7 jours en stage holistique de yoga et méditation à Rishikesh, Inde

This retreat is aimed at finding yourself through yoga. Take time for yourself and step out of your busy everyday life to enjoy peace, calmness, and nature on this beautiful retreat in Rishikesh. Find the calmness and steadiness in yourself and bring it back with you after these amazing seven days. The accommodation is situated on the outskirts of Rishikesh, the yoga capital of the world. You will be surrounded by nature, close to the Ganga and next to the forest. Atharv Yogshala only works with small groups (six or eight participants) during retreats to give you the best experience and the personal attention you need.

Kriya yoga (Shat Karma)

Shat Karma, or Shat Kriya as they are often known, are six yogic cleansing processes used by yoga practitioners to help purify the physical body. During Atharv Yogshala's retreats, they will explain some of these methods to you and you can apply these methods during and after your stay. The body has an incredible natural tendency towards homeostasis. That means the body has a natural tendency to maintain stability in the circumstances given to you. The Shat Kriyas come to your aid to help remove built-up toxins from the body, with particular emphasis on the respiratory and digestive systems.

These are the shat karma you will learn about:

• Jal neti (nasal cleansing with water)
• Sutra neti (nasal cleansing)
• Tratak kriya (concentrated gazing)
• Kapalbhati
• Kunjal kriya (the practice of vomiting water)

Pranayama

Pranayama is the control, regulation, and letting go of the breath. There are many different pranayama methods with different effects on the body. Practicing pranayama gives the practitioner more awareness of the breath, the breathing pattern, and the respiratory system.The easiest way to start with pranayama is to observe your breathing pattern. Sit in a comfortable position or lie down in Savasana. Close your eyes and observe your breathing and try not to interfere. Focus on the rhythm of your breathing, and feel the breath flowing in and out of your nose.

You can bring your awareness to different parts of your body where you feel your breath. In your throat, chest, lower ribs, and belly. Then focus on your whole body and the whole breathing process. Open your eyes again and notice if anything changes in your breathing pattern. Maybe your breath became slower, calmer, or deeper. On this holistic retreat, Atharv Yogshala will teach you different pranayama techniques. There are many ways to become more aware of your breath and even more ways to control it. You will practice the following pranayama during the retreat:

• Nadi shodhana (cleansing energy channel)
• Bhramari pranayama (humming bee breath)
• Sheetkari pranayama (hissing breath)
• Kapalbhati pranayama (breath of fire)
• Ujjayi pranayama (the psychic breath)
• Bhastrika pranayama (bellows breath)

Asana

Asana is what most Western people know as yoga. They are not also a great way to move your body, become more flexible, attain better posture, or even get a great workout. Asanas are postures or poses which open energy channels and psychic channels. Asanas are not simply a physical practice, they are very much spiritual practice. During this retreat, Atharv Yogshala will teach different styles of yoga. They have a wide variety of knowledge about different yoga styles and different backgrounds. This makes it possible for them to provide you with different types of asana classes.

Hatha Vinyasa is a flowing form of yoga. Every asana is connected with the breath and with every breath you will flow from one asana to the other. This requires focus, attention, and control. Yin yoga is a calmer form of yoga. It consists of passive poses, which you stay in for a longer time. It is a great way to open the joints and loosen the connective tissue. During the retreat, you will have asana classes inside and outside. Atharv Yogshala will have a class on the beach, next to the Ganga. Breathe in the fresh air, find balance, and find firmness and steadiness in different asanas.

The types of asana you will learn are:

• Pawan Mukta asana 1 (Anti-rheumatic group)
• Pawan Mukta asana 2 (The digestive or abdominal group)
• Pawan Mukta asana 3 (Energy blocks postures)
• Surya namaskar (Sun salutations)
• Chandra namaskar (Moon salutations)
• Standing asana
• Meditation asana
• Relaxation posture
• Vajrasana groups of asana
• Forward bending asanas
• Backward bending asana
• Spinal twisting asana
• Inverted asana
• Balancing asana

Meditation

(तत्र प्रत्ययैकतानता ध्यानम् ॥२: Tatra pratyaya-ikatānatā dhyānam) Meaning: allowing your thoughts to flow in an uninterrupted stream result in contemplation. Although most people meditate with closed eyes, many beginners find it useful to have a point of focus, such as a candle. Concentrating on the flame can make it easier to clear your mind. When learning how to meditate, beginners tend to get frustrated by the persistence of outside thoughts, anxieties, to-do lists, and random memories that parade constantly through the brain.

Instead of fighting them off, simply observe them as they enter your mind and let them pass. Repeating a mantra to yourself is another good way to maintain your focus. During this retreat, Atharv Yogshala will teach you different meditation techniques. After the retreat, you will have the knowledge to meditate by yourself and find the calmness you felt during the retreat.

The types of meditation you'll focus on during the retreat are:

• Mindfulness meditation
• Spiritual meditation
• Focused meditation
• Movement meditation
• Mantra meditation
• Transcendental meditation
• Progressive relaxation
• Loving-kindness meditation

Daily sample schedule

• 05:30 Wake up
• 06:00 - 07:00 Pranayama and Shatkarma
• 07:00 - 08:30 Traditional Hatha yoga
• 08:30 - 09:30 Breakfast
• 10:00 - 13:00 Free time or excursions
• 13:00 - 14:00 Lunch break
• 16:00 - 17:30 Hatha Vinyasa Flow or time yoga
• 17:30 - 18:00 Tea break
• 18:00 - 19:00 Meditation
• 19:00 Dinner time
• 20:00 Bedtime