YOGA COURSE TOUR - 17-days in India with 15 days in Rishikesh

NEW DELHI – HARIDWAR – RISHIKESH – Price valid up to April 2010

The ancient sage Patanjali experimented, studied, meditated and composed the Sanskrit language text of Ashtang Yoga in his now famous Yoga Sutras sometime in the 1^st century BCE. The Yogic practices are much older as are evidenced from the Buddhist and Jain texts. Both Siddhartha Gautam Buddha, the teacher of Buddhist religion and Vardhaman Mahavira, the twenty-fourth Tirthankar (teacher) of Jain religion practiced some form of Yoga to achieve the enlightenment. There are many references to yogic practices in the oldest Hindu philosophic texts of Rigveda.

The word Ashtang is derived from two Sanskrit words – Asht meaning eight and Ang meaning limbs. Ashtang therefore means the system of Yoga that has eight disciplines. The eight disciplines are: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayam, Pratyahar, Dharan, Dhyan and Samadhi.

Yama is comprised of five principles that a Ashtang Yogi must adhere to. The first of these principles is Ahimsa or non-violence – the principle that Mahatma Gandhi adopted to win the freedom for the India from the British colonial rule. The second principle of Yama is Satya or thinking and speaking of the Truth. Asteya is the third principle that demands that the Yogi believes in not stealing or even thinking of stealing. The fourth principle is Brahmacharya or maintaining celibacy. The fifth principal is Aparigah is the following of the practice in daily life of not hoarding and possessing too many material goods, the goods that one does not require to live a healthy and happy life.

Niyama literally means person disciplines. These are also five disciplines that a Ashtang Yogi follows. Shoucha is the first of these disciplines that demands that the Yogi be pure in body, mind and spirit. Santosh is the second Niyama meaning contentment in life. Tapa is endurance or steadfastness. Swadhyaya is the fourth discipline that a Yogi follows and it requires self study. Eshwar Pranidhan is the fifth discipline that asks of the Yogi the dedication.

Asana – literally means position and is the practice of Yoga postures that is perhaps the most popular one of these eight limbs. A stable, non-stressful and comfortable posture is essential to attain not only the good physical health, it is even more important to achieve mental equilibrium that eventually leads to good spiritual health.

Pranayama – the yogic practice of controlled breathing not only while inhaling and exhaling but also while holding the breath. Breath has a very direct connection to human emotions. It is an even more important aspect of Yoga than the physical postures.

Pratyahara – is the development of the control over our senses, that enables us to think in a righteous way.

Dharana – is the ability of human mind on concentrate on one object and its environs.

Dhyan – is the second most important limb, the withdrawing of our thoughts from all the objects and thoughts that lead us away from concentration. all the other limbs prepare a human being for the state of meditation.

Samadhi – the eventual state of bliss, joy and the complete and total merging of the individual conciousness with the devine, universal and eternal conciousness. This the state of Yoga or union between Jivatman (living soul) and Paramatman (the supreme soul). This is the state of the union of Shiva and Shakti in the highest Chakra (top of the head), a state of the realization of the Brahman or pure conciousness.

The 15-day Yoga course in Rishikesh is a small humble step to introduce these noble aims of human life.

The total duration of this tour is 17 days including one day of sightseeing in New Delhi after arrival in India before boarding the train to Haridwar.

Day 1, Arrival in India:

Arrival in India, transfer to hotel and overnight.

Day 2, New Delhi:

Full day sight seeing of Old and New Delhi ending with a Sound and Light Show in the historic Red Fort of Delhi built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan. Overnight in hotel.

Day 3, New Delhi – Haridwar – Rishikesh:

Transfer to New Delhi Railway Station to board the 1^st class air-conditioned chair car of Shatabdi Express train to Haridwar. On arrival transfer to Rishikesh by chauffeur driven car.

Day 3 to 16, Rishikesh:

Stay in air-conditioned double room accommodation, daily morning meditation, yoga postures course, talk on yoga philosophy, afternoon yoga postures course, evening meditation and ending of the day with Kirtan, congregational chanting.

Day 17, Rishikesh – New Delhi – USA:

Full day at Rishikesh Yoga Center. In the afternoon transfer to Haridwar Railway Station to board the air-conditioned chair car of Janshatabdi Express to New Delhi. On arrival transfer to international airport to board the flight back to USA.

Price of $ 1,433.00 includes:

• Reception at international airport in New Delhi and transfer to hotel in New Delhi
• 1 Full day of Old and New Delhi sightseeing with chauffeur driven car and English speaking guide with bottled water in car
• Sound and Light Show in Red Fort of Delhi (if available)
• 2 overnights in a centrally located 3-star hotel in New Delhi with breakfast
• 2 transfers to and from New Delhi Railway station
• 2 Round trip air-conditioned chair car train fares as per itinerary
• 2 transfers between Haridwar and Rishikesh
• 15 overnights stay in air-conditioned double bed room accommodation in Rishikesh with all meals
• Haridwar and Rishikesh sightseeing
• All Yoga, Pranayam and other course fees
• Transfer to international airport in New Delhi to board the return flight to USA

Not included in the price:

• Cost of international airfare, we will be glad to get you the best airfares through our international flight consolidator
• Cost of Travel Guard Group Insurance, please inquire the premium amount and coverage details (highly recommended)
• Cost of lunches and dinners in New Delhi
• All drinks in hotels & restaurants etc.
• Still and Video Camera Fees at monuments
• Tips to drivers and guides as well as any item not included in the above (included) list
• All expenses of personal nature like telephone calls / laundry / room service charges in hotels and at Yoga center etc.

PAYMENTS:

Please fill out the registration form, sign it and mail it with an advance payment by personal check of $ 370. The balance is payable 60 days before departure date. On receipt of the form I will be glad to inform you the travel insurance premium amount. There is an extra charge for payment with credit and debit cards because credit and debit card commissions and fees are not included in the price. Please call or email us for credit or debit card payments.

Travel Guard Group Insurance: is highly recommended, please inquire for premium amount.