How Padmasambhava Yoga Centre runs

The centre is run by a small group of dedicated individuals. Set up as an unincorporated community association in 1995.

From the beginning the underlying philosophy has been one of seva and karma yoga or selfless service. This is the core practice of the members of Padma.

Aims and Objectives
Here are the main aims:-

• To promote, foster and conduct research in to the effects of Yoga.
• To provide yoga classes for the community by teachers trained in the "Satyananda Yoga" tradition regardless of age, sex, race or religious beliefs (or lack thereof).
• To present yoga workshops, seminars and retreats.
• To establish a residential centre where the yogic lifestyle can be more fully experienced.

What Padma provides to students

• Regular yoga classes in the "Satyananda Yoga" tradition and a variety of workshops and retreats with concessionary rates for those in need.
• A library containing books and videos on yoga and related subjects for loan.
• A retail outlet for yoga textbooks and products required by students to facilitate their practice.
• An opportunity to work in the spirit of seva, either by doing karma yoga at the centre, by working on one of its projects or by helping other good works going on elsewhere.
• A website updating yoga activities, providing links to other related sites and publication of articles about different aspects of yoga posted by contributors worldwide.

The teachers
All regular class teachers are trained in the "Satyananda Yoga" tradition.
The resident teachers and the members of the committee receive no remuneration or material reward for running the centre. The residents provide for their own living expenses through external work. Padma does pay its teachers to teach classes, workshops and retreats.

The facilities
The property at which the centre runs its activities, much of the equipment and motor vehicle expenses are provided mostly by donation.
Padma does contribute to a share of the costs of services, motor expenses and upkeep of the facilities.

Sources of income

• Regular classes
• Special events and workshops
• Sale of yoga related merchandise

Where the money goes
Full details of Padmasambhava's expenditure can be seen on request.

• The fees and travel expenses if required for teachers invited to present classes, lectures, workshops and retreats.
• A proportion of the running costs.
• The purchase and maintenance of equipment used by the centre.
• Insurance.
• The purchase of office equipment.
• The purchase of books for the library and subscriptions to journals.
• Publicity for classes, special events and workshops.
• Training of resident teachers.
• Donations to other organisations doing good works in the community.
• Savings to purchase land for a residential centre.

The benefits of this approach
We are able to teach classes and hold events irrespective of whether they are financially viable independently as profits from certain courses can be used to subsidise others without the usual requirements that other organisations and centres may have to break even or make a profit. This allows us to hold events that will be of the most benefit to the students attending.
We are able to work in a spirit of seva considering the needs of others as a priority when embarking on any project.