Just teaching is not enough. Along with teaching one has to add the components of affection for the students, the ability to understand their needs, and the dedication to help them as much as possible. Therefore, teachers should know the needs, aspirations, strengths and limitations of every student, because without actually understanding these, it is not possible to teach yoga.
If teachers feel compelled to teach something, then the effect, the benefit, or even the mental projection of the teachers, will not be positive and that will affect the students. If the teachers, however, enjoy what they are doing and give out positive emanations then the students will be able to understand and perceive more than the practice. The attitude of the teacher is important.Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati
From January to June 2013, resident sannyasins of the Bihar School of Yoga, Munger, sannyasa trainees and members of the Yuva Yoga Mitra Mandal (YYMM), Munger, traveled across India on a fantastic yogayatra. They took Satyananda Yoga to twenty of the twenty-eight states of the Republic of India. In 232 yoga shivirs, or yoga camps, they truly met the people of the land.
They went to the modern metropolis and to the tiny temple village, where people lived the slow rhythm of days gone by. They taught the rich and the poor, the young and the elderly, the urban and the rural. The participants, old devotees and associates of the Bihar School of Yoga and newcomers, experienced yoga teachers and first-timers, all were aware of being in the presence of a grand tradition and three generations of masters. No doubt, these six months ushered in a new era for Satyananda Yoga, defining its role and place in India.
Other than the Yogayatra the following programs were conducted.
Swami Bhakti Chaitanya and Satyananda Yoga Ashram, Vijayawada, AP, organized various programs in schools, associations and groups, between February and August.
On 23rd February, Swami Gyanbhikshu attended the 24-Kundiya Gayatri Mahayajna, in Munger. He spoke on the importance of mantra and yajna to over 1,000 participants.
On 2nd June, Swami Niranjan went to Sitarampur Najira addressing a gathering of about 300 people who have been staunch supporters of Sri Swamiji, Swamiji and the yoga mission. Being from a basic rural area, they are a fully devoted group whose contribution to the ashram till today has been invaluable. Swamiji addressed the devotees and gave them an outline of what had transpired in the life of Sri Swamiji, his own life and BSY, and the direction it was heading towards, with the next WYC. It was an inspiring, informal get together.
On 29th and 30th June, Swami Nirmalananda attended the 'National Workshop on Holistic Learning' at the School of Creative Learning Nargada, Danapur, Patna. Swami Nirmalananda spoke on the 'Role of Yoga in Holistic Learning'.
From 5th to 9th November, a yoga camp was held at Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd., at NTPC, Barh. Managers and their families attended classes and satsang conducted by Swami Gyanbhikshu who was assisted by Bal Yogesh of YYMM.
From 30th January to 10th February, on the auspicious occasion of the Mahakumbha Mela, Swami Gorakhnath conducted a yoga camp organized by the 'Ganga Mahasabha Samiti', in Allahabad. More than 500 participants from all over India and abroad attended the program. Swami Gorakhnath spoke on Satyananda Yoga, ashram life and the activities of BSY.
Swami Satyadharma visited the US in May, where she conducted a special yoga retreat from 17th to 19th, focusing on the tantric practice of Tattwa Shuddhi. The retreat was held in the beautiful state park of Southfork, Ohio, and was attended by over 70 yoga practitioners and teachers from many different states.
Following this retreat, she traveled to Switzerland and conducted seminars on 'Opening the Heart' on 25th May at the Samatvam Yoga Centre in Zürich, and an 'Introduction to Meditation' on 26th May at the Happinez Yoga House in Fribourg.
From Switzerland, she went to South Germany for satsang, havan and kirtan in Vogt on 29th and 30th, followed by a weekend yoga retreat at the Satyam Sadhana Zentrum in Volklings from 31st May to 2nd June, which included a 25-year Jubilee Celebration for this centre. This retreat focused on 'Prana Vidya', awakening the experience of energy in yogic practice, and was attended by over 60 yoga practitioners and teachers from Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
From Germany, she traveled to Bulgaria, where she conducted satsang, havan and kirtan at the Satyananda Yoga Association in Sofia on June 5th and 6th, and a public discourse on 'the Importance of Meditation in Everyday Life' in the Sofia town hall on 7th, which was attended by over 400 people. She conducted a yoga seminar on 'Psychology and Symbology of the Chakras', at a sports centre outside of Sofia on 8th and 9th, which was attended by over 300 yoga aspirants and teachers.
From Bulgaria, she went to Hungary, and conducted a weekend seminar on 'Mind and Meditation' in the idyllic setting of the new country ashram of the Hungarian Yoga Association. This seminar was attended by over 60 yoga practitioners and teachers from Serbia, Romania and Hungary.
Afterwards, she traveled to Bali and inaugurated Yogalaya, a new yoga retreat centre, located outside of Ubud, from 22nd to 28th June. Here she introduced 'Meditations from the Tantras', and conducted satsang, havan and kirtan.