Reinhard Gammenthaler

‘Yoga’ has been diluted, diverted and disseminated throughout the West. A comprehensive system of self-realisation, healing, cleansing, purifying and enlivening the body, mind and soul, has been reduced to a watered-down, posture-based stretching exercise. But how do we get to back to the root? To the essence of this vital and crucial knowledge? We need to go back to the source. And when this is a practice that has been handed down for centuries, in lands and cultures far from ours, how do we find that source? 

We are incredibly excited to bring to the UK for the first time, Reinhard Gammenthaler, a Swiss yoga master who has studied ancient yogic texts and practised under the guidance of revered yogis for 44 of his 70 years. He is one of the few remaining links to the original knowledge keepers, holding a direct golden lineage to the gurus who closely guarded these powerful secrets.

Come with us as we take you on a journey to the true yoga, to the true self, and experience the ultimate knowledge that will bring you to the dance between the conscious and unconscious, the fulcrum of altered states, as you learn to harness to the absolute power of the universal flow of energy which fuels the tiniest cells within you and the greatest expanse of the cosmos.

This retreat is for those who want to step up their practice to the next level. For those who want to move beyond the superficial and gain real experiential understanding. Reinhard’s teachings and workshops are attended by dedicated knowledge seekers from all over the world, and are an undertaking which will change the course of your practice and link you to the original truths. This is an entirely unique and rare opportunity, absolutely not to be missed.

The retreat is a four-day journey. Follow the life of the yogi as we eat lightly, practice deeply and reflect profoundly on our lived experience. With energising pranayama, wild swimming and Reinhard’s inimitable explanation, guidance and authentic yoga practice we fill the days, taking steps on our own path to inner transformation.  

On the last day of the retreat you will be invited to come in a circle where you will have a chance to ask your questions directly to Reinhard Gammenthaler. This is an important part of the retreat that gives you a chance to assimilate the practice and clarify the sacred knowledge you accessed over the weekend. This is a rare opportunity to communicate personally with a master of such high calibre and experience. 

Retreat is suitable for beginners as well as advanced students. 

The retreat begins on Friday evening 25th August and ends on bank holiday Monday 28th August 2023.

We will be eating fresh, organic, locally grown plant based meals lovingly prepared according to Sattvic & Ayurvedic principles. As much as possible of our gorgeous fruit and veg will come from Tolhurst Organic farm, based on site, who use stock free farming to produce the lowest possible carbon footprint, cruelty free food. Their work is truly inspiring and aligned with our ethos of re-connecting and re-aligning with mother nature to live in more harmony.

The retreat will take place in a secluded rural camping field next to the shores of the river with indoor and outdoor hot water showers, toilets, washing sinks and running fresh water. 

Tents are available to rent if you can not bring your own.

Camper vans & caravans are welcome, dogs must stay at home!

This event is free from alcohol, drugs or intoxicants which cloud the mind.

Surround yourself with 500-year-old trees, wildflower meadows, stunning scenery, magical sunset views, wonderful wildlife & your community.

For thousands of years the secrets of Yoga have been handed down from the Guru to capable disciples by word of mouth or by the transmission of energy. This ancient tradition of imparting secret lore and practices from the adept to qualified students is called “Guru Shishya Parampara”, the great heritage descending to the teachings of Lord Shiva. This is essential, especially in Tantrism, of which Hatha and Kundalini Yoga are important and basic aspects, but found its expression also in classical Indian arts like music and dance. If a student is eager to fit into this divine line of master and disciple he needs special aptitude and eagerness to qualify for initiation into the mysteries of Yoga.

Reinhard Gammenthaler (born 9th May, 1953) is an initiate of the ancient Ashtanga Yoga, and globally renowned Yoga teacher from Switzerland. He is the last disciple of Yogi Swami Dhirendra Brahmachari, the successor of the great seer and holy Yogi Shri Maharshi Kartikeya. His book, Kundalini-Yoga-Parampara: The Living Tradition of Kundalini-Yoga, a comprehensive work on the practice and philosophy of Hatha Yoga, has been published so far in German, English, Russian and Czech. It continues the two books by Dhirendra Brahmachari, Yogic Sukshma Vyayama and Yogasana Vijnana and completes them with a third part concerning the techniques of Mudra and Pranayama; it also includes detailed information on essential aspects of the original Yoga, such as diet, lifestyle, Cakras, Nadis, and Marmas. 

