YVP - Sivananda Yoga Firenze

Dear Friends, 

What does it mean to be on the spiritual path A common notion 

is that spirituality means dedication to certain spiritual practices, 

particularly meditation, and attainment of spiritual experiences. 

However, for Swami Vishnudevananda, spirituality meant much 

more than that. It meant being a servant of humanity. While he 

did not minimize the importance of spiritual experiences, for him, 

they were only a means to an end. Whenever a student came to 

him, describing some profound spiritual experience that he had, 

Swamiji’s immediate response was to assign to that student a 

big karma yoga project. Swamiji believed that a true spiritual 

experience must result in a desire to serve others. His own life 

was a perfect demonstration of this principle. The intense yogic 

practice he did in the Himalayas during his early years resulted in profound spiritual attainments 

and a tremendous amount of spiritual energy. These were utilized entirely for the service 

of humanity. With this energy, he travelled to the West and created one of the largest yoga 

organizations in the world, which continues to grow and which serves hundreds of thousands 

of people to this day. Swami Vishnudevananda did all this singlehanded and against all odds. 

He sacrificed his own body, health and life for this purpose, offering his spiritual attainments 

to God in the form of service to humankind. 

And he taught us to do the same. He taught us that the only way to progress on the spiritual 

path is to help others on their path. He said that our spiritual success is not “ours” but is given 

to us through Grace so that we can share it with others. He explained that the more selfless we 

are, the more this Grace will shower upon us. He always prayed that whatever we receive, be it 

knowledge, experience or spiritual transformation, we never keep it for ourselves, but always 

share it with others. 

This prayer was in our minds as we designed the 2010/2011 program presented in the following 

pages. By bringing together leading spiritual teachers, healers and artists from all traditions, we 

wished to ensure that with each visit to the ashram you will grow more in spiritual knowledge, 

inner-peace and spiritual energy. Following Swami Vishnudevananda’s prayer, we wish that 

whatever you receive, you would share with others. 

Table of Contents 

Our Teachers 4 

Welcome to the Ashram 5 

About the Ashram 6 

The Well-Being Center 8 

The Yoga Vacation Program 9 

Program Guide 10 

Yoga Teachers’ Training Course 14 

Advanced Yoga Teachers’ Training Course 16 

Courses for TTC Graduates 17 

Calendar of Events 18 

Residential Study Programs 78 

Professional Accreditation 80 

Plan Your Visit 81 

Registration and Rates 82 

Just like food is needed for the body, yoga is needed for the soul. Because yoga means union, 

and union is love, and love is that thing which sustains us all. It is the essence of this universe 

and also the essence of you. I pray that your next visit to the ashram will be another step in 

discovering this ultimate truth. I wish you a year full of love, peace, joy and unity and look 

forward to seeing you at the ashram. 

Om Shanti, Om Peace 

Swami Swaroopananda 

Director 

2 sivanandabahamas.org 3

Our Teachers 

Welcome to the Ashram 

Swami Sivananda 

(1887-1963) 

One of the great saints of modern times, Swami Sivananda is the 

inspiration behind the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta 

Centers. 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. He is the 

author of over 300 books and his teachings continue to enrich 

the lives of millions world-wide. 

Swami Vishnudevananda 

(1927-1993) 

A world authority on Yoga, Swami Vishnudevananda was sent 

to the West by his master, Swami Sivananda and founded the 

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in 1957. He was a tireless 

campaigner for world peace, a master of Hatha Yoga and Raja 

Yoga, and author of the now classic Complete Illustrated Book 

of Yoga and Meditation and Mantras. 

Planning your visit 

to the Ashram 

There are 3 

options for you 

to choose from: 

Take a Vacation 

Need to rest, relax and recharge The Yoga 

Vacation Program is for you. This is the 

yogic version of an R&R retreat. Enjoy 

yoga classes, meditation, nutritious food, 

healing sessions and a variety of workshops 

to choose from. Offered year round, the 

Yoga Vacation Program allows you to come 

at any time and stay for as long as you wish. 

For more information see page 9. For a list 

of workshops available as part of this program, 

search for the Yoga Vacation Program 

symbol YVP on the Calendar of Events. 

Learn, Train, Get Certified 

Wish to expand your knowledge, gain a new skill or get certified Register in one of our courses 

and develop your skills as a yoga teacher, healer, counselor or other. Many of our courses are 

approved for Yoga Alliance credits or Continuing Education Units (CEU). Look for programs 

marked C on our Calendar of Events and for the CEU symbol for courses approved for 

Continuing Education Units. 

Serve 

Interested in becoming part of the ashram community, living a spiritual life, meeting people 

from all over the world and experiencing the joy of selfless service The Residential Study 

programs are just what you are looking for. You will live and serve in the ashram, enjoy yoga, 

meditation, chanting, lectures and the company of other yoga practitioners from around the 

world. See pages 78-79 for details. 


About the Ashram 

The Ashram Setting 

Located across the bay from Nassau, on 

one of the finest beaches in the world, the 

Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat is an island 

paradise with a tropical garden, crystal 

clear water and pure white sands… a true 

sanctuary of peace and natural beauty. The 

ashram’s staff will be happy to welcome you 

and help you settle into a stay full of joyous 

practice and blissful relaxation. 

Tropical Garden 

Five and a half acres of tropical paradise 

await you. Here you will find a haven far 

from the hectic demands of everyday life. 

There are spacious yoga platforms facing 

the warm turquoise waters of the Caribbean. 

Swaying palms provide you with 

shade and shelter. Colorful flowers bloom 

throughout the gardens surrounding 

peaceful ponds. Birds fill the air with their 

beautiful song while colorful butterflies 

flutter around you. 

Accommodations 

Pleasant and simple lodgings include a 

choice of rooms overlooking the ocean, or 

comfortable wooden garden cabins. Choose 

a room with a shared or private bathroom. 

You may also pitch a tent in the lovely 

coconut grove and be lulled to sleep by 

the sound of the ocean waves. Please ask 

our reception office about new and 

improved accommodations complete 

with air-conditioning and bathroom. 

Nutritious Food 

Enjoy a variety of delicious and nutritious 

vegetarian meals, made with loving care, 

using fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole 

grains according to yogic dietary principles. 

Delicious snacks are also available during 

the day from our health hut (the health 

hut is open from November to May). 

Boutique and Bookstore 

You can find an extensive selection of 

spiritual books, CDs and DVDs by our 

presenters as well as other authors, clothing 

for yoga classes, yoga mats, meditation 

cushions, gifts, spiritual paintings, toiletries, 

and other useful items (the boutique 

is open from November to May). 

Families and Children 

The Temple 

Make your next yoga vacation a family 

The ashram is built around a semi-open 

vacation and bring your family with you 

outdoor meditation temple on a spot rich 

to the ashram. There are several special 

with spiritual energies. We all meet for 

programs for families and children offered 

satsang (meditation, chanting, and lecture 

during holiday seasons in which special 

or concert) in the early morning and in the 

yoga classes for children and other fun 

evening. There are pujas (rituals) conducted 

daily by our Tantric priest from India or 

activities are offered (see Program Guide). 

by the ashram’s senior staff. 


The Well-Being Center 

Take time between workshops and yoga classes to attend more personally to 

the needs of your body and mind. Enjoy nurturing and healing treatments and 

consultations with one of our skilled practitioners. Services include: 

Ayurvedic Consultation 

Ayurveda is an ancient system of holistic living that teaches us to balance our daily life with our 

unique physical and mental constitution. An ayurvedic consultation is a two-hour meeting with an 

ayurvedic practitioner who will explore your unique constitution and evaluate the signs and causes 

of actual or potential imbalances, designing a treatment plan specifically for you. 

Ayurveda Body Treatments 

Bliss Therapy consists of abhyanga (a balancing warm oil body massage), followed by shirodhara 

(streaming of warm oil over the forehead and scalp) or nasya (a facial using gentle heat and 

application of oil to the nasal passages), bhasti (localized retention of oil), and ayurvedic facials. 

Panchakarma 

Panchakarma is the traditional ayurvedic method to cleanse, balance and rejuvenate the body, 

mind and spirit. An experienced ayurvedic practitioner will customize a series of daily personalized 

treatments and practices for you, following your initial consultation (see above) and offer you follow 

up practices to use at home for proper rejuvenation and continued balance. 

Therapeutic Massage 

Therapeutic massage supports general health, increases circulation, releases stress and enhances 

the immune system. It can relieve muscle strain, aches and pains. Experienced therapists in 

energy and body work modalities will customize the massage for you to have a relaxing and 

rejuvenating experience. 

Thai Yoga Massage 

Thai Yoga Massage is a bodywork treatment that relieves muscular tension, improves circulation, 

boosts the immune system and balances the body energetically, facilitating mind-body integration. 

We recommend scheduling treatments in advance in order to secure the date. 

For more information please visit our website or contact Lalita Devi, the Well-Being 

Center Director, at Lalitadevi@sivananda.org 

The Yoga 

Vacation 

Program 

Did you ever go on vacation 

and returned home more tired 

than you were 

While this is often the case with 

regular vacations, the Yoga Vacation 

Program was designed by Swami 

Vishnudevananda to ensure that 

real relaxation and rejuvenation 

are achieved. Based on five simple 

principles: Exercise, breathing, 

relaxation, healthy diet, positive 

thinking and meditation - the Yoga 

Vacation Program generates 

profound rest in your body, mind 

and soul. It boosts your energy 

level and ensures that you will 

return home more joyful, vibrant 

and energetic and that you will 

have greater strength to carry 

on with your life mission. 

The Daily Schedule 

Morning 

Start the day at 6 a.m. with the serenity 

of early morning meditation. Enjoy joyful 

chanting and a spiritual talk. Join the 

yoga class at 8 a.m. and benefit from this 

revitalizing session of yoga postures and 

breathing exercises. Enjoy a delicious 

vegetarian brunch at 10 a.m. amid good 

company from all over the world. 

Midday 

Take an experiential workshop, attend a 

lecture or enjoy a healing arts session*. 

Relax on the beach, swim in the ocean, 

or read a book in the garden. 

Afternoon 

Join the afternoon yoga class at 4 p.m. 

Feel how your body achieves maximum 

flexibility, your breath gets calmer and 

your mind clearer. Enjoy a nutritious 

vegetarian dinner at 6 p.m. Take an early 

evening walk on the beach. 

Evening 

Come for the evening satsang at 8 p.m. 

starting with silent meditation, followed 

by uplifting chants and a lecture by a 

world-renowned presenter or a devotional 

music or dance performance. 

* Healing art treatments are available at additional cost. 

All Yoga Vacation Programs are open to all guests - look 

for programs marked YVP in the Calendar of Events 

pages. See pages 82-83 for rates. 


Program Guide 

YOGA TEACHERS’ TRAININGS 

Yoga Teachers’ Training Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

Advanced Yoga Teachers’ Training Course . . . . . . . 16 

COURSES FOR TTC GRADUATES 

Sivananda Yoga Teachers’ Renewal Program . . . . 17 

Swami Brahmananda, Shyam and Mohini 

Advanced Sadhana Retreat for Yoga Teachers: 

Hatha Yoga as a Stairway to Raja Yoga . . . . . . . . . . 17 

Alan Wiuker 

YOGA COURSES 

Advanced Asana Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 

Shyam and Mohini 

Beginners’ Yoga Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39, 67 

Sylvie Boisclair 

Beginners’ Yoga Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 

Narayani 

SPECIALIZED YOGA TRAININGS 

Pregnancy Yoga Training Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 

Kashi Richardson 

Yoga for the Special Child® LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 

Sonia Sumar 

Cardiac Yoga Teachers’ Training Program . . . . . . . 43 

Mala Cunningham 

Adapt, Adjust, Accommodate: Teaching Yoga 

to Those with Physical Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 


Teaching Yoga to Children Training Course . . . . . . 56 

Mira Binzen 

Addressing Children’s Attention Disorders 

through Yoga, Guided Visualization 

and Meditation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 

Mira Binzen 

Yoga for Depression: 

Practitioner Training Course Level I . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 

Amy Weintraub 

MEDITATION AND YOGA PHILOSOPHY 

Vedanta and Silence Course: Self Discovery 

and Contemplation Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 

Swami Sitaramananda 

Meditation Immersion Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 

Swami Brahmananda 

Advanced Bhagavad Gita Certification Course . . . 55 


Advanced Raja Yoga Certification Course . . . . . . . . 67 


What is Nirvana and How Do We Get There . . . . . 55 

Geshe Michael Roach 

Meditation as a Path to Enlightenment: 

An Interfaith Symposium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 

YOGA THERAPY 

The Healing Power of the Breath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 

Shama 

Yoga Therapy for Common Postural and 

Joint Ailments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 

Sondra O’Donnell 

The Healing Power of Hatha Yoga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 

Laurier-Pierre Desjardins 

Thai Yoga Massage: Introductory Course . . . . . . . . 25 

Kam Thye Chow 

Yoga Therapy Certification Course: Learning to 

Nurture Others by Nurturing Yourself . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 

Albert Swiercz 

Yoga Anatomy and the Breathing Body . . . . . . . . . . 40 

Leslie Kaminoff 

Yoga as Medicine: The Yogic Path for Health, 

Healing and Personal Transformation . . . . . . . . . . . 45 

Timothy McCall 

Thai Yoga Massage: 

Yoga Therapy Practitioner Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 

Kam Thye Chow and Mariana Mosca 

Yoga Therapy Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 

Rev. Manjula Spears 

Yoga Nidra: The practice of Deep Relaxation . . . . 62 

Marc Halpern 

Yoga and Life Enhancement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 

Dale Buegel 

YOGA AND SOUND 

Pratyahara to Nada: Deep Meditation through 

the Yoga of Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 

Sri Shyamji Bhatnagar 

Bija Mantras: 

The Power of Primordial Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 

David Frawley and Shambhavi Chopra 

In Search of Voice Divine: Liberating the Voice 

through Mantra Chanting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 

Silvia Nakkach 

The Yoga of Sound and Voice 

Certification Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 

John Beaulieu and Silvia Nakkach 

Pure Voice: Shaping Sound from the Inside Out . . . 48 

Jody Tull 

Sound, Healing and Consciousness . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 

Zacciah Blackburn 

From Sound into Stillness: 

Yoga and Sacred Vibration Symposium . . . . . . . . . . 68 

AYURVEDA AND VEDIC SCIENCE 

Ayurveda Body Treatments Certification Course . . . 22 

Lalita Devi 

Introduction to Ayurveda: Ancient Yogic Medicine 

for Healing Body and Mind . . . . . . 25, 30, 40, 48, 62, 73 

Mark Halpern and the California College 

of Ayurveda Senior Staff 

Introduction to Jyotish (Vedic Astrology) . . . . . . . . 39 

Alan Wiuker 

Ayurveda and Yoga Wellness Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . 41 

Lalita Devi 

Bringing Yoga and Ayurveda into 

Psychotherapy and Counseling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 

Joann Lutz and Lalita Devi 

Ayurvedic Nutrition Advisor Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 

Lalita Devi and Isvari 

The Psychology and Physiology of Permanent 

Weight Loss through Ayurveda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 

John Douillard 

Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 

Marc Halpern 

THE HEALING ARTS 

Homeopathy and Yoga: Philosophy and Practice . . 18 

Dennis Chernin 

Soul-Full Living: Integrate Awareness and 

Positive Action Into Our Everyday Routines . . . . . . 18 

Maureen Whitehouse 

The Total Well-Being Retreat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 

Lalita Devi, Shama and Michael Pyfrom 

The Five Elements and Polarity Therapy . . . . . . . . . 36 

Andreas Ledermann 

Easter and Passover Symposium and 

Celebration: Yoga and Sacred Healing . . . . . . . . . . 64 

Craniosacral Therapy: 

Level 1 - Windows and Meditations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 

Michael Shea 

ENERGY HEALING 

Energy Medicine: The Hidden Link between 

Emotions and Physical Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 

Cairo Rocha 

Energy Medicine: Uplifting Body, 

Mind, and Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 

Donna Eden and David Feinstein 

Introduction to Theta Healing: 

The Healing Power of the Mind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 

Vianna Stibal 

ThetaHealing Basic Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 

Vianna Stibal 

ThetaHealing Advanced Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 

Vianna Stibal 

The Evolution of the Chakra System: 

Yoga for the Lattice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 

Peggy Phoenix Dubro 

Healing through Mystical Qigong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 

Master Ou Wen Wei 

ThetaHealing Basic Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61, 73 

Narayan Jyoti 

ThetaHealing Advanced Training . . . . . . . . . . 61, 73 

Narayan Jyoti 

Energy Medicine: Healing the Mind, 

Body and Emotions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 

Cairo Rocha 

NUTRITION AND COOKING 

New Year’s Detoxification and 

Juice Fasting Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 

Manu Dawson, Sita Chaitanya and Grace Van Berkum 

The Joy of Vegetarian Cooking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 

Brahmachari Shankar 

Yoga and Nutrition for Blood Sugar Regulation: 

Retreat for People with Diabetes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 

Manu Dawson 

Living Foods: Spirit, Practice, Art and Science . . . 66 

Caroline Dupont 

Spring Detoxification and 

Juice Fasting Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 


Raw Abundance Wellness Retreat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 

Latham Thomas 

Holistic Craniosacral Therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 

10 sivanandabahamas.org 

Fadel Behman 

11

INTERFAITH 

Christmas and New Year Symposium 

and Celebration • Unity in Diversity: 

The Paths are Many, the Truth is One . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 

On The Wings of Ecstasy: Interfaith Devotional 

Singing and Sacred Dance Festival 

Sacred Chants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 

Meditation as a Path to Enlightenment: 

An Interfaith Symposium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 

MUSIC, DANCE AND KIRTAN 

Kirtan Celebration: The Sounds of Divine Love . . . 21 

The Mayapuris 

The Path of Love: Celebrating Devotional 

Singing and Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 

Karnamrita Dasi 

Sacred Chants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 

Snatam Kaur and GuruGanesha Singh 

The Yoga of Chant Retreat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 

Krishna Das 

Classical Indian Music and Dance Festival . . . . . . 49 

The Power of Sound: Kirtan with Russill Paul . . . . 53 

Russill Paul and the Bhakti Boys 

Overtone Chanting Retreat: 

The Mystery of Music and Healing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 

Gerhard Fankhauser and Einat Gilboa 

Gospel Music Makes Me Feel All Right . . . . . . . . . 58 

Ken Whiteley 

Magic and Grace: A Weekend of Classical 

Indian Music and Dance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 

Devotion and Grace: Chanting Retreat . . . . . . . . . . . 66 

Jai Uttal and Daniel Paul 

Kirtan with Ragani . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 

Ragani 

THE MIND AND EMOTIONS 

Yoga and Compassionate Communication . . . . . . . 19 

Michael Shell 

Healing Trauma by Developing Compassion . . . . . 19 

Deirdre Fay 

Healing Trauma through Deep Relaxation . . . . . . . 23 

Molly Asebey-Birkholm 

Our Two Gardens: Choosing to Heal and 

Finding Inner Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 

Tom Spector 

The Yoga of Recovery Retreat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 

Catherine O’Neill 

Yoga of Recovery Certificate Course 

for Counselors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 

Swami Sitaramananda and Catherine O’Neill 

Transforming Stress: Mindful Living 

and the Art of Nourishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 

Susan Lord 

Evolve Your Brain: The Science of 

Changing Your Mind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 

Joe Dispenza 

Mindfulness and Loving kindness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 

Sylvia Boorstein 

Positive Thinking for Inner Transformation . . . . . . 40 

Rama 

Developing a Fearless Heart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 

Elizabeth Lesser 

Yoga and Emotional Regulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 

Richard Panico, Rev. Manjula Spears 

Guided Imagery and Creative Visualization: 

Awareness Adventures for the Body, 

Mind and Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 

Julie Lusk 

The Healing Journey: Transforming Stress, 

Pain and Illness into Self-Healing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 

Paul Epstein 

Non-Violent Communication: 

Developing Compassionate and Effective 

Human Interactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 

Kiran Patel 

CONSCIOUSNESS AND THE SPIRIT 

The Three Waves of Volunteers and 

the Coming New Earth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 

Dolores Cannon 

Lucid Living: Dream Lucidity, Interpretation 

and Empowering Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 

Craig Sim Webb 

WISDOM FROM 

THE YOGIC SCRIPTURES 

The Essence of Divine Love: 

Life and Teachings of Lord Krishna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 

Swamini Pramananda Saraswati 

Ocean Stories: The Spiritual Journey . . . . . . . . . . . 34 

Rama 

The Siva Lila: Stories of Compassion and 

Inner Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 

Mata Devi Vanamali 

The Royal Path to Enlightenment: 

Talks on Patanjali Yoga Sutras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 

Edwin Bryant 

Deities and Self Transformation: 

Introduction to Hindu Mythology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 

Rama 

Sat Darshana: 

Ramana Maharishi’s 40 Verses on Reality . . . . . . . . 51 

Swami Shantananda 

The Yoga of Meditation: Talks on the 

Sixth Chapter of the Bhagavad Gita . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 

Swami Tattvavidananda 

Srimad Bhagavata Saptaha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 

Radhanath Swami with Gaura Vani 

Walking the Path of Righteousness: 

