International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres celebrate the International Day of Yoga

True World OrderFounded in 1957

International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta CentresSwami Sivananda (1887 – 1963)

The spiritual strength behind the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres, Swami Sivananda’s teachings are a synthesis of all the formal doctrines of yoga. Author of more than 300 books on yoga, Swami Sivananda was a medical doctor before renouncing

worldly life for the spiritual path. He founded the Divine Life Society and the Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy, Rishikesh, Himalayas. His main message was: Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realise. In 1957 he sent one of his foremost disciples, Swami Vishnudevananda to the West to spread the ideals of yoga. Swami Sivananda entered Mahasamadhi on July 14th 1963.

Swami Vishnudevananda (1927 – 1993)

Born in South India in 1927, Swami Vishnudevananda entered the ashram of Swami Sivananda at the age of 18. A world famous authority on Hatha and Raja Yoga, Swami Vishnudevananda founded the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta

Centres in 1957 and was author of The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga, Meditation and Mantras, Karma and Disease and a com- mentary on the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Swami Vishnudevananda entered Mahasamadhi on November 9th, 1993.

The Executive Board

The Executive Board of the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres is comprised of senior disciples of Swami Vishnudevananda, personally chosen and trained by him to direct the organisation after his departure. Each of them has had many years’ experience in teaching all aspects of yoga. They are renowned for their devotion to Swami Vishnudevananda and Swami Sivananda

and for their profound knowledge and inspirational teaching and guidance, wisdom imparted to many thousands of students throughout the world. Swami Durgananda Swami Sivadasananda Swami Swaroopananda Swami KailasanandaSrinivasan Swami Sitaramananda

After over 50 years of promoting Yoga both in the West and

helping to rekindle the interest in Yoga in India,

the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres,

are honoured to collaborate with the

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian Government

to take this promotion to the next step with the first

UN sponsored International Yoga Day

on June 21st, 2015.

True World OrderFounded in 1957

Contents

Yoga – an ancient guide to healthy living — 4

Peace 7

Turn Inward 9

The Yogic life: the 5 points of Yoga — 14

The Benefits of the 12 basic Asanas — 18

International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers — 25

4

Yoga – an ancient guide to healthy living

Yoga is a centuries-old guide to healthy living developed by ancient Indian sages. With its unique blend of physical exercises, psychological insight, and philosophy, it can help you to bring your body, mind, and spirit into better balance. Yoga takes a holistic approach to life, enabling you to experience complete equilibrium inside and out.

Yoga for everyone

Swami Sivananda

Swami Vishnudevananda

5

Teacher training

Swami Vishnudevananda during Yoga Teachers’ Training Course in the 1980ies in Sivananda Ashram Yoga Camp, Val Morin, Canada.

6

Sri Swami Sivananda (1887 – 1963)

7

PeaceBy Swami Sivananda

The Abode of Peace

Inner Peace

8

Peace is vital for Growth

Individual Reformation and social Transformation

The Role of Religion

9

TURN INWARD By Swami Vishnudevananda

10

11

12

13

Sri Swami Vishnudevananda (1927 – 1993)

14

The Yogic life: the 5 points of Yoga

“Yoga is a life of self-discipline built upon the tenets of simple living and high thinking. If you follow these five points, which compose a true holistic approach to our whole system of body, mind and soul, you will gain strength and balance in this demanding stressful world. Obstacles become stepping stones to success, and life is a school for the development of character and compassion and the Realization of the Divine all-pervading-Self.”

1. Proper Exercise – Asanas2. Proper Breathing – Pranayama3. Proper Relaxation – Savasana4. Proper Diet – Vegetarian5. Positive Thinking and Meditation –

Vedanta and Dhyana

1. Proper exercises

15

2. Proper Breathing:

3. Proper Relaxation:

16

4. Proper diet:

5. Positive thinking and meditation:

17

Meditation techniques:

18

The ancient Hatha Yoga scriptures of India* give detailed descriptions of pranayama and meditation techniques, but offer only little instruction on the practice of asanas. It appears that the classical asana sequences known to us today are based on oral tradition. The twelve basic asanas taught by Swami Sivanananda and Swami Vishnudevananda combine in a masterly way health-promoting effects with the awakening of subtle energies, and thus prepare for the practice of pranayama and meditation.

