Swami Durgananda was born in Cologne, Germany in 1943. After a period of intense spirtual quest and study in Rishikesh and various Ashrams in India, Swami Durgananda, following a recommendation from the Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh, met Swami Vishnu-devananda in 1973, at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center in San Francisco.

She was trained in Yoga by Swami Vishnu-devananda and received Sannyas initiation on New Year.s Day in 1976. As one of his most senior and closest students, she accompanied Swami Vishnu-devananda during his many travels both in the East and the West.

Following the wish of Swami Vishnu-devananda, Swami Durgananda went to Europe in 1975 to establish the Sivanana Yoga Vedanta Centers. She was appointed director of the European Sivananda Centers in 1984, and was personnally guided by Swami Vishnu-devananda in the training of Yoga teachers. She received from him the title of "Yoga Acharya", thus becoming one of his spiritual successors. She has guided with deep intuition many people on the spiritual path and teaches meditation, yoga psychology, nutrition, positive thinking, mythology and eastern philosophy.

Swami Durgananda founded the Sivananda Yoga Retreat House in Reith bei Kitzbühel in the Tyrol region of Austria in 1998. The Retreat House attracts people from all over the world for Yoga Vacations. It year-round programmes are highlighted by the Sivananda Yoga Teachers Training Course and Advanced Teachers Training Course.

Contacting Swami Durgananda

Swami Durgananda is travelling throughout the year. All emails, letters or phone calls will be forwarded from her office in Munich:

Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Zentrum
Steinheilstr.1
D-80333 Munich, Germany
Phone: +49 89 52 44 76
Fax: + 49 89 52 91 28
Email: munich@sivananda.org