Community Outreach

Swami Vishnudevananda’s mission was to spread peace in the world. We keep this mission alive by supporting a wide range of programs and projects in the local communities in which our Ashrams and Centres are located as well as those further afield—including medical camps, prison outreach, yoga in schools, hospital and community centres as well as support for the socially disadvantaged.

Sivananda Yoga Ranch Prison Outreach Program — Bringing the teachings of yoga to prisons

Every year the Sivananda Yoga Ranch in upstate New York sends many hundreds of books by Swami Vishnudevananda and Swami Sivananda to prisoners across the USA, funded by the generosity of our guests and students. Our volunteers also answer sackfuls of letters from prisoners asking for guidance on the practices of yoga and meditation. We also teach yoga and meditation in local State and Federal Correctional Facilities. For further information on the Sivananda Yoga Ranch Prison Outreach Program go to sivanandayogaranch.org/prison-project-program

The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashrams in India provide free medical help to local villages where medical facilities can be very limited.

 

Sivananda Dhanwantari Ashram, Neyyar Dam)

 

Each month a team of eight to twelve Ayurveda doctors headed by Dr Vishnu, director of the Sivananda Institute of Health at the Ashram, provides free consultations and prescriptions for up to one thousand local people, treating ailments ranging from simple back ache to diabetes, obesity, arthritis and heart conditions.

Sivananda Kutir, Himalayas

 

A free weekly medical camp at our Sivananda Kutir in the Himalayas run by local doctor Dr Chandok provides consultations and free medicines to nearby villagers.    

Sivananda Meenaskhi Ashram, Madurai

 

Swami Sivananda Rural Hospital, Kadavur, Madurai Sponsored and supported by Dr V Narayansamy and the Sivananda Ashram the hospital, a five-minute walk from the Ashram provides specialist as well as general services to many hundreds of local people. Outpatient Camps including surgical, eye, women’s health and diabetes are held periodically and a mobile clinic visits outlying areas where transport facilities can be limited.

We have succeeded in bringing yoga into schools in the Toronto area and to many community centres in Montreal as well as supporting local charities representing a wide range of needs.

Outreach Programs

  • Extensive program of after school yoga teaching in the secondary system in Toronto
  • Yoga classes in hospitals
  • Montreal LGBTQ Community Centre – weekly free class
  • Christmas food/clothes drive – Sun Youth Organisation
  • All year donations of clothes – Old Brewery Mission
  • Sketch Agency for street-involved youth
  • Robertson House – shelter for homeless mothers with children
  • Birchmount Residence – shelter for homeless senior men
  • Hincks Dellcrest – youth mental health center
  • Christie Refugee Center Christmas drive
  • Donations to Aum Pranava Gurukula, India
  • Donations to TERDOD, Centre for Rehabilitation for Seniors in India
  • Fundraising for Shanti Gurukulam in India
  • Sumedha—a self-development and personality development school for children.