Labor Day Weekend Retreat: 11th Annual Vedic Astrology and Yoga Conference

09/02/10 to 09/06/10

Presented by Swami Sitaramananda • Durga Leela (Catherine O'Neill) • Krishna Darshan • Komilla Sutton • Pandit Samavedula • Sadasiva (Sam Geppi) • Jeffrey Armstrong • Bill Levacy •

"Dharma and Freedom From Karma"

Retreat Details

Join our Labor Day Yoga Retreat in Grass Valley, CA, in the dialogue of how to be a Jyotishi, a truth teller,  and a light giver in our modern troubled world. Refresh your enthusiasm for Jyotish and the deep aspect of Yoga in company of like-minded souls.  Keep spirit of Jyotish alive by sharing in satsanga with others who love this ancient wisdom.  Your presence is a encouragement to both the Yogic community and also the Vedic Astrology/Jyotish community as we all need to reach out and selflessly serve the Knowledge that will set us and the people we counsel free.

This is the Yoga Farm’s 11^th annual vedic astrology conference. We have had many renowned Jyotishis presenters and teachers throughout the past 10 years. This year, we are happy to present for the first time Jeffrey Armstrong as a keynote speaker as well as the Master Class from Komilla on Friday and the 2 main talks from Bill Levacy and Sadasiva.  There will be two special Homa and puja by Pandit Samavedula. Lord Krishna Birthday celebrations will be on Thursday for those who can arrive early.

This Atstrology event in Grass Valley, CA is a fundraising Astrology conference for American College of Vedic Astrology (http://vedicastrology.org) and Council of Vedic Astrology. There will be an exciting silent auction to support Council of Vedic Astrology with many wonderful gifts in the auction. Click here to view a list of some of the items that will be auctioned. For accreditation of classes with CVA, please check www.councilvedicastrology.com Please check the CVA website for more information  on the accreditation of courses.

We are looking to see you and discuss with you what is dear to our hearts and share with you the beautiful energy of the ashram, located in the serenity of the Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California. Every year, many families come to the Sivananda Yoga Ashram in Grass Valley for the Labor Day Retreat, to enjoy a Yoga Vacation while learning about the Vedic Sciences. We are looking forward to welcome you to the ashram and share our knowledge that will help you to live more peacefully, happily and harmoniously.

In the spirit of Dialogue, Understanding and Unity, we are, at your service,

Swami Sitaramananda
Organizer

The topic will be understanding past-life Karma and remedial measures through the 4 paths of Yoga.

"The law of Karma means the law of Causation. Any physical or mental action is Karma. Karma is the sum total of our acts, both in the present life and in the preceding birth. The cause is found in the effect, and the effect is found in the cause. No event can occur without having a positive, definite cause at the back of it.

God neither punishes the wicked, nor rewards to virtuous. It is their own Karma that brings reward and punishment. No one is to be blamed."

-Swami Sivananda, Bliss Divine

The science of Vedic astrology has the capacity to reveal our Karmas. The four classical paths of yoga are remedial measures, helping us to free ourselves from the repetitive thought patterns and binding actions.

Daily Schedule

Please click here to see a Schedule of Events for 11th Annual Labor Day Jyotish Conference

For a detailed description including a synopsis of each talk, click here.

Brochure of Event

Cost

Price of accommodations for 4 nights.  See below for accomodation rates.

Arrival and Departure

The course will begin registration at 11am on Friday, September 3rd, and will end at 12pm on Monday, September 6th.  Come on Thursday to celebrate Lord Krishna's Birthday with a Puja led by Swami Sitaramananda at 8:00 pm.

What to Bring

Suggested Textbooks: The Spiritual Teachings of the Avatar by Jeffrey Armstrong, The Essentials of Vedic Astrology by Komilla Sutton, The Ascendant-108 Planets of Vedic Astrology by Sam Geppi, and Beneath a Vedic Sky by William Levacy.

Other: slip on shoes, loose comfortable clothing, writing materials, meditation shawl or blanket, yoga mat, flashlight.

All books and materials are available in our boutique.

Reservations

To reserve a place for this week, please register online or email yogafarmregistration@sivananda.org. Then please call to give us your credit card deposit and confirm your reservation.

A deposit paying for your first night's stay is required for your reservation. Please note that in case of cancellation, no refund will be given. A credit note for other programs at the Yoga Farm (valid for one year) will be given.

Local Hotels

There are hotels in the Auburn and Grass Valley areas but they are a 30 minute drive away from the Ashram.

Best Western Golden Key - AUBURN
3450 Lincoln Way, Auburn, California 95603-3238
Phone: 530/885-8611 
http://www.bestwesterncalifornia.com/hotels/best-western-golden-key

Holiday Inn Express Gold Miners - GRASS VALLEY
121 Bank Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945,  (530) 477-1700
www.holidayinnexpress.com

About Swami Sitaramananda
Swami Sitaramananda is a Yoga and Meditation teacher for more than 25 years. She is presently the main teacher of the Yoga Teachers Training Courses offered at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm, Grass Valley, CA where she is serving as the director. She also teaches at other Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashrams & Centers in India and Nassau, Bahamas, Asia, as well as Centers along the West Coast USA, including her birth country, Vietnam. She is a direct disciple of Swami Vishnu-devananda. She was nominated by her teacher as Goraknath acharya (spiritual teacher, one of the holders of the lineage) in 1989. Her lectures are based on the four classical paths of yoga as well as the 5 points of Health.

