AGAMA YOGA NEWS

1 May, 2009

• Agama is very pleased to announce the reopening of our Chiang Mai center on 8 May! The center will be holding 3- and 7-day Agama Yoga introductory intensive programs. These are both excellent introductions to Yoga generally or - for more experienced practitioners - a wonderful opportunity for retreat. We hope these new teaching formats will also enable local residents to join our courses. Numerous supplemental evening events, such as films, special meditations, bhajans, etc., and other Hatha Yoga classes will be held. We invite anyone in this area to come visit us in the heart of this beautiful city! See our Chiang Mai Center page or contact us at +66 84 521 6297 for more information (call 084 521 6297 inside Thailand).
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• In upcoming events: Claudiu Trandafir and Khushru Mistry will teach Vira Training for men 4-8 May while Mihaiela Pentiuc teaches Complete Femininity for the shaktis. Swami will teach the Art of Dying the following week, 13-17 May, which presents the Yogic preparation for a spiritual death. And from now until July, Claudiu teaches the monthly Hridaya Retreat, beginning on the 18th of each month for 10 days of spiritual discovery. Join us for registration on the 17th at 16:00 in Green Hall, Bovy Resort.
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• Our next full moon Yang spiral and supported meditation will take place from 22:00-23:00 on Saturday 9 May, Thailand time, on the beach south of Bovy Resort. Please join us at 21:00 for chai and socializing by the bonfire at the seaside prior to the meditation. All welcome!
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• Our next Community meeting between all students and their representatives and the Agama Yoga administration will take place Saturday evening, 2 May, at 20:00 at Green Hall, Bovy Resort. See our monthly calendar for a tabulated version of all school events for May. In addition, class schedules are now posted online as a convenience to students and teachers.
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• On Wednesday morning, 29 April, we held a land blessing ceremony at our new long-term leased property. Preparations for our two Yoga and meditation halls there are going very well - construction is moving quickly. A local, traditional priest of sorts conducted the ceremony, in which incense, fruits and other food, water, etc. were given in offering to the spirits of the land, as is done in Thai tradition. Afterward, everyone present helped to set the first support pillar and concrete for this pylon. The atmosphere was slightly muddy but very festive! We are very pleased with the architectural assistance we've received and with the efficiency of our contractors on the job. The halls are expected to be ready for classes and retreats by mid-July or August.
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• The first of Swami Vivekananda's nine books currently in production, Damaru Tantra, was published and unveiled 2 April just before Swami headed to Europe for teachings in Istanbul. A long line of people queued up quickly for signed first editions.... You can get your copy delivered for €10 via PayPal. Several more books are planned for release in 2009. Stay tuned!