- LIVE ONLINE PROGRAM
May 18 – August 3, 2026
How to Master the Mind: Practical Steps to Develop Virtues and Overcome Vices
Based on the Teachings of Swami Sivananda
12 WEEKLY SESSIONS, Mondays, 3:00 – 4:30pm ET
This course is approved by the Yoga Alliance for Continuing Education Hours.
“All great persons of the world have achieved greatness and success and eminence through patience and perseverance.
You will have to develop these virtues slowly.”
— Swami Sivananda
Why this Course?
In today’s restless world, it’s easy to feel pulled by anger, fear, or insecurity — yet deep down, we all long for calm, courage, and compassion. Transformation is possible, but it requires the right tools and steady practice.
This course is a guided journey into self-mastery. Week by week, you’ll learn to uproot destructive habits and plant the seeds of virtue — not through harsh self-judgment, but through awareness, love, and practical application.
Rooted in Swami Sivananda’s timeless manual How to Cultivate Virtues and Eradicate Vices, this training offers a living path to clarity, peace, and spiritual growth.
What You’ll Experience
- Weekly live sessions exploring one vice & one virtue
- Guided meditations to embody the teachings
- Practical tools and recorded practices for the week
- Journaling & reflection prompts to deepen insight
- A supportive community of like-minded seekers
What You’ll Learn
- How to transform anger, jealousy, and pride into calmness, humility, and kindness
- How to replace fear, greed, or guilt with courage, simplicity, and self-acceptance
- How to strengthen willpower and self-awareness
- How to cultivate patience, resilience, and inner peace
- How to live more fully aligned with your higher Self
“Observe silence. Remove hatred and other negative qualities, and acquire divine, positive virtues. You will enjoy immense Peace.”
— Swami Sivananda
What's Included:
- Teachings rooted in Swami Sivananda’s wisdom on meditation and mantras
- Group sharing and Q&A for personal connection and support
- A detailed guide to 12 sacred mantras to help you choose your practice
- Optional journaling prompts to deepen reflection
- Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Credits
- Recordings of each class so you’ll never miss a session
This course is approved by the Yoga Alliance for Continuing Education Hours.
What people are saying about Rukmini Chaitanya...
Why Students Love This Approach
- Authentic: Rooted in the classical yoga tradition of Swami Sivananda
- Practical: Focused on lived transformation, not just theory
- Supportive: Grow in a safe, encouraging community
Accessible: Open to all — beginners and experienced practitioners alike
By the End of 12 Weeks, You’ll Have:
- A clear understanding of your mental patterns
- Tools to shift from vice to virtue in real time
- Greater balance, calm, and inner strength
A deeper connection to your spiritual purpose
“Speak lovingly. Act lovingly. Serve lovingly. You will soon enter the Kingdom of Heaven or Supreme Peace.”
— Swami Sivananda
Additional Information:
Offered as 12 weekly sessions on Mondays, May 18, 25, June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, July 6, 13, 20, 27, and August 3, 2026 from 3:00 – 4:30 pm ET.
This program is offered live through Zoom webinar with the availability for students to interact through Q&A with the presenter. For enrolled students, a video recording will be available after each class in the event you miss a class or would like to review the content.
It is possible to register and take the course at any time. You can catch up on any classes you miss with the recordings.
Requirements and Recommendations:
- No experience necessary. This program is open to beginners as well as advanced practitioners.
- Viewing Device: Desktop or laptop computer will provide the best experience, although you can also connect via a tablet or smartphone.
- Internet connection: High-speed broadband wired or wireless is best.
- Video: Download Zoom to your computer, or install the Zoom app to your device. For interactive group sessions, a webcam or integrated camera will allow others to feel more connected with you.
- Audio: Headphone speakers are recommended. If you wish to participate vocally, a headset with a microphone will be ideal.
Rukmini Chaitanya
Rukmini Chaitanya is a senior staff member of the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas, and the personal assistant to Swami Swaroopananda, the Acharya, or spiritual director of the Ashram. She regularly teaches the Bhagavad Gita during the Sivananda Yoga Teacher training as well as other courses on the Bhagavad Gita, Vedanta, positive thinking, meditation, and yoga philosophy.
Rukmini Chaitanya is known for her enthusiastic and inspiring teaching style as well as for her devotion to the lineage and the scriptures. She is dedicated to each of her students and has an innate desire to share knowledge with them. She brings a great deal of clarity to every topic and is highly appreciated for her capacity to unfold complicated topics and present them in a coherent and pure way.