Campus Yoga

01/02/2026

Join us for PowerBall Yoga this Thursday 2/5, 5-6pm at JSMC in Lancaster. We'll use play balls (provided) in a fun, easy power yoga class for focus, alignment, grounding, and massage. www.campusyogapa.com

30/01/2026

My beloved mentor Rolf. So much gratitude for this kind, intelligent, enlightened soul who initiated me into the Himalayan Institute tradition, helped me understand yoga philosophy, motivated my meditation practice, taught me much about teaching yoga, and encouraged me to be a better person, teacher, practitioner of yoga, and follower of my dharma. I wish I could have spent more time sitting at your feet.

Dear Friends,

Our beloved friend and teacher, Rolf Sovik, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 29th.

A student and teacher in the Himalayan Tradition for more than 50 years, Rolf touched the lives of thousands with his warmth, clarity, and compassion. To be in Rolf’s presence was to feel an immediate sense of calm.

Rolf met his teacher, Swami Rama, in 1973. In the ensuing years, Swamiji taught him to meditate and opened the way for trips to India, Nepal, and Tibet, which provided opportunities to learn more about meditative traditions. Rolf soon began teaching at the Himalayan Institute, and later, with Swamiji’s encouragement, returned to graduate school for doctoral studies in psychology. Rolf held degrees in philosophy, music, Eastern studies, and clinical psychology.

Rolf’s life was one of service. In 1991, Rolf and his wife, Mary Gail, became co-directors of the Himalayan Institute of Buffalo. For the next 20 years, Rolf taught regular hatha yoga, meditation, and philosophy classes around the world. During this time, he also served as the Spiritual Director for the Himalayan Institute, and continued exploring the teachings of the Himalayan Tradition under the guidance of Pandit Rajmani Tigunait. In 2012, Rolf and Mary Gail relocated to the Institute’s headquarters in Honesdale, where Rolf served as President for 10 years.

Rolf was a gifted lecturer and writer. When expounding on the Yoga Sutra or exploring lessons from his favorite text, the Bhagavad Gita, he inspired students and teachers to refine and expand their personal practice. He is the author of Moving Inward and co-author of Yoga: Mastering the Basics as well as a regular contributor to Yoga International magazine and to the Himalayan Institute's educational platform, HI Online.

The Himalayan Institute is grateful for Rolf’s life of selfless service. He performed his actions skillfully, selflessly, and with love. Rolf’s legacy will live on in his body of work and in the minds and hearts of his students, friends, and loved ones.

The Institute anticipates holding a memorial gathering at its Honesdale Retreat Center later this spring. When details are available, we will share them with our community.

With love and gratitude,
The Faculty, Staff, and Community of the Himalayan Institute

28/01/2026

A freezing day is a great day for warming up with Hawaiian Yoga at The Heritage.

26/01/2026

Don't forget your shoulder, back, and leg stretches if you are out there shoveling!

15/01/2026

Creative Power Vinyasa spring series begins 1/22, Special Powerball Yoga class on 2/5, Loving Kindness Yoga at Nolde, Videos on Demand, and more in the Winter newsletter.

02/01/2026

Check out Walk for Peace. A group of Buddhist monks and their dog, Aloka, are walking 2,300-miles from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. to raise awareness of peace, loving kindness, and compassion across America and the world. They are now 70 days into their 120 day trek.

🙏Gratitude for Every Condition - On this first day of the new year, let us pause to remember something profound: everything and everyone we have encountered has brought us to this very moment.

The easy days that lifted our spirits and made us smile. The difficult times that tested our strength and taught us resilience. The unexpected turns that confused us at first, but later revealed their hidden gifts. All of it—every single condition, every circumstance, every encounter—has been quietly nourishing us, shaping us, guiding us to where we stand today.

We are here because of the kindness of people who became important in our lives. Because of the challenges that forced us to grow. Because of the moments of joy that reminded us of life’s beauty. Because of the moments of struggle that showed us what we’re capable of enduring.

We are here because of both the storms and the sunshine. Because of the people who said yes and the people who said no. Because of what we gained and what we lost. Because of every conversation, every connection, every opportunity given, every lesson learned along the way.

Today, let us offer our deepest gratitude—not only for the conditions that felt like blessings, but also for the ones that felt like burdens, for they too have been our teachers. Not only for the people who supported us, but also for those who challenged us, for they too have been part of our journey.
Every condition in our lives, whether we welcomed it or resisted it, has played its part in bringing us to this new beginning. And for that, may we bow in humble gratitude.

With this gratitude in our hearts, let us send loving-kindness to all beings—to those who have been by our side and those we have never met, to those who brought us joy and those who brought us lessons, to all who share this precious existence with us.

Let us carry this awareness forward—remembering that we are shaped not by single moments, but by the vast web of conditions that connect us all, nourish us all, and make us who we are.

May you and all beings be well, happy, and at peace.

01/01/2026

Ready to start 2026 with some inspirational reading? Our winter book is Abundance by Deepak Chopra, discussion on February 3. Manifest a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year!

18/12/2025

No yoga classes at JSMC over the holiday break. Be sure to do your daily home practice or check out the Campus Yoga videos. Creative Power Vinyasa classes resume on 1/22. www.campusyogapa.com

23/10/2025

Creative Power Vinyasa meets on Zoom (NO in-person class at JSMC) on Thursday 10/23, 5-6pm. Purchase access ($10) at https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=SLKG8YKC82QNW

20/10/2025

The Hindustan times provides 150 Diwali messages to send to family & friends. A good way to get a feeling for the way many Indians think of the holy days. "1. Wishing you a very Happy Diwali! May this festival of lights bring you prosperity, health, and good fortune."

Happy Diwali 2025: Share these colourful and positive wishes with your friends and family on social media and other platforms.

19/10/2025

4-4 Breathing at Kelly's Run

28/09/2025

Saw a woman doing yoga on the beach and met fellow instructor Joy who agreed to pose with me. So fun!