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NAME OF THE CENTRE: INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR YOGA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH (ICYER) also known locally as ANANDA ASHRAM INCEPTION OF THE CENTRE: The ICYER (ANANDA ASHRAM) was founded in 1967 at Pondicherry South India. ADDRESS OF THE

CENTRE: 16-A, Mettu Street, Chinnamudaliarchavady, Bommayarpalayam Post, (Six Kilometers North of Pondicherry on East Coast

Highway) Tamil Nadu-605 104. South - India. Website: www.icyer.com E-mail: ananda (or) abb Telephone: 91-413-2622902, 91-413-2241561 TYPE OF YOGA: Classical Rishiculture Ashtanga Yoga (GITANANDA YOGA) as expounded by the world famous Guru, Yoga Maharishi Dr. SWAMI GITANANDA GIRI Guru Maharaj is taught in carefully graded steps. TRAINING OFFERED AT THE CENTRE: This world famous Yoga Institute of Pondicherry has been offering intensive SIX MONTH INTERNATIONAL YOGA TEACHERS TRAINING COURSES from October 2nd through March 25th since 1968, without any break. Thousands of students from all over India and the world have been thoroughly trained in an intensive Yoga programme which starts at 4.30 am each morning and concludes only by 9.00 pm each evening. Yogic cleansing practices and fasting, diet and nutrition are also basic to the course. More than 130 Asanas, 44 Pranayamas, 20 cleansing practices, 60 Mudras and 56 Kriyas are taught in the six months. Thorough study of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras,

Upanishads, Yoga Vashistha, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita, Bhagavad Gita and other important Yogic texts is made. Training is also given in Carnatic Music, with emphasis on devotional Bhajans. Those interested may also study Bharata Natyam and Classical Instrumental Music. Training in Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga techniques are given, including elaborate work with Yogic relaxation, concentration and visualization practices. Seats in the course are limited to ten persons annually, who are accepted only after going through preliminary instruction with the Institute's trained teachers and participation in the 52 Lesson Correspondence Course, Yoga: Step-by-Step, which is the basic syllabus of the Six Month Course. From October 2001, this course has been extended to an additional six months training, for those considered suitable, giving "hands-on" training in Yoga teaching and class organisation as well as undertaking senior Yoga practices. Those eligible for this advanced Yoga work will at the end of the one-year training receive a One-Year International Diploma in Yoga Education. In the advanced ONE YEAR course, special training is given in YOGA THERAPY FOR

BREATHING DISORDERS based on the HATHENA practices of Gitananda yoga and a special pattern of YOGA CHIKTSA for musculoskeletal system. relaxation and stress reduction practices useful for therapy are also taught during the course. about the founder: Dr Swami Gitananda Giri, a Medical Doctor born in India but who spent forty years in the West, taught Classical Rishiculture Ashtanga Yoga (Gitananda Yoga) with a scientific, medical basis. The revered Swamiji, considered one of the five leading world experts in Classical Ashtanga Yoga, attained Samadhi in December 29, 1993. about the institute’S environment: The Institute has a traditional Gurukula setting, in an ideal garden atmosphere, on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. Students are also introduced to the Indian way of life, festivals, cultural programmes, community activities and Hindu rites and rituals, to cultivate an awareness of the culture from which Yoga has sprung. CENTRES OF GITANANDA YOGA WORLDWIDE: ICYER has more than a 140 affiliated Yoga centres in 30 countries. The detailed list can be accessed at www.icyer.com PUBLICATIONS: More than 50 books, CDs and DVDs on Yoga have been published, as well as a monthly magazine, Yoga Life, which has completed more than 36 years of publication for a worldwide audience. OTHER ASPECTS OF THE CENTRE: The International Centre for Yoga Education and Research (ICYER) is also Headquarters for several worldwide organizations, including Vishwa Yoga Samaj, Yoga Jivana Satsangha (International) and the Society for the Preservation of Rishiculture Yoga (SPARC). The International Centre for Yoga Education and Research is also the office headquarters for Sri Kambliswamy Madam, a 135-year-old Samadhi site of the great Ashtanga Yoga Guru Srila Sri Kambaliswamigal at Thattanchavady, Pondicherry. The Samadhi of its founder, Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj, is also located at Kambliswamy Madam and has become a world famous pilgrimage place. Dr. Swami Gitananda left his body in Samadhi at 2.20 am December 29, 1993, Arudhra Darshan Day and the full moon in the Tamil month of Margazhi. Daily Pujas are conducted at Sri Kambliswamy Madam, with elaborate Pujas from 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. on Sunday. Sunday Pujas are open to public who wish to

experience a traditional Hindu Puja. Grand Pujas for the Samadhis of the eight Gurus of the lineage are conducted throughout the year, as well as many Carnatic Music Festivals at the Sri Kambliswamy Madam. THE CITY CENTRE OF ICYER

