As the name suggests the retreat is refreshing, rejuvenating, and meant to connect with the self .. bringing more awareness towards the self and connecting with the like-minded people with Indian village life experience of culture, spirituality, and mindfulness along with a blend of adventurous activities.

What’s special about the event?

The retreat is happening in the capital city of Yoga – Rishikesh on a very auspicious month of march with an amazing festival of colours known as Holi. Hosted by a Sivananda Yoga teacher in a very yogic life style.

It is a very popular hindu festival and celebrated predominately in India and Nepal also known as the festival of love and spring. In the end of winter, the blossoming of love, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships.

Holi celebrations start on the night before Holi with a Holika Dahan where people gather, perform religious rituals in front of the bonfire, and pray that their internal evil be destroyed the way Holika, the sister of the demon king Hiranyakashipu, was killed in the fire. The next morning is celebrated as Rangwali Holi – a free-for-all festival of colours, where people smear each other with colours and drench each other. Water guns and water-filled balloons are also used to play and colour each other. Anyone and everyone is fair game, friend or stranger, rich or poor, man or woman, children, and elders. The frolic and fight with colours occurs in the open streets, open parks, outside temples and buildings. Groups carry drums and other musical instruments, go from place to place, sing and dance. People visit family, friends and foes to throw coloured powders on each other, laugh and gossip, then share Holi delicacies, food and drinks.

Program

Day 1 – arrival Rishikesh
• Overnight stay at Hilltop swiss cottage

Day 2
• 06:00 – 07:45 Silent meditative walks in the morning
• 08:30 – 10:00 Pranayama & Sivananda yoga class
• 10:00 – 10:45 Breakfast time
• 12:00 – 13:00 Free time for self-study or massages
• 13:30 – 14:15 Lunchtime
• 16:00 -17:30 Sivananda yoga class
• 18:00 Dinner time
• Free time
• 21:00 Bedtime

Day 3
•Visit Lksham Jhula, a long and mighty bridge over the Ganges, which was built in 1939. You will visit various temples in the city along with the famous Beatles ashram or the original, Maharishi Mahesh yogi ashram. Later in the evening, enjoy the arati ceremony on the banks of the Ganges.
•Lunch en route and dinner in the evening

Day 4
• 06:00 – 07:45 Mantra chanting and meditation
• 08:30 – 10:00 Pranayama & Sivananda yoga class
• 10:00 – 10:45 Breakfast time
• 12:00 – 13:00 Free time for self-study or massages
• 13:30 – 14:15 Lunchtime
• 16:00 – 17:30 Sivananda yoga class
• 18:00 Dinner time
• Free time
• 21:00 Bedtime

Day 5
• 06:00 – 07:30 Satsang in the morning followed by meditation
• 08:30 – 10:00 Sivananda yoga class
• 10:00 – 11:00 Breakfast
• After breakfast drive to visit Lord Rama’s guru Sage Vashishta’s Cave.
• rest of the day is free.

Day 6
• 06:00 – 07:30 Pranayama & meditation class
• 08:30 – 10:00 Sivananda yoga class
• 10:15 – 11:00 Breakfast
• After breakfast at the hotel drive to Neelkanth Mahadev temple
• Drive time visit and back (four hours approximatively)
• Neelkanth Mahadev temple
• Rest of the day is at leisure 21:00 Bedtime

Day 7
• 06:00 – 07:45 Mantra chanting & meditation
• 08:30 – 10:00 Purification kriyas (jal neti, sutra neti and dhauti)
• 10:00 – 10:45 Breakfast time
• 12:00 – 13:00 Free time for self-study or massages
• 13:30 – 14:15 Lunch
• 16:00 -17:30 Ayurveda class
• 18:00: dinner
• Free time
• 21:00 Bedtime

Day 8
• 06:00 – 07:45 Silent meditative walks in the morning
• 08:30 – 10:00 Pranayama & Sivananda yoga class
• 10:00 – 10:45 Breakfast time
• 12:00 – 13:00 Free time for self-study or massages
• 13:30 – 14:15 Lunchtime
• 16:00 -17:30 Sivananda yoga class
• 18:00 Dinner time
• Free time
• 21:00 Bedtime

Day 9
• 06:00 – 07:30 Pranayama & meditation class
• 08:30 – 10:00 Sivananda yoga class
• 10:15 – 11:00 Breakfast time
• After breakfast at the hotel departure to white-water rafting on the Ganges
• Rest of the day is free.
• 21:00 Bedtime

Day 10 Holi day
• Celebrate the festival of colours.
Lunch in the afternoon.
• Free time for self-study and experience.
Dinner in the evening.
• 21:00 Bedtime

Day 11 – Village Visit
• 06:00 – 07:45 Silent meditative walks in the morning
• 08:30 – 10:00 Pranayama class & Sivananda yoga class
• 10:00 – 10:45 Breakfast time
• Afternoon go to village visit.
• Lunch en-route.
Free time and explore the village and nearby.
• later dinner at the hotel in Rishikesh.
• 21:00 Bedtime

Day 12
• Continue you journey for further destinations *Retreat ends

Included excursions

Vashistha Cave
Vashistha cave is a cave (gufa) of great sage vashistha. vashistha was one of the saptarishis (seven great sages) in ancient India. vashistha was manas Putra of Lord Brahma & guru of lord ram. this cave is located 25 kilometers far from Rishikesh & it is believed that Vashistha Rishi meditated here. This cave is the most beautiful place of meditation.
Legends say that Vashistha came here at River Ganga for suicide after the death of his children. River Ganga refused his suicide. Arundhati (wife of Vashistha) decided to stay here because she liked the atmosphere. Sage Vashistha meditated here. Later it was maintained by a small family for many years. During 1930 swami purshottamanand came here and maintained this place. Currently, Swami Chaitanya and Ji (disciple of Swami Purshottamanand) is head of the ashram.

Neelkanth Mahadev
According to Hindu mythology, the place where the Neelkanth Mahadev temple currently stands is the sacred location where Lord Shiva consumed the poison halahala that originated from the sea when devas (gods) and asuras (demons) churned the ocean in order to obtain amrita. This poison that emanated during the Samudramanthan (churning of ocean) made his throat blue in color. thus, Lord Shiva is also known as Neelkanth, literally meaning the blue-throated one.

Location
Rishikesh is located in the north of India in the state of Uttarakhand. it is known as the gateway to the Himalayas and a famous pilgrimage city for Hindus and yogis. The city annually attracts thousands of pilgrims and tourists both from India as well as from the western countries. It is home to many yoga centers that can partially look back on a long tradition. Rishikesh, therefore, has the reputation of being the yoga capital of the world to be.

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Rejuvenating – Holi Yoga Retreat Rishikesh 2020

Rejuvenating – Holi Yoga Retreat Rishikesh 2020

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