized vocalist, specializing in the Carnatic style of music. His training began under the guidance of Guru Sangeetha Kalanidhi B. RajamIyer, and since then, he has performed vocal concerts throughout India and internationally. Sakthivel Murugaanandhan is a leading percussionist, specializing in the mridanga, a South Indian percussion instrument. A disciple of Maayavaram Shri G. Somasundaram and Thiruvaarur Shri Bhakthavatsalam, Sakthivel’s sought-after talent has led him to tour the world extensively for more than 35 years.
sivanandabahamas.org 63
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
June 11–15
Essentials of Yoga I: Create a Daily Practice
Senior Sivananda Instructors
Tuition $240. Add 6 nights accommodations.
Engage with the tools of Sivananda Yoga for enlivening physical, mental, and spiritual health. Learn a routine of yoga postures, breathing exercises and relaxation to uplift your life.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
June 11–12
June 13–16
Preksha Meditation: Relaxation, Visualization, and Contemplation
Train Your Mind
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo
Ramesh Parmar
Preksha Meditation is an ancient Jain meditation technique to discover oneself through one’s inner eye. Helpful for relieving stress, improving focus, and creating attitudinal changes, the technique has various components, including kayotsarg for total relaxation, color visualization, and contemplation for internal transformation. The workshop will include a summary and a practice session. Ramesh Parmar is a successful entrepreneur with a history of establishing, operating, and selling mobile software companies. He is a graduate of the Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course and a regular practitioner of Jain Preksha meditation.
Join Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo in exploring the crucial question of how to bring your divine nature into everything you do through teachings from Atisha’s Lojong Root Verses on Training the Mind. The real test of spirituality happens not on the cushion but moment-to-moment in everyday life, particularly in uncomfortable situations. How you respond shows the true depth of your spiritual learnings. Develop workable tools with down-to-earth Buddhist methods known as “Lojong” or “Mind Training,” and cultivate your heart for any moment life presents you. Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo became a Buddhist while still in her teens and is one of the first Westerners to be ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun. She has written two books, Reflections on a Mountain Lake and Into the Heart of Life. WATCH Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo on our YouTube Channel.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
June 13–16
Meditation, Deep Relaxation, and Asana Krishna Chaitanya
Swami Vishnudevananda taught the importance of meditation, deep relaxation, and asana through his Five Points of Yoga. Deepen your understanding of these key components of a healthy and spiritual lifestyle and experience their benefits firsthand. Krishna Chaitanya, RYT-500, physical therapist, Sivananda Yoga teacher, senior staff of the Yoga Retreat, and instructor of the Teacher Training Course, has taught for more than 20 years, including gentle yoga to seniors.
64 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
June 16–19
Graceful Transitions and the Afterlife
William Peters and Monica Peters Gain new perspectives on the phenomenon of death. Join an exploration of the realms of consciousness that arise for the dying, their loved ones, and care providers. We will consider the mystical experiences that happen before death or after death, between the dying and their loved ones experiences— such as synchronicities, premonitions, dreams and visions, and direct communication — and explore their spiritual significance and healing benefits. This work is based on evidence-based research conducted by the Shared Crossing Research Initiative over the last decade. William Peters, MA, MEd, is the founder of the Shared Crossing Project and director of its research initiatives. He presents nationally on extraordinary end-of-life experiences and is also a psychotherapist at the Family Therapy Institute in Santa Barbara, California. Monica Peters, MD, is an emergency physician who has lectured and written extensively on transforming death and dying in modern America. She serves as Medical Advisor to the Shared Crossing Project, dedicated to research and education on end-of-life spiritual experiences.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
June 18–20
How to Stay on the Spiritual Path Iswara Chaitanya
You may not always feel inspired to practice meditation and asanas, or to keep up with your discipline. This program will teach you ways to overcome these obstacles so you can maintain a healthy and happy yogic lifestyle. Iswara Chaitanya bio on page 68.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
June 19–21
Essentials of Meditation: Cultivate Your Full Potential Senior Sivananda Instructors Tuition $166. Add 4 nights accommodations. Learn meditation to improve your concentration and happiness and reduce stress and anxiety in daily life.
sivanandabahamas.org 65
Discover qigong Based on simple yet powerful techniques, Pangu Shengong is a mystical qigong system that uses the power of the universe for healing. Master Ou Wen Wei is a Qigong Grandmaster, author, and the originator of the unique Pangu Shengong system through which he has successfully healed patients’ suffering. YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
June 19–20
Introduction to Mystical Qigong Master Ou Wen Wei
Come hear Master Ou share captivating presentations that include his own miraculous life story and the incredible possibilities available when working with qi energy.
