"Personalise Your Practice" Information Booklet

INFORMATION BOOKLET

Religions & Castes in India India is the birthplace of most of the world's major religions, namely Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. India is a country founded on religion with over 90% of the population associating themselves with a religion. The dominant religion is Hinduism (over 80%), followed by Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. While some areas might be dominant in one religion, there is usually a mix of religions existing together. This religious tolerance is really unique and special and is protected by law and custom. Many people coming to India to practice yoga have some interest or experience with Hinduism, whether we realize it or not. The Sanskrit names of many of the asanas we practice in a yoga class are derived from the names and stories of people, animals and gods of Hinduism… we will explore the stories behind some of these on the retreat. This does not mean that only Hindus can practice yoga. Yoga is a religion neutral practice, open to anyone of any religion, creed or caste. It is concerned more with expanding our understanding of ourselves and the connection to the world us. Embedded in Hindu society in India is the caste system. This refers to the idea that people are born into different 'castes' or social statuses and within the current lifetime it is not possible to change your caste. This can only happen as a result of karma and reincarnation. The caste dictates almost every part of life from suitable work practices, education (or lack of), marriages, places of dwelling and access to services. The caste system is less present today in the larger cities but is still prevalent in the smaller towns and villages. We have suggested some books in our 'suggested reading' section that touch on this cultural issue and its effect on society and humanity. On your travels you may notice this distinction however it is unlikely to directly affect your travel or time in Inda.

“Personalise Your Practice ”An Exclusive Yoga Retreat for Women by Feel India

7 September – 17 September 2013

[email protected] Cell: +91.979.1944.182 Fb: Feel India

For more details on this and future retreats contact: Feel India



Travelling as women in India A women travelling alone in India is sometimes seen as an oddity or a curiosity to the locals, as Indian women would normally travel with a companion. However, this does not mean you can't travel alone, in fact we have travelled all over India many times over the years on our own and so have many other foreign travellers. Often people are just curious but it is still good to take some precautions. If you are travelling alone before or after the retreat, just let us know and we will give you a list of really simple things you can do to make sure you enjoy your time and avoid any unnecessary attention or complications. Ultimately we have always loved our solo travel and would not hesitate on recommending it to others. Cultural Awareness In India women of all religions dress modestly, covering their shoulders and legs in loose clothing, the traditional dress for women being a Sari, which comes in all different colours and fabrics and is used for all occasions. It is just as common to see women wearing saris while working in the rice field as it is going shopping or out to dinner. In the cities women wear more 'modern' clothing but the sari is still worn regularly amongst the jeans and t-shirts. We suggest dressing modestly during your stay in India. Jeans and loose pants are perfect. Knee length shorts are also fine except when visiting a temple, in which case long skirts or pants is advised. Tank/singlet tops that reveal the shoulders are not advised except in some of the big cities. As it can get quite hot, tank tops are sometimes more comfortable to wear and in this case we suggest wearing a shawl to cover the shoulders. We always travel with a few shawls as they see to come in handy. In India people traditionally and still today do not use toilet paper but use a water spray or bucket and their left hand to clean themselves. For this reason people never use the left hand while interacting with another person whether it be shaking hands or passing money. While people are respectful of tourists ignorance of these matters it is nice to have this cultural awareness. Eating with your hand is also commonplace in India. People will always eat with their right hand and use the fingers to mix rice and curry together into a ball and place it in the mouth. This is a great experience that we suggest everyone try. All restaurants provide a hand wash area to clean the hands before and after a meal. But don't worry, all restaurants also have cutlery available for those feeling shy to use their hands. An interesting point to note is the idea of personal space. While you should never have people (particularly men) touching you, it is common for people to crowd together, push in front of you in a line (although lines are not really the norm here), take an interest in you and ask you questions. Most of the time people are just going about their business or they are honestly interested in you…the most common question will be “which country are you



from”.Common sense and intuition is the best judgment in these situations. If you feel uncomfortable just walk away but be aware that there does not seem to be the same understanding of personal space as you may have at home. Wearing a toe ring on each of the second toes is a sign that you are married. Some people are sure this makes a difference to they way both women and men deal with them. This could be an interesting experiment on your travels. Bartering with a rickshaw driver (and paying too much) is just part of travelling in India. Many rickshaws now have meters and you can ask for the meter to be put on. In the absence of a meter you are at the mercy of the driver. As a foreigner you are likely to get the 'tourist' price although bargaining is acceptable, don't be discouraged if you don't drive the price down too much… they can be hard bargainers! If you are travelling before or after the retreat and want some more advice on train travel, planes, different area or cultural awareness please just ask and we will share and help you in any way we can.

