Sivananda Yoga Farm Podcast

Health and Healing Mantras with Pundit Samavedula

Hymn on Mother Ganga by Adi Sankaracharya

Ganga devi is a river that flows from the Himalayas.  In her original form she is the Divine Mother

Ayurveda for Immunity with MahaVidya

Art of Affirmations with Tara Durga Devi

From Karma to Dharma how to turn karmic situation to your life mission

The topic of today is a complex topic, we will try our best to talk about how to bring meaning to our lives no matter what circumstances we found ourselves in. The two words of Karma and Dharma are charged with meaning. Considering we do not know if everyone in the audience has the same understanding about this, we will go a little bit in details, about karma and dharma to describe the cause of our existence – according to ancient Yogic philosophy- and what we are supposed to do to make the ...

Renewal and choices in time of transition – How to turn adversity into opportunity

Happy Easter! On this meaningful day symbolizing renewal,  awakening and eternal life, we are being reminded of our infinite potential, infinite inner resources and perfect love which always wins. This holiday celebrates the meaning of life and this is the time for us to remember the beauty and sacredness of our lives. Swami Sivananda said that the true goal of life is to get back to the source from which we came. Just as rivers flow restlessly till they join the ocean, the ultimate source f...

Stress Relief Counseling – from Darkness To Light

90 minute Asana Class with Swami Adi

Peace Of Mind Is Happiness, Yoga Shows The Way

Wisdom Therapy Workshop for Stress Management with Shani Robins

This Wisdom Therapy workshop offers a practical approach to alleviate stress and anxiety in the time of the COVID-19 crisis. Learn how to apply Wisdom Therapy components such as empathy, mindfulness, humility, and gratitude; learn relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and visualization; regain a sense of lightness and good humor in your life   Shani Robins, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and the author of many scientific journal articles and book chapters. He has given numerous w...

Meditation Guidance – How to Meditate and Not Give Up

Understand realistically, what meditation is. It is a process of overhauling or purification of our thoughts and behaviors over time. It is not just a technique taken out of context of our life. Learn the basic techniques of meditation, the yogic way.

Practice of Self Enquiry – a meditation method to make you stronger in time of Covid 19

Go to the root cause of our illusions stemming from our false identifications and long term belief , in order to feel stronger in face of adversity and danger. The answer lies within.

Jaya Ganesha Chanting

Chanting kirtan is a devotional practice that helps to uplift the mind, open the heart and bring inner peace. It is the fastest, easiest and most joyful way to achieve peace of mind. The mantras are mystical universal sounds that resonate with our chakras and remove negative energies. So, it is important that we chant so that we can benefit from this powerful healing energy.

Yoga of Relationships in the time of COVID 19 crisis

In this webinar, we will address the question of how to be with ourselves and be happy no matter the outside interpersonal conditions and collective conditions (social distancing, be in isolation or working with groups, living with families and community, in intimate relationship, being alone or in search of close relationships). We will discuss strategies how to transform our negative emotional patterns into selfless love through the practice of Yoga applied in daily life. We will also disc...

Lord Siva and Detachment

On the occasion of Sivaratri, the festival of Lord Siva, celebrated by millions, this is an offering to help understand how contemplation on Lord Siva can guide us in our life. Lord Siva is the Lord of Yoga, and represents what yoga and meditation practitioners are aspiring towards. He is the Adi Guru, first guru of yoga, and taught the science of Hatha Yoga. Symbolism of Lord Siva He is often depicted with eyes half closed and half open. This represents an ideal state of mind that yo...

Prana, Emotions, and Immunity

The topic of this online Satsang will be on Prana, Emotions, and Immunity. Swamiji will discuss how to increase our energy levels so we feel stronger, control our emotions so we can keep the mind calm and centered, and build up our natural defenses so that our body will be healthy.

