Leela Temple

Life Experience

6 – 8 November 2026

Yoga Vidya Ashram, Bad Meinberg, Germany

Reserve your place

What is Leela

In Sanskrit, Leela (लीला) means divine play, the cosmic game through which consciousness explores itself. Rooted in the traditions of Hindu wisdom and played for thousands of years, Leela is not fortune-telling. It is a mirror that reflects your life with surprising clarity.

Each roll of the dice reveals where you stand right now: your patterns, your blocks, your hidden gifts, your power. From the very first move, the game begins to speak to you.

Leela is a form of yoga, a path that brings you back to yourself. More than a game, it is a quiet but powerful remembrance of who you truly are.

The traditional Leela game board
Leela session Leela game moment Leela gathering Leela experience

Leela is nothing less than the game of life, providing insight into our own consciousness and a key to divine knowledge.

Harish Johari, Leela: The Game of Self-Knowledge (1975)

the experience

Three Days at the Ashram

Over three days, the Leela Temple unfolds as a complete and intentional experience. The space is held by five guides, each bringing their own depth to the work. Together, they create a field where deep self-inquiry becomes both possible and gentle.

Your three days will include:

  • The Leela Game, guided in small groups
  • Lectures and teachings by Peter Marchand
  • Sound healing
  • Breathwork
  • Cacao ceremony
  • Kirtan and mantra chanting
  • Daily yoga and meditation, in the Sivananda tradition of the ashram

Each element of the program supports the others. The Leela Game opens the questions, the practices help you sit with what arises, the shared moments of song and silence allow integration. By the end of the three days, you will leave with insights, practical tools, and a renewed connection to yourself.

Ganesha statue at the ashram

special guest

A Meeting with Peter Marchand

Peter Marchand, yoga teacher and author

We are honoured to welcome Peter Marchand as the special guest of Leela Temple 2026.

Peter is a yoga teacher, author, and founder of the Leela Yoga approach. His path began early in life and deepened profoundly when, at the age of twenty, he met his main teacher, the tantric yogi Harish Johari. That meeting shaped his life and practice.

Over the decades, Peter has immersed himself in traditional yogic and tantric teachings, travelling regularly to India and weaving these insights into everyday life. As a co-founder of the Sanatan Society, he has helped preserve and transmit this lineage, while developing his own synthesis of Jnana, Tantra, Bhakti, and meditation.

His books, among them The Yoga of Nine Emotions and Tantric Advaita, make ancient teachings accessible and relevant for modern seekers. At the heart of his teaching is the vision of Leela as a divine play, a path that is both profound and light, rooted in awareness, authenticity, and inner freedom.

During Leela Temple, Peter will share lectures, offer guidance in the game, and hold space for the deeper questions that arise.

the circle

Your Guides

Alina

Alina

Leela Guide · Artist · Art Therapist

For over six years, Alina has been walking her path with the Leela game, sharing its wisdom around the world. Her journey began at the Omkara School, where she first experienced Leela and felt an instant deep connection. Today, Leela is an essential part of her life and work. She believes in the power of this ancient wisdom to bring clarity, awareness, and to guide us back to ourselves.

Her work combines:

  • Leela guidance
  • Mantra meditation
  • Art and creative expression
Nika

Nika

Leela Guide · Yoga Teacher · Sound Healer

Nika walks her path through the integration of movement, sound, and self-inquiry. Her journey deepened at the Yoga Vidya Ashram in Bad Meinberg, where she trained in the Sivananda tradition of Hatha Yoga. Rooted in this lineage, her approach invites balance, presence, and inner connection. Through sound healing, she creates gentle and immersive experiences that support relaxation and reconnection.

Her work combines:

  • Leela guidance
  • Sivananda Hatha Yoga
  • Sound healing
Dyanthe

Dyanthe

Plant Medicine Facilitator · Song Weaver · Ceremonialist

Dyanthe has been integrating her entheogenic explorations into deeply embodied practices for over fifteen years. After moving to Peru at eighteen, she apprenticed and studied under three respected Amazonian indigenous Maestros, and has since facilitated courses, retreats, and ceremonies worldwide. Of Persian and pagan descent, she walks a path committed to bridging ancient wisdom with the modern world. She walks the path of Noyo Rao and is an initiated Tabauqera and Apaza lineage Mesa Carrier.

