¿Cómo es un retiro de yoga y meditación?

That is something we always ask ourselves and we would like to know, here we tell you what you will live every day in a yoga and meditation retreat in North India, in Rishikesh.

Day 1

The girls started arriving early in the morning, after sleeping for a few hours after a long trip we went to breakfast at Nanas a small coffee with a western touch in the east, it is small, warm and delicious food.

We started to get to know each other a little more and then again we went to rest before having lunch.

They had their first Indian meal and were very happy with the food and the wonderful views of Rishikesh from the dining room.

We meet in the afternoon to discuss practical issues and review the schedule of the week

Then we had a beautiful retreat initiation ceremony, the fire ceremony where, we removed the negative energies, cleansed and purified our body, let go of what binds us and concretized by offering herbs in the powerful fire, we received the rich prasaths after the ceremony and we had our first group photos, then after a rich chai, we already prepared for dinner, take a short walk around the neighborhood, then sleep and prepare for Monday’s practice.

Day 2

We start with an energizing hatha class in the early morning of 1 hour and a half, then we continue with an interesting meditation on the elements in our body and how to balance them. 

When we had the first free time we went to Rishikesh, we walked to Laxman Jhula and we visited the temple, we walked barefoot on the street following part of what many slime do in this area.

We had lunch together and in the afternoon after resting for an hour we went to visit a yogi who lives in his cave for 60 years, we learned from simplicity and understanding that everything changes and above all to try to accept things as and how are.

After those hours with the swami, we went to have tea at nanas where we not only had a delicious tea, but also ate some delicious chocolate cookies.

We only had dinner where we took the opportunity to celebrate the birthday of one of us along with an exquisite chocolate cake. Termknsmls the day with laughter and hugs and we went to rest to prepare the great morning of the next day.

Day 3

We get up at 3:30 am in the morning to go to see the sunrise at the Kunjapuri temple, on the way some got dizzy more than others but it is part of the adventure.

When we got there we took the opportunity to look at the views and take lots of pictures, then we went to take a chai to warm up and follow the route to Rishikesh.

Arriving we ran for our breakfast and divided, some went to sleep and others to have their first meeting with Ayurveda with consultations and Ayurvedic massages, we all got together for lunch and share experiences of what had been the morning in Kunjapuri and massages Ayurvedic, in the afternoon we had a Hatha class with our beloved Professor Lalit, followed by a meditation conducted by our dear Kavita, to then have a delicious dinner at our hotel.

Day 4

We started the day with a yoga class with Lalit where we focused on back, lineups and core strengthening, then we had a meditation on the gravitational center and opening of chakras, to continue with our breakfast, free time and prepare to go to visit a Sikh temple.

We all went out together to the Sikh temple and it was already an adventure, to take a rickshaw that would take us to the temple, cover our hair and go barefoot to the temple, where we would sit in the prayer hall to meditate and think about our intentions, and then Go to the community dining room to receive a delicious meal that the Sikh temple offers to all who visit them. The food is a typical Indian Tali, rice, dal (lentils), chapati and dessert.

After lunch, we headed to our hotel, some toured the city and others rested to our hatha class.

In the afternoon the class focused on strengthening the core and the practice of investments, specifically handstand or pine, and then continue with a yoga meditation nidra conducted by Almudena and finally move on to our meal.

Day 5

Again we had an amazing class with Lalit where we practiced a little hatha vinyasa, then as every morning we had a beautiful meditation of Nidra yoga with Almudena to then eat, have free time and in the afternoon live the beautiful ritual that is the Ganga Aarti. Where a mother bargain is worshiped, with songs and performing rituals to turn on lights and throw an offering to the river, charging it with intention and love. After this beautiful and breathtaking show, we returned home for our dinner, sharing experiences and resting.

Day 6

This day, many of us decided to spend the first yoga class, because we wanted to rest and enjoy some free time, however Lalit was as always willing to teach the brave that if they got up at dawn for practice, then we continued with a Guided meditation by Kavita, to soon continue the day with a special cooking class, where Dr. Puja, explained and taught us to prepare a basic dish of Ayurvedic cuisine, Kichari, along with mint and raita chudni, what we enjoyed and we enjoy, now we are experts to cook these exquisite preparations, then we had free time to tour, enjoy the city or just rest.

In the afternoon we had another Hatha class with Lalit and a meditation with Almudena, to continue with dinner and the well-deserved rest.

Day 7

Again we start our morning class of Hatha, with focus on our hips, we work on opening hips and how to achieve flexibility. We continue with a beautiful meditation on Mother Ganga, guided by Kavita, this beautiful meditation focused on leaving behind all past events that are still rooted in our thoughts and physical body, a beautiful ritual that we carry out next to the bargain, flowing water and purify.

We returned to the hotel for our food and then we had time to go out to tour this beautiful city of Rishikesh, buy a couple of gifts and enjoy all the energy of the city.

In the afternoon we toured the famous, Beatles ashram, where we laughed and took infinite photos, it is a beautiful place, in ruins and where you can still feel the ashram vibe of the past.

So we started closing this beautiful week in India

Day 8

The last day arrived and we left with our breakfast and fixing last details before leaving and we had a final ceremony, where we shared with our teachers and with Manmohan, Almudena and Paulina, everyone spoke and showed their appreciation from the heart and it was a beautiful moment to share and close how amazing it had been this week.

Then we received some closing flowers, a symbolic diploma of this new beginning, a bindi in our third eye and we took some group photos.

That was the moment when we had to say see you soon and separate to continue with our lives in different places of this world.

No doubt a beautiful experience that I would recommend to anyone who needs a moment of connection, adventures and sharing with different people with stories of beautiful and meaningful lives.

Thank you Mother India for this and much more … … see you soon!