Where to Learn Yoga in India

chillibreeze writer — Parni Ray

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If you’re hitching a ride to India just to sink your teeth into the ancient traditions of Yoga, you are likely to go back home with a lot more than just a shapely body. Indian Yoga destinations have finally spread their arms out wide and everyone is invited to come and delve into the old master’s art.

So vigorously has the concept of the Yoga destination mushroomed in the past few years that an enthusiastic visitor can now afford to pick and choose locations as per his/her personal whims and fancies. No matter what your specification, where you are from, what your budget is and where you want to stay, you are bound to find a Yoga destination tailor-made for your special needs.

Conventionally, Yoga resorts such as the famed ANANDA (anandaspa.com) or the Oberoi’s WILD FLOWER HALL RESORT (wildflowerhall.com) or the AYURVEDA YOGA RETREAT, Coonoor, tend to be tucked away into the folds of some mountainous haven. But if the hills give you the heebie-jeebies, fret not! Head straight to the ASHIYANA YOGA RETREAT CENTER (ashiyana-yoga-goa.com) on the breathtaking beaches of Goa, or even to the 300-year-old DEVI GARH fort set next to the sweltering deserts of the historical town of Udaipur for a similar Yogic rendezvous.

When in India, you can hope to get a handy bit of Yoga training almost anywhere. But a Yoga retreat cannot be confined to Yoga alone, can it? Most Yoga destinations today pack in added doses of rejuvenating entertainment within the course of their package. So expect everything from Wild Strawberry trail walks to mountain biking to relaxing Ayurvedic oil massages and daily meditation sessions, apart from the customary yoga lessons.

In terms of cuisine too, Yoga spas tend to get a confident thumbs up. From organic fruits and vegetables to fresh mountain spring water and specially prepared, healthy, low-calorie items, eating out at these locales is truly a delight.

The wide variety of attractive options in an itinerary makes it difficult to settle on a single Yoga destination. But the trick to deciding on the right locale is to mark out your fundamentals.

Decide how long you’d likely to spend in the country and how much of that time you’d like to spend on your Yoga vacation. More importantly, be clear regarding your budget. Most of the fancy, five star Yoga spas tend to be heavy on the pocket. Despite their undoubted benefits therefore, these locations are just not cut out for the budget traveler.

If there are strict bounds on your finances, select rudimentary Yoga destinations, which tend to be low on luxury but often more fruitful for those truly interested in imbibing the Yogic spirit. Check out THE SATVIK RESORT if your budget is moderate (but not meager). Located in the sylvan surroundings of Bhimtal, Uttarakhand, this Vedic retreat costs no more than Rs.1200- Rs.5000 per night and boasts of startlingly beautiful panoramic views of the Himalayan region.

Still too extravagant? Try the PARMARTH NIKETAN (parmarth.com). Situated in the holy city of Hrishikesh, this Yoga destination is both spiritual and fundamental. No frills and fancies, just pure Yoga. 11-day-long workshops all around the year come cheap at about Rs. 350 per night, and the overall experience in itself remains priceless.

The SIVANANDA YOGA VEDNTA DHANWANTRAI ASHRAM (sivananda.org) in Trivandrum is yet another destination for shoestring budgeters. Priced at about Rs. 550- 630 per night, this ashram too has special workshop packages specially planned out for Yoga enthusiasts.

Yoga vacations are all about addressing distress and ensuring de-stress. So, pack your bags and set forth to the right locale for an invigorating journey that will leave you feeling rejuvenated and raring to go. And who knows, in the meanwhile, you might end up seeing some beautiful places, enjoying some great pampering and on the whole, enjoying yourself.

Have fun!

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