Yoga Vidya - English

Aus Yogawiki
Satguru Swami Sivananda

Yoga Vidya English - The knowledge of yoga. The non-profit association Yoga Vidya e.V., founded in 1992 by Sukadev, operates holistic yoga and Ayurveda seminar houses in Germany and Europe, including in Bad Meinberg, in the Westerwald, in the Allgäu and in Horumersiel on the North Sea. The Yoga Vidya School teaches yoga in the tradition of Swami Sivananda and Swami Vishnu-devananda. It is known for its diverse and holistic program and places equal emphasis on spirituality, individual health and development, as well as ecologically sound, sustainable practices.

Yoga Vidya – Europe’s biggest Yoga Institution

Sukadev - Yoga Vidya Bad Meinberg

The integral practice of yoga and meditation in a natural environment, with delicious food (organic!) and the company of like-minded people, can harmonise and inspire your body, mind and spirit. A stay in Haus Yoga Vidya can enhance your strength, joy and positive outllook on life. It can lead you to deeper inner self-knowledge. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Of course the Yoga Vidya Teachers Association is also registered as a member of the International Umbrella Organisation "Yoga Alliance".

Yoga Teachers‘ Training Intensive

Become a yoga teacher in our four weeks’ intensive training course. You learn how to teach yoga classes. Intensive practical training, Yoga philosophy, meditation and relaxation techniques. An opportunity to connect to your intuition, awaken your life energy, and enhance your personal aura. There will be lectures and workshops giving you the necessary theoretical skills to teach. You will also work in smaller groups to refine your practical skills. This course is also recommended for people who simply wish to experience Yoga at an in-depth level.

Information - International Yoga Teacher Training

Seminars

Loving greetings from Haus Yoga Vidya. Our goal is to provide you with the ideal environment to gain new insights, access intuition, and rediscover your inner resources of happiness. Our daily combination of yoga postures, breathing exercises, deep relaxation, chanting, meditation and vegetarian meals have an optimal effect on body, mind and soul. more...

Yoga Vidya Ashrams

Bad Meinberg

Haus Yoga Vidya Bad Meinberg is a hidden treasure with powerful spiritual vibrations! Although virtually unknown to people outside of Germany, it actually is Europe’s largest seminar house. We offer over 650 programmes each year, as well as a variety of recreational facilities. Here there are extensive opportunities for you to work on your body, mind and soul. more...

Seminar Haus Shanti

Our seminar and conference center Seminarhaus Shanti is part of our Ashram in Bad Meinberg and suitable for retreats, workshops and conferences with spiritual and/or alternative topics as barcamps or congresses. It is suitable even for bigger events as at there are 350 beds available more...

Westerwald

Here, in the rejuvenating quietude, close to Mother Nature, you can replenish your energy and truly relax. In addition to talks and workshops, there are two meditation sessions and two yoga classes daily. Haus Yoga Vidya offers many leisure options: hiking and cycling (bicycles are free) in the adjacent forests and valleys. more...

Northsea

Haus Yoga Vidya Nordsee is located in NW Germany near, Bremen, Hamburg and Wilhelmshaven, in the natural paradise of East Friesland. more...

Allgäu/Bavaria

This idyllic retreat center is located in Bavaria south Germany with a view of the Alps. more...

Yoga

Yoga is an ancient system of exercises that has evolved over the millennia in India. Introduced to the West less than hundred years ago, yoga has proven itself to be of great value for westerners as well. The harmonizing effects of yoga has been experienced by many people and documented in scientific studies.

Yoga has been practiced for millenia as a system that has been proven to optimise your physical and mental good health, help you to achieve inner harmony, awaken your latent capabilities, expand your consciousness, enhance your joy in life.

The positive effects of yoga

"An ounce of practice is better than tons of theory", was one of the favorite sayings of yoga master Swami Sivananda (1887-1963). Once, when he was asked why he had written so many books (more than 200) Swami Sivananda replied, "Some people need tons of theory, to be motivated for an ounce of practice." Yoga is an ancient system that has evolved over the millennia in India. Known in the West for less than one-hundred years, yoga has proven itself to be of great value for westerners as well.

