When: 1st - 7th March 2012 Where: Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh
Relax your body, rest your mind and caress your soul, take a break from your daily routine and be a part of the annual International Yoga Festival, which is organized jointly by Uttarakhand Tourism and Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, India. This one-week festival gives you an opportunity to participate in over 60 hours of yoga classes from world-class Yoga teachers. These teachers practice and teach multiple styles of yoga including Kundalini Yoga, Power Vinyasa Yoga, Iyengar Yoga and Kriya Yoga.
After the yoga session, attend calming satsang, which is accompanied with divine words of revered saints and spiritual masters including H.H. Sri Shankaracharya Swami Divyanand Teerthji, H.H. Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji and H.H. Swami Veda Bharatiji. Join the yoga gurus in their path of discovery and awakening.
Meaning of Yoga
Yoga literally means 'Union' in every sense— the union of breath with your body, union of your mind with body muscles, and union of the self with the divine. You don't have to believe in certain Gods, religion or chant mantras to be a part of yoga. It is an ancient science or art that leads to good health, peaceful mind and liberation of the soul. The International Yoga Festival helps you explore the eight limbs of yoga and how they apply to our lives.
Yoga presenters at International Yoga Festival 2012
Attend yoga sessions with some of the world's most renowned national and international teachers such as Swami Ramdev, Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, Shiva Rea, Dr. David Frawley, Daphne Tse, Gabriela Bozic, Marla Apt, Sadhvi Abha Saraswati, Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati and others well known in their countries.
Daily program at International Yoga Festival 2012
The daily schedule of the International Yoga Festival (IYF) 2012 will start from 4 am with Kundalini Sadhana practice and Ashtanga Primary series classes. Then by 6:30 am you will have a one-hour yoga class, followed by a simple breakfast. At 8:30 am you can join one of three two-hour hour yoga sessions followed by a series of lectures from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm from yogacharyas on a variety of inspiring subjects.
From 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm a traditional Indian lunch will be served.
At 2:30 pm you can have three instructional classes followed by three yoga classes from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm. Then from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm you will be able to attend the special mesmerizing Aarti, on the banks of the river Ganga.
Dinner will be served by 7:30 pm followed by a special evening program of satsang with spiritual leaders, cultural song and dance events and campfires. The day schedule closes by 9:30 pm.
Registration and Accommodation at IYF 2012
You can stay in the accommodation available at the ashram. The ashram has over 1000 rooms with modern amenities with a hint of traditional simplicity.
You can register yourself for the International Yoga Festival online. The accommodation requests are not guaranteed until confirmed by email from the ashram. Group discounts are available for groups of 20 or more. The group leader must register and pay for all members in order to receive the discount. The group leader receives a complementary registration (free).
There are various kinds of rooms available with beautiful views of Ganga and Ashram courtyard that range from $600 to $215.
Festival Location (How to reach)
Parmarth Niketan is situated on the holy banks of Ganga and in the lap of the Himalayas. It is the largest ashram in Rishikesh and provides thousands of pilgrims with a clean, pure and sacred atmosphere as well as abundant, beautiful gardens.
If you are travelling by road (taxi), then you have to reach Muni-ki-reti parking lot at Ram Jhula, which is ahead Haridwar. From there, you can cross over the Ganga by motor boat or by foot on the foot bridge. After crossing Ganga, turn right and walk until you get to Parmarth Niketan, a few hundred meters.
There are several trains a day between Delhi and Haridwar. You can take a flight and reach Jolly Grant Airport in Rishikesh/Dehradun. The airport is only 1 hour 30 minutes from the ashram. From there again you can take a taxi or bus to Rishikesh. Read more on How to get to Rishikesh
