H I S T O R Y
Yogaville was established by Sri Swami Satchidananda in 1980. Swami Satchidananda vision for Yogaville was a place for, “interfaith understanding as a vehicle to world peace.” To carry out this vision, the LOTUS (Light of Truth Universal Shrine) shrine was built and inaugurated in 1986. The shrine is now the center peace of Yogaville. It is in the shape of a Lotus flower, it is home to mediation space, and displays many religious aspects such as Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Islam. The shrine is excepting of all religions, including native religions and religions that have yet been discovered.
Yogaville is home to many permanent residents and those who participate in any of the programs Yogaville offers including weekend retreats, yoga workshops, mediation workshops, and many more. They are provided with many meditation spaces, housing, and a fully equipped dinning area.
To fulfill the vision of Sri Swami Satchidananda, Yogaville stays true to the practice meditation/yoga, and continues to value and resect all religions. Now residents, visitors, and volunteers at Yogaville lives by the following motto: Our mission is to practice, live, and impart the internal yoga teachings of Sri Swami Satchidananda, to experience Supreme Peace and Joy, and to share that Peace and Joy with one and all.
Yogaville is home to many permanent residents and those who participate in any of the programs Yogaville offers including weekend retreats, yoga workshops, mediation workshops, and many more. They are provided with many meditation spaces, housing, and a fully equipped dinning area.
To fulfill the vision of Sri Swami Satchidananda, Yogaville stays true to the practice meditation/yoga, and continues to value and resect all religions. Now residents, visitors, and volunteers at Yogaville lives by the following motto: Our mission is to practice, live, and impart the internal yoga teachings of Sri Swami Satchidananda, to experience Supreme Peace and Joy, and to share that Peace and Joy with one and all.
O U R E X P E R I E N C E
When we arrived at Yogaville we met Rev. Kumari. She shared her story of how she got involved in Yogaville with us. Then she led us through the dinning area into a carpeted room where she instructed a hatha yoga class. After our practice we drove to the LOTUS shrine where we examined different texts from all different religions. Next we drove to a Hindu shrine and examined different statutes of Hindu gods and goddesses. Our final activity was lunch. Although it was a fasting day for residents of Yogaville, Rev. Kumari told us that some people still choose to eat; the food is just more simple than usual. The first half of lunch was held in silence while we listened to a resident read different religious texts. In the second half of lunch we had the opportunity to interact with other community members and ask Rev. Kumari any lingering questions. Overall it was a great field trip and everyone enjoyed learning more about Yogaville.
H I S T OR Y OF H A T H A Y O G A
Hatha yoga is one of the most practiced styles of yoga in the United States. The practice originated in Northern India more than 5,000 years ago and emphasizes uniting the body, breath, and mind into one entity. Hatha yoga emerged in the US in 1947 and since then has widely spread through out the country. Hatha yoga encourages the mastery of the body to withdraw the mind from external objects. It practices purification, the regulation of breathing, and strength through specific body postures. The phrase hatha yoga literally translates to (ha) vital life force (tha) mental force.
Pictures of Our Trip
Experiencing Yogaville
An Interview with Reverend Kumari
S P I R I T U A L J O U R N E Y
C O M P A S S I O N
C I T A T I O N S
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/s13/riccinto-a/history.html
https://www.yogaville.org/product-cats/all/
https://www.yogaville.org/product-cats/all/
by Kenzie, Sophia, Trent and Ilinca