Yesterday, two new students joined Kaliji’s class ~
This little guy stayed very focused on Kaliji ….
and he was very grateful at the end!
New outfit for the TY men, modeled by Keith and Mario
Each day, the yoga room is decorated with a beautiful flower yantra.
Dec 29 was Mario’s birthday….
New Year’s Eve celebration ~
Special New Year flower yantra on Kaliji’s table
TY teacher Urvasi from Berlin gave a stunning Bharatanatyam dance performance
More photos from Goa ~ page 2
From December 23 through January 1, Kaliji is giving a TY retreat in Goa. Satsanga Retreat is a family-run retreat center in the small village of Verla Canca. It features a beautiful yoga room, swimming pool, and lush tropical gardens.
The retreat is full and the participants are from many different countries including Australia, Denmark, England, Germany, India, Russia, Spain, Switzerland and the United States.
The morning session includes jnana, TriYoga Prasara (yogaflow), and Prana Vidya. The afternoon session has a focus on Prasara and Prana Vidya. Between sessions people have many choices including beaches and markets or relaxing at the retreat with pool, massage and more. Each evening is satsanga with Kaliji, accompanied by tabla player Prasann.
Entrance to the yoga room
Nataraja on the main puja in the yoga room
Morning TY class
Sudevi from Santa Cruz, CA
Prana Vidya practice, assisted by TY teacher Eva-Maria from Berlin
Renata, TY teacher from Zurich, and her husband Mario
TY teachers Keith from Berlin and Pene from Australia
Scenes from the retreat center ~
Kaliji’s cottage
Student cottages
Tea room
The superb vegan meals, including a great variety of delicious Indian and western foods, are prepared by Kerala chef Mani.
More photos from Goa ~ page 2
Kaliji taught 2 TriYoga programs on Tuesday morning.
First was an outdoor TriYoga program. This program was for TriYoga teachers and students, as well as new students. The participants focused on the flow within the natural alignment of posture, breath and mudra with Basics postures.
Following that was a 2-hour Level 1 teacher training. Kaliji oversaw the training with Nandi, Eva-Maria and Katya each working with individual groups. The teachers at TriYoga Center enjoyed the teacher training, further refining their beautiful flows.
Kaliji was invited to lunch at the home of the Datta devotees today. Afterwards, they asked Kaliji about when she knew that something special was happening in her life.
Kaliji told about her history, and when she reached the part about kriyavati, the group was blessed with a beautiful flow of mudras.
In the evening there was a Prana Vidya program, and Kaliji also demonstrated TY flows. Kaliji’s talk gave the students an introduction to Prana Vidya, including how to use PV to reach a more sattvic state, how it increases one’s prana, and how to focus on the breath to focus the mind.
The local TV station VMN filmed Kaliji during the evening progam, filming the demonstration and mudra flow. After class, they interviewed Kaliji about TriYoga. The program about Kaliji will be on TV on Wednesday evening.
Kaliji and TY student Lochn
TY teachers from the area ~
Anjali
Shilpa
Anita
Gurmitkaur
and Anjali’s daughter Namrita, an upcoming TriYogi
The gracious hosts presented Kaliji with beautiful gifts. Here, Kaliji receives this beautifully-wrapped gift from Anjali.
And she received a Lakshmi yantra and Ganapati murti from Sheela.
Cows and bulls are everywhere. They walk alone or with friends. They go to market to get their own food and then return home.
More news from Baroda here
Kaliji arrived in Baroda yesterday and was greeted with warm hospitality.
At the home of TY teacher Anjali, from left: Kji, Dinesh, Eva-Maria, Anjali, Namrita, Nandi
Kaliji on the swing at Anjali’s home
On Monday, Kaliji was invited to have a program at Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda with her very dear friend of 20 years, Dr Jayanti Patel. This magnificent statue of Shiva stands in front of the university.
