Yoga Sabbatical – Your sabbatical at Yoga Vidya

Sabbatical, taking time off, gap year, dropping out of the rat race to focus on your yoga practice…. Who doesn´t dream of it?

Travelling, volunteering, escaping into an ashram, writing a book – perhaps these are your dreams. If you are thinking to take a break from your working life, why not spend time at Yoga Vidya?

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Yoga Vidya sabbatical programmes

If you would like to:

avoid burn-out
recollect and slow yourself down
get further training in Yoga and Ayurveda
volunteer and do service
feel the urge to embark on the quest of self-study
want to use your Sabbatical for intensive Retreat.

….. then Yoga Vidya is a good choice

The ashram and seminar house Yoga Vidya Bad Meinberg is the biggest yoga facility outside of India. It is located at the edge of the Teutoburg Forest near a vast and beautiful park.

We offer Sabbatical Programmes that encourage you to be part of our community. They are designed to support your goals and enable you to recharge and energize yourself.

The various options, each with different advantages, include:

Option 1: ‘Gurukula’ yoga teachers’ training

This is a professional yoga teachers’ training course lasting two month and involving karma yoga for enhanced spiritual growth. You spend your Sabbatical living in an ashram, doing karma yoga (selfless service) and taking part in a 4-week yoga teachers’ training course. If you choose, you may prolong your stay doing karma yoga after the two months have passed.

Karma yoga helps to remove obstacles on your spiritual path, makes you more receptive to higher vibrations and enhances your ability to receive spiritual knowledge.

The yoga teachers’ training connects you to an integral yoga, as taught by Swami Sivananda, Swami Vishnu-devananda and Sukadev Bretz. At the end of the training, you will receive a 400-hour yoga teacher certificate.

This option of Sabbatical is for people with only 2-months free and little money. If you have a deep interest in spiritual growth via service or just wish to support the spread of yoga, the Yoga Vidya Family is looking forward to meeting you!

Option 2: Karma yoga sabbatical internships

We offer two models (either 50% or 100%) of spending your sabbatical as a karma yogi doing voluntary selfless service.

You become part of a spiritual community and constructively employ your talents and abilities. Simultaneously, you practice and learn about yoga and meditation in its many aspects. Maximise the benefit of your sabbatical in the energetic atmosphere of Europe’s largest Yoga Ashram.

The 50% karma yoga sabbatical internship consists of 3-hours of selfless service daily. You join one of the working teams in the ashram, but help out as needed in other sections as well. The rest of the day is yours for yoga practice, walks, attending lectures and relaxing. You pay half the normal daily rate.

This option is suitable if you wish to contribute to the goals of the ashram, but still want to have the personal time and space to slow down, relax and perhaps pursue some other dreams come true during your time off.

The 100% karma yogi sabbatical programme includes 6-hours of work daily, organic meals, room and free access to the open classes and lectures during your stay. This is for you if you would like to take time off, but have little money but want to live yoga deeply. In this programme, you stay free of charge. It is an opportunity to support the goals of Yoga Vidya, spreading the teachings of yoga.

Benefits of the karma yoga sabbatical internships

You get a profound insight into yoga from both theoretical and practical point of view.
You enrich every day with chanting and meditatio.
You have the time and space to evolve spiritually, mentally and physically.
You experience a spiritual community whose members put their heart into living together in a loving and mindful manne.
You engage in useful servic.
You get to stay in a shared room for free.
You enjoy 2 healthy organic vegetarian meals daily.

Pre-requisites for taking part in the karma yoga internships

Participants must provide proof that they are currently fully covered by their own medical insurance. In addition, you should have taken part in an introductory seminar covering the basics of yoga and meditation in one of the Yoga Vidya ashrams to make sure this programme resonates with your plans.

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Option 3: 3-Months Sadhaka programme at Yoga Vidya

The Sadhaka programme is a three-month-stay in the ashram. If you feel a serious urge for spiritual development and wish to do intensive practice under the guidance by an experienced mentor, the Sadhaka programme may be right for you.

For the duration of your stay, a mentor will be on hand with help and advice. Weekly meetings provide the opportunity to have your questions answered regarding spiritual practice and development.

This option can be an intense experience that will enrich, transform and profoundly change your every day life.

