Berkshire Yoga Festival 2026

This embodied practice explores the technique of Jalandhara Bandha: “the net that catches." This subtle yogic energetic seal gathers scattered attention and stabilizes the mind. Through accessible movement, lunar-informed breathwork, and guided meditation, this practice gently quiets mental overactivity and supports nervous system regulation. Woven with contemplative INSIGHT inquiry, participants experience how steadiness arises not through effort, but through alignment, containment, and listening. This is a practice of calm power, inner coherence, and the relief of being held from within. Suitable for all levels.

We all have the recurring experience of frustration and suffering - from different causes, and at different levels of intensity - throughout our daily lives. In response to this recurring experience, we seek to release suffering and find fulfillment outwardly and, as a result, become entangled in what the Ancients called the ‘world of name and form’. This misguided seeking perpetuates the recurrence of unresolved issues, frustrations, tension, and suffering that we all experience throughout our lives.

Deep methods of Inner Practice evolved in the tradition of Tantric Laya Yoga through which we can break this recurring cycle, realize our true nature, actualize our innate potentials and, ultimately, become free. These methods of practice relied on complex symbol systems.

In this series of three classes, we will explore two of the most important symbol systems, the methods of practice evolved to work with them and, finally, how to integrate these symbols and methods into our personal practice.

In the second session of the series, we will
- Explore the symbolism of the Vedic Gods and Goddesses as “macrocosmic map” that reveals what the Ancients called our Divine Human Potentials.
- Introduce the methods of Devatā Yoga
- Work with this methods in a practice focused on the Mahā Lakṣmī

At the heart of the tantric tradition stands Saraswati, the radiant embodiment of knowledge, intuition, and the hidden currents of wisdom that guide every seeker. In the esoteric teachings of the Durga Saptashati, she is revealed as the gatekeeper to the vast treasury of tantra vidya, and the one who holds the key to unveiling the deeper nature of reality. Known as maha maya and yoga nidra, Saraswati illuminates the many layers of human experience, from the most ordinary to the most sublime, and shows us how to move skillfully between them.

In this transformative session, you will explore this multifaceted divinity not as a symbol, but as a living force that unlocks access to the true heart of tantra. You will also learn the meaning and practice of a rare and sacred Saraswati mantra, preserved in both the Vedic and tantric traditions, and discover how this mantra opens the doors to clarity, creativity, and inner awakening.

From this vantage point, this session expands into the wider world of tantra itself—a tradition that, for millennia, has offered a priceless trove of techniques to support and accelerate our spiritual growth. Yet today it is often overshadowed by confusion and sensationalism. Some encounter rituals, mantras, kundalini, and chakras; others become absorbed in deities and mystical practices.

Pandit Tigunait, drawing on a thousand-year lineage of tantric masters, will cut through this modern jungle of misunderstanding to reveal the rich and sublime essence of tantra. You will learn how to discern which aspects of the tantric tradition resonate most deeply with you, how to navigate common pitfalls with confidence, and how to follow a path that leads directly to inner fulfillment and true freedom.

In this global moment of war, chaos, and destruction, yoga practitioners might feel inclined to turn to yoga philosophy for ethical guidance and a broader understanding of the moral implications and relationship between yoga and war. While it is common and tempting to turn to “ahimsa” as a foundational tenet of yoga philosophy and thus regard yoga as inherently non-violent and anti-war, such interpretations offer simplistic readings of yoga philosophy. 

So what does yoga philosophy say about war, from a historic and contemporary standpoint? I believe that nuancing our understanding of yoga philosophy with respect to war strengthens both our capacity to turn to yoga as a moral compass and our impact when we wish to harness yoga's power toward more liberatory purposes. In this half lecture, half participatory workshop session, I invite you to join me in a dialogue on the politics of yoga, war, and empire; and in a commitment to strengthen our collective movement toward liberation of all beings.