Boomers Abroad

Description

Find your center. Develop a greater sense of self. Turn awareness into confidence. Explore the history and evolution of yoga in the place where it all began. Begin with an overview of Hinduism. Then take a deeper look into Hinduism's influence on the evolution of India's people and culture. Spend ten days in Rishikesh, yoga's birthplace, learning about its origins while practicing its varying forms -- ranging from Hatha yoga to Jnana, Raja, and Bhakti yoga. Learn and practice meditation with Tibetan monks in a Buddhist temple. Understand the evolution of yoga in India. Practice daily postures. Survey the different paths of yoga and ultimately, light your own path forward.

Day 1-4
Our journey begins in India's capital city of Delhi where we spend a few days investigating the bustling metropolis and acclimating to the culture. We begin our yoga studies each day with an asana practice. Invigorated, we head out to explore and learn a little about the history of Delhi. Visit Humayun's Tomb, built in memory of the great 16th century Mughal emporer, Humayun. This landmark is often compared to the Taj Mahal in its great architectural structure. Enjoy the shade and eat lunch under one of the trees in the twenty acres of the meticulously kept gardens surrounding the tomb. Venture to the Bahai Temple, designed to look like the sacred lotus flower nestled amidst serene blue pools and manicured green lawns. As the sun sets, evening lights are turned on to illuminate the temple, giving it the appearance of glowing and floating above its gardens.

Day 5-9
Jump aboard the Shatabadi Express and head north to the base of the Himalayan foothills to the rustic town of Rishikesh. Along this picturesque village flows the most sacred river in India, the Ganges. At sunset, witness the Ganga Aarti ceremony from the steps of Triveni Ghat, where Hindu students and pilgrims offer light back to the gods in thanks for the daylight. Here we begin our examination of India and its culture in earnest through the anthropological study of yoga and Eastern religions. We also continue our daily yoga practice, some mornings along the shores of the Ganges as the sun rises and other times in a forest clearing to shade us from the mid-day heat, building strength and awareness within our bodies. The afternoons are packed with excursions to fascinating sites nearby. A short hike takes us into the forest to the Maharish Mahesh Ashram, the spiritual retreat where The Beatles famously composed most of their White Album while learning transcendental meditation. Now abandoned, the ashram is slowly being reclaimed by the forest. Visit the Kailash Niketan Temple along the Ganges River, a thirteen story temple dedicated to sculptures of all the Hindu gods and goddesses.

Day 10-13
Before our time in Rishikesh ends, we take time to practice karma yoga, yoga of selfless action and service. Working with grassroots NGOs, we spend time with local underprivileged children and orphans to provide after school activities ranging from sports and arts to teaching basic health or English. To make these children laugh and smile is an experience you will remember forever. We wrap up our academics here with discussions on how yoga has evolved and changed with its arrival into Western cultures and how our understanding of yoga has developed over the past two weeks.

Day 14-17
From Rishikesh we travel north to the Kangra Valley and the village of McLeodGanj, home to the displaced Dalai Lama and his Tibetan followers. McLeodGanj and its surrounding villages provide a unique oasis of Tibetan art, history, culture and religion. Here we study yoga's connection to Buddhism, specifically Tibetan Buddhism, as well as the intertwining histories of India and Tibet. After your morning asana practice, head to the Tsuglagkhang Complex, Namgyal Monastery and several Tibetan Buddhist temples. Study the practice of meditation, sometimes meditating alongside the Namgyal Monastery's monks, the last of the Tibetan monastic lineage. Witness the theatrical debate of the monks as they discuss the nuances of Buddhist thought or walk around the long meditation trail adorned with small shrines and prayer flags placed by pilgrims for the Dalai Lama.

Day 18-20
In the afternoons, we explore McLeodGanj and the surrounding villages. Hike to the Bhagsu Nag Temple, dedicated to the Hindu snake goddess Lord Shiva, and bathe in the spring water pools at the base of Bhagsu Falls. Spend time in the Tibetan Children's Village, learning the history these refugee orphans and volunteering your time to play with them and help them practice their English. We turn our studies to Ayurveda, the world's first school of medicine. Ayurvedic medicine is a holistic approach to healing the body through diet, herbal and mineral remedies, massage, meditation and asana practice. Experience some of these ancient remedies yourself. In the evening we visit the Tibetan Institute for Performing Arts, established by the Dalai Lama, to take in a Tibetan opera, music or dance performance.

Day 21-24
The final days of our journey take us to Agra, the home of the Taj Mahal, one of the eight wonders of the world. This architectural masterpiece was constructed completely from white marble and was built in memory of the 17th century emperor's wife. The nearby Sadar Bazaar is filled with aromatic spices and colorful silk saris, perfect for some last minute souvenir shopping. On our return to Delhi, we stop in Jaipur to hike from the Surya Temple to the Galtaji Temple, also known as the Sun and Monkey Temples. It is a breathtaking hike through a stunning rocky valley. The Monkey Temple - now home to a large tribe of rhesus macaque monkeys - is an ancient Hindu pilgrimage site, and its grounds are filled with several temples and natural springs whose waters are considered holy. In this magnificent setting we reflect on all we've learned on our journey, and celebrate the friendships and unforgettable memories we now share.