Exclusive Online Iyengar Yoga Masterclasses with Devki Desai (Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute)

Zoom course, Part 1: Saturdays, 12th, 19th, 26th September 2020 at 10am

Topic: Alignment in Asana

Cost: £30 for the course of three classes

Zoom course, Part 2: Saturdays, 3rd, 10th, 17th October 2020 at 3pm

Topic: Preparation towards Pranayam

Cost: £30 for the course of three classes

Devki Desai began her study and practice of Iyengar Yoga in Mumbai at the age of 19, under the direct guidance of Sri BKS Iyengar. In 1988, marriage brought her to Pune and gave her the opportunity to further deepen her studies at RIMYI, under Guruji, Geetaji and Prashantji.

For the last twenty years, she has been teaching at the mother institute. Her teaching journey began with women and children, at the behest of Guruji. She accompanied Geetaji in 2003 to South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia for national conventions. In 2009, she was blessed to accompany Guruji to Russia. Devki annually travels internationally to teach workshops. She has taught in the United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Russia, France and Indonesia.

Her students often comment on her ability to beautifully incorporate the philosophy of Patanjali, the precision and discipline of the Iyengar practice, and the energy of youthfulness. As a Senior teacher at RIMYI, she currently instructs Intermediate level 2 classes, the Sunday children's class, substitute teaches Advanced-level classes, and assists in the therapeutic classes.

We are honoured to host these specialist masterclass courses - demand will be high so book now!

Book now: https://yogafestival.ticketsrv.co.uk

"Panchadashi by Swami Vidyaranya (1296 – 1386)"

Online study group with Ram Banerjee based on the teachings of Swami Paramarthananda​

Weekly Zoom classes starting Wednesday 16th September

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Every Wednesday at 8pm for 1 hour followed by a short, guided meditation to relax. We shall aim to close at 9.20pm and never later than 9.30pm.

Panchadasi is a Vedantic text authored by Swami Vidyaranya who was a great acharya and scholar even before becoming a swami and was a prolific writer in different fields of science. Among his many works, the most famous is Panchadasi which is considered to be one of the best works of the entire Vedanta shastra – a compulsory textbook to be studied by all serious students of Vedanta. 

In many of the Vedantic works, even though they deal with all aspects of the teachings, ideas are jumbled, disconnected and often repeated in the wrong place and sometimes do not have a progressive development. When we study such text books, there is a strain on the student because the student has to re-arrange the topics mentioned in the shastra. There are a few Vedantic works where the ideas are very clearly classified without much in the way of overlap or repetition and there is a progression in the teachings. It is always a pleasure to teach such a text. One such rare work happens to be Panchadasi which means 15 parts since it tackles the subject of Advaita Vedanta from 15 different perspectives.

Why study the text? Ram has wanted to give classes on Panchadasi for a long time. It is the most rewarding text he has ever studied. Vidyaranya has a style quite different to Adi Shankara – the 8th century monk – whose commentaries and original works are generally studied. Panchadasi is a concise text that covers the entire Advaita Vedanta subject – one need not study anything else to obtain full knowledge. As usual pdf notes, video and audio of the class shall be made available for all registered students.

Is it for you? It is for every serious student of Vedanta. Past knowledge is not mandatory as the basic theories will be expanded to make it accessible to all students. There will be interludes to explain concepts that the text assumes the student is familiar with. The study does however require focus to be beneficial. 

Cost: As is usual, Ram seeks a donation of £5 per class paid in multiples of 4 classes directly to Arsha Kula Foundation. It is up to the student to keep track of payments.

For any further information, contact Ram: ram@arshakulafoundation.org

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To register, complete the form here

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Understanding Health and Evolutionary Concept of Karma, Samaskaras and Epigenetics

Zoom session on Sunday 4th October, 3pm (UK time). Free class, donations welcome.

Yoga is a path, end goal and set of Kriyas and Prakriyas, Concepts and applications based on Abhyasa and Vairajna for attaining out true or highest potential – Swasthya (state of self-realisation, or state of being at ease with the self). Understanding the concept of Karma, Samaskaras (can be associated with epigenetics) and learning how to evolve from lower or negative karma and samaskaras to the higher or conscious karma and gradually transcending the Karma and Sanaskaras to attain Kaivalya or Absolute Liberation is one of the fundamental principle and goal of Yoga. In this Satsanga, Yogachariya Jnandev will try to discuss some of these living yoga principles. 

Key Topics – 

What is Yoga?

What is Karma?

Types of Karma?

What are the Samaskaras?

Karma, Samaskaras and Epigenetics

How to Evolve from Karma and Samaskaras

Yoga as a Healing path at epigenetic level.

Yogachariya Jnandev spend the first 33 years of his life in India also completed Msc in Yoga and meditation and was awarded the gold medal for being the top student of the university – Jain Vishnu Bharat, Rajasthan. Jnandev also trained at the International Centre for Yoga Education and Research, Tamil Nadu. Under the guidance of the great Gurus Amma Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani and Dr Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani. In addition to this Jnandev has lived amongst Sadhus and Yogis in India prior to coming to the UK. His knowledge and experience of the ancient system of Yoga is rarely found, particularly in the west. Jnandev is the author of 8 publications on different aspects of yogic living. Jnandev is registered as Senior Yoga Teaches with Yoga alliance Professionals and registered at Yoga Elders with the Independent Yoga Network (IYN). Yoga Satsanga Ashram is also a BWY accredited Group.

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Swami Ambikananda: Satya - The Journey

Zoom session - Session Postponed. Free class, donations welcome.

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Pandit Satishji, in his revealing talk to WYF participants, took us all through a beautiful teaching on satya, allowing us a rare glimpse of it as our ultimate reality ~ the truth about ‘I’. He brought us to the burning question Yoga has asked since its beginnings: what is the inner subject, the Being of our becoming: adhyatma? Taking this direction inward ~ what the great sage Patañjali called pratyāhāra ~ takes courage, focus and steadiness. In her session Swami Ambikānanda will look at ways ~ with body, breath and mind ~ by which Yogins can build the qualities to make that journey and bring meaning and depth to our practice.

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Swami Ambikānanda has been teaching Yoga for 45 years, since guided by her guru, Swami Venkatesānanda, to make it her spiritual vocation. She has translated a number of Sanskrit texts, including the oldest teaching on Yoga as a practice, the Katha Upanishad. She enjoys Yoga as a pathway to better physical and mental health but never sees those as its goals, always quoting her guru who reminded us, “Yoga is all those practices that enable you to discover health ~ which is not the absence of the symptoms of sickness, but which is wholeness and holiness ~ an inner state of being in which there is no division at all.” 

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