We cordially thank all speakers and participants for a great Congress.
The 7th edition can now be found at the website below.

About the Congress

International yoga teachers, medical doctors and scientists of all disciplines come together to highlight the amazing interconnections between science and spirituality and to review the phenomenon of resonance, a fundamental principle both in physics and in spirituality. The understanding of this principle reveals how and why yoga – and essentially the whole universe – works.

Congress Objectives

Unifying the discoveries of scientific research with the results of spiritual practice, contemporary knowledge with ancient wisdom, experimental science with experienced mysticism, the Congress aims to reveal the unsuspected depth of the yoga system and its systematic approach and significance for the holistic development of man and his consciousness.

Why attend?

As a unique borderline place, the Congress welcomes specialists in medicine, neuroscience, physics, psychology, natural and human sciences, who – being themselves long-term yoga practitioners – were courageous enough to also investigate their inner worlds. They have unified both disciplines within and share their rich experience and valuable expertise with all who are interested.

Dr. Ivo Strasser

Resonance has become an essential cornerstone of modern technology and medicine. Excellent procedures especially in diagnostics, such as magnetic resonance tomography and sonography, are based on the study of this phenomenon.

In addition to the body, also the psychomental area of man vibrates. We always react, consciously or unconsciously, to the impulses from our environment and our own ideas. The more successful we are able to resonate with beneficial impulses, the healthier we experience ourselves. Resonance is therefore an essential factor in the effectiveness of psychotherapy as well as in psychosomatic methods such as yoga.

In this interactive resonating unit of psyche and body, yoga positively affects us both through body postures on the physical level as well as through potent methods such as meditation on the mental and mental levels. This opens a broad spectrum of therapeutic applications. The effectiveness of yoga has been proven many times in acknowledged medical researches, even though the scientific study of yoga is still in its infancy.

I therefore cordially invite you to the VI. International Yoga Congress, which will introduce you to the state of research and clinical applications of yoga.

Dr. Ivo Strasser
Medical Director of the Scientific Committee 2018

SPEAKERS OF 2018

Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, PhD

Research Director at the Kundalini Research Institute and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School

Jean Marie Beuckels, MD

Head of Department of Osteopathic Medicine in the Medical Faculty at the Witten/Herdecke University

KRZYSZTOF STEC, PHD

Assistant Professor at Jan Dlugosz University of Humanities and Natural Sciences in Częstochowa, author of “Dynamic Suryanamaskar”

DORU-BENIAMIN BODEA, PHD

Specialist in quantum phase transitions and low temperature physics, senior teacher at Deutsche Akademie für traditionelles Yoga

TAIJA STOAT, PsM

Specialist in Rehabilitation as part of Criminal Psychology and Emotional Resonance

Advaita Stoian

Senior Teacher, researcher and life coach. Author and founder of the international Tantra Yoga Intensive Course and Maha Vidya Retreats.

ALL SPEAKERS

SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, 30 November

Main Hall

16:00 – 16:30	Organizer	Opening festivity
16:45 – 17:15	UPLIFT	The science behind Yoga
17:30 – 18:45	Doru-Beniamin Bodea, PhD	Where Quantum Physics meets Yoga: seeking a common conceptual language for science and spirituality
20:00 – 21:00	Marcus Stück, Prof. Dr. habil.	Epigenetic and psycho-biological changes through consciousness-raising methods

Studio

20:00 – 20:30	Hans-Ullrich. Balzer	States of Yoga and the ability to measure them with the help of the smardwatch
20:45 – 21:45	Maria Blandine Wegener, BA	Pancha Kosha, the five bodies, in the light of science

SATURDAY, 1 December

Main Hall

09:00 – 09:10	Organizer	Opening
09:10 – 10:10	Dr. Jean Marie Beuckels, DO	Osteopathy and its resonance: an osteosophical conceptualisation
10:20 – 11:40	Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, PhD	Yoga and Yoga Therapy: The Science and the Research Evidence
11:55 – 13:00	Krzysztof Stec, PhD	Optimal Peak Performance: Ultimate Diet and Ashtanga Kriyas

14:30 – 15:00	Richard Graf	K-i-E Body Mind Informatics – Solution for Trauma inspired by Yoga
15:15 – 16:30	Advaita Stoian	Resonance – The Unifying factor of Yoga
16:45 – 17:15	Jorge Alves	Sounds, Partials and sympathetic vibrations. An approach to the principle of hidden resonance through music and physics
17:30 – 18:00	Monica Dascalu, Prof.	Symmetry and asymmetry in yoga practice
18:15 – 19:00	Taija Stoat, PsM	Emotional resonance – the principle uniting psychology and spirituality

