'The Path of the Yogi'
India Immersion
November 4-14, 2023
Let the palpable energy call you to your source.
"By constantly dwelling on the thought of God (the supreme energy in all things), all the granthis (knots) that make up ego are unraveled, and that which has to be realized will be realized'.
~ Anandamayee Ma
You are invited to join me in the mystical land of India for a lived experience of the Yogi / Yogini. In essence, yoga is a way of living in alignment with universal forces. To understand this more, we'll invest in the sacred practices of meditation, mantras, study and of course movement. We'll steep in the bhav (spiritual mood) of sacred places, and allow our spirits to be lifted as we merge with timeless teachings. This immersion takes place in Rishikesh, and leads us through the days prior to and including the Festival of Diwali, an auspicious celebration of the defeat of light over dark. Our study will prepare us to maximize the potential of this turning point, and we will leave with an elevated sense of fulfillment!
Following the path of the Yogi.
The yogic sciences are the sacred teachings of India. Saints and Sages immersed in the supreme energy gave us a system to follow, a path to walk. It's not a yoga pose, or a breath practice, although these are included. It is a way of consciously living that offers liberation from the separateness that binds our potential.
The knowledge of the Masters transcends time and space, and yet there are some places on the planet that offer a 'hotline' to the knowledge. Rishikesh in Northern India is such a place. The Ganges river pours out of the Himalayas, known as the abode of Shiva. This mountainous paradise is more than just picturesque. As my beloved teacher Pujya Swami says, "the knowledge of the Masters is in the air, just sit and it will become part of you".
Rishikesh, the Land of the Rishis...
Known as the 'birthplace of Yoga', and the sacred place for our retreat, Rishikesh lies on the foothills of the Himalayas on the banks of the Ganges River. The beautiful Green Hotel is our home for our immersion. Our study will take place by the great River Ganges, known as 'Ganga Ma', as we enjoy early morning meditation & asana, and evening Ganga Aarti & programs at Parmarth Niketan Ashram, (where my teachers Pujya Swamiji & Sadhviji reside). You'll have free time to wander the banks of the river, sit in quiet contemplation, drink chai, shop, and generally let the magic unfold!
Our Pilgrimage to the holy river confluence of Devprayag
Winding up the Himalayas northeast of Rishikesh lies Devprayag, the sacred place of merging of two visible heavenly rivers, Alakananda and Bhagirathi, to form the holy Ganga. This is a pilgrimage towards the source of Ganga, the source of answered prayers. We will spend our day at this river confluence with mediation and offerings. It will be cold up the mountains, so wear layers! Devprayag is 2265m above sea level, and is known to offer unparalleled levels of spirituality.
Diwali - The Festival of Lights!
Diwali is considered India's moat important holiday of the year. Marking the start of the Hindu New Year, this celebration urges us to merge with our light... candles and fireworks will surround us! Commonly honoring the Hindu goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, lights and lamps are said to help Lakshmi find her way into peoples’ homes, bringing prosperity in the year to come! Our body is our soul's home, and we will invest in a kichari cleanse to clear and lighten our physical body! This combined with our study and meditations will have us ready to receive all the goodness that Lakshmi brings!
Vashistha's Cave
We'll take a trip up the mountains to sit at the Sage Vashistha' s meditation cave. Being one of the Saptarishis, (the seven sages Shiva passed on the teachings of Yoga to), this area is deep and miraculous; as a dear friend (pictured) said on her first visit, "I feel like I've been hit with a tranquilizer dart"... Now it's your turn.
Wander the sacred land of the Rishi's, visiting Maharishi's Ashram (where the Beatles wrote the White Album).
Known to many as the Beatle's Ashram, this non-functioning ashram still has the teachings of Mahesh Maharishi in the air. This ashram is a short stroll along the river from where we stay in Rishikesh. Spend the afternoon wandering around, and maybe even take time for some photos, the backdrops are breathtaking.
Experience the heeling waters of the Sacred Ganges River
Immersion in her waters is believed to 'relieve you of your karma'. This experience will move you like no other. 'Ganga Ma' is the Goddess that lays her body over the landscape of India. As a local lady expressed to me one day as I sat in tears by the river, 'Give it all to Ganga. She will give you everything in return'.
Meet your study hosts
"You probably know me, Deborah Langley, lover of all things Yoga & India! I am your humble retreat leader, sharing the experiences of the Motherland that have changed my life in unexplainable ways. What I know is, that one trip to India undertaken with the pure intention to seek the truth, can change the trajectory of your life. There is so much magic in these sacred lands, and every single time I am there, a mystery unfolds, and some sort of 'download' happens.. It's like living out experiences that on a souls level I have lined up for myself; experiences that answer prayers and activate my heart. A teacher once said to me, you only get to India when you are ready. If you are reading this and your heart rate increases just at the thought of going, then you are ready. Dive in and trust. This is the only way. There is an experience waiting for you that will be a gift that keeps on giving, long after the retreat is over..."
