Stefania Rossitto is a Yoga Teacher and Founding President of Yoga Vidya ONLUS, Italy
How did you get introduced to Yoga and Vedanta?
Namaste! First of all let me thank ‘The Light of East’ editorial team for this interview. I was introduced to Yoga through a Hatha Yoga course I joined in the year 1998. At that time, I was a young woman, a wife and a mother of two little children. I live in Syracuse, a small town in Sicily Island of south Italy. In order to attend the course I had to drive twice a week for about 50 km to reach another town (Catania), as in those days the best yoga courses were available only in Catania. My idea of yoga was nothing more than a form of exercise which could lead to an overall well being, also involving some mental benefits. Little did I know that joining that course will mark a new beginning in my life. I started developing interest in Yoga and Vedanta. After few months of Yoga practise my friends started seeing some changes in me. They asked me to teach them yoga. Hence I decided to join a four-years teacher training course to start Yoga as a profession. As my quest for Truth was increasing, I met Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj, President of Divine Life Society, Rishikesh, India. During his visit to Italy, I had an opportunity to meet him and talk to him personally. In fact, because of him, my interest for Yoga and Vedanta started growing. I started travelling regularly to India. I used to take a group of yoga teachers and yoga students with me. The aim of these trips to India was to explore the country from a spiritual point of view. I keep visiting these places till date especially the Ganges, Himalaya, East and South India. In 2008, during one of those travels to India, that too because of Swami Ramswarupanandaji Maharaj of Uttarakashi, I came in contact with my Guru, Swami Ananda Saraswati.
This was another turning point in my Yoga sadhana and spiritual path. Thanks to Swamiji, I became more connected to the lineage of Vedantic teaching and knowledge. I adopted a Vedic lifestyle, my sadhana became systematic and integrated this into my daily life. Swamiji’s teachings inspired many people in my circle to attend his satsangs and courses on Yoga and Vedanta. Swamiji’s visit to Italy in 2011 helped us start the first Yoga Vidya Teacher’s Training Course (TTC) for Italians in Chennai. After the first successful TTC, many other courses on Yoga and Vedanta followed.
How Vedantic and Yogic teaching has helped you in your personal life?
Adopting a Vedic lifestyle, practising Yoga and studying Vedanta have immensely helped become the person I am today. Yoga has helped me understand and manage my body and mind. Vedanta has provided a new perspective of myself and has helped me deal with the external world. Vedanta has given a great impetus to my need to know God and how to relate with God. My deepest gratitude goes to the teaching tradition of my Guru Swami Ananda Saraswati.
How different is Vedantic teaching from the western school education?
Vedantic approach to teaching focuses on the overall growth of the student. It takes into account the lifestyle and discipline as fundamental values. Vedantic teaching allows a person to imbibe a value system which will be helpful while dealing with the inherent problems of life. As for the western school, it is focused only on intellectual growth of a person, neglecting the emotional and spiritual aspects. It causes a lack of understanding about one’s own self and lack of understanding of life.
What are the initiatives you have taken in Italy and how successful are they?
Following the vision of our Guru, Swami Ananda Saraswati, two organisations Yoga Vidya Italia and Yoga Vidya Onlus have been established. We organise Yoga Vidya teacher training courses, residential courses on Vedanta in India and in Italy. At the moment due to the pandemic our activities are continuing through online teachings.
What are the value outcomes of these initiatives?
In our initiatives we provide a platform and exposure for people to delve into the traditional teaching of Yoga and Vedanta. We also collaborate with local organisations to conduct focused training programs. For example, Yoga Vidya Onlus has conducted a research study applying Yoga Vidya methodologies (a package based on the traditional yoga created by Swamiji) to psychiatric patients. This successful research has demonstrated that Yoga works with people from all walks of life.
Do you think that Vedantic teaching and Guru, Sishya Parampara is needed for the West?
I can say that Vedantic teaching and Guru can add meaning to everyone’s life. The West is no exception. The good part is that many Westerners have an inner call for spiritual knowledge and are open-minded to learn. I am a living example of it.