YOGALife I Summer 2010 - Sivananda Yoga

A Journey of Transformation
Bhagavata Saptaha with Sri Venugopal Goswami, TTC Graduates and Teachers, Correcting the postures during an Asana Class
In the middle of 2009 the centre was experiencing
what one would consider a lull with the usual centre
schedule. Of course, if anyone has ever experienced the
London centre, a lull is not ever really what one would
picture a quiet period to be. Soon enough it was decided
that the asana halls were in desperate need of a face lift.
In came the first of the workmen who began work on
plastering and painting the halls. At the same time
radiators needed maintenance and were being refreshed
for the upcoming winter months. Such works often
uncover other maintenance issues. The early morning
squeal from the staff bathroom was not a badly sung
Kirtan but the unfortunate experience of the temper -
amental boiler deciding that it was time to switch off in
the middle of a shower. We all agreed that there was no
better way of waking up in the morning, but perhaps it
could be experienced in a more civil manner.
A couple of months later we were informed that the
basement (being used as storage for tools and the
Centre’s make-shift laundry department) was turning
into a brand new shower/wet room. ‘Om Swamiji. How
wonderful!’ we all exclaimed. So the next wave of
workmen came through to begin the project. The project
in the basement moved along nicely with a few ‘major’
adjustments along the way.
The year end came around at lightening speed and
one fateful night, at the end of our new year celebration,
a loud thud was heard from above as staff finalised the
evening clean up. Upon investigation we discovered the
ceiling had collapsed in one of the staff rooms. We were
all thankful for the good fortune that no one was hurt.
Such an event triggered yet more action to be taken.
Well, of course the ceiling had to be fixed! In came
Vishvakarma with his team. The rooms were cleared,
work began. It was then announced that whilst the
opportunity was there the office needed desperate
expansion. “Om Swamiji. How wonderful!” we all
exclaimed. As one room became somewhat liveable,
work began in the next. At one stage there were more
workmen than students attending the centre! Full steam
ahead, the sound of saws and hammering rang out
across the centre. Whilst teaching, one would find oneself
chanting the prayers in tune to the banging of the
hammers and shrill of the saws. As Swami Sivananda’s
famous saying goes, “Adapt, Adjust, Accommodate”.
So at the beginning of 2010 we had intermittent hot
water in the kitchen and staff shower, dust on every
surface in the Main House, the Swamis swanning off to the
exotic land of India for the Kumbha Mela and a basement
that resembled a maze of pipe work and studding.
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YOGALife I Summer 2010
Countdown began. The Swamis returned. A new wave
of movement began. Rooms were plastered and painted,
windows replaced, floors were carpeted. The office
transformed into a modern haven for the staff to attend
to their daily administrative duties. The basement
continued taking shape.
Four weeks until TTC. The basement was still ‘taking
shape’. Workmen were staying late into the night to meet
the deadline. Were we going to have the shower room
operational for the beginning of the course?
More prana came in the form of Swami Keshavananda
from the Sivananda Retreat House, Austria. All day IKEA
shopping trips created mounds of boxed up furniture
piled in every corner of the Centre. Karma yogis came
in full force assembling and building the furniture for
the rooms.
We had residents staying at the centre for the first
of the new residential courses in April. They were much
appreciative of the wonderful space provided for their
accommodation and study. Meanwhile the basement
was still ‘taking shape’.
The wait was over. The 24th day of April finally came
around. The rooms for our new residents were beautifully
prepared with a hint of modern IKEA colour and space
consciousness. And with great relief the basement wet
room was operational and available for use at the very
last minute!
On a bright sunny day in London, we welcomed the
students to the city Ashram for the first TTC in a city
centre! They enjoyed the intense programme with regular
silent walks along the River Thames and serene natural
surroundings in the early morning light as well as during
the evening hours when the city begins to slow down.
Special guest programmes and learning and living the
different aspects of yoga kept them focused and eager.
The students maintained an enthusiastic and positive
attitude throughout the course. The intense schedule
flowed smoothly with the reduced daily schedule of the
centre. Every space of the centre was fully utilised
to maximum effect.
We were very blessed to be part of this landmark
event. Plans are in place to continue the tradition of TTC
at the centre in the future. Meanwhile residential courses
have been planned throughout the year with the next
being ‘Yoga Psychology and Positive Mental Health’ with
Dr. Uma Krishnamurti in August, followed by ‘The Raja
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’ with Swami Durgananda in
November 2010. We look forward to the ever growing
success of the residential activities in the London Centre,
which has turned into a real city Ashram!