20:30 – 21:15	Keynote Speakers	Open panel discussion
21:25 – 22:00	Organizer	Classical Concert and Networking

Studio

09:15 – 10:00	Cristian Barboni, MD	Neuroscience of Meditation
10:15 – 11:00	Magdalena Hau, MD	Epiphanies, kundalini risings and divine messengers versus psychosis
11:15 – 12:00	Arnaldo Yoav Kaminer, MD	Help from the field of yoga and natural treatments on depression
12:15 – 13:00	Ivo Strasser, MD	A millenia- long science on its encounter with modern science: Content and design of clinical Yoga-studies with focus on gastritis

14:30 – 15:00	Chloe Hünefeld and Kai F. Hodeck, PhD	Unspecific Back Pain – Solutions found in Yoga Therapy and Modern Fascia Research
15:15 – 15:45	Rune Steenberg Reyhé, PhD	Self, Resonance and Epistemology in Anthropology
16:00 – 16:45	Emil Noll, MA	Meditation, Resonance and the Brain: The Neuroscience of Meditation
17:00 – 17:30	Aniella Iulia Zawalsky	The psychology of forgiveness – how to integrate the power of forgiveness in self-therapy and in yoga practice
17:45 – 18:15	Maria Porsfelt, BA	A Life in Harmony – The Yoga of Ethics
18:25 – 19:00	Dr. Orsolya Gantner	Body, breath and consciousness – the yogic tools of evolution

SUNDAY, 2 December

Main Hall

09:00 – 15:00	Organizer	International Yoga Contest “Competition for Promoting Spiritual Values”
15:00 – 16:30	–	Break and Networking
16:30 – 18:00	Organizer	Ending ceremony and prizes

Studio 1

10:00 – 11:30	Maria Blandine Wegener, BA	Workshop “Pancha Kosha-s in the daily sadhana”
11:45 – 13:15	Monica Dascalu, Prof.	Workshop “Symmetry and asymmetry in the yoga classroom”
13:30 – 15:00	Maria Blandine Wegener, BA	Workshop “Pancha Kosha-s in the daily sadhana”

Studio 2

10:00 – 11:30	Nour Portale	Workshop “The importance of awareness in Hatha Yoga”
11:45 – 12:25	Emil Noll, MA	Workshop “Increasing our awareness and presence in daily life and yoga sadhana through mindfulness”
12:35 – 13:15	Emil Noll, MA	Workshop “Increasing our awareness and presence in daily life and yoga sadhana through mindfulness”
13:30 – 15:00	Maria Porsfelt, BA	Workshop “The importance of awareness in Hatha Yoga”

DETAILED PROGRAMME

SPONSORS, FRIENDS AND PARTNERS

The VI. International Congress for Yoga, Integrative Medicine and Therapies will take place in Berlin, 30 November – 2 December 2018. The congress theme will be: Yoga and Resonance – From Personal Development to Universal Consciousness. The International Congress for Yoga, Integrative Medicine and Therapies is organised by ATMAN – The International Federation of Yoga and Meditation. Simultaneous translation into German will be provided for all plenary presentations and parallel sessions.

Yoga has spread throughout the modern world, taking an amazing variety of forms, trends and styles. As a millennial tradition, Yoga has something to offer to everyone – from physical, mental and emotional balance, to climbing the peaks of spiritual realization. Through the brave pioneering work of still a few researchers in the field of medicine, neurosciences, psychology and sociology, it got recognized as a valuable system offering prevention and treatment for a variety of diseases, being especially useful for improving welfare states and moreover as a helpful social phenomenon. When, co-sponsored by more than 170 Member States, the United Nations adopted a resolution to commemorate the International Day of Yoga in 2014, many hopeful statements were given by the world politics also on the positive influence Yoga can bring to the effort towards a global peace.

Yoga embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well being. It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change and more.

Narendra Modi

Also other fields of research such as Philosophy, Science of Religion and modern Physics find more and more common grounds to share when they unite around the vast knowledge provided by the Yoga system, together with the rediscovery of old truths in their present studies. To address this common ground, ATMAN – The International Federation of Yoga and Meditation, has launched a biennial Congress on Yoga, Science and Spirituality.