What to pack Ÿ Your favourite yoga mat. But we will have mats available for use.Ÿ Yoga clothes.Ÿ Modest, casual and comfortable clothing. The weather is hot and

slightly humid and there may be some rainfall at this time, which can be a little cool so a long sleeved shirt may come in handy. We suggest bringing some older clothing as travelling in India can be a little dirty. We will have dinners in the vila for your chance to dress up. When in the vila, this is a secluded and private space and clothing you wear at home is most likely suitable.

Ÿ a swimsuit and a pair of shorts and t-shirt you can swim in.Ÿ a sarongŸ a shawlŸ Comfortable footwear. We highly recommend just a pair of things/flip flops. In India you

will always be taking your shoes off before entering a room so easy to remove footwear is most practice.

Ÿ Toiletries, including some travel tissues/toilet paper and hand sanitizerŸ Any special medication you requireŸ Notebook and pen. You may want to keep a diary or take notes in workshopsŸ Electrical Adapter. Two prong 220 voltsŸ Alarm ClockŸ Camera MoneyAccessing money in India is fairly easy. There are international ATM's all over India. And we suggest this as the easiest method. You may want to change some money at home and bring this with you but the rates may not be as good as you get here, although be



wary of changing money at the airport as the rates are usually not too good. Have a look at the exchange rate before you leave form your home country dso you have an idea of what is reasonable. It is a good idea to have some Indian Rupees in cash as you will need this to purchase any of the optional extras on the retreat and also for any shopping you do at local shops and tourist sites. A list of some of the extras and shopping opportunities you may want to have some cash for include: Ÿ Massages and therapy work (approximately 2,500 rupees per treatment)Ÿ There will be the opportunity to purchase clothing made by some of the womens groups

and NGO's that Kasha (your host) works with.Ÿ Opportunity to purchase some yoga clothing and shawls and loose indian pantsŸ Antique marketsŸ Local shops at temples and in RameswaramŸ It is good to have some cash as 'offerings' of a small amount of money is often made at

temples. Communication If you have international roaming then using your mobile phone should not be a problem. There is good phone reception around India.If you wanted to buy a sim card while you are here this is more difficult. The Government of India has put restrictions on foreigners obtaining sim cards and it can be a lengthy process filled with paperwork. We would only suggest this if you were staying for a longer time.Internet is available throughout India. There are internet cafes and wireless is usually only available in large establishments that cater to tourist. There will be wireless available at the vila if you plan on bringing a laptop…but we do suggest you restrict mobile and internet use to really allow you to surrender and immerse yourself in yoga and India Visa It is necessary to obtain a visa before arriving in India. The process usually takes around 2 weeks but this will vary depending on which country you are coming from. The length of visa will also vary according to the country. Please obtain a TOURIST VISA and on documentation when entering India it is also important you write that you are here for tourism. Please contact your local Indian consulate to ensure you understand the requirements and obligations for obtaining a visa. If you are not coming from your home country, it is possible to obtain a visa in other countries. We have experience with Thailand, Nepal, the UK and Sri Lanka. All of these


For more details on this and future retreats contact

Feel India

countries have a fairly easy process however be aware that sometimes the conditions (usually the length of the visa) can vary. Arriving & Travel

thWe request you arrive in Madurai on the 6 and spend the night in thMadurai before your pick-up on the 7 . This will allow you some time

to deal with jet-lag and for us to start with a great group energy when th

we arrive together and well rested on the 7 . If you are keen to get out and do some sightseeing Madurai is a temple city so there is plenty to see. We can recommend the following hotel for your first night in Madurai: The HeritageThe Gateway Each of these hotels is around USD100 per night and will provide you with airport pick-up and luxurious accommodation.There are plenty of cheaper options if you prefer, we suggest you look on tripadvisor or recommendations form other travellers. When you clear customs and exit the airport there will be someone either from the hotel or from the retreat with a sign with your name on it. This is a really easy process but just in case you can't find them make sure you have the number of the hotel with you or you will have our number and we will always be available to help.

Unable to get to Madurai the day before? If you are unable to make it to Madurai the day before then don't worry we can still pick you

thup from Madurai airport on the 7 and bring you to the villa. If you chose to come straight to the retreat from a different city then we will help you arrange a car at your own cost. Getting to Madurai It is very easy to get to Madurai. There are flights from all major airports in India. From Chennai airlines Jet Connect, Spice Jet and Air India have a number of flights daily from Chennai for around USD100, Mumbai around USD150 and Delhi around USD200. Check Yatra or FareCompare or MakeMyTrip for some more details. It is possible to arrive by train and also car. If you chose one of these options just let us know and we can help with the organization. Whichever way you choose to arrive, rest at ease, you will have our contact numbers and we will make sure you arrive with as little hassle as possible.