EXPERIENTIAL COURSE
June 20–22
Heal Yourself and Others with Mystical Qigong
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM | SPECIAL EVENT
June 18–21
Celebrate the International Day of Yoga
Swami Swaroopananda, Krishnan Namboodiri, and Senior Ashram Staff Established by the United Nations in 2015, the International Day of Yoga is celebrated by millions of people worldwide. Fifty years ago, at a time when yoga was barely known in the West, our founder, Swami Vishnudevanda, foresaw a world with “yoga on every corner.” That time has come, and now, more than ever, we need to join as global citizens to claim yoga’s promise of peace. Celebrate with us through special pujas, yoga classes, lectures, and a Q&A session with Swami Swaroopananda.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
June 21
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ON
Yoga & Spiritual Life
SWAMI SWAROOPANANDA Swami Swaroopananda answers aspirants’ questions, clears troubled minds, and inspires listeners to advance on the spiritual path. Find out more on page 9.
Master Ou Wen Wei
Tuition $314. Add 4 nights accommodations. Learn the Moving Form of Pangu Shengong to promote health by strengthening the life force (qi) with the originator of Pangu Shengong, Master Ou Wen Wei. You will also learn the Non-Moving Form, to strengthen the nervous system and intuitive ability, and the Healing Skill to provide healing treatments. Master Ou Wen Wei is a Qigong Grandmaster, author, and the originator of the Pangu Shengong system through which he has successfully healed patients suffering from cancer, heart disease, and other chronic conditions.
66 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
June 21–23
Yoga and Healing
Swami Jnaneswariananda Swami Jnaneswariananda will discuss the concept of health and healing in the yogic context and will share compelling evidence about the power of yoga practices to help individuals recover from physical and mental conditions. Swami Jnaneswariananda joined the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres in 1995 and took vows of renunciation in 2001. She has directed centers and ashrams in Canada and Italy, and she teaches Vedanta, Hatha Yoga, meditation, and anatomy in yoga teacher training courses internationally. YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM | SPECIAL EVENT
June 22–25
SPIRITUALITY OF SEEING SYMPOSIUM
Nathan Katz, Eileen Crowley, Graham Schweig, Daniel Drubach
E
xplore the deep significance of seeing, inside and out. What does it mean to be both seer and seen simultaneously? Explore how a neuroscientist understands the dazzling interplay of synapses that we call sight, and what transpires in the mind’s eye of a visual artist. “The eye with which I see is the very same eye with which God sees me.” What does this mean for us? Delve into ancient wisdom and stories about the mysterious “blind seer” and God bestowing a “divine eye” to the devotee. There are so many stories that explore this theme — and always more questions. Can we wake up to find out that we are the eyes of the world?
Nathan Katz, PhD, is the author of 15 books and is Distinguished Professor, Emeritus, at Florida International University, where he has served in many roles, including as the Bhagwan Mahavir Professor of Jain Studies, Director of Jewish Studies, and founding Chair of the Department of Religious Studies. Eileen Crowley, PhD, is Associate Professor of Liturgy, Arts, and Communications at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. She teaches a group process called Photography as a Spiritual Practice and has authored two books linking visual arts and worship, including A Moving World: Media Art in Worship. Graham Schweig, PhD, E-RYT 500, holds a doctorate from Harvard University in comparative religion with a specialization in sacred Sanskrit yoga literature. He is a professor of philosophy and religion at Christopher Newport University and a distinguished teaching and research fellow at the Graduate Theological Union. Daniel Drubach, MD, is a specialist in neurology, psychiatry, and neurorehabilitation. Currently a member of the Behavioral Neurology Division at Mayo Clinic, he has written extensively on the neuroscience of music, meditation, language, and religion. He is the author of The Brain Explained.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
June 25–28
Sat Darshana of Ramana Maharshi: The Truth in 40 Verses Swami Paramananda Giri
Sat Darshana (Vision of Truth) was written in Tamil by Sri Ramana Maharshi in 40 verses. It was later rendered into Sanskrit by his disciple and wellknown scholar Ganapati Muni. It teaches that duality is the cause of sorrow and realization of non-duality leads to eternal bliss. It expounds the essence of the “Sat,” or “Truth,” in an easy way and acts as a beacon of light to the seekers of Self-realization. Swami Paramananda Giri bio on page 60.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
June 26–28
Essentials of Positive Thinking: Wake Up Your Mind
Senior Sivananda Instructors Tuition $166. Add 4 nights accommodations.
Discover the connection between your thinking, emotions, and health and learn simple practical tools for enhancing your thought power.
Keep up the positive ideal of active service to humanity and pure love. —SWAMI SIVANANDA
sivanandabahamas.org 67
VEDANTA IMMERSION
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
June 28–30
The Yoga of Love and Devotion: A Kirtan Celebration Carrie Grossman (Dayashila)
Allow yourself to be led through a deep exploration into the path and practice of Bhakti, the yoga of love and devotion. For millennia, spiritual seekers have used chanting to tune the heart and connect to the sacred presence within. Drawing from the rich tradition of Bhakti, we will join our voices in prayer to experience the profound power of devotional singing. Carrie Grossman (Dayashila) is a devotional singer, writer, and lifelong student of the world’s wisdom traditions. After years of study in comparative religion and the healing arts, she began to compose sacred music and has since recorded two albums: Soma-Bandhu: Friend of the Moon and The Ram Sessions.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
July 2–August 1
Aitareya Upanishad Immersion Course
Swami Sharvananda Giri YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
July 1–3
Inner Freedom Through Meditation Swami Brahmananda
In order to tap into the infinite reservoir of peace and inner freedom within, we must first learn how to calm the mind and focus our attention. Without these two highly refined practices, it is impossible to transcend the mind. By turning the senses and mind inward, we deepen our concentration and attain a meditative state. Join us for an exploration of meditation’s theoretical and practical aspects.