About the subject in 2018: Yoga and Resonance – from personal Development to universal all-embracing Consciousness

This year’s congress aims to take under scrutiny a concept, which is both ancient and very modern – the resonance phenomenon. It will also look deeply into its connection to the millennial yoga system as well as to different holistic approaches to the problems of spiritual evolution and of achieving and maintaining a state of well-being. Seen in the last two centuries as belonging only to the realm of physics and applied sciences, the principle of resonance started lately to be recognized as an important mechanism in many other areas of life. From the famous „hundred monkey experiment”, then morphic fields and A fields, to the newest views upon the sociology of the good life, we find it indicated as a practical key for understanding and as a main operating tool. With the words of Professor Hartmut Rosa: „If acceleration is the problem, then perhaps resonance is the solution”.

The same concept of resonance proves to be extremely useful for the effort to adapt and to actualize the ancient spiritual systems (like yoga, ayurveda, taoism, alchemy and so on) to our contemporary way of thinking and feeling. We consider this effort extremely important, especially as due to the high complexity and profoundness of such systems, we witness nowadays many tendencies to drastically simplify and to make them easy to sell, entirely losing their original spirit.

Congress Objectives

The International Congress for Yoga, Integrative Medicine and Therapies aims to provide an international platform meant to reveal the depth of the yoga system and its significance for the holistic development of man and his consciousness. Specialists in medicine, natural and human sciences, who are concerned with the broad topic of yoga, meet with international yoga teachers, long-term yoga practitioners and spiritual seekers, to exchange views, to share their experience and especially to highlight the amazing interconnections.

The International Yoga Congress is an event that unifies scientific research, mystical knowledge, profound experience coming from authentic practice and the magic atmosphere of refined arts. Bringing together speakers and participating audience, a fertile, creative environment is created, where they have the chance to share the latest results of research but also to explore various spiritual forces and phenomena, thus gaining a deeper insight into the field of spiritual evolution and adding new names to the list of visionary geniuses of all times. New and interesting view points and effervescent, sometimes challenging discussions on how and to which extend the yoga system operates will occur. All these will help to reinforce the core principles of Yoga today, and why not, to encourage a genuine practice of Yoga.

In this direction the VI. International Congress for Yoga, Integrative Medicine and Therapies 2018 organizes itself around the topic of Yoga and Resonance. The understanding of the principle of resonance as well as its application could provide answers to the question of how and why yoga works and how all its facets and profoundness can be adapted in to the contemporary way of thinking, feeling and living.

Any advanced practitioner knows, from direct, personal experience, the fact that once knowledge is crystallized within through systematic practice, a natural and irresistible impetus to share it with others occurs, so all those who are ready may benefit from it.

The Congress organizing committee

Being a congress on yoga and integrative therapies and presenting such a broad topic - holistic personal and spiritual development and health - on an evidence based orientated manner, this event is useful for all yoga teachers, for anyone who approaches studies in the field of yoga, as well as for experienced yoga practitioners or people who simply want to hear what science has to offer on the vast field of yoga.

As a unique border-line place, the Congress welcomes researchers from the academic world to meet with scientists from all over the world, specialized in neuroscience, physics, psychology, medicine and social studies, to name just a few, and with specialists and teachers from the large variety of yoga traditions. Yet, the special element offered in this year’s Congress is to address the question on how Yoga works and to take a first attempt to answer this question from the perspective of the universal principle of resonance.

Last but not least, much of the audience of the Congress has a vast spiritual knowledge of both theory and practice in yoga. Many of the participants practice complex Hatha Yoga techniques and deep meditation on a daily basis. Therefore the International Yoga Congress is truly a gathering of experts in the field of yoga – both on stage and in the audience.

It is a great opportunity to meet friends, partners and simply people with similar passions and abilities, to build support networks, to be inspired, to launch common projects for promoting genuine spirituality in the world, especially as the current state of affairs on our planet is desperately in need of awakening and transformation, thus supported and joint action is indispensable to this end. In this respect, the Congress welcomes not only advanced practitioners but also avid and aspiring ones, so that in togetherness practice brings multiplied results.

Both organizers as well as many participants in the Congress have been yogis and spiritual seekers for the most part of their lives. Together, they build a tangible spiritual atmosphere allowing easier access to higher spiritual states, heart-fulness and centering into their beings through the power of group resonance. Along with challenging one’s own understanding with new research results and innovative ways of thinking and understanding human experience and spirituality, being at the congress feels like being home. The spirit of voluntary work and service (or the state of Karma Yoga) and learning and practicing together creates a warm and heartfull atmosphere and awakens the spirit of Bhakti Yoga (Devotional Yoga) in everyone’s heart.

