Are you looking to get away from the busy and stressful routine of your life and hit the reset button? Need a break from the monotonous life and want to recharge your body and mind? Then you probably need a holiday.
When we think of a holiday, most of us think of a temporary escape from the “daily routine”. But when we come back from the holiday, does anything change for the better in the routine of life? Most often, the answer is No. Have you then asked yourself, how can I face all the challenges of life with equanimity? How do I transform the tired body and mind into one full of energy and enthusiasm? The answer lies in leading a Yogic life.
“Yoga life is the hope of the new decade. It is a practical life, not a utopian escape. Life is for inner happiness, not misery. This is the way of Yoga” – Swami Vishnudevananda
A yoga retreat introduces you to leading a yogic way of life. Here are five things to expect from a yoga holiday.
- Experience the benefits of Asanas (physical postures), Pranayama (breathing exercises) and relaxation
An authentic Yoga Class focuses on bringing harmony to the level of the body, breath, and mind. Asanas (physical postures) benefit many systems of the body like the musculoskeletal system, nervous system, endocrine system, to name a few, and bring them in balance. The practice of Pranayama (breathing exercises) balances and increases the flow of prana (vital energy) in the body which recharges the body and mind. It is very hard to put into words the deep relaxation that one feels after a yoga class. The best way is to experience it yourself!
- Know more about the How’s and Why’s of meditation practice
Once you feel comfortable practicing the asanas and breathing exercises, you will feel more relaxed in the body. Then, it will seem like a natural step to pay more attention to your mind. Meditation lies at the heart of any yoga practice.
Meditation has become a buzzword nowadays and many people talk about it. A Yoga Retreat is a great way to get introduced to the practice of meditation or deepen the practice if you are already familiar with meditation.
“Meditation is the cessation of mental activities. When your thoughts reduce by just 20%, you will experience relief and a sense of self-control. ” – Swami Sivananda
Meditation brings about greater mental and emotional balance and, eventually, inner peace.
- Learn the art of stress management
One of the practical benefits of learning all the yoga practices is in managing stress. In today’s world, most of the stress is psychological in nature and caused mostly due to work or relationships. Simple yoga practices like abdominal breathing with full awareness and body scan relaxation can help in countering stress. Having a regular yoga practice gives deep rest and relaxation to the body and mind, which is a vital aspect of self-healing and rejuvenation.
- A well-balanced Sattvic diet
Diet is a very important part of health and well-being. The Yogis say “You are what you eat!”. You can expect a healthy, well-balanced Sattvic vegetarian diet in a yoga retreat. The word Sattva is one of the three qualities (Gunas). It means Purity, Goodness. A sattvic diet consists of a lacto-vegetarian diet that is freshly prepared, organic, locally produced, and seasonal. The person preparing the food should also have an attitude of selfless service. A Sattvic diet helps a person to develop the qualities of Purity and Goodness.
- Connect with a supportive community
One of the benefits of a yoga retreat is that you meet like-minded people which allows mutual learning. It also helps in connecting with experienced yoga teachers and getting personal guidance on your yoga practice. Connecting with the community also helps in maintaining a regular yoga practice after the yoga retreat.
To experience authentic Yoga, join us at the Sivananda Retreat House in Reith bei Kitzbühel, Austria for Yoga Holidays. Tucked away in the mountains of Tyrol with the beautiful Wild Kaiser mountains as a backdrop, the Sivananda Retreat House welcomes people from all over the world for various yoga retreat programmes.
