Integral Yoga (Satchidananda)
Integral Yoga is a system of
Integral Yoga is based on interfaith understanding. Satchidananda taught that all religions share essential universal principles and encouraged Integral Yogis to respect and honor the unity in diversity, summarized by his motto, "Truth is one, paths are many."[3] It is not a religion, but a combination of teachings that form the foundation of spiritual practice. Its branches are not hierarchical in nature; practitioners can find a combination of practices that suits their individual needs.
Classes of Integral Yoga are taught around the world. Its headquarters, Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, is in Buckingham, Virginia.[4]
Teachings
The main practices of Integral Yoga focus on restoring the ease and peace of the body and mind. Swami Satchidananda said that "dis-ease"—the disturbance of one's natural ease—is the cause of disease, so prevention and restoration are the hallmarks of Integral Yoga practices.[1]
Principles
The teachings of Integral Yoga are rooted in the system of Yoga formalized by the sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.[5] Foundational teachings include moral and ethical precepts (yama and niyama), which include non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, moderation, non-greed, purity, contentment, self-discipline, spiritual study, and leading a dedicated or selfless life.[6] Integral Yoga synthesizes the following six branches of classical Yoga.
Six branches
Spread in the West
In 1966, filmmaker Conrad Rooks invited Swami Satchidananda to visit Europe.[18] During this visit, he was invited to give talks and classes at Divine Life Societies throughout Europe. He returned to Europe thereafter, having received invitations to speak on Integral Yoga at Yoga conferences, at Yoga centers, and to serve as an advisor to Yoga organizations.[19] During the first European visit, pop artist Peter Max consulted with Rooks and then suggested that Swami Satchidananda visit America on his return to the East. A two-day visit led to an extended stay in order to teach Integral Yoga to American students.[18]
In 1966, the first Integral Yoga Institute was founded on the Upper West Side of New York City. There, Swami Satchidananda, and some of his newly trained students began leading classes for the general public in Hatha, meditation, breath work, and stress management.[18] In August 1968, a group of students took up residence in an apartment in the 500 West End Avenue building to immerse themselves in the yogic lifestyle, forming the first Integral Yoga ashram.
Swami Satchidananda's students in New York planned and organized a public lecture on Integral Yoga for him to deliver at
Soon after, Satchidananda's weekly lectures on Integral Yoga moved to the Universalist Church on Central Park West, as crowds became larger. Finally, in 1970, a large building in New York's West Village was purchased, which continues to be the site of the Integral Yoga Institute today.[1] The members of the Institute opened New York's first vegetarian food store, Integral Yoga Natural Foods, in 1972. It remained the only all-vegetarian health food store in Manhattan until it closed January 2019.[21]
More Integral Yoga Institutes, teaching centers, and ashrams opened in the late 1960s and early 1970s across America. In 1975, Integral Yoga established one of the first Yoga teacher training certification programs and, in 1999, joined with other US-based Yoga lineages to form the Yoga Alliance.[1]
Allegations of sexual misconduct
In 1991, protesters accused Swami Satchidananda of molesting his students. Two former disciples publicly claimed he used his spiritual authority to coerce them into a sexual relationship. Swami Satchidananda denied all claims of misconduct. None of the alleged victims filed criminal charges.[22][23][24]
Institutions
Integral Yoga Institutes and Centers exist on six continents. The international headquarters of Integral Yoga, Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, in Buckingham, Virginia, is a large community and programs center dedicated to Integral Yoga.[25]
In 1972, many people attending programs at the Integral Yoga centers and institutes in America expressed interest in developing residential Yoga communities, or
In 1980, due to severe winters, Swami Satchidananda closed the Connecticut ashram and moved the community to Buckingham, Virginia. Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, serves as Integral Yoga's world headquarters and is home to the Light Of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS). As of 2015, around 220 people lived permanently in Yogaville, and 2,000 to 3,000 guests were visiting each year. Yogaville operates as a residential spiritual community, Yoga retreat and programs center, and as a Yoga training center, offering teacher trainings, workshops, vegetarian cooking courses, and programs designed around the teachings of Integral Yoga.[26]
In the grounds of Satchidananda Ashram—Yogaville is the Integral Yoga Academy. This is a training center that offers certification courses in Hatha Yoga and therapeutic Yoga, as well as continuing education courses for health care professionals. This academy operates year-round, offering residential programs that encourage students to immerse themselves in a "yogic lifestyle" based on the teachings of Integral Yoga.[27]
References
- ^ a b c d e Anjali, P. (2005). Boundless Giving: The Life and Service of Sri Swami Satchidananda (A Commemorative) (Vol. 1). Integral Yoga Magazine.
- Swami Satchidananda. What Is Integral Yoga?Yogaville. Integral Yoga International.
- Swami Satchidananda. LOTUS: The Truth is One.(n.d.)
- ^ De Sachy, Kumari. [Yogaville.org About Yogaville]. Integral Yoga International. 15 May 2015.
- ^ Integral Yoga: About. (n.d.). Retrieved May 6, 2015, from www.integralYoga.org/about
- ISBN 978-1938477072
- Swami Satchidananda. To Know Your Self. 2008. 65-85. Print
- ^ Karunananda, S. Raja Yoga: The Nature of the Mind. (n.d.)
- Swami Satchidananda. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. 2012. 57-69.
- Swami Satchidananda. (1988). The Living Gita: The Complete Bhagavad Gita - A Commentary for Modern Readers (8, 9.34 and 18.55).
- Swami Satchidananda. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. 2012. 57-69. (9, Sutra I.23; II.45). Print.
- ^ Satchidananda, Swami. Yogaville. Integral Yoga International. Web. 15 May 2015.
- ^ Maze, K. Karma Yoga: At Your Selfless Service. (1 May 2014)
- Swami Satchidananda. The Greatness of Karma Yoga. (n.d.)
- Swami Satchidananda. Jnana Yoga: Who am I? A Talk by Sri Swami Satchidananda [Motion picture on DVD]. (1994). Integral Yoga Multimedia.
- Sivananda. Japa Yoga. (n.d.)
- Swami Satchidananda. To Know Your Self. 2008. 129-131. Print.
- ^ a b c d Anjali, P. The Milestones of Sri Swami Satchidananda. (n.d.)
- ^ a b Anjali, P. (Director). (2007). Living Yoga [Motion picture on DVD]. Integral Yoga Multimedia.
- ^ Martin, Douglas (21 August 2002). "Swami Satchidananda, Woodstock Guru, Dies at 87". The New York Times.
- ^ Integral Yoga Natural Foods: A History. (n.d.)
- ^ Holly Hammond; Ann Cushman (January 1992). "Satchidadanda Controversy Heats Up". Yoga Journal (102): 18.
- Broad, William J. (27 February 2012). "Yoga and Sex Scandals: No Surprise Here". The New York Times.
- ^ Chopra, Sonia (14 June 1999). "Satchidananda's Yoga Ashram Caught Up In A New Controversy, Past Sexual Charges Begin Resurfing". Rediff.
- ^ Integral Yoga: Lineage. (n.d.).
- ^ About Yogaville. Yogaville. Integral Yoga International, 2012.
- ^ The Integral Yoga Academy. Yogaville. Integral Yoga International, 2012.
Further reading
- Katz, Donald (1992). Home Fires: An Intimate Portrait of One Middle-Class Family in Postwar America: Excerpts from the book--regarding Satchidananda, Integral Yoga and Yogaville. HarperCollins. pp. 377 ff. ISBN 978-0060190095.
External links
- Media related to Integral Yoga (Satchidananda) at Wikimedia Commons