Stories from the Ramayana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 

Swami Prakashananda 

Discerning the Real from Unreal: 

Teachings from the Viveka Chudamani . . . . . . . . . . 75 

YOGA FOR THE FAMILY 

The Yoga of Parenting: 

Raising Children with Love, Compassion, 

Strength and Creativity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 

Catherine Carpenko 

Yoga, Nature and Fun: 

A Spiritual Program for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 

Jasmine Ellis 

Family Holiday Yoga Vacation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 

Rama and Hanuman 

Yoga for Children @ Home: 

Practicing with the Whole Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 

Rama 

Explore the Bahamas, Explore Yourself! . . . . . . . . . 41 

Arjuna 

Easter and Passover Family Program . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 

Barb Van Maris 

YOGA FOR EVERYDAY LIVING 

Yoga for Beginners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 

Arjuna 

Deeper into the Five Points of Yoga . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 

Arjuna 

Practical Spirituality: Life and Teachings 

of Swami Vishnudevananda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 

Arjuna 

Deaf Yoga Retreat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 

Lila Lolling 

SACRED ART AND CREATIVITY 

Yantra Painting: 

Transformation through Sacred Form . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 

Mavis Gewant 

Chakra Immersion: Painting, Chanting 

and Understanding Sacred Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 

Mavis Gewant 

Deity Painting: 

Sacred Image as Spiritual Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 

Mavis Gewant 

Yoga as Muse: Creative Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 

Jeff Davis 

Sacred Art: Express Divine Inspiration . . . . . . . . . . 52 

Rama 

Soul Stories and Memoir Writing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 

Virginia Frances Schwartz 

YOGA AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT 

Becoming a Mensch: 

Service as Spiritual Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 

Roshi Bernie Glassman 

Yoga and Permaculture: 

Vedic Ecology in Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 

Vidya Chaitanya 

Yogis without Borders: 

Training for Activist Yoga Teachers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 

Elaine Valdov, Nirmala and Satyadev 

Yoga for Peace Symposium: 

Changing the World from the Inside Out . . . . . . . . . 70 

Yoga Peace Ambassadors 

Certification Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 

Elaine Valdov 

The Yoga of Leadership Certification Course . . . . . 71 

Lillas and Rick Hatala 

TRADITIONAL CEREMONIES 

Christmas Celebration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 

Borther Rolph Fernandes 

New Year’s Eve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 

Krishnan Namboodiri, Snatam Kaur and 

GuruGanesha Singh 

Ayyappa Puja . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 

Krishnan Namboodiri 

Maha Sivaratri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 


Passover Seder Celebration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 


Easter Sunrise Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 

Swami Swaroopananda, Fr. John Rossner, 

Bishop Elkin Symonette and the 

Ebenezer Baptist Choir 


Yoga Teachers’ 

Training Courses 

(200-hour certification) 

December 6, 2010 – January 2, 2011 

January 23 – February 19, 2011 

February 27 – March 26, 2011 

(International) 

The Sivananda Yoga Teachers’ Training Course 

(TTC) is a profound personal experience designed 

to build a firm foundation of inner discipline 

and provide the proficiency to teach yoga to 

others. The benefits of this training include 

increased strength and flexibility, greater spiritual 

awareness, improved power of concentration, 

enhanced self-esteem, and a new-found sense of 

self-discipline. Mastery of any yoga practice is not 

pre-requisite; the only pre-qualification is a sincere 

desire for knowledge and a commitment to personal 

growth. The course is registered by the Yoga Alliance 

and fulfills the requirements for RYT 200-hour 

certification. It is offered five times this season and is 

taught by senior staff of the Sivananda organization. 

Curriculum 

Yoga asana (postures); pranayama (breathing); kriyas 

(cleansing); Hatha Yoga theory; teaching techniques for 

beginners, intermediate and advanced classes; how to 

teach children, the elderly and prenatal yoga; the 

Bhagavad Gita; anatomy and physiology; 

yoga philosophy and 

psychology; yogic 

diet and nutrition; 

meditation and 

kirtan (chanting); 

Karma Yoga 

(selfless service). 

March 31 – April 27, 2011 

May 5 – June 1, 2011 

What to bring 

Books: The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga by Swami Vishnudevananda and the 

Bhagavad Gita with commentary by Swami Sivananda. These books are available 

for purchase at our boutique and at all of our centers world-wide. 

For recommended equipment see page 81 and our website. 

Course fees 

Tent space: $2,400 

(please bring your own tent) 

Dormitory or Tent Hut: $3,290 

Single or double accommodations: Please contact our reception office for single 

or double accommodation options and prices. 

Prices include accommodation, meals, two sets of uniforms, the course manual 

and all classes. A $300 deposit is required for reservation. 

Students registering simultaneously for the Yoga Teachers’ Training Course and the 

Advanced Yoga Teachers’ Training Course (500 hours Yoga Alliance Certification. 

See page 16 ) will receive a 10% discount on the total tuition for both courses. 

Arrival and departure 

Students are requested to arrive at least one day before the course starts 

and to depart no sooner than one day after the course ends. It is 

recommended that you stay a few days after the course as a yoga 

vacationer or take one of the many courses offered for further 

qualification. You are also welcome to join one of our Residential 

Study programs after your graduation (see pages 78-79). 

For information about the daily schedule and detailed curriculum, 

visit our website. 

For all other inquiries, please contact us by e-mail or phone. 


Advanced Yoga Teachers’ 

Training Course 

(500-hour certification) 

January 6 – February 2, 2011 

Courses for TTC Graduates 

November 28 – December 4, 2010 

Sivananda Yoga Teachers’ 

Renewal Program 

Swami Brahmananda, 


February 12 - 20, 2011 

Advanced Sadhana Retreat 

for Yoga Teachers: C 

Hatha Yoga as a Stairway to Raja Yoga 

Alan Wiuker (Krishna) 

The Advanced Yoga Teachers’ Training Course 

allows yoga teachers to deepen their sadhana 

(spiritual practice) and swadyaya (Self study) 

during four weeks of intense yoga practice 

and study of Hatha yoga, Bhakti yoga, 

Karma yoga, Sanskrit, the Raja Yoga Sutras 

of Patanjali, Vedanta philosophy and 

anatomy. The course is taught by senior 

Swamis and staff of the Sivananda 

organization. It fulfills the requirements 

for the Yoga Alliance RYT 500 certification. 

Prerequisite: 

Graduation from the Sivananda Yoga Teachers’ 

Training Course or Integral Yoga Teachers’ Training Course 

(please contact our reception with any request for exceptions). 

Curriculum 

Advanced variations and prolonged holding of the asanas 

(postures); advanced pranayama (breathing), mudras (energy seals), 

and bandhas (energy locks); in-depth study of Vedantic 

meditation theory and practice; study of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras; 

Sanskrit (including the alphabet, pronunciation, and the writing 

of sacred mantras); anatomy and physiology with particular focus on 

the function of the nervous and endocrine systems in relation to the practice of yoga; Karma 

yoga and Bhakti yoga as inner attitudes of selfless service and the nine modes of Bhakti yoga. 

What to bring 

Book: Meditation and Mantras by Swami Vishnudevananda (available for purchase at our 

boutique and in all of our centers world-wide), and two Sivananda Teachers’ Training uniforms. 

A Karma yoga-based program. Participants pay half 

the daily rate on tent or dormitory accommodation 

(see pages 82-83). There is no tuition fee. 

Join other Sivananda-trained teachers in 

this renewal program. Re-establish connection 

with the Sivananda tradition and 

enjoy the ashram environment. Strengthen 

your practice and learn how to address the 

challenges in your teaching and practice. 

Enjoy workshops, yoga classes and spiritual 

guidance and experience the joy of karma 

yoga (3 hours daily). Learn how to start 

your own Sivananda affiliated yoga center. 

Return home refreshed with new tools for 

your practice and your teaching. 


is the manager of the 

Sivananda Ashram Yoga 

Retreat and a senior 

staff of the Sivananda 

organization. A long-time 

practitioner of yoga, 

he regularly teaches 

yoga philosophy and 

meditation for the Sivananda Teachers’ Training 

Courses as well as Meditation Immersion 

courses. He is a much-loved, inspiring and 

knowledgeable teacher. 

Tuition: $350. Add 10 nights’ accommodation. 

Hatha yoga is 

described by the 

Masters as a means 

to attain Raja yoga, 

or the experience of 

deep meditation, 

inner silence and 

realization of the 

Self. This immersion retreat is focused on 

intense spiritual practice (sadhana), with 

guided and personal practice on advanced 

asanas and pranayamas, Japa and meditation; 

it is especially directed to yoga teachers 

graduated from Sivananda TTC, to give 

you the opportunity to recharge yourself, 

deepen your personal practice and inner 

meditative and spiritual experience. 

Alan Wiuker (Krishna) is a direct disciple of 

Swami Vishnudevananda and has been a yoga 

and meditation teacher for over twenty four 

years. He is the main Hatha yoga instructor in 

many Sivananda Yoga Teachers’ Training Courses 

and has an in depth knowledge of Hatha yoga, 

Raja yoga and Vedanta philosophy. He is a 

Jyotish teacher and consultant, certified by the 

American College of Vedic Astrology (ACVA). 

www.9graha.com 

Course fees 

See TTC course fees on page 15. 

Shyam and Mohini are the founders and directors 

of the Yoga Warehouse, an affiliated Sivananda 

Yoga Vedanta Center in Ft. Lauderdale, 

Please see our website for other equipment and full schedule. 

Florida, USA. Highly experienced practitioners 

and charismatic teachers, Shyam and Mohini are 

instructors in the Sivananda Teachers’ Training 

Courses. www.theyogawarehouse.com 


Calendar of Events 

November 

November 1 - 5 


Homeopathy and Yoga: YVP 

Philosophy and Practice 

Dennis Chernin 

Learn the basic laws of 

homeopathy, how to 

select an appropriate 

homeopathic remedy 

for yourself and family, 

and how to understand 

chronic diseases from a 

homeopathic perspective. 

We will analyze, in depth, several 

important homeopathic remedies and 

explore the relationship of the homeopathic 

principles of the vital force (energy), remedy 

characteristics and miasms (inherited 

disease patterns) to prana, the chakras, the 

koshas, and the principles of raja yoga. 

Dennis Chernin, MD, MPH, is a holistic 

physician who has taught yogic meditation and 

breathing techniques for over 30 years. His 

publications include How to Meditate Using 

Chakras, Mantras and Breath and The Complete 

Homeopathic Resource for Common Illnesses. 

Soul-Full Living: YVP 

Integrate Awareness and Positive 

Action Into Our Everyday Routines 

Maureen Whitehouse 

Maureen Whitehouse’s 

brand of Soul-Full Living 

offers methods of 

integrating awareness 

and positive action 

into our everyday 

routines such as 

shopping, cooking, 

eating and cleaning in order to unearth and 

discover the miraculous in the mundane. 

Learn how, by becoming mindful, paying 

attention and relaxing, you can feel more 

empowered to make changes for the better, 

and live deliberate, purposeful lives. At the 

core of the program is the message that consciousness, 

mindfulness, and awareness are 

not vague, cosmic concepts, but grounded 

principles that can be readily experienced in 

our everyday lives. 


Yoga and Compassionate 

Communication YVP 

Michael Shell (Narayana) 

Learn how to live in 

awareness of the all 

pervading oneness 

with yourself and 

others. We will explore 

the different ways 

in which we are 

interconnected, how 

we disconnect from the feeling of oneness 

and ways in which we can return to it. 

The program is designed to offer the 

conceptual understanding, practical skills, 

and inspiration to developing the ability 

to maintain connection with others which 

offer invaluable support for personal 

relationships, communication in the 

workplace and finding deep peace in 

connecting compassionately to oneself. 

Michael Shell (Narayana)is a Life Coach, 

Holistic Health Counselor, yoga teacher 

and Authentic Communication Trainer. 

He founded the Oneness Project and is a 

non-violent communications facilitator. 

www.authenticlivingproductions.com 



Energy Medicine: YVP 

The Hidden Link between Emotions 

and Physical Health 

Cairo Rocha 

Explore the foundations 

of energy 

medicine as taught by 

ancient healing systems 

such as Chinese and 

Tibetan medicine. 

Understand the link 

between our bodies, 

minds and emotions. Learn in detail 

how our biological mechanisms deal with 

specific feelings, and how they affect one 

or more of our internal organs. Get simple 

yet powerful tools that can help you detect 

early signs of disease and vastly improve 

your health and overall sense of well-being. 

Cairo Rocha, OMD, PhD, is a Brazilian-born 

researcher, acupuncturist, doctor of oriental 

medicine, and the author of the book, Anger 

Goes Up, Fear Goes Down: Emotions and the 

Hidden Link. He lectures on energy healing 

and oriental medicine around the world. 

www.cairorocha.com 

Healing Trauma by Developing Compassion YVP 

Deirdre Fay 

Discover how our spiritual practice and our commitment to it can be 

disrupted by past events or traumas. Explore the changes caused to the 

body and mind by trauma. Learn how to befriend the suffering caused by 

trauma through the practice of compassion and how to open your heart as 

you soften into the pain. 

Deirdre Fay, MSW, is a licensed clinical social worker with a specialty in 

Maureen Whitehouse has advised and counseled 

trauma and attachment. She is the originator of Becoming Safely Embodied 

clients in personal transformation and balanced 

(Skill Building Groups for Trauma and Dissociation) and an author a book by the same title. She is 

life style, for over 20 years. She is the author of 

teaching individuals and therapists how to find concrete psycho-spiritual ways to alleviate suffering. 

the award-winning, best-selling book Soul-Full 

Eating: A (Delicious!) Path to Higher Consciousness, 

www.dfay.com 

and Done with Dieting: 30 Days of Soul-Full 


Eating. www.maureenwhitehouse.com 

19

Thanksgiving Celebration 


The Total Well-Being 

Retreat YVP 

Lalita Devi, Michael Pyfrom 

and Shama 

Join us for this special well-being retreat 

led by experienced practitioners of 

ayurveda, yoga therapy and chiropractic. 

Learn practical techniques for maintaining 

optimum health, relieving old pain in the 

body and mind and building vitality and 

immunity in preparation for the winter 

months. Techniques taught will address the 

physical, energetic, and mental-emotional 

aspects of your well-being. You will learn 

how to radiate health from the inside out! 

Individual treatments will be available. It is recommended 

to book in advance as availability is limited. 

Lalita Devi is a Clinical 

Ayurveda Specialist (CAS) 

and a Sivananda yoga 

teacher. She is the Director 

of the Well-Being Center at 

the Sivananda Ashram Yoga 

Retreat and the Ayurveda 

Center at the Sivananda 

Ashram Yoga Ranch. She teaches Ayurveda workshops 

and training nationwide. 

Michael Pyfrom, DC, is a 

Doctor of Chiropractic and 

Sivananda yoga teacher. 

He maintains a successful 

chiropractic clinic in Nassau, 

Bahamas where he integrates 

the ancient wisdom 

of yoga with the modern 

science and concepts of 

chiropractic as an integrative approach. 

Shama is a Sivananda yoga 

teacher with specialized 

trainings in yoga for 

cardiac disease and cancer, 

pregnancy yoga, Structural 

Yoga Therapy, and 

Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy. 

She is also trained in 

massage, aromatherapy 

and The Journey ® mind-body therapy technique. 

www.loveyogahealing.com 


The Yoga of Parenting: YVP 

Raising Children with Love, 

Compassion, Strength and Creativity 

Catherine Carpenko 

Awaken to the concept 

and practice of 

conscious, creative 

parenting. Through 

activities, discussion, 

exploration and 

humor, you will learn 

how to apply your 

personal strengths and creativity to being 

fully present with your children at all times. 

Catherine Carpenko shares her unique 

family journey and her research on how 

holistic living supports balance, well-being 

and harmony in children and their families. 

Catherine Carpenko is a yogini, educator and 

psychotherapist. She holds graduate degrees in 

education and psychology, as well as in dance. 

She is the Director of Wild Rose Farm Artist’s 

Retreat, and Chair of Dance Ontario. 

www.withgratitude.ca 


Yoga, Nature and Fun: YVP 

A Spiritual Program for Children 

Jasmine Ellis 

Through special 

yoga classes, creativity 

and the exploration 

of nature, children 

will find spirited 

self-expression and 

the become attuned 

to themselves and 

the world around them. This is a handson 

experiential program geared to the 

needs and abilities of children of various 

ages, through which the rhythms of 

their bodies, the surrounding nature 

and ashram life will provide a nurturing 

context for a fun experience. 

Jasmine Ellis is a dance teacher, choreographer 

and performer. She has worked extensively with 

children and her ‘Creative Movement Class’ is a 

platform for children to learn a holistic, healthy, 

imaginative and fun approach to expressing 

themselves through movement. 


Kirtan Celebration: YVP 

The Sounds of Divine Love 

The Mayapuris 

Join us for a weekend of kirtan with the 

Mayapuris and find divine inspiration in 

the group’s energies, the ecstatic kirtan and 

the wonderful sound of Mridunga drum. 

The Mayapuris grew up surrounded by Krishna 

culture and revealing in the joy of kirtan. Named 

after Mayapur, which lies along the banks of the 

Ganga in West Bengal, India, and considered the 

birth place of the kirtan movement, the Mayapuris 

travel around the world offering inspiring kirtan 

full of divine love. www.mayapuris.com 

November 28 – December 4 

Sivananda Yoga Teachers’ 

Renewal Program 

Swami Brahmananda, Shyam 

and Mohini 

See page 17 for details. 

November 29 - December 4 

Holistic Craniosacral 

Therapy YVP 

Fadel Behman 

Craniosacral Therapy 

removes energy 

blockages from the 

central nervous 

system of the 

physical body, 

allowing healing 

beyond the level of 

the purely physical. Holistic Craniosacral 

Therapy includes counseling to remove 

the emotional and cognitive attitudes 

which caused the blockages, while 

keeping in alignment with the spiritual 

values of the client. This program 

provides an introduction to Craniosacral 

Therapy, including as used for stress 

reduction and prevention of disease. 

Fadel Behman, PhD, is the originator of a 

new Holistic Therapy Technique for Physical, 

Emotional Mental and Spiritual Well-Being, 

which includes a holistic craniosacral technique 

for energetic wellness, an emotional release 

technique for liberating cellular memories 

from past traumas, and a cognitive dialogue 

technique for soul revival. 

www.4energies.org 


December 

December 4 - 12 

Ayurveda Body Treatments Certification Course C 

Lalita Devi 


A wonderful opportunity to learn the techniques 

of ayurveda body treatments with the ashram’s 

Well-Being Center Director. These treatments 

provide deep detoxification and rejuvenation 

and help to achieve ultimate balance for body, 

mind and spirit. Learn the traditional oil 

massage (abhyanga), pouring of oil over the 

forehead (shirodhara), the introduction of oil into 

the nasal passages (nasya) and gentle heat therapy 

(svedana). The course is designed for massage therapists, 

ayurveda practitioners, yoga teachers and all 

others who have a personal interest in the ancient 

techniques of ayurveda body treatments. The course 

focuses on understanding the treatments as a 

spiritual practice for the client and practitioner. 

Optional: course graduates are welcome to stay for one 

or two more days (December 13 and 14) and have the 

opportunity to gain more hands-on practical experience 

in Ayurveda Body Treatments. 


The Healing Power of 

the Breath YVP 

Shama 

A deep understanding of prana 

(life-force) and how to work with it is 

essential, whether as a yoga teacher, healer 

or individual seeking to improve your 

own well-being. Drawing on the ancient 

wisdom of yoga scriptures and combining 

modern mind-body therapy, we take an 

inner journey of healing. Learn pranayamas 

for pain relief, and breathing techniques 

for communication with the physical body, 

for swadhyaya (self-study) and for restoring 

harmony in the body-mind. The techniques 

taught are simple and safe and the program 

is suitable for everyone, providing healing 

tools for life. 

Shama: See biography on page 20. 


Yoga Therapy for Common 

Postural and Joint Ailments 

YVP 

Sondra O’Donnell 

Learn how yoga can 

be adapted to help the 

back, knees and hip pain 

and improve movement 

range. We will cover 

common conditions 

and injuries including: 

Pain due to misalignment, 

herniated disks, knee injuries and knee 

replacements and hip imbalances. You will 

learn how to spot and correct postural 

distortions and misalignments that contribute 

to problems in these areas and how to practice 

to improve the above conditions. 

December 6 - January 2 



See pages 14-15 for details. 


Healing Trauma through 

Deep Relaxation YVP 

Molly (Madhavi) 

Asebey-Birkholm 

Discover how you 

can transform the 

most challenging 

experiences of your 

life into powerful 

vehicles for healing 

and self-transformation. 

Using deeply 

restorative breathing, asana and iRest 

Yoga Nidra guided meditation techniques, 

explore the ways in which deep relaxation 

helps reconnect us with our true nature, 

and in the process, helps us heal from the 

effects of trauma and find the inner 

meaning each situation in life presents. 

