Yoga literally means union. Yoga is an attempt to unite the individual soul with the Universal Soul or God through rigorous mental and physical efforts. It is an integrated system of body, mind and spirit, and is fastened to ideas, values and attitudes. Yoga is capable of ensuring physical well-being, mental harmony and moral elevation. The are eight steps in yoga 0yama Conditional yoga behaviour, personal and social, Niyama Attitude sublimate to yoga norms, Asana , discipline of the physical body, Pranayama control over bio energy through respiratory action, Pratyahara withdrawal of the senses inwards through abstraction, Dharna that is concentration, Dhyana , which is meditation and Samadhi , the trans-consciousness.
The aim of yoga is to enable the person doing yoga, to transcend sense perceived, temporary appearances, unrealities and attain a vision and an experience of the super sensuous Divine Reality and attain peace and harmony. The challenge lies in transforming the inert body to the level of vibrant mind and then body and mind to be one with the serenity of the self. The Yoga, with the rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind and the harmony of the soul, creates the symphony of life. There are various Asanas that help to attain this rhythm. Integral part of Yoga is Meditation, an antidote to the excessive stress of modern life resulting in health problems. It helps retrain response mechanisms so that we don't react as strongly or as negatively to adverse situations. Meditation emboldens body's immune system, wards off diseases and enables quick recovery from diseases. Meditation helps mould a mind healthy, alert, positive, and calm. This, in turn, produces a body filled with vitality and health. A blend of meditation, proper diet, and yoga postures improves the general health. Medical journals say even serious heart and circulatory problems can be reversed through a regime of diet, meditation, and exercise. Meditation takes away fear, worry, and anger and replaces the mind with positive, strong attitudes. Its daily practice gives control over the flow of life force. As a result, an attitudinal change takes place leading to dispassionate approach to worldly pleasures.
In short, meditation is a simple and powerful tool to lead a stress-free life. Relationships will be rewarding once developed a calm, relaxed sensitivity of life via meditation. All forms of meditation are good, but in our high-speed society, we need to learn how to protect our energy by closing down at the end.
Steps of yoga
YAMA: Conditional yoga behaviour, personal and social.
NIYAMA: Attitude sublimate to yoga norms.
ASANA: Discipline of the physical body.
PRANAYAMA: Control over bio energy through respiratory action.
PRATYAHARA: Withdrawal of the senses inwards through abstraction.
DHARNA: Concentration.
DHYANA: Meditation.
SAMADHI: Trans-consciousness.
Of these, the first five, which border on the Psychosomatic Approach, are referred to as External (Bahiranga) yoga, popularly known as Hatha Yoga, while the latter three, which directly affect the psyche are known as internal (Antaranga) yoga, popularly known as Raja Yoga. It is almost impossible to try internal yoga (Raja Yoga) for the average man before accomplishing the external one (Hatha Yoga). The respective sequence of the eight steps as the standard methodology of yoga.
Yoga is based on a deep understanding of man and his position in this world and was the first system evolved in the world to recognise the connection and the interaction between body and mind. It studies in depth the very structure of the human personality, through analysis the psychological complexities and the cause of human pain, sorrow and suffering. It has laid down psychosomatic means through its various psycho-physiological processes for dealing with the body mind complex and tries to harmonize and integrate the human personality at all levels and stages of life.
Yoga is basically a way of life, which has been evolved as a system to go beyond the personality - complex and achieve absolute freedom-liberation of the spirit from the matter.
SPEICAL YOGA & MEDITATION PROGRAMME
DAY 01 ARRIVE MUMBAI-COCHIN
Arrive Mumbai. Assistance on arrival at the airport and transfer to the domestic airport to board your flight to Cochin, Kerala. Meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to the Hotel.
Kerala - A coastal land where lakes and backwaters abound. It is beautiful and green with plantations of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and pepper. Kerala has thick forests, which are homes to wild elephants, boars, snakes and a variety of wild life. The backwaters are teeming with seafood; tropical fruits like mangoes, bananas, and jackfruit are plentiful. Coconut palms are dotted all along the coast and lakes. The Kerala cuisine is incomplete without the use of fresh coconut and coconut oil. The most popular festival celebrated is Onam. Ladies decorate their doorsteps with colorful rangoli patterns made with fresh flower petals. They are very literate people with a simple dress mode.
Afternoon city sightseeing - Dutch palace, Synagogue Old fort Cochin area, St. Francis Church, Chinese Fishing Nets. Evening witness a Kathakali Dance Drams performance at one of the auditorium. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 02 COCHIN-PERIYAR
Morning drive to Alleppey and take a boat cruise on the Vembanad Lake (approx 3 hrs) to Kottayam passing through the small canals and enjoying the backwater beauty of Kerala. On arrival at the Kottayam boat Jetty, drive on to Periyar and upon arrival check-in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 03 PERIYAR
Periyar Sanctuary was the earliest sanctuary to be set up in 1934. Amongst the animals spotted here are wild elephants, which can be seen and photographed at close quarters, wild boar, sambar, tier, leopard, wild dog and languor monkeys.
Morning take a game viewing boat ride on the artificial Periyar Lake.
Afternoon a spice plantation tour of Thekkady. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 04 PERIYAR-KUMARAKOM
Morning after breakfast depart by surface to Kumarakom and upon arrival check-in at the hotel.
Kumarakom an unbelievably beautiful paradise of mangrove forests, emerald green paddy fields, and coconut groves interspersed with enchanting waterways and canals adorned with white lilies. Situated on the Vembanad Lake, in this small water world, you will come across plenty of traditional country crafts, boats and canoes. Located on the banks of the Vembanad Lake, is the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary - an ornithologist's paradise, is a favourite haunt of migratory birds like the Siberian stork, egret, darter, heron and teal. Other common varieties like woodp0ecker, skylark, crane, water hen and parrots can also be spotted here.
Evening Optional Sunset Cruise - there can be few better ways to adjust to the pace of backwater life than to spend the waning hours of the afternoon just watching the sun go down. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 05 IN KUMARAKOM
Day free to explore the backwater island and relax. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 06 KUMARAKOM-KOVALAM
Morning drive to Trivandrum. On arrival check into the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 07 IN KOVALAM
Day free for Yoga & Meditation and relaxation at the Golden Sandy Beach of Kovalam. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 08 IN KOVALAM
Day free for Yoga & Meditation and relaxation at the Golden Sandy Beach of Kovalam. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 09 IN KOVALAM
Day free for Yoga & Meditation and relaxation at the Golden Sandy Beach of Kovalam.
Optional Trivandrum City Tour - visit the famous Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Rebuilt in 1733, it is an excellent example of South Indian architecture. Visit the Zoological Park, Napier Museum with its bronze collection, Sri Chitra Art Gallery with paintings from various schools; from countries like China, Japan, Java and Bali. Overnight at the hotel.
DAY 10 IN KOVALAM
Optional excursion to Kanyakumari (Cape Comerin) is the meeting point of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. The sunrise and sunsets are a great attraction especially on a full moon day in April as it is possible to see the sunset and moonrise on the same horizon. Also visit the Gandhi Mandapam, a modern version of an Orian Temple designed in such a way that the rays of the sun strike the spot where the ashes of the Mahatma were kept (prior to immersion in the sea) at noon on 02 October every year. Vivekananda, the great thinker and reformer mediated here and a memorial was erected known as the Vivekananda Merial.
DAY 11 TRIVANDRUM-MUMBAI
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