The living tradition of Rishiculture Ashtanga (Gitananda) Yoga is an inclusive wholistic system of conscious evolution and transformation rooted in classical Yoga principles as outlined by Maharishi Patanjali.
Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri, known as the 'Father of Scientific Yoga', combined his scientific background with the ancient techniques of classical Yoga that he studied in his youth with his Master, the Bengali saint Yogamaharishi Swami Kanakananda Ji (Ram Gopal Mujumdar, the Sleepless Saint mentioned in the 'Autobiography of a Yogi' book by by Paramahansa Yogananda). The result is what Swami Gitananda called 'Rishi Culture Ashtanga Yoga' and is now known worldwide as 'Gitananda Yoga'.
Swami Kanakananda was Head, Department of Mathematics, at Banaras Hindu University in the early 1920s, when one day a disastrous fire destroyed the housing colony in Varanasi, in which he lived with his wife and infant son. Driven nearly insane by the tragedy, Ram Gopal Mujumdar, (as he was then known) ran away into the Himalayas to wander as a Sadhu, seeking peace of soul. In the course of his Parivrajaka, he met Swami Vividishananda, who initiated him into a particularly rich Yoga tradition, which contained many Asanas, Pranayamas and Dharana practices. Swami Vividishananda had learned this esoteric knowledge from his Guru, Swami Purnananda, who was part of a long line of Yoga Gurus. Thus, the transformation from mathematics professor to saint occurred.
Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri
Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri was a medical doctor. He was the purveyor of a vast, scientific, rational and systematic body of yoga knowledge. He embodied in himself the Bengali tantric tradition of his life-long guru Sri Kanakananda Swamigal with the Shiva Yoga and ritualistic expertise of the line of gurus of Sri Kambliswamy Madam, as imparted to him by his predecessor Sri Shankaragiri Swamigal. In 1972 Swami Gitananda established the Ananda Ashram (ICYER) in Pondicherry. From 1968 until his Samadhi on 29 December 1993, Swamiji offered a yearly six month Intensive Residential International Yoga Teachers Training Course.
Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani (Ammaji)
Yogamani Kalaimamani Yogacharini Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani is Director and Resident Acharya of the ICYER (Ananda Ashram) in Pondicherry. She is the Dharmapatni and senior most disciple of Dr. Swami Gitananda and has devoted her life to his teachings and to institutions founded by him. Ammaji, as she is popularly known, is considered one of the major international leaders of the modern Yoga movement and is on various national committees in the Government of India for the propagation of Yoga.
Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani
Kalaimamani Yogacharya Dr.Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani is the current lineage holder of the Gitananda Yoga tradition and current Madathipathi of the Sri Kambaliswamy Madam. He is director of the Institute of Salutogenesis and Complementary Medicine (ISCM) and Professor of Yoga Therapy at the Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth University, Pondicherry. A Fellow of the Indian Academy of Yoga, he has authored 19 DVDs and 28 books and 34 compilations on Yoga as well as published more than 300 papers, compilations and abstracts on Yoga and Yoga research in National and International Journals.
Gitananda Yoga: the teachings & practices
Based on the moral and ethical values (Yama and Niyama) as codified by Maharishi Patanjali, all aspects of Yoga are covered in Gitananda Yoga tradition:
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Asanas (Body postures)
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Kriyas (Systematic movements)
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Pranayamas (Breath-energy controls)
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Mudras (Gestures of energy)
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Jnana and Raja Yoga Prakriyas (Visualization, relaxation, polarity techniques)
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Laya Yoga (Techniques of energy sublimation)
The teachings are delivered in a simple step-by-step manner, allowing practitioners to progress gradually and steadily on their journey of self-discovery and transformation. When fully embraced, these teachings and techniques can guide the practitioners to well-being, openness, warmth, clarity, freedom, and unity.
For instance, let's take Brahma Mudra, a head and neck gesture unique to Gitananda Yoga. This practice beautifully integrates mind, breath, movement, and sound, offering relief from neck and head pain while restoring inner stillness and psychosomatic harmony.
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Facing north, take up any comfortable sitting position with your spine as erect as possible.
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Rest your hands on your laps in Yoga Mudra (interlaced fingers, right thumb on top). Close your eyes.
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Inhale for a count of six, while turning your head towards the right as far as possible, 1-2-3-4-5-6. Slowly bring the head back to the central position, while exhaling for a count of twelve, and making the sound 'AAA', 1-2-3-....-11-12.
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Inhale for a count of six, while turning your head towards the left as far as possible, 1-2-3-4-5-6. Slowly bring the head back to the central position, while exhaling for a count of twelve, and making the sound 'OOO' (Romanian 'UUU'), 1-2-3-....-11-12.
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Inhale for a count of six, while lifting your chin up as high as possible, 1-2-3-4-5-6. Slowly bring the head back to the central position, while exhaling for a count of twelve, and making the sound 'EEE' (Romanian 'III'), 1-2-3-....-11-12.
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Finally, inhale for a count of six, while bringing your chin down to the chest, 1-2-3-4-5-6. Slowly bring the head back to the central position, while exhaling for a count of twelve, and making the sound 'MMM', 1-2-3-....-11-12.
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This completes one round. You can choose to do 3, 6, or up to 9 rounds in each sitting.
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Direct your attention to the neck area if you're seeking rejuvenation or healing. Alternatively, for a sense of unity, anchor your mind in the lower belly. Initiate the breathe in and out from this place feeling the head movements initiated and connected with it. It's as if the entire body is involved in the movement of the neck, not just the neck itself. Feel that!
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After completing the technique, remain still and relaxed for a minute or so, feeling the inner stillness and silence, the sense of stability and harmony.
Congratulations on finding the first practice on your journey to inner stillness! Let's begin by sitting up nice and tall, but relaxed. Take a slow, deep breath in through your nose, counting to six. Ready? Inhale: 1-2-3-4-5-6. Now, exhale slowly for the same count: 1-2-3-4-5-6. Good. Let's do that six times altogether. It's called Sukha Pranayama. After that, just let your breath flow naturally. Stay relaxed and open. Now, take a look at the photos below. Find one that speaks to you. Or look at a photo with a person dear to you. Really connect with the person in the photo. What do you see in their eyes, their face, their body language? Take your time to feel their presence. What do you feel? Feel more...Feel even more. Look with fresh eyes. Keep exploring as long as you're comfortable and curious.
Before meeting someone you care about in your day-to-day life, take six deep breaths like this. It helps you find inner stillness and openness. Then, connect with them. Approach them with fresh eyes, coming from that peaceful place.
Watch the video on YouTube.
