Current Events
January 2010
Comings & Goings
Kim Orr is resigning as a teacher trainer. Kim wants to assure everyone that this decision is not health-related, but has grown out of her desire to take time to reflect on the next turning of her personal path. Thankfully, she made a spectacular recovery and has returned to excellent health this year. "My time off made me realize that, after years of serving Master Yoga in many ways, it is time to let others lend that kind of support to Master Yoga. I will continue to maintain my CSYT and E-RYT credentials while teaching, offering workshops, and doing therapy. I am also turning over the editing of the Q&A to another sevite so that I have more time for my personal philosophy studies." We will sorely miss Kim as a teacher trainer, but we are very excited that she will be expanding her studio perhaps opening a GeoCenter in the Nevada area in the future.
September 2009
Comings & Goings
Karobi Sachs – Primary Teacher for Experiential Anatomy
Karobi knew she wanted to dive in deep after teaching Svaroopa® yoga only 2 years. Trained in 2000, she was in the first group of teachers to complete the then-new DTS program in 2002 and earn her CSYT. By early 2003, she was teaching in Foundations and has been blazing a trail ever since. Along with leading Teacher Trainings, she has continued her own studies, as shown by her recently receiving the highest certification in yoga therapy – Advanced Svaroopa® Yoga Therapist (see below for “Certificates Awarded”).
Now she has completed her training for leading Experiential Anatomy – which is one of the most challenging courses that we teach! Her credentials as a R.N. add depth to her interest in anatomy, while giving her a solid base in the medical information that is included in this course. Her own deep practice, continued studies, and (especially) her continuing to receive yoga therapy sessions, have all accelerated her own growth and inner experience. She has clearly made 10 or 15 years worth of progress in the last five!
Not only do we congratulate you, Karobi – we thank you for all you have done and all you give us.
August 6, 2009
Comings & Goings
Kim Orr
Congratulations to Kim Orr who is now qualified as a Primary Teacher in Foundations! She searched around the country for yoga schools after 9/11, when working overseas became an increasingly tailbone tightening experience for her, in addition to her practice of an equally tightening style of yoga. When she read Swamiji’s description of the joy of … [click here]
Karobi Sachs
Congratulations to Karobi, who is now qualified as a Primary Teacher for YTT Level 3. Karobi says, "Reaching another new level of qualification offers me the chance to share more at a deeper level with students, both when I am teaching Teacher Training and in any other program I teach. Not only do I have more to offer, but I have gained so much myself, in the process of going through the interning and preparation for each new level I have reached thus far. You’ll see more of me!"
July 21, 2009
Doing More Yoga!
Svaroopis will be doing more yoga in our upcoming Fun Raiser (and fund raiser), entitled “Doing More Yoga!” Master Yoga is sending teachers a plan for holding local Svaroopa® yoga events, all over the globe. Designed to expand Svaroopa® yoga’s reach, as well as build the treasury for local teachers and Master Yoga’s organizational support, you can look forward to lots of yoga events beginning in September and later. Don’t hold your breath – keep breathing while you wait for more news…
Catalog Online
Your first access to our new course catalog is always online, as we publish each issue digitally several weeks before it is mailed. In-home delivery of the printed version follows about 3 weeks later for USA residents and for Members outside of the USA. Sorry – we are no longer able to mail catalogs to non-members who live in other countries, due to high postage costs. Please take advantage of our membership program, which provides you with discounted tuition as well as in-home delivery of your catalog. Our January publication has a complete listing of programs for the year, followed by our second issue in June. Our September catalog lists all the professional trainings and retreats for the upcoming year (2010) as well as many of next year’s Yogimmersion programs, and it will be available in three or four weeks.
July 13, 2009
India with Swamiji
Swamiji reports from India, where she is currently on personal retreat:
I’ve just arrived and am sitting on my balcony overlooking the monsoonal sea. There’s been no rain today, they tell me, but the waves are crashing 15 feet high, just 100 feet from my balcony railing, with an inescapable roar that sounds like Ujjayi Pranayama. I have arrived about 2 hours before sunset, so the sun is glinting across the water of the ocean and the lake, and on the sand sprit between the two.
The staff members have welcomed me back to my home in southern India, to my favorite ayurvedic resort in Kerala. Two of the staff report improved health due to the generous donations given by our group in January, which set them up with health insurance. The sand theives have been stopped and the beach is filling in again.
My driver brought me in by a back road, passing the Kali temple, which is undergoing renovations. They’re expanding Kali’s sanctum and adding a great hall surrounding it.
The resort has construction begining on Monday, adding a swimming pool (!) and six new ayurvedic treatment rooms, which will be ready for us by December. I am sitting now, with a fresh pineapple juice, wishing all of you were here with me, so you can see why they call this “God’s own country.”
With great love & blessings, Swami Nirmalananda
Click here to see photos and what the yogis say about their January 2009 trip!
New Website & Teacher Directory
Check out our new website and international teacher directory at www.svaroopayoga.org. Our new site has lots more information plus a new layout, and lots of pages to explore. Our Teacher Directory now lists each teacher’s certifications in a new layout, plus links that take you to their website and email. Enjoy the new and improved format and graphics, and watch for continuing updates and improvements. Lots of photos will be uploaded in the next few weeks! We have been working on this for over a year, and are delighted to invite you to visit our new internet home!
Comings & Goings
You’ll find news about our Trainers and staff in this intermittent column, which is how we keep SATYA members up-to-date with everyone at Master Yoga.
Recovering Slowly
We are happy to report that Kris Montigny is home from the hospital and beginning the recovery process. She spent several days there with blood clots in her lungs and her legs. The doctors have been unable to pinpoint a cause, even ruling out cancer, and are keeping a close eye on her and her medications. She is still moving slowly, and appreciates everyone’s love and concern. Swami Nirmalananda is coming to Niantic Yoga Studio in CT to hold a fundraiser on July 26, to help with her medical bills.
New Executive Director
Welcome to our new Executive Director, Mary Kay LeFevour, who goes by the nickname “MK” and lives in Tucson AZ. We feel fortunate to be working with her, as she has a rich background in nonprofit management, as well as a Master's degree in Women's Studies and Public Policy, training as a mediator and facilitator, and years of experience as Executive Director for other organizations. The winning candidate out of 127 applicants, MK is a meditator and long-time practitioner of yoga and spiritual disciplines. She credits these life goals as being one of her main reasons for joining Master Yoga. You can reach her at mk@masteryoga.org. You can come to meet her at our October conference and help us give her a big welcome.
June 23, 2009
Svaroopa® Yoga Conference Website
You have received your conference brochure in the mail, and we now have the website link working for you. Click here to get to our October Conference home page, with links for each of the tracks: Removing Obstacles to Healing, Transformation or Illumination, as well as the Teacher Track and your A La Carte options.
You'll notice that this link takes you to our up-and-coming website, www.svaroopayoga.org, which is still under construction. Many of the pages are ready for you, but the new and improved Teacher Directory is still incomplete. We'll have an announcement about it in a few weeks. Keep breathing! And check out our conference plans, because hotel reservations will be hard to get on that weekend unless you make them early. You can make your reservation now, and even cancel it later if you need to…
April 28, 2009
New Photos of Swamiji!
