Beloved Teacher Rolf Sovik Dies — Himalayan Institute Community in Grief

 On Thursday, January 29th, the distinguished Himalayan Institute president Rolf Sovik died gently, leaving behind a great legacy of service, instruction, and spiritual counsel.

Rolf, a committed Himalayan tradition instructor and student for more than 50 years, was much respected for his warmth, clarity, and empathy. Many times hailed as soothing and inspiring, his presence influenced the lives of thousands of students, coworkers, and spiritual seekers all around.

Rolf started his spiritual path in 1973 when he met his master, Swami Rama, under whose direction the basis of his whole-day devotion to meditation and the Himalayan Tradition was formed.

Deepening his knowledge of spiritual customs and meditative disciplines under Swamiji's guidance, Rolf made several visits to India, Nepal, and Tibet.

Encouraged by Swami Rama to pursue academic study alongside his spiritual practice, Rolf earned degrees in philosophy, music, Eastern studies, and clinical psychology and completed doctoral research in psychology, illustrating a striking mix of intellectual rigor and spiritual insight.

Rolf and his wife, Mary Gail, became joint directors of the Himalayan Institute of Buffalo in 1991; he spent twenty years lecturing hatha yoga, meditation, and philosophy all throughout. Additionally serving as the Spiritual Director for the Institute during this time, he kept his Himalayan Tradition studies under Pandit Rajmani Tigunait's mentorship.

Rolf and Mary Gail moved to Honesdale, Pennsylvania, headquarters of the Institute in 2012, where Rolf was president for ten years and managed educational programs, retreats, and projects that extended the scope and power of the Institute.

Additionally a talented speaker, author, and writer Rolf Regularly contributing to Yoga International and HI Online, the online platform of the Himalayan Institute, he co-authored Yoga: Mastering the Basics and Moving Inward.

Encouraging students to improve their own practice and investigate more philosophical ideas, his lectures usually stressed the practical use of traditional texts like the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutra.

The Himalayan Institute recognizes Rolf Sovik's life of devoted, unselfish service and love of the spiritual path. His impact lives on in the hearts and minds of his students, colleagues, and the wider society he touched as well as in his written work and ideas.

More US Obituary

1. Martial Arts World Mourns: Matt MacGrath, Renzo Gracie PEI Owner, Dies Unexpectedly

2. Fatal Dothan Shooting Claims Life of Cherished Father Bowen — Obituary and Tribute