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MOUNTAIN ESCAPES
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Yoga, now recognized globally as a highly
effective form of alternative medicine, originated in India about 5,000 years ago as a
discipline that sought to unite the moral, mental and physical aspects of human life to
contribute to the overall wellness of the individual. Yoga is believed to have been
propounded by the sage Patanjali (2nd century BC). Patanjali, in his treatise (known as
the sutras) of yoga, explained the basics of yoga, its benefits
and its steps (padas), without going into the details of what
postures to adopt, how to breathe and so on. |
Patanjali's sutras consisted of four padas:
Samadhi Pada (on Contemplation and Meditation)
Sadhna Pada (on the Steps to Union)
Vibhuti Pada (on the Achievement of Union and its Benefits)
Kaivalya Pada (on Illumination and Freedom)
These, therefore, are the basics- in chronological order- of the course an initiation into
yoga takes. The science of yoga consists of various disciplines, which include Gyanyoga
or Dhyanyoga (exercises for the mind and intellect); Hathayoga
(physical exercises) and Karmayoga (yogic discipline in daily
life). Each of these is a combination of techniques- ranging from meditation to controlled
breathing and yogic postures (known as asanas), all of them part of a carefully-developed
science which aims at relieving the mind of stress, purging the body of its ills, calming
and cleansing the system and maintaining a delicate balance between all that comes
together in a human being.
Yoga, if practiced regularly and diligently, will not just relax and rejuvenate the body,
mind and soul, but also prolong life. These two aspects of yoga- its ability to promote
good health (arogya) and its contribution towards longevity (chirayu)-
makes it an all-encompassing way of life.
You may, of course, be a trained and conscientious practitioner of yoga yourself. But if,
like most of us, you cannot find the time to fit yoga into a busy office-and-home
schedule, then the next best thing is to treat yourself to a rejuvenating holiday at one
of the ever-increasing number of yoga retreats and spas across India. Although Rishikesh
is generally regarded as the main centre for yoga, spas, health centres and even hotels
are mushrooming in Goa, Kerala, Uttaranchal and other areas- all great places that combine
naturally beautiful locales with the chance to rejuvenate yourself!
India's top destinations for learning and practicing yoga include:
1. Rishikesh: The sacred city of
Rishikesh, on the banks of the Ganges, is almost universally regarded as the ultimate in
yoga destinations in India. Most of the many ashrams that lie scattered across this
ancient town are excellent places to learn- and practice- yoga, and that too from skilled
exponents of the art. Many of the ashrams at Rishikesh are simply low-budget, no-frills
accommodation options, all of them quiet and peaceful and with fairly strict stipulations
regarding the avoidance of eggs, meat, garlic, onions, all intoxicants and cigarettes. A
few of them, however, also offer yoga and meditation classes. Among these, the best-known
include :
Italian-American Kripalu Yoga Ashram (tel: 01364-249192)
Yoga Study Centre (tel: 01364-2431196)
Yoga Niketan Ashram (tel: 01364-2430227)
Parmarth Niketan Ashram (tel: 01364-2440088 / 2434301 / 2434308)
Sri Ved Niketan Ashram (tel: 01364-2433537 / 2430279).
Most of these lie along the riverbank, usually surrounded by quiet gardens,
forested hillsides and an atmosphere of tranquillity.
All of these ashrams conduct courses (which vary in duration, ranging from a week to a
month) wherein the basics of yoga are taught. Courses are generally inclusive of
accommodation and meals at the ashram; daily yoga and meditation classes, satsangs
(devotional gatherings) and bhajans (hymns). In addition to these courses, the Parmarth
Niketan Ashram (in conjunction with Uttar Pradesh Tourism) organizes the International
Yoga Week as an annual event every February or March.
Please note that in many cases participation in yoga courses at these ashrams must be
confirmed well in advance. If you're keen on attending a course, contact the ashram
beforehand (for participation in the International Yoga Week, as much as a few months
before the event).
For more information on Rishikesh,
click here.
2. Kerala:
Aptly described by the Department of Tourism as `God's Own Country', Kerala's made it to
the top of the popularity charts with both domestic and foreign travellers in a
surprisingly short period. Cruises on cool green backwaters, days of lazing on golden
beaches and swimming in crystal-clear seas, coupled with the promise of a hefty dose of a
stunningly colourful cultural heritage, draw an increasingly large number of visitors to
Kerala every year. And the latest attractions to the list are the yoga centers springing
up across Kerala. Although Kerala has traditionally been more famous as a destination for
those looking for ayurvedic cures, many of the ayurvedic centers in Kerala have now
started offering yogic treatment and short-term courses in yoga as well.
