Sivananda Yoga Centre London

On 10 July the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, came on a state visit to Austria.

At this occasion, the Indian Embassy gave a grand reception in the Sophiensaal, one of the most prestigious cultural venues of Vienna.
It was an honour for the Sivananda Centre to be invited at this exceptional event, the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Austria since over 40 years.

In the name of all Centres and Ashrams, Swami Satyananda presented the Sivananda Yoga Home Practice Companion to the Prime Minister, along with the following message:

To the Honorable Vienna, 10th of July 2024
Prime Minister of India
Sri Narendra Modi

Blessed Self,

We humbly express our gratitude to the Honorable Prime Minister.

In the name of all our yoga teachers and participants, accept my humble gratitude for inaugurating the “International Day of Yoga” worldwide. It has been an unspeakable support and has uplifted the yoga world beyond imagination.

Thank you.

With prayers for World Peace,

Swami Durgananda
Senior Acharya
International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres

Here is a video of the short interaction:
https://youtu.be/auZRuitXBbk

Summer Yoga Festival
Saturday 6 July

Join us for a celebration of yoga. Give a refreshing, exhilarating spiritual bath to body, mind and soul in the serene and spacious studios of the Sivananda Yoga Centre and it’s beautiful Peace Garden.

Gentle and dynamic asana classes, an in-depth yoga lecture, vegetarian cooking workshop, introduction to meditation and kirtan chanting make this a mini-retreat in the heart of London.

The festival is open to all and free of charge – newcomers to yoga and meditation are very welcome to join.

See https://shorturl.at/yqUMY

Stretch and Breathe
Sun Salutation and Pranayama class - Fridays from 6 - 7.30pm

Pranayama trains the respiratory muscles, strengthens the nervous system, calms the mind and improves concentration and sleep. The body becomes stronger and can deal much easier with the demands of modern life. Thus stress, anxiety, restlessness and illnesses such as depression can be overcome.

Prerequisites
Being familiar and comfortable with the practice of kapalabhati and anuloma viloma is a prerequisite for attendance. This workshop is not suitable for beginners in pranayama.

Puja with traditional Vedic priest
Saturday 11 May from 6 - 7.30pm

A puja is a devotional ritual or temple ceremony that conveys the deep essence of spirituality. Devotional rituals elevate the mind, sooth the nervous system and generate harmony. The chants bring much joy and have a very positive effect on the physical and mental wellbeing.

Free of charge, donations are welcome. Fruits and flowers are auspicious offerings when attending a spiritual festival.

We are looking forward to seeing you very soon at the centre. With best wishes for health and inner peace.

See: https://shorturl.at/CGNQ0

Ganesha Puja
Saturday 4 May at 6pm

We welcome you for a Ganesha puja for the removal of obstacles on Saturday 4 May at 6pm. The puja will be performed by a traditional Vedic priest.

A puja is a devotional ritual or temple ceremony that conveys the deep essence of spirituality. Devotional rituals elevate the mind, sooth the nervous system and generate harmony. The chants bring much joy and have a very positive effect on the physical and mental wellbeing.

Free of charge, donations are welcome. Fruits and flowers are auspicious offerings when attending a spiritual festival.

To enroll: https://shorturl.at/pFKU7

Sivananda Yoga Yatra to India
18 October – 3 November 2024

Connect Your Inner Journey to the Motherland of Yoga on a pilgrimage to the spiritual sources of yoga in India. The yatra itinerary leads from Vrindavan, Rudraprayag and Badrinath to Rishikesh.

With Acharyas and European Swamis of the Sivananda Yoga Centres

See https://www.sivananda.at/en/sivananda-yoga-yatra/

Asana Correction Workshops
For Sivananda Yoga Teachers

As part of the upcoming Sivananda Yoga Spring Festival from 21 - 28 April, we invite TTC graduates for two asana correction workshops. Connect to fellow yoga practitioners and TTC graduates, fine-tune your teachings skills and be part of the vibrant Yoga Spring Festival.