Molly (Madhavi) Asebey-Birkholm is an 

Sondra O’Donnell is the developer and director of advanced Sivananda yoga teacher (RYT 500) 

Multidimensional Yoga Therapy, a 500-Hour Professional 

and a certified Integrative Restoration (iRest) 

Yoga Therapist certification program. She 

Instructor. She worked at the Department of 

Tuition for these additional 2 days: $50/day. Add 1-2 nights’ accommodation. 

has twenty years experience in yoga and has been 

Veterans Affairs where she conducted clinical 

Lalita Devi: See biography on page 20. 

teaching public yoga classes for more than ten years. research measuring the effects of iRest Yoga Nidra 

Sondra founded Sun Moon Yoga Studio in Ann 

on veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 

Arbor, Michigan in 2004, where she directs both 

(PTSD). She has been teaching iRest and deep 

200 and 500-hour teacher certification programs. relaxation workshops in Florida, USA. 


www.multidimensionalyogatherapy.com 

www.blissdivineyoga.com 

23





Pratyahara to Naada: YVP 

Deep Meditation through the Yoga 

of Sound 

Sri Shyamji Bhatnagar 

Sound was one of the 

primary tools used 

by yogic traditions 

to unblock and 

harmonize the chakras. 

In this program Sri 

Shyamji Bhatnagar will 

teach how to withdraw 

(internalize) the senses (pratyahara) 

by using precise intonation of sounds and 

thus experience a deep state of meditation. 

Through using these sounds you will learn 

how to tune your chakras and microchakras 

and overcome negative emotions such as 

anger and fear and insomnia and how to 

purify toxic thinking. 

Sri Shyamji Bhatnagar is the founder of SRI 

Center International, Inc., created in 1970 to 

synthesize Eastern and Western approaches to 

healing. He is the originator of Microchakra 

Psychology and InnerTuning and has been 

teaching in the U.S., Europe and India for 

over 30 years. He is co-author of Microchakras: 

InnerTuning for Psychological Well-being. 

www.innertuning.com 

The Healing Power of 

Hatha Yoga YVP 

Laurier-Pierre Desjardins 

Discover the secrets 

of the functional 

anatomy of Hatha 

yoga. Learn what 

happens in your 

body physically and 

energetically when 

you practice yoga 

postures. Explore the biomechanics of 

the postures and how to increase your 

strength, flexibility, and vital energy 

through yoga practice. 

Laurier-Pierre Desjardins, PhD, is a professor 

of osteopathy and an experienced Hatha yogi. 

He is a popular international teacher of the 

functional anatomy of Hatha yoga and the 

biomechanics of asana (yoga posture). 


The Path of Love: YVP 

Celebrating Devotional 

Singing and Stories 

Karnamrita Dasi 

Thai Yoga Massage: C 

Introductory Course 

Kam Thye Chow 


Thai Yoga Massage 

is an ancient yoga 

therapy which 

combines yoga 

postures with touch 

technique to promote 

deep relaxation and 

healing. Graduates 

of this course will be able to perform a 

one-hour full body Thai Yoga Massage, 

use Thai Yoga Massage practitioner key 

stances, incorporate effortless, flowing 

transitions between postures and integrate 

metta (loving-kindness) and meditation 

into their practice. 

As a complementary to this course, we recommend 

taking the full Thai Yoga Massage Certification Course 

(see page 46 for details). 

Kam Thye Chow: See biography on page 46. 

Our Two Gardens: YVP 

Choosing to Heal and Finding 

Inner Peace 

Tom Spector (Kumar) 

Do you suffer from 

stress, fear, worry, 

anxiety, anger or guilt 

Do you want to learn 

how to relax and live a 

calmer, more efficient 

life In this program 

you will discover 

the causes of our suffering and will learn 

specific techniques to attenuate its effects. 

We will explore two types of meditation 

and learn simple techniques that will serve 

you in your daily life and throughout your 

spiritual path. The program is suitable for 

all levels of practitioners. 

Tom Spector (Kumar) studied with many 

meditation teachers including Ram Das. He 

is the founder of Hatha House and is teaching 

meditation and healing workshops internationally. 

He is known for his ability to reach 

individuals of all level of practice and help 

them to experience immediately the benefits 

of meditation. 

www.hathahouse.com 

Known for being the 

easiest path to Self 

Realization, Bhakti, 

or the yoga of love is 

the best method to 

end our sense of 

separateness, which 

is the source of our 

suffering. Learn how to open your heart 

through chanting the Divine name, listen 

to stories of devotion and immerse in the 

practice of Bhakti yoga with Karnamrita 

Dasi, a leading devotional singer of the 

Vaishnava tradition. 


Introduction to Ayurveda: YVP 

Ancient Yogic Medicine for Healing Body and Mind 

Ayurveda is the knowledge of life, as revealed to the Rishis of ancient India. Offering a 

complete system of health and healing, it has been practiced for over 5,000 years by millions 

of individuals to assist the body in journeying back to optimal health. This program offers 

an introduction to the basics of ayurveda, including the doshas and individual constitution, 

the cause of disease, proper individualized nutrition, and ayurvedic psychology. 

The program will be presented by senior staff members of the 

California College of Ayurveda. Please see our website for presenters. 

Karnamrita Dasi is a talented and moving 

singer. She received training in Indian classical 

vocals in Vrindavan, India and now travels in the 

United States giving kirtan concerts and singing 

songs from her album Dasi: Prayers by Women. 


www.karnamrita.com 

25

December 22, 2010 - January 1, 2011 

Christmas and New Year Symposium and Celebration 

Unity in Diversity: The Paths are Many, the Truth is One YVP 

Mystics and saints of all religions and 

spiritual traditions know that despite our 

apparent differences, in our very essence we 

are one. This holiday season we continue 

with our tradition of bringing together 

spiritual leaders, mystics and musicians 

from the world’s major spiritual traditions 

to celebrate the unity within our diversity 

and the common wish to bring peace, love 

and harmony to the world. 


is a senior disciple of 

Swami Vishnudevananda, 

the director of the 


Retreat and the Acharya 

for the Sivananda centers 

and ashrams on the West 

Coast of the United States, 

the Middle East and the Bahamas. 

Rabbi Joseph H. 

Gelberman is a masterteacher 

in the tradition 

of neo-Hasidic mysticism 

and Kabbalah. He founded 

the New Seminary 

in New York - the first 

interfaith seminary in the 

world - and the All Faiths 

Seminary International. 

www.allfaithseminary.org 


is a Tantric priest from 

South India. He is trained 

in the classical tradition of 

mantras (sacred sounds), 

pujas (prayer ceremonies), 

homas (fire rituals), and 

yantras (sacred geometric 

designs). He will perform 

special rituals during the Symposium. 

www.two-sandals.org 

Brother Rolph Fernandes 

has been a Franciscan 

monk for over forty years. 

Now residing outside 

monastic walls, he travels 

and shares his experiences 

of Franciscan spirituality 

and its implications for 

this changing world. 

Grandfather Duncan 

Sings-Alone is a Cherokee 

healer, spiritual teacher 

and a practicing ceremonialist 

for nearly forty years. 

He is part of the Georgia 

Tribe of Eastern Cherokee 

Indians and the founder 

and Grandfather Chief 

of the Free Cherokees, an inter-tribal cultural 

organization. www.freecherokee.org 

Priscilla Cogan is an 

award-winning bicultural 

novelist, screenwriter, 

storyteller, clinical 

psychologist and sacred 

pipe carrier in Native 

American ceremonies. 

Along with her husband, 

Grandfather Duncan 

Sings-Alone, she offers workshops and storytelling 

programs about the spiritual journey. 

Dipak Jain, PhD, is professor 

in Entrepreneurial 

Studies, professor of Marketing 

and previously dean 

of the Kellogg School of 

Management. He has been 

actively involved with the 

Jain community throughout 

North America and 

organized several global events on Jainism. 

Alan ‘Abd al-Haqq 

Godlas, PhD,has been 

involved in traditional 

Sufi practice and its 

academic study for 36 

years. He belongs to the 

Naqshbandi Sufi order 

and is the founder of 

Sufis Without Borders, 

an international online community of Sufis. 

Rabbi Rami Shapiro, 

PhD, DD, has been a 

congregational rabbi for 

twenty years and studied 

with Rabbi Zalman 

Schachter-Shalomi, the 

founder of the Jewish 

Renewal movement. He 

is Professor of Religious 

Studies and an award-winning author, poet, and 

educator. www.rabbirami.blogspot.com 

Davod Azad is an 

accomplished multiinstrumentalist 

and 

vocalist from Azerbaijan. 

He is a master of Azeri 

folk music, ancient 

Persian music and 

Persian Sufi music. 

www.davodazad.com 

Karma Kunzang Palden 

Rinpoche (Rodney 

Devenish) is one of 

the spiritual directors of 

the Dharma Fellowship of 

H.H the Gyalwa Karmapa. 

He is co-founder of The 

Hermitage, a meditation 

retreat center in Canada 

and a disciple of the Karma Namgyal Rinpoche 

of the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism. 

www.dharmafellowship.org 


Suba Ramesh Parmar 

is an award-winning 

dancer of the South 

Indian Bharatanatyam 

dance style. She is known 

for grace and dynamism 

in her expression and 

movement. 

Sacred Chant Concerts 

Snatam Kaur released 

over thirteen CDs of 

sacred chant. She is 

trained in kirtan, 

meditation, and 

Gurmukhi, the Sanskrit-based 

language 

of Sikh scriptures. She 

travels internationally, 

performing prayers and chants and promoting 

world peace. www.snatamkaur.com 

GuruGanesha Singh 

is an icon of the 

yoga music genre. 

His three solo releases 

of Sikh-inspired chant 

music are much beloved 

world-wide. Guru- 

Ganesha performs 

world-wide, in addition 

to teaching yoga classes and prosperity workshops. 


Family Holiday 

Yoga Vacation YVP 

Rama (Noam Paz) and 

Hanuman (Danny Desimoni) 

Additional $70 material fee applies for this program. 

Take time to practice and rejuvenate 

yourself while your children enjoy the 

ashram community with other children. 

There will be special yoga classes, chanting, 

crafts, Karma Yoga, lots of games and 

fun. We offer a flexible yet predictable 

schedule for the children, allowing them 

to bond, get to know one another and 

participate in ashram life. 

Rama (Noam Paz) is a 

Sivananda yoga teacher 

and an instructor of 

children yoga in teachers 

training courses. He 

is an artist, musician, 

story-teller and a healer. 

Through music, art, 

stories and yoga, he 

touches the hearts of children of all ages. 

web.me.com/noampaz 

Hanuman (Danny 

Desimoni) is a 

Sivananda yoga teacher 

(RYT 500) and has 

also a B.A. in Special 

Education. This background, 

combined with 

his playful nature are 

magnetic when working 

with children. He creates fun and engaging 

programs for children of all ages. 


January 3 - 9 

January 6 - 15 

January 

Divine Inspiration: YVP 

Sacred Art Programs with Mavis Gewant 

January 2 - 4 

Yantra Painting: 

Transformation through Sacred Form 

Immerse yourself in the joy of sacred 

painting. Learn how to paint yantras, 

geometrical centering instruments. Chanting 

the bija (seed) mantra while painting 

these sacred designs, you will be guided to 

choose your own yantra and connect with 

the power inherent in sacred geometry. 


Deity Painting: 

Sacred Image as Spiritual Practice 

January 5 - 7 

Chakra Immersion: 

Painting, Chanting and Understanding 

Sacred Centers 

Discover the imagery of the chakras 

(psychic energy centers), as the stage upon 

which the interaction between higher consciousness 

and desire get played out, and 

how painting chakras in a prescribed order 

activates such centers. Learn the imagery, 

colors, elements, deities and mantras associated 

with each chakra and experience the 

chakras through painting and visualization. 

Learn about the gods and goddesses of ancient India and understand their qualities. Experience 

the unique spiritual practice of painting your favorite deity, chant your mantra and immerse 

yourself in the form and sound of sacred image, through which you will experience healing and 

transformation in your body, mind and soul. 

Additional $30 materials fee applies for each of the above programs. No previous experience with painting is required. 

The Essence of Divine Love: 

Life and Teachings of Lord Krishna YVP 

Swamini Pramananda Saraswati 

Lord Krishna symbolizes 

that aspect of 

the divine which is 

full of love, joy, 

compassion and bliss. 

He was a mischievous 

baby to His mother 

Yashoda, an irresistibly 

charming cowboy to the cow girls of 

Vrindavan, and a compassionate teacher 

to all mankind, delivering his teachings 

in the Bhagavad Gita. Join us for seven 

days of wisdom as Swamini Pramananda 

Saraswati teaches the life and teachings of 

Lord Krishna and His heart-filling Lilas. 

Swamini Pramananda Saraswati is a senior 

disciple of Swami Dayananda Saraswati. She 

has been teaching Vedanta, Sanskrit and Vedic 

Heritage for many years. She is the founder of the 

Purna Vidya Ashram and spends most of her time 

in retreat, occasionally leaving her solitude to share 

her vast knowledge with seekers around the world. 

www.purnavidya.com 

January 4 - 7 

Advanced Asana Course C 



This four-day immersion in the practice 

of asana and pranayama will enable participants 

to deepen and enhance their practice. 

Take your practice to the next level by 

learning advanced variations of the standard 

asana sequence and longer holding of 

postures; strive towards the one-pointed integration 

of body, breath and mind in asana 

and achieve steadiness (sthira) and comfort 

(sukham) in your practice, thus moving 

closer to the underlying purpose of asana 

and pranayamas practice: The attainment of 

dhyana (meditation). Familiarity with the 

twelve-posture series taught at Sivananda 

centers and ashrams is recommended. 

New Year’s Detoxification 

and Juice Fasting Program C 

Manu Dawson, Sita Chaitanya 

and Grace Van Berkum 


Kick start the New Year by rejuvenating 

and revitalizing body, mind and spirit with 

this detoxification program. Juice fasting is 

the fastest and safest way to eliminate toxins 

from the body. It allows the body to stay 

slim, healthy and vital, and overcome eating 

disorders. The program begins gradually 

with a few days of raw food followed by 

fruit and vegetable juice fasting, and ends 

with a raw food diet for the last days of 

the program. The process is supported by 

detoxifying herbs and supplements. This 

program also includes special yoga classes 

and insightful lectures on nutrition. 

Manu Dawson is a nutritional 

consultant at the Integral Yoga 

Natural Apothecary in New 

York. He is a radio show host 

and dynamic teacher of yogic 

diet and nutrition. He leads 

workshops on cleansing, fasting, 

and detoxification. 

www.integralyoganaturalfoods.com 

Sita Chaitanya is a direct 

disciple of Swami Vishnudevananda, 

and a senior staff of 


Retreat with over twenty-five 

years of experience teaching 

yoga and yoga teachers’ training 

courses. She directs fasting 

retreats and has wide 

experience in supporting individuals on this 

transformative journey. 

Grace Van Berkum is a 

registered holistic nutritionist, 

certified personal trainer, and 

Sivananda yoga teacher. She 

is passionate about improving 

the quality of one’s life through 

balanced eating, fitness, yoga, 

and spirituality. 

Mavis Gewant is a disciple of the great Tantric Master, Sri Harish Johari. She is an artist who specializes in 

the ancient techniques of yantra, deity, and chakra painting. www.sacredmotherarts.com 

Shyam and Mohini: See biographies on page 17. 


January 6 - February 2 

Advanced Yoga Teachers’ 




Introduction to Ayurveda: 

Ancient Yogic Medicine for Healing 

Body and Mind YVP 

See program description on page 25. 


Bija Mantras: YVP 

The Power of Primordial Sound 

David Frawley and 

Shambhavi Chopra 

January 8 – 20 

Yoga Therapy Certification Course: C 

Learning to Nurture Others by Nurturing Yourself 

January 8 - 13 Part I, January 15 - 20 Part II 

Albert Swiercz (Krishna) 

Tuition: Level I or Level II only $400. Add 7 nights’ accommodation. Level I & II together $720. 

Add 14 nights’ accommodation. 

Learn techniques to enable you to introduce students, especially those facing 

physical challenges, into the safe practice of yoga and take their practice beyond 

their existing levels of flexibility. Learn how to give a customized 90-minute 

Applied Yoga Therapy session which includes pressure application techniques 

that emphasize the use of the practitioners’ body movement and weight, 

transitional postures that enable safe body positioning, applied diaphragmatic 

breathing, using the art of mindfulness in motion to listen with the hands, and 

learn specific postures and pressure application techniques on a client’s body. 

You will also learn client interview procedures, including how to determine different body types and 

their limitations, in order to customize the treatment. 

Albert Swiercz (Krishna) is the founder and the director of Anahata Center of Yoga Therapy and Massage. He 

teaches Thai Yoga Massage internationally and is a certified massage therapist. Krishna is a senior student of Swami 

Vishnudevananda and has over 30 years of experience as a yoga instructor. 

www.anahatayogatherapy.com 

Discuss with two leaders in the fields of 

vedantic and tantric teachings, the nature 

of primordial sound, the mantric basis of 

the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet, and the 

prime bija mantras used for the different 

chakras and deities in the yoga tradition. 

Vedic, vedantic and tantric philosophies of 

mantra will be explored along with their 

interconnections and applications. The 

emphasis will be on understanding the energetics 

of sound and its connection to the 

universal forces that structure body, mind 

and cosmos, so that we can use mantra with 

greater clarity, purpose and integrity. 

David Frawley, OMD, 

is regarded as an authentic 

Vedacharya (Vedic teacher). 

Over the last 20 years, he 

has written numerous books 

and created several courses 

on yoga, ayurveda, vedic 

astrology, and tantra. His 

works have been translated 

into 15 languages and are regarded as authoritative 

texts in their fields. 

www.vedanet.com 

Shambhavi Chopra is 

one of the foremost 

women teachers of the 

deeper aspects of yoga 

and tantra to come out of 

modern-day India. Her clear 

teachings and magnetic 

personality have touched the 

hearts of people throughout 

the world, helping to awaken the yoga shakti 

(energy) within them. She is the author of 

Yogini Unfolding the Goddess Within and Yogic 

Secrets of the Dark Goddess. 

www.shambhavi-yogini.com 


Vedanta and Silence Course: 

Self-Discovery and 

Contemplation Practices 



Immerse yourself in 

the teachings of vedanta 

and move deeply into 

the inner silence. In 

this retreat you will 

learn vedantic meditation 

theory and practice, 

the yoga of Self-enquiry 

and the practice of silence. Participants will 

practice mauna (silence) all day except for 

three hours of study and two hours of dialogue 

with the teacher. There will also be one hour 

of mantra chanting and a two-hour yoga class. 

In this practical course, contemplation is the 

main practice. Students are asked to limit 

interactions and communication. It is 

recommended that students stay in a tent or 

single or double accommodation to support 

the practice of mauna. 

Swami Sitaramananda is the director of the 

Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm in Grass Valley, 

California, and a direct disciple of Swami 

Vishnudevananda. She has many years of 

experience teaching meditation, yoga philosophy 

and positive thinking all over the world. 

www.sivanandayogafarm.org 

C 




January 14 

On the Wings of Ecstasy: YVP 

Interfaith Devotional Singing and Sacred Dance Festival 

In a celebration of color and music, artists 

from different religious and spiritual 

traditions will uplift our hearts and souls 

through the healing power of devotional 

singing and dance. 

Latif Bolat specializes 

in Sufi music and 

the ancient Turkish 

mystical-devotional 

music genre. By creating 

an intimate, storytelling 

atmosphere, he explains 

Turkish folk and 

mystical music and 

its sociopolitical and cultural elements. 

www.latifbolat.com 

David Newman (Durga 

Das) is a kirtan chant 

artist, sacred singer-songwriter 

and a practitioner 

and educator of Bhakti 

Yoga. His CDs include 

Lotus Feet: A Kirtan 

Revolution, Soul Freedom, 

Leap of Grace: The 

Hanuman Chalisa, Love Peace Chant, Into 

the Bliss and his latest release To Be Home. 

www.davidnewmanmusic.com 

Mira is a vocalist, 

musician, and poetess. 

She has recorded on 

many well-known 

chanting CDs, sharing 

her ethereal vocals and 

displaying her talents 

on cajon, kartals (finger 

cymbals), and kaimini 

(south Indian bells). In 2006, Mira released her 

debut album entitled A Living Prayer. 

www.sacredcymbals.com 

Rama (Noam Paz) & Narayan Jyoti (Ron Paz) 

are devotional singers, recording artists and kirtan 

leaders whose music draws from the different 

spiritual traditions of the world. They had the 

privilege of knowing personally Rabbi Shlomo 

Carlebach, the great renewer of Jewish devotional 

singing and were highly influenced by his music. 

They are also yoga teachers and healers and lead 

workshops internationally. 

Babukishan Das Baul, 

belongs to an ancient 

mystical, ecstatic music 

lineage from Bengal 

India. He is a multiinstrumentalist, 

composer 

and performer who has 

recorded more than forty 

four albums in different 

languages world-wide. He has performed and 

recorded with music greats such as Bob Dylan, 

the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys. 

www.babukishandasbaul.com 

The Gospel Band of 

the Trinity Full Baptist 

Church is a Bahamian 

gospel band, headed by 

Bishop Trevor Williamson 

who presently serves as 

the Founding and Senior 

Pastor of the Church located 

in Nassau Bahamas. 