Role of Yoga Teacher during Covid-19 crisis

This podcast talks about how yoga teachers can help individuals and society during this time of crisis.  Swamiji helps us understand how we can feel connection to our own self through the yoga practices, asanas, pranayama, mantra.  Instead of having the habit of thinking someone external is necessary for our happiness.  By creating a support system within our own self we can be happy in all situations.

Fear, Stress, Anxiety or Faith

In this talk, we will try to understand, in the context of the global epidemic, how fear and anxiety create havoc and take away your well-being and mental health, and how faith is so important in dispelling fear. We will address the question step by step in 4 points keeping in mind the need for prevention of disease due to poor immune system impacted by negative emotions, and the need for healing emotionally in order to heal physically. First we need to understand all facets of FEAR, STRE...

Self-quarantine or Yogic turning inwards

In these times we are hearing some unusual phrases and receiving some unusual advice, such as “social distancing!” “use pranams, namaste instead of hugs and embraces!”, “do not travel” “stay at home, work from home!”, “public health responsibility”. If we are not going shopping, entertaining ourselves outside, not rushing about, what are we going to do?  Can we live with ourselves?  Can we really follow the Yogic lifestyle “simple living, high thinking” that we have talked about? How do we...

Forgiveness: A talk given by Dr. Fred Luskin

Dr. Luskin is a psychologist and for over 20 years has run the forgiveness program at Stanford University in Northern California, USA.  In this talk he explains the process of forgiveness as he is teaching around the world with many different groups.  He is helping the SYHET students develop skills for counseling people with health concerns.  Please see his biography at the end of this transcript.

Yogic Guidelines to Alleviate Suffering

In this talk on Yogic Guidelines to Alleviate Suffering, Swamiji tells us that the causes of suffering are mental, emotional, and karmic.  Suffering comes from our ignorance, likes and dislikes, and fears.  If we can remember that the body and mind are our instruments and cultivate calmness, control of senses, turning inwards, balance, discrimination, and equal vision we can reduce our suffering.

Yoga and Healing

This podcast is an a webinar by Swami Sitaramananda from 2016.  Swamiji discusses Yoga and Healing and how holistic healing of body, mind, and spirit can happen through the practice of yoga asana, pranayama, relaxation, and meditation.  Swamiji also discusses the new yoga therapy program that is being offered and how this helps us to return to our true nature.

Sivananda Yoga: Health Educator Training - Documentary film by Benoy K Behl

A landmark event in the field of Yoga and of Health Management is the founding of the Sivananda Institute of Health and Yoga in California, USA. The institute’s first 2-year 800-Hour Yoga Health Educator Training Course was launched at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm at Grass Valley in California in October, 2017. It was followed by the launch of this intensive training course at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center in Dalat in Vietnam in January 2018. This yoga health education-training course,...

Sivananda Yoga: Health, Peace & Unity - Documentary Film by Benoy K Behl

Celebrations to Swami Vishudevananda 60th year of work in the world (1957 - 2017) Swami Sivananda send Swami Vishnu to the West in 1957 with 10 rupees and the words "People are Waiting". With that Swami Vishnu start the entire International Sivananda Yoga Organization that now has 10 ashrams and more then 30 centers around the world and trained more than 40,000 Yoga Teachers for bring Peace to this chaotic world.

Yoga Life and Self Transformation by filmmaker Benoy K. Behl

We live amidst much turmoil and confusion in the modern world. The state of mental and physical health has deteriorated considerably. It is estimated that in Europe 70% of all costs in the health system are because of chronic diseases like diabetes, health ailments, hypertension and osteoarthritis. There are hardly any permanent solutions to these from either medicinal therapy or surgery. There is an ancient path which can lead us to health and happiness. It is Yoga. This short film by...

Yoga and Karma

This podcast is from an old webinar by Swami Sita.  Swamiji shares that karma means action and comes from our desires.  Our actions from the past will result in our present situation.  We have an inner conflict and need to choose the path that won't bind us to karma.  The yoga guidelines of yamas and niyamas are essential to be free from karma.  