This monthlong immersion in Aitareya Upanishad is an opportunity to deepen your study of yogic scripture. Taught by a master teacher using the commentary of ancient sage Adi Shankaracharya, this text establishes the oneness of the individual with the whole. Receive this knowledge through twice daily classes and immerse in the wisdom of non-duality. If you choose to join this program while you are here, we request that you attend once per day during your stay. Swami Sharvananda Giri started his training under the personal tutelage of the great Vedantin Swami Chaitanyananda Sarasvati in 1984. He has expert knowledge over vast Vedantic literature and fluency in Sanskrit, Hindi, English, and Bengali.
Swami Brahmananda bio on page 48.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
July 1–4
Yogic Tools for Spiritual Growth Iswara Chaitanya
Yoga provides the tools for purifying the heart, mind, and body, which in turn prompts spiritual growth. Swami Sivananda gave clear teachings on the simple actions necessary to inspire this growth in his book 20 Important Spiritual Instructions. Join an experienced teacher to learn these unfailing keys to quick and effective development of your physical, mental, and spiritual self.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
July 3–5
Essentials of Meditation: Cultivate Your Full Potential
Senior Sivananda Instructors Tuition $166. Add 4 nights accommodations.
Learn meditation to improve your concentration and happiness and reduce stress and anxiety in daily life.
Iswara Chaitanya is a Sivananda Yoga practitioner and a senior staff member at the ashram. He currently serves the ashram as the head of Reception and teaches many courses, including in the Advanced Teacher Training Course.
68 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
July 3–30
200-Hour Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Course Learn how to bring the benefits of classical yoga to others and take your yoga practice to a deeper, more meaningful level.
Find more details on page 6 and online.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM | SPECIAL EVENT
July 4
Guru Purnima
Krishnan Namboodiri Guru Purnima is a festival dedicated to spiritual and academic teachers. This festival is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists to pay their respects to their teachers and express their gratitude. Today, the ashram honors the Masters of our lineage, Swami Sivananda and Swami Vishnudevananda, with special rituals and celebrations.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
July 5–8
Celebrating Freedom: A World of Wellness and Sacred Sound Dalien
Personal growth requires us to move outside of our comfort zone. Supportive mind-body therapies such as sound healing help us traverse the ups and downs of growth with calm, ease, and freedom. This weekend is designed to bring balance and improved regulation of the chakras, hormones, and endocrine, nervous, and energy systems of the body. Learn the ways that sound, chanting, breathwork, nutrition, and yoga support access to the Theta brainwave state for deep healing. Dalien, two-time Grammy nominee and instructor of yoga, is a multiinstrumentalist with a 30-year commitment to wellness, yoga, mindbody wellness, nutrition, and shamanism. His double-CD recording, 13 Hands, journeys through many different styles of world, chant, healing, and contemporary music.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
July 7–13
What Does Swami Sivananda Teach? Rukmini Chaitanya
Swami Sivananda’s teachings are a call to all sincere souls seeking deeper meaning and a higher purpose in their lives. He opened the door to the pursuit of spiritual evolution within the context of everyday life through practical teachings relevant to all. Among the topics to be explored in this program are the true source of happiness; the nature of reality as God; the importance of physical health; the fundamental ethics of yoga; and the pursuit of spiritual life. Rukmini Chaitanya bio on page 39.
sivanandabahamas.org 69
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
July 9–11
July 11–13
The Unconditional Model: Creating the Change We Want to See in the World
Life After Life: The Possibilities of Immortality Raymond Moody
Anneke Lucas
Practice yoga in a whole new way, with deep mindfulness and self-acceptance that echoes throughout the world. The Unconditional Model focuses on using power dynamics as a portal into the psychological self to heal unresolved trauma and create an egalitarian system within the self. Release yourself from the current vertical power system and rely more fully on your innate spiritual nature to help bring about the egalitarian, peaceful society you wish for. Anneke Lucas is an advocate for survivors of sexual abuse and trafficking. A survivor herself, she has spent 30 years focused on healing with the help of yoga. Anneke is founder of the nonprofit Liberation Prison Yoga and speaks widely, including on TEDx and NEXUS.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
July 10–14
Essentials of Yoga I: Create a Daily Practice Senior Sivananda Instructors Tuition $240. Add 6 nights accommodations. Engage with the tools of Sivananda Yoga for enlivening physical, mental, and spiritual health. Learn a routine of yoga postures, breathing exercises and relaxation to uplift your life.
