Yasodhara Ashram — Kootenay Bay, Canada
A women-led yoga ashram on the east shore of Kootenay Lake, British Columbia
In 1956 Swami Radha returned to Canada from India with a direction from her teacher, Gurudev Sivananda: "When you leave here, go where you have mountains in the back, water in front, and trees all around. The mountains will give you strength and energy, the water will calm the mind, and the trees will offer you protection." She landed in Montreal, started the Sivananda School for Yoga and toured Canada lecturing and teaching. A small group of students then asked her to move to Vancouver. Together they bought a house and, in 1958, opened the first ashram in Canada, in Burnaby.
In 1962 she began looking for the place Sivananda had described, and the search led her to the Kootenays. The property was an 85-acre homestead with a small orchard and three buildings. By chance, the name "Yasodhara Estates" appeared on its earliest land title. Yasodhara was the wife of the Buddha, and Yasoda was Krishna's mother. Although she came from the Sivananda tradition, Swami Radha kept the name in recognition of the feminine principle in spiritual life. In 1963 the work began: residences were built and land was cleared for garden and farm.
Swami Radha died on November 30, 1995. Since its founding the Ashram has welcomed thousands of people from around the world, created a publishing house, run an award-winning magazine and inspired centres across Canada, the US, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Its Temple of Light was rebuilt and celebrated its grand opening in June 2018. The community is now led by Spiritual Director and President Swami Lalitananda.
Yasodhara is both a home to year-round residents and a place for guests. Days run on Hidden Language Hatha Yoga, Karma Yoga as selfless service, meals eaten in silence and often drawn from the gardens and orchards, and satsang each evening. Guests stay in The Barn and Saraswati Lodge. Programs run from five-day guided retreats to a three-month intensive.
Traditions: Yasodhara Yoga, Karma Yoga, Mantra Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Dream Yoga, Hidden Language Hatha Yoga
Programs: Yoga Development Course (3-Month Intensive), Yoga Journey (10-Day Intensive), 5-Day Guided Retreats, Restorative Retreats, Karma Yoga Program, Teacher Training, Taste of the Ashram (One Day), Kundalini Journey