In July 2005, Shri Mataji changed the system of coordination of Sahaja Yoga advancement in Russia. Individual leadership was changed by collective coordination bodies called Councils.

In July 2005, Shri Mataji accepted resignation of the previous leader and approved the first team of the Russian Council for the Advancement of Sahaja Yoga.
(To view the announcement of the New Collective Leadership in Russia, please, visit here).

In September 12, 2006, Shri Mataji confirmed the renewed team of the Russian Council which is working in Russia at present time.

The principle of the collective leadership became stronger and proved its effectiveness within the period of the last three years. The City Councils for the Advancement of Sahaja Yoga were formed in more than 150 cities of the country.

The City Councils assemble when it is necessary but not less than once a month. The meeting of any City Council includes meditation, vibrational work, discussion of the current issues such as, for example, the use of the financial means of the Fund, organization and preparation of the events as well as the collective discussion of the new methods and directions of Sahaja Yoga advancement.

The members of a City Council discuss general issues with the whole collective of Sahaja Yogis at the collective meetings. The collective discussions help to understand each other better, to look at the arising problems from another point of view and to find solutions to them collectively. The Russian Sahaja collective have become more united and integral. Annually, mutual Seminars of the members of the Russian Council and the Coordinators of the Russian city collectives are held where the directions of Sahaja Yoga development for the following year is set.

As an example, the experience of Saint-Petersburg City Council is represented below.

There are 14 yogis in the Council. The Council assembles every week.

There are also several constant groups (Committees) such as:

1. The Committee for Sahaja Yoga advancement in Saint-Petersburg and the Region.
2. The Committee for Sahaja Yoga advancement in the North-Western Federal District.
3. The Committee for creative activity.
4. The Committee for Science.
5. The Committee for Public Relations.
6. The Administrative and Economic Committee.

The team of each group can include Sahaja Yogis who are not the members of the Council.

If necessary, they form temporary groups, for example, a group responsible for the organization of the Marriage ceremonies at the International Festival in Togliatti.

The meetings of the Council usually include discussions of the issues concerning the organization of public Self-Rеalisation programs, Sahaja concerts, the work of
Self-Realisation stands, assigning financial means for different events, holding weekly meditation programs, etc.

The Council usually makes its decisions on the basis of consensus and sometimes by voting.

As a rule, the meetings of the Council are usually led by its Coordinator. But there also has been an experience of leading the meetings by the Members of the Council.

The agenda of the Meeting is often formed at the beginning of it. The main points of the Meeting are usually entered in the minutes.