The Bihar School of Yoga is a modern school of Yoga founded by Swami Satyananda Saraswati in 1964. The Bihar School of Yoga imparts traditional yoga teachings to householders and sannyasins alike from across the globe.
In addition to providing spiritual instruction to aspirants, the school also guides yoga projects and medical research in association with various corporations, state government and public works aiming to provide methods health-improvements.
Satyananda Yoga
The yoga taught at Bihar School of Yoga is known as Satyananda Yoga or Bihar Yoga and is an integral system which addresses the qualities of head, heart and hands – intellect, emotion and action – and attempts to integrate the physical, psychological and spiritual dimensions of yoga into each practice. Satyananda Yoga is suitable for everyone, regardless of age, gender, nationality, religion, mental condition or level of fitness. It is a holistic system which addresses all aspects of human life in the spheres of physical health, mental well-being, emotional behaviour and work environment. Awareness is emphasized and practitioners are encouraged to learn about all aspects of their personality through yoga. Adjustment in stages is emphasized, not a total change in one’s lifestyle and environment.
The techniques developed at Bihar School of Yoga are a synthesis of many approaches to personal development, based on traditional vedantic, tantric and yogic teachings in conjunction with contemporary physical and mental health sciences. The main components include karma yoga, hatha yoga, raja yoga, jnana yoga, kriya yoga as well as other yogas. Today, these techniques are taught by Bihar Yoga Bharati and also by Satyananda Yoga Academies in Australia and Colombia.
Campus
The campus of Bihar School of Yoga is called Ganga Darshan, which is built over a large hill overlooking the Utter Vahini Ganges. Here, amidst an atmosphere of natural beauty, surrounding by scenic gardens, green paddy fields and a majestic 180 degree panoramic sweep of the river Ganges, a new vision of yogic life is inspired.
Bihar School of Yoga has a research library specializing in spiritual literature from a wide range of traditions with a collection of over 40.000 books, periodicals and journals on yoga, tantra and allied disciplines, both ancient and modern. Fully residential facilities are provided for guests and students alike. The ashram accommodation is moderate, designed to meet the basic requirements of a spiritual aspirant. The residential buildings contain rooms with light, windows and fans. The rooms are clean, airy and simple, double or triple occupancy, with shared bath and toilet facilities. The ashram diet is simple Indian style vegetarian food. Breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as tea are served in the kitchen area.
Courses
Throughout the year Bihar School of Yoga conducts Health Management courses, Gurukul Lifestyle and Sannyasa Training courses, Advanced Yoga Sadhana courses and an Ashram Lifestyle and Yoga Satsang Week. Academic courses in yoga, such as the 4 month course in Yogic Studies and Diploma in Yogic Studies are conducted by Bihar Yoga Bharati.
Programs
Programs developed by Bihar School of Yoga are used in educational institutions, colleges, prisons, hospitals, Indian Railways, Defense Services and private and public sector industries such as Indian Oil Corporation, Coal India Limited, National Thermal Power Corporation, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Steel Authority of India, Hindustan Copper Corporation and many others.
Transport
The nearest airport is Patna which is 5 hours travel by rail via Jamalpur or six hours travel by road. Direct daily flights operate from the major Indian metropolitan cities Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai. There are direct trains to Jamalpur station from the major Indian metropolitan cities Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai. From Jamalpur station taxis are readily available for transport to the ashram.
List of publications
Bihar School of Yoga has been publishing books and articles on all aspects of yoga for over 40 years through its publishing house, Yoga Publications Trust All the publications are written under the guidance of the preceptors and inspirers of the Bihar Yoga tradition. The principal authors include Swami Satyananda and his spiritual successor Swami Niranjanananda.
- A Systematic Course In The Ancient Techniques Of Yoga And Kriya
- Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha
- Hatha Yoga Pradipika
- Kundalini Tantra
- Prana Pranayama Pranavidya
- Moola Bandha: The Master Key
- Yoga Nidra
- Meditations From The Tantras
- Sure Ways To Self-Realization
- Four Chapters On Freedom: Commentary On Patanjali Yoga Sutras
- Surya Namaskara
- Tattwa Shuddhi
- Yoga Education For Children
- Swara Yoga
- Nawa Yogini Tantra
- Dyanamics Of Yoga
- Taming The Kundalini
- Yoga Darshan: Visions of the Upanishads
- The Practice Of Yoga For The Digestive System
- Effects Of Yoga On Hypertension
- Yoga And Cardio Vascular Management
- Yoga Management Of Asthma And Diabetes
- Yogic Management Of Common Diseases
- Nine Principal Upanishads
- Sri Vijnana Bhairava Tantra
- Yoga Chudamani Upanishad
- Dharana Darshan-Yoga: Tantric And Upanishadic Practices
- Sannyasa Darshan
- Practical Yoga Psychology
- Yoga Sadhana Panorama – Vol. 1
- Yoga Sadhana Panorama – Vol. 2
- Yoga Sadhana Panorama – Vol. 3
- Yoga Sadhana Panorama – Vol. 4
- Yoga Sadhana Panorama – Vol. 5
- Prana & Pranayama
- Rikhiapeeth Satsangs
- Samarpan
- Samatvam
- Samkhya Darshan
- Sanskrit Glossary of Yogic Terms
- Sri Saundarya Lahari
- Steps to Yoga
- Yogadrishti:Dharma of a Disciple
- Yogadrishti: Head, Heart & Hands
- Yogadrishti: Karma & Karma Yoga
- Yogadrishti: Mantra & Yantra
- Yogadrishti: Mind, Mind Management & Raja Yoga
- Yogadrishti: Origin of Yoga & Pashupat Yoga
- Yogadrishti: Sannyasa
- Yogadrishti:The Path of Pravritti & Nivritti