Capital of Meditation and Yoga Rishikesh, a small town in Uttaranchal, is also termed as capital of Meditation and Yoga. Situated 26 Km from Haridwar, Rishikesh serves as a gateway to the Himalayas. The place has being mentioned in the ancient Indian texts as the perfect place for performing penance. The whole place is considered to be sacred as it is believed that meditation at this place leads to attainment of salvation. There are many temples, some ancient, some new along the river Ganges. Rishikesh is important not only as pilgrimage centre closely associated with the Ramayana, but also as home for many important centres of Hindu religious thought and spirituality, and great Yoga centres. There are a many ashrams and Yoga institutes here.
The Ancient Therapies Yoga Yoga is a form of physical exercise, which involves physical stress to get perfect harmony, balance and concord between the physical, physiological and spiritual health. Yoga is of many types, including Hatha-yoga, Raj-yoga, Karma-yoga, Bhakti-yoga, Mantra-yoga and Laya Yoga. Ashrams in Rishikesh have all the required facilities for Yoga.
Meditation Meditation is a form of mental exercise, done to improve the mental power and concentration. Meditation is generally done at a quite place, eyes closed, and getting lost in an unknown world of spirituality. A typical session of meditation lasts for 10 minutes to one hour.
Massage and Naturopathy The ashrams in Rishikesh provide services for massage and naturopathy. Massage is done using natural oils and herbs. Naturopathy involves medical treatment, using the natural resources and processes. Naturopathy has been very successful in curing acute and chronic diseases.
Residential Ashrams The ashrams in Rishikesh provide with full residential facilities. These ashrams are known for the best of stay facilities. Fooding, lodging, laundry and other requirements are fulfilled in the ashrams. Most of the ashrams here donot charge anything for stay. They are run on donations made by pilgrims and visitors.
Major Ashrams An annual International Yoga Week Festival is organised in Rishikesh, during the months of February or March. Leading spiritual leaders, Yoga teachers, Meditation teachers, Naturopath doctors and thousands of devotees participate in the festival. Some of the major ashrams in Rishikesh are:
- Paramarth Niketan
- Sivanand Ashram
- Yoga Niketan
- Omkaranand Ashram
- Vanprastha Ashram
- Ved Niketan Dayanand
- Vedanta Ashram
- Vanmali Gita Yogashram
- Shankaracharya Nagar Transcendental Meditation Centre
- Vithal Ashram and Yoga Study Centre
