International Yoga Festival 2013 in India

Yoga is one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu Philosophy. Yoga in India is an art that has been celebrated for millenniums and continues to be an integral part of the Indian as well as global society. According to some historians yoga was developed in the times of The Indus Valley Civilization which takes its origin back to about 2500 BC to 6500 BC.

International-Yoga-Festival

Yoga is the art that unites the body, mind and soul with the ultimate purpose of uniting the man with the Supreme Being, it is a tool for finding the Lord, and mental and physical stability. The purpose of Yoga as detailed in the book Yoga sutras of Patanjali which is a compilation of all the knowledge related to Yoga is the cessation of perturbations of the consciousness. It is a source of attaining Moksh.

Yoga-Classes-on-Ganges

Today, Yoga is associated with attaining a healthy physical body and a stable mental state, it is a major de-stressor in today’s fast paced world. In the last century since Swami Vivekananda introduced the fascinating art of Yoga to the West, Yoga has become a household name and something that is recognized globally. You will often hear about celebrities taking up various Yoga courses to maintain their demigod like physiques.

Meditation-Yoga-Ganges

In essence of this rising popularity of Yoga around the world, the department of Tourism of Uttar Pradesh in 1999, in a hotel in Rishikesh (then part of Uttar Pradesh) started the International Yoga Festival as a place where Yoga followers and Gurus can come together to spread this most amazing of all art forms. Since then the festival has only gained popularity which shows in the staggering number of people that embrace its doors.

Parmarth Niketan Ashram-Rishikesh

The yoga festival in Rishikesh is held every year in the first week of March at the Parmarth Niketan Ashram. This time around the International Yoga Festival 2013 will be held from 1st to 7th march in Rishikesh.

Best place to learn Yoga in India

India has always been looked at as a cathartic destination for those seeking inner peace or enlightenment. With a rich lineage of Gurus and other Yoga practitioners, there are a number of credible institutes and ashrams that are known for their expertise. Yoga has roots deeply entrenched in everyday life in India, making it one of the most sought after yoga destinations in the world, attracting many travellers and students. Here are some top yoga destinations that you might want to explore.

Yoga Practice in India

Alleppey

Kerala has always been synonymous with Ayurveda and other forms of healing. Due to the popularity, the concept has been plagiarised by many so choose your learning centre carefully if you are looking for an authentic experience. Keraleeyam, in Alleppey, is one of the most eminent destinations for Yoga.

Meditation on Beach

Pune

Guru B.K.S Iyengar has etched the name of Yoga across international boundaries and can certainly be called the ‘grand old man of Indian Yoga’. His institute in Pune, Ramamani Iyengar Memorial, is a prestigious centre for Hatha Yoga. Classes are held for both adults and children and sometimes getting into the institute can be quite a feat – people have known to queue up for 2 years. This is an advanced learning centre and one has to have some amount of prior expertise.

Yoga Abhyaas

Rishikesh

Parmarth Niketan, yet another stunning institute, is nestled in the verdant environs of Rishikesh. The ashram has over 1000 rooms on the 8 acres campus. If you want to be a visiting student, you can choose to stay in Rishikesh and visit the centre for classes. An international Yoga festival held in March sees a number of yoga enthusiasts visit from all over the world.

Quite Meditation at Ganges

Chennai

Chennai has always been strongly associated with the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, which is run by the kin of T. Krishnamacharya. This Yoga Centre is known for Viniyoga. There are a number of courses available for one to choose from. The most popular ones are the Non-residential Pilgrimage of Sound Vedic Chanting, Heart of Yoga, and Pranayama courses that are opened bi-annually for students around the world.

Munger

The 1960s was the decade of discovery of India by the Western World. The Beatles might have started the trend, but the rage has never died out. One such institute that was started in the 1960s was The Bihar School of Yoga, Munger. Till this day and date, the school is considered as one of the best in the country. Though the main school has a rigorous schedule, for those who are interested in lighter and short duration yoga classes can look out for the one of the branches of the same, the Bihar Yoga Bharati Institute.

Yoga Group