About the Journey

Inspired by his deep love and devotion for his Guru’s teachings, Garuda felt guided to combine Yogananda’s peace and harmony prayer with the challenge of walking the 1,000 km South West Coast Path. He feels this is an offering to bring greater peace, harmony, and uplifted consciousness during these challenging times.

Around the same time, he discovered that Ananda in Assisi was in a time of need, and has decided to dedicate the fundraising effort to Assisi, the main centre of Ananda in Europe.

The walk will take place in May and June: 60 days of walking along the South West coast from Minehead to Land’s End, and then along the South Coast to Poole.

The Fundraiser

Garuda is undertaking this 60-day pilgrimage along the South West Coast Path as a joyful offering in support of Ananda Assisi’s “Ananda Needs a Home” campaign.

Ananda Assisi which began more than forty years ago, serves as the European spiritual centre for sharing the universal teachings of Yogananda and uplifting and enriching people’s lives. In addition to offering retreats, courses, and training programs, it is the spiritual home for hundreds of devotees throughout Europe. It welcomes all who feel inspired to visit and explore yoga, meditation, and the art of living. It truly stands as a beacon of light in these challenging times. Ananda is especially close to Garuda’s heart, as this is where his journey with Yogananda began.

Many of the buildings in and around the community in Assisi have always been rented. These are the places where guests stay — sometimes up to 200 people at a time. Ananda now needs to purchase these properties; otherwise, residents, guests, and visitors would have nowhere to stay.

Through the campaign “Ananda Needs a Home,” the goal is to raise €650,000 — representing approximately 23% of the total cost of purchasing the property.

The Challenge

Through this walk, Garuda is combining prayer, dedication, and physical effort to help raise vital funds toward their purchase, so that the heart of Ananda Europe can remain stable and protected for generations to come. Each step is offered in gratitude and service to the Ananda spiritual family.

The Southwest Coast Walk

The South West Coast Path is one of the most remarkable long-distance walks in the world. It stretches for 630 miles (1,014 km) along the coastline of southwest England, beginning on the rugged shores of Minehead in Somerset and following the sea all the way to Poole in Dorset. It is a journey through some of Britain’s most breathtaking coastal scenery: steep headlands, sheltered coves, wide sandy beaches, quiet estuaries, and historic harbours.

The path is well marked and invites exploration at every scale — from short day walks to multi-week thru-walks — and offers a pilgrimage not just of miles but of rhythm, presence, and connection with nature.

This is an iconic national Trail, bringing prayer and awareness amidst some of England’s oldest and most beautiful natural places.

The Peace and Harmony Prayer

- is a powerful healing prayer written by the great Yogi and Master Paramhansa Yogananda. It uplifts personal and environmental vibrations and consciousness. Here's a 2 minute video to watch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSWXX5iinl0

How you can Help

You can support this pilgrimage in simple but powerful ways.

Practise Yogananda’s Peace and Harmony Prayer regularly — while walking in nature, along your local High Street, on the beach, or even as you drive to work — and consciously offer that vibration to the world. Invite friends, family, or your meditation group to join you in praying, whether for a few minutes or as part of their daily practice.

If you know anyone who lives near the South West Coast Path, consider asking whether they might offer Garuda a place to stay for a night in exchange for satsang, meditation, healing, or uplifting spiritual conversation.

Garuda also welcomes you to join him along the way — whether for an hour, a day, or longer. Bring your own tent if you would like to walk for multiple days.

Every prayer, every connection, and every small act of generosity becomes part of the larger field of service.

About Garuda

Garuda is a deep devotee of Yogananda and our line of kriya masters.

Following a visit to Ananda Assisi, Garuda came to the path of Kriya in 2005 when he became a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda. He became an Ananda Yoga and Meditation teacher in 2006/7 and has visited the Expanding Light numerous times to take part in courses and to serve on the Karma Yoga programme.

He has taught healing modalities, yoga and meditation in India, North America, Peru, and Europe. Garuda’s passion is human potential. He is a Truth-seeker, a healer, a yogi, a father and grandfather, a teacher and a student. Ultimately, he learned that Truth, Love and Joy are already within each of us – we just need a little help to find them. He now lives in Cornwall, UK, with his wife, Jane, but continues teaching and healing in person and online.