Dr.Patel was sitting with the young “finger-puppet yogi” Virang, and Ramesh Pandya, Art Professor of the Performing Arts Drama Department who also draws Dr Patel’s wonderful cartoons for his books and other publications.
Virang and Dr. Patel
Dr. Patel with Ramesh Pandya
Also visiting with Kaliji was Professor of Dance, Dr. Parul Shab. Kaliji shared knowledge of mudras with her and had them flow spontaneously. While this happened, a new mudra was born. She was inspired with Kaliji’s flow and would like to work with her.
Kaliji and Dr Patel were introduced by Professor of Drama Literature, Mr Bhanuprasad Uppadhay in an intimate theater setting.
Dr Patel delivered a spirited inspirational talk on yoga as theater. He said, “Atman is dancing and the body is the actor with the five senses as the dress.” And, “Maya is nothing but an illusion. Enjoy life.” Also, “The sutra of today’s society is, “I have no time to tell you that I have no time.” “The purpose in inner theater is to bring you back to your Self.” “When you are in control of the inner world, you will be able to handle any challenges of the outer world.”
Dr Patel introduced Kaliji and she began with a tribute to him. Kaliji spoke about yoga not being about difficult postures, but rather about the flow of asana, pranayama and mudra with the intelligence of prana behind it that allows one to take the u-turn back to the Self. Kaliji demonstrated this graceful, dynamic TriYoga Prasara flow with the music of Sri Swamiji: Om Aim Hreem Shreem Siva Rama Anagha Dattaya Namaha.
Yogini Kaliji spoke to the appreciative audience briefly afterwards demonstrating a calm smooth relaxed breath after the Devi Dance demonstration.
Kaliji again thanked Natya Yogi Swami Jayanti Patel.
The tribute to Kaliji by Professor of Drama Literature, Mr Harish Vyash, afterwards was heartful, saying “Now I see yoga is really universal, as yoga began here, but you from the west is bringing it back to us in a way we have never seen. Most stop ashtanga (8 limbs) at asana. But you take it all the way the samadhi (8th limb).”
This professor from the University said that what Kaliji did had to be given from the divine, as she was so blissful.
In between programs, Kaliji had lunch with this family of Datta devotees: Vidya, Aishwarya, P N Patel, Kshitig. Aishwarya plays the keyboard and Kshitig plays tabla.
Aishwarya played the keyboard
And then Kaliji played
Cows walk along the streets like pedestrians.
The next TriYoga program took place at Navrachna School (with students from 5 to 16 years).
Kaliji was introduced by Sheela Mehta, wife of (the former) Col. Mehta who studied with Kaliji and was the founder of TriYoga Center Baroda. Many TriYoga teachers and students attended the program.
Kaliji spoke about the importance of inspiring the children to yoga, the great spiritual tradition of India. TriYoga represents the trinity of Sat Chit Ananda….one way to speak of this is the unity of posture, breath and mudra, ultimately flowing the prana to expand consciousness.
Kaliji then demonstrated the. Devi Dance flow to the appreciative audience followed by Lochan and Rajvi, young TriYoga students (about age 10) from Baroda who demonstrated.
Kaliji congratulated them and asked them how TriYoga had changed them. They responded that it had improved concentration and made them calmer. One can start at any age.
A few students from the audience spoke and shared that they had enjoyed the presentation and would like to study TriYoga.
Following the session, Kaliji showed the mudras. This little one loved them….
Kaliji with the Baroda TY teachers
At the end of the program the Vice Principal, Vijayalakshmi Nair, gave special thanks to Kaliji and to Anita, Anjali and Shilpa of the TriYoga Center Baroda. The Vice Principal has been a student of TriYoga for a year and a half and has brought many to TriYoga.
Vice Principal Vijayalakshmi Nair prepares to depart from the program.
The TriYoga Prasara and Prana Vidya program was held outdoors at the TriYoga Center Baroda. The weather was perfect for the outdoor program. The students of all ages listened with complete involvement to Kaliji’s talk, inspirational and motivational, on the importance of regular sadhana. She then taught Basics Prana Vidya.
