Yogaville

Yogaville is a spiritual center on a wooded tract of roughly 600 acres (243 hectares) in rural Virginia, comprising meditation halls, residential buildings, and yoga practice rooms. The grounds sit along a river and consist of several scattered structures, gardens, and nature trails that spread across gentle hills.

Swami Satchidananda founded the center in 1980 after spotting the land during a flight over Virginia. The LOTUS shrine and other buildings rose in the following years and are now maintained by a small residential community.

The circular LOTUS shrine opens upward like a lotus flower and houses symbols from twelve faith traditions arranged in separate alcoves. Visitors may sit in the quiet space and watch blue light flow through the vaulted ceiling.

Visitors join daily yoga classes and may eat vegetarian meals in the dining hall, prepared from regional ingredients. Paths between buildings cross open ground and are suited for walking in most weather.

The interior lighting of the LOTUS shrine consists of blue neon tubes that run upward from individual altars along the ceiling structure. This light path follows the geometric patterns of the dome and gives the space a cool, quiet atmosphere.

Location: Buckingham County

Inception: 1980

Founders: Satchidananda Saraswati

Website: http://yogaville.org

GPS coordinates: 37.66580,-78.68560

Latest update: December 14, 2025 19:16