6 Questions with BaliSpirit Festival 2018 Yoga Presenter, Petros Haffenrichter

Petros lives in Munich, Germany and teaches Jivamukti Yoga around the world. He was drawn to Jivamukti Yoga because it is an all-inclusive practice with
a strong physical foundation in hatha and vinyasa flow with devotional bhakti chanting, spiritual music and ahimsa (non-violence) teachings from environmentalism
to animal rights and social activism. Petros’ honest, funny and challenging teaching inspires his students to be fully aware in the present moment,
so experience comes through intuition and not from a place of personal preference or dislikes.

Here are 6 quick questions with Petros Haffenrichter, Jivamukti Yoga Teacher and BaliSpirit Festival 2018 Presenter…

1) Hi Petros, how did you come to find the path of Yoga?

My grandfather was co-founder of the German Anthroposophic Society where vedic philosophy, meditation and yoga were the key elements to a holistic life.
My father practiced yoga every morning and practically every book in our house had to do with some form of philosophy, psychology, spirituality or
arts. Being a typical teenager with yoga being such a strong part of my family life, I of course wanted nothing to do with it!

When I was 20, I was a swimmer and wanted to hold my breath underwater for longer – so turned to pranayama to help me. From that first introduction, I
found myself within a whole load of different yoga teachings, working on asana, breath, concentration, dedicated activities of attentiveness, sound,
devotion and surrounding myself with likeminded souls. I really resonated with the teachings and it felt so familiar to me. I trust that your dharma
finds you, rather than you go and choose and look for it.

2) What type of yoga do you practice?

I practice hatha/raja, karma, bhakti and jnana. I mostly teach Jivamukti yoga because it has given me the opportunity to emphasize what I believe is the
most important practice in our time: kindness, nonviolence , the integrity of life and our responsibility to honor that.

3) Where do you teach yoga?

I teach yoga workshops and host yoga retreats in Germany on asana, pranayama and philosophy as well as performing in kirtan concerts. Next year I will
be teaching at BaliSpirit Festival, I’m excited to be in Bali, it’s beautiful and every house is a temple. The festival is unique as it gathers likeminded
spirits, music, yoga teachings and nature together, I’m looking forward to sharing Jivamukti in Bali.

4) How often do you practice yoga?

Every day. Life is the practice, even if the mat is missing.

5) Do you have any advice for yogis struggling to make time to practice yoga in their busy schedule?

Stop working and spend some time in nature.

6) What is your favorite quote about Yoga/Spirituality?

OM TAT SAT – Bhagavad Gita. (Sanksrti mantra meaning ‘Om is truth, Om is reality, Om is good’

Petros will be teaching Jivamukti Yoga at BaliSpirit Festival
2018, see the full daytime lineup here

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Written by: Maeve Nelligan