"Yoga" and "Meditation" have become the most popular sciences for curing physical, mental and emotional illness and also for achieving spiritual strength. There are many misconceptions about what actually Yoga is. Some say that it is some form of Gymnastics; some treat it as physical exercise while others feel that it is a display of various difficult postures. In the right sense of the term "Yoga" actually means 'union' or 'contact'. Or in other word we can say that Yoga is a form of physical exercise, which involves physical stress to get perfect harmony, balance and concord between the physical, physiological and spiritual health.
The Sanskrit word Yoga has many meaning and is derived from the Sanskrit root "Yuj" meaning “to control”, “to yoke”, “to unite or Join”. The word is associated with meditative practices in both Buddhism and Hinduism.
The purpose of Yogic Practices is to destroy the impurities of the mind and acquire physical practices for ultimately attaining self Realizing. "Meditation" means to "Reflect Upon". This happens when the mind is concentrated on a particular activity or object over an elongated period of time.Major branches of Yoga include:
• Hatha Yoga
• Raja Yoga (Classical Yoga or Simply Yoga)
• Karma Yoga (Also known as Buddhi Yoga)
• Bhakti Yoga (Spiritual practice of fostering loving devotion to God)
• Gyana Yoga (Path of knowledge)
"Patanjali" was the first Philosopher and Teacher who made "Yoga" a proper scientific discipline. Yoga is being practiced in India since the last 5000 Years. Ashrams in Rishikesh are the well-known place in India, where all of the required facilities available for Yoga.
Rishikesh – The Mecca for Spirituality Seekers
When you talk about Yoga, Meditation and Ayurveda, the very first name come in our mind is Rishikesh. Rishikesh situated 26 Km from Haridwar and have emerged as one of the most significant destination for yoga practices. This is indeed the 'Yoga Capital of the World', where people of all faith and culture come from all over the world to seek solace of their minds.
An annual International Yoga Week Festival is organised in Rishikesh by the Uttarakhand Govt., during the months of February or March. Leading spiritual leaders, Yoga teachers, Meditation teachers, Naturopath doctors and thousands of devotees participate in the festival. There are a many ashrams and Yoga institutes here. Some of the major and prominent ashrams where you can learn and practice yoga and meditation in Rishikesh are:
1. Paramarth Niketan
2. Sivanand Ashram
3. Yoga Niketan
4. Omkaranand Ashram
5. Vanprastha Ashram
6. Ved Niketan Dayanand
7. Vedanta Ashram
8. Vanmali Gita Yogashram
9. Shankaracharya Nagar Transcendental Meditation Centre
10. Vithal Ashram and Yoga Study Centre
11. Kailas Ashram Brahmavidyapeetham
All of these ashrams conduct courses (which vary in duration, ranging from a week to a month) wherein the basics of yoga are taught. Courses are generally inclusive of accommodation and meals at the ashram; daily yoga and meditation classes, satsangs (devotional gatherings) and bhajans (hymns). In addition to these courses, the Parmarth Niketan Ashram (in conjunction with Uttar Pradesh Tourism) organizes the International Yoga week as an annual event every February or March.
Take up exclusive yoga and meditation tours of Rishikesh to get indulged in this ancient art of curing the body of stress and fatigue.
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