Swami Sivananda Radha

Swami Sivananda Radha, (Sylvia Hellman), was born in Germany in 1911 and lived there until after World War II. Always of a very questioning nature, she soon realized that worldly success brought little of enduring value. The disruptive events in Germany through the War years only increased her desire to find a lasting and meaningful purpose in life.

In 1951 she emigrated to Canada and became a Canandian citizen. A visionary experience led her to her Guru (Spiritual teacher)- Swami Sivananda Saraswati - In Rishikesh, India. At the time of her first visit she spent six months at his Ashram, and received a very intense training in the philosophy and practice of Yoga and the spiritual life. It was there that she choose to dedicate her life to the service of others, and in 1956 was initiated into the sacred order of Sannyas as Swami Sivananda Radha. Sannyasins renounce all worldly ambitions and emotional attachments, directing their life and energy to the ideals of selfless service and the search for the spiritual understanding and enlightenment.

At her Guru's request she returned to Canada to bring the Yogic teachings to the West. In the 1956 she hounded as Ashram in Burnaby, British Colombia, which moved to its present location in Kootenay Bay, B.C. in 1963. since then Swami Radha's major emphasis has been to interpret the ancient teachings so they can be understood and applied in the daily life of the Westerners. Many of her recordings have been classified as educational material by Canadian Government. She is the author ofKundalini: Yoga for the West, Mantras: Words of Power, and the Divine Light invocations.

Swami Radha sees Yoga not as a Religion, but rather as a science to help human beings realize their fullest potentials, to live with concern for others as well as themselves. She lectures as gives workshops throughout North-America and Europe, and training others to share the teaching as she has done. Much of her times were spent in writing and giving spiritual guidance to those that seek the light.