Her work combines:

  • Cacao ceremony
  • Plant medicine integration
  • Song weaving
  • Retreat guidance
Crue

Crue

Ceremonial Musician · Breathwork Instructor

Born in the United States and based in the Netherlands, Crue has spent twelve years travelling the world as a Mood Director, helping companies, groups, and individuals find greater joy and fulfillment. For the past three years, he has served as an instructor for the Breathwork Masterclass, an immersive five-day retreat exploring breathwork, bodywork, and the transformative power of music. Through coaching and workshops, he uses these tools to create somatic experiences that inspire growth, connection, and self-discovery.

His work combines:

  • Breathwork
  • Ceremonial music and handpan
  • Movement and play
  • Men's work
Alina and Nika Crue and Dyanthe

the space

Leela Temple

Where It All Takes Place

Yoga practice at Yoga Vidya Ashram

Nestled in the peaceful countryside of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Yoga Vidya Ashram Bad Meinberg is one of Europe's largest and most vibrant spiritual retreat centres. Surrounded by forests, parks, and the gentle hills of the Teutoburg Forest, the ashram offers a space where nature, mindfulness, and community come together.

Originally a historic spa complex, the ashram is today a living hub for yoga, meditation, and conscious living. The daily life of the place includes yoga classes for all levels, guided meditations, mantra chanting, and inspiring lectures on philosophy and spirituality. The atmosphere is both grounding and uplifting, whether you arrive seeking deep stillness or joyful expression.

Beyond the daily programme, the ashram offers walks through quiet gardens and the surrounding forest, nourishing organic vegan meals, and a sense of time that feels more spacious and intentional.

Within this environment, Leela Temple becomes more than a gathering. It becomes a journey, held within a field of awareness, tradition, and shared intention.

Prayer and meditation at the ashram

The Externsteine: A Mysterious Place of Power

The Externsteine are among Germany's most important natural and cultural monuments. They are regarded as a spiritual place of power located in the southern Teutoburg Forest near Horn-Bad Meinberg. For centuries, these striking rock formations have fascinated visitors, including famous figures such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Wilhelm Grimm.

The site consists of massive sandstone rocks rising up to about 40 meters high. Many legends surround the Externsteine, and some traditions associate them with ancient Saxon spirituality and the sacred Irminsul.

The place is known for:

  • its unique geological formations
  • caves and ancient relief carvings
  • panoramic viewing platforms
  • geomantic and spiritual interpretations
  • and theories that it may once have functioned as an ancient observatory

Many visitors experience the Externsteine as a place of silence, strength, and deep natural energy.

The Externsteine rock formations
Detail of the Externsteine View of the Externsteine

What is Included

Programme Fee

199 €

This covers the full three-day Leela Temple programme:

  • The Leela Game, in guided small groups
  • Lectures and teachings by Peter Marchand
  • Sound healing
  • Breathwork
  • Cacao ceremony
  • Kirtan, mantra chanting, and shared practice

Accommodation

Paid separately, directly to the ashram

Choose the option that fits you best. All accommodation includes full board with 100% organic vegan meals, drinking water throughout the ashram, daily satsang, and one yoga class per day.

  • Tent / day guest / camper — from 82 €
  • 4-bed room — 95.50 €
  • Double room — 119 €
  • Single room — 162 €

Prices per person for the full stay, Friday to Sunday, 2 nights.

Guest room at Yoga Vidya Ashram
Common space at the ashram
Room detail at the ashram
Common space detail

practical

Practical Information

Dates
6 to 8 November 2026 (Friday to Sunday)
Arrival
Friday afternoon
Departure
Sunday afternoon
Location
Yoga Vidya Ashram, Bad Meinberg, Germany
Language
The programme is held primarily in English. Some practices will include mantras in Sanskrit, which need no translation to be felt. The guides also speak German and Russian.

