Photo: Participants in the Integral Yoga Meditation Retreat with Arjuna (standing far left).
In July 2025, Integral Yoga Norway director, Arjuna Gangdal organized and hosted an Integral Yoga meditation retreat in Norway. We’re grateful that he has shared this short report from the retreat.
I’m delighted to share the heart‑opening journey of our five‑day Integral Yoga Meditation Camp at Nøsen Yoga & Mountain Hotel in Norway, lovingly guided by Sri Gurudev’s inspiration. We opened the retreat one evening with joyous kirtan, inspired by recordings of Sri Gurudev that set the tone for these fantastic days of deep diving into Integral Yoga.
Each day began and ended—and included a grounding noon meditation—with Integral Yoga Sadhana, blending pranayama, seated meditation, and mixed‑level Hatha practice to anchor us in body, breath, and stillness.
Midday, we ventured into the surrounding Norwegian mountain trails accompanied by a playful husky, whose lively spirit reminded us to find lightness and presence in every step. Our Yoga Wisdom sessions deepened our understanding of key verses from the Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita, and we also practiced Yoga Nidra.
Mid‑retreat, we honored the Day of Silence, holding space for personal reflection and inner listening. As dusk fell, we gently broke the silence with shared insights and collective meditation, celebrating the wisdom that had arisen in stillness.
On our final day, we came together once more in uplifting kirtan, sending everyone home uplifted—and some clutching a Norwegian edition of the Bhagavad Gita to continue their practice. These days of midday pause, chanting, quiet surrender, mountain immersion, and timeless teachings wove together a rich tapestry of transformation. I’m endlessly grateful for the openness and trust each person brought, so I wanted to share this with our Integral Yoga Magazine.
UPDATE:
During the Integral Yoga Global Reunion held in August 2025 at Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville in Virginia, Arjuna was able to join in person. At the end of the Reunion, a sacred initiation ceremony was held and he received pre-sannyas diksha. This is the first formal step for Integral Yoga devotees who wish to pursue a vocation as a monastic (sannyasi). Swami Asokananda, president of the New York Integral Yoga Institute, who had mentored Arjuna over the past several years, officiated during the diksha. We wish the new Brother Arjuna Chaitanya all of Sri Gurudev’s blessings as he begins this formal journey toward monkhood and the full fruition of the Integral Yoga Path.
[Note: Chaitanya means ‘pure Consciousness’ and each pre-sannyasi receives this name in addition to their first name.]
Based in Indre Østfold, Noway, Brother Arjuna teaches Yoga there as well as in Oslo and the surrounding regions (see: https://yogahoveleik.no) So everyone can get to know Br. Arjuna a little more, we include this short bio shared by him:
I am a certified Yoga teacher trained at Integral Yoga Academy, internationally registered through Yoga Alliance as both E-RYT 200 and RYT 500, and a certified Stress Management Educator.
My journey into Yoga and meditation began nearly 26 years ago when I was first introduced to meditation, and in 2011, I began to deepen my practice of physical Yoga. This path has been filled with challenges and triumphs, leading me to establish a daily practice and become a dedicated Yoga teacher committed to helping others find inner peace.
I have had the privilege of studying under the respected Swamis and teachers at Integral Yoga Academy in Yogaville, San Francisco, and New York. This comprehensive education, combined with my 500 RYT certification from Yoga Alliance, has provided me with a deep understanding of Yoga and effective stress management techniques. Over the years, I have had the pleasure of supporting individuals on their personal journeys toward inner balance and well-being. This rich blend of personal experience, professional expertise, and a research-based approach enables me to offer a holistic and reliable path to yoga and stress management.
Additionally, I bring a unique perspective from my background in Arctic outdoor life from UiT Campus Alta, which provides refreshing insights into managing stress and finding peace in our busy lives. Om Shanti.
