Anand Sagar, Ajanta & Ellora Trip !!!

Heyyy friends!!!! A good news is that we have arranged a Cultural Trip for everyone. First we will be visiting Anand Sagar in Shegaon which is a breathtaking park and a real paradise, a mix of spirituality and nature, showcasing the great sages and saints of India.

This is a 3000 million rupees project of gardens and pathways, temples and monuments, a mini railway and a waterbody with an artificial island with a meditation temple on its top. Its definitely a must see!!! Shegaon has a history of Saint Gajanan who is worshipped by several followers and devotees.

From Shegoan we will head to one of most the important archaeological site of India known as Ajanta Caves which is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Here we will explore the mysteries of these 30 beautifully carved Buddhist caves with majestic statues of Buddha.

This place is a perfect blend of nature and history and the setting of this place is so serene and divine that is perfect to experience this ancient history of India that dates back from 200 B.C to A.D 650.

Next day we will drive to Ellora which is also another World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Words are not enough to describe the beauty of these spectacular chains of caves which are an example of religious tolerance and harmony of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism.

The Buddhist caves are more serene while the Hindu and Jain caves instil more dramatic effects. The brilliant architecture of Kailash Temple will leave you stunned. Its certainly one the best touristic spot of Maharasthra and India visited by oodles of foreign tourists and definitely a must see place to know about the exceptional history of India.

This excursion is in the month of November when the cool and fresh climate will make it all the more fun. And not to forget, I (Jeena) and Daniel will be accompanying you through out the tour as your companions and guides :-) We will be staying in budget hotels and travelling by comfortable 3 tier AC coach trains.

Registrations are open from now till train tickets are available…so hurry up to know our special price!!!

Click here to see the brochure!

Contact us on +91 9821 231306 0r 9821 505029.

Sevagram Holiday

Hey you guys who have been asking us to show you some more pictures of Sevagram and the Places of Interest we are going to visit over there during this tour.. just check it out below.

If you still don’t know all the details of the tour here they are:

- Leaving from Mumbai on Wed 1st October in the evening by train and reaching Wardha in the morning of 2nd October.

- The return from Wardha will be in the evening of Sun 5th October and reaching Mumbai in the morning of 6th October.

(Comfortable 3 Tier AC coach)

(Staying in Arogyadham Yoga and Naturopathy Center)

Nature Park with pebbles track for bare foot walking, birds watching and observing nature's beauty with ambience of 220 acres of Herbal Garden.

Simple, comfortable cottages with porch and fine lawn in front. Twin sharing accommodation per cottage with cooler, chair, table along with attached toilet (western), bath with shower, hot water facility is provided.

The programme will be as follows:
Morning – 6:00 AM
Nature walk, practice of Yoga Asanas and Pranayamas
Breakfast and herbal tea
Naturopathy treatments
Presentation on Yoga and Indian Philosophy
Midday – 12:00
Lunch followed by Yogic Relaxation
Afternoon – from 13:30 to 19:00
Visit to places of Interest
- 2nd Oct (Gandhiji’s Ashram and Museum)
- 3rd Oct (Mangan Sanghralaya and Cotton Processing Factory)
- 4th Oct (Pavnar Ashram, Geetai Mandir, Vinoba Bhave’s Exposition and Buddhist Shanti Supa)
- 5th Oct (Optional trip - not inclusive)
Evening Snacks or Herbal Tea
Evening – 20:00
Dinner and Recreation/Chat/Video
Bed Time – 21:30

You will visit Gandhiji’s Ashram where he had stayed during his struggle for India’s independence and this place is still preserved showing his house and articles of personal use. You will learn everything about his life and achievements.

(Waiting for herbal coffee :-p at the traditional cafeteria of the Museum)

Magan Sangrahalaya is a museum situated at Wardha city, where everything about Khadi and Village Industries related equipments are displayed.

The tour will include a visit to a cotton processing factory working in the modes designed for the wellfare of the villagers as motivated by Gandhiji.

The sculptures at Pavnar Ashram belong to various period dating from Vakatakas to Kakatiyas dynasty i.e. 250 AD to 1200 AD.