The City Centre of ICYER is called Yoganjali Natyalayam and Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri established it on March 29, 1993. The flourishing Centre of Yoga, Bharata Natyam and Carnatic Music with more than 400 actively enrolled students and more than 5000 alumni is located in Central Pondicherry, behind the New Bus station. It caters to the needs of the local populace as well as providing special individual and personally tailored lessons for passing Tourists and those visiting Pondicherry on a short-term basis. Yoganjali Natyalayam has developed a very popular Bharata Natyam troupe, which specializes in performance of the difficult acrobatic Natya Karanas, which are essentially a form of Yoga Asanas. The Centre presents a full three-hour length Bharata Natyam Dance Drama each year in July - August to celebrate the birthday of Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri. Its Annual Day is held in June each year and is a feast of spectacular music, dance and Yoga demonstrations. It is located at 25, IInd Cross, Iyyanar Nagar, Pondicherry - 605 013. Ph:

+91-413-3203314/ 2241561,e-mail: yognat2001 ABOUT THE FACULTY: Yogamani Kalaimamani Yogacharini MEENAKSHI DEVI BHAVANANI is the Director and Resident Acharya of the ICYER / Ananda Ashram.

She is the Dharmapatni and senior most disciple of the internationally acclaimed Yoga master, Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj and has devoted her life to his teachings and to institutions founded by him. She has trained many thousands of students in Yoga and Bharathanatyam in the past 36 years and is a well-known journalist as well as Editor of the International Yoga journal YOGA LIFE since 1970. She has organised five major International Yoga Conferences and is a prolific author with eight books, including two books of poetry. She has received numerous National Awards

including the "YOGAMANI" from the then President of India Shri Zail Singh Ji and the National Bhaskara Award from Bharat Nirman and Indian Trade Promotion Organisation, New Delhi. The Pondicherry Government has awarded her the Puduvai KALAIMAMANI Award while she received the Outstanding Senior Citizen Award from the Jaycees in 2003. She has served as an eminent Yoga expert on the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN), Health Ministry, Government of India, New Delhi as well as an Advisor to the Moraji Desai National Institute of Yoga, New Delhi. She is a member of the Pondicherry University Academic Council and an honoured member of the International Yoga Federation’s World Yoga Council. She is Director of Yoganjali Natyalayam, a popular City Centre for the propagation of Classical Yoga, Bharat Natyam and Carnatic Music in Pondicherry and has developed a famous Bharat Natyam troupe that appears regularly in prestigious festivals and also stages spectacular Bharat Natyam and Yoga programmes yearly in Pondicherry. She has also choreographed Twelve Major Dance Dramas on Indian Culture in the past ten years. She was recently honoured

with a special Award from the Lt Governor Shri MM Lakera as “A lady of eminence who has brought great fame to Pondicherry”. Chairman of the International Centre for Yoga Education and Research is Yogacharya Dr. ANANDA BALAYOGI BHAVANANI, who is a fully qualified Medical Doctor, and Yoga Researcher at JIPMER, Bharata Natyam Artist and choreographer, Carnatic Classical Vocalist and composer and an All India Radio Mridungam Artist. He has completed PG Diploma in Yoga and PG Diploma in Family health and diplomas in Psychological counselling as well as Stress management. Dr. Ananda has written 6 books and presented 10 DVDs on yoga as well as published more than 18 scientific research papers and 21 abstracts on Yoga. He has also released numerous albums of Carnatic classical music and is active in artistic circles of India. He is currently an Advisor to the World Yoga Council and Member of the International Council for Yoga Sport in the International Yoga Federation, South America. He has recently been nominated as Vice President of the Asian Union of Yoga, New Delhi that is affiliated to the International Yoga

