We thanked our wonderful guest teachers for their contributions to the training: Jivana Heyman (Accessible Yoga); Arun Deva (Ayurveda Yoga Therapy); Saraswati (Chair Yoga); and Lara Benusis (Yoga for Cancer Wellness). Swami Jnaneswariananda and Swami Dharmananda led the sessions along with special guest teachers Mary Thompson, Arun Deva, Dr Suprabha Jain, and Jivana Heyman. Sw Jnaneswariananda taught the Yamas and Niyamas; Swami Dharmananda taught role play sessions; Mary Thompson taught therapeutic relationship and role play. Swami Dharmananda and Swami SivaSankariananda gave workshops on "Sanatana Dharma", "Intro to the Vedas", "Kirtan and Chanting", and "Mantra and Sound". Staff members presented teachings on an assortment of topics throughout the Satsangs and workshops. Staff were inspired to study and hear the stories Swamiji shared. Satsangs returned to their pre-TTC schedule, with a weekly Puja led by Krishnan Namboodiriji and stories from the Mahabharata and Srimad Bhagavatam in the evenings, and teachings from Swami Sivananda and Swami Vishnudevananda in the morning Satsangs. This was followed by the wonderful Krishna Janmastami celebration at the Krishna Temple with many bhajans chanted, mantras, offerings of flowers and a reading from the Srimad Bhagavatam, bringing great joy and inspiration to the group.

Srinivasan, as part of the Sadhana Intensive, has been conducting lectures on Srimad Bhagavatam during the morning Satsangs. In early June several courses started including Yoga 4 and 7. Students appreciated the second part of the Raja Yoga workshop. Rabbi Zoe led a high powered Satsang as part of the Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) celebrations. The Sivananda Yoga Health Educator Training was very high energy. Mid September, and the Ashram was high energy with Om Sri Maha Ganapathaye Namah. However, this newly gained energy and knowledge gave me the strength and determination to make the changes I needed in my life, professionally and sentimentally. We did our monthly Ganapati Homa that created a beautiful energy for that whole day bringing several students for the evening class. Discipline was created to keep all motivated and inspired. Your generous support to Swamiji’s mission will keep the Yoga Farm strong and vital during the pandemic. From the day we closed, we gathered our Centre staff at the Yoga Ranch to continue our practice, to support each other and to do what we can to continue with our mission of disseminating the Yoga teachings and support the Sivananda Yoga community in a growing isolated environment.

Just before Swamiji’s peace mission when he flew an ultralight plane over the Berlin wall from West to East, he held a press conference in Covent Garden in London. On the grounds of the Ashram the lavender fields were healthy; the llama and alpacas enjoyed their walks about the Ashram as we prepared starts for the fall/winter garden season. The weather grew nicer and although Toronto is under stay at home order, we are able to spend time outside, working in the garden. Some of the TTC’s chose to some stay on as Karma Yogis for a few days, providing some much needed help in the new Ganga house. During mid-February Swami Swaroopananda, Swami Prema, Jnaneshwari and Kumari left Israel on their way to the Yoga Retreat after a most wonderful, eventful and inspiring seven month stay in Israel. Swami Brahmananda will join Swami Swaroopananda, Swami Premaswaroopananda and Swami Hridyananda at the Ranch in New York to teach, while Krishna-ji will travel to Canada.

Swami Brahmananda gave teachings on the meaning of Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year). In September we celebrated two major holidays: Sivananda Jayanti and Rosh Hashana. These two evenings were filled with Pujas, Prasad, singing and a wonderful feast. They enjoyed daily dance practice, walks in nature, What is Sivananda yoga visiting the Siva Temple at sunrise and giving a beautiful dance performance for all. Moksha Priya also read sacred Hebrew prayers to the guests in the Ashram followed by giving traditional foods. Khilesh, our staff came back after a short visit to his hometown, stopping at Delhi Dwarka Center and Gudur Ashram enroute Madurai. A professional photographer and assistants came to record all details. We continued to give the online classes, to do chant Om Namo Narayanaya for peace and to attend the Satsangs with Reith, together with the karma yogis. We also continued the online drop-in classes, some webinars (courses) and shared Satsangs with the European Centres and even had a lecture with Swami Vairagyananda from the Yoga Camp. Six people arrived to participate in ‘dynamic’ classes, powder massages and an Ayurvedic reduction diet. Generally the term Surgery is believed by many locals to cuts and incisions made on the body to cure diseases, but with our eye-opener Medical Camps people realized other facets of this medical branch which truly comes as a life saver for many health related issues.