Crest Jewel of Discrimination

In this podcast, Swami Sita teaches from the book Crest Jewel of Discrimination written by Adi Sankaracharya.  Sankara describes the need for devotion in order to experience truth and freedom.  We have to learn to have discernment between what is helping us and what is not.  By practicing right thinking we can cultivate an inner power / knowledge.  Our current state is that we are lost in an ocean of worldliness where we only see external things.  But we need to remember the Self and have th...

How Yoga Helps with Stress and Diseases that come from Stress

Many people come to yoga because of stress in their lives.  In fact, most diseases that people suffer from come from stress.  Stress is in fact a subjective phenomenon.  Stress depends on the mind of the person.  Some people are stressed very easily and become sick while some others resist and carry on.  Some level of stress is normal and very healthy, but chronic stress is when we are stressed all the time.  Yoga through breathing, relaxation, positive thinking, meditation, and diet offers ...

Essential Principles to Leading a Yoga Life

Yoga life is a conscious life.  In yoga, we become conscious of our actions.  It's not what you do that is important, but the attitude in which you do it.  In Yoga we learn to do our duty, and not just follow what the mind likes to do.  We understand the importance of cultivating positive feelings and positive relationships with others.  A yogi is very regular and follows a routine and does things always at the correct time.  At the same time the yogi is always calm and relaxed but not lazy.

How to understand Prana, our Vital Energy

In this talk, Swami Sita explains the concept of Prana as vital energy or life force.  Swamiji tells us the 5 things we can do with prana: increase, conserve, balance, channel, purify.  She then explains how we can increase prana and not lose prana from the 5 elements of nature: earth, water, fire, air, and ether.  Swamiji gives many practical examples that are very useful for us in our daily life.

What is the Meaning of life?

Swami Sivananda says that Life is an expression of something higher.  Life is joy, life is a conscious stream, life is a voyage.  In this podcast, Swami Sitaramananda reads about the meaning of life and explains why someone starts to actually ask this question by giving examples from her own life and journey.  She explains how by coming to an ashram and turning to yoga helps in this discovery.  

Steps to Peace of Mind

This podcast is a webinar by Swami Sita from 2013 on steps to peace of mind and how it is like a lake with waves.  There are countless thoughts which come from inside of us and also from outside influence.  We must understand how powerful the mind is.  If we are able to quiet the mind it is like seeing to the bottom of a clear lake.

Karma, Dharma, and Sadhana

This life is a karmic life. We are very restless beings and are bound by our karma.  Karma means action or more specifically our thoughts and desires.   The true goal of life is to pay our karmic debts which can only happen through the practice of detachment.  For example in the movie Groundhogs day situations continually repeat themselves until we can find a new angle to approach life. To get out of this pattern we must practice sadhana or conscious spiritual practices.  When we are abl...

How to Progress on the Spiritual Path

In this podcast, Swami Sitaramananda will explain the criteria to determine if you are progressing and what the point of progressing is.  In our life we want to develop and grow our potential. Yoga offers specific practices that help us on this journey to realize our Self.  In this way we can wake up from all illusions and false ideas.  We can re-adjust our thinking and realize our True Nature.

What is the Mind and How to Control it

When the mind is still our internal vision becomes strong and we can experience peace.  There is a direct relationship between our state of mind and our connection with self. In yoga we understand mind as a vehicle that we drive.  The mind should not be driving us.  Thoughts are invisible but very real as they lead to action. When the mind is distorted, it is like an ocean with waves and leads us to a distorted vision where we misidentify, feel disturbed, and uncentered. Instead, we want...

Yoga Life - 5 Points of Yoga

In this podcast Swami Sita introduces us to the concept of living an integral Yoga Life.  Many people start practicing yoga asanas but as one continues to practice one also starts making changes to their life. We become more aware of the way we feel and how that is connected to our breath, our ability to relax, what we eat, and what we think.  We come to a point where what we want is health, well-being, and peace of mind.  