Kaliji had dinner at the home of TY teacher Anita.
Anita’s family
More news from Baroda here
On Saturday Dec 19, Kaliji was in Bengaluru at Vivekananda Kendra, the foremost yoga research center in the world, to give a program on mudra at their 18th annual yoga conference.
Preceding Kaliji’s talk, a dance drama about Swami Vivekananda was presented. Kaliji gave awards both to those who made the drama possible and also to the actors and dancers.
In her presentation, Kaliji gave a history of Devi mudras, spoke of the upcoming publishing of the book by Sri Swamiji, and showed 108 of the Devi mudras. She gave a TriYoga Prasara demonstration showing how mudras are united with asana and pranayama. The audience responded throughout with appreciative applause. Kaliji closed with a tribute to Swami Vivekananda and thanks to Dr Nagendra.
After the presentation, many enthusiastic members of the audience came to talk with Kaliji including swamis, doctors and scholars.
With the head of the Ramakrishna order in Delhi
Later, Dr Saraswati Mohan’s son Nihar spoke with Kaliji and brought her to visit with his mother, the well-known Sanskrit teacher. Recently she has published several new Sanskrit books. Kaliji gave a great tribute to Dr Saraswati who, with Kaliji, recently completed conferring Sanskrit names to the 108 Basics TriYoga postures. Previously, she helped with the Sanskrit words and markings in the Prana Vidya manual.
Dr Saraswati and Kaliji will continue working together to name postures within the other levels and to work together on many other projects.
On Wednesday, Kaliji gave two programs. The first was at JSS College of Arts, Commerce and Science in Nanjanagud (about a half hour from Mysore).
This institution is one of 366 JSS Educational institutions begun in 1968 by the 23rd guru in this lineage, His Holiness Sri Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Mahaswamiji.
Some of the many posted quotations ~ of the many posted quotations: Work is worship. and Learn Sanskrit, retain our culture.
After arrival, Kaliji’s hosts gave a tour of the large, modern facility with a plethora of science, computer and language labs, libraries and classrooms, bringing higher education to an area that is considered backward.
Assisting on this yatra have been Katya, Eva-Maria, and Nandi. Here, they are entering the principal’s office.
Students pranam as Kaliji enters.
The program began with the chanting of a Sanskrit prayer followed by honoring guests with a beautiful garland and prasad, first to Swamini Kaliji.
This was followed by the traditional lighting of the lamp, begun by Kaliji. She was then further introduced and ceremoniously honored with a shawl and gifts.
Dr Pai gave a presentation and brief biographical information on Kaliji.
Then Kaliji’s talk began with her comments on the college and honoring of India’s heritage of yoga, Sanskrit and the Vedas that is so deeply a part of each individual.
She asked: What makes a good or smart student? Qualities such as concentration and memory power, as well as increased prana that will expand consciousness, can be developed through a yoga practice, improving the qualities that make a good student.
Kaliji explained practical TriYoga techniques. She humorously shared hints about sitting posture through demonstrating bad and good postures. The students responded with laughter and better posture.
Kaliji spoke of the pancha pranas in relation to posture-asana in the classroom, and elements and chakras. With more space within a posture, this opens udana prana of 5th chakra for better mental clarity. Then the focus on the breath in the classroom, as well as concentration-mudra of hands, eyes and mind. These are simple effective yogic techniques toward becoming a better student.
This followed with a focus on mudra.
The students learned some mudras and were very excited to learn Devi mudra. The slide presentation of 108 Devi mudras was shown as the students intently observed. Kaliji explained how they came from Kriyavati siddhi.
The TriYoga program concluded with Devi Dance, accompanied by Sanskrit prayers chanted by Dr Pai and the audience.
Although the demonstration was performed on a smaller harder-type table/platform, it looked like Kaliji had all the space in the world as she did a beautiful flow of TriYoga Prasara. The audience was completely mesmerized and repeatedly responded with applause.
