By invitation, Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda (Vishwaguruji), the founder of Yoga in Daily Life, visited Melbourne offering Satsang in early, possibly May, 1999.
The response was so positive that the Yoga in Daily Life Australia co-ordinators, based in Sydney, were inspired to open a Melbourne branch. A space at upstairs 710 Burke Rd Camberwell was rented and the enthusiasm of 2 yogis, Gangadevi & Ambapuri, were channelled to transform this space into a yoga centre and ashram.
Take your mind back to that time for a moment … where there was not much in the way of internet, websites or mobile phones. These were the days of banner signs outside the premises to catch people’s attention. Leaflets in shops, cafes and stalls at Camberwell markets. Letterbox drops. Word of mouth recommendations.
The YIDL team were very active. Classes commenced from 1 July 1999. Followed quickly by Beginners Courses. Then Satsangs.
In that first year a fundraising concert for the victims of the Orissa Cyclone in India and a ‘yogathon’ to support drought relief in Rajasthan was organised with bountiful support from the local community. Early 2000 Vishwaguruji visited again and there was a public lecture and cultural evening as part of his program. He has continued to visit annually for most years since.
Classes grew quickly and gained committed regulars. After some time of regularly attending a few people connected more deeply to YIDL and the yogic way of living aspiring to become Yoga in Daily Life teachers.
July 2000, for family reasons Gangadevi leaves. Larissa Gita arrives.
The first job is to find larger premises!
As Melbourne was a new city to me this was quite a challenge. I gradually settled in. Got the hang of sharing roads with trams. Struggled being cold for what felt like forever and bought items like a beanie and scarf that I’d never needed before!
May 2001 we moved to upstairs 232 Bridge Road in Richmond.
A big space that we cleaned and painted.
We were the first dedicated yoga school in Richmond!
It felt like Richmond was very happy that we had arrived :)
Life in Richmond was (is) vibrant and busy. We continued offering drop in classes and Beginners courses. Plus added a multitude of different workshops for health and wellbeing, programs with guest speakers, satsangs etc. We continued community work. Soon after the Richmond move Ambapuri left. By that time we had brand new teachers Soozie, Peter, Tania and Annette.
Classes in DONCASTER began in 2001. Some students have been attending so regularly they have experienced the 3 different teachers, Soozie, Jen Daya & Gopal, guiding this class over the years!
As teachers were coming and going according to the flow of life, I started to call upon Gopal to join the Melbourne team. Finally, in June 2004, he made the move.
As many of you know Swami Gopal is originally from Hungary. He moved to Sydney, Australia in August 1999. I’m not sure if he has ever thanked me for my persistent invitation to make the move to Melbourne?! Jumping ahead a bit Gopal was initiated as a swami, in the Dasnami Sannyasi tradition, in 2007.
Things at 232 Bridge Rd turned sour when the downstairs tenant changed from the newsagent to a dress shop. The dress shop dance club music was so loud students could hardly hear the teacher. They were unwilling to turn the music down during classes, and the landlord did not care.
It’s a very long story, but eventually we moved and opened upstairs at 8 Corsair St Richmond February 2005. This has been our home to date.
We are grateful that one of our friends, Annette, generously trusted us enough to give us a personal loan to be able to afford to move and renovate the premises to open the space up to be as you see it today. Yes, we paid it all back. We are thankful to Jen Daya, Jason Jivanmukti, Tulsidas, Krishnapuri, Nina and a whole bunch of our students and friends for helping us rip up carpet, knock down walls, install ceilings and soft lights, clean, sort, paint, clean, paint, clean, paint and clean some more.
In this bigger and homely space away from the busyness and noise of Bridge Road our story continues. Yogic Studies and teacher training commenced bringing us Wendy aka OM Shanti Puri, Miranda aka Yoga Mudra and Leanne aka Laxmi. And more recently Leeann and Niveen. This allows the Richmond class timetable to feature classes everyday!
IVANHOE classes began in 2005. Starting in Heidelberg with Jen Daya, then moving to Ivanhoe with Larissa Gita. The classes extended for a while, 3 on different days thanks to Karen and Amelia joining the teaching team. But due to growing families taking priority they have compressed back to only Mondays with Larissa Gita.
PASCOE VALE classes started in 2010 due to persistent requests! It continues to be the best attended class we offer.
In our Richmond sanctuary the “Urban Yoga Retreat” was invented. From this emerged weekend retreats in the Yarra Valley to Easter retreats in Hepburn Springs, week long retreats Lady Elliot Island QLD, Sanctuary Retreat FNQ, Otford NSW for New Year, Bali and this year will be our first trip to India!
While the Beginners Courses for both Yoga and Meditation are the most popular, we have run others over the years on various yoga philosophy topics. Most recently, November 2018, Swami Jasraj guided a weekend course on the topic of Patanjalis Yoga Sutras.
Workshops, of course! There was a period of time we ran a lot of yogic vegetarian cooking workshops, but that fad has passed for the moment. With Niveen in the team workshops currently have an Ayurvedic flavour. Focus classes are like mini workshops with this years focus being the chakras. Satsangs offer more on the philosophical yoga teachings and a chance to connect with a like-minded community.
