Yoga in Auroville, India
Auroville is an international community and Yoga centre located in the Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu in India founded in the year 1968 by Mirra Alfassa, known as The Mother. The Mother designed Auroville as an experimental township to promote human unity and spiritual growth all around the world.
Auroville stands as a global community where people of diverse backgrounds regardless of creed, nationality, or political affiliations, coexist in peaceful and progressive harmony. It serves the noble goal of achieving human unity amidst the richness of our differences. Auroville township is inspired by the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, who advocates the evolution of consciousness and the realization of human unity.
Auroville acclaims a diverse cultural landscape, wherein the residents are from different countries from all around the world hence bringing in their traditions, customs and languages. The community values sustainable living, eco-friendly practices and amalgamation of arts, culture and religion. Auroville promotes a collective and participatory approach to decision-making, with the Auroville Residents’ Assembly which is the active governing body for the community residents. The Matrimandir , is a golden spherical structure in the centre of Auroville, designed by French architect Roger Anger which is an edifice of spiritual significance for practitioners of integral yoga.
The beautiful township of Auroville is recognized in the world for its attention on yoga practices, meditation and spiritual growth on the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother. The strong foundation set by The Mother emphasizing integral yoga and the evolution of consciousness along with spiritual upliftment. The various types of yoga classes in Auroville are like Hatha, Iyengar, Ashtanga, various meditation programs, yoga workshops and yoga retreats conducted by experienced teachers and practitioners all around the year. It also hosts spiritual gatherings, talks and events like the eight-day festival celebrating The Mother’s birth anniversary in February.
Types of Yoga Practices in Auroville:
Auroville offers a mixed range of yoga methods to tailor to all individuals with different interests and preferences visiting from different countries of the world.
- Integral Yoga: Integral Yoga, also known as the yoga of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, aims for the transformation and integration of all aspects of the being—physical, emotional and spiritual in the human body.
- Hatha Yoga: Hatha Yoga primarily focuses on physical postures (yoga asanas) and breath control (pranayama) to achieve harmony and balance in the body and mind.
- Kundalini Yoga: Kundalini Yoga aims to awaken the dormant divine energy within us through a combination of physical postures, breathwork, meditation and chanting of mantras.
- Iyengar Yoga: Iyengar Yoga emphasizes precision, alignment, sequence and the foremost use of yoga props as designed by Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar to support the yoga practice and develop strength, flexibility and awareness in our body.
- Ashtanga Yoga: Ashtanga Yoga follows a structured sequence of poses linked with breath, promoting strength, flexibility and concentration of the mind and body. It is an eight-limbed path towards achieving Samadhi as stated in the Yoga Sutras of Sage Patanjali.
Meditation Programs in Auroville:
Auroville provides a favourable environment for meditation and yoga training to all in form of various meditation programs and retreats.
- Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Meditation: Auroville draws inspiration from the integral approach to meditation developed by Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, which aims for a deeper connection with the Divine and a transformation of consciousness.
- Mindfulness Meditation: Auroville offers mindfulness meditation programs that cultivate present-moment awareness and inner stillness. Matrimandir -Soul of the City is a meditation centre which is composed of the Inner Chamber and 12 small meditation rooms called Petals further surrounded by the 12 Gardens.
- Silent Retreats: Silent retreats provide an opportunity for individuals to go inward, observe silence and engage in intensive meditation practices by remaining silent throughout the event which in course gives you an opportunity to process your thoughts in a calm, constructive way.
- Yoga and Meditation Workshops: Auroville hosts yoga workshops and yoga courses that combine yoga asanas, breathwork and meditation techniques.
Yoga Classes in Auroville
Learn yoga in Auroville through Yoga centres in auroville which operate daily along with yoga training and meditation workshops for people who are interested in deepening their yoga practice or becoming yoga teachers all-round the year. Yoga courses include different types of yoga like Hatha yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Iyengar yoga etc. The yoga courses infold different outlooks of yoga, including asanas, pranayama, meditation, philosophy, anatomy and teaching methodology. The courses are facilitated by experienced yoga teachers and practitioners and they provide an immersive and transformative learning experience.
Ayurveda in Auroville
Auroville has many Ayurvedic centres and practitioners offering traditional Ayurvedic treatments and therapies. Ayurveda’s basically approaches holistic approach that the human being is based on uniting the human soul, mind, senses and body. According to Ayurveda the primary cause of imbalance is the loss of connection with the divine, the loss of feeling one with the universe and the surroundings.
Ayurvedic treatments in Auroville include:
- Abhyanga (Ayurvedic massage)
- Panchakarma (detoxification and rejuvenation)
- Shirodhara (oil pouring on the forehead)
- Various herbal remedies.
Local Attractions
Auroville offers an array of cultural events, workshops and exhibitions that showcase the community’s artistic and sustainable practices. The community has sustainable initiatives focusing on organic farming, renewable energy and eco-friendly construction methods.
Please note that while the provided information is accurate to the best of our knowledge, it’s always a good idea to double-check details like current travel regulations, opening hours of attractions and availability of accommodations before planning your trip.
Popular Yoga places in Tamil Nadu
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Chennai Centre
Discover Harmony at Sivananda[...]
Swamy Sivananda Yogasana Research Centre
Swami Sivananda Yogasana Research[...]
Krishnamacharya Healing And Yoga Foundation
Unveiling Tranquility: Krishnamacharya Healing[...]
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Meenakshi Ashram
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Meenakshi[...]
Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (kym) - Chennai
Awaken to Healing: Uncover[...]
International Center For Yoga Education And Research (ICYER)
Nestled in the vibrant[...]
Centre for Yoga Therapy, Education & Research (CYTER)
Centre for Yoga Therapy,[...]
