Established in 1968, the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas offers multi-track vacation, learning, and spiritual development experiences in a beautiful beach setting to visitors and prospective community members and yoga teachers. A part of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres established by the renowned teacher Swami Vishnudevananda, the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas follows classic principles of yogic philosophy as enunciated by the sage Adi Sankaracharya more than 1,200 years ago and carried forth to Swami Vishnudevananda by his guru, Swami Sivananda.

The system of physical, mental, and spiritual growth practiced at the ashram is based in an easy, effective program. The objective is to develop a healthy mind in a fit and healthy body, with the ultimate goal being to place the student on a path toward greater spiritual evolution. As part of their daily work, students learn to practice the asanas, or postures, of yoga, as well as the pranayama (breath control) exercises that complement and support them.

In Sivananda yoga, the overall frame of reference is that of Vedanta, the philosophy that aims to recognize the oneness between the individual being and the supreme being, or the totality, the whole. Vedanta, literally means the end of knowledge or the end of the Vedas. The Vedas are sacred ancient text and their ending portions are the Upanishads, which proclaim the oneness between the individual and the Supreme. This is also the meaning of the word yoga (i.e. Union). The great Indian philosopher of the 8th century, Adi Sankaracharya’s wrote text and commentaries that clarify this philosophy.