Niharika Mohanty is 

a leading Odissi dancer 

in North America 

and prominent disciple 

of the legendary Padma 

Vibhushan, Late 

Guru Kelucharan 

Mohapatra. She strives 

to impart her Guru’s 

style to many aspiring dancers. 

www.gurushradha.org 

The Yoga of 

Recovery Retreat C 

Catherine O’Neill (Durga) 


The Yoga of Recovery program draws 

parallels between the ancient wisdom of 

yoga and ayurveda and the daily practical 

tools used by members of 12-step programs. 

It offers supportive tools for overcoming 

self-destructive and addictive tendencies. 

You will enjoy daily meditation sessions, 

talks on yoga as it relates to the 12-step 

program (especially the 11th step), yoga 

classes, ayurveda workshops and a daily 

open 12-step meeting. Ayurvedic consultations 

and treatments are available at an 

additional cost. It is recommended to 

book treatments in advance of the course. 

Catherine O’Neill (Durga): 

See biography on page 35. 

Ayyappa Puja 

Lord Ayyappa, the presiding supreme deity 

of Sabari Hills, is considered to be born 

out of the union between Mohini (Lord 

Vishnu) and Lord Siva. Worshipping Lord 

Ayyappa is said to bring contentment and 

spiritual advancement. The puja will be 

conducted by the ashram’s Tantric priest 

Krishnan Namboodiri. 



Pregnancy 

Yoga Training Course C 



Yoga is an excellent 

way to support women 

through pregnancy 

and prepare them 

for childbirth and 

motherhood. This 

one-week immersion 

into prenatal yoga 

provides a complete preparation for 

working professionally, confidently and 

sensitively with pregnant women. Topics 

include yoga postures and breathing 

techniques for pregnancy, the anatomy 

and physiology of pregnancy, health considerations 

and risks, stages of labor and 

preparation, basic yoga therapy, embracing 

mental and emotional changes, meditation 

and chanting, conscious relaxation and 

visualization, guidelines for the post-natal 

time, practice teaching and final practicum. 

Kashi Richardson has been dedicated to the 

practices of classical yoga for over 25 years and 

has been teaching full-time in her studio in 

Whistler B.C., Canada. She has taught asana 

classes in Sivananda Yoga Teachers’ Training 

Courses. With a strong background in Sivananda 

yoga and yoga therapy, Kashi specializes in yoga 

for pregnancy and childbirth and therapeutic 

yoga for injury and illness. 







Uplifting Body, Mind, and Spirit 

Donna Eden and 

David Feinstein 

Learn the secrets of Energy Medicine 

with Energy Medicine pioneers, Donna 

Eden and David Feinstein. Through 

audience participation and striking 

demonstrations you will discover simple 

methods for shifting the body’s energies 

and engaging the intelligence of your 

own body for promoting health, vitality 

and well being. You will learn how to 

boost the body’s energy levels, strengthen 

the immune system and alleviate stress 

and pain by removing blocks in your 

energy system. 

Donna Eden has been 

a pioneer in Energy 

Medicine and is among 

the field’s most sought, 

joyous, and authoritative 

spokespersons. Her book, 

Energy Medicine, was the 

Health Book of the Year 

at the prestigious Nautilus 

Book Awards and was the U.S. Book News 

Self-Help book of the year. Translated into 

15 languages, it is the classic in its field. 

Its sequel, Energy Medicine for Women is also 

an award winning book. 

www.innersource.net 

David Feinstein, PhD, 

is a clinical psychologist 

who has served on the 

faculties of the Johns 

Hopkins University 

School of Medicine and 

Antioch College. He has 

been a pioneering thinker 

and teacher in the areas 

of energy psychology and energy medicine. 

His books have been translated into 15 

languages and have earned eight national 

awards. His Personal Mythology was voted 

the U.S. Book News Best Psychology/Mental 

Health Book in 2007. 

Ocean Stories: YVP 

The Spiritual Journey 

Rama (Noam Paz) 

Dive into the ocean of spiritual stories, in 

search of the nectar of immortality. Take 

a glimpse into the deep meanings of those 

inspiring stories. Hearing the divine stories, 

contemplating on them and chanting the 

divine names itself will remind you that the 

nectar is in your heart and will open your 

heart to love and devotion. 

Rama: See biography on page 27. 


The Joy of Vegetarian 

Cooking C 

Brahmachari Shankar 


Learn how to cook 

delicious vegetarian 

meals that support 

your yogic practice 

and balance to your 

body and mind. 

Brahmachari Shankar, 

the head chef of the 

ashram, introduces recipes for dishes served 

regularly at the ashram, including Indian 

and Middle Eastern dishes. Through 

demonstrations and hands-on cooking, 

you will learn how to prepare delicious 

meals in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. 

The course also includes a special class on 

ayurvedic principles of nutrition taught 

by an ayurveda specialist. 

Brahmachari Shankar is a senior staff member of 

the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat and has been 

head of the ashram kitchen for many years. He is 

an experienced and gifted cook, acquiring versatile 

hands-on cooking experience in the Middle East, 

India and the Bahamas. Brahmachari Shankar 

is also a gifted teacher and story teller, and his 

courses are taught with much joy and love. 

Yoga of Recovery 

Certificate Course 

for Counselors C CEU 

Swami Sitaramananda and 

Catherine O’Neill (Durga) 


The program, designed for yoga teachers 

and health professionals who work with 

people recovering from addiction, and 

for people with personal histories or 

family members with histories of 

addiction, combines ayurveda and 

yoga with traditional recovery tools 

to offer a more holistic approach to 

addiction and self-destructive behaviors. 

For those in counseling roles, the course 

offers additional tools and a comprehensive 

approach to wellness, emotional 

sobriety and sustained spiritual 

development using ayurveda and yoga 

as extension therapies to any 12-step 

work. Upon the conclusion of this 

course, yoga teachers will be qualified 

to teach yoga to people in recovery 

from any addiction. 


is the director of the 


Farm in Grass Valley, 

California, and a direct 

disciple of Swami 

Vishnudevananda. 

She has many years 

of experience teaching 

meditation, yoga philosophy and positive 

thinking all over the world. 

www.sivanandayogafarm.org 

Catherine O’Neill 

(Durga) is a clinical 

ayurveda and 

pancha-karma specialist, 

trained at the California 

College of Ayurveda 

and in India. She has 

been involved with the 

12-Step Fellowship for 

over seven years and has been teaching recovery 

programs around the world. 

Yoga Teachers’ Training 

Course 



Yoga for Beginners YVP 

Arjuna 

Get started with yoga 

basics that will inspire 

you to deepen your 

practice. Arjuna, a 

senior Sivananda 

yoga teacher, will give 

you a step-by-step 

introduction to yogic 

postures and breathing exercises. He will 

also teach you how to practice relaxation, 

meditation and positive thinking, and to 

eat a balanced diet that will support your 

yoga practices. You will acquire a strong 

yoga practice and understanding of the 

basics of the practice. You will also derive 

greater benefit from the yoga classes and 

meditation session at the ashram. 

Arjuna is director of the Sivananda affiliated 

yoga center in Ottawa, Canada, and an 

experienced yoga teacher. He spent five 

years with Swami Vishnudevananda and was 

trained by him. He has been teaching family 

yoga programs in International Sivananda Yoga 

Vedanta centers and ashrams for many years. 

www.yoga-aylmer.com 




January 30 – February 2 


Transforming Stress: C 

Mindful Living and the Art 

of Nourishment 

Susan Lord 


Discover how awareness 

and mindful 

living can dramatically 

improve the overall 

quality of your life. 

Learn how to alleviate 

stress, enhance your 

resilience, prevent 

and treat illness and regain your health, 

energy and mental clarity. Working with 

mind-body techniques, you will have the 

opportunity to experience deep nourishment 

of your mind, body and spirit in this 

transformational program. 

Susan Lord, MD, graduated from Case Western 

Reserve University School of Medicine. She is 

Director of Nutrition Programs at the Center 

for Mind-Body Medicine. Dr. Lord is a holistic 

medicine consultant specializing in mind-body 

approaches, energy medicine, functional medicine, 

nutrition and lifestyle counseling. 

www.drsusanlord.com 


Evolve Your Brain: The Science of Changing Your Mind YVP 

Joe Dispenza 

The Five Elements and 

Polarity Therapy YVP 

Andreas Ledermann 

Discover self-healing 

and self-regulation with 

the five pillars of the 

Polarity healing art. Polarity 

is a holistic health 

system based around 

ayurveda, traditional 

Chinese medicine, 

alchemy, traditional European medicine and 

western medicine. The five pillars of Polarity 

are: awareness, counseling, bodywork, yoga 

and nutrition. Learn how to live your life in 

harmony with these five elements to reduce 

fear, stress, burnouts and depression. You will 

be guided towards a way to keep your life in 

balance, by giving you the chance to learn 

some easy to follow Polarity skills. 

Andreas Ledermann is a Polarity Therapy 

specialist, naturopath, teacher and author. He has 

profound knowledge of kinesiology, reflexology, 

process-oriented psychology, lymph drainage, 

qigong, tai-chi chuan and yoga. He is the cofounder 

of the School of Holistic Naturopathy in 

Zug, Switzerland. www.shn-international.com 

Learn how to reach your specific goals and visions by eliminating 

self-destructive habits. Adopt new ways of thinking, change beliefs, 

and re-wire your brain. Joe Dispenza will give teachings about the 

role and function of the human brain. He has taught thousands of 

people how to re-program their thinking through scientifically proven 

neuro-physiological principles. The premise of this work is that 

every person on this planet has within them the latent 

potential of greatness and true unlimited abilities. 

Yoga for Children @ Home: 

Practicing with the Whole Family 


Practicing yoga with your children at home 

is a wonderful way to combine beneficial 

practice, quality time and fun. Rama, an 

expert children’s yoga teacher, will teach 

how to share yoga with your children at 

home, through stories, songs and creative 

imagination. You will learn how to make 

the practice of yoga full of fun and how to 

encourage your children to join. You can 

attend this program alone or bring your 

children with you. You will take home the 

good habits of yoga practice for the whole 

family. The program is open to adults and 

children of all ages. 



Deeper into the Five 

Points of Yoga YVP 

Arjuna 

Join us for an in-depth exploration of 

Swami Vishnudevananda’s guidance for 

bringing yoga into daily life. The program 

includes theory combined with practice. 

There will be teachings on increasing 

vitality with yogic postures and breathing 

techniques, and managing stress and calming 

the mind through proper relaxation, 

meditation and positive thinking. Learn 

also how to maximize energy and health 

with a vegetarian diet. 

Arjuna: See biography on page 35. 


Becoming a Mensch: 

Service as Spiritual Practice YVP 



evolved from a traditional 

Zen Buddhist monasterymodel 

practice to become 

a leading proponent 

of social engagement 

as spiritual practice. 

He has created new 

paths, practices, liturgies, and organizations 

to serve the people who fall between 

the cracks of society. In this workshop, 

Roshi Bernie Glassman shares insights, 

revelations and personal experiences that 

have influenced his life and development, 

presenting innovations such as Bearing 

Witness Retreats, including living on 

urban streets and gathering for a week 

at Auschwitz-Birkenau. 

Roshi Bernie Glassman, PhD, is a 

world-renowned pioneer in the American 

Zen movement. He is a spiritual leader, 

author and businessman with a PhD in 

Applied Mathematics. Roshi Bernie 

Glassman teaches at the Maezumi Institute 

and the Harvard Divinity School. He is 

the founder of Zen Peacemakers. 

www.zenpeacemakers.org 


Joe Dispenza, DC, is one of the scientists featured in the award 

winning film What the Bleep Do We Know! He has taught 

thousands of people how to re-program their thinking. His new book, 

Evolve Your Brain: The Science of Changing Your Mind 

connects the subjects of thought and consciousness with the brain, 

the mind, and the body. www.drjoedispenza.com 

37

February 

February 4 - 6 

The Yoga of Chant Retreat YVP 

Krishna Das 

Nourish your heart, inspire your mind, and uplift your spirit in this four-day retreat of chant, 

music and devotion with chanting virtuoso Krishna Das. Sharing his heart through music 

and chanting is the basis of Krishna Das’ spiritual work. In his concerts and workshops, he 

uses the power and joy of chanting to lead his audiences beautifully into the inner heart 

space. There will be evening kirtan concerts and afternoon workshops with chanting, 

musical accompaniment, and teachings on the yoga of devotion. 

Krishna Das is one of the foremost devotional singers in 

the world. He is a disciple of Neem Karoli Baba and has been chanting 

on a regular basis in yoga centers all over the world. 

He has taught with Ram Das and sung for many saints and yogis in 

the U.S. and in India. 

Over the years Krishna Das has made numerous pilgrimages 

throughout India, meeting teachers and saints of many spiritual 

traditions on his quest to open and purify his heart. Living in 

jungles, in ashrams, and in holy places throughout India, he has had 

an opportunity to absorb the ancient truths that have been held by 

the Indian culture for thousands of years. He has studied Buddhist 

meditation practices with Anagarika Munindra and S.N. Goenka, 

and has been initiated into Tibetan Buddhist practices by lamas from 

various lineages. 

His CDs include, among others, Pilgrim Heart, Greatest 

Hits of the Kali Yuga, Door of Faith, Live on Earth and 

Breath of the Heart. 

www.krishnadas.com 


Beginners’ Yoga Course C 

Sylvie Boisclair (Saraswati) 


Ideal for those new 

to yoga or who wish 

to make sure they are 

well-aligned in their 

asana and pranayama 

practice, this program 

is a step-by-step 

complete immersion 

in the basics of yoga. The course follows 

the five points of yoga created by Swami 

Vishnudevananda for health and inner 

peace: Proper exercise, proper breathing, 

proper relaxation, proper diet, 

positive thinking and meditation. 

Sylvie Boisclair (Saraswati) is a 

RYT 500-hour certified yoga 

teacher and graduate of the 

Sivananda Advanced Teachers’ 

Training Course. She is a 

life-long dancer who found 

yoga while searching for a 

body-mind connection 

that did not link physical 

performance to self-worth. 


Practical Spirituality: YVP 

Life and Teachings of 

Swami Vishnudevananda 

Arjuna 

Learn the relevance and benefit of yoga 

philosophy in modern daily life. In this 

program Arjuna will draw from his rich 

personal yoga experiences to offer techniques 

for translating the theories of yoga 

philosophy into practical tools for everyday 

life. Arjuna’s approach is dynamic, personal 

and inspiring, interspersed with many 

instructive stories from his times with 

Swami Vishnudevananda. 



Introduction to Jyotish 

(Vedic Astrology) 

Certification Course C 



According to Vedic 

astrology, the birth 

chart can show your 

past, predict your 

future, explain 

difficulties in the 

present, and suggest 

changes and remedies. 

This certification course 

provides an introduction 

to classical vedic 

astrology and its 

relationship with 

yoga philosophy. 

Students will learn 

to identify mental 

tendencies and 

individual karmas, 

the time of their 

fruition and 

possible remedies 

and acquire tools 

for understanding the 

karmic situation of each 

individual, recognizing 

past tendencies, potential talents 

or obstacles, and integrating this 

understanding with the wisdom of 

yoga and vedanta. 

Alan Wiuker (Krishna): 







Mindfulness and Loving 

Kindness YVP 

Sylvia Boorstein 

Develop a strong 

grounding in both 

Mindfulness and Loving 

Kindness practice in the 

context of Virtue, Mind 

training, and Wisdom. 

Participants will learn 

and practice meditation 

instructions in a systematic way that 

refines the fundamental directions through 

sequential practice periods. These practice 

periods will have the form of mini-retreats 

with alternating periods of sitting and 

walking practice and periods for questions 

and answers. Participants can expect 

to develop a familiarity with practice 

techniques as well as understand the 

rationale for these practices as cultivators 

and supports for wisdom. 

Sylvia Boorstein is a founding teacher at 

Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, 

CA and a senior teacher at the Insight Meditation 

Center in Barre, Massachusetts. She is the 

author of books on the integration of Buddhist 

mindfulness and loving kindness meditation 

into contemporary life. She has led retreats and 

workshops world-wide for over 25 years. 

www.sylviaboorstein.com 




Body and Mind 



Positive Thinking for Inner 

Transformation C 



Positive thinking is one of the basic principles 

of yoga, and serves as an essential 

factor in any process of self transformation. 

Exploring thoughts and their nature, and 

how they create our reality, this course 

will teach you how to identify the habitual 

negative thought patterns that prevent 

you from fulfilling your highest potential. 

By applying various practical methods of 

self-inquiry, creative imagery and positive 

affirmations, you will learn how to cultivate 

a higher state of mind and bring more harmony, 

peace and success into your life. 



Yoga Anatomy and the 

Breathing Body YVP 

Leslie Kaminoff 

Explore how the practices of Hatha Yoga 

can give an experience 

of the deepest 

structures of our body, 

providing support, initiating 

movement and 

promoting healing. 

Topics covered include 

the basic anatomy of 

breathing, the mechanics of spinal movement, 

coordinating the three “diaphragms”, 

and practices for accessing, stretching and 

strengthening the key structures of the 

breathing body. 

Leslie Kaminoff is a yoga educator, author and 

internationally-recognized specialist with 30 

years’ experience in the fields of yoga and breath 

anatomy. He leads anatomy and yoga methodology 

workshops for many yoga associations and 

training programs world-wide. 

www.yogaanatomy.org 

Ayurveda and Yoga 

Wellness Advisor 


Lalita Devi and the Well-Being 

Center Staff 


Deepen your knowledge of the use of 

yoga and ayurvedic lifestyle principles. In 

this program, designed, for yoga teachers, 

ayurveda practitioners and health care professionals 

you will learn how to advise your 

students and clients regarding effective ayurvedic 

and yogic daily routines, including 

body-mind care, diet and yoga practices. 

Topics include: history and philosophy 

of Ayurveda; the 3 great qualities (maha 

guna), 5 elements (maha bhutu), 10 pairs 

of qualities (guna) and 3 doshas; tissue 

formation (dhatu) and channels of flow 

(srota); digestion (agni), toxin formation 

(ama) and waste elimination (mala); 

ayurvedic and yogic psychology; the 

disease process and its treatment with daily 

practices (dinacharya), ayurvedic and yogic 

nutrition, color therapy, aromatherapy, 

yoga postures and breathing techniques. 



Advanced Sadhana Retreat 

for Yoga Teachers: C 

Hatha Yoga as a Stairway to Raja Yoga 



The Siva Lila: Stories of 

Compassion and Inner 

Peace YVP 

Sri Mata Devi Vanamali 

Lord Siva represents that 

aspect of the Divine which 

is auspicious, full of peace 

and compassion and 

transcendental. Sri Mata 

Devi Vanamali, a saint 

and inspiring teacher, 

will begin with a review 

of scientific aspects of Hinduism and will 

briefly touch on the various gods. She will 

continue to discuss the stories of great 

bhaktas of Lord Siva, Ganesha, Kartikeya, 

Ayyappa and Hanuman. Each talk will 

include chanting bhajans for the elevation 

of spirit and devotion. 

Sri Mata Devi Vanamali is considered a 

leading teacher of Bhakti yoga and the founder 

of Vanamali Gita Yogashram. Among her many 

books are Sri Krishna Lila, Sri Rama Lila, Sri 

Shiva Lila, Sri Devi Lila, Nitya Yoga or essays on 

the Bhagavad Gita, and The Taste Divine which 

is a book on Indian vegetarian cooking. 

www.vanamaliashram.org 


Explore the Bahamas, 

Explore Yourself! YVP 

Arjuna 

This is a program of outings, games and 

fun activities combined with a yoga vacation 

program for families and individuals. 

There will be special family yoga classes as 

well as boat rides to a nearby island, snorkeling 

trips, and other varied outings in and 

around Nassau. 







In Search of Voice Divine: 

Liberating the Voice through Mantra 

Chanting C 



Explore the relationship 

of voice, music, states 

of consciousness and 

intention in spiritual 

awakening. Integrating 

the shamanic, creative 

and scientific dimensions 

of sound with 

the wisdom of sacred 

and aboriginal sound medicine, students 

learn to chant and clear the mind through 

the use of the voice. 

Participants gather an original repertoire 

of chants, learn about vocal technique, 

and get acquainted with various 

applications of music healing informed 

by devotional chanting. Open to all 

levels of musical experience, this course 

is for anyone who longs to work more 

meaningfully and freely with the Self 

through chanting. 

Silvia Nakkach, MA, MMT, has cultivated 

a voice that transports the listeners into the 

heart of devotion. She is an award-winning 

composer and voice-culturist, author, former 

psychotherapist, and a pioneer in the field of 

sound, consciousness, and music shamanism. 