Primary audiences include:

Specialists in medicine, natural and human sciences, who are concerned with the broad topic of yoga
yoga therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, people who apply yoga techniques in their clinical work
Yoga teachers
Long term practitioners

Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, PhD

Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, Ph.D. has conducted research on yoga for physical and psychological health since 2001 and is a practitioner/instructor of Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan since 1971. He is Research Director for the Kundalini Research Institute, Research Associate at the Benson Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, Research Affiliate at the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. His research has evaluated yoga for insomnia, chronic stress, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and mental health in public schools. Dr. Khalsa works with the International Association of Yoga Therapists promoting yoga research as scientific director for the annual Symposium on Yoga Research and editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Yoga Therapy. He is author of the Harvard Medical School ebook Your Brain on Yoga, and chief editor of the medical textbook The Principles and Practice of Yoga in Health Care.

Dr. Jean Marie A.T. Beuckels, DO (doctor of osteopathy)

Dr. Jean Marie A.T. Beuckels, DO started his osteopathic journey 30 years ago and studied at different osteopathic institutes in Europe, where he received different DO-degrees in osteopathy. After completing his BSc in Osteopathic Medicine at University of Westminster and his MSc in Osteopathy at University of Greenwich, Jean Marie obtained a doctorate in medical science through the department of osteopathic medicine at the Witten/Herdecke University in Germany.

Currently Jean Marie works as an osteopathic practitioner in Belgium. He teaches as Head of Department of osteopathic Medicine clinical osteopathy to medical students of the Faculty of Health at the Witten/Herdecke University and is appointed as senior docent at the HS-Fresenius, University of Applied Science in Idstein (Germany), where he teaches the full-time students in a Bachelor-Masters programme for osteopathy.

Next to his strong fascination for pluralism in osteopathic manual medicine, Beuckels’ interests are situated within the panorama of osteopathic diagnostic models and related osteosophical conceptualisations and medical theories, that might underpin the clinical observations of resonance and causality interactions of osteopathic ontogenesis.

Krzysztof Stec, PhD

Krzysztof Stec Ph.D. studied and researched yoga several years in Indian institutes, including the reknown Kaivalyadhama yoga institute and had the opportunity to meet and practice with many well-known yoga researchers, gurus and saints of India. In 2009, he received his Masters degree in Sports Science with a focus on Yoga at Banaras Hindu University and then spent two years as a research scientist at the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur.

He completed his Ph.D. at the Jozef Piłsudski Sports University in Warsaw, Poland, in November 2014. He has authored more than 40 scientific articles in prestigious international journals and gave several well-received presentations on yogic techniques at international conferences in Poland, India and the US. He is the author of two books on dynamic Suryanamaskar, one of which already has been translated into several languages.

Doru-Beniamin Bodea, PhD

Doru-Beniamin Bodea graduated the Faculty of Physics, Babeş -Bolyai University, Cluj Napoca, achieving a master of science degree in quantum field theory. He holds a PhD in theoretical physics, more precisely in collision theory (atomic and nuclear physics). He did his post-doctoral studies in Bordeaux University and Max Plank Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden where he specialized in the physics of very low temperatures and quantum phase transitions. He started yoga practice in his early 20’s. Soon after he became a yoga teacher and continued to teach yoga since now more than 25 years, holding international workshops and retreats.

Due to this, he had the possibility to combine the constant interest towards understanding the principles and laws governing the physics of the universe with a continuous exploration of his own inner universe through the practice of yoga. He believes that both science and spirituality represent expressions of the innate human tendency towards achieving perfection and thus he is aiming to find modalities to interconnect these two important areas of life. He is head of the scientific committee of the congress.

For more information, please check: http://traditionelles-yoga.de/dr-phys-doru-bodea.htm

Taija Stoat

Taija Stoat (PsM) is a recognised expert in criminal psychology regarding assessing and dealing with negative emotions and destructive and manipulative behaviour. She is frequently referred by the media and regularly gives international talks and trainings on the subject. In her work as psychologist she hence aims to aid her clients, students and audiences to transform harmful aspects into something beneficial.

In this congress she is presenting the results of most recent scientific studies on psychological effects of spiritual practice and pinpointing the importance of the concept of emotional resonance. She has practiced Yoga and Tantra Yoga since 2007 and is certified yoga teacher by Atman Federation since 2015. She is currently finalising her PhD in University of Helsinki and works as Managing Partner in a company specialised in psychological assessments.

Advaita Stoian

Advaita Stoian is an advanced practitioner, teacher, author, researcher, international life coach and lecturer, who has been practicing and teaching Yoga and Tantra Yoga for more than 25 years within several yoga organisations. His practical knowledge unites with his modern scientific formation, which results in highly effective guidance for the practitioner, and is well adapted to the views of our contemporary world.

