Traditional Yoga

The aim of Yoga Healing Foundation of America Inc. is to restore an understanding of the relationship of the different limbs of yoga and to present this knowledge in its original, whole and undiluted practical form for the benefit of all practitioners and teachers. Hatha Yoga for the body and Raja Yoga for the mind. Many of our programs are taught by Dr. A.L.V. Kumar, an inspirational teacher and yoga master. Across the USA and the globe, we run online yoga and meditation teacher training programs. In India we help to fund a range of local yoga and meditation programs and events, including Yoga teacher training courses and a 15 day winter meditation retreat. The courses are all run as a charitable not-for profit activity. They cover both theory and practice of Hatha and Raja Yoga, for the purpose of promoting the study and practice of traditional yoga, advancing the education of the public in its healing, preventative and therapeutic effects, and promoting the mental, physical and spiritual health of the public. “Yoga means getting on well with everything in life: getting on well with the food we eat, the air we breathe, the environment we live in, the people we live with and the work we do.” – Dr. ALV Kumar. Seva, translated as selfless service is an important principle in the yoga tradition. It is based on the value of working for others without expectation of personal reward. Karma yoga, sometimes called the path of dedication, or the path of action develops several essential attitudes that help us both in our day to day life and on the path of Yoga. This approach helps us to develop the qualities of acceptance, gratitude, helpfulness and generosity. The path of karma yoga is discussed in depth in the Bhagvad Gita, in chapter two, Krisha says “Yoga is wisdom in work.” Dana is the virtue of unconditional generosity and unattached giving through donation to a good cause. Traditionally, the teaching of yoga has for thousands of years been offered on the basis of Dana and as much as we are able to follow this principle. Our courses are charged at a comparatively low cost and broken into a course fee and optional suggested donation, we also offer a number of free bursary places on all our courses. As a non-profit, the course donation allows us to cover our basic expenses, and we welcome donations in gratitude for the teaching and in order to further our charitable work. We suggest a minimum donation amount that we feel is affordable and appropriate for each course. If people are unable to pay the full donation they give what they can, equally some people who are able, choose to give more in gratitude for the quality of teaching they have received. The act of giving a donation rather than a compulsory fee is an opportunity for participants in our courses to benefit from an act of voluntary giving and develop the yogic quality of generosity. Dana is one of the ten ‘perfected virtues’ taught by Buddha.