She is the founding director of Vox Mundi 

School of the Voice, an international project 

devoted to teaching and preserving sacred 

music traditions with schools throughout the 

world. She has created and is in the faculty of 

the Sound, Voice, Music Healing Certificate at 

the California Institute of Integral Studies. 

www.voxmundiproject.com 

The Yoga of Sound and 

Voice Certification Course 

C 

John Beaulieu and 



A precious opportunity to experience the 

transformative power of sound and music 

with two renowned scholars and clinicians 

who together cover many dimensions of 

healing with sound: the scientific, the yogic, 

the creative and the shamanic. The result 

of this practice will be a state of euphoria 

leading to greater wellness and greater 

possibility for accomplishment and success 

in all aspects of life. The practice combines 

master classes, lectures, devotional chanting 

sessions, clinics, movement, and music 

making. It is not required that you be a 

musician to take this course. Everyone, 

regardless of musical training, will learn to 

use music and sound to heal. 

the Healing Arts. 

www.biosonics.com 

John Beaulieu ND, 

PhD, is a world leader 

in the use of sound for 

healing and well-being. 

He has practiced 

meditation and yoga for 

40 years and is the author 

of Human Tuning and 

Music and Sound in 

Silvia Nakkach: See biography on this page. 

Yoga for the Special 

Child® LLC C CEU 

Sonia Sumar 


This is a program 

of yoga techniques 

designed to enhance 

the natural development 

of children with 

special needs. The style 

of yoga is specifically 

for babies and children 

with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, microcephaly, 

autism, ADD (attention deficit 

disorder) and other developmental and learning 

disabilities. Sonia Sumar will teach the 

practical techniques of Yoga for the Special 

Child, and will give lectures on working with 

children with special needs. Graduates will 

be equipped to work safely with special needs 

children and will receive co-certification 

from the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat 

and Yoga for the Special Child. 

Sonia Sumar, author of Yoga for the Special 

Child, started teaching yoga for children with 

special needs after the birth of her second 

daughter who was born with Down syndrome. 

The benefits she saw in her experience with 

her own daughter inspired her to teach other 

children with special needs and to train other 

yoga teachers to do the same. 

www.specialyoga.com 

Cardiac Yoga Teachers’ 

Training Program C 

Mala Cunningham 


A comprehensive training 

program designed to 

educate and train yoga 

instructors and medical 

personnel to work with 

cardiac patients and 

their spouses. Participants 

in this program learn to 

adapt the basic concepts of yoga and meditation 

to the special needs of the cardiac patient. 

This competency-based program covers 

several areas, which includes education in the 

anatomy and physiology of the heart, understanding 

stress and the psycho-social factors 

of heart disease, adaptation of yoga postures, 

learning how to design Cardiac Yoga classes 

and training in the principles and philosophy 

of mind-body medicine and yoga and meditation 

as a mechanism for healing. 

Mala Cunningham, PhD, is an author and 

educator on mind-body medicine and health 

psychology. She is the president of Positive 

Health Solutions and the founder of the 

renowned training program Cardiac Medical 

Yoga. She lectures internationally and is an 

authority in health and business psychology, 

sleep enhancement, stress management, and 

medical yoga. She has taught and practiced 

yoga and meditation for over thirty-five years. 

www.cardiacyoga.com 





February 27 - March 3 

The Three Waves of 

Volunteers and the 

Coming New Earth YVP 

Dolores Cannon 

Discover how it all 

began: The creation 

of our world and the 

development of our 

species. Understand 

your role on Earth. 

Are you one of the 

volunteers that has 

come to help earth with her transition 

In this program we will gain unique 

insight into the order of creation, as 

explained beyond the unexplained. 

Dolores Cannon is a past-life regressionist 

and hypnotherapist. She is an expert on the 

prophecies of Nostradamus and has written 

Conversations With Nostradamus, which 

contains about 1000 prophecies, all interpreted 

for the first time, as well as several other books. 

Dolores Cannon is now teaching her unique 

technique of hypnosis all over the world, 

and appears regularly on TV and radio. 

www.ozarkmt.com 

Adapt, Adjust, 

Accommodate: C 

Teaching Yoga to Those with Physical 

Limitations 



As a yoga teacher, have you ever wanted 

to know how to safely guide the practice 

of a student who has back strain, a hip 

replacement or obesity In this course we 

will explore how to make the benefits of 

Hatha Yoga practice accessible to many 

who previously might have thought they 

were not fit enough to practice. We will 

go through the basic Sivananda practice 

and offer a wide range of modifications 

appropriate for a variety of injuries, and 

other conditions. All the while we will keep 

in mind Patanjali’s sutra 2:46 “stira sukham 

asanam” (asana is a steady and comfortable 

pose), ahimsa (non-violence), and yoga’s 

classical aims of realizing peace. 

Kashi Richardson: See biography on page 33. 

The Royal Path to 

Enlightenment: YVP 

Talks on Patanjali Yoga Sutras 

Edwin Bryant 

The Yoga Sutras of 

Patanjali is the classical 

ancient Indian treatise 

on the practice of yoga. 

These talks will consist 

of a close reading of 

Patanjali’s original 

text, focusing on 

the opening section of the work, wherein 

yoga is defined and the state of samadhi 

described, as well as focusing on the eight 

limbs of yoga covered in the heart of the 

text. Attention will be paid to the pre-modern 

commentaries of the text, thus exposing 

students to the traditional understanding of 

the practice of classical yoga and its goals. 

Edwin Bryant, PhD, is a professor of Indic 

languages and cultures and teaches Hinduism at 

Rutgers University. He has published six books 

on Vedic history, yoga, and the Krishna tradition 

among which is his translation of and commentary 

on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. 

www.edwinbryant.org 

Yoga as Medicine: YVP 

The Yogic Path for Health, Healing and 

Personal Transformation 

Timothy McCall 

Deepen your 

appreciation of the 

healing potential of 

yoga. Explore yoga’s 

vast toolbox, including 

postures, breathing 

techniques, relaxation, 

chanting, visualization, 

meditation, and philosophy, and learn 

how these tools can be adapted to meet 

everyone’s needs, young or old, fit or unfit, 

healthy or seriously ill. 

Timothy McCall, MD, is a board-certified 

specialist in internal medicine and a yoga 

practitioner. He is the medical editor of Yoga 

Journal, and is the author of Yoga as Medicine: 

The Yogic Prescription for Health and Healing. 

www.drmccall.com 



Course (International) 



Yoga as Muse: Creative Writing C 

Jeff Davis 


The elusive muse has teased and evaded writers for centuries. Distractions, 

busyness, fear, self-criticism, and lack of compassion threaten to keep the 

muse away. Yoga As Muse integrates yoga’s tools into a creative writing process 

that leads to authentic heart-centered writing. Through unique exercises, 

discussions , mini-lectures, safe and optional read-aloud sessions, and short 

readings of professional writing, you will experience how yoga helps you 

develop confidence, versatility and authenticity on the mat and on the page. 

Ultimately, you will develop your own Yoga As Muse practice to take home. 

Writers and yogis of all backgrounds are welcome and will benefit. www.centertopage.com 

Jeffrey Davis is the director and founder of Center to Page and author of The Journey from the Center 

to the Page. He is a writing coach, editor, creativity consultant, and teacher. His in-depth studies of yoga’s 

myriad tools for the embodied mind add to his versatility as writer, writing coach, and editor. 


ThetaHealing: Introduction and Training Courses 

March 2 - 4 

March 5 - 8 

March 

March 1 - 13 

Thai Yoga Massage: C CEU 

Yoga Therapy Practitioner Program 

Levels I and II 

March 1 - 6 Part I, March 8 - 13 Part II 

Kam Thye Chow and 

Mirabai (Mariana Mosca) 

Tuition: Level I or Level II only $525. Add 7 nights’ 

accommodation. Level I & II together $940. 

Add 14 nights’ accommodation. 

Thai Yoga Massage is an ancient yoga 

therapy which combines yoga postures with 

touch technique to promote deep relaxation 

and healing, improve circulation, boost the 

immune system, and balance the body 

energetically, facilitating mind-body 

integration. As a therapeutic practice, Thai 

Yoga Massage is a dynamic form of yoga 

for the practitioner as well as the recipient, 

enhancing one’s sense of alignment, posture 

and health. This course is suitable for yoga 

practitioners and teachers. The course 

provides a strong foundation in the key 

elements of Thai Yoga Massage and prepares 

students to perform a full 90-minute 

customized Thai Yoga Massage session (or 

an expanded 2½ hour Thai Yoga Massage 

session in Level II). 

Kam Thye Chow 

pioneered a methodology 

that combines Thai Yoga 

Massage with its yoga 

and ayurveda roots. He 

founded the Lotus Palm 

School in Montreal and 

teaches around the world. 

He is the bestselling 

author of many books, including Thai Yoga 

Massage and Thai Yoga Therapy for Your Body 

Type: An Ayurvedic Tradition. He teaches with 

skill, humor, and an ever-present sense of 

loving kindness. www.lotuspalm.com 

Mirabai (Mariana 

Mosca) was raised in a 

Sivananda yoga family 

and has been committed 

to yoga all of her life. She 

views Thai Yoga Massage 

as a natural extension of 

her yoga practice. Under 

Kam Thye Chow’s tutelage, 

Mirabai teaches throughout South America. 

Introduction to 

Theta Healing: YVP 

The Healing Power of the Mind 

Vianna Stibal 

The theta state of mind is a state of 

very deep relaxation, almost trancelike. 

ThetaHealing is one of the most effective 

and life-changing forms of healing. 

ThetaHealing practitioners go into a 

meditative state and channel healing 

energy. It is a method of meditation and 

prayer that utilizes the fundamental creative 

life energy of the universe to change 

limiting conscious and subconscious 

beliefs, to read what is going on inside 

the human body, and to perform physical 

and emotional healing. Vianna Stibal cured 

herself of terminal lymphatic cancer after 

the universe revealed this technique to 

her. She went on to heal thousands of 

others and to teach many more. A loving, 

inspiring and compassionate speaker and 

teacher, Vianna will share her knowledge 

and the amazing personal healing story. 

Vianna Stibal pioneered and refined the healing 

method now known as ThetaHealing after 

curing herself from cancer in 1995. She and 

her many students now teach this technique 

world-wide. She is the author of five books: 

Go Up and Seek God, Go up and work with God, 

ThetaHealing, ThetaHealing Advanced- All That 

Is, and Diseases and Disorders. 

www.thetahealing.com 

ThetaHealing 

Basic Training C 

Vianna Stibal 


Learn how you can use the creative life 

energy of the universe for healing yourself 

and others using a theta state of mind. This 

course is an introduction to the fundamentals 

of ThetaHealing. Graduates will be 

qualified and listed as Basic ThetaHealing 

practitioners. It is a rare opportunity to 

study the ThetaHealing Basic and Advance 

Trainings with Vianna as she is no longer 

teaching those personally, but rather focuses 

on teachers’ training and writing. 

March 10 - 13 

ThetaHealing 

Advanced Training C 

Vianna Stibal 


This course expands on the information 

given in the ThetaHealing Basic Training 

to encompass an in-depth understanding of 

the Seven Planes of Existence that surround 

us. Students will learn how to clear old 

resentments, vows, and commitments that 

hold them back. 

Prerequisite: ThetaHealing Basic Training (See above). 

Please see page 61 and 73 for additional Theta 

Healing courses with Narayan Jyoti (Ron Paz). 

Save the Date! Join us next season for 

ThetaHealing Basic Teachers’ Training 

(November 28 - December 2, 2011) and 

Advanced Teachers’ Training 

(December 4 - 6, 2011) courses with 

Vianna Stibal! Please see our website 

for details. 


March 3 

Maha Sivaratri YVP 

Maha Sivaratri is one of the most sacred 

nights on the yogic calendar. We will 

celebrate this night of Lord Siva with 

homas and pujas conducted by Krishnan 

Namboodiri, a Tantric priest from South 

India (see biography on page 26). Senior staff 

of the ashram will lead us in continuous 

Siva chants from dusk until dawn. 

March 5 - 6 

Developing a Fearless 

Heart YVP 

Elizabeth Lesser 

Do you sense that your 

capacities to appreciate 

life and feel more 

fully alive are blocked 

by something you 

cannot – or are afraid 

to – name Join us for 

an exploration of the 

landscape of the heart. 

Through meditative 

exercises we experiment 

with keeping our hearts 

wide open to whatever 

lives beneath the surface 

of our thoughts and 

emotions and gain courage, 

forgive more readily, love more fully, 

and relax more deeply into the mystery of 

being alive. Finally, we work on a personal 

challenge, using a ten-step process Lesser 

has developed to help people facing difficult 

decisions. 

Elizabeth Lesser is a senior teacher of health, 

wellness, spirituality and creativity. She is the 

author of Broken Open: How Difficult Times 

Can Help Us Grow and A Seeker’s Guide: 

Making Your Life a Spiritual Adventure. 

www.eomega.org 

March 6 - 12 

Pure Voice: Shaping Sound 

from the Inside Out C 

Jody Tull (Jyoti) 


Our voice is a profound 

expression of 

our soul. Discover the 

sound of your true 

voice working with 

sacred chants and 

mantras, improvisation, 

the musical 

modes and octaves. Connecting with and 

transforming the power of your voice can 

awaken new abilities of expression. Naked 

Voice singing is recommended for singers 

and non-singers. It is not about your 

abilities as a singer but about your desire to 

truly express all that you really are. 

Jody Tull (Jyoti), MA (music education), is a 

graduate of the Sivananda Advanced Teachers’ 

Training Course with 16 years of international 

music and yoga teaching experience in Europe, 

India and the USA. She is a graduate of the 

Naked Voice Facilitator’s Training with founder 

Chloe Goodchild, and is committed to promoting 

balance and harmony and honoring a way of 

being for people seeking time and space in their 

busy lives. www.jodytull.com 

March 7 - 9 



Body and Mind 



March 6 - 10 

Classical Indian Music and Dance Festival YVP 

Join us for four days of inspirational, 

meditative music concerts and dance 

performances. Accomplished performers 

of classical Indian music and dance will 

come together and share their musical 

mastery with us and with each other. 

G.S. Sachdev is recognized 

world-wide as a 

master of the bansuri 

(North Indian flute). 

He is one of the premier 

performers on this 

traditional instrument. 

His pure and classical 

approach instills tranquility and carries listeners 

beyond the mind into deep meditation. 

www.bansuri.net 

Aashish Khan is a 

renowned master of 

the sarod, the famous 

North Indian string 

instrument. He was 

initiated into North 

Indian classical music 

at the age of five by 

his grandfather, the legendary Acharya Baba 

Allauddin Khan. 

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. He developed 

his skill through years of accompanying 

Ali Akbar Khan and other leading musicians 

of India. 

www.swapanchaudhuri.com 

Shweta Jhaveri is 

India’s only classical 

vocalist 

who has performed 

Hindustani classical 

vocal and world vocal 

music live concerts with 

equal mastery. She is a 

performer of the North Indian classical vocal 

form, Khayal. She performs internationally. 

www.shwetajhaveri.com 

Farah Yasmeen Shaikh 

has been trained by 

Pandit Chitresh 

Das since 1996. Her 

performance experience 

includes seven tours 

with CDDC throughout 

India, numerous 

lecture demonstrations, and national and 

international touring. A senior instructor at 

Chhandam, Farah oversees the Mountain 

View branch of Pandit Das’ institution. 

Nitin Mitta has 

performed tabla with 

some of India’s most 

celebrated classical 

musicians. Currently 

residing in New York, 

he teaches aspiring 

tabla players Indian 

classical music and performs in major music 

festivals world-wide. 


March 6 - 10 

March 13 - 19 

March 14 - 18 

Yoga and Nutrition for Blood Sugar Regulation: C 

Retreat for People with Diabetes 

Manu Dawson 


In the supportive environment of the ashram, discover strategies to prevent diabetes and complimentary 

approaches to safely support the efficacy of diabetes medical treatment.* Manu Dawson 

will discuss metabolic issues that often accompany diabetes. He will also discuss nutrition strategies, 

meal-planning, obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and kidney disease. Participants will enjoy 

diabetes-friendly vegetarian meals as well as daily yoga classes. 

* All diagnosed Diabetes patients should receive medical clearance from their Physician. 

Manu Dawson: See biography on page 29. 

March 11 - 13 

Yoga and Emotional 

Regulation YVP 

Richard Panico, 


An individual’s ability to experience 

emotions wisely directly shapes the ability 

to integrate experience and to adapt to our 

world. Yoga teaches us dynamically-orchestrated 

proficiencies to encounter emotions 

skillfully. This program offers an introduction 

to the practice of yoga in relation to 

emotional regulation. 

Richard Panico, MD, is 

a psychiatrist, an internal 

medicine expert and a 

yogi who specializes in 

the integration of yoga 

and medicine. He is the 

founder and director of 

the Athens Regional Mind 

Body Institute, where he 

treats patients, in addition to directing research and 

training on the integration of yoga into Western 

medicine. 


is a principal trainer in 

yoga teacher trainings 

for Integral Yoga and has 

been on the faculty for the 

University of Georgia and 

Piedmont College, teaching 

yoga therapyinternationally. 

March 13 - 18 

Meditation 

Immersion Course C 



To achieve lasting happiness 

and absolute peace, 

we must first know how 

to calm the mind, to 

focus, and eventually 

to transcend the mind. 

By turning the mind 

inward, we can deepen 

our concentration and 

attain a state of meditation. 

This course is specially designed for 

those who wish to deepen and improve 

their meditation practice, as well as those 

new to meditation. You will learn about 

the nature of the mind and how to develop 

concentration and inner stability. You will 

be guided in basic meditation techniques 

and supported to establish a daily practice. 

Swami Brahmananda is the manager of the 

Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat and a senior 

staff of the Sivananda organization. A long-time 

practitioner of yoga, he regularly teaches yoga 

philosophy and meditation for the Sivananda 

Teachers’ Training Courses. He is a much-loved, 

inspiring and knowledgeable teacher. 

Bringing Yoga and Ayurveda 

into Psychotherapy and 

Counseling C CEU 

Joann Lutz and Lalita Devi 


Research indicates that yoga is a powerful 

intervention in cases of post traumatic stress 

disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression. With 

its sister science, ayurveda, it offers a comprehensive 

model for understanding and treating 

these disorders. In this course, designed for 

psychotherapists and counselors whether or not 

experienced with yoga or ayurveda, participants 

will gain knowledge of yogic philosophy and 

subtle physiology; the energetic and emotional 

benefits of yoga practice and the fundamental 

principles of ayurveda as they relate to mental 

health issues and will learn to apply yogic and 

ayurvedic principles to the treatment of anxiety, 

depression and PTSD. The course is designed 

for psychotherapists and counselors who may 

or may not have prior experience with yoga or 

ayurveda. 

Joann Lutz, LICSW, an 

alumna of Harvard Medical 

School’s Clinical Training in 

Mind/Body Medicine, combines 

experience in EMDR, 

holistic psychotherapy, 

ayurvedic yoga therapy, and 

mind/body wellness to offer 

a comprehensive program of 

healing and self-empowerment. www.joannlutz.com 


March 14 - 19 

Yoga Therapy Week YVP 


Learn the therapeutic applications of yoga 

practice and how yoga can be used to heal from 

different health conditions. Explore specific yoga 

therapy techniques for healing health conditions 

such as back pain, joint aches and others. This 

program benefits yoga practitioners, beginners 

and advanced, as well as yoga teachers who wish 

to incorporate yoga therapy into their teaching. 

Deities and Self 

Transformation: YVP 

Introduction to Hindu Mythology 


The Divine manifests in many names and 

forms, and plays His Lila (Divine play) in 

different forms and styles. This workshop 

explores the pantheon of the gods and 

goddesses in Hindu mythology and their 

Divine Lila. These stories, even though old 

as creation itself, live deep within us today. 

Join us in a journey of self transformation 

through the Divine Lila of the deities. 


March 14 - 20 

Sat Darshana: YVP 

Ramana Maharishi’s 40 Verses 

on Reality 

Swami Shantananda 

Saddarsanam (the 

Vision of Truth) 

is a one of the 

most beautiful 

texts, written by Sri 

Ramana Maharshi. 

Its essence is “seeing 

the Truth is being 

the Truth”. Through knowledge of the 

Ultimate Truth, we become free from 

pain, suffering and limitations and merge 

in unconditioned infinite Bliss. With 

great love and compassion, Sri Ramana 

Maharshi shows us the way to get to that 

place through inquiry into the Self or into 

the question “Who am I”. 

Swami Shantananda has dedicated his life to 

mission work and Vedantic teachings. He is 

presently the resident Acharya of Chinmaya 

Mission centers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and 

New York. His lectures are filled with wonderful 

insights into life. People respond instantly to his 

wisdom and affectionate nature. 

www.chinmayamission.org 

Rev. Manjula Spears: See biography on page 50. 


March 19 - 26 

Ayurvedic Nutrition 

Advisor Course C 

Lalita Devi and Isvari 


If you wish to learn how to achieve 

optimum, easy and simple nutrition habits 

for yourself and others, this course is for 

you. Senior staff of the ashram Well-Being 

Center will teach the basic principles of 

ayurveda, focusing on ayurvedic nutrition 

and its potential balancing effects on body 

and mind. Learn how to understand your 

own constitution and imbalances. Discover 

how food can help you gain back and 

maintain your balance. Participants will also 

study how they can apply these principles 

to their family members, friends, students 

and patients. A hands-on cooking 

workshop will introduce Western and 

Indian Ayurvedic recipes. This course is 

open to all and is ideal for yoga teachers 

and other health care practitioners including 

physicians, nurses and dietitians. 