Many of you have been asking to see photos of our own Swami Nirmalananda Saraswati since she took initiation as a yoga monk. Now you can order your own photo of Swamiji to keep in your album, in your yoga and meditation area, or anyplace you want support and inspiration from Svaroopa® yoga’s originator and Master Teacher. These inspiring and beautiful photos are available in our Amaya® shop. Click here
Comings & Goings
Leslie Johnson – Our Newest Teacher Trainer
Congratulations to Leslie Johnson, CSYT, Leading Teacher, who is now qualified as a Secondary Teacher in Foundations! In April 2008, Leslie took the six-day TTT training in 2008, and then apprenticed in two Foundation courses. She loves her new role, finding in it a more expansive perspective. She says, “Instead of standing on the beach and getting your toes wet, you’re now swimming the ocean, immersed in the multi-dimensionality of the teachings Svaroopa® offers – yet still grounded. It’s so special to guide others in learning to teach the next generation of students in opening the body to find the Self.”
Leslie’s first Svaroopa® yoga experience was a weekend workshop with Swamiji in Minneapolis in 1999. Having suffered with back pain through her teens and early adulthood, Leslie found instant relief in the first Alternate Leg (Pawanmuktasana) pose; she also felt aligned and at home with the Svaroopa® yoga teachings, so she signed up for classes with her local teacher Tammy Lazzaro Moothedan. When Tammy took a break from teaching, Leslie took Foundations and then Level 1 YTT to continue her own studies. She could see herself passing the teachings on to others, and that’s when Leslie knew she wanted to become a Teacher Trainer someday.
Over the past 7 years, Leslie has been continually deepening and grounding her experience of Svaroopa® yoga through YTT, even taking New & Renew: Level 1 and repeating YTT Level 2 before completing YTT Levels 3 and 4. Also certified in Vichara, Leslie also trained as a Leading Teacher and has served her community in this way. In 2006, Leslie left her career in the photo industry to become a full-time teacher of Svaroopa® yoga, collaborating with others to open Highland Yoga Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 2008.
New Executive Director
Master Yoga is seeking candidates for our new Executive Director, since Ellen Sichel, CSYT, has transitioned to a renewed focus on her Svaroopa® yoga teaching and therapy. Our new Executive Director will take on Ellen’s legacy of committed, creative management and to carry it forward into an expanded, full-time position. In addition to management, marketing, fundraising, and outreach to others that support our vision and mission, the new Executive Director will assume administrative responsibilities handled until now by Swamiji and volunteers.
Click here to see our job posting for information about the required professional skills on our website. If you see your credentials and experience reflected there, please apply before May 15! The position is being advertised outside of the Svaroopa® yoga community as well. Our Board’s Governance Committee will receive and review the applications, and expects to interview and hire our new Executive Director within the next four months.
April 7, 2009
Job Opening
We are interviewing for a new full-time Executive Director. We offer a big thank you to Ellen Sichel for her years of leadership and support, while she turns her attention back to her own students and yoga therapy clients. We’d appreciate your help in finding the right person! This new expanded position is fully described on our website [click here].
NEW Magic Four Handout
Six pages of photos from the Yoga International magazine article a few years ago – with lots of details and help for the new or experienced Svaroopi! Click here to preview it or order it from our Amaya® Yoga Shop.
February 2009
Swami Report from India
“I Saw It All” – by Vidyadevi (Bombay) Stillman
In Ganeshpuri India, a big tent was set up under the banyan tree where Bhagavan Nityananda (Rama’s guru’s guru) had meditated when he was alive. The tent, with brightly colored walls and ceiling had a traditional firepit in the center, built of bricks according to the Vedic tradition. A full day yajña (sacred fire ceremony) had filled the day before, invoking blessings of prosperity and joy for the whole world. The seven brahmin priests started new sacred ceremonies, now dedicated to the six who had chosen to become a swami, a seeker of the Self and only the Self. This initiation acknowledges that they are not trying to accomplish what most people are looking for in their life, but instead dedicating themselves to that “something more.” Rama was one of those special seekers.
I sat with 50 other people for morning ceremonies. This first morning, Rama wore white as she was initiated as a brahmin (the caste of priests). Very early in the ceremony, she and the other new brahmins walked out. Somehow I had missed out on the explanation of why they had left. Within a few minutes, someone came to get me and said that Rama wanted to see me. When I got there they were getting their heads shaved. I was amazed as I realized how much of your identity is wrapped up in your hair. This must go as well!
During the ceremonies, Rama offered everything to the fire. With each offering, the fire got hotter and hotter; the initiates went deeper and deeper within, letting go of worldly limitations. After four hours of morning ceremonies, they were left to contemplations and practices through the day and night, fasting by eating only fruit and yoghurt.
The next day began at 4:00 a.m. with the ceremony that turned the brahmins into swamis. The fire was started again. The initiates were joined by other swamis, who helped them offer ghee (melted butter) and dhoop (incense granules) with each mantra they chanted. Each repetition cleared a subtler level of the body, mind and heart.
After the mantras the initiates went to the hot springs for the traditional dip in the river. They stripped off their clothes, chanted the final mantras and took seven steps north, heading toward the Himalayas. Swami Shankarananda called for them to come back to save the world - to save us from ourselves. Rama came back except she wasn't Rama anymore. She had even burned up her name.
They covered themselves with orange wraps and went to Swami Shankarananda's room. I was invited to witness as he lovingly put bhasma (sacred ash) on her forehead, arms and lips, plus placing a rudraksha bead necklace around her neck. Then he draped an orange shawl over their two heads as they leaned close together. He whispered the final initiation mantra in her ear and gave her a new name - Swami Nirmalananda Saraswati. Nirmala means "beyond the three malas"; aananda means bliss. Together they mean the bliss of the Self, beyond inner contraction. Unbounded bliss. Bliss of unboundedness. Then he gave her orange clothing to wear.
I have spent the last few days with Nirmalananda and can see that she continues to find herself. She came back when she was called and has dedicated her life to taking you deeper within your own Self to svaroopa - the bliss of your own being. With great respect and gratitude I welcome her back.
“What is Changed?” – by Swami Nirmalananda Saraswati
I laugh more often. I smile a lot. I find my hands touching my heart every time I see a person, whether I have ever met them before or not. It is because they touch my heart so deeply – each and every one of them. Their eyes shine with the light of God. They always have, but now I see it more.
I know things that I have always known, but I didn’t allow myself to trust them before. I feel incredible freedom – the space to love more fully and to speak more freely. When something catches my eye, it’s like watching a color chip in a kaleidoscope instead of going through the mental gymnastics of labeling it and deciding if it is desirable or repugnant to me.
Yet I am unchanged in some way. I am who I have always been. I am still me.
My commitment to serving you in the ways I have been for over 20 years is unchanged. As I say that, I realize that it is changed a bit, as it has deepened.
My love and gratitude to my own Guru, Swami Muktananda Saraswati, is so utterly complete that I cannot find the line where he ends and I begin. My understanding of what he has given me is more complete than ever before, and I know it will continue to grow.
I still answer to Swami Nirmalananda (Rama) when someone calls to me. It's like a knee-jerk reflex, as I have been known by that name for decades. Yet it doesn't name me. In fact, it ceased to be my name over ten years ago - I have felt nameless for a long time. Now I am glad to have a name that actually names the nameless!
However, you'll probably find it hard to pronounce. Click here for help with saying it! Of course, I will respond if you mispronounce it! I might even laugh and help you with it. We can laugh together.
I look forward to meeting and serving all of you as I have before, or even more fully. I certainly feel my love for you more fully than ever before - it's a great privilege to be part of your life. Thank you for that.
Another New Name
Swami Nirmalananda and Swami Shankarananda teamed up to bestow a new name on our beloved Bombay. She is no longer named after a small town in New York! Her new name is Vidyadevi, which means the goddess of knowing. Both Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, are honored by the name Vidya, so her name refers to both of them. Click here for a pronunciation guide.
Our own Vidyadevi is truly a goddess of knowing, but you already knew that!
So now you have two new names to learn…
December 2008
Yoga Chicago recently featured an article by Rama in their wonderful magazine plus a big photo of Rama in an advanced Warrior pose.