The fascinating question of whether life continues after death is one of humanity’s greatest mysteries, existing in every civilization and serving as the wellspring of religion, philosophy, and art throughout time. Join eminent researcher and physician, Dr. Raymond Moody, as he presents decades of research on the possibility of life after death as well as accounts of near-death experiences and cases of communication with loved ones who have died. Raymond Moody, MD, PhD, has studied near-death experiences for 50 years. His groundbreaking book Life After Life sold more than 13 million copies worldwide and inspired a surge of scientific interest. Dr. Moody trains hospice workers, clergy, psychologists, nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals on matters of grief, recovery, and dying.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
July 13–16
Using Thought Power for Self-Transformation Swami Hridyananda
Swami Sivananda’s teachings are a call to all sincere souls seeking deeper meaning and a higher purpose in their lives. He opened the door to the pursuit of spiritual evolution within the context of everyday life through practical teachings relevant to all. Among the topics to be explored in this program are the true source of happiness; the nature of reality as God; the importance of physical health; the fundamental ethics of yoga; and the pursuit of spiritual life. Swami Hridyananda bio on page 21.
70 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
July 14
Swami Sivananda Mahasamadhi
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
July 17–19
Essentials of Positive Thinking: Wake Up Your Mind
Senior Sivananda Instructors Tuition $166. Add 4 nights accommodations.
Join us to honor the mahasamadhi of our Master Swami Sivananda. Considered one of the great saints of modern times, this renowned sage and humanitarian is the inspiration behind the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers. During this puja (prayer ceremony), we will celebrate and give thanks for his life.
Discover the connection between your thinking, emotions, and health and learn simple practical tools for enhancing your thought power.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
July 17–19
Krishna: The Essence of Bhakti Atmarama Dasa
Experience the beauty of devotional singing and jubilant kirtan. Atmarama Dasa performs sacred bhajans and Sanskrit chants with transcendent devotion and inspiring spiritual purpose. Through inspiring satsang performances and midday workshops, you will be invited to open your heart and soul. Atmarama Dasa is a devotional singer and composer of sacred music. For the past 25 years he has been residing in Vrindavan, India, the birthplace of Lord Krishna. His CDs include On the Way to Krishna and Radha Govinda.
.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
July 15–17
Ayurvedic Psychology: Personality Types & Tendencies Sandhiya Ramaswamy
In this highly practical program, you will come to understand who you are through the Ayurvedic lens of the gunas (states of psycho-spiritual development) and your doshas (constitution). With this unique and personal understanding, you will then learn how to balance your natural tendencies through the subtle yet powerful Ayurvedic therapies of sound, color, aromas, and other lifestyle modalities such as breathwork and meditation. You will leave with a balanced state of mind along with clear approaches for sustaining this well-being. Sandhiya Ramaswamy is the founder of Alchemy Ayurveda. She is an Ayurveda practitioner, educator, chef, and retreat leader. She is a Master Teacher at the California College of Ayurveda and a professional member of the National Ayurveda Medical Association at the Ayurvedic Doctor level.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
July 19–22
Discovering Inner Freedom and Wholeness
Swami Advayatmananda Saraswati Explore the sources of your inner struggle to find wholeness and the resolution within the living teaching tradition of Advaita Vedanta. The vision of the sages of ancient India resolves all searching and can help awaken you to the fact that you, even now, are exactly what you are seeking to find. Recognize the freedom, peace, and fullness that exist in you always, and meet yourself with joy, compassion, and purpose. Swami Advayatmananda Saraswati is a teacher of traditional Advaita Vedanta, meditation, and Sanskrit. After renouncing his life as a software development manager in Silicon Valley, he was initiated into the Dasanami monastic order and established the Arsha Drishti center in California.
sivanandabahamas.org 71
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
Love of humanity is love of God.
July 21–23
Adapting Sivananda Yoga to Your Body Krishna Chaitanya
—SWAMI VISHNUDEVANANDA
Do you find practicing yoga postures difficult due to injury, obesity, sickness, or other physical constraints? Also offered March 6-8 and May 23-25; see description on our website.
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
July 24–26
Essentials of Meditation: Cultivate Your Full Potential Senior Sivananda Instructors
Tuition $166. Add 4 nights accommodations.
Learn meditation to improve your concentration and happiness and reduce stress and anxiety in daily life.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
July 23–25
Resilience: Facing Life’s Challenges with Compassion, Clarity, and Courage Linda Graham
Modern neuroscience shows that spiritual practice strengthens resilience to life’s trials and life’s tragedies. How can this knowledge help you recover a sense of well-being — and even flourishing — in your life? Because mindfulness, compassion, and empathy strengthen your ability to improve your level of coping, these are the practices that work best when they’re integrated into your daily life. In this program, you will gain practical tools to help your brain react less to stress, and respond more with openness and equanimity.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
July 25–27
The Practice of Wonder Jeffrey Davis
Linda Graham, MFT, integrates modern neuroscience, mindfulness practices, and relational psychology in her nationwide trainings on resilience and well-being. She is the author of Resilience: Powerful Practices for Bouncing Back from Disappointment, Difficulty, and Even Disaster, and she publishes the weekly Resources for Recovering Resilience, archived on her website.
