{"id":211,"date":"2026-02-02T11:49:57","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T11:49:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/light-on-yoga.kranzweb.de\/goa-press-release\/"},"modified":"2026-11-07T09:54:43","modified_gmt":"2026-11-07T09:54:43","slug":"goa-press-release","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/light-on-yoga.kranzweb.de\/en\/goa-press-release\/","title":{"rendered":"Goa Press Release"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yoga and Christianity Conference in Goa Deepens Dialogue Between Faith, Healing, and Contemplative Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Goa, India \u2014 January 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From 11\u201314 January 2026, Goa became a meeting ground for spiritual leaders, yoga practitioners, theologians, and seekers from around the world as\u00a0Yoga and Christianity: Bridging Practice and Faith\u00a0convened for four days of dialogue, prayer, and embodied contemplation. Hosted by\u00a0Kripa Foundation\u00a0and\u00a0Light on Yoga International, the conference explored how ancient Christian and Yogic traditions can speak meaningfully to one another in the modern world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set in an atmosphere of stillness and reflection, the gathering offered a carefully curated program of keynote addresses, panels, conversations, and daily contemplative practices. Participants engaged in a living experience of integration, where prayer, movement, silence, and dialogue were woven into a shared rhythm of transformation. Each day began with open silent retreat spaces, inviting participants into meditation, prayer, and breath awareness \u2014 a rhythm that many described as \u201ctransformative\u201d and \u201cdeeply grounding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These moments of stillness framed a rich program of keynote addresses, panels, conversations, and guided practices, grounding intellectual inquiry in embodied experience.\u00a0\u00a0 Across traditions and cultures, a shared theme emerged: stillness as a gateway to transformation, compassion, and deeper presence in the world. \u201cStillness was not treated as an idea,\u201d reflected one participant, \u201cbut as a way of being together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening the conference, Archbishop Felix spoke of breath as a sacred gift, describing it as \u201cthe meeting place of God\u2019s life and our own.\u201d This theme resonated deeply throughout the program, particularly in the work of\u00a0Fr. Joe Pereira, Founder of the Kripa Foundation, who emphasized the practical implications of integration for healing and recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt Kripa, we see every day that healing happens when the whole person is addressed \u2014 body, mind, and spirit,\u201d Fr. Joe shared. \u201cThis conference reflects the heart of our work here: spirituality that is lived, embodied, and accessible, especially to those who carry deep wounds. Yoga and Christian contemplation, when held with discernment and care, become powerful instruments of restoration.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keynote speakers\u00a0Archbishop Felix, Fr. Laurence Freeman,\u00a0Fr. Joe Pereia, Rita Keller,\u00a0Alan Goode, and\u00a0Dr. Humza Muljiani\u00a0offered perspectives rooted in Christian meditation, Iyengar Yoga, theology, philosophy, and interreligious scholarship. Topics ranged from sacred breathing and the body as a temple, to meditation as a spirituality for the 21st century, the science of stillness, and the significance of ritual and rhythm in spiritual life. Drawing from Christian scripture, monastic tradition, the Yoga Sutras, and the Bhagavad Gita, speakers emphasized that authentic dialogue does not dilute tradition but deepens it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Humza Muljiani\u2019s reflections on the Bhagavad Gita and the Passion of Christ drew particular attention. \u201cAcross traditions,\u201d he noted, \u201cwe encounter the same human trembling in the face of suffering \u2014 and the same invitation to surrender into compassion. The languages differ, but the inner journey is profoundly familiar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daily led sessions in pranayama, restorative yoga, contemplative meditation, Ignatian imaginative prayer, and integrated movement practices allowed participants to embody the themes explored in lectures.\u00a0Many attendees described these sessions as highlights of the conference, noting how embodied practice opened new ways of understanding prayer, healing, and attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rita Keller, reflecting on healing and embodiment, observed, \u201cWhen the body is approached with reverence and patience, it becomes a place where prayer can land. Healing is not about fixing ourselves, but about learning to listen deeply \u2014 to breath, to sensation, and to grace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Panel discussions led by Janet Nelson brought clergy, yoga teachers, and long-term practitioners into thoughtful conversation. Topics included meditation and\u00a0dhy\u0101na, ethical living through the Yamas, Niyamas, and the Ten Commandments, and resonances between Psalm 46 \u2014 \u201cBe still and know that I am God\u201d \u2014 and Pata\u00f1jali\u2019s definition of yoga as the stilling of the mind. Rather than seeking easy synthesis, the panellists modelled respectful dialogue grounded in humility and discernment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A moving session titled\u00a0Voices from the Field\u00a0featured personal stories of transformation from senior practitioners shaped by the lineage of B.K.S. Iyengar. Reflecting on lifelong practice,\u00a0Alan Goode\u00a0shared, \u201cIt is in the small, repeated acts of attention \u2014 in the quiet spaces between moments \u2014 that something deeply sacred is formed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conference concluded with a forward-looking exploration of future directions for integrating yoga and spirituality in pastoral, therapeutic, and contemplative contexts. In his closing keynote,\u00a0Fr. Laurence Freeman\u00a0captured the spirit of the gathering: \u201cNothing against nature can be against Christ. Where there is truth, there is Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As participants departed, many spoke of renewed clarity, hope, and a deeper appreciation for their own traditions.\u00a0Yoga and Christianity: Bridging Practice and Faith\u00a0demonstrated that when ancient paths meet with integrity and compassion, they do more than coexist \u2014 they offer healing, wisdom, and wholeness for a fragmented world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Father Joe Pereira and Rita Keller in conversation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Father Joe Pereira<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Alan Goode, Rita Keller and Father Joe Pereira<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Rita Keller, Archbishop Felix Machado and Alan Goode<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Rita Keller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Workshop with Rita Keller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Dr. Laurence Freeman, Father Joe Pereira, Rita Keller, Humza Muljiani and Alan Goode<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Dr. Laurence Freeman, Rita Keller and Humza Muljiani<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Rita
Rita Keller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Alan
Alan Goode and Rita Keller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Alan
Alan Goode and Humza Muljiani<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Humza
Humza Muljiani, Alan Goode, Rita Keller, Dr. Laurence Freeman, Fr. Joe Pereira and Janet Nelson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Dr.
Dr. Laurence Freeman, Fr. Joe Pereira and Rita Keller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Fr.
Fr. Joe Pereira<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Workshop
Workshop with Rita Keller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Workshop
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\"Workshop
Workshop with Rita Keller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Workshop with Rita Keller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Dr.
Dr. Laurence Freeman, Fr. Joe Pereira, Humza Muljiani, Rita Keller and Alan Goode<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Unterkunft\"
Accommodation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Konferenz
Iyengar Yoga & Christianity Conference in Goa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Konferenz
Iyengar Yoga & Christianity Conference in Goa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Konferenz
Iyengar Yoga & Christianity Conference in Goa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Konferenz
Iyengar Yoga & Christianity Conference in Goa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Unterkunft\"
Accommodation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Yoga and Christianity Conference in Goa deepens the dialogue between faith, healing and contemplative practice.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":148,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-211","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-veranstaltungen"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/light-on-yoga.kranzweb.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/light-on-yoga.kranzweb.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/light-on-yoga.kranzweb.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/light-on-yoga.kranzweb.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/light-on-yoga.kranzweb.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=211"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/light-on-yoga.kranzweb.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":267,"href":"https:\/\/light-on-yoga.kranzweb.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211\/revisions\/267"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/light-on-yoga.kranzweb.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/148"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/light-on-yoga.kranzweb.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=211"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/light-on-yoga.kranzweb.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=211"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/light-on-yoga.kranzweb.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=211"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}