Online Video of Rama
Kasey Luber, the founder of Yogamates.com, says that Rama’s video had an amazing number of views for one week, and its popularity is still growing. Click here to see Rama explain the origin of Svaroopa® yoga, how it got named, as well as the process and purpose.
Rama sends her love and gratitude to all of you who sent her such beautiful blessings when you heard about her upcoming sannyasa ceremony. The ceremony will be in February 2009, and Master Yoga is creating a special poster to celebrate the event, along with a special fundraising program – more information will be coming soon.
Comings & Goings
Christina Miller
Christina has been our Amaya® Yoga Products department for over five years, but we now have to bid her a reluctant farewell. We are moving Amaya® to our main campus in Malvern, PA. This will make it easier for you to make your selections when you are at a training, as well as reduce the shipping costs for the majority of those who do mail order with us. We have had the opportunity to watch Christina’s three babies grow to school age, as well as to enjoy her loving support for all the Svaroopis and teachers. She will be deeply missed!
Kelly Sharp
Welcome to Kelly Sharp, now lovingly installed in Malvern. She is our new full-time Facility Manager in Malvern, having relocated from Rehoboth Beach DE. She will be handling Amaya® Yoga Products for both on-site as well as by-mail orders, and is training with Christina for the whole month of January to make sure it will be a smooth transition. Jim Woodward will continue to assist with our local needs and support Svaroopis who are coming and going, though Kelly will be on-site full time for us, and even answer the phone! Thank you to all of you who have contributed to our “Rebuilding from the Ashes” fundraising campaign, which makes us able to expand our staff for the purpose of supporting you more fully. And a big “Woo-Hoo!” to Kelly.
New Foundations Teacher Trainers
We are very excited to announce our first two graduates of TTT, which is our new training program – Become a Teacher Trainer. Kaya Mindlin and Tish Roy both are now qualified as Secondary Teachers for Foundations of Svaroopa® Yoga and are scheduled to be teaching in a number of trainings in 2009.
Kaya Mindlin lives in Oakland CA and teaches throughout the Bay Area. She took Foundations in 2001, and has gone deeply into ATT Yoga Therapy training as well as ATT Advanced Levels. She has been on our Board of Directors for 2 years and works closely with Rama in an administrative capacity. Kaya has a wonderful ability to convey information in an easy and concise manner, as well as a deep and embodied knowledge of the poses.
Tish Roy lives and teaches in Connecticut, in addition to serving as the Chair of Master Yoga's Board of Directors. She began her training as a teacher in 2002, and has completed a number of ATT courses in both Yoga Therapy and Advanced Levels. Tish is very good at engaging students in the process of learning, especially in leading them through their recognition of what they have experience and learned in the poses.
Both Tish and Kaya completed their TTT training and internship in only seven months! We have scheduled our next TTT training, making it possible for you to be a Foundations teacher by the end of the year (click here). A Secondary Teacher teaches poses as well as leading chant & meditation, asana classes, karma yoga and other components of the intensive Foundations training.
Their photos will join our gallery of Trainers on our website, and you’ll see them in our Summer 09 catalog. The January catalog was completed too early for us to include them in it, sorry! Thank you to Kaya & Tish for all your hard work – and CONGRATULATIONS!
Board Members
Thank you to so many of you who responded to our Board and Seva questionnaire. We are delighted to announce several new Board members, as well as grateful to those who have served two years or more and are now retiring.
Four Board members have finished their term on the Board and have moved into different roles within Master Yoga: Donna Criscuolo, Kaya Mindlin, Kim Orr, and Kelly Sharp. Their service at the Board level has helped to shape Master Yoga through the growth and challenges of the last two years (and longer), but we aren’t really saying goodbye to any of them. They are each stepping into new responsibilities, reported in this email as well as the last SATYA update (August 08).
We have three new Board members, and will be sharing their yoga story as well as a description of what they do in upcoming emails. For now, please help us say welcome, and a big thank you for the work they have already begun.
- Kelly Goss, Calgary Alberta, Canada
- Jennifer Gould, Haddonfield NJ
- Bonnie Schindler, San Diego CA
In addition, we are fortunate to have many long-time Board members continuing their important seva:
- Tish Roy, Woodstock Valley CT
- Annette Bongiorno, Ashland MA
- Sally Broadhurst, Lewes DE
We have also added many Svaroopis to Board committees, and will be reporting on the committee activities as well as their members over the next few months.
MAHA Studies
After four years of offering this comprehensive training program and certificate for yogis (who are not teachers), we are now retiring it. While many Svaroopis have taken a MAHA Studies course here or there, we have had few embark on the study program we wanted to offer, and only one graduate with a certificate. The in-depth weekend turned out to be more work than many wanted to do, with the handouts being less important to them than a longer Shavasana or a deeper yoga class. We are paying attention to what you want and what works for you! And we have plans for a new and exciting offering that will be coming soon…
November 2008
Rama to Become a Swami
We have some wonderful news! In early 2009, Rama will be taking sannyasa vows – to become a swami, a yoga monk. Swami literally means “master of oneself” and is a title given to one who has formally vowed to dedicate his or her life to Self-realization. This dedication occurs during a fire ceremony, which is scheduled to take place in Ganeshpuri India, the village where Rama lived during many of her years of ashram residence and study with her Guru.
The title Swami is bestowed on very few westerners. Rama is being given this initiation by Swami Shankarananda, with whom Rama worked while living in Baba Muktananda’s ashrams. Rama will be a monk in the Saraswati order – the same order as both Shankarananda and Muktananda.
Rama has dedicated herself to yoga and the Kashmiri Shaivite practices for more than 30 years, living as a monk without having been through the formal ceremony. Some dedicated yogis take sannyasin vows at the beginning of their spiritual path. Others, like Rama, undergo the ceremony later when it reflects the inner reality that has been blossoming for a long time. She will receive a new name and wear orange clothes after this initiation, which will deepen her state and expand her capacity to lead and to teach us. At the same time, her new title gives us a way to recognize and honor that “something” that we have been seeing in her and getting from her for a long time.
Rama will be opening a Svaroopa® yoga ashram, a residential facility, in 2009 or 2010 to house and support those who want more in-depth practice under her personal guidance. This ashram will be a sister organization to Master Yoga Foundation (MY Foundation), the two organizations remaining distinct in order to maintain clarity and focus for each. Rama will continue to teach Svaroopa® yoga for MY Foundation, as well as supporting and guiding our staff and Svaroopi community.
This new stage has not come as a surprise and will not be a challenge to MY Foundation. We have been preparing to “grow up” for some time. We know that we gain so much more when Rama is given the time and freedom to dive more deeply into her own inner source. Over the past few years, we’ve worked hard to make MY Foundation a strong stable organization that supports Svaroopa® yoga and is able to convey the teachings with high integrity whether Rama is in the room or not. We support her moving forward on her own path and appreciate her commitment to share the fruits with us, while she entrusts MY Foundation to us. It is due to the commitment of our whole staff, along with our many sevites (volunteers), the generosity of so many donors, and the support of the whole community that this is possible.
MY Foundation is headed into an exhilarating 18th year of life. As a mother is relieved of the day-to-day duties of motherhood when her child grows up, Rama is being progressively freed from the daily needs of MY Foundation. Yet, like the mother who continues to guide, love, and support the grown child, Rama will continue to be part of MY Foundation.
We invite you to be a part of this transformation in a formal ceremony that will recognize Rama’s initiation and honor her lineage at our Svaroopa® Yoga Conference in October of 2009. And, of course, we will keep you up-to-date with ongoing information from Master Yoga and from Rama – including phone calls with Board members and with Rama.
