Swami Sivananda Radha

Swami Radha was among the first Westerners and first women to bring yoga to the West. In 1955 after having a powerful visionary experience of her guru, she left everything and traveled to India to meet Swami Sivananda. In February 1956, she was initiated into sanyas, a commitment to a life of selfless service and renunciation, and was asked to return to Canada to start an ashram and many centers of Light.

Swami Radha was 44 when she went to India, and spent the remaining forty years of her life passionately committed to the teachings. During this time she founded Yasodhara Ashram and the Radha Yoga Centres, as well as timeless, which has published her ten books on yoga. In 1969 she founded ascent magazine, which has blossomed into an international yoga magazine. The Ashram and the Radha Yoga Centres continue to present her work in the spirit it was given, maintaining the quality and integrity that were the essence of Swami Radha's life. 

For a more in depth biography of Swami Radha, click here.

To see visual history of Swami Radha and the establishment of Yasodhara Ashram, click here.

Swami Radhananda

Swami Radhananda became president of Yasodhara Ashram in 1993 and was initiated into sanyas in 1994. She carries forward the spirit of Swami Radha's work with creativity and practicality. Instrumental in developing the Teacher Training program at the Ashram, she has also successfully opened the way for young people to become involved in yoga- both through the Ashram's Young Adult program and through opportunities at ascent magazine.

Click here if you would like to view some of Swami Radhananda's satsangs which are posted on youtube.com

Swami Radhananda lives the teachings and encourages others to see the depth of Swami Radha's legacy. She writes a regular column in ascent magazine, oversees the direction of Yasodhara Ashram and Radha Yoga Centres, and travels during the year offering workshops.