The Movement Center was established by Swami Chetanananda in Bloomington, Indiana, in 1971, at the direction of his guru, Swami Rudrananda. The Center moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1982. In 1993, the former Mann Home in Northeast Portland, Oregon became its new home.

In Portland, for the first time in its history, the center has enough space to house nearly all its residents under one roof and a meditation hall large enough to accommodate all residents, local members and out-of-town students who come for intensive practice retreats. In addition, the Portland ashram includes a beautiful hatha yoga studio space.

The two principal highlights of the Portland center are the tributes to gurus in our lineage: Swami Rudrananda’s (Rudi’s) shrine, located in the center courtyard behind the building, and a life-size statues of Bhagavan Nityananda and Rudi in the meditation hall. A statue of Shiva Nataraj presides over a fire pit on the front lawn, the site of many havans (fire pujas) conducted by Swamiji and Brahmin priests.

The building includes The Movement Center offices, residents’ rooms and apartments, a large kitchen, and common living and dining areas. The garden areas around the building, including a small Zen garden, are maintained by members of our community.

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