He is author of Tantra Intensive Course which is taught throughout the world. Annually he lectures at many international retreats and conferences of Yoga, Tantra and Meditation, including the International Meditation Retreat for Revealing the Supreme Self, Tantra Festivals, different workshops for spiritualising relationships, and the valued Maha Vidya Retreats.

He is also a prolific proponent of current sociological issues, speaking at international politic conferences to introduce fundamental concepts that can be used to shape a broader understanding of human rights: spiritual human rights, soul ecology, and hygiene of the consciousness. One of Advaita’s main purposes is to provide the opportunity for many people to come into contact and deeply understand the amazing value of the traditional spiritual practices.

Maria Blandine Wegener, BA

Maria Blandine Wegener is a teacher and life coach for Yoga and Tantra Yoga, implementing elements from Ayurveda, Psychology and a variety of yoga traditions. Gathering her first teaching experiences between 2007 and 2009 in international Tantra for Women courses and completing an extensive yoga teacher education in Denmark parallel to her university studies in psychology she integrated as a Yoga and Tantra Yoga Teacher in Deutsche Akademie für Traditionelles Yoga in Berlin, Germany from 2009.

In the past decade she has been working in various countries in Europe and Asia. Since several years Blandine is senior teacher and manager at Mahasiddha Yoga in Chiang Mai, Thailand. She teaches a variety of yoga and tantra yoga classes, workshops and retreats and coaches individuals and couples, offering practices and new perspectives to enhance happiness and direction in (couple) life.

Marcus Stück, Prof. Dr. habil.

Prof. Dr. habil. Marcus Stück is a researcher, yoga and Biodanza teacher. He developed the first evidence based Yoga programme for children (EMYK) in 1993 in Germany and did several research (PhD, 1997, Professorial dissertation, habilitation 2007 at University of Leipzig) on the biopsychological effects on yoga programms on children, adults in comparison to other interventions (e.g. Biodanza, Respectful Communication).

Since 2003 he educates course-instructors together with colleagues in the Center of Educational Health, as a founder, in Germany, and Latvia (since 2013) in the evidence based Yoga-Trainings for children (EMYK) and adults (STRAIMY) and in the method School of Empathy. 1997 and 2005 he received for his works about Yoga with children (EMYK) and their teachers (STRAIMY; Biodanza) 2 scientific awards in Germany.

He founded the concept of mobile health laboratories (Health Cube) for the work with Biocentric Health Management under the Use of Yoga and Meditation in institutions. Since 2018 he works at the DPFA-Academy Work and Health in Leipzig and with colleagues at the International Research Academy in Leipzig (www.bionet.name). Together with Dr. Alejandra Villegas he is the director of the Biodanza School Leipzig and Baltic Biodanza school in Riga. Beside his work he is a happy grandfather and enjoyer of this beautiful life and nature.

Prof. Dr. habil. Marcus Stück

Wissenschaftler, Yoga- und Biodanza-Lehrer. Er entwickelte 1993 das erste evidenzbasierte Yoga-Programm für Kinder (EMYK) in Deutschland und führte mehrere Forschungsarbeiten (PhD, 1997, Dissertation, Habilitation 2007 an der Universität Leipzig) zu den biopsychologischen Auswirkungen auf Yoga-Programme bei Kindern und Erwachsenen und andere Verfahren (z. B. Biodanza, Respektvolle Kommunikation) durch.

Seit 2003 bildet er gemeinsam mit Kollegen im Zentrum für Bildungsgesundheit als Gründer des Zentrums, in Deutschland und Lettland (seit 2013) in evidenzbasierten Yoga-Trainings für Kinder (EMYK) und Erwachsene (STRAIMY) im Methode School of Empathy aus. 1997 und 2005 erhielt er für seine Arbeiten über Yoga mit Kindern (EMYK) und deren Lehrern (STRAIMY; Biodanza) zwei wissenschaftliche Auszeichnungen in Deutschland.

Er gründete das Konzept mobiler Gesundheitslabors (Health Cube) für die Arbeit mit biozentrischem Gesundheitsmanagement unter Verwendung von Yoga und Meditation in Institutionen. Seit 2018 arbeitet er an der DPFA-Akademie Work and Health in Leipzig und mit Kollegen an der International Research Academy in Leipzig (www.bionet.name). Zusammen mit Dr. Alejandra Villegas ist er Direktor der Biodanza School Leipzig und der Baltic Biodanza School in Riga. Neben seiner Arbeit ist er glücklicher Großvater und Genießer dieses schönen Lebens und unserer Natur.

