Breathe, Balance, Bhakti: Workshop

Discover the profound connection between breath, balance, and bhakti in this transformative workshop designed to enhance your physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. Rooted in the ancient wisdom of yoga, this course offers practical, easy-to-apply techniques to help you navigate life’s stresses while cultivating inner calm and a devotional mindset. Through guided breathing exercises, you will unlock the natural ability of your body to shift into a restful and restorative state, promoting relaxation and clarity.

Life’s challenges often arise from fear, unfulfilled desires, and aversion, leaving us feeling unsettled and disconnected. This workshop introduces kriya practices from the bhakti tradition that empower you to face fear with courage, energize your body and mind, and cultivate a deep sense of inner satisfaction. By integrating these practices into your daily life, you’ll not only reduce stress but also nurture a loving and devotional attitude that supports lasting peace and happiness.

In addition to breath and kriya practices, we will explore the essential elements of a yogic lifestyle, including diet, recreation and rest. Learn how small, intentional changes can enhance your energy levels, bring greater harmony to your life, and deepen your spiritual journey. Whether you are new to yoga or an experienced practitioner, this workshop provides accessible tools and insights to enrich your overall wellbeing.

You will learn:

• Balancing Lifestyle: The significance of a balanced yogic lifestyle

• Breathing Techniques: Simple and effective breathing techniques to reduce stress and promote relaxation

• How to Overcome Stress: Kriya practices to overcome fear, boost energy, and foster inner satisfaction

• Prioritizing Rejuvenation: How to prioritize rest and rejuvenation as part of a holistic lifestyle

• Cultivating Devotional Mindset: Strategies to cultivate a devotional and loving mindset in daily life

Language: English

Location: Zürich College of Vedic Studies, Seminar Room, Bergstrasse 54, 8032 ZH

Registration: CHF 40.- (incl. vegetarian lunch meal)

Facilitator

Janne Kontala (Jayananda das) has been sharing his knowledge on yoga since 1994. His first contact with yoga was in 1986, when reading a book ignited a life-long interest, which soon developed into a daily practice. Since the early 1990's, Janne has studied in traditional ashrams in India and West. From early on, Janne has been combining in his personal practice the use of sacred sound in yoga in all its forms - svadhyaya, mantra-japa, and kirtanam - with asana and pranayama from the world of Hatha yoga. Considering his personal daily practice his most importance source of inspiration, he has nevertheless combined the more traditional approach to yoga with academic studies in religion, where he holds a PhD from Abo Akademi University in Finland. Besides his PhD Thesis and academic articles on the sociology of religion, Janne also runs an academic program for Yoga Studies and works as a researcher in a four-year study on the worldviews and values in modern yoga. Janne has authored the book Inner Yoga (Ferryman Books) and is the co-founder and regular contributor in the yoga-magazine Ananda. Janne holds an accreditation in modern yoga granted by Yoga Alliance (E-RYT 500; YACEP). He has also authored commentaries to Yoga-sutra and Bhagavad-gita. Janne trains yoga-teachers since 2005, and specializes in yoga philosophy, meditation, and using pranayama and asana to support meditation.

www.jayananda.info