We have had to reschedule some February and March 2009 courses so that Rama can be in India with Swami Shankarananda.
More information is available on many related topics – click on these links:
- Swami FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
- Swami Information
- Muktananda & Shankarananda
- Swami Nirmalananda (Rama)'s biography (with expanded information)
- Svaroopa® yoga ashram (SVA – Svaroopa® Vidya Ashram)
- Master Yoga Seva Program
- Svaroopa® Yoga Conference, October 16-18, 2009
- How can I support Rama in this transition?
- I want more information!
Please email your congratulations, wishes of support, and questions directly to swami@masteryoga.org. Rama will receive all of them personally.
August 2008
New Location
You will be able to take Teacher Training in Northern California! Thank you to Kaya Mindlin, Judy Fuller and Karen Loro who found a wonderful place for us to hold Level 1 and 2 in 2009. The classroom is 1,600 square feet with a high ceiling and large picture windows. In addition, we have a large kitchen and dining room on the lower level of the building, along with lots of bathrooms on both levels. Located in Nevada City, it is 1.5 hours north of Sacramento, a rural area with a feeling similar to Fallbrook. There is lots of nearby housing, including B&Bs and private hosts as well as a motel and cottage within walking distance. The charming nearby town has restaurants and other local services.
With our recent Foundations course led by Rama (now Swami Nirmalananda) at Mt. Madonna, lots of new yogis are ready for this next step. In addition, there is a Sacramento Foundations led by Bombay beginning November 5, 2008, hosted by Kaya Mindlin. These trainings lead up to a Foundations Review that begins July 8, 2009 and then the Level 1 and Level 2 trainings:
- Level 1 • July 10 – 19, 2009
- Level 2 • December 4 – 13, 2009
Comings & Goings
Saying thank you…
to Beth Cunningham, who has worked on our upcoming India trip and assisted Caroline Kennedy in many other ways. Beth is moving on to focus on her own teaching and family, and Caroline has a new assistant stepping in to pick up the important pieces that Beth has set into place. We are grateful to Beth for her recent work in enrollments, as well as the many ways she has supported Master Yoga in the past – and we look forward to our continuing relationship as she brings her many talents to bear in so many ways.
Maria Abbruzzi – new Assistant Enrollment Advisor
We are delighted to welcome Maria in her new position, assisting Caroline in getting everyone the information they need and the personal attention that Master Yoga is committed to providing. Maria is a beloved and familiar face, having served a DTS Mentor and having been the Mentors’ Mentor for many years. She is a single mom of three as well as a full time yoga teacher and therapist. Juggling children, students, clients, and her own practice has developed her organizational skills, creativity, patience, and sense of humor. Her years of mentoring have given her the ability to communicate with clarity and compassion.
Maria knows our trainings thoroughly because she has completed so many of them! Her own journey has taken her through YTT, much of ATT, DTS Mentor Training, Meditation Teacher Training, Senior Teacher Training, and many retreats and intensives, as well as assisting in many courses and programs. This makes her able to answer questions about these programs from the depths of her personal experience. She's looking forward to supporting yogis in determining which trainings and intensives are just right for them. Her experience with Master Yoga and her depth of knowledge as a Svaroopa® yoga teacher, as well as her warm and supportive demeanor make her perfect for this position! Contact Maria at programs@masteryoga.org or phone her at 619-718-yoga (619-718-9642) extension 5.
Kelly Sharp – arriving in Malvern
Kelly Sharp is our new full-time Facility Manager in Malvern as of January 1, 2009. Join us in a loud joyful whoop of glee! And pat yourself on the back for being part of the fundraising that makes this new level of support available for students as well as our teaching staff!
Kelly is returning to her PA roots, having spent her college years here as well as working to create residential treatment programs for mentally ill teenage boys. Living in Delaware for the last ten years, Kelly has helped create community in the local Svaroopa® yoga studios as well as a vibrant local coffee house and restaurant. She took Foundations in 2002 and completed Teacher Training in 2003. In addition to teaching, she served three years as a DTS Mentor and has taken advantage of many opportunities to assist with trainings and supervise newcomer classes. She also completed Meditation Teacher Training in 2005.
She describes her upcoming move to Master Yoga, “I wanted to have a job where I could use my skills and passions every day... nourishing people, creating community and connections, managing business and building commerce, teaching and doing and living yoga. This is my dream job. This is my new job, and I am very excited to step into this role. I put it out there, and the universe provided.”
New Master Yoga sign
Finally – we have a sign! Click here to see a photo of our new outdoor sign that helps you find your way to us in Malvern. We are delighted to clear all the hurdles that held this sign up for almost nine months! Additionally, we have beautiful signs on the glass entry doors to the building, as well as on the door to our suite, created and donated by Patty Allen. These have been in place for several months. Thank you again, Patty, for your generous support.
Rebuilding From the Ashes
In the last five months since our March update, your generous gifts have brought us over the $100,000 mark – congratulations and thank you! We are now 1/3 of the way to our goal of $300,000, and have already accomplished a lot with your help. In addition to continuing improvements in our Malvern facility as well as paying off more of the debt that had accumulated, we have continued our national advertising campaign as well as added to our administrative staff.
As we continue to build the foundation that supports Svaroopa® yoga, your support is more important than ever. While much has been accomplished, it is the equivalent of tying ropes around the loose girders in the Eiffel Tower. We rely on your help to build a structure that supports Svaroopa® yoga and insures its expansion into future decades. We can only offer you what you make us able to offer, so please open your wallets along with your hearts and tailbones. Your donations are tax-deductible as charitable contributions. Thank you for your love and generosity.
As we continue to build the foundation that supports Svaroopa® yoga, your support is more important than ever. While much has been accomplished, it is the equivalent of tying ropes around the loose girders in the Eiffel Tower. We need your help to build a structure that supports Svaroopa® yoga and insures its expansion into future decades. We can only offer you what you make us able to offer – please help us by opening your wallets along with your hearts and tailbones. Your donations are tax-deductible as charitable contributions. Thank you for your love and generosity. And remember, you can also make it a donation in honor of somebody important to you!
July 2008
Comings & Goings
Congratulations to Kim Orr, who is now qualified as a Secondary Teacher in Foundations. As a Secondary Teacher, Kim the poses, including the partner-pairing process, which is such an important part of the learning process, as well as classes, chant & meditation, and karma yoga. Kim has recently moved from Baton Rouge to Lake Tahoe, and will be starting up classes in the area along with traveling to teach both weekend workshops and Foundations courses for Master Yoga.
Kris Montigny is now qualified at two more levels, so more congratulations in order! In addition to becoming a Secondary Teacher in YTT Level 2, Kris is also now qualified as a Primary Teacher in Foundations. The Primary Teacher in a course teaches the anatomy classes, lectures on yoga’s principles of consciousness, as well as teaching methodology and many other critical presentations – and, of course, classes, chant & meditation, and poses and partner-pairing. Kris has been teaching for Master Yoga for 4 years now, and has recently expanded her role significantly – for which we are very grateful.
Welcome to Jim Woodward, our new Campus Coordinator in Malvern PA. Jim retired from working in management on the railroad, plus he built his own home himself, so he brings a broad range of skills to this very eclectic position. We are delighted to have him aboard.
Thank you to Sonya Moore, who has had to step down from her position on Master Yoga’s Board of Directors. We appreciate her deep love and support of Master Yoga through the years, and are sorry to see her go – even though it is not really a goodbye. Just a change in the outer form of the relationship, while the underlying glue that holds us together is unchanged.
Master Yoga will be announcing openings on our Board of Directors beginning in September, and accepting applications for these seva positions. Specific abilities and training are needed to complement our current Board members skills; we’ll let you know more about that soon.