Kai F. Hodeck, PhD

Kai F. Hodeck has earned a PhD in semiconductor physics at Berlin University of Technology (TU Berlin). Since then, he conducted research on biomolecules in solution at the Berlin Helmholtz Center for Materials and Energy (HZB), as well as the mechanics of biological cells at the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research (Würzburg). As an associate of the Fascia Research Group at Ulm University, he studied the biomechanics and physiology of human connective tissue.

In parallel, he holds a practice of Rolfing® bodywork and therapy in Berlin, and teaches fascia manipulation for physiotherapists at VPT Berlin/Brandenburg.

Kai F. Hodeck, PhD

Kai F. Hodeck hat an der Technischen Universität Berlin (TU Berlin) in Halbleiterphysik promoviert. Seitdem forschte am Berliner Helmholtz-Zentrum für Materialien und Energie (HZB) an Biomolekülen in Lösung sowie an der Mechanik biologischer Zellen am Fraunhofer-Institut für Silicatforschung (Würzburg). Als Mitarbeiter der Fascia Research Group der Universität Ulm untersuchte er die Biomechanik und Physiologie des menschlichen Bindegewebes.

Parallel dazu praktiziert er Rolfing® Körperarbeit und Therapie in Berlin und unterrichtet Faszienmanipulation für Physiotherapeuten am VPT Berlin / Brandenburg.

Jorge Alves

Jorge Alves is a musician and researcher. He is professor at the Escola Superior de Música do Porto and a member of the Matosinhos String Quartet. He performs regularly in Portugal and abroad, collaborating with many musicians and institutions. After finishing his graduation in Portugal, he was awarded a grant from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation that allowed him to study for four years with Professor Tibor Varga (Sion, Switzerland) and Professor Bruno Giuranna (Cremona, Italy). Jorge Alves is the founder and president of the Portuguese Viola Association, and of the Portuguese Branch of the European String Teachers Association. Jorge Alves loves to coach and regularly holds master classes all over Portugal, as well as in the Lemmens Institute, Leuven; Maastricht Conservatory, Malta Summer Festival, Conservatório de Cosenza, Campus delle Arti, Bassano Del Grappa and Santa Maria University, Brasil; Antwerp Conservatory, Petrozavodsk State Conservatory.

Aniella Iulia Zawalsky

Aniella is a psychologist with a master in Clinical Psychology and Psychoterapy from Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. She is specialized in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) being interested to understand as deep as possible human behavior. Towards the end of her university studies Aniella had the chance to get in contact with yoga and started practicing intensely, which made her re-discover spirituality.

The experience gathered with the help of yoga practice proves to be extremely useful first of all for her own personal development but also provides her a larger and more consistent basis for her work as therapist. She will speak at the Congress about the psychology of forgiveness, integrating the power of forgiveness in self-therapy and in yoga practice.

Christian Sacarea, PhD

PhD in Mathematics at the Darmstadt University of Technology, Germany and author of more than 40 scientific papers and 4 books, covering topics in Knowledge Discovery and Artificial Intelligence, and developing techniques to unravel the deep structure of knowledge in various data sets. Interested in any form of authentic spirituality and how spiritual knowledge can enlarge our point of view and enrich our consciousness. Studying and teaching Yoga since 1990, as well as Kashmir Shaivism or I Ching, he is Senior Yoga teacher in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Emil Noll, MA

Has a master's degree in psychology from Copenhagen University and has studied religion and Tibetan Buddhism. In his final thesis he was elucidating esoteric models of consciousness, including the psychology of the chakras, which was later revised and published. He has been practicing and teaching yoga and meditation for more than 20 years and annually leads several silent retreats. He is authorized as a psychologist by the Danish Social Ministry and has an education in mindfulness based cognitive therapy. For more than 10 years he has been working with the integration of meditation and mindfulness into clinical practice, by developing mindfulness programs at the university clinic in Copenhagen and in psychiatric clinics. At the moment he is engaged in a book project about consciousness and the mind.

Dr. Orsolya Gantner

Being a very grounded person with both feet deeply placed in a highly professional life and on the other side carrying a strong attraction to the fundamental questions of existence since childhood Orsolya Gantner found yoga 15 years ago. In her own experience of the techniques described in original textbooks she started to receive answers to these existential questions that did not present to her anywhere else. The journey of self-discovery and the profound search within for answers continues in order to learn more about the Universe and herself. Since she became a yoga teacher, 7 years ago, she aims to assist her students in recognizing that yoga and spiritual practice are not distinct and separate from daily life, but by contrary a part of every moment of existence, every breath of life. In this respect yoga offers a higher perspective upon the seemingly most banal manifestations of life and reveals that everything in and outside of us is a wonderful mystery.