This course can be taken independently or as 

complementary to Ayurveda and Yoga Wellness 

Advisor Course (see page 41). 

Isvari is a graduate of Vasant 

Lad’s Ayurvedic Institute, 

a Sivananda-trained yoga 

teacher and a practitioner 

for the Well-Being Center at 


Retreat and the Sivananda 

Ashram Yoga Ranch. 


March 19 - 21 

Sacred Art: C 

Express Divine Inspiration 


Tuition: $320 (materials included). 

Add 4 nights’ accommodations. 

The universal language of sacred art has 

evolved throughout human history, inspired 

by the beauty of creation and used for 

spiritual practice and healing. In this 

introductory course you will learn how 

to express divine inspiration with simple 

methods of drawing, painting and chanting. 

A step-by-step study of basic techniques 

using a compass and ruler, brush and paint, 

while cultivating the abilities of observation 

and persistency, will expand your creative 

horizons. 


March 20 - 25 

Deaf Yoga Retreat YVP 

Lila Lolling 

This retreat is designed 

for deaf people and 

those who are fluent 

in ASL (American 

Sign Language). Lila 

Lolling, an experienced 

yoga teacher and the 

founder of Deaf Yoga 

Foundation, will teach special yoga classes 

and workshops in ASL. She will also offer 

full simultaneous translation of the presentations 

during morning and evening satsangs. 

Explore the power of yoga in a beautiful and 

serene environment and learn invaluable 

tools to aid you on your spiritual path. The 

retreat is open to all people fluent in ASL. 

No yoga experience necessary. 

Lila Lolling is a Sivananda yoga teacher and the 

founder of Deaf Yoga Foundation. She has been 

studying and integrating yoga philosophy within 

the Deaf community for over 5 years. She has 

been featured in leading yoga magazines, and is the 

producer of the Deaf Yoga for Beginners DVD. 

www.yogawithlila.com 

March 20 - 25 

Meditation as a Path to Enlightenment: YVP 

An Interfaith Symposium 

Meditation, the royal path to Enlightenment, 

is a central spiritual practice within 

Hinduism and Buddhism as well as in the 

mystical traditions of Western religions 

including Kabbalah, mystical Christianity 

and Sufism. Join world renowned spiritual 

leaders as they explore the theory and 

practice of meditation and give practical 

guidance for finding infinite peace by delving 

into the deepest chambers of our hearts. 

Brother Rolph Fernandes 

has been a Franciscan 

monk for over forty years. 

Now residing outside 

monastic walls, he travels 

and shares his experiences 

of Franciscan spirituality 

and its implications for 

this changing world. 

wwww.two-sandals.org 

Sheik Abdul Haqq is the 

national director of the 

Naqshandi Haqqani Sufi 

Order of America. He is 

a disciple of Sufi Master, 

Shaykh Nazim Adil 

Al-Haqqani. He teaches 

Sufism and Islamic mysticism 

in universities, and 

spiritual centers of diverse faiths worldwide. 

March 24 - 25 

The Power of Sound: Kirtan with Russill Paul YVP 

Russill Paul and the Bhakti Boys 

Shaila Catherine is 

the founder and spiritual 

director of Insight 

Meditation South Bay, 

a Buddhist meditation 

center and the author of 

Focused and Fearless: A 

Meditator’s Guide to States 

of Deep Joy, Calm, and 

Clarity. She has been practicing meditation since 

1980 under the guidance of masters in 

India, Nepal and Thailand. 

www.imsb.org 

Daniel Matt, PhD, is one 

of the world’s leading authorities 

on Kabbalah, the 

Jewish mystical tradition. 

He is currently engaged 

in an immense project of 

translating and annotating 

the Zohar, the masterpiece 

of the Kabbalah. 


is the manager of the 


Retreat and a senior staff 

of the Sivananda organization. 

He regularly teaches 

Meditation Immersion 

courses and yoga philosophy 

for the Sivananda 

Teachers’ Training Courses . He is a much-loved, 

inspiring and knowledgeable teacher. 

Allow the sacred power of sound to bring you fully alive during two days 

of high-energy chanting and devotional bliss. Through mantra recitation 

and ecstatic kirtan you will experience the transformative power of sound 

on the core of your being. Russill Paul will be accompanied by Ajay and 

Pankaj Sharma (the Bhakti Boys) to enhance the authentic power and 

energy of devotional chanting. 

Russill Paul directs The Mystic Heart School of Transformation, an online 

Yogic Mystery School. The author of The Yoga of Sound and Jesus in the Lotus, he has also published 

a number of acclaimed CDs, including Shabda: Mantra Mysticism. He teaches widely across North 


America and facilitates a chanting pilgrimage in South India. www.russillpaul.com 

53

March 25 - 28 

March 26 - 30 

March 27 - April 6 

March 27 - 31 

The Evolution of the 

Chakra System: C 

Yoga for the Lattice 

Peggy Phoenix Dubro 


A unique opportunity 

to learn the Universal 

Calibration Lattice® 

(UCL) from the 

founder of the system, 

this course offers 

a contemporary 

understanding of 

human energy anatomy and its link to 

yoga. The UCL is an organized system of 

energy which radiates from the traditional 

chakra system and provides evidence to 

support the growing awareness that we 

are capable of conscious evolution. 

Experience the energy of your personal 

Lattice, strengthen the 

energy of love and wisdom 

within you and 

understand how this 

evolutionary process 

assists you in 

mastering the 

teachings of the 

karmic wheel of 

life. This course is 

open to all as a personal growth experience. 

Graduates will receive certification from 

the Energy Extension, Inc. as a Yoga for 

the Lattice instructor. 

Peggy Phoenix Dubro had a profound 

experience of heightened awareness in which 

she discovered the Lattice in 1988. Since then, 

she completed the development of the EMF 

Balancing Technique®, a multifaceted body of 

work that is the classical form of energy work 

designed to work with the UCL. She has been 

a yoga practitioner for many years. 

www.EMFBalancingTechnique.com 

Sound, Healing and 

Consciousness C 

Zacciah Blackburn 


Sound is the 

vibrational nature 

of Creation, as 

well as our human 

structure, from our 

energetic (subtle) 

bodies, to our 

physiological and 

sub-atomic form. Drawing from contemporary 

and ancient cultures’ wisdom and 

methodologies, we will utilize techniques 

with voice and simple instruments to 

enhance awareness and integration of 

sound in personal and professional 

practice. We shall explore the nature of 

authentic healing, and utilize esoteric 

sound practices to realize 

heightened states 

of wellness and 

Self realization. 

No musical talent 

or prior experience 

is necessary. 

Zacciah Blackburn, 

PhD, is a gifted intuitive, 

teacher, and sound healer, trained in 

classical healing and shamanic traditions, 

and sacred sound cultures. He teaches 

internationally, and practices in Vermont, 

USA, at the Center of Light Institute of 

Sound Healing and Shamanic Studies. 

He is Director of Education at the 

International Sound Healing Network, 

and co-founder and Director of the World 

Sound Healing and All One Now Network 

of organizations working for global peace. 

www.thecenteroflight.net 

Advanced Bhagavad Gita 




The Bhagavad Gita is a 

superb exposition of the 

synthesis of all paths of 

yoga. Its teachings are 

full of deep philosophy 

and practical advice 

for all life situations. It 

offers a source of help 

for human beings to solve the ever-present 

problems of birth and death: pain, suffering, 

fear, bondage, love and hate. During 

these eleven days, Swami Swaroopananda 

will take us into the timeless teachings of the 

Bhagavad Gita. He will continue the teachings 

from last year’s course and will start 

from chapter three. Students who did not 

participate in last year’s course are welcome 

to attend this year and are advised to read 

chapters one and two of the Bhagavad Gita 

with Swami Sivananda’s commentary. 

Swami Swaroopananda: See biography on page 26. 

What is Nirvana and How 

Do We Get There YVP 

Geshe Michael Roach 

The word “nirvana” brings up many different 

ideas. Is it some kind of space into 

which we disappear Is it some strange 

place where we are happy all the time, without 

a care for the problems of the rest of the 

world In this series of talks, we will explore 

what nirvana really is, and practical ways of 

getting there, learning both the theory of 

nirvana, through the study of the Perfection 

of Wisdom Sutras and practical meditation 

practices. We will see that nirvana is actually 

a very engaged state of being, where we 

are in total happiness but serving the world 

at the same time. 

Geshe Michael Roach is 

the first westerner in the 

600-year history of Sera 

Mey Tibetan Monastery 

to be awarded the title 

of Geshe, or Master of 

Buddhism, after more 

than 20 years of study. 

He is the author of the 

international bestseller, The Diamond Cutter, 

translated into over 20 languages and has written 

30 other books and translations. 

www.diamondmountain.org 


Yoga for Children Training Courses 

with Mira Binzen 


Teaching Yoga to Children 

Training Course C 


Learn how to teach yoga classes for children 

and incorporate yoga into your work with 

children. Learn the anatomy and physiology 

of child development, health awareness 

and spiritual practices for children and 

yogic practices for children of different 

ages. Gain insight into specific breathing, 

relaxation and meditation techniques for 

children. Make yoga for children fun and 

creative with playful postures, chanting, 

music, art and stories. 

April 5 - 7 

Addressing Children’s 

Attention Disorders 

through Yoga, Guided 

Visualization and 

Meditation C 


Handling children’s attention disorders is a 

challenge more and more parents are faced 

with. In this course you will learn to teach 

specific techniques that help children selfregulate 

and self-soothe. Controlled 

breathing, guided visualizations, deep 

relaxation and rhythmic movement 

from the yoga tradition help regulate and 

balance the nervous system. This results 

in more organized thinking and better 

motor planning. It can help children with 

attention deficit, learning and sensory 

processing challenges as well as emotional 

and behavioral imbalances. The practice is 

taught in an engaging, safe and age-appropriate 

manner. Children gain self-awareness 

and self-mastery that allows them to experience 

their environment and relationships 

with others with a sense of joy and ease. 

Mira Binzen is a Sivananda 

yoga teacher and a 

yoga therapist. She holds 

a degree in child psychology 

and is the founder 

of Global Family Yoga, 

an organization which 

focuses on child development 

through yoga. 

www.globalfamilyyoga.org 


Overtone Chanting 

Retreat: YVP 

The Mystery of Music and Healing 

Gerhard Fankhauser (Shyam) 

and Einat Gilboa 

Harmonics or overtoning is rooted in the 

shamanic traditions of Tibet and Mongolia. 

Overtones reveal the universal and healing 

dimension of music and sound and can be 

a powerful way to discover the universal 

harmony within your own voice. Gerhard 

Fankhauser will teach from his new book 

The Mystery of Music and Healing. Topics 

will include birth of the voice, the five 

vowels, chakra toning, overtone singing, 

harmonic integration, universal harmony, 

healing music and kirtan. 

Gerhard Fankhauser 

(Shyam) is a musician, 

mystic and singer who 

combines overtone 

singing, mantras and 

kirtan in a unique and 

healing way. He performs 

and teaches “healingworldmusic” 

and often 

tours between Israel, Europe and the United 

States. He has recorded several CDs, the latest 

of which is Fatamorgana. 

www.healingworldmusic.com 

Einat Gilboa is a singer 

and dancer influenced 

from the sacred music 

of the Hebrew tradition, 

Indian, tribal and Gypsy 

music. She is skilled 

in the art of overtone 

singing. She graduated 

from the school of visual 

theatre in Jerusalem. She guides movement, 

voice and dance workshops, prayer singing 

circles and retreats. 

www.healingworldmusic.com 



Course 



Yoga for Depression: 

Practitioner Training Course Level I 

C CEU 

Amy Weintraub 


Learn specific yogic strategies for bringing 

balance to your 

emotional and physical 

body. You will be 

trained to work with 

groups and individuals, 

creating and maintaining 

a safe and compassionate 

container for 

your students and the people you work 

with, so that they can clear their own 

inner space and realize and sustain 

positive mental health. Practices will 

include asana (postures), pranayama 

and kriya (breathing and cleansing), 

mantra (chanting), bhavana (development 

of the mind), sankalpa (resolve and 

intention), meditation, therapeutic long 

holding of postures and strategies for 

working with negative self-talk. 

Amy Weintraub is a leading expert of the use 

of yoga for healing from depression and other 

moods. Author of Yoga for Depression and 

founder of the LifeForce Yoga® Healing Institute, 

she leads personal healing retreats, workshops 

and trainings throughout North America. 

www.yogafordepression.com 


April 4 - 10 

April 7 - 9 

Healing through Mystical 

Qigong C 

Master Ou Wen Wei 

Yoga and Permaculture: 

Vedic Ecology in Practice 

Vidya Chaitanya 


April 

April 1 - 3 

The Psychology and 

Physiology of Permanent 

Weight Loss through 

Ayurveda YVP 

John Douillard 

Join John Douillard 

for a knowledgepacked 

weekend about 

the ayurvedic way to 

permanent weight 

loss. He will address 

the need for efficient 

digestion, assimilation 

and detoxification. Learn how to lose 

weight through the science of ayurvedic 

psychology by learning to enjoy exercise 

with a revolutionary breathing technique 

and releasing molecules of emotion that 

convince the body to store fat. 

April 3 - 5 

Gospel Music Makes Me 

Feel All Right YVP 

Ken Whiteley 

Join us for a celebration 

of gospel music, 

enjoy the heart 

opening sounds and 

learn to open your 

voice and sing with 

Canadian gospel 

legend, Ken Whiteley. 

Ken Whiteley has been called a “roots music 

master”. With dynamic energy and a spirit of 

inclusion, he has lead gospel singing concerts for 

people from all walks of life, right across North 

America. He has recorded numerous CDs which 

feature his award winning original material, 

heartfelt vocals and instrumental virtuosity. 

www.kenwhiteley.com 


Based on simple yet 

powerful techniques, 

Mystical Qigong 

uses the power of the 

universe for healing 

oneself and others. 

Pan Gu Shen Gong 

(PGSG) is a unique 

Qigong system that was developed by 

Master Ou Wen Wei. Join this program 

to learn the three major aspects of the 

PGSG system, including: 

• The Moving Form, designed to promote 

health through strengthening of the life-force. 

• The Healing Skill, teaching the skill to give 

healing treatments to others. 

• The Non-Moving Form, designed to 

strengthen the nervous system and 

intuitive ability. 

There will also be a special class on 

“developing spiritual vision”. 

Master Ou Wen Wei is a Qigong 

Master and the originator of 

the unique Pan Gu Shen Gong 

system through which he has 

successfully healed patients 

suffering from cancer, heart 

disease, and other chronic 

conditions. He is the author 

of seven books including 

The Path of Life and 

Pan Gu Mystical Qigong. 

www.pangushengong.org 

The goal of yoga is to 

re-connect ourselves 

with our divinity. 

Permaculture reminds 

us to re-connect with 

the natural world, 

of which we are an 

inseparable part. 

In this program we will demystify what 

permaculture is: Explain the three 

core values and the 12 principles of 

permaculture; review the vedic teachings 

which remind us of the need for reverence 

for nature; explore how we can apply the 

teachings of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and 

express them through the practice of 

permaculture in our daily lives; and offer 

practical tools and strategies for living 

a more sustainable lifestyle. 

Vidya Chaitanya is the director of the 

Sivananda Los Angeles Yoga Center and has 

over twenty years of experience in teaching 

yoga and meditation. She earned her Certificate 

in Permaculture Design and Advanced 

Permaculture from Mid West 

Permaculture and is passionate 

about bringing yoga and the 

environment together. 

John Douillard, PhD, received his ayurvedic 

training in India and holds a PhD in Ayurvedic 

Medicine. Currently, he directs the LifeSpa 

School of ayurveda and practices ayurveda and 

chiropractic at LifeSpa in Boulder, Colorado. 

www.lifespa.com 


April 7 - 14 

April 8 - 10 

April 10 – 16 

April 10 - 13 

The Yoga of Meditation: 

Talks on the Sixth Chapter of the 

Bhagavad Gita 


The sixth chapter 

of the Bhagavad Gita 

is one of the most 

important chapters 

of this scripture. 

Lord Krishna 

describes to Arjuna 

the prerequisites 

for the practice of meditation and explains 

the method of practice. He 

prescribes the practice of moderation 

in daily life and suggests that once the 

mind is restrained by the practice of 

meditation the yogi experience immense 

bliss and is no longer moved 

even by heavy sorrow. He proclaims 

that among all the yogis, the best is 

the Bhakta, the devotee, the lover of 

God and suggests to Arjuna and 

to all of us to become such 

a yogi. Join us for a week of 

profound teachings with a 

most prominent teacher of 

yoga and Vedanta. 


is an eminent Vedanta 

scholar and exponent of 

Vedantic treatises, epics, 

the Bhagavad Gita and 

many Upanishads. He is 

an inspiring and experienced 

speaker with great 

clarity, wisdom and force 

that have a tremendous 

effect on the thinking 

of the hearer. 

www.kenwhiteley.com 


Guided Imagery and 

Creative Visualization: C 

Awareness Adventures for the Body, 

Mind and Spirit 

Julie Lusk 


Learn about and 

experience the 

potency of guided 

imagery and creative 

visualization. This is a 

powerful mind-bodyspirit 

technique that 

everyone can apply. 

It promotes deep relaxation, activates 

the natural capacity to heal, allows 

changes in behavioral patterns, reveals 

intuition and unlocks the practitioner’s 

highest potential. We will experience 

many types of guided imagery, exploring 

personal experiences and understanding 

relevant scientific principles. 

Two additional in-depth practice days with 

Julie are optional on April 11-12. 

Tuition: $50 per day or $90 for two days 

plus accommodations. 

Julie Lusk, MEd, is the president of 

Wholesome Resources and the author 

of 30 Scripts for Relaxation; Imagery and 

Inner Healing; Yoga Meditations, Mind-Body 

Mastery, and numerous guided imagery 

and meditation CDs. She leads workshops 

on stress management, wellness, yoga, 

meditation and guided imagery. 

www.wholesomeresources.com 

Yogis Without Borders: C 

Training for Activist Yoga Teachers 

Elaine Valdov, Nirmala and 

Satyadev 


The Yogis Without Borders movement 

was originated by Dr. Elaine Valdov,. 

Its mission is to encourage yoga teachers 

to travel to post-conflict or post- natural 

disaster areas or and help individuals relieve 

stress and tension by teaching them yoga 

and giving them tools to deal with their 

suffering and utilize it for spiritual growth. 

Join this training and learn how to combine 

yoga practice and leadership skills in order 

to take part in significant humanitarian 

efforts. You will be guided to develop 

and carry out a specific “yoga for peace” 

project as part of the Yogis Without 

Borders mission. 

Elaine Valdov, PhD, 

is the director of the 

International Institute for 

a Culture of Peace in the 

United Nations and the 

co-chair of the Executive 

Committee of NGOs 

affiliated with the U.N. 

She is a peace and human 

rights’ activist and founder of the Yogis without 

Borders movement. 

Nirmala and Satyadev are Sivananda yoga teachers 

(RYT 500), Hatha yoga instructors in Sivananda 

teacher training courses and graduates from 

Dr. Elaine Valdov’s Yoga Peace Ambassadors 

Course. They are the founders of the Yoga for 

Peace movement in Medellín, Colombia, once 

known as the most violent city of the world. 

They are the directors of Atman School of Yoga, 

through which they organize “yoga for peace” 

events in Medellin. 

ThetaHealing 


Narayan Jyoti (Ron Paz) 


See page 47 for description. 


is one of the most senior 

students of Vianna Stibal, 

Creator of ThetaHealing 

and a certified Sivananda 

yoga teacher. He holds a 

Certificate of Science in 

ThetaHealing and is 

the manager of THInK 

in Israel and in the Bahamas. He teaches Theta- 

Healing courses and gives private healing sessions 

world-wide. 

www.thetaom.com 

April 15 - 18 

ThetaHealing 




See page 47 for description. 

Narayan Jyoti (Ron Paz): See biography above. 


Ayurveda and Yoga Therapy Programs 

with Dr. Marc Halpern 

April 14 - 16 

Yoga Nidra: C 

The Practice of Deep Relaxation 

Marc Halpern (Siva) 


Yoga nidra is the art of conscious 

relaxation. You will learn techniques 

which will allow you to reach new states 

of conscious awareness with acute 

perception of both your physical and 

subtle body. As you practice these 

techniques you will feel the flow of 

prana move through physical, emotional 

and energetic blockages. The end result 

is the healing of the body and mind 

and the expansion of consciousness. 

During this program, students will 

both experience yoga nidra and learn 

how to teach it to others. Upon 

completion, students will be prepared 

to offer this service to their community. 