Intentional cultivation of moments of wonder on a regular basis reverses anxiety, boosts resilience, and heightens both creativity and creative problem-solving. Delve into how yoga, writing, and wonder dissolve common blocks to creative fulfillment. Drawing from current studies in the psychology of creativity correlated with his studies of yogic texts, such as the Siva-Sutras, Jeffrey Davis will show you how a lifetime of creative mastery often stems from cultivating wonder. Jeffrey Davis is a creativity and branding expert, writer, speaker, and yogi. He is the founder of Tracking Wonder Consultancy, author of The Journey from the Center to the Page, and he writes online columns for Psychology Today and the Creativity Post.
72 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
July 26–28
Deep Relaxation
UPLIFT YOUR LIFE
Narayani Chaitanya
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
July 27
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ON
Yoga & Spiritual Life
SWAMI SWAROOPANANDA Swami Swaroopananda answers aspirants’ questions, clears troubled minds, and inspires listeners to advance on the spiritual path. Find out more on page 9.
YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
Essentials of Positive Thinking: Wake Up Your Mind
Senior Sivananda Instructors
Experience natural relaxation that calms the mind, restores the body, and frees the spirit. Proper relaxation is one of Swami Vishnudevananda’s 5 Points of Yoga, essential to the mind and body. It is the cooldown time of life and allows for better digestion of food and calmer, easier thought flow. Narayani Chaitanya is an advanced Sivananda Yoga teacher (RYT500), senior staff member at the ashram, and a Hatha Yoga instructor in Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training Courses. She teaches with love, devotion, and great clarity.
July 31–August 2
Tuition $166. Add 4 nights accommodations.
Discover the connection between your thinking, emotions, and health and learn simple practical tools for enhancing your thought power.
VEDANTA IMMERSION YOGA VACATION PROGRAM
August 2–31
The Reality of Being: Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras Swami Sharvananda Giri
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is a succinct explanation of the theory and practice of yoga as offered by the ancient sage Patanjali. The four sections of the text teach about spiritual absorption, means of practice, accomplishment, and liberation. Come learn how the individual soul can merge with the supreme reality like rains merge into the ocean. This monthlong immersion is an opportunity to study with an experienced teacher in a traditional way. It is not necessary to attend the entire immersion, but if you choose to join we ask that you attend daily during your stay. Swami Sharvananda Giri bio on page 68.
July 28–30
Sacred Sounds of Swan Kirtan Swan Kirtan (Ashok Nalamalapu)
Experience the meditative state of sound by forgetting yourself, finding expansiveness, and getting in touch with divinity. Swan Kirtan offers a fusion of chanting from multiple faiths, weaving together the universal message of love, devotion, and unity. Ashok will be accompanied by Todd Glacy, multi-instrumentalist, singer, spiritual coach, workshop/event facilitator and interfaith chaplain, and Namory Kelta, a drummer from Guinea, West Africa, who has been drumming since the age of seven. Ashok Nalamalapu has been leading multi-faith chants and playing the harmonium since 2011, singing in the traditional Raga style. He has been studying with Indian classical musicians and has led kirtan at many temples, yoga centers, and colleges, inspiring audiences at all major US kirtan festivals.
Extend Your Summer … • August • September • October
We are open year-round, offering a variety of programs with senior ashram instructors as well as guest presenters. Stay up-to-date via our website and emails.
sivanandabahamas.org 73
PLANNING YOUR VISIT
74 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS are included with accommodations; see page 76.
Here are the basics for planning your stay at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas. We look forward to welcoming you! Arrival and Departure
Helpful Reminders
Courses, Cleanses, and Trainings Please 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 to enjoy a Yoga Vacation. Yoga Vacations You choose your arrival and departure dates and can attend all or part of any of the Yoga Vacation Programs listed in this catalog. Room check-in time 3:00 pm; room check-out time 11:00 am Late checkouts: Subject to room availability: after 11:00 am, pay a $25 supplement; after 3:00 pm, full night payment (a 12% Bahamian VAT tax will be added).
At the airport Call us from a courtesy phone or airport pay phone (they take US coins) at 363-2902 or use WhatsApp (+1-242-559-3642) — let us know you are on your way and we will send our boat to meet you at our dock in Nassau. Then take a taxi to our dock at Elizabeth on Bay Marketplace and Marina in downtown Nassau (about 20-30 minutes). The ashram boat will bring you across the bay, about a five-minute ride from the dock. Please note that we can receive calls at any time.
