Himalayan Yoga Adventure in Nepal

Our Himalayan Yoga Adventures take you on a journey of devotion to understand the true purpose of yoga

• Visit caves where famous yogis became enlightened

• Spin Tibetan prayer wheels and sit in meditation with monks

• Learn temple etiquette and receive blessings and darshan

• Learn basic mantras and how to use a mala

• Have teachings with traditional yogis and rinpoches

What to Expect

This is an innovative, non-dogmatic yoga retreat, with over 75 hours of teaching, to deepen your understanding of yoga and spiritual practice. The thread of this unique Himalayan pilgrimage is the Yoga, and we will receive teachings and practice yoga continuously as we travel to sacred sites in Nepal.

• Wander the winding streets of medieval towns to visit ancient shrines, temples and museums.
• Learn about devotional iconography in architecture, sculpture and art.
• Walk the Kora around the enormous stupa at Boudhanath topped by a gilded spire painted with the eyes of the Buddha.
• Receive Buddhist and Hindu teachings from spiritual masters.
• Participate in darshan, ritual and puja.
• Meditate in the cremation ghats of Pashupatinath.
• Spin prayer wheels, raise prayer flags, recite mantras, meditate with monks.
• Watch the sacred Lama (Cham) Dance at Shechen Monastery.
• Practice meditation/pranayama/asana, all within the context of Patanjali’s 8-limbed path and yogic philosophy.
• Study mudras/gestures/postures to decipher the meaning behind devotional Hindu iconography.

What You'll Experience

This Yoga Adventure is ideal for young yoga teachers and those who want to integrate yoga philosophy and texture into the teachings, or Religious Studies academics who want to embody the theory into a living practice.

Nepal is the land of ‘Living Tantra’ and it finds expression in architecture, painting, sculpture, dance and performance, as well as rituals and ceremonies. To the uninitiated eye, the true meaning behind a holy site, the deities covering temple walls, or a sacred ritual, can be misunderstood. To help demystify spiritual practices, we’ve designed a program that is a transformational journey taking you deep into your own practice, and providing the context to find meaning in the experience and embodying the sacred.

Each year different teachers join the program to give you a glimpse into different Tantric practices all within the context of yoga. Darshan is the theme of the 2018 Yoga Adventure and we investigate the concept of ‘seeing’ and ‘being seen’ by the guru, deva and dakini. The teachings explore the non-dual philosophies of yoga and especially the ‘View’ of emptiness found in tantric traditions. Maharaja Ishanath, an Aghori Nath yogi, living at Pashupati, is our interpreter of symbols on the spiritual path. He guides us through various temples where we learned how to make offerings, have puja and take darshan. He teaches us how to cultivate Bhakti. Without devotion we don’t get very far on the path.

Heather Elton teaches Hatha Yoga in a way that integrates ancient wisdom traditions with contemporary psychology in a mindful practice designed to diminish suffering in our lives. Meditation will include the Tibetan Loving Kindness meditation, Shamatha and Vipassana meditation techniques. The entire practice is designed to give you a better understanding of the ‘inner limbs’ of yoga and glimpse our true nature beneath the stain of perception. ‘Tools of Tantra’  includes the basic techniques of spiritual practice: How to use a mala, recite a mantra, spin prayer wheels, walk the Kora. Practice Tantric visualisations of prana/nadis/bindu and chakra meditations to deepen your understanding of the subtle energy body. Experience darshan and learn how to enter a temple in a respectful way and what to do inside. Make an offering to the deity. Receive darshan, puja and blessings. Respectful conduct in the presence of realised beings.

For detailed info: http://www.eltonyoga.com/yoga-adventure-in-nepal/