ALDUNA – BIRTH & BAPTISM

We first started to teach surfing and later yoga in that magical place called Mendihuaca on foot of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia. Alduna means „spirit“ in the language of the Kogis who are an indigenous ethnic group that lives in the area of Mendihuaca. They consider themselves as the elder brothers and guardians of the heart of the world – el Corazón del Mundo. The seed to teach yoga to our youth for their self-determined life was planted back there.

VISION - WHAT IS OUR GOAL?

«Alduna» is an association who gives our youth access to yoga worldwide. With yoga we want to support their holistic development of personal, social and professional abilities. Through yoga they can become more aware of who they are and what life is about for them. This way they are confident with that feeling of not knowing sometimes what comes next – but are able to find and walk their own path. They learn to be compassionate with themselves, their community and their environment. Our goal is to integrate teenagers as valuable members into their community and live a self-determined way of life by sharing the power of yoga. We help them to take responsibility for their own actions and to become role models for others.

MISSION - HOW DO WE GET THERE?

We connect professional and passionate yoga teachers with schools in their area who want to offer their students free yoga classes in sports lessons. These classes are financed by donations from individuals, yoga studios and brands. Yoga teachers and schools sign up to support our youth through yoga. Our students can find resources about yoga practice and philosophy online. We show them opportunities to spend their free time in a healthy and productive way. With yoga we help them to build more self-confidence and how to achieve new goals. We include their family and community in the holistic development process so that they can support their children on their way.

VALUES - WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO US?

Our values are based on the United Nations Millennium Declaration and we will be guided by them in all our actions. Please keep them always in mind as a teacher, school or student. We spread the word of yoga to everyone who needs it neutrally – without discrimination of any kind.

TOLERANCE

We respect and accept all human beings in their diversity of convictions, way of acting and cultures.

EQUALITY

We support the equality of opportunity for every human being regardless of their gender, sexuality, nationality and origin.

SELF-DETERMINATION

We support ways for all individuals to be independent and able to decide freely about their lives.

SOLIDARITY

We support an attitude of unity and common values, activities as well as goals.

INTEGRITY

We live consistently with our convictions as well as our values and assume responsibility for our actions.

SUSTAINABILITY

We support a use of resources which supports a long-term conservation of the essential characteristics as well as the ability for regeneration of natural systems.

„Yoga will help young people to find their own path and give them enough confidence to go their own way in life. No matter what way that might be. I just want them to be happy with themselves in whatever state or situation they are.“ – Daniel Sigrist (Founder of Alduna)

„The concept of being here and now, forgetting the past and not worrying about the future is essential in young kids and my goal is to help them cultivate this principle.“ – Alina Matis (Yoga Teacher)

„I would like the young people to discover something at the core of their being that’s beyond what their friends think of them, beyond social media, beyond what the world tells them they should do, look like or feel.“ – Serge Berliawsky (Founder of Shivakali Yoga)

„Yoga for me is about love. Through yoga I’ve been able to learn how to love and accept myself. To see the value of myself, my body and my mind.“ – Sara Öhnell Mantel (Yoga Teacher)

Mendihuaca

Santa Marta, Magdalena State, Colombia

  • Verein Alduna, Ueberlandstrasse 64, CH-8051 Zurich

GET IN TOUCH