In order to maintain a proper ashram atmosphere, attendance at two daily satsangs and yoga classes is expected. As the ashram is a spiritual community and study center, we ask that clothing be respectable and modest. Non-vegetarian food, drugs, alcohol, and tobacco are not permitted on the premises. We also recommend silence from 10:00 pm to 8:00 am daily to ensure a pleasant night’s sleep and peaceful morning satsang for everyone. Sheets and blankets are provided for use in the rooms and tent huts only. Please note that there are no safety deposit boxes available.
Children
Families with children are always welcome at the ashram as part of the Yoga Vacation Program. We also offer special family, children, and teen programs.
How to Get Here
Fly to Nassau International Airport Most citizens from the US, Canada, and European countries do not need a visa to visit the Bahamas (you can verify whether you require a visa to enter the Bahamas at Bahamas. com or by contacting the closest Bahamian Consulate). You do need a passport to enter the Bahamas. We’re closer than you think — • 3.5 hours: Toronto and Chicago • 3 hours: New York City • 1 hour: Miami
What to Bring
Recommended items: casual, comfortable clothes appropriate for a spiritual ashram, modest clothes (covered legs and shoulders) for meditation and satsangs, yoga mat (you may also buy one at the Boutique or rent one at Reception), meditation shawl (cushions are available for use and for purchase), toiletries, slipon sandals, clothing for warm days and cool mornings and evenings, rainwear, flashlight, insect repellent, alarm clock, beach towel, bathing suit, refillable water bottle, and snorkeling equipment. For tent space only, please bring tent, towels, and bedding.
Children’s rates Baby cots are available for $15 a night (a 12% Bahamian VAT tax will be added). For children staying in their parents’ room only (age at the time of arrival): Under age 5: Free Age 5 – 11: 50% discount on accommodation rates (page 60). From age 12: Standard accommodation rates (page 60).
Find more online: sivanandabahamas.org • GUEST INFORMATION • FAQS • PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION
sivanandabahamas.org
75
REGISTRATION & RATES 1. HOW TO REGISTER YOGA VACATION RATES
See our all-inclusive rates (right). Simply choose your room type and multiply by the number of nights you are staying. See children’s rates on page 75.
EXPERIENTIAL COURSES, CLEANSES & TRAININGS
Choose your room type and multiply by the number of nights of your program. Add the tuition listed with your program. We recommend adding a few nights of Yoga Vacation to your stay whenever possible. PLEASE NOTE A Bahamian tax of 12% is added to all fees.
2. CHOOSE YOUR ROOM TYPE Rates are per person, per night and are listed in US dollars. Rates include accommodations, meals, yoga classes, satsangs, amenities, and Yoga Vacation workshops. WINTER SUMMER November 1, 2019– June 10, 2020– June 9, 2020 October 31, 2020 Tent Space
$65*
not available
Dormitory
$99
not available
Tent Hut Single
$102
not available
Tent Hut Double (per-person, shared)
$119
not available
Garden Room (per-person, shared)
$128
$95
Beach Hut (per-person, shared)
$140
$105
Classic Single Room
$157
$128
Classic Room with Double Bed (per-person, shared)
$167
$142
Bayside Room with Bath (per-person, shared)
$150
$115
Oceanview Deluxe: King or 2 Twins & Private Bathroom (per-person, shared)
$180
$120
Beachfront Deluxe: 2 Double Beds & Private Bathroom (per-person, shared)
$190
$128
Minimum 2-night stay. Minimum 4-night stay December 22, 2019–January 2, 2020. Minimum 3-night stay February 21–23, 2020. * Tent space rate is $89 per night during Christmas (Dec 20 - Jan 1) and Krishna Das Weekend (Feb 20-23). Garden and Beach Hut shared rooms have two beds. If you register for a shared room by yourself, a roommate of the same gender will also be assigned to the room. There is a two-adult minimum for Oceanview Deluxe rooms and Beachfront Deluxe Suites.
YOGA TEACHER TRAINING COURSES (TTC, ATTC)
EARLY-BIRD SAVINGS We offer discounts for booking in advance! • Save $350 when you register 5 months in advance. • Save $200 when you register 3 months in advance.
Offered monthly November through July; see page 6. The all-inclusive cost of the TTC is based on your housing choice.
NOVEMBER– JUNE MAY
JULY
Tent Space
$2,400
not available
not available
Dormitory
$3,000
$3,000
$3,000
Tent Hut
$3,150
$2,400*
not available
Classic Single Room
$5,300
$5,300
$5,300
*Early-Bird Savings does not apply to the already reduced Tent Hut rates in June.
RESIDENTIAL STUDY PROGRAM/KARMA YOGA Offered year-round; see page 7.
• 36-DAY INTRODUCTION PROGRAM The cost of the 36-Day Introduction Program is $1,044 for 36 days. If you would like to serve longer, additional days are calculated at $29/day. • 3-MONTH IMMERSION PROGRAM There is no fee for this program.
DAY VISITORS
76 sivanandabahamas.org
We welcome people interested in spending a whole day at the ashram or simply taking a yoga class with us or sharing a meal. The Yoga Vacation Program day rate is $45 (a 12% Bahamian VAT tax will be added). Please call or visit our website for more information — including drop-in pricing for individual yoga classes and meals.
