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"Every morning put your mind into your heart and stand in the presence of God all the day long"

– Anonymous Monk,
Eastern Orthodox Church

"Complete in themselves and reintegrated with the cosmos of which they are now a conscious instrument, they have reached the goal of yoga…If any country has traditionally considered this quest to be the central purpose of human life, it is India. Her civilization has from earliest times been built on the bedrock of yoga. Yoga itself is not Indian, it is universal, but it is to that primeval land that we must look to trace the background of the Yoga Sutras"

-Alistair Shearer,
Introduction to
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

Yoga

On your trip, we will begin each day with the practice of yoga. Yoga, derived from the Sanskrit root YUJ, "to join," means "union" or "unity". The full intention of yoga moves beyond the physical postures into a spiritual experience of the nature of existence and who we really are. It is an avenue of purification, both in body and mind, which allows us to settle into the absolute consciousness, stillness and bliss within – the essence of our true Self.

The desire to know the Self is deeply rooted in each of us. The ultimate goal of Yoga is the full realization of that Self through union with the unbounded and pure consciousness or bliss that lies within. It is through this experience we know union with the Divine, and thus union with all. By deepening our practice, we begin to contact this Self or field of bliss more regularly and bring it into our awareness. Once stabilized, we then begin to act upon this awareness. This greatly impacts our view of this world and our way of existing in it. We start to make choices and decisions that are in alignment with Nature and supported by the Universe. We move into a higher state of being and consciousness, understanding that regardless of the external challenges and situations life may present, the inner state of bliss and peace is unchanging and always accessible – it is who we are. Our lives become an increasingly positive force for humanity and this world. This continues until, in the first stage of Enlightenment, we are fully aware of our essential nature – the state of effortless Being – and this awareness pervades every dimension and detail of our existence. This is Self-Realization. This eventually leads to the higher stages of Enlightenment – God consciousness (Realization or union with the Divine) and ultimately, Unity Consciousness (Realization or union with All).

The practice of yoga can become a vehicle of transformation. The lessons learned during the practice can become a guide to how to handle situations in your daily life. During the trips, whether you are a beginner or advanced student of Yoga, you will deepen your understanding and experience of these ancient spiritual practices through our daily routine. You will develop a practice that you will be able to continue and maintain when you return to your life after the trip and an awareness that will begin to transform your life and way of being.