Seminarhaus Shanti

We loved our time at Yogavidya, and it was especially beautiful for us to be in the environment of an ashram, where you can feel that the walls, the carpets, the halls, and the gardens are filled with a sense of devotion, prayer, and meditation.

We loved the spaciousness of everything — the big hall and the expansive feeling that everybody's welcome there, that there is space for everyone. We loved being surrounded by nature, and we loved the staff, how they made everything beautiful for us and made us feel so welcome.

We simply had a great time on our retreat there — we sang our hearts out, and could fly on the wings of all the people who had already been singing their hearts out for many years before us, in that same building and that same environment.

"When several hundred people laugh together and explore the elements of joy, a special atmosphere is created: light-hearted, open and unifying. We experience this atmosphere every time at the German Laughter Yoga Congress at the Shanti Seminar Centre. Since the congress began, this venue has been its home. Every two years, the laughter yoga community comes together for fellowship and inspiration.

A place that invites connection

At reception, a colourful, cheerful statue of Ganesha welcomes guests. In Hinduism, Ganesha is regarded as a bringer of good fortune and the overcomer of obstacles. With its large, lovingly tended plants, even the entrance through the light-filled lobby feels like stepping into a peaceful oasis.

For us as organisers, the Shanti seminar centre is a familiar setting that has been filled over the years with memories and countless moments of laughter.

To open the Laughter Yoga Congress, Sukadev Bretz offers words of welcome, helping us settle into the space, get into the right frame of mind, and give joy its due space and significance. This happens here time and time again.

Participants from different countries, generations and walks of life come together, laugh together and, over the course of the days, grow (further) into a vibrant community.

Laughter amidst woods and rocks

The house is situated on the outskirts of the spa town of Horn-Bad Meinberg, nestled within the natural surroundings of the Teutoburg Forest. Just a few minutes away stand the impressive Externsteine, which many participants use for walks, moments of tranquillity or group outings.

This setting plays a vital role during the conference: between workshops in the seminar room, encounters in the dining room, laughter-filled night-time walks under the open sky, contemplative and cheerful forest bathing, and much more, there is space to take a deep breath and pause for a moment.

Rooms that fill with laughter

Anyone who has ever experienced laughter spreading through the rooms of the house understands why we keep coming back here. Whether it’s large halls for group sessions or smaller rooms for workshops – and at the last Laughter Yoga Congress, even a ‘Market of Opportunities’ in the Gita Vidya room as a new format – the facilities cater for events of all sizes and formats.

"Yoga Vidya in Bad Meinberg has been the ideal location for our Wunder Festivals for almost ten years.

What we find here is a unique combination: a spiritually oriented place with active practice, several seminar rooms of different sizes, many single, double and shared rooms, options for campers and tents, seminar technology and very fair prices for accommodation and meals in an idyllic yet central location in Germany.

In addition, the guest group support is exceptionally warm and available for all questions before and during the festivals. A place like this is rare."
 

Andreas Pröhl
Initiator and speaker of the Wunder Festivals

"We have already organised seminars at Yoga Vidya in Bad Meinberg on several occasions as a guest group, or run our own seminars there. What we particularly appreciate is the unique combination of a high level of professionalism and, at the same time, a very positive, warm atmosphere.

For us as organisers, the process is exceptionally straightforward and pleasant. From the initial consultation right through to the on-site support, everything is handled reliably, professionally and, at the same time, with genuine warmth. You get the feeling that everything is truly taken care of, so that you can concentrate fully on the content and the participants.

The rooms are very well equipped technically and offer everything you need for successful seminars. At the same time, participants immediately feel at home there – not least thanks to the open and warm atmosphere, the healthy food and the beautiful surroundings. The large nature reserve surrounding the grounds is ideal for taking a walk, having a breather and recharging your batteries during breaks.

We’re also particularly impressed by the excellent value for money. The packages are designed to remain affordable for many people without compromising on quality.

Whether it’s smaller seminars with 20 to 30 participants or large events with 150 people or more – for us, Yoga Vidya in Bad Meinberg is an almost perfect venue for seminars and events.

‘We are very grateful to have this opportunity, and we already have many wonderful memories of inspiring seminars and encounters associated with this place.’

Jean-Daniel Döring