Ananda Los Angeles
LA Meditation, Yoga & Spirituality Center
A place of awakening,
In the heart of Santa Monica
Everyone is Welcome. Come by and see what's happening. Look at the Calendar of Events for what is offered now. Keep checking back as new classes and programs are always being added. Stay tuned for more information on the “Ananda LA Institute,” distance learning courses offered in the fall of ‘08.
Meditation • Yoga • Spiritual Community
Are you seeking inner peace? Wanting to find purpose and meaning in life?
Perhaps you have had questions about God, or are seeking a deeper connection
with the Divine. Ananda has helped thousands of people to achieve these goals. We offer support and friendship for
your spiritual journey. What you'll find at Ananda:
Learn how to meditate
Ananda is one of the largest and oldest meditation centers in California. Skilled instructors with personal life-long practices will help
guide you, from sitting comfortably to learning how to calm the mind and the
heart. Whether your interest is meditation as a spiritual practice, or for
stress reduction and health, you will feel at home in an Ananda meditation
class.
Yoga: ancient tools for self-mastery
Though most people think of yoga as physical postures, yoga is an ancient
and powerful tool for spiritual development. The science of Raja Yoga is a
comprehensive approach to life that develops personal character, inner
strength, and a calm, compassionate heart. Unlike most religious
philosophies, yoga does not ask you to believe a dogma; you are encouraged
to test its teachings in the laboratory of your life.
A joyful spiritual community of friends
One of the most frequent comments by visitors is, "I feel so much joy here!"
The smiles you'll meet are genuine. Ananda is a place of music, laughter,
deep spiritual fellowship, and a refreshing sense of humor.
All are welcome
The basis of this teaching is universal. People of all faiths are welcome;
all faiths are honored. Ananda exists to support your search for greater
meaning and understanding, whether it be called wisdom, truth, joy, or God.
Truths shared by the great religions
Sunday Satsangs are free and include comparative readings and talks from the Bible and
the Bhagavad Gita. The emphasis is on the underlying truths shared by the
great religions, rather than differences. The teachings at Ananda were
brought to the West by Paramhansa Yogananda, author of the spiritual
classic, Autobiography of a Yogi. His direct disciple, Swami Kriyananda,
founded Ananda in 1968 and continues his work today.
Ananda is about supporting your quest for inner peace and happiness. Feel cared about by a dynamic, non-judgmental and supportive network of friends as you meet the challenges and victories of your own spiritual journey.
Ananda is a vibrant spiritual community. We offer Meditation, Yoga philosophy and Self-understanding classes. Ananda Yoga and individual healing sessions help you keep calm, healthy and centered. Sunday Satsangs and Social events with friends will feed your soul. Come regularly; drop by on occasion or call to chat. We¹re here to give you support for your spiritual life.
What We Offer
Our Roots
The Sanskrit word for spiritual teacher is “guru.” Yoga teachings are passed from guru to disciple, usually through a lineage of teachers often going back many hundreds of years. For Ananda, that teacher is Paramhansa Yogananda, perhaps best known as the author of the classic, Autobiography of a Yogi. Yogananda came to America in 1920, and was the first of India’s yoga masters to make his home in the west. He was a tireless lecturer, extolling the benefits of meditation and yoga to millions of Americans over the next 32 years.
Yogananda passed away in 1952, but he trained a close disciple, Swami Kriyananda, to continue his work. Kriyananda carried out one of Yogananda’s most cherished dreams: the founding of spiritual communities. There are nine Ananda communities and teaching centers in the world today. Swami Kriyananda is one of the few remaining direct disciples of Paramhansa Yogananda. Now living in India, Kriyananda is dedicating this phase of his life to re-establishing there the principles of Self-realization and balanced living, and to developing Ananda World Brotherhood Communities, spiritual retreat centers, and “Education for Life” schools.
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At Ananda, you may discover what others have found…
"I have been embraced by an unconditional love and a non-judgmental attitude I never believed existed. The people, the meditation, the yoga, the spiritual guidance.... Finally, the weight of stress, fatigue, and emptiness has started to lift. It feels like after thousands of years, finally I can breathe again."
- Ocean, Pacific Palisades, CA
"From the very first gathering I knew this was a special group with a great mission. Yogananda's presence is so strong, especially in our meditations together. We've got an amazing, beautiful group of souls in L.A. Thank you for being here."
- Dharmadevi, Santa Monica. CA
"I know Ananda LA will take off! Count me in. I want to be part of manifesting Yogananda's vision of World Brotherhood Colonies."
- Kirk, Canoga Park, CA
"We look forward to many more sacred moments with you. We honor you fortaking such a huge, faithful, courageous leap for the Divine. "
- Gayle, Thousand Oaks, CA
