Vyāyāma Yoga is an integral part of the ancient yoga tradition, which is unknown to most yoga schools today. Vyayam is the oldest health-energetic gymnastics that has inspired many martial arts.

Vyayam is from South India. The principle, the essence of deep knowledge, is how to control our internal and external forces, all dating back thousands of years. It is a dynamic exercise that is combined with vibrating breathing to create a meditative state. We tame the energy we get through breathing.

One of the most important rules is that the movement follows the breathing. Breath control helps us use the body’s energy, which is obtained through food or air, in the most efficient way.

There is an intimate relationship between the body, the mind and the energy, so if any modification affects the other two. With Vyayam we learn how to control our breathing and thus the movement of our minds.

Its origin is the Vedic military science known as Dhanur Vidya (archery). In Vyayam, great emphasis was placed on shakti vikasakas, exercises that develop physical, muscular strength, and the conduction of energy to all parts of the body and beyond.

What are the benefits of practicing Vyayam?

– The disciple Vyayam is enthusiastic, has great vitality and is mentally balanced. The body, whether thicker or thinner, has a healthy appearance, is strong and stocky.

– Our movements, posture and gestures change. At Vyayam, we are aware of our physical, mental and energetic changes, which we manage with the right attitude and according to our needs.

– It brings the body into harmony with the mind, strengthens the muscles and tendons. It frees the spine from unnecessary tension, making the back flexible. It relaxes joints, prevents arthritis, degenerative joint disease and osteoporosis. It saturates the spine, body tissues and internal organs with life by delivering more oxygen to the cells.

One of the greatest contemporary masters of Vyayam Yoga is the revered Swami Shankaratilaka, who was the first to introduce this ancient South Indian practice to Western countries.

Swami Shankaratilaka has more than 40 years of experience in practicing and teaching vyayam yoga. His masters were Swami Tilak and Dhirendra Brahmachari. The latter was also a master of Indira Ghandi, the former Prime Minister of India.

The beneficial and life-saving effect of vyayam was demonstrated by the master’s recovery from incurable malaria, after which he was determined to pass on this knowledge. He has created a school that can authentically impart ancient and authentic knowledge to today’s man as well.

His school, the Vedic Foundation of the Himalayas, is currently present in India, Spain, Hungary and New Zealand.

In Hungary, vyayam classes are led by the monks of the Vedic Foundation of the Himalayas, who are direct disciples of the master. Through their decades of practice and experience, they impart a deep and diverse body of knowledge that is truly a rare treasure in our fast-paced environment, even in the field of yoga.

There are only two books in the world about the science of vyayam yoga, one from Dhirendra Brahmachari and the other from Swami Shankaratilaka. The latter book has already been published in English, Spanish and Portuguese, and is currently being published in Hungarian.