About Durga Leela (Catherine O'Neill)
Catherine ONeill (Durga Leela) is the founder of Yoga of Recovery, a comprehensive program that integrates Ayurveda and Yoga with recovery tools for a holistic mind, body and spirit approach for all those affected by addiction and self-destructive behaviors. Yoga of Recovery is currently offered as workshops, retreats and certificate courses. Durga holds the RYT-500 qualification, having completed both the Sivananda Yoga teachers Training Course and an Advanced Yoga Training. She is also extensively trained in Meditation and Vedanta. She is a Clinical Ayurvedic and Pancha Karma Specialist, trained at the California College of Ayurveda and also in Kerala, India. She is the Director of the Ayurveda Programs at the Yoga Farm in California and a professional member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association (NAMA). She is also a member of Yoga Alliance and International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT).

About Krishna Darshan
About Krishna Darshan Krishna Darshan, who hails from Uruguay, is a direct disciple of Swami Vishnudevananda and has been a yoga and meditation teacher for more than 24 years in South America, Europe and USA. He has been the main Hatha Yoga instructor in numerous International Yoga Teachers Training Courses and has an in depth knowledge of the practice of Hatha and Raja Yoga and Vedanta philosophy. He is an able yogic sadhana counselor and he is Jyotish teacher and consultant, certified by the American College of Vedic Astrology (ACVA) and he has been teaching Vedic astrology courses at the Sivananda Ashrams and centers. In his long practice, study and teaching of Yoga and Vedanta philosophy, Krishna has come to recognize the value of Vedic astrology as a tool to give better counseling and guidance to those on the spiritual journey. He has written numerous articles on Yoga and Jyotish. Some of these can be read on his website: www.9graha.com

About Komilla Sutton
Komilla is the co-founder and Chair of the british Association for Vedic Astrology. She is an internationally renowned consultant, teacher and lecturer. Indian born, Komilla Sutton is one of the pioneers in making tis subject more accesible for the Western readers. She is the author of 'Vedic Love Signs', 'Vedic Astrology', 'The Essentials of Vedic Astrology' and 'Lunar nodes - Crisis and Redemption'. www.Komilla.com

About Pandit Samavedula
Pandit Smavedula is a 6th generation Sama Veda pandit who was trained in the Vedas beginning at age 7. He attended the Shri Sarva Raya Veda Patha Shala school in South India, and after 12 years of study, received his Master's Degree in Vedic Studies (Ganapati Pandit). Panditji will perform the pujas and homas during the conference.

About Sadasiva (Sam Geppi)
Sam Geppi (Sadasiva) is a Vedic astrologer, writer and teacher. He is the author of "The Ascendant-108 Planets of Vedic Astrology" and contributor to other spiritual magazines. He developed a training program for Ayurvedic practitioners in 2009 and is currently finishing a book on relationships. You can "friend" him on Facebook at http://facebook.com/indianastrology

About Jeffrey Armstrong
Jeffrey Armstrong is a professional speaker, AyurVedic astrologer, award-winning author and frequent guest on radio and TV. He is a scholar of the Eastern teachings and has spent the last 40 years committed to yogic practices including Vedanta, Raja Yoga, Tantra and Mantra practices, having been initiated into these mysteries by Masters of these traditions. He has degrees in Psychology, Literature, and Comparative Religion. He is a member of the American Council of Vedic Astrology and over the last 40 years has read the horoscopes of over 30,000 clients. Armstrong was featured on FOX TV “Exploring the Unknown” for his incredible accuracy and sees it only as a credit to the great science of Vedic Astrology. He currently travels and lectures internationally on the Philosophy and Lifestyle of Yoga and Vedanta. He is the author of The Spiritual Teachings of the Avatar, Karma The Ancient Science of Cause & Effect, The Vedic Astrology Learning Deck, God the Astrologer, Soul Karma and Reincarnation, How We Continually Create Our Own Destiny and others. See www.JeffreyArmstrong.com. During our conference, Jeffrey will be discussing Upayas, Dharma and Freedom from Karma, and a New Psychology Emerging from Vedic Astrology and Ayurveda.

About Bill Levacy
Bill Levacy holds a BA in Literature, a Masters in the Science of Creative Intelligence, another Master's in Education with a specialization in e-Learning and is a PhD Candidate in Education at Capella University. Bill has published three books on Vedic astrology, including “Beneath a Vedic Sky.” Bill is also a management consultant for the aerospace industry. Bill has had a very busy Vedic Astrology practice since 1983 with clients from around the world. He teaches workshops on Vedic Astrology around the US, Europe and India and is President of the American College of Vedic Astrology (ACVA), with its recent emphasis on online learning. Bill will be speaking on the topics of Saturn, the lord of time and the development of a higher state of consciousness through jyotish.