Cristian Barboni, MD

Cristian Barboni studied medicine in Timisoara and specialist in Neurology in Grenoble, Montpellier and Dessau. He then worked in the Department of Parkinson's, deep brain stimulation and neurodegenerative diseases in the University Hospital of Grenoble and as a specialist in dementia in Dessau. Currently Barboni runs a Practice for Neurology in Bitterfeld and has 8 years’ experience as pain therapist through isotonic contraction, elongation and relaxing techniques from Liebscher and Bracht. His focus is on electrophysiology and Doppler exploration. In addition, Barboni studied psychodrama for two years and practiced a form of group psychotherapy. His other interests include meditation, neuroscience, brain mapping and Parkinson's Paradox kinesia.

Monica Dascalu

Monica Dascalu is habilitated professor at the Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technology at the Politehnica University of Bucharest, Romania, where she teaches digital electronics. She also has a master degree in Journalism and Public Communication. In her scientific research activity, she is interested in artificial intelligence and microsystems’ digital design, having over 70 scientific papers, 5 books and 33 research projects. With almost 30 years of yoga practice and teaching experience, she also authored dozens of articles and 7 books on topics related to yoga, some translated in English, Hungarian and Spanish.

Magdalena Hau

Magdalena Hau is a specialist in psychiatry and a yoga teacher based in London. In addition to her profession as a doctor, she has 17 years of experience in many areas of yoga and meditation and values these disciplines as an important way to live life consciously, heartfelt and in harmony. She believes that life is a journey of evolution and transformation and that yoga provides all the appropriate tools and keys to make this journey possible.

Through her years of practice, she has encountered many yoga practitioners who have cured mental health problems through their practice. She will speak about the crucial factors of spiritual experiences of kundalini awakening as opposed to clinical psychoses as well as important influences for stabilization and resilience.

Maria Porsfelt, BA

Maria started her journey of self-discovery through yoga and tantra yoga in 2001 – a journey that started in Denmark and took her to Thailand, India and back. She has been with TARA centre in London as coordinating teacher since 2009. She teaches yoga, tantra yoga and meditation and facilitates special classes for women only. She runs spiritual festivals, retreats and workshops on various topics all over the world. Her style of teaching is practical and approachable, expresses a deep understanding, gained through personal experience and is animated by a great joy of life.

Maria has a degree in Philosophy from Copenhagen University and is happy to be able to integrate her educational background into her daily life and teaching practise. The degree in philosophy helped foster a contemplative approach to life and experiences which has proved very valuable in both life and work.

Arnaldo Yoav Kaminer, MD

Arnaldo Kaminer is a doctor and tries to integrate modern neuroscience with the ancient wisdom of yoga and meditation. Arnaldo completed his Ayurvedic studies at Reidman College in Israel, followed by six months of practice in Ayurvedic centers in India. As an Ayurvedic practitioner, Kaminer has been offering workshops and consultancy on various topics in recent years. His passion for psychiatry and neurology was the great motivation that led him to study Western general medicine. As part of his education and training Kaminer is just beginning his medical stay in the field of psychiatry. He has practiced yoga and meditation for more than 15 years and is currently teaching yoga in Malmö, Sweden.

Rune Steenberg Reyhé, PhD

Rune is an anthropologist and human geographer working on Central Asia and western China. He specialises in kinship and economic anthropology. Rune did his MA and PhD at Freie Universität Berlin and has since been a postdoc in Bonn, Berlin, New York and Copenhagen. He has conducted fieldwork in Indonesia, China and Kyrgyzstan. In the past decade he has devoted special attention to the Uyghurs in China’s northwesternmost region Xinjiang.

His current research project concerns written narratives and textual strategies of Uyghurs in Xinjiang and their response to rapid social transformation, political oppression and religious resurgence. In his talk at the congress, he reflects the yogic concept of resonance on anthropology – leading to questions of who we are, what happens around us and which parts of reality we experience.

