V. INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS of YOGA and ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES
December 9-11, 2016
Ph.D. Doru Beniamin Bodea
In its most common literal sense, the Sanskrit word Yoga means “to unite”, “to join”, “to add”. Figuratively pictured in the Vedic times as the yoking, or the harnessing process, the term was enriched in consistency, being related as well to the ideas of “application”, “endeavor” and even “performance”. It seems to cover such a broad range of activities, from the system of physical exercises used to improve or to maintain the harmony and health of the body-mind-spirit complex to the refined and complicated philosophical and religious debates hosted in universities and academic environments. Nevertheless, what amazed me when I started to practice and to study the yoga discipline, and keeps on amazing me, is that any particular form of yoga, when correctly applied, it generates this state of unity, of oneness which is very difficult, if not impossible to explain, but which seems to be the very substratum of any form of consciousness. The joy and divine inner peace attained when “uniting in spirit” was, I think, the very reason why, along millennia, yogis joined together to practice or to share their understandings.
From this perspective, the idea of the International Yoga Congress was not generated by the effort to “square” this spiritual system into the modern requirements of western society but rather a natural product of our evolution and inner development through yoga practice. The need to get together in spirit, to share with each other our successes and equally to learn from the other ones successes was the simple product of our consciousness expansion. The congress was built as a platform meant to give to “performance” in yoga practice the chance to meet the “excellence” in yoga philosophy. Thus, simply creating the frame for the already existing intrinsic tendency to unite, and by this to expand beyond our common limits.
It is therefore my pleasure to invite you to take part in the V. International Congress for Yoga and Alternative Therapies, 2016, taking place in Romania, a place where East and West naturally overlap. This year the congress will be hold of in two locations. One being in the old city of Brasov, placed in a beautiful mountain area, filled with fresh air and breathtaking landscapes. The other being in the heart of Romania, Bucharest, benefiting from the large and comfortable facilities and the warm-heart and welcoming yogis of MISA school.
Ph.D. Doru Beniamin Bodea,
Programme Committee 2016
English
Română
From 9th to 11th December 2016, the International Yoga federation ATMAN is organizing the V. International Congress of Yoga and Alternative Therapies in Romania. The first four congresses brought together several thousand yoga enthusiasts from over 20 countries who enjoyed rich and intense programmes of workshops, seminars and lectures given by leading Yoga teachers from all over the world.
The International Federation of Yoga and Meditation ATMAN offers courses, seminars and workshops in Yoga, Ayurveda, traditional Tantra, Kashmir Shivaism and Meditation in more than 250 locations spread across the globe. The ATMAN federation follows the teachings and spiritual guidance of its mentor, Gregorian Bivolaru, who is a living example of the highest realizations in Yoga.
2016 Programme and speakers
International Yoga Teachers and invited guests – well-versed and accomplished in a variety of Yoga traditions such as Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga, Tantra Yoga and Bhakti Yoga, scientists, researchers and health practitioners with an interest in spiritual yoga practice, including yoga professor and accomplished yogi Gregorian Bivolaru, will gather at the 2016 International Yoga Congress to present personal experiences and scientific research that aims to show how the many branches of Yoga can provide solutions to the various challenges of modern life. Profound theoretical and practical knowledge on the subject will be presented.
This year’s programme includes special seminars and workshops that will provide practical methods based on the wisdom of the millennary yoga tradition, yet perfectly applicable in modern daily life. Perhaps the most interesting part of the Congress will consist on authentic testimonies of yoga teachers and practitioners who developed and applied customized solutions for problems we can all relate to through the yoga methods. Past congresses have shown the audience’s great interest in the open debates, panel discussions and satsangs, which answer questions and give space for opinions and sharing.
International Yoga Contest 2016
The congress’ centrepiece of spiritual practice and method is the International Yoga Contest 2016 “Promoting the Values of Yoga”, which aims to prove true mastery over the physical body, the senses and the mind, in an atmosphere of fraternity and mutual support.
Change of format and two venues
Due to the success of the International Yoga Congress 2014 and the great online participation (up to 7000 viewers!) the congress will take place in two locations this year. Answering the increasing demand to present interesting content online and if possible live, together with the request to integrate other cities, the organizers decided to slightly change the format in the V. version of this event. The part includig the talks and workshops of the speakers as well as the invited guests will be organised in the mountain city Brasov (Romania) while the International Yoga Contest 2016 “Promoting the Spiritual Values of Yoga” and the artistic part will be hosted in the capital Bucharest (Romania). Further more all talks will be transmitted live to a public viewing location in Bucharest, Berlin and other cities besides the fact that, of course, they can be enjoined as well from anywhere in the world.
The International Congress for Yoga and Alternative Therapies 2016 invites all those who are interested in the science and practice of yoga to a colourful event full of knowledge, wisdom and amazing personal experience.