Accommodation and meals are arranged directly with the ashram once your place in the programme is confirmed.

Meditation at the ashram

What to bring:

  • Comfortable clothing for yoga and meditation
  • A journal and pen
  • A warm layer for evenings
  • A personal object that matters to you (you may use it during the game)
  • An open and curious heart
Yoga practice
Meditation at the ashram

Getting to the Ashram

Yoga Vidya Ashram Bad Meinberg is located in the peaceful countryside of North Rhine-Westphalia, about three hours by train from Frankfurt and two hours from Hannover. The journey itself is part of the retreat, as the trains move through forests and fields, the rhythm of the city softens.

By train

The nearest station is Horn-Bad Meinberg. From there, a short taxi ride brings you to the ashram. From Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, or Amsterdam, the connection runs smoothly through Hannover or Bielefeld.

By car

The ashram offers parking on site. Address for navigation: Yoga Vidya Bad Meinberg, Wällenweg 42, 32805 Horn-Bad Meinberg, Germany.

By plane

The nearest international airports are Hannover (HAJ) and Düsseldorf (DUS), both with good train connections to the ashram. Frankfurt (FRA) and Berlin (BER) are also possible, with longer train journeys of three to four hours.

Arrival and check-in

You may arrive at the ashram from early Friday afternoon. Check-in is at the ashram reception. The first session of Leela Temple opens in the evening, so allow yourself time to settle, rest, and feel the place before we begin.

Departure

The programme closes on Sunday afternoon. You may stay one more night at the ashram if you wish, arranged separately with their reception.

Ashram facade with balconies Yoga Vidya Ashram, aerial view

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need previous experience with Leela or yoga to join?

No previous experience is required. Leela Temple is open to everyone, whether you have played the game many times or are hearing about it for the first time. The guides will walk you through everything, and the practices are accessible at any level. What matters is your willingness to be present and curious about your inner world.

How does the Leela Game actually work?

Leela is played on a sacred board of 72 squares, each one representing a state of consciousness. Players move with the roll of a dice, and each square invites contemplation, sharing, and insight. The guides hold the space, ask questions, and help you read what the game is showing you. It is slow, intentional, and surprisingly precise.

Is the program in English?

Yes, the main programme is held in English. Some mantras and practices are in Sanskrit, which is the original language of the tradition and needs no translation to be felt. The guides also speak German and Russian, and personal questions can be addressed in any of these languages.

Will I be sharing personal things in the group?

Leela invites self-reflection, and the depth of sharing is always your choice. Some people speak freely, others stay more internal. Both are welcomed. The space is held with care and confidentiality.

What if I cannot stay for all three days?

The programme is designed as a complete arc from Friday to Sunday. The threads of the game, the practices, and the group field weave together over three days, and the deepest insights tend to come on the second and third day. For this reason, we ask participants to commit to the full duration.

Can I come if I am going through a difficult time emotionally?

Leela can be a powerful mirror, and it sometimes brings up deep material. If you are currently in acute crisis or under psychiatric treatment, we recommend speaking with us first before booking. For most life challenges, the retreat offers a held and supportive space to gain perspective.

Is the food really fully vegan?

Yes. The ashram serves 100% organic vegan meals, prepared with care and intention. Special dietary needs such as gluten-free can be accommodated with advance notice to the ashram.

What should I bring?

Comfortable clothing for yoga and meditation, a journal and pen, a warm layer for cool German evenings, a personal object that matters to you (you may use it during the game), and an open heart.

Can I extend my stay at the ashram before or after the program?

Yes. The ashram welcomes guests for extended stays. You can arrange this directly with their reception once your Leela Temple booking is confirmed.

join us

Reserve Your Place

The programme is open to everyone, especially those who feel there is something more, who seek a deeper connection with themselves and with the source of life.

To reserve your place, please complete the form below. After receiving your request, we will be in touch within 24 hours with payment details for the 199 € programme fee and guidance on booking your accommodation at the ashram.