The satyam yoga school was established in 1998 by Swami Yogasagar. He began his own personal journey with yoga under the guidance of his guru Swami Satyananda who founded the Bihar School of Yoga in India. Satyananda has always been known affectionately by his disciples and close students as satyam (hence the name Satyam Yoga School). The teachings of Swami Satyananda have become known internationally as the “Satyananda Yoga” system or method of yoga practice.
Satyam created a fully integrated system of yoga that promotes an internalised awareness. Yoga classes begin with slow movements to restore the full range of movement in the joints. Movements are controlled with awareness of the breath. Asana (postures) are held with a relaxed breath for 3-5 min. Satyam yoga classes include specific breathing techniques (pranayama) and a meditation practice. The Satyananda Yoga system includes a wide variety of meditation techniques such as kriya yoga, kundalini tantra, mantra and basic stillness of the body. Yoga Nidra is the most popular practice which was created by swami satyananda and has become recognized by the yoga community world wide as a powerful deep relaxation technique. The teachings of satyam were taught to his disciples and made available to the students and followers via his lectures and publications. The Bihar School of Yoga was his ashram in India and it was there that he trained his disciples and created the international style of yoga that is known today as Satyananda Yoga. For more info click here.
A direct disciple of swami satyananda he began his training in 1978. Yogasagar was initiated by his guru and mentor in 1980 and has dedicated his life to yoga as a lifestyle of personal transformation. Over the years he has explored many aspects of spiritual discipline and has developed his own unique style of teaching yoga. Although he trains teachers and promotes the Satyananda Yoga method he always explains that his style of teaching is his own and is not in anyway a purist representation of satyananda yoga.
“My knowledge of yoga is not based on book knowledge alone. There are only two ways that anyone can attain the true knowledge of yoga or indeed any other truth. The first is the direct training and interaction you have with your guru. The other is Sadhana or personal practice”
The concept of guru conjurers mixed reactions and has not always been fully appreciated by many of us to are fearful of trusting someone with our vulnerable lack of faith. Our own advice is never go shopping for a guru. If you have the desire in your heart for someone to guide you and advise you then prepare yourself with sincerity and open your heart to prayer. The true guru will hear your call and contact you. Please never underestimate the power of guru nor should you hesitate to embrace the teachings of guru. The quality and integrity of guru is dependent on your own integrity. We all have personal likes and dislikes however if you want to develop spiritually you must be truthful and honest with yourself. Any confrontation that invokes a reaction from you is an opportunity to internalize your awareness and resolve the inner conflict that you have with your self. The mind is in conflict and you are not able to remain calm and steady. The guru will definitely expose your inner conflict and at the same time show you the way to resolve that conflict.
Sadhana is your own personal practice. It may be a daily yoga practice at home or an intense period of isolation. There is no doubt that if you do not have your own inner experience through direct sadhana your understanding will remain an intellectual one. Intellectual knowledge is only partially true because it is based on what you have read or inferred. Until you confront your own inner conflict and learn how to impose your own inner disciplines there will only be an intellectual understanding.