The programme starts on the 1^st Sunday of every month.

The 3-Months Sadhaka programme includes:

1-2 yoga classes daily
2 x Satsang (meditation, chanting, lecture, Arati) daily
Daily talks
4 ½ hours karma yoga daily
Weekly individual support and advice from an experienced yoga mentor
3 full-weekend seminars of your choice (check with your advisor as to which might provide greatest benefit for you)
1 five–day introduction seminar to the sabbatical experience

Benefits of the 3-months Sadhaka programme:

You are in a protected environment with like-minded people.
Healthy, organic meals are cooked for you and shelter is provided.
You experience and live yoga and spirituality 24/7.
There is time for contemplation, for going within and concentrating on higher values.
Many participants undergo deep and profound spiritual and personal experiences.
Karma yoga opens your heart and a helps you to develop a strong connection to the divine.
You get personal advice and guidance from experienced yogis.
The combination of karma yoga and intense spiritual practice can lead to enhanced progress on your spiritual pat.

Prices 2017 for the 3–months Sadhaka programme, with organic wholesome meals, room and everything listed above included

Room with 4 people 1,571 €; double room 2,082 €; single room 2,594 €; dormitory or tent 1,169 €

also payable in three monthly installments: room with four people 549 €; double room 728 €; single room 907 €; dormitory or tent 409 €.

Option 4: Becoming a Sevaka at Yoga Vidya

In this option, you sign up to live in the Yoga Vidya spiritual community for at least one year and give your support to its projects and purpose. You’ll need a certain mental stability, motivation, a strong sense of responsibility, flexibility, friendliness and the willingness to immerse yourself in the integral yoga as taught by Swami Sivananda.

This time can be one of the most intense and beautiful experiences in your life. You will be presented with the opportunity to dive deep into spirituality and learn to integrate it into your daily life.

Who can partake of a sabbatical at Yoga Vidya?

Anyone who needs time off and wishes to tune to the yogic way of life is welcome. Yoga Vidya is a non-commercial association and an ashram that provides the ideal environment for deep contemplation and a quest for meaning. Here you’ll find silence, strength and clarity. An ashram is a refuge for people who are searching for the deeper meaning of existence and want to retreat from the market values of modern society. It is a safe harbour for people to embark on a quest for the higher reality of existence.

To maintain a high vibration, it is important for visitors as well as residents to maintain certain basic rules:

vegetarian diet: no meat, fish or eggs during your stay,
no alcohol, no recreational drugs, no tobacco,
regular attendance at meditation and chanting sessions,
daily practice of yoga postures (asanas) and breathing exercise (pranayama,
willingness to carry out different types of work as service and spiritual practice; helping out wherever necessary,
inner flexibility and open-mindedness,
deep interest in spiritual work and using your time out as a quest for meaning,
service to humanity,
mindfulness in dealing with fellow beings.

Preparing for your Sabbatical

woman walking through an imaginary field of flowers

If your longing to take time off has become intense and you are ready to act, plan carefully to make the most of your adventure.

Talk to your employer: it is usually a good idea to announce your intention at least one year in advance, so your employer can plan for someone to fill the gap.
Be aware that dropping out of work and into the unknown means a major change in your life – as well as a probable loss of income.
Think deeply as to which option of Yoga Sabbatical would work best for you.
Talk to your family and friends: find out who will support you, who will take care of your flat, your mail etc. Does your family agree with your undertaking or are there objections?
Take care of your maintenance during the Sabbatical: check your finances and ensure there is enough. The range of models at Yoga Vidya can make your sabbatical quite affordable.

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Conditions of participation

For more information click here

In keeping with our holistic approach, all trainings include at least 1 yoga class daily plus morning and evening meditation with kirtan singing. This is in addition to the training-specific content in lectures and workshops. We see them as an integral part of the training.

This combination of theory and practice, training of body, mind and heart, has proven particularly effective and successful:

Easy learning through organic combination of theory and practice
You get the necessary energy to actively put into practice what you have learned and the incentive to pass on your knowledge.
Over 18,000 satisfied graduates: proven, successful concept with a good reputation
High quality standards: authentic trainers who live and practice what they teach
All training come with a certificate and diploma of professional associations - Most training courses are recognized for educational leave.
Inexpensive inclusive prices
Integration thorough assistance
Lived health and ecology: smoke-free and alcohol free environment; healthy organic vegetarian food (in Bad Meinberg our kitchen is certified organic); photovoltaic and biogas electricity.