Yoga; means "unity", and also "harmony". Developing a regular yoga practice can help you to: harmonize your life, awaken latent capabilities, experience a oneness with the universal consciousness.

Awakening latent potential

Yoga unlocks your latent capabilities. As you practise, it activates your intuition and artistic abilities, and enhances your mental powers and charisma. Different spheres of consciousness become accessible to you. You may find that you are better able to experience the life-energy within yourself and others, are more aware of the movement of prana within the chakras and nadis (meridians), and are able to control the prana directly. You may transcend body-awareness, and gain the abilities of clairvoyance, pranic healing and telepathy.

Union with the true self

The ultimate aim of yoga is the realisation of the true Self. This awareness manifests as cosmic love, a the feeling of oneness with all of creation, and the experience of pure being, unflawed knowledge and infinite bliss.

Responsibility of the individual

Everybody is responsible for doing something to improve his/her life. Yoga offers you a vast variety of exercises and practices. It is for you to decide how far you want to go with yoga. Those who "just" want to relax and feel good are welcome and can achieve this with a bit of time and effort. Those who want to go further, must work harder. Yoga is no magic pill but leads you to you desired goal with systematic practice.

The different paths of yoga

1. Hatha Yoga contains the well-known practices of yoga: asanas, (physical postures), pranayama (breathing exercises) and deep relaxation. Hatha yoga also contains advice for healthy living, including vegetarian nutrition.
2. Kundalini Yoga, the yoga of energy, describes the astral body with its chakras and nadis (meridians). Kundalini yoga offers exercises to purify the astral body, increase prana, and harmonise the chakras. When one is prepared, the mighty Kundalini energy awakes. At this time, you may experience overwhelming extrasensory perceptions, a strong feeling of bliss, expansion of the consciousness and the unfolding of new capabilities.
3. Raja Yoga explains how the human mind functions and how to control it. Raja yoga exercises include affirmations, visualization, mindfulness, self-observance and the various meditation techniques.
4. Jnana Yoga, the yoga of knowledge, is the philosophical approach. It asks questions like: Who am I? Where am I going? What's the meaning of life? What is real? What is happiness? In jnana yoga, practices are given to help you experience the truth intuitively.
5. Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of devotion. Its practices include chanting, listening to myths and stories, and various devotional rituals.
6. Karma Yoga, the yoga of action, offers techniques to assist you in making right decisions and living a divine life. Karma yoga is selfless service; it helps you to transcend the boundaries of your ego.

The synthesis of yoga

Yoga is an integral, all-embracing system. Most people find a combination of the different paths of yoga most beneficial:

1. Hatha Yoga develops the physical body
2. Kundalini Yoga augments the energy body
3. Bhakti Yoga sublimates the emotions
4. Raja Yoga trains the mind
5. Jnana Yoga enhances intellect and intuition
6. Karma Yoga helps you to integrate yoga into your daily life.

Asanas – yoga exercises

Practise of asanas enables you to gently develop your muscle strength, flexibility and body awareness. They release blocked life energy (prana), activating inner healing power. Yoga asanas boost your body’s resistance to disease; they support and enhance the effects of other therapies.

Pranayama – breathing exercises

You breathe approximately 25,920 times a day. In addition to oxygen, you also ingest prana. As a result of stress, tension, bad posture and negative habits, you may breathe too shallowly. You may not be providing your system with enough oxygen. Yoga helps. With special breathing exercises your life energy can be rebuilt. When regularly practice breathing exercises, you can overcome fear, depression, anxiety, stress and over-tiredness.

Deep relaxation

There is a deep relaxation at the end of every yoga class. Relaxation is especially important to modern people: stress is reduced, the immune system strengthened, healing processes supported, mental strength and calmness restored. Complete relaxation doesn't come by itself, but may be learned patiently and systematically. 

"An ounce of practice is better than tons of theory." -Swami Sivananda

Other Links

Literature

Seminars

Seminars - english

28.11.2025 - 30.11.2025 Yoga and Meditation Introduction
Ideal to relax and recharge with power and positivity. During these days you will have an introduction into the different aspects of yoga and meditation. Experience yoga and meditation through physic…
Clemens Burghardt
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