Ananda Los Angeles Opens a New Center in Jefferson Park With a Free Yogananda Fest

What’s happening

Ananda Los Angeles, the local community of the meditation and yoga organization founded on the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda, is opening a new center at 3741 W 27th St in Jefferson Park. It will mark the opening with Yogananda Fest on Saturday, September 26, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Ananda’s own site describes the day as a chance to “celebrate the grand opening of our new LA center,” with free yoga, talks, music and vegetarian food.

What’s on the program

Admission is free, with registration through Eventbrite. Ananda’s published schedule has three two-hour yoga and meditation blocks, a run of shorter classes, and an evening program:

• Yoga and meditation, drop-in, in English and Spanish, starting at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.
• Short classes and talks: Energization, an intro to meditation, healing prayers, affirmations, the Hong-Sau concentration technique and chakra sound healing.
• Evening: a keynote talk with choir, “Awaken to Superconsciousness,” from 4 p.m., then kirtan and global healing prayers from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Vendors will sell spiritual attire, meditation props, jewelry and art, alongside vegetarian food.

Why it matters for LA yoga

Yogananda’s teachings have deep roots in Los Angeles, and the city already hosts large gatherings in that lineage, such as the Self-Realization Fellowship’s World Convocation in August. A free, drop-in festival is a low-pressure way to try meditation-centered yoga, and the Spanish-language classes widen who it reaches. The listing is also on our events calendar.