Bridging Spiritual Paths for Holistic Well-being
A transformative gathering in the picturesque hills of the Ahr Valley offered a unique perspective on how Yoga and Christianity can complement each other and foster holistic well-being and spiritual growth. Burg Lantershofen, a historic castle, and the St. Lambert Study House, a distinguished Roman Catholic seminary, in Grafschaft, Germany, provided a serene and spiritually enriching environment for the “Yoga & Christianity” conference, perfectly blending history, faith, and education.
A copy of the full convention program with all recordings can be accessed at the link below
The 3-day event, hosted by Rita Keller, Director of Light on Yoga, and Alan Goode, Director of Yoga Mandir, featured thought-provoking presentations and interactive workshops where over 30 participants gathered in person and online to explore the deep connections between these two spiritual traditions. Attendees and presenters from Australia, Canada, Germany, India, and the United States gathered to experience this novel opportunity to explore the sacred within their yoga practice. There was broad attendance representation from across Germany as well as many other European countries.
Rita Keller, founder of The International Yoga Academy, an international learning platform in the tradition of B.K.S. Iyengar, said, “When we were developing the idea of the Congress, it was clear that both traditions of yoga and Christianity share a common goal of inner transformation and connection to the divine, and it was our hope to provide a supportive community to explore these connections. We were delighted to see the great turnout and international participation of both seasoned practitioners and those new to the practice, and we were amazed by the diverse but respectful dialogue that emerged.”
Dr. Malburg, the esteemed Director of the Burg Lantershofen, is a strong advocate for holistic health, who has a long-standing relationship with Rita Keller says, “We were delighted to host this unique and innovative gathering. The meditation exercises of yoga can certainly help us to connect more deeply with Jesus Christ and to adopt an attitude of love. In this sense, yoga is certainly an aid to walking the path of perfect love that Jesus calls for in the Sermon on the Mount.”
The remarkable gathering featured international keynote speakers, such as renowned scholar Professor Ravi Ravindra, author of The Yoga of the Christ, and Father Joe Pereira, the founder of the Kripa Foundation and who worked very closely with Mother Teresa.
Ravindra presented a profound perspective of the Eastern and Western traditions to the event, integrating his deep understanding of yoga with Christian mysticism and highlighting the universal quest for spiritual truth across cultures. He shared from his personal practice of yoga, “It has spiritual detentions beyond the physical postures. It can be a transformative practice that cultivates inner awareness and connection to the divine.” He explained, “In the increasingly global culture, the differences in expressions can assist us to go beyond expressions and come closer to actually experiencing what the sages have tried to express in different ways.”
Fr. Joe, who studied directly under B.K.S. Iyengar, led the gathering each morning in asana or pranayama, setting an intention for a day full of reflection and exchange. He spoke passionately about the Antaryamic nature of Iyengar yoga, and shared his insights on the intersections of yoga, addiction, and Christianity worldwide. Fr. Joe says, “I accepted his invitation to join colleagues in an exploration of important topic. This week is Mother Teresa’ s Birthday, and she always used to say that God brings you to where you belong. This has been a perfect opportunity to engage with the community and emphasize the importance of love, compassion, and inner transformation.”
Alan Goode, a highly respected yoga teacher from Australia and co-organizer of the conference says, “We developed this event to offer a unique perspective and to begin a dialogue on how Yoga and Christianity can complement each other. We were excited see the conversations that emerged from the sharing of personal experiences and practical approaches and the energy generated in the gathering. We hope to continue to evolve this offering in future events.”
Goode is the founder of Yoga Mandir, a school in Canberra, Australia where in his teachings he continues to illuminate the transformational power of yoga and creates a space for students to explore the depth of their practice. Yoga Mandir will host the content of this special gathering on their learning platform. The following is a public access excerpt from the full event.