Marc Halpern (Siva), 

DC, CAS, PKS, 

Ayurvedacharya, is a 

pioneer in ayurvedic 

medicine in the United 

States and a Sivananda 

yoga teacher. He is the 

founder and director 

of the California 

College of Ayurveda - the first ayurvedic 

college to train practitioners of ayurveda 

outside of India. He received the award 

for Best Ayurvedic Physician from 

India’s Minister of Health and 

Family Welfare. 

www.ayurvedacollege.com 

April 15 - 17 



Body and Mind 


Marc Halpern (Siva) and 

Marisa Laursen 


April 18 - 27 

Ayurvedic Yoga Therapy 

Certification Course 

C CEU 

Marc Halpern (Siva) 


Learn how to teach individualized and 

group yoga programs based on the nature 

of the student’s ayurvedic constitution and 

imbalance. This course emphasizes the 

energetics of each asana and each form of 

pranayama so that the pose and the breath 

can be used to support balancing the 

physical subtle energies of the body and 

mind and help heal the client. Students 

will also be introduced to yoga nidra and 

ayurvedic nutrition in the healing process. 

Ayurvedic yoga therapists can work on 

their own supporting the healing process, 

hold classes in studios or work as a part 

of an integrative team in a healing center. 

This is a professional training program for 

yoga teachers of all traditions and is also 

open to all practitioners of healing arts. 

April 15 - 17 

Magic and Grace: YVP 

A Weekend of Classical Indian Music 

and Dance 

Originating from Divine sources, classical 

Indian music and dance is a form of yoga 

and a path to spiritual liberation. Through 

evening performances and concerts we will 

have a taste of Divine love and Grace. 

During noon workshops we will learn 

about these sacred arts and will experience 

their effects on our body, mind and soul. 

Uma Vasudevan has 

been a Bharatanatyam 

dancer for the past twenty 

five years, performing 

extensively worldwide. 

She will be accompanied 

by dancers Samyuka and 

Swati Govindarajan and 

will present her program 

Natya Arpana (offering to the Lord’s feet). 

www.umavasudevan.com 

Vasudevan Govindarajan is 

an award-winning artist and 

a talented percussionist from 

a family of distinguished 

musicians in India. He will 

accompany Uma’s dance 

performance on percussion 

and drum harmonics. 

Anupama Bhagwat is a 

sitarist who has performed 

internationally to critical 

acclaim. She is a leading 

disciple of the worldrenowned 

Pandit Shri 

Bimalendu Mukherjee. 

Her sensitivity and 

erudition have taken her 

to the highest echelons of the modern genre, 

while allowing her to remain true to tradition. 

www.anupama.org 

Shyam Kane has been a 

tabla player for over thirty 

years. He trained under 

the guidance and supervision 

of great tabla maestro 

Ustad Zakir Hussian and 

performed worldwide. He 

has accompanied such great 

artists as Ustad Ali Akbar 

Khan and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. 

April 17 - 20 

Soul Stories and Memoir 

Writing C 

Virginia Frances Schwartz 


Memoir writing is a search to discover 

truth and healing in our own soul stories. 

This course enables writers to record 

their own stories. You will learn nurturing 

breathing techniques along with specific 

yoga postures and guided relaxations 

designed to open your heart and allow 

you to release memories from your core. 

Schedule will include daily freewrites, 

memoir vignettes, a study of the form and 

structure of memoir writing, and initial 

organization of your own memoir. Yoga 

and writing are a perfect blend because 

they both promote mindfulness. Writing 

is a great path for Self-discovery. 

Virginia Frances 

Schwartz is a Sivananda 

yoga teacher who teaches 

creative writing with a 

spiritual approach, at 

UCLA. She is the author 

of five young adult 

novels and has trained 

adults and children 

in the writing process for the past twenty 

five years. 

www.virginiafrancesschwartz.com 


April 17 - 25 

Easter and Passover Symposium and Celebration: YVP 

Yoga and Sacred Healing 

April 18 

Passover Seder Celebration 


Disease is the first obstacle to meditation. 

As spiritual aspirants, we all wish to know 

how to gain good health and be free from 

illness. In this symposium we bring together 

healers from different healing traditions 

who share the belief that true healing comes 

from Divine sources and that for healing to 

be effective it must be sacred. 

Jonathan Goldman, 

MA, is a world renowned 

authority on sound healing. 

He is the author of 

several books including 

The 7 Secrets of Sound 

Healing, Healing Sounds 

and his newest release The 

Divine Name. A Grammy 

nominee, his award-winning recordings include 

Chakra Chants, The Divine Name, and Reiki 

Chants. www.healingsounds.com 

Andi Goldman, MA, 

LPC, is a psychotherapist 

specializing in holistic 

counseling and sound 

therapy. She is a musician, 

sound healer and the 

co-author (together with 

Jonathan Goldman) of 

Tantra of Sound: Frequencies 

of Healing, winner of the 2006 Visionary 

Award or best alternative health book. 

Joyce Hawkes is a 

biophysicist who has 

earned an international 

reputation for scientific 

contributions in the 

field of cell biology. 

She is the author of 

the highly-acclaimed 

Cell-Level Healing: 

The Bridge from Soul to Cell in which she 

describes a cellular response to spiritual healing. 

www.celllevelhealing.com 

Dennis Lewis teaches the 

transformative power of 

presence through natural 

breathing, qigong, meditation, 

and self-inquiry. 

He is coeditor of Sacred 

Tradition & Present Need 

and On the Way to Self 

Knowledge. He is the 

author of Breathe Into Being, Free Your Breath, 

Free Your Life, The Tao of Natural Breathing and 

the audio program Natural Breathing. 

www.dennislewis.org 

Mitchell Gibson, MD, 

is a forensic psychiatrist 

and spiritual healerteacher. 

He received 

spiritual initiation from 

Sri Matajhi Indira Devi 

in 1994 and was granted 

clairvoyant vision, 

knowledge of the soul, 

and heightened intuitive healing abilities. He has 

since then lectured internationally on spiritual 

healing and the spiritual world. 

www.tybro.com 

John English is an 

award-winning author, 

international speaker, 

shamanic healer, mystic, 

and a successful entrepreneur. 

He teaches and 

writes about meditation, 

energy healing, shamanism 

and the medicine 

wheel. In his private healing practice and in all 

his teaching he guides people into the power of 

working with the energy of their challenges. 

www.mydreamtimellc.com 

Father John Rossner, 

PhD, is an Anglican 

priest and Professor 

Emeritus of Comparative 

Religion at Concordia 

University, Montreal. 

He is the founder and 

president of the International 

Institute of Integral 

Human Sciences (IIIHS). 

www.iiihs.org 

April 24 

Enjoy a delicious feast 

and teachings from 


(see biography on page 26) 

on the main features 

of Passover and its 

relationship to yogic 

principles. 

Easter Sunrise Service 

Swami Swaroopananda, 

Fr. John Rossner, Bishop 

Elkin Symonette and the 

Ebenezer Baptist Choir 

Join this beautiful 

Easter morning 

celebration of stories, 

talks, and devotional 

gospel singing from 

the Ebenezer Baptist 

choir. Rev. Symonette 

is the founder of the 

Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church. 

April 17 - 24 

Easter and Passover Family 

Program YVP 

Barb van Maris (Omkari) 

Celebrate Passover 

and Easter with your 

family in Paradise. 

During this holiday 

week the ashram will 

offer a special program 

for children during 

the yoga classes and 

workshops, giving parents free time to 

practice. Children will enjoy a wide range 

of activities including an introduction to 

yoga, short asana classes designed specifically 

for children, chanting, crafts, karma yoga 

and lots of games and fun. They will learn 

about the stories of Passover and Easter, 

along with stories from the yogic scriptures, 

which provide similar teachings. 

Barb van Maris (Omkari) is a Sivananda yoga 

teacher, a long-time practicing yogi and a mother 

of five children. She has many years of experience 

working with children and is known for her 

ability to reach children of all ages and temperaments 

with patience, compassion and joy. 


April 20 - 23 

April 25 - 28 

April 28 - May 8 


Living Foods: C 

Spirit, Practice, Art and Science 

Caroline Dupont 


A balanced Living 

Foods lifestyle can 

be the most powerful 

dietary approach 

to health and 

healing in all ways. 

Living Foods 

encourages ongoing 

connection to the soul as the true inner 

guide, and teaches quick, nutritious 

recipes and techniques in a way that can 

be incorporated with joy, elegance and 

peace. Classes will focus on benefits, 

cautions and approaches to Living 

Foods; nutrition and digestion; physical 

and emotional detoxification; care of 

the energy body, and will consist of 

lectures, food preparation, awareness 

exercises and discussions. 

Caroline Dupont, MSc, has been living 

and teaching an integrated approach to 

health for over twenty years. She is the 

author of the book and DVD Enlightened 

Eating, and several meditation CDs, 

teaches nutrition, meditation and yoga, 

and offers private consultations, as well 

as various courses and retreats. 

www.carolinedupont.com 

Devotion and Grace: YVP 

Chanting Retreat 

Jai Uttal and Daniel Paul 

Ride on the wings of kirtan to feel whole 

and to feel free. Learn to chant and tune 

your voice and heart to that which is sacred. 

Jai Uttal, accompanied by Daniel Paul, 

will invoke a space of prayer and heartfelt 

expression through music and chant. 

Jai Uttal is a pioneer and 

inspiration to many in the 

world of kirtan music. His 

many albums include Beggars 

and Saints, Siva Station, and 

the Grammy-nominated 

Monda Rama. 

www.jaiuttal.com 

Daniel Paul is a tabla player 

and vocalist. He earned his 

degree in the classical music of 

India from the Ali Akbar 

College of Music. 

He is Jai Uttal’s 

principal accompanist. 

www.tabladaniel.com 

Advanced Raja Yoga 


Course II: Sadhana Pada 



This course presents 

a unique opportunity 

for an in-depth study 

of Raja Yoga, the royal 

path to Enlightenment, 

and its mother-text, the 

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali 

Maharishi. You will gain 

knowledge and wisdom which will guide 

you on your spiritual path and take you to 

the next level of practice. Swami Swaroopananda 

will share his profound knowledge 

and teach the second chapter of the Yoga 

Sutras. This chapter deals with Kriya Yoga 

(the yoga of action), the five types of suffering, 

the methods of avoiding such suffering, 

and finally the first five limbs of Raja Yoga: 

moral observances and restraints, postures, 

breathing techniques and the withdrawal 

of the senses. 

Swami Swaroopananda: See biography on page 26. 

The Healing Journey: C 

Transforming Stress, Pain and Illness 

into Self-Healing 

Paul Epstein 


Disease tells us the story about ourselves 

and our lives. This comprehensive course 

in mind-body skills will teach you how to 

listen within to discover the meaning hidden 

inside pain and to view illness 

as an opportunity for awakening. Through 

guided inquiry, silent reflection, meditation, 

lecture, discussion, case histories 

and group support, you will learn to apply 

the principles of mind-body healing in 

your practice and your life. Suitable for 

everyone interested in healing including 

yoga teachers, health professionals, 

caregivers and individuals 

on a healing 

journey and spiritual 

path. 

Paul Epstein, ND, is a 

naturopathic physician, 

mind-body therapist, 

mindfulness meditation 

teacher, yoga teacher and workshop leader. A 

graduate of the National College of Naturopathic 

Medicine, he did a residency in behavioral 

medicine, stress, and lifestyle counseling. 

www.drpaulepstein.com 


April 28 – May 2 

Spring Detoxification and Juice Fasting Program C 



Spring is one of the best times of the year to detoxify. This program begins with a few days 

of raw food followed by fruit and vegetable juice fasting and ends with a raw food diet for 

the last days. The fast is supported by detoxifying herbs and supplements. 


Sylvie Boisclair (Saraswati) 


For course description and teacher’s biography 

see page 39. 

For more information and for biographies see page 29. 



From Sound into Stillness: YVP 

Yoga and Sacred Vibration Symposium 

Sound is the primordial energy. It is the first 

thing to be created and from it, this whole 

creation came about. Sound permeates this 

creation in the form of vibration and is an 

important tool in our spiritual journey back 

to the source of creation. The practice of 

nada yoga or the yoga of sound is a major 

path to Self realization. Join us for a week 

of sound immersion and learn from world 

renowned experts of sound how the practice 

of the yoga of sound can eventually lead us 

to the deepest silence within us. 

John Beaulieu, ND, 

PhD, is a world leader 

in the use of sound for 

healing and well-being. 

He has practiced meditation 

and yoga for over 

40 years and is the author 

of Human Tuning and 

Music and Sound in 

the Healing Arts. He is founder of BioSonic 

Repatterning and oversees molecular research 

on the healing effects of sound and music. 

www.biosonics.com 

Silvia Nakkach is an 

award-winning composer 

and voice-culturist, 

author, psychotherapist, 

and a pioneer in the field 

of sound, consciousness, 

and music shamanism. 

She is the founding 

director of Vox Mundi 

School of the Voice, an international project 

devoted to teaching and preserving sacred 

music traditions. 

voxmundiproject.com 

Peter Wetzler is an 

award winning composer 

and performer who 

is teaching a unique 

approach to music 

composition in leading 

art and music schools. 

While classically 

trained in piano and 

composition, he is dedicated to the exploration 

of harmony as it relates to music and to 

our bodies. 

Julie Hedrick is a poet and visual artist who 

paints energy fields. Represented in New York 

City by the Norha Haime Gallery, Julie has had 

numerous solo and group shows at her gallery 

and in museums and collections around the 

world. Julie and her husband Peter Wetzler are 

currently working on Cellular, their second CD 

of scored poetry. 

www.juliehedrick.com 

Pierre Sollier is the 

author of the award 

winning Listening for 

Wellness: An introduction 

to the Tomatis Method. 

He is a licensed family 

therapist and the founder 

of the Mozart Center 

in Lafayette, California 

where he treats children and adults with the 

Tomatis Method. 

David Darling is a 

Grammy nominated 

cellist whose music 

has been featured in 

many movies and CDs. 

He has performed at 

major festivals and 

concert venues. He is 

active in bringing music 

education to all and is the co-founder of Music 

for People, an educational network dedicated 

to teaching music improvisation as a means of 

creative self expression. 

www.daviddarling.com 

May 

May 5 - June 1 




May 8 - 10 

Raw Abundance Wellness 

Retreat C 

Latham Thomas 


Holistic wellness 

expert Latham Thomas 

will lead you on a journey 

into the cleansing 

and healing benefits 

of raw food. Learn the 

criteria for healthful 

food selection, basic 

knife skills, stocking your raw pantry, 

preparing balanced, energizing raw recipes 

with minimal equipment, and making 

seasonal dishes. Take home a recipe packet 

and practical tools to help jumpstart your 

raw diet and improve your health. 

Latham Thomas HHC, AADP, is a graduate 

of Columbia University and the Institute for 

Integrative Nutrition. She is a certified holistic 

health counselor who blends her passion for plant 

physiology, botany, holistic nutrition, fitness, 

yoga, and green cuisine into a lifestyle program 

that supports an individual’s needs. 

www.tendershootswellness.com 


May 6 - 12 

Yoga for Peace Symposium: Changing the World from 

the Inside Out YVP 

In remembrance of Swami Vishnudevananda 

and his peace missions, we are 

delighted to host the fourth Yoga Peace 

Ambassadors’ Symposium. All presenters in 

this symposium have dedicated their lives to 

promoting peace within individuals and in 

the world, through inspirational writings, 

lectures, music and workshops. 

Elaine Valdov, PhD, is 

the director of the 

International Institute 

for a Culture of Peace 

in the United Nations 

and the co-chair of the 

Executive Committee of 

NGOs affiliated with the 

U.N. She is a peace and 

human rights’ activist and founder of the Yogis 

without Borders movement. 


is a world-renowned 

pioneer in the American 

Zen movement. He is 

a spiritual leader, author 

and businessman with 

a PhD in Applied 

Mathematics. He teaches 

at the Maezumi Institute 

and the Harvard Divinity School. He is the 

founder of Zen Peacemakers. 

www.zenpeacemakers.org 

Sensei Eve Myonen 

Marko is a founding 

teacher of the Zen 

Peacemaker Order 

and resident teacher 

at the Montague Farm 

Zendo. She co-founded 

Peacemaker Circle 

International with her 

husband, Roshi Bernie Glassman. She has 

written and edited numerous articles about 

Zen Peacemakers. 

Wavy Gravy (Hugh 

Romney) is a social and 

activist clown and the 

co-founder (together 

with Ram Das) of the 

Seva Foundation. He is 

the director of the circus 

and performing arts 

summer camp - Camp 

Winnarainbow. He has dedicated more than 

forty years to making the world a more humane 

place for everyone. 

www.wavygravy.net 

Brother David 

Steindl-Rast, PhD is 

a senior monk of Mount 

Saviour Benedictine 

monastery in New York 

State. He was one of the 

first Roman Catholics 

to receive Zen training 

and to participate in 

Buddhist-Christian dialogue. His is the author 

of many books including Gratefulness, the 

Heart of Prayer. 

www.Gratefulness.org 

Zoe Weil is the founder 

of the Institute for 

Humane Education and 

author of The Power 

and Promise of Humane 

Education for Educators, 

and Above All, Be Kind: 

Raising a Humane Child 

in Challenging Times. 

She is certified in Psychosynthesis counseling. 

www.zoeweil.com 

Stephen Longfellow 

Fiske is a peace 

troubadour whose 

dedication to peace, 

humanitarian, environmental 

and spiritual 

concerns has always 

found expression through 

his artistic pursuits. 

He is the author of The Art of Peace, A 

Personal Manual on Peacemaking and Creativity. 

www.fiskemusic.com 

May 9 – 15 

Yoga Peace Ambassadors 


Elaine Valdov 


This course is designed to train yoga 

teachers and practitioners to be 

peace leaders in local, national and 

international communities. Participants 

will learn how to lead and take part in 

significant humanitarian efforts. They 

will study the eight United Nations 

millennium goals and will be guided to 

develop skills for building programs to 

support these goals: eradicating poverty 

and hunger, providing education for all, 

empowering women and gender equality, 

providing health care for all, decreasing 

childhood mortality, promoting maternal 

health, controlling the spread of HIV 

and other diseases, and protecting the 

environment. Participants will also enjoy 

lectures and workshops by presenters in 

the Yoga for Peace Symposium which 

takes place during the same week. 

Elaine Valdov: See biography on page 70. 

May 9 - 13 

The Yoga of Leadership 


Lillas (Vani Devi) and 

Rick Hatala 

Tuition: $340. Add 6 nights’ accommodations. 

Learn how the Eastern philosophy and 

tradition of yoga relates to Western 

concepts of leadership and spiritual 

development. It is in applying the 

practices of yoga as an inner journey 

together with the practices of Western 

integrative leadership that we can 

connect with our inner wisdom, 

positively impact others, and help 

bring peace into our personal lives 

and the world around us. The Yoga 

of Leadership informs and guides the 

journey of 21st century leaders who 

desire to be competent in terms of 

knowledge, talents and skills, and 

able to apply emotional and spiritual 

intelligence in their daily lives. 

Lillas (Vani Devi) and Rick Hatala are 

authors of Integrative Leadership: Building 

a Foundation for Personal, Interpersonal and 

Organizational Success and the Integrative 

Leadership Study Guide: Let Spirit be the 

Lead of Your Life. Lillas Hatala is a leadership 

development consultant. Rick Hatala is 

the president of a private North American 

energy company with a holistic intent. 

www.integrativeleadership.ca 


May 12 - 15 

May 13 - 19 

May 12 - 15 

May 23 - 28 

Craniosacral Therapy: C 

Level 1 - Windows and Meditations 

Michael Shea 

Tuition: $390. Add 5 nights’ accommodations. 

Biodynamic craniosacral therapy 

training is about the healing value 

of stillness and slowness in the body. 

In a craniosacral therapy session the 

therapist tunes into the craniosacral 

system and gently works with it, thus 

easing the restrictions of nerve passages, 

the movement of cerebrospinal fluid 

through the spinal cord is optimized, 

bones alignment is restored. In this 

introductory course we will learn 

spinal synchronization, third ventricle 

synchronization, making contact with 

the client, Cycle of Attunement, feet, 

sacrum and cranium attunement, and 

the 4 Quadrants technique. 

Michael Shea, PhD 

(Somatic Psychology), 

is a preeminent 

educator and author in 

the fields of somatic 

psychology and 

craniosacral therapy, 

practicing craniosacral 

therapy for over 20 years. 

As a formal student of H.H the Dalai Lama, 

his teaching style is grounded in his spiritual 

practice. He is the author of a number of 

books, including Somatic Psychology and 

Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy. 

www.michaelsheateaching.com 

Srimad Bhagavata 

Saptaha YVP 

Radhanath Swami with musical 

accompaniment by Gaura Vani 

and As Kindred Spirits 

The Srimad Bhagavatam is one of the most 

inspiring devotional scriptures of ancient 

India. It expounds on the nature of God, 

describes the lives of His devotees and 

provides insights into how one is to 

cultivate devotion to Him. It prescribes 

Dharma (righteousness), devotion, wisdom 

and dispassion. In morning and evening 

sessions, we will immerse ourselves in 

the intoxicating beauty of the Srimad 

Bhagavatam through recitation and 

discourse on select portions of the text. 

