YOGA OUTREACH 2023

Bulgarian Yoga Association

The majority of the projects and events were connected with spreading yoga vidya, so that people can use the precious gifts of yoga, which our masters and tradition offer. Different programs were conducted, such as:

Since February 2023, free weekly online classes of yoga nidra and meditation for everyone
From 7th to 9th April, Swamis Vivekamurti and Yogagnana held a seminar in Borovets, resort in the Rila mountains. The theme was ‘Human nature, anatomy of energy, gunas and koshas’.
On 13th May, Swami Yogagnana gave a short lecture on the topic ‘Daan – moving to positivity and purity’.
On 27th and 28th May, a seminar was organized with the Yoga Center Sita-Ram. Swami Anandananda spoke on ‘Yogic lifestyle for keeping health, happiness and harmony’.
On 22th April, Ananda kirtan was held in Sofia with many Satyananda Yoga Centres in Bulgaria participating. More than 200 people attended the event. It was free of charge. Donations were collected for the underprivileged children from the homes, with which we work. The amount was donated for the children’s summer vacations in the mountains and the Black Sea.
From 18th to 20th August, we had a seminar with Swami Omgyanam and Swami Mudraroopa from Serbia in the town Bansko in the Pirin mountain. The theme was ‘Yoga for a good and satisfying life’. 37 people participated.
From 20th to 27th August, a yoga retreat was conducted in the town of Bansko, in the Pirin mountain on ‘Health, Harmony and Balance Through Cultivation of Yamas and Niyamas’. 54 people participated.
From 2nd to 10th September, we organized a group to visit the ashram in Greece. The people participated in two events, Yogic Lifestyle and Preparation for Kriya Yoga.
On 16th September, Aradhana Yoga Centre organized a lecture with Sannyasi Nataraja, ‘Who we are – Evolution of the Tattwas’. 22 people attended.
On 30th September, in the South Park in Sofia, an event called BE ACTIVE (a European initiative) was organized. BYA took part with a yoga demonstration.

Yoga at the Court

Sannyasi Devashakti, a judge and yoga teacher, teaches yoga to her colleagues, judges, lawyers and jurists who are overstressed, tired and tensed. She invited everybody who attends her classes to do something good, to find a cause to support, or to donate in a box for the Annapoorna kitchen for the children in Rikhia panchayat.

For the Happiness of children

From 20th to 27th August, a yoga retreat was conducted in the town of Bansko, in the Pirin mountain on ‘Health, Harmony and Balance Through Cultivation of Yamas and Niyamas’. 54 people participated.
We helped 50 children from 4 orphanages to rest in the summer at the Black Sea and in the mountains. With donations we helped 3 orphanages to buy school items for the new school year.

Ecology

In March, we had one day for cleaning the areas between buildings and blocks in Sofia. A group of us cleaned the area around our Yoga Centre and many people cleaned around their own houses in different areas of Sofia.
On 23th April, an ecological initiative was organized. With the help of the state organization, responsible for forests, we planted 150 pine trees in the mountain Stara Planina near Sofia.

Translation

The book Water the Roots 6 – Sadhana Capsules was published in Bulgarian language.

Celebrations

Various events were celebrated to inspire each other and feel the connection with the Satyananda Yoga family.

Saturdays at the Yoga Center Aradhana

Program free of charge, chanting of bhajan, kirtan, stotras
Mahamrityunjaya Mantra chanting
Video satsang of Paramahamsa Satyananda

Guru Bhakti Yoga

A monthly program is organized to connect to Sri Swamiji and the tradition.

International Day of Yoga

On 18th June, the official celebration of the International Day of Yoga took place with a lecture and presentation given by Sannyasi Namratashakti. The topic was ‘The contribution of Swami Satyananda Saraswati for the development of yoga in the 20th century’. On 21st June, Aradhana Yoga Centre conducted the program given by the Bihar School of Yoga, in which other yoga studios also participated.

Feedback

Yoga helped me to overcome my negativity, to stop being sorry for the past and to accept every obstacle, like people, situations and conditions on my way as the next lesson in life.
Yoga has a complete influence on my lifestyle. I develop sensitivity towards my body and I feel its signals. When I practise yoga, my mind becomes balanced and also the emotions.
There are no better ways to manage life than the yoga methods for self-discipline and emotions.