SIVAKAMI SONIA SUMAR

 

 

Sivakami Sonia Sumar started teaching Yoga for children with special needs after the birth of her second daughter Roberta, in 1970. Roberta was born with Down Syndrome, a Genetic disorder characterized by mental retardation and other developmental delays. The changes Sonia saw in Roberta lead her to attend a Yoga Teacher Training program and in 1972 she received her certification. One of Sonia's dreams by that time was to travel to India to find a flesh-and-blood Guru to help her deepen her Sadhana; however, she could not afford

Beloved Gurudev and Sonia Sumar

Beloved Gurudev

and Sonia Sumar

it. Her favorite Yoga teacher was Sri Swami Sivananda and there were many books of his already translated into Portuguese. Sonia was following his teachings through his books.

 

In 1976 a disciple of Swami Sivananda visited Brazil and was hosted by the owner of the Yoga Center where Sonia used to teach. His name was Swami Nadabramananda. She learned a great deal during the week-long workshop he taught. Sonia was amazed to be in the presence of such a teacher, especially knowing that he came from Rishikesh, where Guru Sivananda used to live.

 

In 1980, Sonia Sumar opened her own Yoga Center under the name of "Nucleo Cultural Sivananda". At this point, Yoga for the Special Child had spread so much that Sonia was receiving many invitations to give conferences at Yoga Congress as well as workshops in Brazil and other countries of South America and Europe.

 

In 1988 Sonia went to India for the first time, visiting many holy temples and ashrams, and had the honor of being in the presence of many holy teachers. However, she did not feel that spiritual touch she was expecting and although she had learned so much from her first pilgrimage to India, she went back to Brazil feeling frustrated having not found her Guru.

 

In May of 1989 she received a very special gift, a visit by Mataji Indra Devi, who spent one week in her house and gave several lectures in her Yoga Center. It was a blessing to receive that darsham. In the same year Sonia participated in the International Yoga Congress in Argentina. At the Congress a woman approached Sonia to let her know that Mataji Indra Devi had recommended that her Guru visit Brazil in the coming year to view Sonia's Yoga Center. The Guru had been a friend of Mataji for more than 20 years. So the woman wanted to know if Sonia would host the Guru's visit in Brazil. Sonia happily agreed without knowing or imagining that the meeting of this Guru would change her life forever!

 

In 1990, she went back to Argentina to teach another Yoga for the Special Child workshop and to give a lecture at the International Yoga Congress. At this Congress she met the visiting Guru she was to host in Brazil, Sri Swami Satchidananda. She was asked to say a few words during the opening of the Congress. Swami Satchidananda was there next to Mataji, his very good friend. As Sonia stopped in front of the Guru to say hello, his eyes looked deeply into her eyes. Her heart spread, her soul was deeply touched and she felt in her heart that she had finally found her Guru. Not in a cave in India, or walking on the banks of the Ganges river or at the feet of the Hymalayas as she had dreamed... she met her Guru on the stage of the Yoga Congress!

 

Since that day she decided to be as close to him as much as possible and to follow her path under his guidance. In Brazil he invited Sonia to come to the United States and a year later she was in the US for her first visit. He told her she would be very busy here teaching Yoga for the Special Child Programs with his blessings. She would be traveling intensely to train people to work with children and adults with disabilities. Another surprise for Sonia was to realize that Gurudev was also a disciple of Swami Sivananda! She feels so grateful and blessed for having been lead to her Guru by Swami Sivananda.

 

Sonia's life dream is to help the world's special children to achieve their full potential and become active and productive members of society. Nothing can better express her success than the letters from the parents of her students.

 

Sonia holds a Bachelor's Degree in Education and has taught at the elementary school level. She has conducted workshops and has addressed special education programs and symposia in Europe, Asia, United States, Oceania, Canada and South America. In 1980 she founded the Integral Yoga Center of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, which is now headed by her daughter Renata. In September of 2001 Sonia opened the National Headquarters for Yoga for the Special Child, Satchidananda Yoga Center in Evanston, Illinois. She continues to teach children and adults and offers specialized training courses to Yoga teachers and other professionals who wish to learn her methods. She moves to Sarasota, FL. in October of 2007 and in February of 2008 she and her family were delighted with the arrival of Nathan. Now the family is complete!

 

Her book Yoga for the Special Child has been translated into Portuguese, English and Chinese while Dutch and Spanish versions will be forthcoming soon.

The English version was translated with the supervision and assistance of Jeffrey Volk.

 

Sonia is a member and recognized by: Yoga Alliance; IYTA - Integral Yoga Teachers Association; YREC - Yoga Research Educational Center; & IAYT - International Association of Yoga Therapists.