St. Petersburg now has Russia’s first yoga museum. This is a big step for the country as it shows the growth of yoga and its old customs. This museum is the second of its kind in the world. It is situated inside the Sanskar Center and will open on 30 January, the same day as Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Day. Vishnu Sharan Shukla, a yogi from Varanasi, India, leads this work with a team of partners.
Dive into yoga’s old history
The museum has four halls with over 100 items that show the path of yoga from long ago to now. One key item is a model of Varanasi, the oldest city in India, where some of the first notes on yoga and Ayurveda were found.
Vishnu Sharan Shukla says yoga is much more than just doing moves. “We built a place that breaks the lie that yoga is just about exercise. True yoga is a full system that cares for the body, breath, mind, and spirit,” he shares.
A special time for guests
Guests will see a statue of Patanjali, the sage who made the Yoga Sutras. There are also items about Buddha and Mahavira, who are key in many spiritual ways. A special part of the museum looks at mudras, which are hand signs that are key in yoga and meditation. The museum also talks about how yoga spread across the world and grew in Russia.
High-tech displays
The museum uses new technology for a rich visit. Sound and visual shows bring to life the holy spots on Mount Kailash and sunrises over the ocean. The visit ends with a chakra meditation session, with sounds of Sanskrit chants, special lights, and soothing sounds.
A gift shop has themed books and real Indian items. An audio guide helps guests learn at their own speed. The museum is good for both adults and kids, making it a great spot to learn about yoga’s deep past.
Visitor details
The museum opens on 30 January, with the first public times starting on 31 January at 11:00 AM. You can get tickets at the museum, online, or through Afisha.
Location: Creative Cluster Bertgold Centre, 13-15 Grazhdanskaya St., St. Petersburg (4th floor, “pink stairs”).
About the Sanskar Centre
The Sanskar Center was made in December 2023 by Vishnu Sharan Shukla, a Brahmin from Varanasi and a well-known yoga master. The center looks at old yoga and Ayurveda, giving training and events to uplift true Indian ways.
Shukla is a skilled yoga teacher with over 23 years of practice and 10 years of teaching. He has helped grow yoga’s reach in Russia. He has been a yoga ambassador at the Indian Consulate in St. Petersburg (2019-2023) and speaks at big yoga events.
With its history, spirit, and new tech mix, Russia’s first Yoga Museum gives a rich look at yoga’s strong past.
