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Different travellers have different reasons behind booking flights to India. Learning yoga is one of the strongest desires that propel many travellers to visit India. Here is some insight into some of the popular yoga learning centres in the country.
Yoga is a way of life. There are hundreds of different yogic asanas (yoga postures) and breathing exercises that are used for healing the mind, body, soul. In fact, numerous famous holy sages have even used yoga as an instrument to connect with the almighty. However, people usually practice yoga to reap the countless health benefits it offers. Yoga is an ancient body of knowledge developed by the wise sages of India. Over the years, different variations and styles were added to the discipline by different yoga masters. Today, yoga is a very popular activity in the entire world and many people happily book their flights to India to learn yogic techniques. In fact, modern masters like Baba Ramdev of India have made yoga a household name across the world. There is no end to the number of places for learning yoga in India. Check out some information on a few of the highly popular yoga institutes in India.
Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh
Rishikesh, the land of saints, sits on the banks of the holy Ganges and is dotted with numerous well known yoga schools. One such school is the Parmarth Niketan, which was established by the school’s President, Swami Chidanand Saraswati. The main objective behind the establishment of the school was to offer yoga classes in English to help out foreigners on spiritual quest to Rishikesh. The ashram is spread out over a campus of some eight acres and guests can take their pick from a plenitude of rooms. The rooms with a view of the Ganges are costlier than the other ones. The month of March is a good time to visit the Parmarth Niketan. This is the time when the weeklong International Yoga Festival is held here and Yoga enthusiasts from almost 32 countries make arrangements for cheap flights to India to be a part of this festival. During this festival, there is brilliant fusion of a number of healing disciplines like power yoga, Shinto yoga, and Reiki.
Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, Chennai
The Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram is a very popular institute for the Viniyoga form of yoga. Quite a few foreigners booking flights to India for yogic wisdom and benefits swear by the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram. Viniyoga initiates the learner in a very gentle manner and has five elements, namely breathing, therapy, exercise, and meditation. The institute has more than fifty teachers who have taken a two year teacher training diploma course. Every month, they are required to hold an average minimum of thirty therapy classes. The emphasis is to spread yoga as a form of holistic science, which is useful for almost every kind of individual, be it pregnant women, old people, or stressed out young corporate executives.
Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, Pune
The Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune is yet another example of a place where yoga has attained a high degree of finesse. Famous Indian as well as foreign celebrities from fields as diverse as sports, movies, and politics have learnt yoga techniques from the founder BKS Iyengar. Even military establishments and Israeli prisons conduct classes. Special ropes, belts, wooden gadgets, and other instruments are used to help practitioners in attaining the perfect posture in different yogic exercises. It is recommended that one grasps the basics of ‘Iyengar’ form of yoga before enrolling for classes. The high degree of popularity also means that there are long wait lists to contend with. One should make reservations with the institute well in advance and book cheap flights to India accordingly.
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram, Trivandrum
Located in ‘God’s Own Country’ or Kerala, the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram makes for a heavenly ambience. The Ashram is located in some 12 acres of sheer paradise at the foothills of the Western Ghats. Green sylvan surroundings, flowery gardens, and the picturesque Neyyar Dam all do their bit to create an indescribable tranquil ambience. The term ‘yoga vacations’ is used to describe a stay at the ashram. The high season lasts from 1st October to 30th April, while the rest of the year is low season. Visitors should book air tickets as per their requirements. Accommodation facilities are of four types, twin rooms, Vaikuntam rooms, tent space, and dormitories.
Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute, Mysore
The Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute is especially popular with foreigners and a stint at the centre proves to be worth much more than what one spends on airfares to India. Be it the novice beginner or an expert practitioner on a repeat visit, the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute satiates the desire of every kind of yoga student. One is required to enrol for at least a month’s time. The Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute exposes students to the different steps of Ashtanga Yoga such as detoxification of the body, the intermediate series, the advanced series, and Samadhi.