Who are the Friends

Welcome to The Friends of Sivananda, a distinguished 501C3 non-profit organization founded in 2015 within the United States by ardent supporters of the Sivananda Ashram. Our commitment is rooted in the belief that the transformative power of Yoga and Vedanta can bring about peace, health, and joy to individuals and communities.

Driven by a passion for the teachings and practices of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, Bahamas, we have dedicated ourselves to providing crucial financial and volunteer support. At the heart of our organization is a collective of volunteer board members and friends of the Ashram who share a common vision of spreading the profound wisdom encapsulated in Yoga and Vedanta.

Our mission is clear: to be a beacon of support for the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, Bahamas. Through our concerted efforts, we aim to not only sustain but enhance the Ashram’s ability to propagate the life-changing benefits of Yoga and Vedanta. By fostering an environment of well-being, mindfulness, and spiritual growth, we contribute to the flourishing of individuals and the global community.

The Friends of Sivananda stands as a testament to the power of collective action and the belief in the positive impact that the principles of Yoga and Vedanta can have on lives. Join us in this enriching journey towards spreading peace, health, and joy, as we continue to be guided by the profound teachings of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, Bahamas.

About the Ashram

Our Lineage and History

The Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas follows an authentic lineage of classical yoga that was introduced to the West by Swami Vishnudevananda, a disciple of Swami Sivananda.

The Ashram is part of an ever-growing international organization of Sivananda ashrams and centers with a mission to share peace, health, and joy through yoga.

The mission of the Sivananda Ashram is to spread peace, health, and joy through the practice and philosophy of Yoga and Vedanta. 

The Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas is a traditional yoga ashram with a mission to teach classical yoga. All are welcome to come to the ashram, to learn from all traditions, and actively promote Unity in Diversity through interfaith and inter-spiritual dialog, including perspectives from science and the arts.

The ashram seeks to promote outer peace in the world through inner peace, by sharing the wisdom and practices of yoga and contributing to a positive shift in consciousness on the planet. The ashram was founded by Swami Vishnudevananda, named in honor of his teacher, Swami Sivananda, and the teachings of these two great yoga masters is at the heart of the ashram’s work and practice.

Our Values

Unity in Diversity drives the values and vision of The Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas. The ashram promotes conversation and exchange through interfaith symposia and events as well as

• Teaching self-transformation through yoga, teaching a yogic lifestyle for the attainment of joy, health, and longevity
• Teaching the yoga of service. The ashram runs completely on the devoted service of every person present
• Building a spiritual community based on daily gatherings for Satsang that bring everyone together for meditation, chanting, and teachings
• Teaching devotion, daily practices that express love for the Divine, in all its forms

Our Work

Helping individuals to heal on all levels — physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually — through the teachings of yoga, as well as by introducing healing methods and approaches from a variety of religious and spiritual traditions.

Helping individuals to progress on the spiritual path and attain Self-realization through the classical teachings of yoga (Karma, Bhakti, Raja, and Jnana Yogas), primarily as taught by our own lineage as well as by introducing other spiritual paths and lineages to promote openness, unity, and expansion of horizons.

Helping humanity to unite by bringing together people from all walks of life and a variety of spiritual paths, healing methods, religions, and sciences. Promoting the message of unity in diversity and outer peace through inner peace.