Originally from France, Swami Atma discovered yoga in the early 80s. At that time he became a vegetarian and gradually learned yoga in the tradition of Swami Sivananda Saraswati of Rishikesh.

Since he didn’t have a live teacher, progress was slow. Nevertheless, gains were made by studying the excellent books of famous author and teacher Andre Van Lysebeth: J’APPRENDS LE YOGA (Yoga Self Taught), JE PERFECTIONNE MON YOGA, and PRANAYAMA, LA DYNAMIQUE DUE SOUFFLE.

In the mid eighties he stepped up his practice by taking a couple courses in Spain with Andre Van Lysebeth. Around that time he also got involved with kriya yoga and was initiated in Paris by Swami Shankarananda Giri and Swami Hariharananda Giri, the latter being a direct disciple of Sri Yukteswar and Paramahamsa Yogananda.

The turning point of Swami’s spiritual life came in 1987 at which time he took the International Sivananda Yoga Teachers Training Course (TTC) in Neyyar Dam, Kerala, South India. This powerful immersion program had a profound effect on his mind and during the flight back to France, he clearly knew that he was to become a yoga teacher as his main vocation.

The highlight of the experience was the meeting with his guru, Swami Vishnu-devanandaji, founder/director of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers (ISYVC). The connection he felt with the great Master was at once intimate and remote, friendly and severe, cheerful, joyful, wisdom-filled, emotionless and yet very emotional.

That year he met Swamiji – as Swami Vishnu is referred to by his disciples – two more times for programs in Paris and Blois, France. The combined effect of the TTC course and the meetings with his guru prompted Swami Atma to fully dedicate himself to the Sivananda path of yoga and he has not looked back since.

After the TTC he gradually got more involved with the Paris Sivananda Yoga center, traveling there from Normandy about once a month. This led to the next natural step: joining the ISYVC as a volunteer staff member. There he studied with senior swamis and disciples of Swami Vishnu-devananda for over twelve years. He trained rigorously in Swami Sivananda’s yoga of synthesis, with a marked emphasis on karma yoga.

He received mantra initiation in August 1988 and sannyas initiation in December 1991, both from Swami Vishnu-devanandaji.

In the ISYVC, Swami Atma got trained in a variety of karma yogas which led him to direct the Chicago and Los Angeles branches for quite some years and to be involved with the teaching of hatha yoga, bhagavad gita and satsangs in numerous teachers training courses in California, Upstate New York, Bahamas, Canada and India.

In December 2000, he left the Sivananda Organization, and in mid 2001 founded the Advaita Yoga Ashrama (AYA) and its web site, YogaAdvaita.org. The first branch opened in Culver City, California and was inaugurated on September 8th ’01, the birthday of Swami Sivananda Maharaj.

Besides teaching yoga and vedanta in Southern California, he travels around the U.S. and the rest of the world to lead retreats and workshops.

As a hobby, Swami Atma likes to play chess by playing on ICC and by studying Jeremy Silman’s outstanding books.

REGARDING ADVAITA YOGA

The Advaita Yoga Ashram follows the teachings of Swami Sivananda. This is usually referred to as the yoga of synthesis. This traditional Indian approach includes a balanced practice of the four paths of yoga customized to each student according to their capacity and inclinations. More details can be found in the article entitled: THE YOGA OF SYNTHESIS.

With shanti & ananda,
Swami Atma

For more information about Swami Atma and Advaita Yoga, visit http://www.YogaAdvaita.org/ or write him directly at: SwamiAtma@YogaAdvaita.org