“Your hand opens and closes and opens and closes. If it were always a fist or always stretched open, you would be paralyzed. Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding, the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated as bird wings.”
~ Rumi
Yoga festival
Every coin has two sides, so does yoga. Yoga has a personal side and a social side. Like your own breath surging into your lungs or the gentle brushing away of thought from a restless mind. Also, a social side would be of learning, helping, allowing the principles of yoga to seep into your relationships.
Reach out a little further into that society of fellow practitioners by setting out for the International Yoga Festival. And give yourself the opportunity of slipping into the melting pot of its people.
Those who practice it abroad dream of coming to India and meeting renowned yoga acharyas. They want to explore the country that birthed and nurtured them. So they make this trip to be among others who share similar beliefs and practice the chosen lifestyle.
While this doesn’t apply to Indians in general. It definitely does to the several hundreds that gather in the sacred city of Rishikesh each year. People from over 30 countries across the globe for this festival.
Organised by the Parmarth Niketan Ashram, the festival packs over 60 hours of yoga into the first week of February. Alongside internationally developed strains, traditional styles like Kundalini Yoga, Power Vinyasa Yoga, Iyengar Yoga and Kriya Yoga are practiced. Accordingly, dozens of yoga acharyas lead classes through the day.
a day at the festival
It is hemmed in by a 4 am rising call and an Aarti and cultural programs in the evening. Basic boarding facilities are complemented by simple vegetarian food. This creates an immersive environment. An environment where you can forget your worldly troubles and commit to the exploration of body and soul.
What began as a handful of people in a small hotel has now grown into a community. A community that always has room for one more!
For more details visit: www.internationalyogafestival.com
If you need any assistance while planning your trip to India, please do get in touch with us we would be happy to help you plan a memorable trip!
