Asha Nayaswami was 22 in 1969, when she met her spiritual teacher Swami Kriyananda, a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, author of the classic Autobiography of a Yogi. From that day to the present, Asha has dedicated her life to practicing and sharing the universal teachings of Self-realization – Kriya Yoga meditation, devotion to God, selfless service to the divine in all.
She is one of the founding members of two Ananda communities – the rural community of Ananda Village, and an urban community in Silicon Valley in California. She travels and teaches in person around the world; her talks and classes have reached millions worldwide, with thousands of hours of classes offered online. She is the author of four books: Lightbearer, a biography of Swami Kriyananda; Swami Kriyananda As We Have Known Him, Loved and Protected: Stories of Miracles and Answered Prayers, and Ask Asha: Practical Answers to Everyday Dilemmas on the Spiritual Path.
Friday, 2:00-3:45pm
Beyond Hatha: The Deeper Purpose of Yoga
The ancient science of Hatha Yoga was never intended to be an end in itself. The body is an easy point of entry. Even a little mastery of the physical opens the door to more subtle understandings — especially of the spiritual dimension of life. Learn the four stages of awakening: from morally asleep, self-serving, truth-seeking, God knowing.
Music, chanting, meditation, discourse, Q&A
Suitable for all levels
Saturday, 9:30am-12:30pm
Steadfast Through the Storm: Yoga as a Safe Haven in Uncertain Times
We face the real possibility of economic hard times, social upheaval, war, earth cataclysms. What to do? Turn off the news and just meditate? Join the protests and change the system? Will positive thinking and good vibes be enough to avert disaster? Things to consider: Ancient traditions of ascending and descending cycles of creation. Karma—global, national, personal. How does it interact? Prophecy—saints, masters, and Mother Mary herself say hard times are coming. Is the karma fixed? Why are we here? To suffer, to learn, to serve? Let’s look honestly and courageously at the state of the world and the condition of our own hearts and minds. What is our role and how do we fulfill it?
Music, chanting, meditation, discourse, Q&A
Suitable for all levels
Sunday, 2:30-4:00pm
Ask Me Anything: Making the Spiritual Path Real
General discussions give us the big picture. But we also need to bring the issues to a personal focus, to resolve the doubts and questions that limit our potential. In 1969, I met Swami Kriyananda, a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi, proponent of Kriya Yoga in the West. In the 40 years of close association with Swamiji, I either asked, or heard others ask, nearly every question you could imagine! I studied, I took notes, and I would be happy to return the favor by discussing any questions you may have about the path of spiritual awakening.
Music, chanting, meditation, discourse
Suitable for all levels