YOGA OUTREACH 2023
Yoga ecology for the community
The yoga ecology for the community project continued throughout the year. People visited the ashram regularly to take care of the vegetables and plants.
Month of Kindness Challenge
On 1st June, we started the Month of Kindness Challenge, inspired by Swami Niranjanananda who said that one good deed every day makes an ocean of goodwill. The aim of the program was that all participants consciously do at least one good deed, a kind gesture or an act of courtesy every day for someone they did not know before or with whom they did not have a good relationship. They had to record these deeds. After one month, they were to report about the deeds and the effects of the challenge on themselves and their environment. 45 people signed up for the Challenge.
Meditation course
On 14th June, an eight-week meditation course started. It is a program that consists of a one-hour weekly online class, which includes yoga nidra and antar mouna. Antar mouna is taught in progression from stage 1 to 3 over the eight-week period. An average of 20 people attended each class.
Kirtan for the community
On 5th June, a mantra and kirtan program was conducted in Budapest as part of the kirtan for the community series. The program included chanting of Ganesha Atharvashirsham, Hanuman Chalisa and Guru Stotram, a few kirtans and tea for everyone. 12 people participated.
Shatkarma
On 10th June, a shatkarma pro-gram was conducted. Laghoo shankhaprakshalana, kunjal kriya and jala neti were taught to and practised by the 10 participants.
Yoga Day
On 17th June, a yoga day was conducted for the Győr group which visited the ashram for the first time after completing a six-month Satyananda Yoga course in their city. The program included short sessions of yoga capsules, such as mantra, asana and pranayama, yoga nidra as well as karma yoga and havan. They also had the opportunity to participate in the first Life and Teachings of a Yogi program.
Life and Teachings of a Yogi
On 17th June, as part of the Yoga Outreach we started a new program called Life and Teachings of a Yogi in memory and honour of Sri Swamiji. The two-hour program included a short talk about the different stages of Sri Swamiji’s life, an introduction to the system of Yoga Chakra, and a video satsang in which Sri Swamiji talks about his life before sannyasa. The program was a great success, people were deeply impressed by seeing him. 25 people participated.
Awareness and Health, Happiness and Harmony
From 23rd to 25th June, Swami Anandananda conducted a three-day retreat at the ashram with the topics of Awareness and Health, Happiness and Harmony. The program included early morning chanting followed by the International Day of Yoga program presented by the Bihar School of Yoga, two sessions daily with Swami Anandananda, karma yoga, yoga nidra and evening sadhana, including Saturday Mahamrityunjaya havan. In total 41 people participated.
Yoga classes
At the Budapest centre, we continued with the Tuesday and Thursday evening classes and the Friday morning class for old age pensioners. Classes include the five yoga capsules of mantra, asana, pranayama, relaxation and meditation, according to the level of the group.
SWAN course
On 10th July, we started a four-week SWAN course. During the 60-minute weekly session, the SWAN method was taught in progression along with the SWAN meditation. The program was free of charge and 34 people attended it.
Guru Poornima
From 1st to 3rd July, the Guru Poornima celebration took place at the ashram. The program included early morning chanting, mantra, japa, yoga nidra, Swamiji’s and Sri Swamiji’s satsangs, karma yoga, havan and kirtan. 51 people participated.
Month of Kindness Challenge
8th July was the final day of the Month of Kindness Challenge. All participants were invited to spend a day at the ashram as a culmination of the program. The activities of the day included the practices of asana, pranayama, mantra, yoga nidra and karma yoga as well as an interactive session where people shared their experiences on the following points:
Life and Teachings of a Yogi
On 15th July, we conducted the second part of the new series called Life and Teachings of a Yogi which is held in memory and honour of Sri Swamiji. The one-day program included mantra, kirtan and karma yoga. The main session included a short talk by Sannyasi Abhedananda on the bahiranga and antaranga aspects of the Yoga Chakra and another short talk by Sannyasi Chitra on the attitude of the drashta. This was followed by two video satsangs of Sri Swamiji. In the first one he talked about the mind and in the second on mantra, kriya yoga, ashram life and the purpose of yoga. 24 people participated. The program concluded with havan.
Karma yoga weekend
From 28th to 29th July, we had a karma yoga program which
included mantra, kirtan and havan.
