Karma Yoga

“I came to Ananda absolutely confused and leading a reckless life, typical of many people in present society. Three weeks later, I feel renewed strength and courage, a body in harmony with mind, and a vision for a glorious path. Now I truly understand my purpose in this life.”

More testimonials…

Menmiling

Karma Yoga Program:

Spiritualize Your Life

Have the life changing experience of living in an ashram for 2 weeks to 3 months

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to live and serve with people from all over the world – seekers like yourself? Here is a great opportunity to learn and practice Raja Yoga – not just yoga postures, but using tools of yoga philosophy and meditation to transform your consciousness as you live and serve with others.

Yogananda

Paramhansa Yogananda

We follow and share a nonsectarian approach to yoga inspired by Paramhansa Yogananda and Swami Kriyananda.

Swami Kriyananda

Swami Kriyananda

The Karma Yoga Program gives you a unique opportunity to live in a spiritual environment and in an ashram setting. You’ll enjoy the daily practice of yoga postures and meditation, classes on Raja Yoga, and vegetarian meals.

The Karma Yoga Program gives you the tools to build a strong spiritual life

  • Develop a discipline of meditation and yoga practice.
  • Deepen your meditation through daily practice of the Hong-Sau technique and Energization Exercises, as originally taught by Paramhansa Yogananda.
  • Explore the steps to Kriya Yoga.
  • Learn the principles of Karma Yoga, the key to selfless service.
  • Learn about cooperation in a community setting, and attend the Ananda Community’s Sunday Service and other events.
  • Participate in philosophy and yoga classes by teachers with many years of experience living a spiritual life.
  • Develop a relationship with God through chanting, prayer, and the offering of healing prayers to others.
Stewart Motyka

Trimurti Motyka

Director of the Karma Yoga Program

The Karma Yoga Program

As a Karma Yogi you serve 6 hours a day, 5 1/2 days a week at The Expanding Light Retreat. Service includes kitchen and dining room cleanup, dishwashing, housekeeping and other projects to help us serve our guests at the Retreat. Your service could also include doing food prep in the kitchen or some gardening.

Participants in our Karma Yoga program are expected to contribute to the positive energy at the Retreat. The Karma Yoga schedule allows you to attend most of the sadhanas (morning and afternoon periods of guided Energization Exercises, yoga postures, and meditation).

Cost

The Karma Yoga Program fee is $400 for a two week to one month stay. (This fee includes the cost of The Art and Science of Raja Yoga by Swami Kriyananda, used as a study guide during the program, and which is yours to keep.) Additional time in the program – up to three months – is possible upon approval at an additional $400 per month.

Karma Yogis

Applications for Karma Yoga and Cooking Apprenticeship Program

If you wish to apply for this program, please download, complete, and return the Karma Yoga Program and Medical Questionnaire forms and return them along with your resume and 2 work references.

To apply for either of these programs, choose ONE of the options below:

  1. Adobe PDF

    Print out the applications and mail or fax them with your resume and references.

    To read or print this file, you will need the free software, Adobe Reader. Go to the Adobe web site to download Acrobat Reader.
  2. MS Word document

    Fill in on your computer and send Trimurti (Stewart) Motyka at karmayoga@expandinglight.org along with your resume and references. You must have Microsoft Word installed on your computer to use this option.

    NOTE: It is best to right-click on the download link above, save the file to disk (Save Target As in Explorer), open in MS Word, then under the File menu in Word, Send To, Mail Recipient (as attachment).

Please remember to send your resume or your work history from the last 10 years.

Questions? Please e-mail karmayoga@expandinglight.org or call 800-346-5350 or 530-478-7518 ext. 7090.

Testimonials

Serving in the kitchen

A Karma Yogi serving in the kitchen

“The Karma Yoga program has been a profound blessing on my life, imprints of which will nurture my soul till the time of my departure from this world. Feelings of compassion, thoughtfulness, devotion, kindness, and love that were masked by worldly delusions have suddenly resurfaced.

“Healthy and delicious vegetarian meals infused with divine love have done a miracle on my perennial health problems of migraines, heartburn, and fatigue. Yoga postures and meditation have been an immense source of inspiration and joy.

“I came to Ananda absolutely confused and leading a reckless life, typical of many people in present society. Three weeks later, I feel renewed strength and courage, a body in harmony with mind, and a vision for a glorious path. Now I truly understand my purpose in this life.”

– Aditya J., San Jose, CA