The newcomers are always surrounded with much love and care in all Russian city collectives. The Sahaja Yoga Course for Newcomers (Sahaja Yoga School) usually lasts for 2-3 months on average and includes 1 class per week as minimum.
The information below illustrates the experience of holding classes for newcomers in some Russian city collectives.
Naberezhnie Chelny
The course of Sahaja Yoga for new people in Naberezhnie Chelny usually consists of 6-7 classes. After it, the newcomers are invited to the main collective. Sahaja Yogis use common and widely spread Sahaja methods in their work with newcomers.
Class 1 – A short story about Sahaja Yoga and Shri Mataji. Self-Realisation protocol, meditation, work with new feelings and vibrations. Then the cleaning techniques with the element of Mother Earth and balancing of the channels are offered. The information about footsoaking is given at the end of the first class. The newcomers are advised to practice this kind of cleaning technique every day as a home task.
Class 2 – Homework checking. Information about Muladhara Chakra, the reasons why it catches and the qualities of this chakra. Statements for this chakra and airing (bandhan for the chakra). More detailed information about the Earth element and the principle of Shri Ganesha. The newcomers are offered to work with statements and airing at home.
Class 3 – Homework checking. Information about such chakras as Swadishtan and Nabhi, and also Void. The influence of Sahaja music and the principles of Sahaja music therapy. Listening to the extracts from the audio talks of Shri Mataji corresponding to the topic of the class. Candle treatment. The newcomers are offered to try meditation with Sahaja music as a home task.
Class 4 – Homework checking. A talk on the Energy of Love. More detailed information about Channels and work with them. The work with the energy of Love and sending it to other people. Massaging the little finger. Breathing exercises (pranayama). At the end of the class the newcomers are offered to practice the new methods and watch the inner changes as a home task.
Class 5 – Homework checking. Information about Vishudhi chakra and its Divine principles. Mantras. Listening to the ragas. Several bhajans performed by a Sahaja bhajan -group if possible. Listening to Bijha Mantras performed by Shri Mataji Herself. Ghi into the nose.
Class 6 – Homework checking. Agnya and Sahasrara chakras. Information about their principles, qualities and causes of catching. Jesus Christ, His mission, unity of religions, Shri Mataji and Her mission. Demonstration of the illustrations with the depiction of all the channels and chakras. Singing mantras and Christ’s praying. Agnya treatment by candle.
In general, those who were brought by Sahaja Yogis and were impressed by them, those who receive constant care and support stay in the main collective after the classes are completed. On average, 10 percent of newcomers usually come to the main collective after Sahaja Yoga school.
Novosibirsk
Novosibirsk collective has two groups for newcomers. Usually Sahaja Yogis hold a general meeting with the newcomers and then follow classes for each chakra. Within each class there is time for talks with newcomers, answering their questions, cleaning with one of the methods (such as candle treatment, airing, burning knots, lemons, etc.) and watching the talks by Shri Mataji.
In Novosibirsk, eight Sahaja Yogis hold classes for newcomers in turn. Each class is held by two people. The classes are divided into cycles which means that there is a talk about a certain chakra at each of the classes. Of course, there is no tough structure of the classes for newcomers. Sahaja Yogis choose lectures and cleaning techniques depending on who of the newcomers and how often come.
The structure of the classes is usually the following:
1. Sahaja Yogis talk to newcomers and ask them how they have learnt about Sahaja Yoga, how they meditate at home, etc.;
2. Self-Realisation protocol (if there are people who came for the first time);
3. Raising the Kundallini and making a Bandan;
4. Meditation;
5. Information about the subtle system;
6. Demonstration of a cleaning technique and making it together with the newcomers;
7. Listening to Shri Mataji’s talk;
8. Meditation;
9. Raising the Kundallini and making a Bandan.
At the end of the Course (after all the classes), if a person wishes to practice Sahaja Yoga, he or she receives the manual for beginners. The newcomers are invited to the collective meditations in the main city group. Sahaja Yogis try to give the newcomers their personal support until the newcomers establish themselves in the main collective.
Voronezh
The classes for newcomers take place three times a week. The first day (Monday) is devoted to Self-Realisation, information about Sahaja Yoga and Shri Mataji (for those who come for the first time). The second class (on Wednesday) is devoted to a certain chakra (a different chakra per each week), the information about its aspects, qualities and methods of its balancing as well as teaching how to meditate. On the third day (Friday), there is a musical class. Singing mantras, music therapy when a group of Sahaja Yogis sings notes of the chakras and, sometimes, Bhajans and Ragas to the accompaniment of the Indian harmonium. Afterwards, the repetition of Self-Realisation Protocol and a meditation follow. Thus, the first-day class is for newcomers, the second day class is for those who have got their Self-Realisation already and the music therapy on the third day is for all. Usually about 10-15 people stay in the main collective after Sahaja Yoga school.