Australia!
Our Trainers have been spending so much time in Australia that they are beginning to talk funny! Janet has been giving lessons in the Foundations courses she has been leading as well. Of course, the Aussies think we are the ones who sound a bit strange…
May 2008
Comings And Goings…
We have to announce that Jaya Tara Boyce Crivello is transitioning out of her Teacher Trainer position. She will be focusing on her classes and clients plus leaving space in her life for new projects that are bubbling up from within. Fortunately, she will be teaching one more Foundations course this year (more about that below), so we don’t have to say goodbye right away. So many of you have benefited from her loving support, and we will all miss her as a Teacher Trainer. Thank you, Jaya!
Rob Gold has been our Facility Coordinator at our new Malvern PA campus. He got it up and going, with a huge gift of his time and work – weeks of preparation, not to mention that he moved from the West Coast in order to be able to do this! He is now moving on. Rob is a gifted and wonderful teacher, and expresses his love of Svaroopa® yoga so beautifully that everyone who talks to him is inspired to do more yoga. We look forward to hearing many reports about his continuing classes and Embodyment® Yoga Therapy sessions, wherever he lands next.
New Trainers-In-Training
We have completed our first and very successful TTT (Teacher Trainer Training), entitled “Become a Foundations Teacher.” After a very intensive week of full immersion into the most important Svaroopa® yoga poses, Sally Broadhurst, Leslie Johnson, Kaya Mindlin, & Tish Roy are continuing into their next step – personal coaching in their teaching. This is very much like teachers-in-training get in their Newcomers Classes. The good news for you is that lots of new Foundations courses are being added to Master Yoga’s calendar for 2008 – giving you lots of opportunities to do your Continuing Ed or send your students in for a deeper experience of Svaroopa® yoga.
Rama’s New CD!
Rama’s new CD, “Embodied Infinity” is coming out June 21! This recording gives you the experience of being Infinite Reality while being in your body at the same time! Haunting and deep, this recording reveals Rama’s own inner devotion and inspires your own – through her ethereal solos and rhythmic grace.
New Yogi Kitchen Policy
The kitchen in our Malvern campus is now officially a yogi kitchen, which means it is pure vegetarian. Rama is delighted by this decision of Master Yoga’s Board of Directors – a choice that supports both the students and the Teacher Trainers in cultivating a yogic space for retreats and trainings.
Please do not bring meat, poultry, fish, or eggs into the facility – not to cook, not to eat, not to store, and not to put in the trash. You are welcome to store or cook vegetarian meals in our Malvern kitchen, or you can explore the many wonderful local restaurants. When you register for a course, we send you a list of eateries and markets. We are confident in your ability to take care of your needs during courses in Malvern.
Svaroopa® Yoga Ad in Magazines
Woohoo! We are now advertising in both Yoga Journal and Yoga + Joyful Living (formerly Yoga International). This is just one of the ways we are “Rebuilding from the Ashes” and enlivening our mission – to cultivate and support conscious community.
Thank you for your generosity in supporting our fundraising, and making this important step possible for us and for you. Our ad says:
Got Pain?
Do Svaroopa® Yoga
We know that lots of people, and especially lots of yogis and teaches have a lot of pain. These ads are designed to invoke curiosity and interest, while directing readers to our website and Teacher Directory! It is part of our new mission to keep Svaroopa® yoga in the forefront of people’s awareness, both to send students your way as well as increase enrollment in Master Yoga’s programs.
[Click here] to see our full color ad in the current Yoga Journal
Bring More Light into Malvern
Our Malvern campus has beautiful wall sconce lighting – perfect for Shavasana, yoga classes, chanting, and meditation. However, when it’s time to turn the lights up so we can study, we are left with fluorescent lighting. The quality of light and the buzzing noise is difficult for both our students and Trainers.
We need your help to add new and improved lighting so we can leave the fluorescent lights off. The permit and installation is a $2,000 expense, and we are hoping that you can help. Thank you for your loving support!
April 2008
Comings & Goings
We are delighted to welcome our new staff members while we say a big thank you to one who is retiring (but not leaving)!
Beth Cunningham, CSYT
Those who are going to India with Rama in January have already been taken care of by Beth, with her loving care and quick responses! Beth is now assisting Caroline Kennedy, our Enrollment Adviser, in making sure that everyone gets the information they need and the personal attention that Master Yoga is committed to providing. We are very fortunate to have Beth join us in this important area, telecommuting from her home in Orange County CA.
Janet Murray, CSYT
Congratulations to Janet as our newest Teacher Trainer! She is now a Secondary Teacher in Foundations, having completed her interning by commuting from Brisbane QL, Australia. We are so grateful for her huge investment in time, money and energy – not to mention all she does for Svaroopa® yoga down under. Janet will be team-teaching with Karobi in the Foundations Review that begins in a few days in Emu Park. In addition to teaching in Australia, she will be teaching in Foundations in the USA – you may be seeing her soon, especially if you are redoing Foundations for your Continuing Ed. You can contact Janet directly at yogajan@tpg.com.au.
Cheryl Davis, CSYT
So many of you know how beautifully Cheryl has served in her role as a DTS Mentor, mentoring many groups since her Mentor training 2002. She has been an M-Group Mentor for the last three years, which means she Mentors the DTS Mentors. While you already know that our DTS Mentors have a phone call with each Mentee every month, you may not know that your DTS Mentor also has an M-Group Mentor. M-Group means a “group of Mentors.” Cheryl has been serving as an M-Group Mentor, along with Maria Abbruzzi, reviewing lesson plans with the Mentors before they have their call with you. Maria will be continuing in this important responsibility, though Cheryl is now retiring. We are all very grateful for Cheryl’s generous support in this important program, as well as the clarity and love she brings to it. The good news is that we are not losing Cheryl’s love and support, as she continues in her pivotal role in the administration of our many programs, based in our San Diego office.
Jeanne Ormiston, CSYT
Jeanne has been serving as a DTS Mentor since 2005, and will now be mentoring out Mentors. She brings a great depth of training and experience to this new responsibility, having done her Teacher Training in 1998 and begun her Advanced Teacher Training in 2004. She has completed many advanced levels and Yoga Therapy trainings since, and continues to teach and do Yoga Therapy sessions in her home city of Ottawa.
March 10, 2008
Dedication Ceremony
“It was wonderful being present at the dedication ceremony. I am now retaking Foundations and it feels like the space still echoes with the energy from the dedication. Its wonderful spending so much time in the room with the beautiful altar we helped you set up. I loved all of the ceremony, but after practicing mantra japa for 10 days (for the Cultivating Happiness phone course), I’m finding that every time I repeat my mantra in the new space, silently or out loud, its effect on me seems magnified. One final note: As I enter the building each morning, I find myself smiling at the memory of Rob smashing the coconut on the concrete while we all shouted ‘OM NAMAH SHIVAYA!’" – Lisa Knight
“I enjoyed and was quite touched by being a part of the Dedication Ceremony. I loved the community activities of preparing together and learning more about the who, what, and why. The dedication ceremony was moving to me and I feel like I had a profound experience when bowing to and communicating with Nitanyanda at the conclusion of the event. I feel like the lineage is living through me as well as all of you.” – Jennifer Gould
March 1, 2008
Dedication Ceremony In Malvern PA
Everything is made of energy, the physicists agree with the yogic sages – ever-moving ever-changing energy, called shakti in Sanskrit. Shakti is the energy that manifests as atoms as well as the impulse that makes your heart beat and your breath move. Shakti keeps us in the continuous flow of life – which means a continuity of changes. We are having our formal Dedication Ceremony on Thursday morning (March 6) for our East Coast campus in Malvern PA, while we are on the move in California, and we have some Trainers who are movers and shakers as well.