3. REGISTER TODAY ONLINE sivanandabahamas.org BY PHONE Our reservations team are available to answer your questions.
1-866-559-5167 (US and Canada only) 1-416-479-0199 (all countries)
PAYMENT POLICIES Deposit To guarantee your reservation, a $300 deposit is required (per reservation). The balance is due at least 14 days before your arrival; we will send you an email reminder a week before we process the balance. Payment Methods We accept Visa and MasterCard. We do not accept traveler’s checks, personal checks, or American Express. All deposits and payments in US dollars only.
SPECIALS Double Rooms for Single Use From June 1 – October 31, all double rooms are offered for single use at a savings of 20% off of the double, full-occupancy rate (not the single rate). Group Rates We offer a 10% discount for groups of 10 or more; 15% discount for groups of 20 or more. Applies only to accommodation rates and only if all members of the group register and pay together as a group for the same time period.
All prices and programs listed in this catalog are subject to change without notice. 77
WELL BEING CENTER Integrative therapies with healing professionals
A
n integral component of
Services include:
holistic living, our services
• Holistic Therapeutic Massage
are designed to bring your body
• Thai Yoga Massage
and mind into balance and nurture
• Ayurvedic Consultations
natural health. Slow down and
• Ayurvedic Body Treatments
experience your inner divinity
• And more …
through personalized healing treatments and consultations with our skilled practitioners.
78 sivanandabahamas.org
Take a look online Call ahead to book a session before you arrive to guarantee availability.
PRESENTER INDEX A
Iqbal Akhtar 42 Eben Alexander 51 Isabel Allen (Devi) 55 Malika Anderson 12 Arjuna 30, 34, 45 Swami Advayatmananda Saraswati 71 Swamini Atmaprakashananda Saraswati 29, 30, 45 Davod Azad 28
B
Beata Barnard (Savitri-Devi) 24 John Beaulieu 35 Thea Keats Beaulieu 35 Nora Benian (Sundari) 14. 26 Shyam Bhatnagar 13 Erin Bidlake 50 Molly Birkholm (Madhavi) 50, 52 Sylvie Boisclair (Saraswati) 53 Latif Bolat 12 Joan Borysenko 21 Swami Brahmananda 11, 19, 42, 45, 48, 62, 68 Mirabai Bush 53
C
Vineet Chander 57 Nilan Chaudhuri 36 Swapan Chaudhuri 36 Aviva Chernick 28 Eileen Crowley 67
D
Dalien 69 Shambhavi Dandekar 36 Krishna Das 31 Atmarama Dasa 71 Tenzin Dasel 15 Karnamrita Dasi 10 Urmila Devi Dasi 38 Jeffrey Davis 72 Manu Dawson 10, 19, 52 Andrea Deerheart 43 Panache Desai 39 Christina Richa Devi 10 Gauri Devi 11, 17, 47 Stacie Dooreck (Saraswati) 35 Anne Douglas 38 John Douillard 60 Daniel Drubach 67 Paul Dugliss 22 Mallika Dutt (Parvati) 14 Emile Hassan Dyer 28
E
Reverend Normandi Ellis 47 Elissa Epel 27 David Estes 59
F
Helen Folsom 41
G
Mavis Gewant 19 Steve Gorn 10 Tzivia Gover 47 Linda Graham 72 Carrie Grossman (Dayashila) 68
H
Brother Phap Hai 10 Marc Halpern (Siva) 22, 43 Tanya and Paul Hanna 34 Joyce Hawkes 41 Karla Helbert 47 Kabir Helminski 16 Swami Hridyananda 21, 29, 70
I
Joan Ifland 55 Isvari (Mary Ann Johnson) 40, 48 Iswara Chaitanya 11, 19, 45, 65, 68
J
Zafreen Jaffery 42 Shamini Jain 47 Jnaneshwari Chaitanya 34, 37 Swami Jnaneswariananda 66
K
Menas Kafatos 31, 62 Subhash Kak 62 Gopi Kallayil 55 Swami Kashi Muktananda 58 Nathan Katz 16, 42, 67 Snatam Kaur 16 Pandit Habib Khan 36 Cynthia King (Narayani) 23 The Kirtaniyas 12 Margaret Koblasova (Yogapriya) 56 Jayarajan Kodikannath 22 Rose Kress 43 Krishna Chaitanya 11, 19,45. 64, 72 Manas Kshirsagar 44 Jay Kumar 56 Ramkumar Kutty 55
L
Lama Karma Chรถtso 10, 17 Suzi Landolphi 50 Marissa Laursen (Sri Devi) 15, 56 Andreas Ledermann 46 Durga Leela 55 Anneke Lucas 70
M
