Why an International Yoga Congress?
Yoga is certainly the most popular Oriental practice which has been adopted and is cherished by Western society. Due to its versatility and universality, Yoga has spread throughout the modern world, taking an amazing variety of forms, trends and styles; classic and innovative, static or acrobatic, some forms have a practical approach, some abstract, some unfathomable, some even ludicrous, and yet all of them labeled and recognized as Yoga. This proves the perpetual spirit of Yoga: uniting tradition and novelty in one, and the eternal aspiration of the human spirit to know itself. However, there is a challenge posed by such variety. As a matter of fact, it is a challenge that is characteristic of our world today, as diversity is now present in abundance. However, instead of enjoying it truly, the majority develop just a superficial consumerist attitude, not reaching satisfaction, or creating sustainability. It is the same with the dissemination of Yoga: in pursuit of diversity and originality, many are missing out on the original purpose of Yoga philosophy and, instead of an expansion of consciousness and fusion with the Cosmic source, a scattering of mind and a beautified confusion results.
To address this matter, the International Yoga Federation ATMAN has launched a biennial Congress on Yoga, Science and Spirituality, also including modules of authentic spiritual practice. The purpose of the Congress is that together, the participants, attendants, audience and online visitors share, explore, and join creative forces in order to reinforce the core principles of Yoga today, and to encourage a genuine practice of Yoga.
Vision meets tradition
Hatha Yoga trains and harmonizes the body. Meditation quietens the mind. Karma Yoga opens the heart in every action. The variety of yoga approaches can “train” the whole person, so that the perseverant practitioner can become complete. Thus, yoga is not just a set of techniques but a way of living that uses ancient methods in a visionary way, allowing the modern man to realize the truth and freedom for which he strives within his own being.
The International Yoga Congress aims to display this vivid vision of yoga in an event that unifies scientific research, mystic knowledge, authentic practice and the delights of refined arts, all in a spirit of abundance and giving – as the Congress is completely based on voluntary work and for many completely free to attend – creating a field of both study and togetherness.
Why a non-profit Congress?
During the last decades, due to the wave of popularizing and commercializing Yoga around the world, much of the depth of its integrative system got lost. Aiming to participate in the process of restoring the true spirit and tradition of sharing essential wisdom, the ATMAN Federation decided to keep the entrance fee extremely low, give further reductions to students and not to charge any fee for the many online participants in the Congress (in 2014 we had up to 7000 online viewers!). This is only possible as organization and preparations are done in an enthusiastic atmosphere of voluntary work, with donations and sponsorship. At previous Congresses, organizers succeeded in providing free accommodation and meals to participants and to many visitors from abroad, while local participants opened not only their hearts but also their houses to welcome old and new friends.
About ATMAN
The ATMAN International Federation of Yoga and Meditation aims to express a holistic spirituality that embraces a down-to-earth way of living in all its aspects, encouraging the spiritual practitioner to integrate in society with full self-confidence, while simultaneously using the ancient traditional knowledge of yoga as a guideline for a spiritual life that aims towards blissfulness and pure consciousness. It shares the believe that Yoga is the key to an abundant and fulfilled life, which allows the awakening and the graduate development of one’s full inner potential on all its different levels of manifestation, done through an attentive and perseverant practice of appropriate methods, together with a process of centering back into one’s consciousness and by living with curiosity and presence.