Federation. He is the patron of the Sanathana Dharma Sangha, the Hindu Movement in Italy and Europe as well as more than one hundred Rishiculture Ashtanga (Gitananda) Yoga centres all over the world. He is also Patron of the Gitananda Yoga Associations of Australia, Spain, Germany and Italy. YOGACHARINI SMT. DEVASENA BHAVANANI, wife of Dr. Ananda Bhavanani, is a professional Bharat Natyam artist and Carnatic classical vocalist, as well as a well-trained Yoga Teacher. She has a Masters degree in Sanskrit from the Pondicherry Central University and has PG Dip in Yoga from Annamalai University. Recipient of many awards for her excellence in art and Yoga, she presently holds a Bharata Natyam Scholarship from the Ministry of Human Resources, New Delhi. She has completed Advanced Diploma in Yoga at ICYER and is currently General Secretary of Yoganjali Natyalayam. YOGACHARINI DR NALINI DEVI is a medical doctor and well-trained Yogacharini. She is the director of the Gitananda Yoga centre at Ibiza in Spain. She has been teaching Yoga actively for the past decade and is a visiting faculty member of the ICYER. http://www.gitanandayoga.net A team of 30 well-trained artists and Yoga teachers with Diploma and Post Graduate qualifications assist the Chairman and Director in running this worldwide organisation. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: ICYER admits students to the 6 month course only after successful competition of the one year correspondence course in yoga. Graduates and post graduates are preferred. Clean lifestyle and vegetarian diet habits are preferred For the one year advanced course, the candidate must complete the first six month course successfully and then apply to do the next six months of intensive teaching and therapeutic study and practice. Student must have at least 90% attendance in all classes to qualify for the final examination and certificate EXAMINATION CRITERIA: Every month study sheets will be provided to the students and an internal monthly examination (theory) will be given. Final Examination is conducted at the end of the course for certification. There will be oral (Viva voce), written and practical examinations in all aspects of yoga taught during the course. Examination will be of three hours duration each for written and practical. Practical examination will include viva voce conducted at the same time. Students

will be evaluated on the basis of their performance in theory, oral, and practical aspects of yoga Students must submit thesis on yoga topic as well as photos of themselves performing at least twenty Asanas. RECOGNITION OF ICYER ICYER is recognized internationally as a centre of excellence in yoga blending the ancient aspects of yoga with modern scientific needs. ICYER is recognized by the Home Ministry of the Indian Government for the purpose of issuing student visas for study in India ICYER is on the list of Yoga institutes recommended by the Department of AYUSH, Health Ministry in the Government of India ICYER is on the list of Yoga institutes recommended by the Indian Governments Department of Tourism in their “Incredible India” venture The and Chairman of ICYER are members of many committees in the Govt of India ministries of education, health and family welfare. The director has served as member of the CCRYN (Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy) as well as the Academic committee of Pondicherry University. The Chairman ICYER serves as a member of the national Yoga Accreditation committee in the department of AYUSH, Govt of India as well as is member of committees in the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga in Delhi and the Pondicherry

University. ICYER collaborates with JIPMER (Premier medical research and training centre in Pondicherry) with regard to Yoga research and the chairman of ICYER has worked as Senior Research fellow at JIPMER for fours years resulting in numerous studies being published in indexed journals ICYER collaborates with the Pondicherry University in imparting Yoga training for the international students

of the Study India Programme since the past 4 years ICYER collaborates with the Tourism department of the Pondicherry Government in conducting the International Yoga Festival every year in January since the past 15 years ICYER collaborates with the local educational institutions such as Tagore Arts College and Community College in imparting yoga training for students of various courses such as MA Philosophy, CYT, DYEd and PGDY ICYER collaborates with numerous schools in imparting yoga training for school children. ICYER training is recognized by the International Yoga Federation Yogacharya Dr.Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani Chairman : Yoganjali Natyalayam and ICYER Hon General Secretary, Pondicherry Yogasana Association 25, 2nd Cross,Iyyanar Nagar, Pondicherry, South India-605 013 Tel: +91-413 - 2622902 / +91-413 -3203314/+91-413 -2241561 Mobile: 9842311433 Website: www.icyer.com www.geocities.com/yognat2001/ananda

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