All together this lends a special character of the training, one which encourages personal practice and self-experience in addition to the pure transfer of knowledge. Even after the most intensive training you feel regenerated and full of energy, an attitude that lasts even when you return home.

Condition: Primary and Further Education
During all our trainings there’s a complete absence of alcohol, smoking, drugs, meat, fish and eggs.

Participation in the daily program is required for the final certificate, including morning and evening meditation, kirtan singing, yoga classes and 45 minutes of karma yoga. Also, the passing of the final exam is a pre-requisite for the certificate.

Failure to comply with the terms and conditions will result in the participant being excluded from the course. In this case, or in case of a premature termination of the course, there is no right to a refund.

Please note that there are legal requirements for the practice of medicine. Trainings do not entitle you to practice medicine in Germany and most other countries. If you do not have a license to practice medicine, you can use the contents of the training courses in wellness areas or in the form of group offers, in which no diagnoses are made or specific complaints are treated.

Arrival / departure, course start

Arrival: from 1pm
Check in: from 3pm
It is possibile to take part in our free arrival yoga classes at 4:30 pm (Yoga teacher training 4pm)
6:00 pm Dinner: Large wholefood buffet
8pm actual seminar start with meditation, kirtan singing (Yoga teacher training 7pm)
Departure on the last day from about 12pm.

In our trainings it is not possible to arrive later, leave earlier or miss a day.

6-7:00am	Pranayama (mandatory for particioants of 9day advanced trainings; optional for all others)
7-8.05am	Satsang: silent meditation, kirtan singing, inspiring reading
8.05pm-11am	Workshop/yoga class
11am	Brunch, followed by 45 min karma yoga- and then free time
2/2:30-6pm	Lecture, workshop/teaching techniques, followed by yoga class
6pm	Dinner, free time
8-9pm	Satsang: meditation, kirtan singing
9-10pm	Lecture, workshop, study time

The daily routine follows our sucess proven Yoga Vidya seminar concept. Depending on the training, there are minor deviations. The workshops, lectures, meditations and yoga classes are largely tailored to the respective training topic.
Seminars finish on the last day after the brunch or at 12.30; on weekends at 2pm.

Free day
In the case of trainings that last longer than 7 days, there will be no classes one afternoon each week. In longer training one day per week from 9am to 8pm is free of lessons. Only morning and evening meditation (compulsory participation) and the pranayama from 6:00 to 7:00 (voluntary) take place on these days.

Karma Yoga
Selfless service is an integral part of the training; this includes about 45 minutes daily in various in-house jobs. As ‘karma yoga’, this service is seen as an important aspect of personality and spiritual development. At the same time, it helps keep seminar prices down. It is also an opportunity for the participants to feel at home and to get more familiar with each other and the staff at Yoga Vidya.

Accommodation
There are single, double or dormitory rooms available. For details see the description of the individual houses in Bad Meinberg, Westerwald and North Sea.

Meals
There’s two wholesome lacto-vegetarian meals daily: Brunch (breakfast and lunch together) is at 11.00 and dinner at 18.00 o’clock. With food from certified organic farms, all meals are prepared with love. Our main center in Bad Meinberg is also home to Europe's largest certified organic kitchen. If requests are made at least one week in advance, we can usually take care of special requests.

Prices
All at the seminars and trainings prices are flat rate prices. They include the entire seminar / training / wellness program, including 2x daily meditation, kirtan singing and short presentation, 2-3 lectures / workshops, 1-2 yoga classes, as well as accommodation in the selected room category and vegetarian food.

Terms of payment / refund:

Deposit for weekends is € 25; week-long seminars € 100; multi-week courses € 250.
The balance of payment is due 2 weeks before the seminar begins or 8 days before when paying by direct debit.
If you book within 2 weeks of the start of the seminar; you must pay in full upon registration.
We can guarantee your reservation and room request only if your payment is made within these parameters.
If you cancel less than 2 weeks before the start of the seminar, 50% of the seminar fee will be retained ( or you can choose to receive a voucher for the total amount, which may be applied to the same or another course at a later date).
25% discount for young people up to the age of 25 at the campsite / dormitory in Bad Meinberg and Westerwald - at Haus Nordsee, this is applicable only in the low season.