Kerala's yoga centers are scattered across the state, most of them being in and around the
state's large cities, including Thrissur, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram and
Kollam.
Some of the main centers include:
Thiruvananthapuram: the Institute of Yoga Culture (tel: 0471-2318990) and
the Sivananda Yoga Center (tel: 0471-2450942)
Kollam: the Yoga Kendra
Ernakulam: the Kardinal Padiyara Nature Cure and Yoga Ashram (tel:
0484-2422276) and the Nagarjuna Ayurvedic Resort (tel: 0484-2462231 / 2463350)
Palakkad: the Raja Healthy Acres and Health Farms Resorts (tel:
0491-2656215 / 2656305)
Thrissur: the Vaidya Ratnam Oushadhasala (tel: 0487-2872338).
Many of these centers offer special short-term courses for people who are interested in
learning the basics of yoga. Besides these, there are other centers too, many of them also
ofefring a range of traditional health treatments, mostly related to ayurveda and its many
forms.
For more information on Kerala,
click here.
3. Goa: One of India's hottest tourist destinations,
Goa has been, for a long time now, virtually synonymous with palm-fringed beaches and blue
seas; with loads of delectable seafood, gallons of heady feni, a colourful carnival and a
sense of joie de vivre which pervades the atmosphere like nothing else. Goa's popularity,
especially with foreign tourists, has moulded its image to a great extent- and in recent
years, that image has expanded to include the more spiritual side of life. For those
overseas travellers who come to Goa for its beaches and its fun but don't want to miss out
on yoga and ayurveda, there are now yoga centers where it's possible to learn the basics
of yoga. Some offer facilities for accommodation on the premises, while others just offer
daily classes for participants who stay elsewhere. Some of the main yoga centers in Goa
are:
Rama Yoga and Meditation Centre
Thomson Villa, Near English Rose
Candolim Beach Road, Bardez
Purple Valley Yoga Resort
Hotel Bougainvillea
North Goa
Tel: 0832-2269 643
Ayurvedic Natural Health Centre
Next to Mae de Deus Church
Saligao
Tel: 0832-2409275, 2409036
Swami Vivekanand Society
Junta House
Panaji
Tel: 0832-224098
For more information on Goa,
click here.
These are some of the places where you'll find a number of yoga ashrams and yoga centers
scattered across town. There are, however, a range of other spas, health resorts and even
hotels across India where excellent courses are offered in yoga, or where skilled
practitioners in yoga teach even 2-day guests the basics of yoga. These are the sort of
places where you can come for a relaxed weekend, allow yourself to bask in luxurious
surroundings, commune with nature, learn a bit of yoga (enough to get addicted to this
form of living!) and spend the entire vacation just getting the kinks out of your system.
The facilities you can expect at these centers range from ultra-high brow to barebones,
but of one thing you can be assured: you'll definitely come back home feeling like a new
person!
Some of the many places that offer wonderfully rejuvenating yoga holidays include:
Ananda in the Himalayas
The Palace Estate, Narendranagar
Tehri Garhwal (Uttaranchal)
Tel: 01378-227500
Fax: 01378-227550
Sereno Spa
Park Hyatt Goa Resort & Spa
Arrossim Beach, Cansaulim
South Goa
Tel: 0832-2721324
Fax: 0832-2721325
Aayurgram Ayurvedic Health Resort
Bangalore
Tel: 080-795428-33
Fax: 080-795427
Sri Aurobindo Ashram
Auroville Co-operative
Pondicherry
Tel: 0413-272332
Fax: 0413-262274
Ayurveda & Yoga Retreat
286, Sanatorium Kambisholai Road,
Via Staff College
Coonoor (Tamilnadu)
Tel: 0423-2231912
Fax: 0423-2233161
Sivananda Kutir
P.O. Netala, Uttarkashi District (Near Siror Bridge)
Uttaranchal
Tel: 01374-22624
Span Resorts
Kullu-Manali Highway
P.O. Katrain
District Kullu (Himachal Pradesh)
Tel: 01902-240138 / 240538
Fax: 01902-240140
Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Centre
Village Dharamkot
Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh)
Tel / Fax: 01892-21312
Manaltheeram Ayurveda Beach Village
Chowara (Kerala)
Tel: 0471-2268611
Fax: 0471-2267611
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