Our community focus continues. The Richmond Monday 9.30am community class is just $5. At various times throughout the year we run free classes. Fundraising. Collections. Gift voucher donations. Teaming up with others like Yoga4Dignity giving our time that the class proceeds support homeless women.
Before this turns into our resume, I will stop there!
Underpinning all the changes, comings and goings and seasons passing has been our authentic yoga tradition that has continued to be delivered with heart. Cultivating a safe and welcoming space for all to practice, evolve, connect and benefit.
We wish to extend our immense gratitude to Vishwaguruji for the inspiration, the YIDL System and teachings and to all teachers and yoga practitioners past and present.
Read our letter from Vishwaguruji > here
Tia's Story
Yoga in Daily Life Melbourne 20 Years Young! ️
This Ashram, our Ashram in Richmond is a place, a space that is bright, inviting and always feels safe. It is a sanctuary where everyone is welcome.
We come to practise yoga and meditation in its most genuine form. As true to ancient yoga as the founder Swamiji created it to be.
This Ashram is so much more than a place to practise. Gita and Swami Gopal bring our Ashram to life. Gita and Gopal are the heart of our Ashram. Two different personalities coming together united in their dedication to give us the best yoga experience. They compliment each other’s practice intending to inspire and motivate us to move and feel unlimited yoga joy.
Coming to their classes since 2002, a time when I was facing anxiety, has given me unlimited benefits physically and emotionally. When I come to class feeling unsettled and overwhelmed I always leave feeling stronger, clear headed and happy to be alive.
It is so easy to keep coming back to their classes because I have so much more to experience, to achieve and the yoga journey is never ending.
I thank them as my teachers and appreciate them for caring about me and all of us and sharing yoga in my daily life.
Namaste
Chetna's Story
I am Chetna, my family - the Prakash family - has been associated with Yoga In Daily Life for the past 10 years. Actually, it should not be me but my mother-in-law Deepak Prakash who should telling this story. She is an integral part of the ashram, is on its board and it is she who introduced me to the ashram and to Swamiji’s teachings. Unfortunately she is in India right now, so I am here instead.
Sometimes, there is an assumption in the West that all Indians are just somehow naturally more spiritual than others. Let me assure you that is not the case. I guess I grew up somewhat spiritual, but like all young people - I rejected religious and spirituality in my teens and 20s and adopted an ironic, fashionable Rationalism as my ethos. And then I couldn’t work out why I was so miserable. Why despite a great education, career and marriage I felt so miserable with myself :-)
One of the biggest gifts my mother-in-law gave me - and she has given me many - was insisting that I attend the pregnancy yoga class by Shantiji when I was pregnant with my eldest daughter. I had a terrible backache and was ready to try anything! But the magic of Shantiji’s class!!! Within two weeks my back ache had disappeared - literally disappeared. And there I became a yoga convert.
Since then, the ashram and Swamiji have given me so much. I have learnt - or perhaps relearnt - the value of giving, of service, of patience, of measure or balance, of living a centred life, and most of all, the value of discipline through Swamiji’s teachings. The ashram’s warm community, peaceful and calm atmosphere, pure spirit is an oasis for me. I have made good friends, found many Gurus who visit the ashram, and most of all - found shelter in Swamiji’s generous spirit.
I bring my children here because I know they too will become rebellious young adults like me one day - interested in the material rather than spiritual. But I also hope that when they find themselves miserable, they can hark back to these important teachings of their childhood and rediscover peace and measure through them.
Thank you Gita and Swami Gopal for keeping Swamiji’s spirit alive here amongst us even as he travels the world!
Madhu's Story
Happy 20th anniversary Yoga in Daily life Melbourne.
In this stranger phenomenon called life I have a deep questioning. I want to know more about life, the deeper aspects of life. Why is it so different, such a different experience for each one of us.
20 years ago I was drawn to a sign that said "yoga". My mind was saying “get real”, but something inside of me had to go to check it out. Here began my journey with Yoga in Daily Life. I met Swamiji and became a bhakta.
I became a part of Yoga in Daily Life Melbourne around 2009 when I moved back to Melbourne with my family. The Richmond ashram very quickly became my sanctuary. On a weekly basis I would come in, exhausted from my life as a mother , wife and very active school volunteer After an hour and a half on the mat I would feel totally rejuvenated and ready to step back out into the world, not just physically prepared, also mentally, emotionally and spiritually prepared.
I am consistently amazed at the total fulfilment I receive as my questions are always answered. Sometimes I ask, but most of the time the balancing, moving, holding and breathing there is a clarity that comes and all my questions are answered. I remember who I am and that everything I need is within me. Yoga in Daily Life Melbourne is my home, my coming back to me, a place where I fully remember and practice being my true essential nature. Gita and Gopal create this space for us all, and my gratitude runs more deeply than words could possibly express.
Thankyou thank you thankyou for this space you cultivate and hold for us all to do our work. The work of returning to our true essential Selves. To feel and raise ourselves out of the mundane and into limitless possibility. This work is what will save our planet.
Blessings to this ashram and all Yoga in Daily Life spaces that provide us the opportunity to come home and remember.
