The cornerstone of our ‘gurukula’ system (residential study) is selfless service, known as karma yoga. Swami Sivananda taught that the act of offering our services for the benefit of others purifies the heart and takes us further along the path of spiritual evolution. Karma Yoga is a devotional practice; it is service performed with no expectation of reward. One who practises karma yoga dedicates all thoughts and actions to the greater good. At the ashram, karma yoga takes the form of work that is performed in service to the ashram community.