Be aware that some trainings have special conditions for participation and/or cancellation.Some trainings consist of 2 or more parts, but must be enrolled as a whole. In these training, registration in only one part is not possible. No refunds can be given after the beginning of the first training section. This does not apply to training courses with flexibility in choosing modules, as each component represents a self-contained unit.

We reserve the right to cancel seminars 4 days in advance due to insufficient number of participants. Of course you can switch to another seminar or get your money back. If the seminar leader falls ill at short notice, we reserve the right to appoint a substitute seminar leader and will strive to find one who is equally qualified. If you do not wish to attend the seminar with the substitute seminar leader, you can switch to another seminar or request a refund. No reimbursement of travel costs will be made.

At the North Sea 1 € daily tourist tax is added (payable on arrival).You get a spa card, with many advantages: entrance to the beach baths, free parking (except Friesentherme), a discount of 25% in the sauna and other perks.

Educational leave / education checks and educational bonus vouchers
For all yoga teacher trainings, especially the block trainings, you can apply for funding and possibly get part of the training fee reimbursed. For more information about state subsidies click here.

Please bring:
Bed linen (rentable for 5 €), towels (rentable for 2 €), alarm clock, slippers, writing paper, pens and folders. Optional: meditation blanket and cushions (available for free in the yoga rooms or can be purchased in our boutique). In case you wear glasses, please bring a hard glasses case, in which you can store your glasses during yoga classes.

For Ayurveda training please bring: thermos flask, sufficient laundry soap (because a lot of oil is used), wool hat / headgear (for certain applications), 3 large bath towels, bathrobe and 1 set of bedding (no fitted sheets).

Abbreviations:
SL Seminar leader
MR Multi-bedded room
DR Two-bedded room
SR Single-bedded room
D Dormitory
T Tent
C Camper van
BM Bad Meinberg
WW or W - Westerwald

Yoga Vidya is a non-profit association and Europe's leading provider of education and training in yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, massage, holistic health and spirituality.

Why Yoga Vidya?

For more information click here

Our courses and trainings are open to everyone who’s interested in learning about yoga, meditation, and holistic and alternative methods for consultation and treatment in any related field.

Even if you don’t want to use this knowledge professionally, but want to go learn about alternative health and lifestyles for your personal growth, our courses are perfectly suited to you. Yoga Vidya offers a wide range of trainings with a holistic approach.

Our courses are characterized by an organic combination of theory and practice. In our energetically charged and protected atmosphere, away from everyday life, learning takes place on many levels.

The Yoga Vidya schedule integrates yoga, meditation, lectures and kirtan singing. You get the necessary energy to put what you have learned into practice – and the strength to share your knowledge as a teacher.

Acquire knowledge, improve expertise and recharge your energy: thanks to specific training content and the basic spiritual practices of yoga, you will feel recharged. Often you’ll be more refreshed than after an ordinary vacation!

Success-proven concept with a good reputation: for more than 25 years, Yoga Vidya has been Europe's leading yoga instructor institution and has brought forth yoga teachers with its proven system. This concept has been successfully transferred to other training courses.

High quality standards: training courses are led by highly qualified professionals who practice and live what they teach. They offer much wisdom and practical knowledge.Trainings have re-started the lives of more than 18,000 satisfied graduates. All trainings come with a degree and certificate. Our trainings take place in cooperation with the Academy of Cultures in NRW. Most are recognized for legal educational leave.

Inexpensive inclusive prices: as a non-profit organization, we can provide high quality at uniquely low prices. Participants in trainings are asked to contribute 45 minutes of their time daily. This helps to keep prices down and encourages a more inclusive atmosphere among staff and seminar participants.

Healthy Living and Ecology: Yoga Vidya is a smoke-free and alcohol-free environment. Photovoltaic power and heat generation are from a neighboring biogas plant. We serve only healthy organic vegetarian and vegan whole foods; our kitchen in Bad Meinberg is Germany's largest certified organic kitchen!

We look forward to seeing you!
Your Yoga Vidya Team

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