Kirtan weekend
From 4th to 6th August, a kirtan weekend took place at the ashram. On Saturday we had a 6-hour akhanda kirtan. The weekend program also included early morning chanting, mantra, yoga nidra, karma yoga, havan and kirtan. 35 people participated.
Children’s Yoga Camp
From 11th to 13th August, a yoga camp for children was held at the ashram. The program was conducted by Sannyasi Shanti and five sevaks. A total of seven children aged 6 to 14 years participated accompanied by their parents. The daily practices included the Gayatri mantra, surya namaskara and nadi shodhana pranayama, relaxation, story-telling and games.
Arts, Crafts and Yoga
On 12th August, we started a new series called Arts, Crafts and Yoga. For the first program we invited Gergely Pattantyús, an eminent representative of Hungarian glass design, who spoke on the history of glass, the stages of glass art and the state of artistic creation. 25 people participated, including some from the village Szolad. Following the program all guests were invited to dinner and havan.
Shatkarmas
On 26th August, a shatkarma program was conducted. Laghoo shankhaprakshalana, kunjal kriya and jala neti was taught. Nine people participated in the event.
Karma yoga day
On 26th August, there was also a karma yoga day. Different projects were carried out at the ashram during the day. Twelve people participated.
Life and Teachings of a Yogi
On 26th August, we conducted the third part of the series called Life and Teachings of a Yogi in memory and honour of Sri Swamiji. The two-hour and free of charge program included a talk about Sri Swamiji’s contributions to yoga and humanity, and a video satsang called the Science of Yoga. The program again was a great success. 22 people participated. Following the program all guests were invited to dinner and havan.
Yoga nidra and shavasana recording for cancer patients
In August, we made available on our website a yoga nidra and a shavasana recording for cancer patients. Patients are being directed to the Satyananda Yoga Foundation website for free download of the recordings by a wholistic oncology organization led by eminent oncologist and Swamiji’s disciple, Dr Erika Borbenyi, Prakash.
Free yoga classes, meditation and relaxation
From Tuesday to Friday, two yoga classes, one meditation class and one yoga nidra session were offered every week in September. An average of 20 people participated in each session.
Vegetarian cooking course
On 16th September, there was a cooking course at the ashram. Participants learnt to prepare the following Indian vegetarian dishes: poha, chai, khechari, subji, samosa, chapati, chutney and burfi. The program also included a story of Annapoorna, the chanting of the Annapoorna Stotram and Chapter 15 of the Bhagavad Gita as well as a lecture on yogic diet. 25 people participated.
Arts, Crafts and Yoga
On 23rd September, after the lunch for the villagers, the second part of the series was held. A renowned Hungarian sitar player performed and talked about Indian classical music. The program was a great success. The guests enjoyed it very much and expressed their appreciation for the event. 70 people participated.
Ashram and community
For 23rd September, the ashram invited the whole village for lunch. The program started with a short welcome and information about the role of the ashram in the village. Then the local pensioners’ choir performed some folk songs. For lunch, we prepared khechari, subji and sweets for all. Before eating, we chanted Chapter 15 of the Bhagavad Gita. The atmosphere was warm and friendly, the guests had a great time. 70 people, including the mayor participated.
Karma yoga day
On 24th September, a karma yoga day was held. 20 people came, and many projects were carried out in a joyful mood. The program concluded with kirtan.
Life and Teachings of a Yogi
On 30th September, the program was held in the city of Pecs. The 120-minute program began with a 60-minute presentation about Paramahamsaji’s life and a short intro to the branches of yoga taught by him through the presentation of the Bihar School of Yoga books published in Hungarian. This was followed by Sri Swamiji’s DVD satsang on the Science of Yoga. 80 people participated, and all of them received Mere Aradhya and Yoga in Daily Life as prasad. According to the feedback, the program was a great success.
Free yoga classes
Every Tuesday and Thursday yoga classes were offered. An average of 20 people participated in each session.
Karma yoga day
On 1st October, a karma yoga day was held. 24 people participated, coming from two cities, Budapest and Pecs, and many projects were carried out in a joyful mood. The program concluded with kirtan.
Free online open day
On 7th October, an online program was conducted with the aim of bringing the teachings of Satyananda Yoga to as many people as possible. The 4-hour program included the yoga capsules of mantra, asana, pranayama, meditation and relaxation practice, as well as a talk about the Satyananda Yoga system. 25 people participated.