Many who live within a couple hours drive are joining us for our early morning event with Rama, featuring yoga’s ancient rituals which involve lots of flowers, candles, chanting, meditation, story-telling and yummy snacks. We are beginning at 6 am with making flower garlands and setting up the myriad specialized supplies. We start the proceedings once our setup is complete (around 7 am). Thank you to the yogis who are bringing many of the supplies that make the ceremony possible – your gifts make it even more powerful. We know your love and blessings are with us even if you cannot come in person.
Trainers Promoted
Congratulations to two of our Teacher Trainers who are growing in their own expertise and in serving our community of Svaroopis:
Karobi Sachs
Karobi is now qualified as Primary Teacher in YTT Level 1 and YTT Level 2. As Primary Teacher, she leads the whole training, teaching poses, anatomy, philosophy, teaching methodology, ethics, lifestyle and much much more. She is in the classroom most of the time, and carefully tracks each teacher-in-training where she/he is at – in their personal needs as well as their progress through the wealth of material covered. Karobi has been a key part of our YTT program since January 2003, and many of you have enjoyed working with her as she continued her own training. She continues to teach in many other programs as well as our MYX (Master Yoga Extension) programs. Seeing her growing mastery is another wonderful way to see your own!
Kris Montigny
Kris is now qualified as a Secondary Teacher in YTT Level 1. She became a Foundations teacher in March 2005, and has focused on interning in additional levels over the last year. With her recent move out of a full-time job into being a full-time teacher and yoga therapist in Niantic CT, she also spent a lot of time with us in PA, finalizing her internship. We are delighted that she just finished teaching the Level 1 in Fallbrook along with Karobi, which was a wonderful group with 16 students. She is also close to completing her internship for Secondary Teacher in YTT Level 2, so you can watch for another announcement soon.
You enjoy the support and expertise of our Teacher Trainers because they truly work hard to reach each new level of qualification, which comes after apprenticing in each course anywhere from four to ten times. They truly know the material inside-out (or, we should say, outside-in!). We commend their good work and are truly grateful for their dedication.
February 2008
Comings and Goings
Ellen Sichel
Welcome to Ellen Sichel, our new Executive Director. We are so grateful that Ellen handled many leadership responsibilities as a sevite (volunteer) over the last year, and delighted that she is stepping into a larger arena now. Ellen brings her many strengths to Master Yoga, including her depth of knowledge in Svaroopa® yoga, as a CSYT and Senior Teacher, Deeper Yoga Teacher, Embodyment® Yoga Therapist, Meditation Teacher, and RYT 500. Ellen's expertise also includes her marketing degree and many years of experience in business and sales.
She is a trailblazer, having built a large Svaroopa® yoga community in Atlanta, first teaching in her own studio and then merging into a larger studio with other instructors. Before she began practicing Svaroopa® yoga, she had been suffering from the effects of lupus, TMJ, and other stress-related illnesses. Now, the lupus has been in remission for many years and her other stress-related problems are gone. She says that she is calmer, stronger, and more flexible than ever in her life.
Rob Gold
Rob is our new Facility Coordinator at our Malvern Campus. He comes to us from Hood River OR, with an extensive background in outdoor sports and travel. He was introduced to Svaroopa® yoga 18 months ago by his super-hero sister. The changes in his body and mind were profound, moving him to embark on Teacher Training, where he has already completed Level 2. When the opportunity arose to be a larger part of Master Yoga, he packed up his dog and hopped on a plane. For three weeks, Rob did full-time seva, tackling the hard labor of setting up our new facility. When the Trainers arrived for a YTT course, he had it ready to go. Fortunately, he took the Embodyment® course soon afterward, which released all those spinal tensions he had been creating. We are delighted to be working with him on a continuing basis, while he also teaches Continuing Yoga classes at local yoga studios.
Tish Roy
She is now offering her seva as the Interim Chair of our Board of Directors. We are grateful that she is taking on this important leadership role. Tish is living and loving Svaroopa® yoga in Woodstock Valley, CT, where her home and Ananda Yoga Studio creatively co-exist on her property. Her credentials include certified Senior Svaroopa® yoga teacher, Embodyment® Therapist, Meditation Teacher, and Vichara facilitator. She also facilitates discussion groups on yoga philosophy. Tish is currently enrolled in the ATT Program. Prior to teaching Svaroopa® yoga she was a Clinical Social Worker and Certified Forensic Therapist for approximately 20 years. Many of these skills she finds valuable in supporting her students through their journey of personal transformation. When Tish is not teaching yoga she feels blessed to be parenting two teenage children, Daniel and Tori, and equally enjoying the company of her husband of 23 years, Dan.
Tish writes, “When I was asked to consider being the Board Chair, there was truly no hesitation to my answer. It felt like being in perfect alignment in a yoga pose: it was open, clear and in the flow of grace. It sincerely feels like this is the next organic step in my relationship with Master Yoga Foundation. Over many years now Master Yoga has unconditionally and compassionately supported, challenged and guided me toward reaching my full potential. I feel ready and equipped to do the same for Master Yoga. I am excited to be present in this capacity for the Svaroopa® community and I look forward to assisting Master Yoga as it builds toward its true potential.”
Cheryl Davis
Cheryl handled a lot of extra responsibilities while serving as our Administrative Coordinator for the last year. We thank her from a deep heart, for all of the extra work she took on! Now she is continuing with us as SATYA Coordinator and Executive Assistant. We are fortunate to have her continuing support, in a still-familiar but much less daunting capacity. Cheryl is a long-time Svaroopi, having taught classes for several years, served as a DTS M-group Mentor (mentoring the Mentors), Senior Teacher, and wonderful assistant in many San Diego trainings and programs. She continues to be the behind-the-scenes magician for the Master Yoga trainers and staff. Thank you, Cheryl!
Geo Center One-Click Access
Our Teacher Directory now spotlights the Geo Centers. Click here to see the areas with many Svaroopa® yoga teachers who are working together to support each other and to partner with Master Yoga. These cities and the participating teachers get top billing with our new One-Click Access, which gives you the list of the local teachers participating in their Geo Center. Students will find it easy to identify the most involved teachers. The option to search by state is still there, of course, and shows up on each Geo Center page as well. If you want to know more about the Geo Centers, email cheryl@masteryoga.org or phone her at 619-718-9642, extension 14.
January 2008
Master Yoga's New Home in PA
We are delighted to announce that we have a new PA teaching facility! The Concordville Conference Center has been a good home for us in this interim period, especially since we held our bi-annual conference there, but we are ready for our own home - and delighted to be moving in right after the New Year.
Our new location is 42 Lloyd Ave, Malvern, PA 19355, only 6 miles away from our previous location in West Chester. We are in a beautiful building in a quiet area, and have the lower level all to ourselves. We have double the space that we had before, with a much larger yoga room, a full kitchen, large dining area, 2 bathrooms and a number of small offices and Yoga Therapy rooms. There is plenty of parking, and we have beautiful forest behind us with a large grassy park along the side.
Our first classes will be the EYTS courses, New & Renew, with Level 1 beginning January 11 and Level 2 beginning on January 14. In the next 3 weeks, we will be doing remodeling and decorating, plus getting the props and supplies we need to make it ready for all of you. We appreciate all your support that has helped us get through these first few months after the fire, and look forward to your continuing support as we get our new facility up and operating. If you are planning your year-end donations, it is a perfect time to help us with our very busy year-end.
