The Soul of SchoolYoga Institute

Yoga has touched our hearts and lives and has become who we are and what we want to contribute to humanity as an integral part of our dharmic responsibilities in life. We are truly indebted to yoga for what it has benefited us — a sense of joy, love, and compassion that has flowered in all of us. Soham, we are that.

SchoolYoga Institute is an extended family of yoga teachers and practitioners who have deeply experienced the beauty and ancient wisdom of yoga and who feel inspired to share that wisdom with others. We sincerely value the yoga tradition and at the same time try to facilitate the integration of wisdom into the art of everyday living. We see the oneness in all and the unity in diversity. In this way, we honor the mystical Hindu tradition from which yoga is originally derived, while at the same time assimilating the spiritual traditions , ancient wisdom, and philosophies of the universe into our sharing, teaching , practice, and service.

Within the context of SYI YTTC’s, we share our understanding of the ancient scriptures, such as Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, Vedanta, Upanishad, Tantric Yoga, Mayan Prophecies, Greek Mythology, and Lao Tze’s Dao Te Ching, as well as modern spiritual teachings of Eckhart Tolle, the Dalai Lama, and others. Most importantly, we share our understanding of how to integrate these concepts into our daily practice in the form of health, healing, and transformation.

Sadhana Yoga: in sanskrit, Sadhana Yoga is the yoga of spiritual practice, and it is also a Tantric term for spiritual discipline, or the “path to Realization.” Even though it is derived from different yoga traditions (Ashtanga Vinyasa, Sivananda, Iyengar, and others), Sadhana Yoga is designed beyond forms and traditions; it focuses on the essence of yoga tradition which is an instrument to reveal the truth of our existence, the spiritual being.

Mystical Yoga is another name to which we are connected because of our deep revelation to the mystical unknown. The universe is a place of discovery, mystery, and mysticism. Each one of us came into this world to unveil our own soul-purpose and to reveal our own gifts so we can serve the world and advance our own spiritual evolution. Through our Sadhana Yoga practice, we can become mystics, and thereby become mystical yoga teachers who share the mystical dimensions from where we all came and to which we will return. This is the true gift the universe has manifested in us and has guided us to share with humanity. We believe yoga transcends physical practice and is ultimately a vehicle for spiritual insight. Even though we have the names and forms, Sadhana Yoga and Mystical Yoga, they are actually nameless and formless. From the ancient wisdom, daily yoga sadhana practice, and transformative mystical yoga practice, we start revealing a greater sense of beauty, love, and freedom. We see yoga as a vehicle that carries us to experience and enjoy the pure, true essence of life.

Yoga is a great form of healing from India at physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels. SchoolYoga Institute introduces healing arts of the world to yoga teacher training programs and daily practice. We are not only preparing qualified and certified yoga teachers, but also preparing healing practitioners beyond yoga. We offer our trainees Reiki, Shamanic energetic healing, Qi gong, Herbalism, Ayurveda, yoga as medicine, and spiritual healing and health. Our vision is to develop yoga and healing arts into the University of Healing Arts and Consciousness.

At SchoolYoga Institute, everyone is wholeheartedly accepted and encouraged. We strive to create and hold space where participants feel safe and comfortable. We support the growth and expansion of people’s horizons — physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and energetically. As a group, a community, a tribe, and an extended family, we practice and learn to let go, and to allow the world to unfold before us without reaction or judgment. Here we can shed our layers, cultural beliefs, guilt, and other bondage that may keep us attached to our struggles, dramas, and traumas. Together we unveil the essence, learning to taste the sweet nectar of life while maneuvering in the world with strength and grace. We believe yoga is about much more than stretching.

SchoolYoga Institute offers yoga teacher training programs and yoga retreats around the
world in China, Tibet, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico, Samoa, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina,
Greece, and the United States. We offer many avenues to share yoga and prepare yoga teachers and mystical practitioners, including, but not limited to, the following yoga teacher training programs: one-month intensive, five-month, one-year, residential, and home-study. When not traveling abroad, our facilitators work in various contexts, including yoga classes, workshops, and retreats.

Originally founded by yogi and educator Vedantin Ping Luo in 2002, SchoolYoga Institute has since brought on Associate Director Bryan Russell, a group of loving and dedicated facilitators, and support staff who together run Yoga Teacher Training Courses (YTTC’s) and Mystical Yoga and Healing Retreat at locations around the world. SchoolYoga Institute is a Registered Yoga School (RYS) at 200- and 500-hour levels with Yoga Alliance. We honor integrity and high standards for yoga teacher preparation programs. We have teaching faculty with great experience and expertise in all areas of the program.

SchoolYoga Institute teaches Sadhana yoga, a spiritually grounded practice. We believe yoga transcends physical practice and is ultimately a vehicle for spiritual insight.

Use the About Us drop-down menu to learn more.