Specialties

The Ashram is an environment where students can experience deep personal transformation, promote healing, and achieve optimal physical health so that their greatest potential can be realized.

Our desire is to help people live life more fully, be more connected with one another and experience true joy. Our Method

Though the practice of yoga dates back to ancient times, we have designed this highly effective method and unique philosophy to meet the needs of people of our society in this day and age.

Those needs include physical and emotional healing, stress and anxiety reduction, fitness and well-being, consciousness of one's life purpose, connection to the whole and realization of one's greatest potential.

Established in 2006.

The Ashram was inspired to create a yoga method designed to optimize the life experience for our society in this current day and age. This unique yoga method attracts hard-core athletes and yoga practitioners of all types. Gary's personal vision influences each style of yoga taught at the Ashram. All Ashram teachers are trained in his method and are encouraged to explore other certifications and yoga practice experiences.

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The Ashram Yoga - Kirkland, WA | Yelp

Swami Shankarananda Photo: Facebook

A 72-year-old Victorian yoga guru has begged forgiveness for having sex with some female students in secret.

Swami Shankarananda will remain spiritual director of the Shiva School of Meditation and Yoga, at Mt Eliza, after apologising for his "Tantric sexual activities".

Swami Shankarananda, also known as Russell Kruckman, said he recognised the "disastrous effect" of his actions and had stopped his behaviour, which was raised publicly by former members of the residential ashram.

"I want to make a sincere apology to the community and to anyone who has been hurt by my actions, or even by hearing of my actions," he said in a letter to members, obtained by AAP on Wednesday.

"I had a carrot in my ear. Truly. When contemplating Baba's life, I was most engaged by the dramas of the succession. I profoundly underestimated the impact of his Tantric sexual activities. And my own."

These "Tantric activities" were the only blemish on the ashram's good work.

"I don't know how I could have been this stupid, but I was," Swami Shankarananda wrote.

"I beg your forgiveness."

The ashram's management committee has written to members, saying it was urgently implementing internal processes to address grievances and engaged independent mediator Callum Campbell.

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Guru apologies over Tantric activities

Swami Shankarananda. Photo: Gary Sissons/Mornington Peninsula News Group

A sex scandal has shattered the zen-like calm of an ashram in Mount Eliza, with revelations its "guru" and director, Swami Shankarananda, allegedly had sexual relations with dozens of women attending the ashram.

Distressed former members of the Shiva School of Meditation and Yoga claim Swami Shankarananda, 72, had sexual relationships with up to 40 women, and say a number have since sought counselling.

At a prayer meeting in December, a board member of the residential ashram - which has about 500 members and up to 40 "seekers", or residents - announced the ashram was aware of sexual allegations against American-born Swami Shankarananda, also known as Russell Kruckman, and he would be standing down as director.

The ashram then released a statement to members saying it was aware the swami had had "secret sexual relations" with a number of women over time but he had never claimed to be a sexual renunciant or demanded celibacy from his disciples.

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"It is well known that our lineage is a tantric path, involving worship of the Goddess with strict disciplines," the letter says. "...until now Swamiji has kept aspects of the teaching and his personal activities secret in line with age-old Hindi tantric scriptures."

"Swamiji now accepts that this is not appropriate, and he must be transparent both personally and in the teachings."

The letter goes on to say that while the board has been advised there is no basis for criminal complaint, the activities in question raise a number ethical questions, and free counselling is available.

"Swamiji has asked us on his behalf to reiterate his message for the year of holding the feeling - that is, stay away from enmity, and keep returning to love."

Link:
Guru sex scandal at Mount Eliza yoga retreat

The banned CPI (Maoist) retaliated to the killing of one of its senior leader Sharath and a militia member near Korukonda shandy on October 19, 2014, after it killed a native of Veeravaram village Sanjeeva Rao, by destroying an ashram of Sanjeeva Raos spiritual guru Simhachalam at Gurramveedhi village in G. Madugula mandal on Saturday night.

During the October incident Sanjeeva Raos guru Simhachalam escaped from being tried at a praja court while the Maoists were attacked.

The Maoists had also beaten up six persons in the Ashram and burnt down furniture and other material and a shed and some vehicles, according to information reaching here. An earth-moving equipment engaged in laying a nearby road was also set on fire. The Korukonda local area committee was responsible for the incident.

Along with some Maoists, a large number of militia members and sympathisers allegedly participated in the incident. They reportedly left pamphlets and hung a banner saying that the Ashram was attacked in retaliation to the killing of Sharat and the militia member and that Simhachalam would not be spared.

It may be recalled that the Maoists later claimed that in the Korukonda incident the police provoked the local Girijans to attack the Maoists.

Simhachalam was not present at the ashram when it was attacked.

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Maoists torch ashram in Agency village

Despite being provided with police protection, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has once again failed to take possession of its ground at Ghatkopar (East), on Friday. The Acharya Atre ground is occupied by an ashram of Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwavidyalaya a spiritual organisation for more than 10 years.

Despite being provided with police protection, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has once again failed to take possession of its ground at Ghatkopar (East), on Friday. The Acharya Atre ground is occupied by an ashram of Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwavidyalaya a spiritual organisation for more than 10 years.

As per the documents obtained from BMC, the N ward of the civic body had been instructed to take possession of the ground since the ashram has carried out several illegal constructions, made alterations to the existing building on it and had not paid water bills and other dues for several years. A few months ago, the ward had issued a show cause notice to the organisation for the unauthorised constructions.

According to sources, the BMC succumbed to the pressure from political leaders in the area and failed to take possession of the ground.

NCP corporator Rakhi Jadhav, who has been fighting for the issue for was disappointed over the development. "Ward officials only told us that the organisation has approached the court because of which no action was taken. But the court has not yet given them a stay order; so, what's preventing them to take action," asked Jadhav.

She added, "The ashram doors were locked. The BMC should have put its locks too on the doors. But the officials failed to act, despite having police protection." A few weeks ago, the civic authorities had asked the organisation to vacate the plot and hand over the ground to BMC. On Friday, N ward officials were to take possession over the plot.

The issue came to light last year, when members of the ashram allegedly detained a minor boy after his ball came inside its premises while he was playing at the ground.

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BMC fails to take possession of Ghatkopar ground