Sadhana Intensive
A two-week residential immersion in advanced pranayama and classical Hatha Yoga practice
Created by Swami Vishnudevananda, Sadhana Intensive offers Sivananda Yoga teachers a rare opportunity to devote themselves fully to personal practice. Over two weeks, the programme gradually builds towards extended periods of pranayama and asana practice, supported by meditation, spiritual study and the disciplined rhythm of ashram life.
Sadhana means conscious spiritual practice. It is the steady effort through which the teachings of yoga move from intellectual understanding into direct experience.
Sadhana Intensive creates the conditions for this deeper work. Daily responsibilities are set aside and the attention is directed inward. With the guidance of experienced teachers, participants gradually extend their practice and learn to work with advanced pranayama in a safe and systematic way.
The course is demanding by nature. Its value lies in the continuity of the practice and the disciplined environment in which it takes place. As the programme develops, the mind becomes more concentrated and the flow of prana more perceptible. Many participants experience the course as a source of renewed strength for their spiritual path and their life as a yoga teacher.
Swami Vishnudevananda developed Sadhana Intensive from the period of concentrated Hatha Yoga practice he undertook in the Himalayas. He later said that the energy generated through this practice sustained his work of spreading the teachings of yoga in the West for almost forty years.
The programme follows the classical teachings of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Its primary emphasis is not on learning how to teach, but on entering more deeply into one’s own practice. It brings together powerful Hatha Yoga techniques with Vedanta, devotion and meditation, preserving the broader spiritual purpose for which these practices were originally developed.
Pranayama is the central practice of the course. Participants work through concentrated sessions of progressively increasing intensity, developing greater control of the breath and a more refined awareness of prana.
Practice takes place in two or three extended sessions each day. The familiar sequence of twelve basic asanas provides a stable foundation, while the increasing duration encourages concentration and endurance.
Mudras and bandhas are introduced as practical means of directing and preserving prana. They are gradually incorporated into the pranayama practice under the guidance of the teachers.
The classical cleansing practices help prepare the respiratory and digestive systems for intensive pranayama. They also support greater lightness and steadiness in the daily practice.
Morning and evening satsangs include silent meditation and mantra chanting. Periods of silence help conserve energy and turn the mind inward.
Study places the physical and energetic practices within the complete philosophical framework of yoga. The principal texts include the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Viveka Chudamani and Srimad Bhagavatam.
The programme begins with two periods of individual practice each day. As the body and nervous system adjust, a third session is introduced and the total practice time gradually increases.
Participants meet regularly with the teachers to discuss their experience and receive individual guidance for the next stage. This close supervision allows the practice to develop according to each person’s capacity while maintaining the shared direction of the course.
The structured daily rhythm also includes satsang, scripture study and simple vegetarian meals. A spiritual diary encourages observation of the mind and helps participants follow the development of their practice. Likhita japa – the meditative writing of a mantra – and periods of silence further support concentration.
Participation in the complete daily programme is an essential part of Sadhana Intensive.
Sadhana Intensive is intended for graduates of the Sivananda Yoga Teachers’ Training Course who are ready for a concentrated period of advanced personal practice.
You should be in sound physical and mental health and have an established practice of kapalabhati and anuloma viloma. The programme requires self-motivation and a willingness to follow the guidance of the teachers throughout the course.
Unlike the Advanced Teachers’ Training Course, Sadhana Intensive is not centred on expanding your teaching curriculum. Its purpose is to deepen your own experience of yoga through sustained practice.
Because of the intensity and spiritual nature of the programme, a personal conversation with one of the course teachers may form part of the application process. The requirements for preparation can vary by location, so please consult the individual course page before registering.
The progressive discipline of the course can help you:
The effects of the course are not limited to the two weeks themselves. The experience can bring new depth to your regular practice and a clearer understanding of how to continue your sadhana at home.
Sadhana Intensive is offered in settings that support concentrated practice and allow participants to step away from everyday distractions.
