Yoga Life-December 2021

Namaste Wishing you a happy, healthy and abundant New Year 2025. I am pleased to share the January 2025 issue of Yoga Life, the monthly journal of Yoga Jivana Satsangha, ICYER Ananda Ashram, Pondicherry, India.

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Yoga Life (November 2024)

Ananda B Bhavanani

Yoga Life (November), 2024

Sharing the November 2024 issue of Yoga Life, the official journal of Yoga Jivana Satsangha, (ICYER Ananda Ashram), Pondicherry, India. with you.

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Yoga Life (June 2022)

Ananda B Bhavanani

Yoga Life (June), 2022

This month’s front cover features a new artistic perspective of our revered Siddha Guru Srila Sri Shankara Giri Swamigal who brought Yogamaharishi Dr Swami Gitananda Giri to the Sri Kambaliswamy Madam. We celebrate this June the 27th anniversary of his Maha Samadhi in 1995. Swamiji who lived to be 95 years of age, was the epitome of the Shaiva Siddhanta Siddha Lineage of Maharishi Agastya and had amazing healing powers. He was a major influence in young Ananda’s life and inculcated in him deeply spiritual teachings of Tamil Shaivism. Our other covers feature events related to the International Day of Yoga celebrations being organised at Pondicherry. The Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India has launched the Yoga Mahotsav 2022, a 100-day countdown for the 8th International Day of Yoga. The 100-day campaign is being organized in 100 cities through 100 organizations till 21. Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, one of India's top 100 universities has been selected to organize the Yoga Mahotsav at Pondicherry on 13th June 2022 in collaboration with the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), New Delhi. A mass demonstration of the Common Yoga Protocol will be held that day at numerous heritage venues in and around Pondicherry and the CYTER of SBV will host from 13 to 21 June a weeklong "International Yoga Therapy Convention" featuring eminent speakers from around the globe. We welcome all members of our Global Yoga Family to join us in these celebrations either in person or through the virtual mode. This issue features excellent articles by Pujya Swamiji and Ammaji who shed light on subtle teachings to enrich our Antaranga Yoga Sadhana. These provide a valuable insight into deeper spiritual concepts that are attuned to the Gitananda Nada Yoga training currently being offered online by Dr Ananda and Yogacharini Dr Sangeeta. Dhivya Priya Bhavanani who celebrates her 19th birthday on the 21st June also offers her first ever Editorial for Yoga Life. She is our Little Ammaji and continues to take the lineage forward with beauty and grace. May all the Gurus of our illustrious Guru Parampara continue to bless us and may we always be worthy of their most divine and loving grace. Hari Om Tat Sat Om.

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Yoga Life (September 2022)

Ananda B Bhavanani

Yoga Life, 2022

This month’s covers are extravagant in colour as they depict amazing events happening here in Pondicherry. The historic inauguration of the Institute of Salutogenesis & Complementary Medicine (ISCM) at Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pondicherry on 22 August 2022 finds pride of place as it may well be the first such institute in a medical setting globally. The illustrious Chief Guest of the inaugural was Dr. Bhushan Patwardhan (Chairman NAAC EC) who is a noble human being and living manifestation of “Swasth”. Heartfelt gratitude is due to the Chancellor of SBV Shri MK Rajagopalan, Vice Chancellor Prof. SC Parija, Dean of Faculty Prof N Ananthakrishnan and to the Former VC Prof KR Sethuraman who seeded the concept of Salutogenesis in all of us at SBV. Dr Ananda has been chosen to lead the ISCM that will offer a wide variety of courses through its Schools of Yoga Therapy and Music Therapy. The wonderful educational visit by students of Loyola Marymount University's Master of Arts in Yoga Studies, USA is depicted on the other cover pages as we share special moments from their intensive 3-day Yoga Chikitsa program in the ICYER of Ananda Ashram, CYTER of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth and at the Sri Kambaliswamy Madam. Beautiful reflections on their learning at Pondicherry are shared by three of the visitors in the inner pages of this month’s issue. We also share two amazing articles from the pen of our beloved Ammaji and an elaborate yet poignant reflection by Jennifer Kanazawa, on her deep experiences during the Gitananda Nada Yoga Immersion with Yogacharini Sangeeta and Dr Ananda. May the Guru Parampara continue to bless us and may we be worthy of their loving grace.

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Yoga Life (July 2022)

Ananda B Bhavanani

Yoga Life (July), 2022

We are pleased to share with our readers brilliant images for numerous events held at Pondicherry to celebrate the 8th International Day of Yoga. The front cover highlights the momentous return of Yoga sessions to Sri Kambaliswamy Madam after a hiatus of 35 years. Dr Anandaji, the Madathipathy and lineage holder of the Rishiculture Gitananda Yoga Tradition led the historical session on the Mandala from the very spot where Pujya Swamiji and our beloved Yogamahashakti Ammaji had taught thousands of children from all sections of society. Hundreds of members of the Indian Yoga Association, Puducherry Yogasana Sports Association, Geetanjali Yogalayam, Yoganjali Natyalayam, CYTER and ICYER participated with enthusiasm and joy. The inner cover depicts lovely images from the 19th birthday celebrations of our "Chinna Ammaji" Selvi Dhivya Priya Bhavanani at various locations with family and friends. She is indeed a role model, a shining light for the young ones who look up to her, and we pray she receives loving blessings from all elders in her journey towards fulfilling her destiny. The back covers share special moments from the SBV Yoga Mahotsav organized by the CYTER of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth with the Lt Governor participating in the Mass Yoga Demonstration at the Pondicherry Promenade with the Gandhi Statue and Old Lighthouse in the background. SBV was selected as one of the 100 institutions worldwide by MDNIY, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India as part of "100 Days, 100 Cities, 100 Organisations Countdown to IDY2022". The International Yoga Therapy Convention on the theme, "Strengthening the Cultural Ethos of Yoga Therapy" saw participation of hundreds of local, national and global Yoga enthusiasts blessed with inspiring, thought provoking presentations by 20 eminent speakers from a dozen prestigious institutions worldwide. We place on record our gratitude to Director MDNIY, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India for leading this most amazing IDY2022 celebrations. The benevolent Management and Administration of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth deserves our heartfelt gratitude for supporting the historical events. We also thank Tourism Department of Pondicherry Government for supporting the event at Sri Kambaliswamy Madam.

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