Kaliji concluded, “Take with you a relaxed body, a rhythmic breath and a focused mind and you will always have yoga with you.”
Kaliji and Dr. Pai with the principal of the college and his colleagues
Kaliji, always gracious, always perfectly present, always in the flow, brought jnana and joy to a very happy audience of hundreds of students, staff and college administrators at JSS College of Arts, Commerce and Science.
The second program on Wednesday was at Maharshi Public School in Mysore. This school is known as an Indianized school, (pure Indian culturally). The school is open to everyone, regardless of background. The educators here teach how to live life ecstatically. The education includes Sanskrit, meditation, pranayama, how to cleanse the body and how to be always happy, as well as other subjects.
One fact of interest about the students is that in one year they have recited 10 billion rounds of the mantra OM Namah Shivaya.
At the opening reception, Kaliji and her team each received a fresh coconut, first drinking the coconut milk and then eating the coconut..
The program began with Sanskrit chants led by Dr Pai, and recited loudly by the over 100 completely focused young students. (At programs everywhere the attendees sit cross legged directly on the floor.) Dr Pai, using an interactive teaching style, reviewed the 8 limbs of Ashtanga yoga and the meaning of kriyavati siddhi. As he does at every program, he playfully led the students in energy and concentration games.
At this point new students entered the auditorium and the audience swelled to over 600.
Dr Pai led the group in Sanskrit chants, in which the students loudly participated.
Dr Pai then introduced Swamini Kaliji.
Kaliji spoke about the seated posture and the smooth rhythmic breath. When she demonstrated her long exhalation, the students responded with excited applause. She then demonstrated Leg Stretch. At the depth of her stretch, the audience again loudly applauded. Kaliji had the students hold their hands in tight fists and explained how the leg muscles can hold that kind of tension. She recommended that they do Leg Stretch every day for 5 minutes per leg to release this type of tension and improve their health.
Kaliji said that we need to take care of this body and to start now. Eat a pure vegetarian diet. This is ahimsa for you, ahimsa for the animals and ahimsa for ecology, the environment. Do pranayama. This will result in a longer, healthier life and greater memory power.
Then mudras, including Devi mudra, were taught.
Kaliji’s TriYoga Prasara demonstration was received with joyful enthusiasm and tremendous applause.
Kaliji is thanked with a beautiful garland at the end of the program.
There are around 110 professors at the school. Here, Kaliji stands with some of the teachers.
This professor teaches Yoga Awareness to the children. He says all should be happy ~ when one is happy, life is good.
Everywhere, students want to have their photos taken with Kaliji, as they ask her to return again and again.
Students gather to see Kaliji off and surround her as she prepares to depart.
This completes the 10-day TriYoga Vidya Yatra organized by the Respected Dr. Raghavendra Pai, founder of the VedaVyasa Foundation. During these 10 days, over 10,000 homes were reached, as well as thousands more through the media coverage throughout the tour.
On Monday, Kaliji gave an evening program at the JSS College of Nursing in Mysore.
From left: Bharati (President), Kaliji, Dr Raghavendra Pai and Sri Mukesh
Kaliji lights the lamp to begin the program.
Kaliji’s introductory talk was perfectly suited to the 200 nursing students in attendance. She related that they are there training to care for others - those in the most need: those with health problems. She spoke about how research shows that nurses have a major effect on patients, that they are present for the patients and come from the heart with compassion.
From this introduction, Kaliji shared various practical techniques to harmonize the body and mind such as the pure sattvic vegetarian diet, Sun Moon Breath, mudra and asana.
She concluded with the Devi Dance TriYoga Prasara demonstation.
The audience was enthusiastic and burst into applause at the program’s end.
The principal of the school Dr (Mrs) Bharti M, Ph.D. and others graciously hosted Kaliji and her assistants.