The sculptures of Ganga (Bhagirathi), Bharat-Bhet (Meeting of Rama and Bharat) and other numerous scupltures depicting scenes of Ramayana and Mahabharata can be seen at Ashram. Here, you will also find a marvellous sculpture of Vishnu on a black stone. Along with this there is a book shop with Vinoba Bhave's collection and a Goshala ( cows house).

(Entrance of the beautiful Geetai Mandir)

This is a unique temple without ceiling or walls. Instead of walls, 732 pillars with the shlokas of Bhagvad Gita inscribed in them are placed in the form of a gigantic cow.

(Different idols of Buddha in all the four directions of the Stupa)

In 1935, Fuji Guruji from Japan came to Wardha and met Mahatma Gandhi. He put the wish to setup 8 Stupas (prayer place for of Budha Community) in India. Gandhi agreed with his request and then Shanti Stupas were built at eight different places. One of those, the Vishwa Shanti Stupa is found in Wardha. Its an interesting piece of achitecture and art showing Buddha in different forms.

Please note that we are keeping the registration for the tour open until there will be train tickets available.. so please register as soon as possible because we don’t want to let you down :-)

Click here to see the brochure!

Seeya!!

Teaching Ardha Matsyendrasana

Teaching an asana (physical posture) for a large group of people might not be that easy in some cases, especially if the students are learning it for the first time and the posture involves proper positioning and alignment of trunk, lower and upper limbs such as in Ardha Matsyendrasana.

In class, during the 1 Month Teacher’s Training Course the teacher trainees need not only learn how to perform the asanas properly but also develop the general skills of teaching them.

To make it easier for the student and teacher, two basic steps should be followed while teaching an asana. I’d like to highlight them before showing you an appropriate sequence of movements for properly performing Ardha Matsyendrasa:

First – make sure the students get the right initial position before instructing them to perform the asana. Second – coach them in a way that all of them will do it together, step by step, moving and twisting to the same side, till they reach the final position. In this way their will be no confusion regarding to your instructions and what they are actually performing as a group.

Of course, being able to demonstrate what they are supposed to be performing is desirable but the most important is actually coaching them with precise instructions.

Following are the directions for properly coaching Ardha Matsyendrasana:

1 – For getting to the initial position tell the students to sit upright with both legs fully stretched in front. They can use both arms to help keeping the back straight.


2 – Now tell them to fold the right leg under the left one, placing the right hill by the side of the left hip. (Make sure every one is doing it to the same side). Then crossing the left leg over the right one they must place the left foot with sole flat on the floor locking the left ankle with the right knee.



3 – From now there are several significant points that must be observed before actually coming into the final position. A) It’s important to stress that the twist (as the left leg is on the top) must be done to the left side; B) Thus, the left arm should be placed behind the back, near the body, with palm of the hand flat on the floor and fingers point outwards. Elbows locked straight. In this way the tendency to lean backward may be prevented. C) Tell them to take their time to adjust the body upright, making sure there is space enough for the twist in between the left ribcage and the left tight. Also tell them to make sure the outside of the right leg and both buttocks are placed flat on the floor as much as possible to their capacity.



4 – Now they are right for the final twist. Tell them to inhale first (they may raise the right arm to facilitate inhalation). Then, while exhaling, tell them to start twisting the trunk to the left side. Using the right upper arm as a lever (placing it at the outside of the left leg near the knee) they can accentuate the twist to their capacity. Head should be also turned to the left.


5 – For the ones which are more flexible, the final position might be achieved by completely extending the right arm around the left leg, catching hold of the left foot with the index and middle fingers. Then, the left arm goes around the back reaching to the right tight. Maintain posture with normal breathing. This is the final position of Ardha Matsyendrasana (The ones less flexible should maintain the posture as in step 4).


6 – Now releasing the right arm and twisting the trunk back to front should be done while inhaling. Obviously instruct them to perform the same, paying attention to the proper positioning of the limbs, but now twisting to the opposite side. Make sure to make them perform step by step as described above.

That's it for now!! Good luck in your teaching and take care!!