| Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres (SYVC) | |
|---|---|
 Swami Vishnudevananda teaching the 12 basic asanas of Sivananda Yoga | |
| Founder | Swami Vishnudevananda |
| Established | 1959 |
| Practice emphases | |
| Pranayama, asanas, relaxation, diet, vedanta philosophy, and meditation | |
| Related schools | |
Sivananda Yoga is a spiritual yoga system founded by Vishnudevananda; it includes the use of asanas (yoga postures) but is not limited to them as in systems of yoga as exercise. He named this system, as well as the international Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres organization responsible for propagating its teachings, after his guru, Sivananda[1] with the mission 'to spread the teachings of yoga and the message of world peace'[1] which has since been refined to 'practice and teach the ancient yogic knowledge for health, peace, unity in diversity and self-realization.'[2]
Some other yoga organizations follow Sivananda's teachings, including the Divine Life Society, Bihar School of Yoga, Integral Yoga (Satchidananda) and the Chinmaya Mission, but use different names for their yoga systems. Sivananda Yoga is the yoga system of the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre organization and is based on Sivananda's teachings to synthesize the principles of the four paths of yoga (Yoga of Synthesis) along with the five points of yoga compiled by Vishnudevananda.[3] The four classical paths of yoga consist of Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga.[4] These are Proper Exercise (āsana), Proper Breathing (prāṇāyāma), Proper Relaxation (śavāsana), Proper Diet and Positive Thinking (vedānta) and Meditation (dhyāna).[5]
Starting in 2019, the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres have dealt with widespread allegations of sexual abuse and rape by its founder Vishnudevananda and at least one other high-level leader of the organization.[6][7]
- ^ a b "Sivananda Lineage and Vision". Inspirasï. Archived from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Sivananda Yoga". Inspirasï. Archived from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Teachings – Sivananda". International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- ^ Swami, Vishnudevananda (1978). Meditation and Mantras. New York: OM Lotus Publishing. ISBN 978-0-931546-01-3. OCLC 5166096.
- ^ Yoga Mind & Body. Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre (London, England) (New ed.). London: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. ISBN 978-1405315333. OCLC 456830658.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ "The Documentary Podcast, Guru: Living a lie". BBC World Service. 15 June 2021.
- ^ "Missbrauchsvorwürfe in der Yoga-Szene" [Allegations of abuse in the yoga scene] (in German). 5 November 2020.