Kasturi, a nationally-viewed Karnataka TV station, taped some of Kaliji’s presentation at the nursing school. They will return for an interview with Kaliji.
Also, seen here is a photo from the daily newspaper Vijaya Karnataka, showing Kaliji at the Udupi program.
On Monday, Kaliji gave a program in the village of Barkur, in the Udupi region of Southern India. It was said that Barkur had 365 temples, the remains of many of which can be seen still.
The area that Barkur is located is on the border of Kerala, called “God’s Country” due to the tropical lush beauty. En route, they passed many bridges with fantastic visual beauty. Nature at its best…
The Indian hospitality is unmatched. Everywhere they have traveled, they have enjoyed many meals in family homes. It seems effortless as the families prepare vegan meals for everyone. Here is seen one of Dr. Raghavendra Pai’s yoga books being released.
The program was held at the National Rotary Hall, attended by 67 yoga and physical education teachers. Through them, thousands of students will hear Kaliji’s message.
Each event begins with the lighting of the lamp.
After the lamp ceremony, the guests are introduced.
Kaliji gave a talk that included the kosas, importance of the vegetarian and vegan diet, self-inquiry, positive thoughts for the mind, asana as a tool to awaken kundalini, and mudra to focus the body and mind. All of these themes emphasized how we need something for the body, mind and spirit for a complete yoga.
Kaliji taught several mudra sequences to the enthusiastic participants. The assistants demonstrated and helped everyone experience the mudras. There was also a powerpoint demonstration of 108 Devi Mudras that came through Kaliji through the power of kriyavati siddhi.
Kaliji gave a demonstration, accompanied by Dr. Pai, as he does throughout the programs, leading the participants in call-and-response Sanskrit prayers and mantra. Everyone watched with calm and completely fascinated concentration. At the conclusion, the audience stood in unison and gave a standing ovation.
Kaliji concluded with a humerous talk that included principles of yogaflow and then a Q and A. The questions led to Kaliji sharing about her self inquiry in childhood, and then later how she met her Guru, Sri Swamiji.
The yoga teachers all had their photos taken with Kaliji.
There were so many yoga teachers to be in the photo, that they were taken in 2 groups.
The program organizers
There is always someone, or a family, asking to take photos together ~ always a delightful experience.
While in the area, they visited Shringeri, a picturesque town that is steeped in spiritual history. Adi Guru Shankaracharya, one of the world’s greatest philosopers and spiritual leaders, founder of Advaita non-dualism, established his southern spiritual center here. Sri Malahanikareshwara Temple, built in the ancient Dravidian style, is in the center of town. There are innumerable ancient temples in and around Shringeri.
The ashrama of Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharathi Sabhabhavan
Shringeri is situated on the holy river Tunga. The river is densely populated with large beautful leaping fish, considered sacred.
Many fish come and practically take the food from your hands. No fishing is allowed there.
Afterwards, when Kaliji went to the jeep to depart, this elephant came walking by. Suddenly, the elephant extended his trunk into the car and blessed Kaliji’s crown cakra with an affectionate touch.
As they drove through the night to return to Mysore, various animals appeared. They saw several bison.
En route back, Kaliji received a call from a tv station, requesting an interview from Udupi, but they had already left. Upon arrival to Mysore, Kaliji received word that the local press will go to see her there.
On Sunday, Kaliji was invited to speak at the Paryaya Sri Puthige Sri Krishna Math in Udupi.
The banner announcing the TriYoga Vidya Yatra features Swamini Kaliji’s name in red.
Kaliji speaks with Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji
With Dr. Aralu Mallige Parthasarathi (left) and Sri Sugunendra Theertha (center). Dr Parthasarathi is a well-known Sanskrit scholar.
Dr. Parthasarathi gave an outstanding introduction of Kaliji. He introduced her as the only mudra master in the world. He will offer a discourse on the Bhagavad Gita for TriYoga students next year.
With Dr. Parthasarathi
Kaliji demonstrates a flow of mudras.