Saturday 27 April
9.30am Correction Workshop Sun Salute & Shoulderstand Cycle with Narayani Chaitanya

Sunday 28 April
11am Correction Workshop Headstand & Forward bend with Narayana Chaitanya

https://sivanandalondon.org/spring-yoga-festival/

Relax, recharge, rejuvenate. The Sivananda Easter Yoga Retreat offers a soothing environment to deepen or start your yoga practice, to connect to the practice of meditation, to be inspired by lectures on health, nutrition, positive thinking and yoga philosophy and to recharge during silent country walks.

There are gentle and intermediate yoga classes. Delicious, wholesome vegetarian meals are served twice daily. The retreat is smoke- and alcohol free.

Give a refreshing, exhilarating spiritual bath to body, mind and soul amidst the natural beauty of Kent. Nature and an abundance of fresh air allow us to go deep within.

See https://sivanandalondon.org/retreats-uk-countryside/

Sivananda Yoga Centre London The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre is an international non-profit organisation founded by renowned yo

Sivananda Yoga Spring Festival
21 - 28 April 2024

Join us for a weeklong celebration of yoga with senior teachers from all over Europe: early morning meditation, dynamic asana workshops, in-depth yoga lectures, kirtan and spiritual discourses accompanied by Indian music.

Give a refreshing, exhilarating spiritual bath to body, mind and soul in the serene and spacious studios of the Sivananda Yoga Centre and it’s beautiful Peace Garden.

You are welcome to enrol for individual activities or to join us for the week. Overnight stay in nearby hotels or Airbnbs.

See https://sivanandalondon.org/spring-yoga-festival/

Sivananda Yoga Centre London The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre is an international non-profit organisation founded by renowned yo

Easter Yoga Retreat in Kent
29 March - 1 April

Enjoy the transformative power of the yogic lifestyle amidst the natural beauty of Kent. Nature and an abundance of fresh air allow us to go deep within and immerse ourselves in silence.

The retreat offers a soothing environment to deepen or start your yoga practice, to connect to the practice of meditation, to be inspired by lectures on health, nutrition, positive thinking and yoga philosophy and to recharge during silent country walks.

The retreat offers gentle and intermediate classes to suit different levels of practice. Delicious, wholesome vegetarian meals are served twice daily. The retreat is smoke- and alcohol free.

See https://sivanandalondon.org/retreats-uk-countryside/

Programme with Swami Kailasananda, Yoga Acharya
21 - 28 April 2024

We welcome you for a programme with Swami Kailasananda, Yoga Acharya, as part of the Sivananda Yoga Spring Festival from 21 - 28 April with guest of honour Sri Venugopal Goswami.

Friday 26 April
3.30pm Lecture: The practice of Satya, truthfulness

Saturday 27 April
11.30am 60th birthday celebration Swami Kailasananda

Sunday 28 April
2pm Lecture: Embracing change: the practice of adaptability

To see the complete Festival programme with senior teachers from Europe and India, see https://sivanandalondon.org/spring-yoga-festival/

Asana classes with Swami Sivadasananda, Yoga Acharya
22 - 28 April

We welcome you for a programme with Swami Sivadasananda, Yoga Acharya, as part of the Sivananda Yoga Spring Festival with guest of honour Sri Venugopal Goswami.

Monday 22 April
5pm Asana class: Mobility in all planes of movement

Friday 26 April
5pm Asana class: The higher effect of asanas

Saturday 27 April
4pm Asana class: Three levels of breath control

Sunday 28 April
4pm Asana class: The experience of inner silence

To see the complete day programme with senior teachers from Europe and India, see https://sivanandalondon.org/spring-yoga-festival/

Dear friends in yoga,

We welcome you to the special Sivananda Yoga Spring Festival “Peace, Simplicity and Love” from 21 - 28 April 2024 with honoured guest Sri Venugopal Goswami, Bhakti Yoga Acharya from Vrindavan, North India.

