About Founder Swami Nirmalananda Saraswati
Swami Nirmalananda Saraswati
Swami Nirmalananda Saraswati is our Master Teacher - a teacher of the highest integrity for over 35 years. Formerly known as Rama Berch, she is the originator of Svaroopa® yoga as well as the Founder of Master Yoga and of Svaroopa® Vidya Ashram. In 2009, she was honoured with initiation into the ancient order of Saraswati monks.
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Now wearing the traditional orange, she has openly dedicated her life to serving others. Usually called Swamiji, she makes the highest teachings easily accessible, guiding seekers to the knowledge and experience of their own Divine Essence.
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“Svaroopa® is the experience of the Bliss of your own Being. It pervades all of existence and beyond. It is there in every beam of light, in every breath you breathe and in every moment. Even now” – Swami
Swamiji received Maha-Shaktipat-Diksha from Swami Muktananda (Baba) in 1976, and sold her home and her accounting business to move her family into his ashram, where she served as part of the management team, taught asana classes and served as one of the ashram musicians. Living in the ashram allowed Swamiji to indulge her total focus on Baba’s teachings, which laid the foundation for her life and work ever since. She settled in San Diego in 1987.
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She describes her unique and powerful way of teaching as “a cosmic download, given to me by my Guru. He gave it to me in one instant, whole and complete, but it took me 15 years to figure out what I got. I certainly am a slow learner!” She was urged to name it and accepted the help of a student in establishing the copyright and trademark protection for Svaroopa® yoga, protecting both the name and the body of teachings in order to preserve their integrity. Yoga Journal listed Svaroopa® yoga as a style in 1996, beginning the national recognition of its growth and effectiveness.
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Swamiji created and directed the yoga program for Dr. Deepak Chopra for five years and served as the founding president of the national Yoga Alliance as well as the San Diego yoga teacher association, Y.E.S. (Yoga Education Society). She taught nationally and internationally, including weekend workshops, yoga conferences and yoga retreat centers. She and Master Yoga moved to the Philadelphia area in 2006.
Origin of Svaroopa® Yoga
Baba Muktananda