About

Yoga has been widely misunderstood in recent times by the Western world. The path of yoga is the spiritual path leading back to the divine. It is the reintegration of our scattered pieces, spread thinly across a thousand self-identifications, external problems and propped up against bad habits and draining relationships. It is the journey back to wholeness. To oneness. It is the journey home.

Living Yoga is a system of practices that enable this transformative process to take place. The practice is the lifeblood on which we run. It is the power to maximise our potential and to live a life of peace, health and happiness.

It is a modern approach to the ancient technologies of yoga, combining timeless wisdom with contemporary science and practical techniques that anyone can use. The distillation of over two decades of research into the possibilities for human existence taught uniquely at the Sanctuary, led by Steve Harrison, under the guidance of Swami Yogeshwarananda.

This is an opportunity available to all who are willing to take the journey.

The steps have been carved out for you. This is your invitation.

Aspirants on the spiritual path to self discovery traditionally are trained in the same way - in a forest Ashram, with their teacher, practicing sadhana, satsang and seva.

Sadhana is your yogic practice. It is the method through which lives really transform. In order to succeed in maintaining a daily yogic sadhana, it is vital to maintain enthusiasm, perseverance, discernment, faith, courage and access to inspiring company. Everything that happens at the Sanctuary is because of the energy we pour into our practice. If you don’t take responsibility for your own inner evolution process, who else will?

Satsang is the sharing of yogic wisdom and philosophy. It is the teaching that guides practitioners through not just their sadhana, but through their lives. This is commonly referred to as Jnana Yoga - the path of knowledge.

Seva is the conscious giving of your time and energy to something greater than the individual, limited self. Often referred to as Karma Yoga.

The sangha is widespread, both locally and around the world, but is held and supported by the dedication of our core team. The ashram residents are living, breathing and teaching the practice as well as holding the space for the collective.

The Sanctuary was originally founded by Steve Harrison, who having set off as a young traveller in his late teens, arrived in the Himalayan foothills to experience a life-changing encounter with a Yoga Master. For the next two decades, Steve spent the majority of his time researching, practicing, applying and eventually teaching these ancient methods for human transformation. Living Yoga is the result of his work and search for truth.

Supporting Steve in sharing the teachings as well as the day to day running of the ashram is his wife Sarah and custodians of the Wildwood Jules and Elliot - earnest practitioners, teachers and full time ashramites. Alongside them we have Ross and the other long-term residents at the Brahmachari House, who complete the core seva team.