JENS BURKHARDT

Jens, an Aries born in Germany in 1967, lived a pretty average life throughout his childhood and young adult years.

Diagnosed with an allegedly incurable and lethal genetic disorder in 1996, he decided to search for healing through alternative methods. His quest took him eventually to an aghori saddhu in India, who employed the methods of shaktipat and mantra meditation to assist him. Jens healed miraculously within a year and has practiced meditation ever since.

Following this experience, Jens decided he wished to support people with health problems. He studied psychology with emphasis on occupational therapy, and in his practice worked mainly with psychologically ill and mentally challenged people.

In early 2006 Jens decided to dedicate his life exclusively to the spiritual path and left Germany for good. With the goal of studying holistic methods for spiritual growth in himself as well as others, Jens became an Ayurvedic practitioner and learned Reiki and pranic healing. But, though valuable, all these systems bring the individual into an essentially passive position, a dependent receiver's role.

When he finally came across Agama Yoga in Rishikesh in October 2006, his search ended. There, a comprehensive and holistic system that enables the practitioner to take charge of his own destiny opened its welcoming gates. Jens decided he wanted to become a teacher of this intriguing Yoga system, although it wouldn’t be until January 2008 that he could join Agama's Teacher Training Course. In the meantime, he joined the medically oriented Swami Vivekananda University of Bangalore, where he graduated in August 2007, and subsequently he lived in various Indian ashrams.

After completing Agama's TTC in March 2008 and deepening his understanding through his continued progress in the regular intermediate courses, Jens was appointed in May 2008 to teach at the Agama branch of Chiang Mai, managing the center from August until October. He continues to broaden his Yoga studies, recently enjoying retreats in India, and teaches whenever he has the opportunity.