Dhanyata Koch, MA

Dhanyata is a musician and health&lifestyle coach. Born and raised in Switzerland, she shot up as a prodigy pianist at a very young age. However due to the immense pressure she experienced serious health challenges in her early twenties that lead her to rethink how she was living her life. Leaving behind her career, she journeyed to India and across several countries to meet with indigenous healers, spiritual masters, shamans and scientists. She soaked up various teachings and studied to become a health practitioner (Hp) herself. During her masters studies in complementary medicine and cultural sciences at Europa-Universität VIADRINA in Frankfurt (Oder) she researched yogic breathing practices (pranayama) and heart rate variability. Throughout her studies she was introduced to the theoretical concepts of resonance that reached far beyond sound, but is present in all forms of communication and exchange. She has since been researching many forms of positive communication at the VIADRINA - the field in which she is currently pursuing her PhD.

Chloe Hünefeld

Chloe Hünefeld, is a natural therapist and international yoga teacher. She practices the traditional yoga path since 1995 with a main focus in tantra yoga, hatha yoga and karma yoga. Trained in alternative medicine and psychology, she is teaching daily preventive health methods of the traditional yoga and Ayurveda in theory and practice, at the Deutsche Akademie für traditionelles Yoga e. V.

Besides developing the Berlin centre of the academy, including the ashram and the health practice, she is co-founder of the trust for the ‘Advancement of Traditional Yoga’ (Stiftung zur Förderung des traditionellen Yoga). Her classes of Hatha Yoga, Tantra Yoga (here especially Kashmir Shaivism) and Karma Yoga can be attained regularly in Berlin and occasionally in other European countries along with various seminars and retreats as the “The Spiritual Enneagram Seminar”, “The Archetypes of the Soul” and others. She is coordinator of the congress.

Ivo Strasser, MD

Ivo Strasser studied medicine at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich and received his doctorate in 2013 as a physician in the field of pediatric cardiology. From August 2013 to July 2014, he practiced as a pediatrician at the Friedrich Alexander University Hospital in Erlangen, Germany. From November 2014 to July 2018 Mr. Strasser worked as an assistant physician in general pediatrics in the municipal hospital Fürth. Currently he is assistant physician researching child and adolescent psychiatry / psychosomatics at the University of Erlangen.

From 2009 he started intense yoga practice and education, and becoming a certified yoga teacher in 2014, when he started teaching, specialized in Hatha and Laya Yoga. In the congress he will give us a preview of his research in clinical applications of yoga regarding gastritis.

Swami Mahalayananda

Swami Mahalayananda (initiated as a Swami in 2001 in Rishikesh) has 35 years of experience as international teacher and lecturer in yoga and Tantra Yoga, as well as starting yoga schools in different countries. An unexpected and profound spiritual experience and awakening at the age of 24 made him quit law school and take up spiritual search which has been ongoing since then.

He has a passion for Kashmir Shaivism, Atma Vichara and spiritual art, starting his musical education from young age. This spiritual search is doubled with 28 years of experience as a clinical psychotherapist, with specialty in development and trauma psychology.

We cordially thank all speakers and participants for a great Congress. The 7th edition can now be found at the website below.

About the Congress

Congress Objectives

Why attend?

SPEAKERS OF 2018

Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, PhD

Jean Marie Beuckels, MD

KRZYSZTOF STEC, PHD

DORU-BENIAMIN BODEA, PHD

TAIJA STOAT, PsM

Advaita Stoian

SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, 30 November

Main Hall

Studio

SATURDAY, 1 December

Main Hall

Studio

SUNDAY, 2 December

Main Hall

Studio 1

Studio 2

SPONSORS, FRIENDS AND PARTNERS

About the subject in 2018: Yoga and Resonance – from personal Development to universal all-embracing Consciousness

Congress Objectives

Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, PhD

Dr. Jean Marie A.T. Beuckels, DO (doctor of osteopathy)

Krzysztof Stec, PhD

Doru-Beniamin Bodea, PhD

Taija Stoat

Advaita Stoian

Maria Blandine Wegener, BA

Marcus Stück, Prof. Dr. habil.

Prof. Dr. habil. Marcus Stück

Kai F. Hodeck, PhD

Kai F. Hodeck, PhD

Jorge Alves

Aniella Iulia Zawalsky

Christian Sacarea, PhD

Emil Noll, MA

Dr. Orsolya Gantner

Cristian Barboni, MD

Monica Dascalu

Magdalena Hau

Maria Porsfelt, BA

Arnaldo Yoav Kaminer, MD

Rune Steenberg Reyhé, PhD

Dhanyata Koch, MA

Chloe Hünefeld

Ivo Strasser, MD

Swami Mahalayananda

We cordially thank all speakers and participants for a great Congress.
The 7th edition can now be found at the website below.