Deborah Langley
Meet our formidable duo, Manoj & Abhilasha! Manoj is a Vedic Astrologer & with his wife Abhilasha, gemologist & intuitive Yogini, they offer us the best of lived Spiritual wisdom. Manoj graduated from Parmarth Niketan Ashram after a decade of living daily structured sadhana with study and applied ritual under the guidance of Guru Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati. Manoj and Abhilasha present components of our Rishikesh program to help us live the liberated life of a Yogi / Yogini. We have the perfect guides for our Diwali experience, to help us integrate these sacred teachings into our life in a useful way. We encourage you to have your Vedic chart reviewed with Manoj, his life insights and advice are incredibly helpful on your Spiritual path.
Our Schedule
Saturday November 4 - Book a flight to arrive in Delhi before, or in the hours after, midnight of Nov 4. Enjoy your night at our chosen hotel at Delhi's Aerocity! *This is the only night in twin-share accommodation, you will have your own room in Rishikesh.
Sunday November 5 - Group breakfast, day travel to Rishikesh
Monday November 6 - Rishikesh Program, includes area orientation
November 7 - Rishikesh Program
November 8 - Rishikesh Program
November 9 - Rishikesh Program
November 10 - Pilgrimage to Devprayag
November 11 - Lakshmi Puja! Daily kitchiri cleanse
November 12 - Festival of Diwali!
November 13 - Rishikesh Program
November 14 - Final breakfast, transfers to Delhi. Book flights to leave Delhi in the evening of November 14.
My dear Goddess & friend Uschi, (pic of us), and her partner Rakesh are our India guides. Rakesh is a Varanasi native, and Uschi has lived in her soul home for over ten years, together they have their son Varun, who is pure Spirit. Together we have supported over 10 international retreat experiences, and I am proud to say we are a well-oiled machine! With their deep love and reverence for India, we appropriately and respectfully experience these lands. As Uschi says, 'we come to India as guests to observe and experience the culture, rather than being observed'.
Uschi & Rakesh handle all our logistics with love, and will contact each of you with pre-trip information, and to coordinate your personal arrival times. They offer a Taj Mahal experience to add on to your journey, and I highly recommend taking this option! You will be blown away...
The smallest details of our trip are taken care of, and you will be held in such a caring embrace so you can drop in for the experience of a lifetime.
The logistics.
Once you book, the journey begins!
The Path of the Yogi Retreat Fee includes:
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Transfer from Delhi Airport to Hotel at Delhi Aerocity
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Double occupancy accommodation on first night at Delhi Aerocity.
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Transfer from Delhi to Rishikesh
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Single Occupancy at Green View Hotel in Rishikesh
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2 daily hotel meals in Rishikesh
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Safe drinking water throughout retreat
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Guidance with trip planning, and daily support during retreat
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All yoga and workshop sessions with Deborah Langley throughout journey.
- All lectures and offerings by our local teachers by Manoj & Abhilasha.
- Transfer from Rishikesh to Delhi Airport
Exclusions:
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International airfare to and from India
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Indian eVisa
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Optional Travel insurance (recommended)
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Optional Taj Mahal addition with Uschi and Rakesh - details provided upon booking your place.
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Each day for one meal you are free to explore the surrounds and wonderful authentic Indian restaurants & cafes.
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'Prasad' - offerings at Temples ** Hosts Deb, Uschi and Rakesh will explain & simplify this process. We'll recommend how much rupee to have with you for incidentals.
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Taxi or Tuk Tuks once in Rishikesh (should you wish to go exploring during free time)
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Massage / Ayurvedic treatments available to us in Rishikesh.
You will receive emails from myself and Uschi assisting your planning. The next step is book your flights and organize your online India tourist eVisa. The good news is, we will help you! Uschi will provide clear instruction on how to complete the online visa application, and will also provide guidance with flight bookings.
We'll give you guidelines as to what to bring with you, and answer any other questions you may have!
BOOK YOUR PILGRIMAGE
(NON-EARLY BIRD) PAYMENT IN FULL
$4499
Full Retreat Fee from October 1
I will pay the retreat in full!CANCELLATION POLICY
Payment is refundable on or before August 1, 2023 minus a $100AUD admin fee. Cancellation between August 2 2022 and September 30, 2023 incur a $1000AUD fee; Full retreat payment forfeited if cancellation occurs after October 1, 2023.