We are closer to the Philadelphia airport, only 22 miles away. We have begun researching the hotel and restaurant options for you, and have a preliminary list based on a web search - click here. We are now only minutes away from DiBella Yoga in Paoli PA, while still being close to two other areas with many Svaroopa® yoga teachers in Swarthmore PA and West Reading PA. We don't offer regular weekly classes at our campus, but you can find many skilled and experienced teachers in these nearby areas.
November 2007
Comings & Goings
Bombay’s New Title
So many have had the honor of studying under the guidance of Bombay Stillman. We are delighted to announce her new status in our organization. We have asked her to take on a very large responsibility and she has accepted. Her position is Director of Programs. Beginning in 2008, she will oversee all of our programs and Trainers. We are all very excited about her new role.
Karobi’s New Title
In addition, Karobi Sachs is being promoted and has a new title – Program Coordinator. In a way, it simply acknowledges what she has always done for us, both as DTS coordinator as well as behind-the-scenes get-everything-done person. We are tremendously grateful for her ever-present support, and delighted to acknowledge it and formalize it with her new title.
September 28 2007
Rebuilding from the Ashes
We are holding all of our courses that were scheduled for Pennsylvania - we have interim locations for the next 6 weeks
Additionally, I want to thank Polly DiBella for hosting us in her yoga studio, DiBella Yoga, many times since we made the move to PA. In the beginning, our facility was not ready, so she allowed us to hold trainings there. Then, there were several times that problems with our West Chester PA facility made it unusable, and she offered her space or housed us for a day.
As you know, the fire was a total property loss. We have plenty of work cut out for us in getting relocated and rebuilding from the ashes. Looking back, it is clear that we had many problems with the West Chester PA location - including heat, plumbing and finally electrical. In addition, it was too small - we had to turn people away from several courses because there wasn't room. It truly is a blessing in disguise that we are looking for a new home, as we are looking for a larger home!
Our Board of Directors recently met for two full days to clarify Master Yoga's vision and purpose, especially in light of the transformation thrust upon us by the "fire of yoga." Their clarity and leadership will define our mission for the future, and guide us through the rebuilding and the fund-raising that will make it possible. You will be receiving a letter soon, detailing our needs and sharing our vision and purpose. We are excited to be unveiling the full plan at our November Conference, "Outside and Inside."
We are currently negotiating on a new facility, 10 minutes away from our West Chester PA site. It is significantly larger, with a wonderful meditative environment. We will let you know as soon as we know!
Thank you for your love and support in this exciting time!
Namaste,
Rama (now Swami Nirmalananda)
August 30 2007
Message from Rama (now Swami Nirmalananda)
I am deeply grateful to everyone who is sending messages of love and support. Master Yoga only exists because of your yoga practice. We can create a new facility only with your help.
Our Board of Directors and fantastic staff have been working on the many aspects of this challenge since the news of the disaster. This is the third of our updates so far, as we work to keep you in the know - this one has photos.
Our first priority is to create temporary quarters for the upcoming courses beginning September 16. We will be running the September 16-21 Embodyment® Yoga Therapy Training at Soul Source Yoga (Clair Oaks' studio) in Swarthmore PA and the September 23-28 Embodyment® training at the Rehoboth Beach Yoga Center in Rehoboth Beach DE. For the remaining upcoming trainings, we already have a couple of local options and will continue to search, so we have several to choose from - to find the best location that will work for everyone's travel and housing plans. The Board has also been discussing our long-term facility needs, which have been on the back burner since we moved to Pennsylvania. We will keep you up-to-date each step of the way.
Meanwhile, our trainings and our November Conference, "Outside & Inside," are continuing without a gap. Because the news was such a shock, you may have forgotten that the early registration deadline for "Outside & Inside" is September 15th. It's time to make your plans - so take a look at your conference brochure now!
For myself, I have been asked to describe my reaction. My best ability to describe it is that I don't have a reaction. I see that there is a lot of work to do, and that there are lessons to be learned. I understand the purifying power of fire, and am grateful for this unique and wonderful form of grace. And I am still digesting the events.
Perhaps another way I can describe it is this. I had planned a personal retreat to begin the day after the vichara course ended, and am on that retreat now. I am in Varanasi, India. I am meditating at the cremation ghats every morning and evening. I know the power of being burned by the fire, and the incredible affirmation of life that is there in the ashes. All this is contained in our little blaze, and more. I look forward watching the next chapter blossom forth!
Namaste,
Rama (now Swami Nirmalananda)
August 27, 2007
First Hand Fire Reports
The teachers in the vichara training with me have shared their experiences of discovering the burned-out building. I thought it would help you understand the event and feel like you are included. I recognize it is almost harder to be at a distance and trying to absorb the information than if you were here. Your fellow Svaroopis can help.
We will have photos for you in another day or two. We will be posting everything on our website, and updating it with information as quickly as we have it - probably every 2-3 days. You can stay up to date on www.masteryoga.org.
We have begun getting emails from all of you, and appreciate your concern and support. SAT members can also post messages on the teacher's E-group, so you have a way of "talking" with each other. Yes, this will be expensive. The Board and staff are currently assessing the cost and our next steps, as well as how we set ourselves up over the long haul. Because, yoga is for the long haul!
Here are the first-hand reports for you -
Elizabeth McKenty - As we drove up Phoenixville Pike, we saw a smoldering building. It took a few moments for it to compute that the building had burnt down. The marshals were looking for Rama (now Swami Nirmalananda) who was not due to arrive until 8:15a, so we called her. Rama called back without a hint of distress in her voice saying = "Gather whatever blankets and pillows you have in your cars and hotel rooms. we'll continue the training at my house." Wow! This lifted my entire perspective. Rama never missed a beat. Yes, we have to deal with things, but I really see how she truly embodies everything she teachers us. We were able to set up for the day in the neighboring building. As the day progressed and we kept walking past the burnt remains of the building, I realized Master Yoga is not a building. It is inside us all - Rama has taught as how to dissolve our limitations with the help of Yoga - and the burning of Master Yoga is not limiting for Rama and is not limiting to any of us either. I feel lucky to have been here and have been able to process the event with Rama and the other Vichara students.
Deborah Shapiro - The last day of the Vichara Training in August, Master Yoga studio burned down. I was one of the people who closed the studio the last night and came to open it in the morning. When we arrived it was burned to the ground. A sense of disbelief washed over me. I couldn't believe how something could be here for one minute and gone the next. As all of us gathered we shared our shock, talked to the fire marshal and gathered what we had in our cars and moved to another building, creating another space to finish our work. Rama led us back to our Vichara session. Clair Oaks arrived with a puja. The reality set in - no one got hurt, we lost things, but Master Yoga is alive and well. We will rebuild as we have so many times. This incredible style of yoga helps us all open to a new reality - a new site.
Addie Alex - When we arrived and saw that the building had burned down to the ground I was incredulous. This is unbelievable. In a way it stopped my thinking. Wow! After talking with some of the inspectors and other yogis, I walked around to where the front door was, by myself. Immediately and inner calling out to Nityananda arose in me. It was like I was asking, "Nityananda - What is this? What is going on? Help me to understand." Through the morning vichara session, I looked at "What is the foundation that is holding me up?" Do I lean into Master Yoga, the building? What do I lean into really? What is my foundation? It is not this physical building. When I saw Rama and could feel she was OK I took that as permission to not be the one holding things together. I could let go and allow this event to have an impact. I could experience the smoke, the burn down, caved in building and the power that could make something be here yesterday and not today - in a different way. I could let it in. My body trembled and shook and quivered on the inside and I knew my inner circuitry was being scrambled. My sense of foundation is shifting. It certainly is not this building where Master Yoga has been housed. Even calling out to Nityananda is not the foundation - it is something much deeper in myself. This event has free me from some limiting beliefs and invited me to find and feel the texture of my own inner foundation - THE SELF. Namaste and with gratitude to be a part of this Community.