The teachings will be enhanced by ecstatic 

kirtan and chanting the Divine name. 

Radhanath Swami is an 

inspiring story teller and 

enthusiastic kirtan leader. 

He studied with yogis 

and sadhus including 

many of the most prominent 

spiritual teachers of 

his era. Ultimately meeting 

his own guru A.C. 

Bhaktivedanta Swami he committed himself to 

the path of Bhakti and has been inspiring thousands 

through heart to heart guidance, beautiful 

story-telling and enthusiastic kirtans. Radhanath 

Swami teaches devotional wisdom around the 

world. He resides in Mumbai, India, where he 

is actively involved with humanitarian activities 

such as developing communities, massive food 

distribution to indigent children, missionary 

hospitals, eco-friendly farms, schools, ashrams 

and emergency relief programs. He is the 

author of The Journey Home-Autobiography 

of an American Swami. www.radhnathswami.com 

ThetaHealing 




May 17 - 20 

For course description 

see page 47. 


ThetaHealing 




For course description see page 47. 


May 20 – 22 



Body and Mind 


Walking the Path of 

Righteousness: YVP 

Stories from the Ramayana 

Swami Prakashananda 

The Ramayana is a 

beautiful epic of devotion 

and righteousness. It tells 

the story of Lord Rama, 

his beloved wife Sita and 

their devotee Hanuman. 

It depicts the duties 

of relationships, portraying 

ideal characters like the ideal servant, the 

ideal brother, the ideal wife and the ideal king, 

and teaches about dharma (righteousness) and 

bhakti (devotion). Join us for an exploration 

of the Ramayana and learn about the search 

for life’s purpose and the bliss of devotion. 

Swami Prakashananda is a respected teacher of 

Vedanta, and the resident Acharya of Chinmaya 

Mission, Trinidad and Tobago. He holds a BA in 

Political Science and a Law degree. He studied for 

many years with Swami Chinmayananda in India. 

He travels and lectures internationally. 

www.chinmaya.org/acharya 

May 28 - 31 

Kirtan with Ragani YVP 

Ragani 

Join Ragani and 

her band in this 

participatory, cross 

cultural music experience. 

The practice of 

kirtan is not about 

musical ability, but 

about the heart. These 

ancient chants contain powerful renewing and 

transformational energies that serve to connect 

us to the ever present and Eternal Being that 

lies within us all. 

Gaura Vani started 

studying sacred music in 

Vrindavan, India since 

at the age of six. Today, 

he shares the magic he 

Ragani is an award-winning artist who leads 

received and performs 

Milwaukee’s Kirtan with Ragani, the largest 

extensively with his kirtan 

independent and ongoing kirtan scene in the 

ensemble, As Kindred 

US. At age eight Ragani met the famous yoga 

Spirits, throughout 

master, Swami Rama, who personally trained her 

the world. www.gauravani.com 

in yoga sciences, meditation, and Eastern music. 

www.raganiworld.com 

72 sivanandabahamas.org 73 

YVP

June 7 - 11 

June 12 - 18 

June 

June 2 - 5 

Yoga and Life 

Enhancement YVP 

Dale Buegel 

With his medical and 

psychology training 

and years of experience 

in yoga, Dr. Dale 

Buegel will guide us 

through an examination 

of the many 

applications of yoga 

practices for the body and the mind. 

From both the traditional Western and 

yogic perspectives, Dr. Buegel will cover 

a wide variety of topics including specific 

physical ailments, the mind-body 

connection, memory and the unconscious 

mind, personality and much more. 

Dale Buegel, MD, is known for teaching 

the fine points for mastery of yoga postures, 

breathing techniques and meditation. 

With 35 years’ experience in teaching 

yoga disciplines, he integrates his extensive 

training in medicine, bodywork disciplines 

and energetic medicine into yoga practice in 

a unique teaching style. 

June 2 - 6 


Narayani 


Immerse yourself in 

the basics of yoga. 

Ideal for those new to 

yoga or who wish to 

make sure they are 

well aligned in their 

asana and pranayama 

practice, this course 

is a step-by-step complete introduction 

to the basics of yoga. The course offers 

extensive guided practice as well as theory 

studies and follows the five points of yoga 

created by Swami Vishnudevananda for 

health and inner peace: Proper exercise, 

proper breathing, proper relaxation, proper 

diet, positive thinking and meditation. 

Narayani is an advanced Sivananda yoga teacher 

(RYT 500), staff member at the Sivananda 

Ashram Yoga Retreat and a Hatha yoga 

instructor in yoga teacher trainings. She is 

a much loved teacher, teaching with love, 

devotion and great clarity. 

Non-Violent 

Communications: YVP 

Developing Compassionate and 

Effective Human Interactions 

Kiran Patel 

We experience conflict 

with ourselves and 

others so long as we 

do not recognize 

the Oneness of the 

individual soul with 

the Universal Spirit. 

We can refocus our 

consciousness from Separation to Oneness 

and transform our conflicts to heartfelt connection 

that inspires joyfully giving to one 

another. During this program, we will get 

introduced to the internationally-used 

Non-Violent Communications process 

(NVC) developed by Marshall Rosenberg. 

Seeing NVC as both a spiritual practice 

and a practical tool, we will practice its 

four components: observations, feelings, 

needs and requests. 

Kiran Patel, MA (social psychology), is a 

Sivananda yoga teacher (RYT 500) and a 

certified conflict mediator. Her workshops 

have reached thousands of individuals and 

numerous organizations in the U.S. and in 

India. Her writing on nonviolence and yoga 

has been published in “India West”. 

June 18 - 20 


Healing the Mind, Body and Emotions 

Cairo Rocha 

Discover ancient healing principles and 

techniques and the link between our bodies, 

minds and emotions. We will explore the 

causes of disease, the emotions: fear, anger, 

worry, sadness, joy, anxiety, depression and 

ancient therapies to heal the mind, body 

and emotions. 

Lucid Living: YVP 

Dream Lucidity, Interpretation and 

Empowering Communications 

Craig Sim Webb 

Learn simple techniques 

that will help 

you remember your 

dreams, be lucid and 

awake in your dreams, 

and apply these 

experiences and 

insights to improve 

your well being during the wakeful state. 

Explore the science behind Lucid Dreaming 

and, experience the application of dreamwork 

and study about precognitive dreams 

and the everyday physics of free will. 

Craig Sim Webb, Executive Director of the 

non-profit DREAMS Foundation, is a dream 

and consciousness researcher and author with 

pioneering dream and lucid dream research 

at Stanford University and Montreal’s Sacre- 

Coeur Hospital. 

www.craigwebb.ca 

June 20 - 25 

Discerning the Real 

from Unreal: YVP 

Teachings from the Viveka Chudamani 

Brahman alone is real; the universe is only an 

appearance; the individual soul and Brahman 

are identical in essence. 

Thus summarizes Adi Shankaracharya, the 

greatest philosopher of India the entire message 

of Vedanta. In His Viveka Chudamani 

(or the Crest Jewel of Discrimination) he 

expounds the significance of human birth, 

learning to discriminate between the real 

and unreal, and attaining steady wisdom 

and the necessity of a Guru in the spiritual 

path. This program will be taught by senior 

staff of the ashram. 

Cairo Rocha: See biography on page 19. 


Summer/Fall 2011 

Programs Preview 

The programs listed below are part of the Yoga Vacation Program (see page 9 for details 

and pages 82-83 for rates). Unless specified otherwise the summer programs are led by 

senior staff of the ashram. 

JULY 

AUGUST 

SEPTEMBER 

July 1 - 4 

Independence Day Weekend Retreat: 

Yoga for Stress Reduction 

August 2 - 5 

Depression and Anxiety: 

Yogic Perspectives and Remedies 

September 3 - 6 

Labor Day Weekend Retreat: 

The Art of Positive Thinking 

July 5 - 8 

Yoga @ Home: Tips for Maintaining 

a Steady Practice 

July 9 – 11 

Kirtan Special: The Beauty and Magic of 

Sacred Chant 

July 12 - 15 

Yoga Psychology and Mental Health 

July 14 

Swami Sivananda’s Mahasamadhi 

July 15 

Guru Purnima: Celebration of the Guru 

July 16 – 18 

Healing the Body with Yoga 

July 19 – 22 

The Wisdom and Silence Within: 

Yoga and Meditation 

July 23 - 25 

Pranayama Intensive Workshops 

July 26 - 29 

Take Control of Your Life: 

Yoga for Mastery of Mind 

July 30 – August 1 

Karma Yoga Immersion: 

Healing through Selfless Service 

August 6 - 8 

Yoga for Radiant Health and 

Peace of Mind 

August 9 – 12 

Yoga, Mind and Consciousness: 

Tools for Transcending Fear and Anxiety 


The Joy of Kirtan: Opening the Spiritual Heart 

with Sacred Chanting 

August 16 - 19 

The Practice of Positive Thinking 

August 20 - 22 

Hatha Yoga Practice: Asana and 

Pranayama Intensive Workshops 


Tasting Absolute Consciousness: 

The Wisdom of the Upanishads 


Meditation and Self-Enquiry: 

Theory and Practice 

August 30 – Sept 2 

Bhakti Yoga: The Practice of 

Self-Surrender and Devotion 

September 7 – 12 

Conquest of Anger 

September 8 

Swami Sivananda’s Birthday 


The Joy of Kirtan: Opening the Spiritual 

Heart with Sacred Chanting 


Non-violence, non-covetousness 

and non-stealing: practices for 

spiritual evolution. 


Cleanliness, contentment and self-discipline: 

practices for spiritual evolution. 


The Pathway to Happiness: Understanding 

and Working with the Law of Karma 


The Art of Forgiveness 


Living Purposefully: Readings from 

the Bhagavad Gita 

September 28 - October 6 

Navaratri: Celebrating the Nine 

Nights of the Divine Mother 

OCTOBER 

October 1 – 3 

The Transformative Power of 

Selfless Service 

October 4 - 7 

The Wisdom and Silence Within: 

Yoga and Meditation 


Deepening Meditation Practice 

October 11 - 14 

Concentration and Mind Control 


Hatha Yoga Practice Weekend 


Discovering Meaning in Life: 

Keeping A Personal Spiritual Practice 


Empower Your Life: Yoga at Home 


Take Control of Your Life: 

Yoga for Mastery of Mind 

October 29 – October 31 

September 29 

Karma Yoga Weekend: 

Erev Rosh Hashana: 

Healing through Selfless Service 

Celebrating the Jewish New Year 


Karma Yoga Program 

Participants in this program contribute 

five hours of selfless service a day and 

enjoy the various programs that are offered 

in the ashram during satsangs (meditation, 

chanting and lecture) as well as some of 

the afternoon workshops. The daily 

schedule includes attendance at morning 

and evening satsangs (meditation, 

chanting and lecture) as well as one yoga 

class. Spiritual guidance and advice is 

provided by senior staff of the ashram. 

Advanced 

Karma Yoga Program 

Join us for full immersion in the ashram’s 

life. This program is suitable for yoga 

teachers and those interested in making 

a deeper committment to a spiritual life. 

Prior interview with the ashram manager 

is required. The minimum length of stay 

under this program is three months. For 

application forms and additional information 

please contact us by e-mail or phone. 

Residential Study Programs 

“Karma yoga is the best tonic to an 

aching heart. Whenever you are 

depressed, sad or losing your inner 

joy, simply reach out to others. 

Stop thinking about yourself, go and 

serve others, cheer up others who are 

depressed. This is the secret. You will 

feel immediate results.” 

Swami Swaroopananda during 

Q&A session, June 2010. 

One-month minimum commitment is 

required. The cost is $899 per month. 

This price includes accommodations*, 

meals, yoga classes and participation in 

some of the Yoga Vacation Programs 

(see calendar of events). 

For information or an application form 

please contact us by e-mail or phone. 

*From Mid November 2010 – Mid June 2011: Tent 

accommodations only (please bring your own tent). 

From Early/Mid June 2011 – Mid November 2011, 

dormitory accommodation is available. 

“Karma yoga gave me a fresh, new outlook on 

life and inspired me to a whole new level.” 

- Radha, USA 

The Practice of Karma Yoga 

Karma yoga or ‘selfless service’ is one of 

the 4 paths of yoga. The act of offering 

our services for the benefit of others purifies 

the heart and takes us further along the 

path in our spiritual evolution. The ashram 

provides the perfect setting to put the 

teachings of karma yoga into practice. 

As part of a community of like-minded 

people and guided by the ashram’s senior 

staff you can deepen your knowledge and 

practice of yoga, open your heart, learn 

some useful skills and enjoy the beautiful 

white sandy beach and the variety of 

ashram programs in your free time. 

“My karma yoga experience has only just 

begun at the beautiful Yoga Retreat and 

already I find myself changing in subtle and 

profound ways. I have met most inspiring 

like-minded people from all over the world 

and learned so much by sharing the path with 

each of them. At home I am lucky to find a 

few hours a day to devote to my practice but 

serving as a karma yogi allows me to truly live 

my practice on every level”. 

- Srividya (Jessie), USA 

“For me, the Yoga Retreat is a refuge – I am 

inspired by the wise and generous teachers, 

by the profound and practical teachings and 

by the diverse community that unites here. 

Karma yoga is a chance to immerse myself in 

this refuge and to help offer it to others.” 

- Tara, Canada 


Professional 

Accreditation and 

Continuing Education 

Yoga Alliance Accreditation 

The Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat is a Yoga Alliance Registered School. The Yoga Teachers’ 

Training Course and Advanced Teachers’ Training Course fulfill the requirements for the Yoga 

Alliance 200-hour and 500-hour certification, respectively. Other certification courses fulfill 

the Yoga Alliance requirements for Continuing Education Units and may be used as credit 

towards RYT500 accreditation. 

Open International University for Alternative Medicine 

Graduates from all certification courses earn university credits toward graduate degrees 

from the Open International University for Alternative Medicine. 

Visit www.iiihs.com for more information. 

Continuing Education Units (CEU) 

We offer Continuing Education Units (CEU) in a variety of our courses to healthcare, 

mental care and other professionals* through Berkshire Area Health Education Center 

(www.berkshireahec.org) and Yoga Alliance. Please check with your state board of licensure 

or professional association to determine if a particular program meets their continuing 

education requirements and look for updates on our website for CEUs approved for 

additional courses. Look for the CEU symbol in the Calendar of Events. 

* There is a $20 charge for each CEU certificate. 

Plan Your Visit 

Arrival and departure 

Students in all courses are advised to 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 and stay longer as a guest in the Yoga Vacation 

Program or stay for another course. 

Guests in the Yoga Vacation Program are welcome to 

arrive and depart at any time convenient for them and 

can attend the whole program or any part of it. 

Room check-in time: 3 p.m. 

Room check-out time: 12 noon 

What to bring 

Recommended items include casual comfortable clothes, modest clothes (covered legs and 

shoulders) for meditation and satsangs, yoga mat, meditation cushion, meditation shawl, 

toiletries, slip-on sandals, clothing for warm days and cool mornings and evenings, rainwear, 

flashlight, insect repellent, alarm clock, beach towel, bathing suit, and snorkeling equipment. 

For tent space only, please bring tent, towels and bedding. 

How to get here 

Fly to Nassau International Airport. Please contact your local Bahamian Consulate to verify if you 

require a visa to enter the Bahamas. 

At the airport: After collecting your luggage and passing through Customs, take a taxi to Mermaid 

Dock – our boat will take you to the ashram, about a five-minute ride from the dock. You are 

welcome to consult with reception about the boat schedule prior to arrival. If you arrive during 

early morning or late night, call the Yoga Retreat from a pay phone at telephone number 363-2902 

to let us know that you are on your way. Take a taxi to the Mermaid Dock. Our boat will meet you 

there to take you to the ashram. 

Helpful reminders 

In order to maintain the proper ashram atmosphere, attendance at two daily satsangs and yoga 

classes is expected. Non-vegetarian food, drugs, alcohol and tobacco are not permitted on the 

premises. We also request that you be prepared to maintain silence from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily. 

Sheets and blankets are provided for use in the rooms only. You can rent a yoga mat at the front 

desk or buy one at the boutique. Students and guests are responsible for personal belongings and 

valuables. There are no safety deposit boxes available at the ashram. 

All speakers and presenters were confirmed prior to publication; however, cancellations may 

happen with or without notice for reasons that are beyond our control. Some courses are subject 

to minimum registration. The ashram will not be held liable for any cancellations or other 

changes in the program. Please consult our website or reception office for program updates prior 

to registering to any program. 


Registration and Rates 

How to Register 

You can register on-line or by phone. If you register on-line, please call us after you submit your registration 

form to give your credit card number for deposit. A deposit is required to hold your reservation as follows: 

• Yoga Vacation Program and Karma Yoga Program $100 

• TTC, ATTC and Ayurveda Body Treatments Course $300 

• All other courses $150 

The remaining balance is due upon arrival. 

To calculate the cost of your stay, start with: (1) Accommodation Rates and proceed with 

(2) Program Rates 

(1) Accommodation Rates 

The prices below are per person per day. A 10% hotel tax applies to all rooms. 

November 20, 2010 - May 31, 2011 1 - 6 days 7 - 13 days 14 - 20 days 21 days or more 

Tent Space $ 69 $ 64 $ 61 $ 58 

Dormitory (3 - 4 beds) $ 79 $ 74 $ 70 $ 67 

Tent Hut $ 79 $ 74 $ 70 $ 67 

Garden View Double Room $ 89 $ 83 $ 78 $ 75 

Beachfront Double Room $ 99 $ 92 $ 87 $ 83 

Single Room $ 99 $ 92 $ 87 $ 83 

Single Room with A/C $109 $102 $ 96 $ 92 

Bay View Double with 

A/C & private bathroom $119 $111 $105 $100 

Beachfront View Double 

with A/C & private bathroom $129 $120 $114 $109 

June 1 - November 19, 2011 1 - 6 days 7 - 13 days 14 - 20 days 21 days or more 

Tent Space $ 59 $ 55 $ 52 $ 50 

Dormitory (3 - 4 beds) $ 69 $ 64 $ 61 $ 58 

Garden View Double Room $ 79 $ 74 $ 70 $ 67 

Beachfront Double Room $ 89 $ 83 $ 78 $ 75 

Single Room $ 89 $ 83 $ 78 $ 75 

Single Room with A/C $ 99 $ 92 $ 87 $ 83 

Bay View Double with 

A/C & private bathroom $109 $102 $ 96 $ 92 

Beachfront View Double 

with A/C & private bathroom $119 $111 $105 $100 

Accommodation Discounts for Groups 

10% discount for groups of 10 or more 

15% discount for a group of 20 people or more 

Group discounts apply only for accommodation rates and only if all members of the group register and pay 

together as a group for the same period of time. 

(2) Program Rates 

(i) Yoga Vacation Program Rates YVP 

For Yoga Vacation add the following amount to the accommodation rate 

(unless specifically stated otherwise under the program’s description): 

November 20, 2010 – May 31, 2011 

June 1 – November 19, 2011 

$29 per day 

$15 per day 

(ii) Yoga Teachers’ Training Course and Advanced Yoga Teachers’ Training Course 

Rates and Discounts 

These programs’ rates include accommodations and tuition fee. 

Please see pages 14 - 16 for details and discounts. 

(iii) Rates and Discounts for Other Certification Courses C 

For all other courses add the applicable tuition fee (see Calendar of Events) to the accommodation rate. 

Special tuition discounts: 

2 courses 5% discount 



5 courses and more 20% discount 

All discounts are on the aggregate price of the courses. Tuition discounts do not apply to Ayurveda Body 

Treatments Course. 

Tuition discounts apply only if you register for more than one course simultaneously and pay in full upon 

arrival for all the courses subject to discount. 

(iv) Residential Study Programs: 

These programs’ rates include accommodations and tuition fee. Please see page 78-79 for details. 

Children’s Rates 

Children under 5 years stay at no cost. For children of age 5 to 12 years there is a 50% discount on 

accommodation rates and Yoga Vacation Program fees do not apply*. 

*Except if enrolled in one of the children programs where a special fee applies. 

Cancellation Policy 

Payments will be refunded in full (less a $50 processing fee per person) if you cancel 30 or more 

days prior to your arrival date. If you cancel less than 30 days in advance, a non-refundable credit 

(less a $ 50 processing fee) will be held for one year from the date of issue. This credit cannot be used 

at the boutique or Well-Being Center. 

Day Visitors 

Persons staying outside the ashram are welcome to join our daily activity. Come for a yoga class, a 

delicious vegetarian meal or for any of our regularly scheduled activities. Please coordinate your 

arrival time with our boat schedule. 

Yoga Vacation Day Visit Rates (for visitors not staying at the ashram) $45 per day 

This price includes two meals, yoga classes, satsangs, workshops, special programs and events. 

Please call us or visit our website for drop-in pricing for yoga classes and Yoga Vacation Programs. 

Payments 

All prices are in US dollars. We accept travelers’ checks and the following credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, 

Discover and American Express. We cannot accept personal checks, Euros and other forms of payment. 

Prices are subject to change without notice.

YVP - Sivananda Yoga Firenze

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