Deeply impressed by the ancient Indian epic Bhagavad Gita and ancient scriptures such as the Hatha-Yoga Pradipika, the Shiva-Samhita, the Gheranda-Samhita and the Yoga Sutras of Pantajali, Reinhard has been practicing Yoga according to the teachings of his Guru Dhirendra Brahmachari since 1979. After years of preparation in Switzerland and West Africa, Reinhard met his teacher in person for the first time in India in 1989. Dhirendra Brahmachari accepted him as his final disciple and sent him to Mantalai, a small mountain village in a remote valley in the Indian part of Kashmir. There, in complete isolation at the Aparna-Ashram, he underwent rigorous Sadhana to learn the many techniques and aspects of Pranayama, Mudra and Svara as set forth in the ancient scriptures of the Yoga-Shastra. 

In 1993, he received Diksha (initiation) from his Guru into the Parampara (tradition as it emerges from the teachings of great Yogis such as Swatmarama, Goraksha and Matsyendra) of the original Hatha or Kundalini Yoga. 

The Parampara is based on Ashtanga Yoga (the eightfold Yoga path) and consists of Hatha Yoga (yoga of power) and Raja Yoga (royal path). 

- Hatha is the foundation of sometimes very demanding physical exercises that ultimately lead to Raja, the royal path of meditation, supernatural realisation and liberation. 

- Ashtanga Yoga includes all aspects of Yoga, such as Bhakti Yoga (path of devotion), Karma-Yoga (path of selfless deed) and Jnana-Yoga (yoga of knowledge and wisdom), the synthesis of which enables the seeker of spiritual realisation to master the perilous and arduous climb to the heights of self-perfection. 

In 2002 Reinhard began teaching Yoga and founded a school for traditional Hatha or Kundalini Yoga in his hometown of Bern. Since 2005, he has regularly given international Yoga workshops. In early 2020, he moved to Oberburg in Emmental, where he has built his own practice centre, the  Yogahaus Oberburg.

Reinhard appears in the documentary film Yoga – Der Ruf der Stille (2009) by Kurt Widmer for NZZ Format, where he talks about his view of Yoga and demonstrates advanced yogic purification techniques and Asanas.

Dmitry Glazkov of Sadhama recently met Reinhard Gammenthaler and recorded their deep conversation that you can watch here.

We hope to be able to accommodate all who are interested & feel drawn to come together as a community.  

We have tickets available for the Full  Retreat: Friday evening - Monday afternoon which are limited in numbers to facilitate deep experience cleanse, rest and reconnection as a community.

Your Tickets include:

4 Day immersion into sacred lands and your beautiful self!

✔️ All 4 days of the retreat.

✔️ All activities, classes and workshops.

✔️ Delicious Ayurvedic food: Friday dinner, 3 meals a day on Saturday and Sunday and breakfast on Monday. A selection of hot drinks will be available throughout the day.

✔️ Ground for your own tent.

 Retreat Package at £350 will be available right up until the retreat or until we sell out!

This is the first time we have brought a teacher with as much, wisdom, heritage and world renown as Reinhard. The prices we are offering for this retreat reflect that. We are still doing our best to make it as affordable as possible for people to access this golden knowledge.

For those who would like to combine the fun of the retreat and karma of the service we have few Seva Tickets. These tickets are designed for those who enjoy getting involved in the running of the retreat by giving the core crew a hand with whatever is needed to be done on the day, or those who can't afford the full price of the tickets but still want to come.  

If you’re keen to be involved, please click here to complete our online application.

Hardwick estate is only 40 minutes by train from London (Paddington), and just 20 minutes by car from Junction 12 on the M4.  Easily accessible from the main transport hubs at Reading, yet set in the rolling countryside of the Chilterns AONB, Hardwick is ideally located for a weekend getaway of peace and tranquility. 

Reading has direct bus and train links connecting it with Heathrow Airport in under one hour.

If you have a spare seat in your car and are happy to share a ride, or if you need a lift to the gathering, join the our retreat community Whatsapp group.