Yoga sure has many followers in the Western countries and the recent community to have made their foray into this is  Yogaville. Located in Birmingham, Virginia, it is a unique community that not only practices Yoga but also preaches it. It is located in the very serene and peaceful environs of Virginia, completely detached from the hustle bustle of the city. Once in Yogaville you will find yourself in a completely different world, where the sole aim is attaining freedom from all ailments and laying the foundation of a healthy and a bliss full life ahead.
It is true when they say that yoga is perhaps the only way of attaining inner peace and controlling your restless mind. It is an age old Indian form of exercise that sages have been practising for posterity. It has become an integral part of our lives now and is the best way to find a permanent solution to many health problems. Yoga has successfully made its way to the West and it’s not surprising to see many Hollywood celebrities like Jennifer Aniston practising yoga for a perfect body.
The Yogaville community which was founded by Swami Satchidananda, is located right on the banks of the James river, amidst the lush green forests of rural Virginia. It is therefore a perfect environment to gather some mental peace.
Let’s give you a virtual tour of Yogaville.
The Yogaville Community in Virginia
The founder of Yogaville, Swami Satchidananda also used to be the opening singer at the Woodstock music festival. The Swami passed away in 2002 at the age of 87.Yogaville is complete with all the facilities such as residential programmes, teacher training sessions, yoga retreats as well as intensive workshops.
There are also regular meditation sessions and one is served pure vegetrarian meals from the community kitchen at the centre.
The LOTUS (The Light of Truth Universal Shrine) temple is, however, a beautiful landmark of the Yogaville community. It is a temple that respects different religions and religious practices for it was Swamiji’s belief that many a wars have been fought in the name of religion and a lot of blood has been shed already.
The temple in a way symbolises peace and aims at establishing harmony on a global scale.
The temple has been made in the shape of a lotus. It took about four years to build this beautiful LOTUS temple, which was also Swamiji’s brainchild.
Reaching Yogaville is rather interesting, for a line of forests leads you to the centre. There are also facilities for a hiking tour.
Once at the temple visitors are expected to remove their shoes and are requested to be decently dressed up to uphold the sanctity of the place. It is at the lower level of the temple where representations of all the religions are kept.
The ceiling of the temple is also beautifully done with some glass paintings. The lights on the ceiling give the temple a very different look.The meditation room is also housed in the upper level of the temple. The centre also has a gift shop and two other sacred shrines, one of which is dedicated to Lord Shiva.So, if you are looking for some enlightenment, then Yogaville is where you should be headed!
