PRESENTS

Swami Dharmakeerti Saraswati

Evening Lectures in Washington, DC and Baltimore

April 28–30, 7–9:30PM

April 28, Washington, DC:

Fundamentals of Yoga: Yama

April 29, Washington, DC:

Fundamentals of Yoga: Niyama

The Church of the Holy City, 1611 16^th Street, N.W., 2^nd Floor, Washington, DC  20002 (corner of 16^th Street and Corcoran); nearest metro DuPont Circle

Phone 202-333-0430 to register, or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or see the attached registration form and instructions

April 30, Baltimore:

The Meaning of the First Chapter of the Bhagavad-Gita

Yama Studio, 5710 Bellona Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21212

Phone 410-464-9000 to register, or click "Workshops" at www.yamastudio.com to register on-line

ABOUT THE PROGRAMS

FUNDAMENTALS OF YOGA: Yama (restraint) and Niyama (practice of observance) are the yogic disciplines described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the 2^nd century BC fundamental text of Yoga. The five Yamas and the five Niyamas, the Do-s, and the Don’t-s of Yoga, are rules which are to be followed as spiritual disciplines. It is impossible to overstate the significance of the Yamas and Niyamas in spiritual life. Swami Dharmakeerti says that their observance is what transforms a student of yoga into a spiritual practitioner. In the two evening sessions in Washington she will talk on the importance of Yamas and Niyamas as the precondition for meditation which, when fulfilled, allows the meditation or any spiritual practice to take off so that it is meaningful and moves on from being a ritual to a process of yogic living. Each day the talk will be followed with a meditation practice exploring the presence of the Yamas and Niyamas in our daily lives.

THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE BHAGAVAT GITA:  The Bhagavad-Gita, an 18 chapter dialogue between the warrior Arjuna and Krishna, his spiritual mentor, is a guide to living for many people around the world. Swami Dharmakeerti leads us through the first chapter of this great spiritual classic, examining its psychological symbolism and explaining how we can use its wisdom as a preparation to face our own inner battles with grace and courage.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

SWAMI DHARMAKEERTI SARASWATI (Dr. Usha Sundaram)

Dr. Usha Sundaram worked for many years as a Psychiatrist at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bangalore, India. She began searching for additional ways to help people, and decided to apply her many years of training in yoga. Dr. Sundaram found that yoga was a practical and effective approach to reintegrating the body, mind and spirit. Dr. Sundaram has traveled extensively throughout India and the United States teaching at schools, colleges, temples, churches, corporate groups, and to individuals. She makes yearly visits to the United States. She was a Visiting Professor at Youngstown State University in Ohio in 1988-89. In 2001, she conducted a one week course with Joseph Le Page of the IYT, at Kripalu. She has published articles in journals and is the author of a book on Mantra.

Dr. Sundaram practices under the name of Swami Dharmakeerti Saraswati as initiated by her Guru, Paramahamsa Satyananda Saraswati. Under the instructions of her Yoga Guru Paramahamsa Satyananda Saraswati and the guidance of her Vaishnava Guru, Dr. Rajagopalachar, she is currently researching the ancient meditation techniques described in the Upanishads. Swami Dharmakeerti brings the message that yoga is not a religion, but rather a science to reach into your inner self and rediscover your potential for healing, wisdom and compassion.