There will be daily asana enrichment workshops, in-depth yoga lectures and spiritual discourses into the meaning of life.

See https://sivanandalondon.org/spring-yoga-festival/

We look forward to welcoming you to this special sadhana week.

Om shanti,
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre

Easter Detox: Fast before the Feast
Saturday 23 March

Fasting is nature’s healing agent. A fast gives the digestive system a rest, eliminates toxins and rejuvenates the entire body. Physically, it gives nature a chance to clean the system and gives it a complete overhaul. Mentally, a fast develops concentration, strengthens the willpower and helps to release negative emotions. Thought processes slow down, resulting in clarity of mind.

We will be fasting on carrot juice and vegetable broth, a gentle way to help your body detoxify. The fast will be combined with the practice of kriyas, classical cleansing techniques to further purify the body. Yoga and meditation are an important aspect of the detox and fasting day.

See: https://shorturl.at/elNW6

Yoga Beginners Weekend Retreat
10 - 12 May

New to yoga and curious to discover its benefits? Join us for a Beginners Yoga Weekend Retreat from 10 – 12 May. This weekend retreat provides a complete experience of the yoga lifestyle. Gentle yoga classes, guided silent meditation, nutritious vegetarian meals and a walk along the Thames make this a peaceful mini-retreat in the heart of London.

Over the weekend, you will gradually work on developing strength, flexibility, proper breathing, concentration and relaxation. Feelings of calm and well-being can already be experienced after the first class. The course includes an introduction to the yogic diet and its health benefits.

We look forward to having you with us.

See https://sivanandalondon.org/beginners-yoga-weekend-level-1/

Vegetarian Cooking Workshop
Saturday 24 February at 2pm

Vegetarian cuisine is fascinating: full of flavour, colour and creativity. Predominantly plant-based, this diet ensures that our food gets its energy directly from the sun – the source of all life.

The workshops start with a theoretical explanation of the yogic diet followed by a vegetarian cooking demonstration. A copy of all the recipes will be provided so that you can prepare the dishes at home. You will enjoy tasting the flavoursome vegetarian dishes at the end of the cooking demonstration.

See https://sivanandalondon.org/vegetarian-cooking-workshops/

Lectures with Swami Kailasananda, Yoga Acharya
20 - 26 January

We welcome you for a programme with Swami Kailasananda, Yoga Acharya, as part of the Special Sadhana Week 'Let the heart look at life' with guest of honour Sri Venugopal Goswami

Saturday 20 January
2.30pm Lecture Awaken the power of faith

Sunday 21 January
2.30pm Lecture The practice of contentment

Friday 26 January
4pm Lecture Tapas, key to strength and inner expansion

To see the complete day programme with senior teachers from Europe and India, see https://sivanandalondon.org/bhagavata-saptaha/.

Asana classes and lecture with Swami Sivadasananda, Yoga Acharya
20 - 26 January

We welcome you for a programme with Swami Sivadasananda, Yoga Acharya as part of the Special Sadhana Week 'Let the heart look at life' with guest of honour Sri Venugopal Goswami

Saturday 20 January
4pm Asana class Strength and mobility in the shoulder girdle

Sunday 21 January
4pm Asana class Deepening the relaxation experience

Tuesday 23 January
6pm Lecture The power of positive thinking

Friday 26 January
5pm Asana class Holding the poses: achieving deep concentration in each asana

To see the complete day programme with senior teachers from Europe and India, see https://sivanandalondon.org/bhagavata-saptaha/.

New Year Yoga Peace Festival
Saturday 13 January

Discover the benefits of classical yoga and meditation, whether you are a beginner or an experienced yogi, young or old, fit or not so fit.

The festival is open to all and free of charge – newcomers to yoga and meditation are very welcome to join.