The logic behind the sequence of the

12 Basic Asanas

19

This is how the 12 basic poses work in conjunction with conscious breathing and deep relaxation:

The Benefits of the Postures

20

Sirshasana – The Headstand

Sarvangasana – The Shoulderstand

Halasana – The Plough

Matsyasana – The Fish

The 12 Basic Asanas

The Headstand

The Shoulderstand

The Plough

The Fish

The Benefits of

21

The 12 Basic Asanas

The Forward Bend

The Cobra

The Locust

The Bow

the Postures

Paschimottanasana – The Forward Bend

Bhujangasana – The Cobra

Salabhasana – The Locust

Dhanurasana – The Bow

22

Ardha-Matsyendrasana –

The Half Spinal Twist

Mayurasana – The Peacock

Padahastasana –

The Standing Forward Bend

Trikonasana – The Triangle

The 12 Basic Asanas

The Half Spinal Twist

The Peacock

The Standing Forward Bend

The Triangle

23

Savasana – Final Relaxation

the Inner Pathswami durgananda

INTERNATIONAL SIVANANDA YOGA VEDANTA CENTERS

25

International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta

Centers and Ashramsall over the world www.sivananda.org

Ashrams

Centres

Argentinia Austria

True World Order Founded in 1957

26

Brazil

Canada

France

Germany

India

Israel

Italy

Japan

Lithuania

Spain

Switzerland

United Kingdom

27

Affiliated CentresAustralia

Bolivia

Brazil

Canada

Germany

India

Indonesia

Iran

Israel

Italy

Jamaica

Lebanon

New Zealand

Poland

Portugaloja 

1700 - 257 Lisbon 

ananda.pt 

Russia

Singapore

Spain

Sri Lanka

United States

Vietnam

United States of America

Uruguay

Vietnam

28

Swami Sivananda(1887 – 1963)

Swami Vishnudevananda(1927 – 1993)

2015–2016 Dates and Locations

www.sivananda.org www.sivananda.eu

Over 35,000 Yoga Teachers

Certified since1969

ALUENDA, SPAINAugust 17 – September 13, 2015August 15 – September 10, 2016

BARILOCHE, ARGENTINAMarch 6 – April 3, 2016

CHENGDU, CHINASeptember 26 – October 24, 2015

DALAT, VIETNAMFebruary 13 – March 12, 2016

GAROPABA, BRAZILJanuary 6 – February 3, 2016

GRASS VALLEY, CA, USA October 17 – November 14, 2015May 14 – June 11, 2016October 15 – November 12, 2016

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOMMay 28 –June 25, 2016September 3 –October 1, 2016

MADURAI, SOUTH INDIAOctober 18 – November 15, 2015November 22 – December 20, 2015January 3 – January 31, 2016February 7 – March 6, 2016October 16 – November 13, 2016November 20 – December 18, 2016

NEAR VILNIUS, LITHUANIA July 4 – August 2, 2015

NASSAU, BAHAMASJune 8 – July 6, 2015December 4 – 31, 2015January 4 – 31, 2016February 3 – March 1, 2016March 4 – 31, 2016April 3 – 30, 2016May 3 – 30, 2016June 2 – 29, 2016December 4 – 31, 2016

NETALA, HIMALAYAS, INDIAJune 14 – July 12, 2015August 2 – 30, 2015September 27 – October 25, 2015April 3 – May 1, 2016May 8 – June 5, 2016June 12 – July 10, 2016July 31 – August 28, 2016September 25 – October 23, 2016

NEYYAR DAM, SOUTH INDIANovember 8 – December 6, 2015January 10 – February 7, 2016March 20 – April 17, 2016November 6 – December 4, 2016

ORLEANS, FRANCEJuly 3 – 31, 2015August 2 – 30, 2015November 20 – December 19, 2015May 18 – June 15, 2016 July 1 – 29, 2016 July 31 – August 28, 2016 November 22– December 20, 2016

QUEBEC, CANADAJune 28 – July 25, 2015November 15 – December 12, 2015

RUDRAPRAYAG, HIMALAYAS, INDIAOctober 17 – September 15, 2015 February 20 – March 20, 2016October 22 –November 20, 2016

TAIWANDecember 1 – 29, 2015

THAILANDOctober 4 – November 1, 2015

TYROL, AUSTRIAJuly 25 – August 23, 2015August 29 – September 27, 2015Dec 12, 2015 – Jan 10, 2016April 30 –May 29, 2016July 30 –August 28, 2016September 3 –October 2, 2016Dec 17, 2016 –Jan 15, 2017

USTKA, POLANDSeptember 1 – 30, 2015September 3 – October 1, 2016

WOODBOURNE, NY, USASeptember 8 – October 6, 2015March 6 – April 3, 2016June 2 – 30, 2016September 7 – October 5, 2016

An intensive four week immersion in the yogic way of life: Open to students of all levels who have a sincere desire to learn. Certificate given upon successful completion of the course. Recognized by Yoga Alliance.

In depth study of: Asanas, Pranayama, Meditation, Mantras, Vedanta, Bhagavad Gita, Kriyas, Yogic Diet, Anatomy & Physiology.

The International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta

Teachers’ Training CourseTrue World Order Founded in 1957