How to Make Good Choices in our Life - and not the Pleasant one

This podcast is a talk by Swami Vishnudevananda from the 1970s.  His talk focuses on what the difference is between something that is good versus something that is pleasant.  In this universe we always have a choice between 2 ways to go.  Something that is pleasant is for gratifying the senses.  For example when you scratch an itch it gives you instant relief but brings pain later on. On the other hand something that is good does not give instant gratification and is a more rough and tough...

90-minute Sivananda Yoga All Levels Asana and Pranayama Class

This podcast is a recording of a Sivananda Yoga Class.  Please listen to the class and practice along.  You can see our website for more details on the practice.  Enjoy! 1. Beginning prayer and a short relaxation (savasana) 2. Breathing (Pranayama) (15 – 20 minutes) 3. Sun salutations (Surya namaskar) 4. The 12 basic yoga poses (asanas) 5. Some additional yoga poses (asanas) and variations 5a. An example of a properly sequenced yoga practice session 6. Final Relaxation (15 minutes) ...

Kirtan Chanting with Swami Vishnudevananda

This recording is of Swami Vishnudevananda singing kirtan music.  Swami Vishnudevananda lived with his master Swami Sivananda for 12 years. In 1957 he traveled to America, and in the early 70´s came to Europe, founding international Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers in many cities. He was a dynamic Hatha and Raja Yoga master, bringing the classical teachings of Yoga and Vedanta in its purest form to the West. Swamiji was also a tireless campaigner for world peace who brought the message of peac...

Yoga Teachings on Selfless Love | Part 2

In this talk Swami Sitaramananda will teach about our negative emotional patterns and we can turn this instead into Selfless love.  The main practice to do this is through Bhakti yoga (the yoga of devotion).  By doing this we uplift our self and others and we  spiritualize our relationships with others. Normally we are suffering because we all aspire to love 100% but we fail to feel this way most of the time.  Instead we feel like we are losing ourself, our mind is swinging and we suffer f...

Yoga Teachings on Selfless Love | Part 1

In this talk Swami Sitaramananda will teach about our negative emotional patterns and we can turn this instead into Selfless love.  The main practice to do this is through Bhakti yoga (the yoga of devotion).  By doing this we uplift our self and others and we  spiritualize our relationships with others. Normally we are suffering because we all aspire to love 100% but we fail to feel this way most of the time.  Instead we feel like we are losing ourself, our mind is swinging and we suffer f...

Understanding the Addictive Mind

In this podcast Swami Sitaramanandause talks about the use of yoga to heal addictions.  Yoga teaches us to practice self surrender and by doing this we can understand better how the mind works.  When the mind is very active there are many thought waves which causes us to look outwardly for external objects to bring happiness.  We identify with these thoughts and create an attachment to the objects which leads to addiction. When we repeat these negative thoughts we suffer.  We must learn to...

The Yoga of Relationships

The Yoga of Relationship teaches us to understand that we are in this constant and complex network of relationship and teaches us to learn from the emotional patterns that we usually follow within relationship. It is through our network of relationship that we learn and grow. People in relationship serve as mirrors to each other emotionally and in various ways, so that we may reach the core issue of what it means to live in relationship, which is the relationship with our own Self. In Yo...

The Yoga of Positive Thinking

In this talk, Swami Sitaramananda will discuss the Yogic view on Positive Thinking.  She will discuss the importance of thoughts, how to think correctly about thoughts, and practical tools and tips to use in your daily life to become more aware and conscious of your thinking patterns.

Bringing Harmony to Chaos

In this talk by Swami Sitaramananda, Swamiji will discuss how to bring harmony to chaos.  In this world of ups and downs we need to have tools that we can use to regulate our mind and find balance.  Yoga recommends the 5 points of yoga: proper exercise, proper breathing, proper relaxation, proper diet, and positive thinking and meditation.