Festival programme
11am Welcome lecture Yoga, an ancient guide to healthy living
11.45am Asana demonstration: basis poses and classical variations
12noon Gentle asana and pranayama class The art of conscious relaxation
12noon Intermediate asana and pranayama class Asanas for increased vitality
1.30pm Vegetarian lunch
2.15pm Mantra chanting for world peace
3.00pm Introduction to meditation Calming the mind, connecting to inner peace
4.15pm Vegetarian cooking demonstration A balanced diet for a peaceful mind
6.00pm Group meditation, chanting and lecture Universal love, the fountain of peace

See https://shorturl.at/fpFGZ

Dear friends in yoga,

Our warm wishes for the New Year.

We welcome you to a Special Sadhana Week “Let the Heart look at Life” from 20 - 26 January with honoured guest Sri Venugopal Goswami, Bhakti Yoga Acharya from Vrindavan, North India.

There will be daily asana enrichment workshops, in-depth yoga lectures and spiritual discourses into the meaning of life.

See https://sivanandalondon.org/bhagavata-saptaha/

We look forward to welcoming you to this special sadhana week.

Om shanti,
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre

Positive Thinking, living life with joy
Saturday 16 December from 1.30 - 3.30pm or full day programme

As you think, so you become. As your thoughts are, so must be your life. Yoga encourages us to live to our fullest capacity in accordance with the universal law of harmony. In order to achieve this, we learn the precious art of positive thinking.

Workshop topics
- What is a thought and how are habitual thought patterns formed
- Yogic techniques to focus on the positive and to kindle creativity
- Transforming negative thoughts and emotions
- Obstacles are opportunities: developing contentment and joy

See https://shorturl.at/fpFMU

The Meditation Experience
Study Retreat from 29 November - 3 December

This course provides a thorough overview of the philosophy and practice of meditation, visualisation, techniques for mental relaxation & mantra chanting. Each workshop includes various guided meditations and mantra chanting. Revitalize your yoga practice and turn it into a practical, spiritual life-style.

The course will be held in the Sivananda Centre in London - a spiritual oasis amid the pressures of city life. You are welcome to stay in the centre for the length of the course, accommodation will be in shared, double or single room. It is also possible to attend individual workshops, classes and satsangs as a non-resident in case you are unable to participate in the full course.

See https://conta.cc/46lpOvI

Dear Friends in Yoga,

Next week, we will start with the painting of the upstairs yoga hall and downstairs meditation hall. The painting project starts on Friday 24 November and we hope to be able to finalise the painting on Tuesday 28 November.

How you can help
Do you have a few hours to spare and enjoy painting? We would love to hear from you, your help on any of the painting days is very welcome. You don’t need to be a professional, neither do you have to have experience.

Book a painting slot
If you are planning to join the painting team for a few hours, thank you for informing us about the day and time you are planning to come. You can call the centre on 020-8780.0160 or send an email with your availability at [email protected].

We look forward to refreshing the centre together!

Pranayama, revitalise your life energy
Saturday 11 November

Breath is life.
Breath better, live better.

We welcome you for an afternoon or full day programme ‘Pranayama, revitalise your life energy’ on Saturday 11 November.

Gaining control of the breath by practising pranayama, breathing exercises, connects the body to its ‘battery’: the solar plexus. An enormous amount of energy is stored there. By becoming aware of our breathing and taking deep breaths, we can tap into these energy stores and recharge body and mind.

Pranayama trains the respiratory muscles, strengthens the nervous system, calms the mind and improves concentration and sleep. The body becomes stronger and can deal much easier with the demands of modern life. Thus stress, anxiety, restlessness and illnesses such as depression can be overcome.

