Traditional Sivananda Yoga Practice

Swami Sivananda sent his direct deciple, Swami Vishnudevananda, to the west so he could observe the lifestyles of people there and assess their needs for a healthier way of living. After close observation, Swami Vishnudevananda noted that the ancient wisdom of Yoga could be synthesized into five basic principles. Sivananda's disciple concluded that these five principles could easily be incorporated into ones lifestyle as a way to provide a strong foundation for healthy living. They include: Proper Exercise, Proper Breathing (pranayama), Proper Diet, Positive Thinking, Proper Relaxation. 

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My yogic roots began when I was introduced to Sivananda yoga in 2001 while living in West Palm Beach, FL. After taking a handful of yoga classes, I devoted myself to a humble Sivananda yoga studio in Lake Worth, FL and the rigorous 3 month yoga teacher training program offered there. During the 3 months of training, I also attended college and worked full time. Our small training group met every morning at 6 AM for a group meditation and Satsang (A Satsang is an audience with a satguru for religious instruction. The name satsang is a Sanskrit word that means "gathering together for the truth" or, more simply, "being with the truth." Truth is what is real, what exists.) that was followed by a 90 minute yoga practice and hours of learning and practicing. The experience changed my life and led to a complete transformation of of life as I knew it.