At the foot of Himalayas, in northern India, Rishikesh is considered Yoga Capital of the World. It is recognized as a sacred place and a place of elevation of knowledge, which is why it is where most of the Ashrams are located.
Although I did not explore it, it is a beautiful city to visit, completely different from the rest of India, due to its tranquility and amazing landscapes.
I stayed at an Ashram, with an intense yoga and meditation program. The experience of staying in an Ashram was absolutely wonderful, but also a mix of emotions. It was a tough experience, in the sense of physical and mental demands, but it was worth every second of learning and personal growth.
At the foot of Himalayas, in northern India, Rishikesh is considered Yoga Capital of the World. It is recognized as a sacred place and a place of elevation of knowledge, which is why it is where most of the Ashrams are located.
Although I did not explore it, it is a beautiful city to visit, completely different from the rest of India, due to its tranquility and amazing landscapes.
I stayed at an Ashram, with an intense yoga and meditation program. The experience of staying in an Ashram was absolutely wonderful, but also a mix of emotions. It was a tough experience, in the sense of physical and mental demands, but it was worth every second of learning and personal growth.
Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama (SRSG) was the Ashram I chose, and I couldn't have made a better decision. The program follows the Tradition of the Himalayan Masters, taught by Swami Rama and Swami Veda Bharati.
A donation of only $25 per day, per person, is requested to cover accommodation, food and the program itself.
You can go alone, with family or friends and choose to stay as long as you want, with a minimum of 3 days and a maximum of 14 days. If you wish to stay longer, this can be decided after an evaluation by the Ashram itself.
5:30 AM Prayer
5:45 - 7:30 AM Joints & Glands
7:30 - 8:00 AM Meditation
8:00 - 9:00 AM Breakfast (In Silence)
9:00 - 10:00 AM Karma Yoga
10:30 - 12:00 PM Philosophy Class
12:15 - 12:45 PM Breathing Class
1:00 - 2:00 PM Lunch (In Silence)
2:00 - 4:00 PM Rest/Journaling/Relaxation
4:00 - 4:15 PM Tea
4:30 - 5:45 PM Ha-tha Yoga
6:00 - 6:45 PM Meditation
7:00 - 7:45 PM Supper (In Silence)
8:00 - 9:00 PM Evening Program, followed by Evening Prayers
The Ashram offers a pick-up service at the airport (as well as on the way back to the airport or, in my case, to the center of Delhi) that costs €50 for two people. The trip from New Delhi airport to Rishikesh is about 5 hours. I highly recommend this service, as making this trip with someone you don't trust at all, or who hasn't been recommended to you, can be a bit stressful.
Upon arriving at the Ashram, I was greeted with a warm hug and immediately received personal instructions/about the personalized program according to the length of my stay.
Anyone with no experience in meditation or yoga is welcome.
The accommodations are fully furnished chalets, with a kitchen, bathroom (oriental style and no hot water) and air conditioning. They are usually shared, but as there were two of us, we ended up having a chalet just for us. The only requirement is to clean the house daily.
Three meals a day are provided, as described in the program, completely vegetarian and with typical Indian condiments. For those who are not used to it, or do not like indian food as me, this can be a small problem. However, it was easily solved by the friendly and always very concerned community, who gave me bread and butter everyday.
What to bring: The Ashram provides everything from bed linens, blankets, towels, yoga mats, meditation blankets and Zen banks. It is only necessary to bring personal hygiene products, insect repellent, medicines, and so on. Please note: you must bring your passport and visa.
Clothing and conduct: You are asked to wear only modest (covered) and comfortable clothing. White and light colours are considered sattvic (conveying peace and purity) and anything like tight trousers, shorts, tops, low-cut tops, mini skirts, and so on, are not allowed. Tobacco, alcohol, intoxicants or drugs are strictly prohibited.
Any type of emotional relationships during the program must be avoided; keep distractions to a minimum, especially online, in order to participate as fully as possible in the retreat.
Note
This was the most beautiful experience of my life. The knowledge I acquired, the peace I found, the wonderful people I had the opportunity to learn from, and the many others who, with the same goal as me, became a light in the most challenging moments...
I finished this cycle (and chapter of my itinerary) with my soul and mind fulfilled like never before.
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