About Us
International
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center
Los Angeles
100% volunteer-run, the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center in Los Angeles is dedicated to disseminating the pure, classical teachings of yoga to the ever-expanding population of practitioners in the West (over 20 million in America alone).
Founded by Swami Vishnudevananda, the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center in Los Angeles leads the way in guiding practitioners to a deeper philosophical immersion into the holistic system of yogic life.
Mission statement: Practicing and teaching the ancient yogic knowledge of health, peace, unity in diversity, and Self-realization.
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center (SYVC)
The International SYVC is a non-profit organization named after Swami Sivananda, one of the most influential spiritual teachers of the 20th century and founded by his disciple Swami Vishnudevananda. In 1957, Swami Vishnudevananda, on instructions from his guru, Swami Sivananda, came to the West to bring the teachings of yoga. He established the first Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center in Montreal, Canada, in 1959. To date, there are close to 60 Sivananda locations (Ashrams, Yoga Centers and affiliated Centers) around the world. Over 47,000 teachers have been trained in the TTC programs. The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashrams and Centers are recognized worldwide for teaching yoga authentically, preserving its purity and tradition dating back several thousand years.
Vision
Vision
To help all realize their highest potential and find inner peace. Inner peace will bring outer peace.
We respect traditions and understand there are values in timeless teachings.
Simple living, high thinking
“Kindle the light of love in the heart and radiate love and light to one and all.”
Love thy neighbor as thyself.
—Swami Sivananda
Our Team
SPIRITUAL LEADERS & DEDICATED STAFF
Swami Sitaramananda
Spiritual Acharya
Swami Sitaramananda is a senior disciple of Swami Vishnudevananda (direct disciple of Swami Sivananda) and was nominated Acharya (senior teacher) by him in 1989. She is presently Acharya of US West Coast Centers and Ashrams as well as Asia, especially Vietnam, China, and Japan. Swamiji has been director of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm for more than 20 years and has taught many international Teachers Training Courses in California, Vietnam, China, Taiwan and India and is teaching regularly at Sivananda Yoga Retreat in Nassau Bahamas.
Swami Sivasankariananda
Director, LA Center
Swami Sivasankariananda is director of the Los Angeles Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center. She served as director of the San Francisco Center from 2015 to 2019. She completed her TTC at the Yoga Farm in 1997 and ATTC there in 2008. Swamiji has been on yatra in north and south India and Mount Kailas. She loves to teach and is particularly fond of the Bhakti Yoga practices. She took sannyas in 2017 and is a certified yoga therapist.
Swami Dharmananda
Yoga Farm Manager
Swami Dharmananda has been assistant director of the Yoga Farm for many years and is in charge of the karma yoga program. He is a faculty of the Sivananda Institute of Health & Yoga (SIHY) and is one of the main teachers of Yoga Philosophy and Meditation at the Ashram. He took sannyas vows in 2013 and is keenly interested in yoga psychology and philosophy, presenting the classical teaching in a practical and accessible way to people of all faiths and backgrounds.
Documentary Film
This short film by Benoy K. Behl, features Sivananda Yoga Ashrams, teachers, and special guests. The interviewees talk about the power of yoga and self-transformation giving many personal stories of how yoga heals.
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