Workshop topics:
- Tuning to the infinite source of energy
- A bird’s eye view of the astral body
- Pranayama as a gateway to relaxation and meditation
- From restlessness to inner peace through proper breathing
- How to build up a pranayama practice at home

Programme
10.30am Asana a& pranayama class: Dissolving tensions through deep breathing
12.30pm Vegetarian lunch
1.30pm Workshop: Pranayama, revitalise your life energy
4.00pm Asana & pranayama class with focus on pranayama
6.00pm Satsang: Opening the heart through chanting

See via the following link: https://shorturl.at/jxDNZ

108 Sun Salutations sponsorship
Saturday 28 October at 10.30am
Saturday 18 November at 4pm

A special 108 Sun Salutations fundraising event will take place on Saturday 28 October and Saturday 18 November. The number 108 is considered sacred in the yoga tradition, representing the wholeness of existence.

All proceeds go towards the renovation of the kitchen, a vital hub of the centre, and the refurbishment of the yoga halls.

We will be practising 54 sequences of 12 postures for the right side of the body and 54 sequences for the left adding up to a total of 108.

Have friends and family sponsor your salutations any way you would like, for example:

£0.25 per salutation : £0.25 x 108 = £27
£0.50 per salutation : £0.50 x 108 = £54
£1.00 per salutation : £1.00 x 108 = £108
£2.00 per salutation : £2.00 x 108 = £216
£5.00 per salutation : £5.00 x 108 = £540
£10.00 per salutation : £10.00 x 108 = £1008

Please click here to download the 108 sun salutations sponsorship form: https://shorturl.at/qwyEW

Yoga Peace Festival
Saturday 28 October from 10.30am - 7.30pm

Enjoy a day of rejuvenation and relaxation. Discover the benefits of classical yoga and meditation, whether you are a beginner or an experienced yogi, young or old, fit or not so fit.

The Festival is open to all and free of charge - newcomers to yoga and meditation are very welcome to join.

To enrol: https://rb.gy/4xe4k

Weekend Retreat
Stress Relief and Relaxation through Yoga
3 - 5 November

Come and join us for this mini weekend retreat in the oasis of peace of the Sivananda Yoga Centre in Putney. Learn practical yoga techniques to manage stress, improve wellbeing and respond
positively to the circumstances and challenges of our lives. We look forward to having you with us.

See: https://sivanandalondon.org/london-study-retreats-3/

Navaratri Celebrations
Daily pujas in the Sivananda Centre

Navaratri is observed in honour of the Divine Mother. This festival symbolizes the stages of the spiritual journey: overcoming negativity, cultivation of positivity and ultimately attaining inner wisdom. The tenth day symbolizes the victory of the higher nature over the lower nature, or of knowledge over ignorance.

The preservative aspect to cultivate new positive thoughts: Lakshmi
Friday 20 Oct: Lakshmi puja at 6pm

The creative aspect of knowledge and wisdom: Saraswati
Saturday 21 Oct: Saraswati puja at 6pm
Sunday 22 Oct: Saraswati puja at 6pm
Monday 23 Oct: Saraswati puja at 6.30am*

Vijaya Dashami: victory of higher nature over lower nature
Tuesday 24 Oct: puja at 6.30am*

* Please arrive no later than 6.25am

See: https://sivanandalondon.org/navaratri/

Kirtan and chanting workshop
Saturday 21 October from 1.30 - 3.30pm

Kirtan or chanting is singing with love, faith and devotion. Devotional chanting elevates the mind, opens the heart and soothes the nerves. Kirtan is an active form of meditation and creates feelings of joy, oneness and peace. It is a powerful mental tonic and gives you strength to face the difficulties in life.

No need to have any prior knowledge or experience with kirtan. All are welcome!

The workshop can also be taken as part of a full Saturday programme:

10.30am Asana and pranayama class Beyond physical relaxation
12.30pm Vegetarian lunch
1.30pm Workshop Kirtan, the joy of chanting
4.00pm Asana and pranayama class Asanas for increased vitality
6.00pm Puja (devotional temple ceremony) for Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge, music and arts

See https://sivanandalondon.org/chanting-workshop-upcoming-dates/