Acharya Mangalananda 15 Emily Markides 17 Kyriacos C. Markides 16 Daniel Matt 16 Fleet Maull 42 Dot Maver 21 Dan Millman 26 Mirabai 57 Kate Mitcheom 12 Raginder Singh Momi 36 Pierre Montpetit 26, 45 Raymond Moody 70 Sakthivel Murugaanandhan 63
N
Rubin Naiman 58 Ashok Nalamalapu (Swan Kirtan) 73 Krishnan Namboodiri 18, 31, 66, 69 Narayani Chaitanya 73 S. Sigamani Natarajan 63 Gomathi Nayagam 63 Andrew Newberg 30 Karen Newell 51 David Newman (Durga Das) 49
O
Annie Okerlin 61 Ernesto Ortiz 16
P
Steven Michael Pague 56 Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo 64 Katie Papo (Ambika) 29, 57 Swami Paramananda 32 Swami Paramananda Giri 54, 67 Ramesh Parmar 64 Suba Ramesh Parmar 63 Parvati Chaitanya Russill Paul 41 A. Pavan 36 Pooja Goswami Pavan 36 John Perkins 25 Monica Peters 65 William Peters 65 Swami Prakashananda 14 Parvati Chaitanya 44 Pranava Chaitanya 18, 22, 49 Swami Chidananda Puri 48, 49
R
Raghunath Yogi 57 Ragani 22 Brigitta Raimann 46 Sandhiya Ramaswamy 71 Nina Rao 31 Ram Rao 22 Sushri Rameshwari 28 Priti Robyn Ross 33 Marilyn Rossner 47 Jose Rugue Rubiera 53 Rukmini Chaitanya 29, 39, 62, 69 Peter Russell 60
S
Gina Salรก Sanatani 10, 11, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 47, 56 Swami Sarvapriyananda 20 Graham Schweig 67 Anna Scorik (Ambika) 13 Brant Secunda 32 Paul Selig 20 Shambhavi 17 Swami Shambhudevananda 11, 19, 43, 45, 51, 54 Swami Sharvananda Giri 68, 73 Swami Gopal Sharan 27 Acharya Shunya 22 Gurunam Singh 24 Olga Mandodari Sokolova 37 Srinivasan 18 Sankarapillai Sunilkumar 63 Swamimalai K. Suresh 63 Swamini Svatmavidyananda Saraswati 24 Swami Swaroopananda 9, 16, 17, 24, 32, 44, 47, 50, 59, 62, 66, 73
T
Swami Tattwamayananda 39 Omar Faruk Tekbilek 44 Theodore Tsavoussis 40 Suzi Tucker 37
U
Jai Uttal 52
V
Elaine Valdov 42 Phil Valentine 55 Grace Van Berkum 33, 59 Gaura Vani 17, 18, 57 Vidya (Denise Chapman) 40, 48 Prajna Vieira 59 Cassandra Vieten 27
W
Rukmini Walker 57 Ou Wen We 66i Amy Weintraub 47 Alyce Wellons 43 Maggie Wheeler 28 Ken Whiteley 28 Bishop Trevor Williamson 47 Sukha Wong 33
Z
Zuleikha 12
Spiritual names are alphabetized by first word
sivanandabahamas.org
79
THIS SEASON, join esteemed presenters.
Swami Swaroopananda
Srinivasan
Swami Sarvapriyananda
Eben Alexander
Krishna Das
Joan Borysenko
Snatam Kaur
Panache Desai
Anne Douglas
Durga Leela
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo
John Douillard
Elissa Epel
Marc Halpern
Jai Uttal
Gopi Kallayil
Dan Millman
Rubin Naiman
Andrew Newberg
David Newman
Russill Paul
John Perkins
Mirabai Bush
Peter Russell
Brant Secunda
Paul Selig
Molly Birkholm
Gaura Vani
Cassandra Vieten
Amy Weintraub
See page 79 for a full listing of this season’s presenters.
Are you ready for a life transformation? Sivananda Teacher Training Course.
Take a 28-day life-changing journey into classical yoga. Earn 200-hour certification at an international training center with more than 50 years’ experience. Develop discipline in your practice and feel yourself come alive.
Get online for the details — and send us your questions!
Regular practice of asanas and pranayamas removes the tamasic [heavy] nature of the body and mind. —SWAMI VISHNUDEVANANDA
sivanandabahamas.org
81
NONPROFIT ORG PRSRT U.S. POSTAGE PAID ST CLOUD MN PERMIT # 752
SIVANANDA Ashram Yoga Retreat
BAHAMAS Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas sivanadabahamas.org 1-866-559-5167 (US & Canada) +1-416-479-0199 (all countries)
NOVEMBER 2019–JULY 2020 100s OF PROGRAMS TO CHOOSE FROM Ayurveda Classical Yoga Cleanses Healing Arts
Healthy Lifestyle Interfaith Kirtan Meditation
Science & Spirituality Teacher Trainings Therapeutic Yoga Yoga Vacations
Join us online. 82 sivanandabahamas.org
YOGA VACATION PROGRAMS
are open to all and part of the all-inclusive accommodations; see page XX.