YOGA OUTREACH 2023
In mid-February 2023, the Satyananda Yoga Community started the LOTUS project in Israel, which includes all yoga outreach activities in three areas, inspired by the life of Sri Swamiji and the new Setu Park dedicated to him: Yoga Dwar, Seva Dwar and Samarpan Dwar. The project’s name was chosen since it is the lotus year, Padma Jayanti, and after a while it was developed into an acronym which integrates Hebrew as well: Lehafitz (=to spread) Or (=light) To Uplift Society. The project embarked on Sivaratri, with a traditional ceremony of havan and mantra chanting. It was also Saturday night, and that was when the practice of Mahamrityunjaya mantra chanting was revived every Saturday in Israel, after a break of a couple of years. Here are the main activities:
Mahamrityunjaya mantra chanting: Every Saturday night online, and once a month in person in the centre. Open and free to all.
Quotes of inspiration from our gurus are being translated into Hebrew and sent to all the centre’s practitioners.
1st June marks 3 years since the yoga centre in Be’er Sheva was opened. We celebrated with a digital prasad sent to all practitioners; it included one of Sri Swamiji’s songs, a quote by Swami Niranjanananda, a short Ajapa Japa recording by Swamiji, and a Samiksha audio practice all translated into Hebrew.
A special yoga class was given for the mayor of the city, head of the theatre and the head of a big municipal organization in charge of the cultural development and enrichment of the citizens.
Yoga for Children in small groups twice a week.
A two month Satyananda Yoga Fundamental Course.
Incorporating yoga in gardening classes for children with special educational needs and children from underprivileged background; yoga asanas inspired by nature and animals, getting to know the different senses.
Yoga classes for big companies, reaching many people throughout the country.
3 Mantra Sadhana as an online workshop.
Stress Capsule Workshop.
Yoga workshops for the staff of the social work academy in a nearby college.
Class at an organization for people dealing with social anxiety.
Expansion of the yogic library at the centre, containing mostly the Bihar School of Yoga publications, and which is open to all.
The first Bihar Yoga Israel monthly newsletter was launched and sent to practitioners, aspirants and yoga teachers also of other traditions from all around the country. It included an explanation about the year of seva, some translated texts, links to Satyam Yoga Prasad and a specific meditation practice.
Karma yoga with a group of teenagers (pre-army) in cleaning the house of a holocaust survivor.
Two weekly classes were held for new immigrant children and youth in cooperation with the Jewish Agency.
A series of classes was conducted together with the regional authority for the rehabilitation of ex-prisoners.
Yoga classes were conducted for people with special needs: youth on the autistic spectrum, elderly and blind or visually impaired people.
Yoga Ecology was combining the teachings of hatha yoga and karma yoga. A morning hatha yoga practice in nature was followed by a relaxation and meditation practice regarding the five tattwas and the connection between the outer and the inner world. This took place at an educational-agricultural farm for at risk youth. After the yoga class everyone participated in harvesting the vegetables. About 40% of the proceeds went to the farm for supporting this important social project.
During the International Day of Yoga, the traditional practice sent by the ashram was given twice as free classes open to all. Also on this occasion, a parents and children yoga class was offered free of charge and open to all.
A year long program of yoga and meditation, The Art of Life, was conducted in a few schools for pupils and pedagogical staff. Included was one high school in an Israeli-Arab village where yoga was introduced as a bridge between communities.
Integration of people dealing with mental disorders and difficulties and people dealing with cancer into the weekly hatha and raja yoga classes as a subsidized or donation based class, in cooperation with welfare city departments and organizations.