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.
You can see his lecture “Yoga and Yoga Therapy: The Science and the Research Evidence” on Saturday, 1.12.2018, 10:20 – 11:40 in the Main Hall.
Dr. Jean Marie A.T. Beuckels, DO
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.
You can see his lecture “Osteopathy and its resonance: an osteosophical conceptualisation” on Saturday, 1.12.2018, 09:10 – 10:10 in the Main Hall.
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.
You can see his lecture “A millenia-long science on its encounter with modern science: Content and design of clinical Yoga-studies with focus on gastritis” on Saturday, 1.12.2018, 12:15 – 13:00 in the Studio.
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.
You can see his lecture “Neuroscience of Meditation” on Saturday, 1.12.2018, 09:15 – 10:00 in the Studio.
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.
You can see her lecture “Emotional resonance – the principle uniting psychology and spirituality” on Saturday, 1.12.2018, 18:15 – 19:00 in the Main Hall.
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
You can see his lecture “Where Quantum Physics meets Yoga: seeking a common conceptual language for science and spirituality” on Friday, 30.11.2018, 20:45 – 21:45 in the Main Hall.
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.
You can see his lecture “Optimal Peak Performance: Ultimate Diet and Ashtanga Kriyas” on Saturday, 1.12.2018, 11:55 – 13:00 in the Main Hall.
Prof. Dr. habil. Marcus Stück
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.
You can see his lecture “Epigenetic and psycho-biological changes through consciousness-raising methods” on Friday, 30.11.2018, 20:00 – 20:30 in the Main Hall.
Hans-Ullrich Balzer, PhD
Dr. Hans-Ullrich Balzer completed his studies of physics in 1973 with a diploma at the University of Rostock on the subject of exciton theory (subject area theoretical physics). He received his PhD in 1982 at the University of Greifswald in the field of experimental physics. In addition, he was actively involved in research in space medicine within the framework of the Space Program between the GDR and the Soviet Union.
His research focused on the chronobiological aspects of changing health conditions. He developed his own scientific methods, including the basics of Chronobiological Regulation Diagnostics (CRD). In 1995 he founded the Institute for Stress Research GmbH and developed his own multiparametric monitoring system smardwatch for use in the human and animal sector.
In 2008 he founded the Chronomar GmbH, which deals with the research, development and distribution of medical technology for the human sector. He is a member of the International Society of Astronautics (IAA) and author of numerous publications and patents.
You can see his lecture “States of Yoga and the ability to measure them with the help of the smardwatch” on Friday, 30.11.2018 from 20:00 – 20:30 in the Studio.
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.
You can see his lecture “Resonance – The Unifying factor of Yoga” on Saturday, 1.12.2018, 15:15 – 16:30 in the Main Hall.
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.
You can see her lecture “A Life in Harmony – The Yoga of Ethics” on Saturday, 1.12.2018, 17:30 – 18:00 in the Studio.
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.
You can see her lecture “Pancha Kosha, the five bodies, in the light of science” on Friday, 30.11.2018, 20:45 – 21:45 in the Studio.
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.
You can see the lecture of Chloe Hünefeld and Kai F. Hodeck “Unspecific Back Pain – Solutions found in Yoga Therapy and Modern Fascia Research” on Saturday, 1.12.2018, 14:30 – 15:15 in the Studio.
ARNALDO YOAV KAMINER, MD
Arnaldo is a medical doctor and aims 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, Arnaldo 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 Arnaldo is just beginning his medical residency in the field of psychiatry. He has practiced yoga and meditation for more than 15 years and has been teaching yoga in Malmö, Sweden.
You can see his lecture “Natural remedies in the treatment and prevention of mild to moderate depression” on Saturday, 1.12.2018, 11:15 – 12:00 in the Studio.
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.
You can see his lecture “Mathematics and Spirituality – The Path of Discovering the Infinity Within” on Saturday, 01.12.2018, 14:30 – 15:00 in the Main Hall.
MAGDALENA HAU, MD
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.
You can see her lecture “Epiphanies, kundalini risings and divine messengers versus psychosis” on Saturday, 1.12.2018, 10:15 – 11:00 in the Studio.
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.
You can see his lecture “Meditation, Resonance and the Brain: The Neuroscience of Meditation” on Saturday, 1.12.2018, 16:00 – 16:45 in the Studio.
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.
You can see his lecture “Self, Resonance and Epistemology in Anthropology” on Saturday, 1.12.2018, 15:15 – 15:45 in the Studio.
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.
You can see her lecture “The psychology of forgiveness – how to integrate the power of forgiveness in self-therapy and in yoga practice” on Saturday, 1.12.2018, 17:00 – 17:30 in the Studio.
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.
You can see his lecture “Sounds, Partials and sympathetic vibrations. An approach to the principle of hidden resonance through music and physics” on Saturday, 1.12.2018, 16:45 – 17:15 in the Main Hall.
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.
You can see the lecture of Chloe Hünefeld and Kai F. Hodeck “Unspecific Back Pain – Solutions found in Yoga Therapy and Modern Fascia Research” on Saturday, 1.12.2018, 14:30 – 15:15 in the Studio.
Richard Graf
Richard Graf studied mathematics in Regensburg (1979). As founder and CEO, he was responsible for an IT company for knowledge processing. As an emotion researcher, he discovered the inseparability of emotions, intuition and cognition. His new book “Die neue Entscheidungskultur” was published 2018, Hanser Verlag. Graf is a Certified Yoga Teacher and certified for many methods of body-mind work.
Since 1997, he has been working as a coach for stress management, trauma and decision-making. University lecturer at the Goethe University Frankfurt am Main and at the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt/Oder. Co-founder Institute of K-i-E Body Mind Informatics (2019) – solution of stress, burnout and trauma together with Dr. Marlen Schröder and Prof. Hartmut Schröder. Emotional, Intuitive and Cognitive Intelligence is the perception of this trilogy, followed by conscious decision and action.
More information: k-i-e.com
The emotional system is the origin and end of all thinking.
You can see his lecture “K-i-E Body Mind Informatics – Solution for Trauma inspired by Yoga” on Saturday, 1.12.2018, 14:30 – 15:00 in the Main Hall.
MONICA DASCALU, Prof.
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.
You can see her lecture “Symmetry and asymmetry in yoga practice” on Saturday, 1.12.2018, 17:30 – 18:00 in the Main Hall.
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.
You can see her lecture “Body, breath and consciousness – the yogic tools of evolution” on Saturday, 1.12.2018, 18:15 – 19:00 in the Studio.
