When you decide to begin a yoga practice – and take the first step onto that path of yoga by registering for the Foundation Yoga course at Parmarth Niketan – you have actually already started the journey on a spiritual path, for this particular course is for those who are open to learning in a traditional ashram setting, in the authentic way that the rishis and sages have done for thousands of years.

Even a beginner to yoga can feel the powerful vibrations and uplifting energy in the air in the Swargashram area of Rishikesh – an energy that helps all students go deeper within their practice.

In this instance, students from Austria, China, Estonia, Germany, Holland, India, Oman and South Africa experienced that energy during a beautiful and intensive 2-week Foundation Course, just completing before the New Year. The 2-week course taught the dynamic group how to incorporate a regular yoga practice into their daily routine, how to connect more deeply with themselves, and how to find that place of balance and peace so many of us are searching for.

The students immersed themselves in a regular and intense daily yoga practice of pranayama and asana, studied yogic philosophy and took part in the divine act of karma yoga – they even learned to chant vedic mantras for the first time! And, each day ended with the beautiful world-renowned evening Ganga Aarti and Satsang ceremonies.

As the course took place over the Christmas period, a lovely group hike up to the Bhootnath Temple behind Parmarth Niketan took place on Christmas Day, and the students were given a tour of the temple and practiced group chanting and meditation. The course culminated with a special hike into the mountains led by Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji and a course completion ceremony with Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji.

Our teacher from the UK, student of our beloved and respected Sadhvi Abha Saraswatiji (Mataji) and long-term Sevak at Parmarth Niketan, shares her experience of teaching this course:

“I feel truly blessed to have been given this wonderful opportunity to lead this course and share the teachings I have been blessed with from my dearest Mataji. The group was a wonderful diverse mix of individuals from across the world with such varied backgrounds and experiences, but one thing brought them together – their open hearts and minds to learn more and go deeper onto the path of yoga. I was honoured to share with them my passion and my journey of how this path and my time at Parmarth Niketan in seva to Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji has transformed me and my life.”

Here are some of the testimonials from the students on the course:

Brett from South Africa: “Thank you to our esteemed teacher, Elise, who has poured all of her devotion into training and guiding myself and the group. I have received so much more than yoga training and the experience will forever shift me spiritually. Amongst many of the teachings, I have been left with a great wisdom of how to let go, not to have to control everything & trust in the light. It has been a beautiful, life-changing experience and I will treasure it forever. We could not have asked for a better or stronger mentor whilst at Parmarth Niketan. Thank you for your patience, your love, your guidance and your lessons. You have helped guide us towards the light within us all, a light that you have shared so passionately.”

Shibani from India: “Thank you to everyone involved in creating this space and course. I had a lovely time discovering myself all over again with the simplicity of an ashram lifestyle and beautiful Ganga for her calmness. What I liked most of all was the curated yogic classes which guided us through all the different layers we were each individually dealing with individually as well as collectively as a group. I will always be grateful for the lessons in perspective that the experience has given me as well as the friendships I have made for life!”

Max from Germany: “I came to Parmarth Niketan Ashram to learn the basics of yoga and am leaving 2 weeks later having learnt the basics of living a good life. We were given not only the opportunity to look outwards and observe the daily life in an ashram, but also the opportunity to look within ourselves, too. The group started as strangers, but by the end of the course we feel like family. For me, Pujya Swamiji Chidanand Saraswatiji’s Peace book and Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji’s nightly Satsangs were inspirational. Spending time by Ganga was a beautiful way to process these teachings with some insights being philosophical and others practical. By the end of the course, I felt motivated to incorporate yoga as well as the many teachings into my daily life.”

If you’d like to begin your personal spiritual transformation, consider joining our next Foundation Yoga course – or, any of the courses and retreats that we offer throughout the year. 2020 is the year of perfect vision – to see the Divine in ourselves and in everyone and everything around us. To discover our courses, please go to parmarth.org/yoga!

We look forward to seeing you on the mat, in the lap of the majestic Himalayas by the holy banks of Mother Ganga!