Sivananda Yoga
The International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers are a worldwide non-profit organization named after Swami Sivananda , one of the most influential spiritual teachers of the 20th century, and founded by his disciple Swami Vishnudevananda in 1957. In a worldwide network of 9 ashrams, 30 centers and thousands of yoga teachers Sivananda Yoga is taught as an integral yoga and meditation practice. The spread of yoga teaching as well as the international yoga teacher training form the core of the organization. More than 37,000 yoga teachers have completed the International Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training since 1969.
Swami Vishnudevananda was a tireless peace activist. He began his peacekeeping missions in 1969 under the name True World Order. He developed the International Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training in order to bring people closer to yoga as a path to health and inner peace through the teaching of the yoga discipline and thus to create the conditions for outer peace in the world. He also made several flights over crisis areas in the world - a call for unity and understanding between people of different nations.
The five points
Swami Vishnudevananda summarized the classical science of yoga in five basic principles for physical and mental health that everyone could apply within their own lifestyle. All activities of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers are based on these five principles.
1. Correct physical exercises ( asana ) keep the joints and muscles supple and activate the cardiovascular system. In addition to countless positive health effects, asanas also develop concentration and meditation.
2. Correct breathing ( pranayama ) connects the body with the solar plexus, in which an enormous energy potential is stored. This energy is released through special breathing techniques, which enables comprehensive physical and spiritual renewal.
3. Proper relaxation ( savasana ) is especially important to keep body and mind healthy. Yoga teaches three levels of relaxation - physical, mental and spiritual.
4. Proper nutrition ( vegetarian ) means eating consciously. As a yogi one chooses the foods that have the best effect on body and mind and cause the least harm to the environment.
5. Positive thinking and meditation (Vedanta and Dhyana) relieve stress and open up new energy. Meditation improves concentration, leads to peace of mind and spiritual strength. Meditation is especially helpful for people with hectic and stressful lives.
To explain these five points more clearly, the yoga master used a pictorial equation between the human body and the car. Both of them need exactly five things in order to run smoothly: Both the car and the body have to be lubricated / oiled regularly (asanas); both needed a battery (yoga breathing exercises to charge the body with energy). Fuel (proper nutrition) and cooling (relaxation) are also indispensable. This means that both the car and the human body are “roadworthy”. What is still missing now is the intelligent and prudent driver ( mind that is guided via meditation and positive thinking ).
The four paths
Swami Sivananda has recognized that every person identifies with one of the elements intellect, heart, body or spirit. Therefore, he advised everyone to practice certain techniques from the four paths of yoga - also called the yoga of synthesis:
Karma Yoga - the path of action
Bhakti Yoga - the path of devotion
Raja Yoga - the path of mental control
Jnana Yoga - the path of wisdom
literature
- Sivananda Yoga Center: Better Living with Yoga . Doring Kindersley, Munich 2010, ISBN 978-3831017102 .
- Sivananda Yoga Center: Introduction to Yoga. Complete basic course. Mangalam, Lautersheim 2009, ISBN 978-3-922477-10-5 .
- Swami Sivananda: Divine Knowledge . Mangalam, Lautersheim 2012, ISBN 3-922477-00-3 .
- Swami Vishnudevananda: The Great Illustrated Yoga Book. 10th edition Aurum, Braunschweig 2007, ISBN 978-3-89901-183-8 .
- Sivananda Yoga Center: Yoga. Mangalam, Lautersheim 2003, ISBN 3-922477-40-2 .
- Swami Sivananda: Sadhana. A textbook on techniques for spiritual perfection . Mangalam, Lautersheim 1998, ISBN 3-922477-07-0 .
- Swami Sivananda: Light, Power and Wisdom . 2nd edition Schwab, Argenbühl-Eglofstal 2007, ISBN 978-3-7964-0228-9 .
- Swami Sivananda: Shrimad Bhagavad Gita . Mangalam, Lautersheim 2003, ISBN 3-922477-06-2 .