YOGA OUTREACH 2023
Impressions
Entering the Ashram after 4 years was a special moment. I was so happy to be in the Ashram, so pleased to meet the people of the Ashram and so excited to bring a group of students with me. Thank you so much for having us and opening your heart to us. I felt so very welcome! We received endless love, compassion, acceptance and tolerance. Every detail was taken care of full heartedly by everyone in the Ashram. The group went through a very special experience, learning, living, and meeting themselves, an experience that still has a deep impact on them. They all left the Ashram inspired, content, more relaxed and with a big smile. Thank you for the time you spent with the group and with me. Thank you for the beautiful, deep, and lifechanging teachings we all received.
—Hridaya, Israel
It is my first visit to the ashram. My gratitude to my destiny for giving me this chance. The ashram is the most peaceful place I have ever lived. The simplicity of life shows how little we need for ourselves and how much we can do for others.
—Tatiana, Bulgaria
From January to December – live, Seva Yoga forms a fundamental part of the activities of the Satyanandashram Hellas and is included in every program. Talks on the activities of seva are given by one of the senior swamis before participants set out to undertake their seva yoga and then feedback is received. Some participants relate their experiences as opening the heart, aiming for excellence, focusing on the task, sharing and caring, expanding awareness and non-attachment in the given seva and its results.
From January to December – live, Swami Sivamurti Saraswati conducted regular sangha sessions with the residents of the ashram where texts from the teachings of the Masters of our tradition (Sri Swami Sivananda Saraswati, Sri Swami Satyananda Saraswati, Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati) are read and studied by the residents.
Every month the teachings of Sri Swami Satyananda Saraswati are studied and then compared with the teachings of Socrates, referring to Plato, Xenophon, Aristophanes and others, by an ashram resident who has a doctorate in history. The parallels are profound and enlightening and bring the residents closer to their ancient civilization as well as the teachings of Sri Swamiji.
Satyanandashram has been holding the chanting of the Mahamrityunjaya mantra every Saturday along with havan for health, purification and peace since 1985. There has been an increase in people attending the havan and chanting at the ashram throughout 2023, as the issues of physical, mental and emotional health have increased. People have expressed that it leaves a calming, healing effect on them.
1st January 2023 – live, Chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa at Satyanandashram Hellas 108 times by residents and visitors on the first day of the auspicious year 2023, marking the centenary birth of Sri Swami Satyananda, for everyone around the world to attain peace, wellbeing and good health.
The Hellenic Union of Teachers (Enosi), formed in 2014, organized the following activities: kirtans held at various towns in Greece, a yearlong online meditation practices conducted in Thessaloniki, a seminar on Yoga and Cancer in Kavala and other yoga seminars, a public talk held in Volos on Satyananda Yoga in the same venue that Sri Swamiji gave his lecture in 1984, and a dinner every two months at a refuge for abused women in Athens.
During Guru Purnima 2022, Satyananda Math – Amba’s website was launched with the aim of reaching out to as many people as possible. Throughout 2023, it has continued to contribute a percentage of its proceeds to Make-A-Wish (Make-A-Wish Greece) which is an organization that supports seriously and critically ill children whose wish is made real through the donations they receive.