Pilgrimage Places

Padma is the India yoga retreat tour leader

We recently heard about a South India yoga retreat that includes many of the fascinating places we visited on our first trip to India. The leader of this group tour is the well known television yoga instructor, Padma, and she will do private, one-on-one meditation and y0ga consultations with each of the participants.

One of the highlights of the program will be a three-day yoga and meditation retreat in a seaside resort overlooking a white, sandy beach on the Arabian Sea.  There is a visit to the bustling port of Kochi, a former British hill station resort surrounded by tea, coffee and cardamom plantations, a luxurious houseboat cruise through picturesque canals and lagoons, and an excursion to Madurai, South India’s oldest continuously inhabited city. The tour is 15-days long, running February 26 to March 11, 2012.

We found Madurai to be an utterly magical place, especially the Meenakshi Temple, which is stunningly ancient, enormous and spiritually powerful. It is where the author was blessed by a sacred elephant.

Other tour highlights will be a visit to India’s oldest Jewish Synagogue, built in 1568 and a spectacular Kathakali Dance performance with a behind-the-scenes look at the dancers having their faces painted before the show.

On the Bay of Bengal, the group will explore the many ancient granite carvings in Mahabalipuram, one of the seven most holy places for Hindus in India, as well as nearby Kanchipuram, the “Golden City of a Thousand Temples,” some of which date back to the 7th century.

Most days include scheduled yoga and meditation times. Because yoga was born in India, this tour is a perfect opportunity for anyone with a strong interest in yoga and meditation to not only improve their skills but also gain a deeper appreciation for the culture from which they were originally created. Please click for more information about this India yoga retreat and meditation tour available from Body Mind Spirit Journeys.