Kaliji offered 2 sessions ~ here, she does a demonstration in the first session.
Dr. Pai chants during the demonstration of yogaflow
Dr R Pai introduced Swamini Kaliji at each event. Dr Pai has trained more than 1500 yoga teachers. He was at the respected Dharmastala for 18-years overseeing yoga programs and conferences. In his young 20’s he represented India in a competition for concentration. In London he was announced #1 for holding concentration for over 15 minutes.
Always a child comes forth to learn mudra.
Attendees gather around Kaliji afterwards.
Scenes from Udupi ~
Sri Durga Temple, devoted to Kannika Durga. The hills in background look like “kunjara” (elephant), for which the place is known as “kunjaragiri”.
The guru at the temple is Shree Vadiraja Yathigalavaru.
Visting the ashrama of Shri Madhvacharya, who was the founder of the Dvaita school of Vedanta (dualism). These tombs represent previous gurus in this lineage.
On Saturday, Kaliji was in Alike, at Prema Kuteera Ashrama ~ Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva Trust (Alike Section). She taught 2 sessions there, with over 800 students attending.
Morning chanting at the ashrama
Kaliji takes her place in front of the assembled group of students in the first session.
Penguin during the demonstration
Each session, the ever so positive Dr. Raghavendra Pai introduces Kaliji. His Masters degree in Sanskrita and Ph.D in Yoga Philosophy is apparent as he effortlessly chants slokas and leads bhajans. Here, Dr. Pai introduces Kaliji to the second group of students.
Kaliji does a demonstration for the second group, with a slideshow of the Devi mudras behind.
Kaliji with professors and management team from the school.
Kaliji visits with long time disciples at the ashrama. They were very interested in the mudras and told Kaliji to feel that the ashrama is her home and return there each time she visits. They were amazed by her youthful appearance.
Kaliji and Dr. Pai with the President of the school, Gangadhara B Bhatta (on Kaliji’s left) and yoga teacher Ananda Shatty (far right).
In between programs, they saw a performance of Yakshagana. Yakshagana is an art form that combines dance, song and acting. This stunning dramatic performance was based on the story of Krishna, yet the actors could improvise and subtly add current events within the ancient story. The background of haunting narration was in song. Costumes and dance were of highest quality.
After the school programs, they departed for Upudi, where Sunday’s programs will be held. On the way, they stopped at Sri Gurudevadatta Samsthanam, a Dattatreya ashrama run by Sri Gurudevananda Swamiji. The ashrama is in Odiyoor (near Alike in Vadeyuru Kshetra), in Dakshina Kannada bordering on Kerala.
The ashrama features the life story of Dattatreya depicted visually on the walls.
Dattatreya with Panca Hanuman behind.
Kaliji with Dattatreya
Kaliji makes friends everywhere!
Maxim, TY teacher from Moscow, is the main photographer on this Yatra.
They visited this particular ashrama, as Dr. Pai is very well-known in this area. Here, Dr. Pai visits with the swami.
Sri Gurudevananda Swamiji
The swami showed them his meditation caves beneath the ashrama.
Hallway in the caves
Scenes around the ashrama
On Friday, Kaliji gave a program at the JSS Women’s College in Saraswathipuram, Mysore, where she taught 1600 students!
Kaliji arrives for the program, where she is greeted by the principals of the college.
The lighting of the lamp to begin the session.
The attentive group of students
Kaliji gave a talk to the women about dedicating at least 5 minutes per day on yoga practices. She taught them some Prana Vidya and mudras.
Demonstration of TriYoga flows
After the program, Kaliji was surrounded by a huge crowd of students.
Kaliji signs an autograph for Nev.
After the program….
Kaliji with the sister of Shivaratri Deshikendra Swamiji, the guru of the JSS ashrama.
Following the program, Kaliji departed for Alike, in Southern India, where she will be for Saturday’s program. A variety of sights were seen on the drive; this is how bees store their honey.