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Michael Nickel

Michael started his yoga journey in 2009 after facing severe stress-related back pain and burnout symptoms. Yoga and yoga philosophy soon changed his life for the better. In 2012 he received his first yoga teacher certifications from the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres. In 2013 he began his studies with Yogarupa Rod Stryker, and in 2014 also with Pandit Rajmani Tigunait of the Himalayan Institute. Since 2013 he has traveled frequently from Germany to the US and India for extensive studies with his teachers as well as self-guided meditation immersions.

Michael aims at inspiring people through yoga, mindfulness, and meditation to live a balanced and fulfilled life. He is a yogi, yoga, and meditation teacher (E-RYT 500 & YACEP, ParaYoga Level 2 teacher). Living in Stuttgart in southern Germany, he is also an Entrepreneur and Scientific Consultant in the fields of Bionics and Evolutionary Biology. As a citizen of both worlds, the yoga, and the scientific communities, he aspires to bring together aspects and knowledge of traditional yoga and meditation techniques as well as today’s scientific worldview. Thus, he bridges the gap between the western mind and the ancient teachings of the Himalayan Masters to make this wisdom most accessible to modern seekers. For this, Vishoka Meditation turned out as a most valuable method. Michael also founded the publishing house “Agni Verlag” to serve this mission for a German audience. Consequently, in 2020 he translated and published the German edition of the Vishoka Meditation book.

"Vishoka Meditation is a fascinating and very powerful “inner technology”. It is modular, straightforward, simple and easy to learn. It completely relies on real experiences. No need for visualizations or “making things up”. It is indeed like being an inner explorer to whom an ever-expanding world of stillness, luminosity and joy unfolds. All this, despite—or rather because of—its simplicity. Wanting to share this, I took the Vishoka Meditation Teacher Training, which turned out to be a deep dive into traditional knowledge and a profound journey of self-experience and inner growth."

Additional Credentials & Certifications
  • Certified ParaYoga Level 2
  • Certified Yoga for Corporates Teacher - Business-Yogalehrer
  • Certified Yoga for Children Teacher - Kinderyogalehrer
Contact Details

Upcoming Programs

Jun 3
Online
June 3-August 26, 2026

Vishoka Meditation® Course

with Pamela Meriwether
Sep 30
Hybrid
September 30-November 7, 2026

Vishoka Meditation® Course

with June Hunt