Sivananda Yoga is a philosophical yoga method developed by Swami Vishnudevananda. It involves, but is not limited to, the use of asanas (yoga postures) as exercise.
Vishnudevananda named this program, as well as the international organization of Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers, in charge of propagating its teachings, after his mentor, Swami Sivananda.
Sivananda Yoga has the mission to propagate the teachings of yoga and the message of world peace, which has since been refined to practice and teach the ancient yogic wisdom for health, harmony, unity in diversity, and self-realization.
What Makes It Different?
Some other yoga organizations, including the Divine Life Society, the Bihar School of Yoga, Integral Yoga (Satchidananda), and the Chinmaya Mission, follow Swami Sivananda's teachings but use different names for their yoga systems.
Sivananda Yoga is the yoga program of the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center. It is based on the teachings of Swami Sivananda to synthesize the concepts of the four paths of yoga along with the five points of yoga collected by Swami Vishnudevananda.
In 1932, Swami Sivananda established the first Sivananda Ashram. His mission was to serve mankind by sharing his profound understanding of yoga. He created the Divine Life Society in 1936 to publish and distribute spiritual content free of charge.
He developed the Yoga of Synthesis, a variation of the traditional doctrines of yoga, the four paths of yoga, to make the teachings more available.
What Are The Teachings?
The yoga and teachings of Sivananda traveled Westward courtesy of many prominent disciples. One was Satchidananda Swami, who created Integral Yoga.
Another was Vishnudevananda, who came to North America in 1957 and soon started the first Montreal, Canada, Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center.
The critical philosophical points and yoga techniques associated with Sivananda Yoga were Vishnudevananda's attempts to spread the teachings of his guru.
There are Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers today in major cities in the US, Western Europe, South America, and Asia, as well as eleven retreats in the ashram.
The Sivananda method, as Vishnudevananda described, is based on five principles for optimum health and spiritual growth.
They are proper exercise (Asana), proper breathing (Pranayama), proper relaxation (Savasana), proper diet (Vegetarian), and positive thinking (Vedanta) and meditation (Dhyana).
The purpose of this activity is to promote physical, emotional, and spiritual health. The Asana program is set, so you have to enjoy practicing slowly and methodically to master the prescribed poses entirely.
How To Start Your Meditation
The meditation starts in your everyday life. You can't close your eyes and meditate if you can't remove yourself from daily tasks. If we actively associate with our actions and nature, the same behaviors will start while we rest.
Even if you keep your eyes closed, your hands clasped, your feet crossed, there's still no mental test.
If you're interacting with your physical body and communicating with your physical body or holding the physical body still and closing your eyes, it doesn't make any difference. In all circumstances, the mind will be playing its part.
Worldwide, Sivananda yoga classes begin and end with chanting and meditation, and use the same 12 basic poses and their variations.
Sessions typically begin with the Sun Salutations and end with Savasana. If you're not open to the concept of vegetarianism, maybe Sivananda isn't the best for you, as it also encourages students to follow a vegetarian lifestyle to improve digestion and health.
With 17 centers and nine ashrams, Sivananda yoga is currently practiced and taught globally by more than 10,000 instructors.
Sivananda's 12 simple poses include a bit of everything: inversions, backbends, forward bends, turns, spins, and stretches of your hamstrings. Variations may be introduced as the students become proficient in the 12 basic poses.
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Conclusion
This yoga program can help you find the peace and rest you have been yearning for. To learn more about this particular yoga practice, visit their website today. It is the perfect way to relax after a long day of work.
