spiritual directors
Swami Sivananda Radha was a pioneer in the development of yoga in the West. She founded Yasodhara Ashram, located in southeastern British Columbia, in 1963. Over the years, a number of Radha Yoga Centres have also been established, providing yoga and spiritual guidance based on the teachings of Swami Radha, in the heart of the city. The centres have offered yoga classes in a safe and supportive atmosphere for over twenty years. Teachers at the centres offer their work as Karma Yoga, selfless service.
Swami Sivananda Radha
Swami Radha was among the first Westerners and first women to bring yoga to the West. In 1955 after having a powerful visionary experience of her guru, she left everything and traveled to India to meet Swami Sivananda. In February 1956, she was initiated into sanyas, a commitment to a life of selfless service and renunciation, and was asked to return to Canada to start an ashram and many centres of Light.
Swami Radha was 44 when she went to India, and spent the remaining forty years of her life passionately committed to the teachings. During this time she founded Yasodhara Ashram and the Radha Yoga Centres, as well as Timeless Books, which has published her ten books on yoga. In 1969 she founded ascent magazine, which blossomed into an international yoga magazine. The Ashram and the Radha Yoga Centres continue to present her work in the spirit in which it was given, maintaining the quality and integrity that were the essence of Swami Radha’s life. Although she passed away in 1995, her love and presence is felt by all who come here. She left the Ashram under the care of her designated successor, Swami Radhananda, who continues to guide the work. For a more in-depth biography of Swami Radha, click here.
To listen to a selection of Swami Radha audio samples, click here to visit the audio gallery. The video gallery features a clip of Swami Radha entitled “the Yoga of Radha”. For more information about Swami Radha’s guru, Swami Sivananda, visit the website of the Divine Life Society.
Swami Radhananda
Swami Radhananda became president of Yasodhara Ashram in 1993 and was initiated into sanyas in 1994. She carries forward the spirit of Swami Radha’s work with creativity and practicality. Instrumental in developing the Teacher Training program at the Ashram, she has also successfully opened the way for young people to become involved in yoga- both through the Ashram’s Young Adult program and through opportunities at ascent magazine.
Swami Radhananda lives the teachings and encourages others to see the depth of Swami Radha’s legacy. She oversees the direction of Yasodhara Ashram and Radha Yoga Centres, and travels during the year offering workshops.