Dorothy Barbara - We left the house that morning after three days of torrential rain. I turned and said to Sandy, "It looks like we're going to clear things up today." I couldn't believe my ears when right before we turned into the parking lot when Sandy said, "OH my God, Master Yoga has burnt down." She said I stopped the car at that point. I don't remember. I crept into the parking lot hoping that was just a bad joke or mistake. It was like the death of a friend. A building that was like a security blanket. I thought about my notebook and all the vichara work along with my cell phone buried under the rubble, melted along with Nityananda and Ganesh and felt a sense of relief. Taking this course was helping me to clear a way the stuff and changing my perspective on old beliefs. I felt so glad to be here when this happened. To see Tarlika in her trench coat looking like a detective taking pictures as the rest of us stood talking to the fire marshal and the owner of the building, trying to piece together what could have caused this. Elizabeth was on the phone talking to Rama. It was as though she was right there with us. We all got the message and were back on track. Gather all the blankets you can, go have breakfast; we'll be starting at 7:30am!! And we did. Our first question - what are you aware of? Thank you Rama for holding this space for us. The rest of the day went on as if nothing happened. It was only a building!!
Leslie Johnson - When I arrived at the training site and saw that the building had burned down, I was in a place of - it's all gone. I was a little sad and there was some beauty and amazement and wonderment. It wasn't the building anymore; it was what remained that was worth experiencing. I looked at the ash structure of what remained and where there was space. I looked for objects and described to the authorities where things used to be as much as I could remember. And hugged a few of us in recognition that we had shared a loss and that it was really all right. We all engaged in comments about how this mirrors our Vichara Training. We have gone on with the final day of our training using another facility. Rama sits with us supporting us in our process of "experiencing what we are experiencing." There is a special intimacy about this experience that we are all here together supporting one another in another opportunity to look into ourselves. How beautiful.
Tarlika Anderson - We'd been having problems all day with fluctuating electrical current, the phones, broken water pump, no water and going out for lunch and bathroom breaks. Then this morning, Nansi and I arrived and saw all these cars parked in the driveway and thought, "Oh, they're working on the electrical problem." (She's smarter than I am). Just another foot into the driveway we saw - no building! The stone wall at the end was there; the rest was sagging charred beams, the roof almost completely collapsed. I think I said, "WOW!" It was pretty impressive. Something totally there was not totally gone. No more electrical problems! Something about it being so gone made it clear and complete - like a clean cut rather than a jagged laceration. In some ways, in terms of the training, it was not much more inconvenient than the problems of the past few days. The landlord gave us a space in the building next door (mercifully undamaged) to finish our training, and we continue to go out to neighboring stores to pee. We had a wonderful opportunity to use the vichara technique to digest the experience. The fires marshals and inspectors were very nice, very thorough. The firemen who put out the fire were long gone to their day jobs or back to the firehouse. The insurance inspector came, too, and soon there will be a clean up. And the landlord says he may rebuild and, of course, we will have to find a new space. Rama and Master Yoga will need money. Please send what you can. Some things are irreplaceable, but we all know what blankets, stereos, and computers, etc cost. Boxes of the CD's Rama sells are gone, the puja is gone, the two filing cabinets full of printed out pink sheets are gone. The phone is gone; the coffeemaker is one. Send what you can, once we have somewhere to put it.
Nansi Colley - On Tuesday afternoon we heard a pop and the lights flickered momentarily. The pump for the well went out. No water for afternoon tea and coffee. Oh! No toilets. Oops! We had breaks for trips to Home Depot and the nearby Hampton hotel. The plumber arrived on Wednesday AM. He said it was not a pump problem, but electrical. The electrician came in the afternoon and thought the problem might have been at the pole in the transformer/state power lines. All day the lights were dimming on and off, a weird "browning out". We did vichara until 9:30 PM on Wednesday evening and went home. The next morning at 6:30 AM as we drove in, Tarlika and I saw the lots of cars and trucks. I said, how great! They are here fixing our electricity already, and so early in the AM! Then we got closer and saw a stream of smoke. Why is there smoke coming out of our building? I muttered. Then we got closer. The skeleton of the building was charred, destroyed. The Fire Marshall was there, along with many other men. Everyone was so nice to us. There was a sweetness, a surrender, as we all stood there . looking . absorbing.
One of the State Police men said that they had gotten the call at approximately 11:56 PM. (We thought that is was amusing that it was an approximate time). Flames were bursting forth, horizontally out the windows. That meant that the fire was already ablaze not too long after we left, and very intense. We were all relieved that no one was in the building at the time. The Fire Marshall was like Colombo as he inquired about events, candles, any unusual people around. He was so gentle with us. He said, "I will need to ask you questions throughout the day, is that OK? I may need to ask you the same question more than once, since each time, there may be a different understanding". We laughed, since we were in the Vichara course, he had the perfect group. The heat must have been enormous. Everything was burned, melted. We were told that the heat kept building up as long as the tile roof was intact. It was not until the roof collapsed that the heat could disperse. All that was left were the skeletons of the refrigerator, chairs and filing cabinets. In the filing cabinets, charred remains of the pink pose sheets, in the rubble, a square of blanket, a portion of Ganesh. I was in awe of the power of the fire. The smell of charcoal pervaded the air. There was a sweet surrender I felt, as we all stood there. There was so much love, with us and also with the work crews - police and fire department. Rama directed us to have breakfast, gather up blankets and pillows meet back in 1 hour in a large room in the other building. Rama was such a role model; such strength. We did vichara. Rama skillfully led us through vichara as we sorted out our feelings and reactions to the fire. Rama was so poised, so clear, so calm, so focused. The vichara sessions were highly effective at processing in a very deep and effective way, my reactions and feelings. Clair arrived with a puja, which was so sweet. The day went on, we completed the course, and we were able to focus on the work ahead of us for the day. The vichara in the AM allowed us to let go and to focus. In the afternoon, I thought about the tragic loss of all the books and the puja. Hopefully we can replace some books from used bookstores, or on Ebay or Amazon. It would be wonderful to have a list, and all of us could keep an eye out. Master Yoga is so much more than a building, blankets, blocks and knee-pads. We will get new blankets, new blocks, a new puja, a kitchen. We have each other, the grace and love abounds.
Thank you for your love and concern, and for your prayers and blessings.
Namaste,
Rama (now Swami Nirmalananda)
August 22, 2007
West Chester Studio Fire
Dear Svaroopa® yoga Community,
Master Yoga's studio in West Chester, Pennsylvania, was consumed by fire last night, Wednesday, August 22 around midnight.
The fire is presumed to have started in the electrical wiring in the drop down ceiling. The exact cause is under investigation by the Fire Marshall, but arson has been ruled out.
No one was present at the time of the fire and no one was hurt.
The building is a total loss. Rama (now Swami Nirmalananda) and the students arrived at the site at 6:30 am to discover the charred remains of the building. Firemen had arrived in time during the early morning to save the neighboring building, which is owned and occupied by our landlord.
The landlord graciously offered a large room in his building to Rama and the students in the Vichara Training Course so that they could complete the final day of the training by beginning an inquiry into how the fire affected them.
The Board of Directors and Administrative staff have begun working on a short-term solution for upcoming courses. The next program begins on Sunday, September 16 and we plan to run all courses as scheduled.
As we get more answers, we will keep you informed. We will be sending photos of the building as wells as reports from the students in the current course.
We appreciate everyone's love and support. Rama says the best way you can support Master Yoga at this time is by "sending blessings, instead of worrying."
Namaste,
Master Yoga Board of Directors
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