HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR YOGA JOURNEY IN RISHIKESH

The yoga teacher training in Rishikesh, India which is the birthplace of yoga is indeed a life-changing experience, one which I think everyone should and would benefit from at some point in their lives. This the retreat is set in the northern part of India, in the foothills of Himalaya with the Ganga River flowing through it, making this beautiful little city, a wonder to behold attracting meditation and yoga courses.

Many individuals who have gone to the yoga courses in Rishikesh has gone there grossly unprepared for their trips and hence not getting the full benefits of these events. To help avoid the mistakes that prevent you from enjoying the benefits of these yoga teacher training, we have a list of things you need to know to prepare you for your yoga journey in Rishikesh properly.

·        Wean your body of eggs booze and meat

Rishikesh is a dry vegetarian town in which when individuals who visit must prepare themselves for a time of no meat and alcohol. Needless to say, if you love eggs, be prepared to stay without it. Those who are used to eating two to three eggs daily have to face the shock to which they were not prepared when they cannot eat eggs. Therefore, if your daily diet comprises of mainly alcohol, meat and eggs, it would be wise to reduce them from your diet before your trip gradually.

·        Pack Your Medications

Most of the pharmacies in Rishikesh are Ayurvedic. Hence, take necessary precaution and pack yourself with supplements and probiotics and medicines for any health conditions. There might also be stomach aches and pains as the Delhi belly might set in. Hence, packing your medications well in advance would have a way to relieve the pain.

·        Bring your yoga mat from home

Many people are slightly germophobic with high cleanliness standards and with this as a thing for you, let’s say that the yoga mats at the Rishikesh studio have seen better days. Instead of using the free mats and not enjoying your yoga in India, you could bring your yoga mats from home.

·        Pack emergency snacks

Being someone new to the food there, you might likely fall sick from eating Indian food for three meals per day, believe me, I know. Your belly and taste buds would need a break from these foods. Many people in most groups brought nut butter with them which they ate with bread for one meal per day relieving your digestive system from the hard work it goes through digesting heavily spiced Indian food.

·        Plan to buy all your Indian clothes from there

In Rishikesh, it is known that you should wear flowy, full-coverage clothing as you would not want to wear tight yoga tank tops and pants outside your yoga studio. It is going to be a huge task trying to get these sorts of clothes from home as they would be expensive and fake as well. Your best bet to making the best of your shopping experience is to do your shopping upon arrival where you can pick up some pants and scarves to wear during your stay. There are a lot of shops throughout town where you can purchase your new retreat clothes at reasonable prices.

·        Withdraw and exchange your cash before you arrive

We know that normally one should bring enough money to get by for the first couple of days and make use of credit cards as the need arises. You would be surprised by the amount of stress you would go through in search of money. The reason is that most places in Rishikesh do not accept credit cards and sometimes, ATM’s run out of cash for multiple days leaving opting out of town to find the nearest ATM as the only available solution in which we might rightfully say is not the best use of precious time. Save yourself some time and convert enough cash into rupees at home instead of going back to the ATM day after day.

·        Bring your earplugs

India can be very loud; whether it is a motorbike, a horse-drawn carriage, a monkey, a group of people, a car or a cow, you cannot just help but be disturbed by the volume of noise made in India. India has a lot of festivities which can be loud, especially at night when you sleep so save yourself some trouble, pack earplugs, and sleep sound.

·        Satsang

The Satsang is a spiritual event common in Indian culture. Satsang means “association with the wise” where students come from far and near to be in the presence of their religious leaders. Here, the teacher starts to give talks and shares wisdom, followed by a question and answer session. In Rishikesh, satsangs are held daily in various venues throughout the city. If this adventure would interest you in any way, then Rishikesh is a must visit. Many have gained a lot from the Satsang sessions, even more, than they anticipated and so can you as well if you choose to.

It is safe to say that preparation is the mother and foundation of success. If we fail to plan for an event, then we plan to fail in making the most of it. The yoga teacher training in Rishikesh is one to be enjoyed if you make the most of it, use these tips, plan for the trip and make the most of it as I can assure you it is one to be enjoyed. I know you would enjoy it because I already see you planning for it.