TREATMENTS

Samî A. Latzke (German)· Born 1972, physiotherapist, healthpractitioner (Heilpraktiker)· Shiatsu practitioner acknowledged by the German Society

for Shiatsu (GSD)· Study of Samalin and bio-magnetic therapy with Bob Neal in

India· Teacher for Taijiquan Yang Style according to Cheng Man Ching· Hypnotherapist educated by California Hypnosis Institude of India

“This is not about changing something, but about not holding on to anything, and to open our eyes and hearts.”

Jack Kornfield

Healing Touch Massage:

This massage is based on classical Swedisch massage and also includes a Shiatsu diagnosis and energetic work in the aura,as well as acupressure for the extremities.

The Deep tissue oil massage will focus on the back,neck and shoulders,but if necessary it can be also focused on the entire body.

Shiatsu is a Japanese method of acupressure based on the model of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the five elements.

Traditional Chinese Medicine holds that life-energy flows in energy channels, the so-called meridians. Every uneasiness and disease has its cause in a blockage of the flow of life-energy. Accordingly the free flow of life-energy-called Ki in Japanese-leads to greater well-being and vitality. The support of the free flow is the aim.

Quantum Shiatsu Massage

Quantum Shiatsu recognizes the multi-dimensional aspects of energy in the body. Most styles of Shiatsu base their theory and practice solely on the ancient principles derived from Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. Quantum Shiatsu goes a step further and incorporates concepts from Quantum Physics that illustrate how the physical body can work as an expanding and contracting field of energetic vibrations.When we access this part of our physical make up, we open ourselves up to the full spectrum of energy that is available for human use and we can tap into more of our potential for healing and self-realization. The massage is given on a bench,it uses acupressure without oil.

After the retreat If you are planning on staying in India after the retreat we can give you the local tips so just let us know.



Health Insurance:It is necessary for you to obtain travel insurance before coming to the retreat. In the very unlikely event that you were to fall ill it is good for us to know these details so we ask that you supply us with your insurance details prior to leaving your home country. Health:It is useful to take some general precautions when in India. Here are a few tips:Ÿ Never drink tap water or any other water unless from a commercial mineral water bottle

or trusted filtered water source.Ÿ Try to avoiding touching the tip of the bottle when drinkingŸ Wash your hands at any opportunityŸ Avoid touching your face and mouth with your handsŸ Eat in established restaurants and avoid street foodŸ Eat vegetarian, as it is easier to store, less effected by heat and therefore less likely to

be contaminated or off.Ÿ Keep up your fluids to avoid dehydrationŸ Never sit on public toilet seatsŸ Carry toilet paper with you and hand sanitizer Vaccinations:Please see your doctor for advice on any vaccination you may need to come to India. Suggested reading Books we love about India:Ÿ Freedom at Midnight (1975) (describes the events of Indian

Independence) by Larry Collins & Dominique LapierŸ Yoga School Dropout, Lucy EdgeŸ Of Marriageable Age, Sharon MaasŸ White Tiger, AravindAdigaŸ Shantaram, Gregory Davids RobertsŸ Animal’s People, IndraSinhaŸ A Fine Balance, RohintonMistryŸ The Inheritance of Loss, Hiran Desai Books we love about Yoga: Ÿ Autobiography of a Yogi, ParamahansaYoganandaŸ Practices for Liberating Body & Soul, Sharon Gannon & David LeeŸ The Heart of Yoga, Developing a Personal Practice, T.K.V DesikacharŸ Health, Healing & Beyond: Yoga & the living tradition of Krishnamcharya, T.K.V.

DesikacharŸ Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar

Books we love about food and healing through food Ÿ Eat to Live, Joel FurhamŸ Conscious Eating, Gabriel CousinsŸ The China Study, T Colin Campbell & Thomas M CampbellŸ Mad Cowboy, Howard F LymanŸ The Sunfood Diet Success System, David Wolfe Recommended Viewing IndiaŸ “Gandhi”Ÿ “Passage to India”Ÿ “Slumdog Millionaire”Ÿ “Water” (all time favourite)Ÿ “Delhi Belly” (Bollywood) YogaŸ “Yoga Unveiled” (a 5 hour documentary about the history of Yoga)Ÿ “Y Yoga”Ÿ “Yoga Women” FoodŸ “Forks over Knives”Ÿ “Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead”



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