12-DAY TOTAL IMMERSION PACKAGE SUMMARY
Arrive in Mumbai on the evening of March 19th
1 Night: March 19th at Taj Lands End, Mumbai.
5 Nights: March 20th – March 25th at Taj Sawai Madhopur Ranthanbore, Rajasthan.
5 Nights: March 25th – March 30th at Taj Exotica, Goa.
Fly back from Goa to Mumbai on March 30 and onto New York on March 30th/31st
Packages include all luxury accommodations, all meals, intra-India travel, yoga sessions, safaris, itinerary excursions and tips. Airfare to India, spa and ayurveda treatments, child care, laundry service, and beverages are at additional cost.
Email: Puy at: puynavarro@hotmail.com for details
A. ITINERARY
DAY 1 – Monday, March 19th
- Arrive at Mumbai Airport
- Transfer to Taj Lands End Mumbai
- Traditional Welcome
- Dinner at Taj Lands End
- Overnight at Taj Lands End
DAY 2 – Tuesday, March 20th
- Breakfast at Taj Lands End
- Morning flight from Mumbai to Jaipur
- Guided tour of City Palace Museum and Observatory in Jaipur
- Free time to shop and see the Palace of Winds in Jaipur
- Lunch at City Palace in Jaipur
- Coach to Ranthambore
- Opening Ceremony for Retreat
- Yoga Session
- Dinner in Main Dining Hall
- Slide Show of Ranthambore Wild Life Sanctuary
- Overnight at Taj Sawai Madhopur, Ranthambore
DAY 3 – Wednesday, March 21st
- Pre-Breakfast
- Morning yoga session – includes philosophy discussion, asana, restorative, yoga nidra and meditation
- Beginners Workshop
- Breakfast in Courtyard Area
- Lunch in Main Dining Hall
- Enjoy hotel facilities – spa, pool
- Late Afternoon Safari
- Dinner at Neem Terrace at the Hotel
- Overnight at Taj Sawai Madhopur, Ranthambore
DAY 4 – Thursday, March 22nd
- Pre-Breakfast
- Morning yoga session will be at the Ranthambore Fort inside the Wild Life Sanctuary.
- The Ranthambore Fort was built in 944 AD and sits 700 feet above the surrounding plane offering a spectacular view of the reserve.
- Visit Ganesh Temple
- Breakfast at 32 Pillars within the Fort
- Lunch in Main Dining Hall
- Evening Safari
- Dinner and Cultural Performance in Courtyard
- Overnight at Taj Sawai Madhopur, Ranthambore
DAY 5 – Friday, March 23rd
- Pre-Breakfast
- Morning Safari
- Breakfast in Courtyard
- Visit Dastkar (Ladies Corp Society for Handicrafts);
or
- Free time at Hotel to enjoy hotel spa, pool
- Lunch in Main Dining Hall
- Inversion Workshop / Basic Alignment Principles Workshop
- Evening Yoga Session – Asana Practice with restorative poses, yoga nidra and meditation
- Book Club Meeting by fireside
- Dinner – Poolside Barbeque at Hotel
- Overnight at Taj Sawai Madhopur, Ranthambore
DAY 6 – Saturday, March 24th
- Pre-Breakfast
- Morning Safari
- Breakfast in Courtyard
- Visit Ranthambore School of Art
or
- Free time at Hotel to enjoy hotel spa, pool
- Lunch in Main Dining Hall
- Workshop – practicing arm balances
- Yoga Session – Asana Practice with restorative poses and yoga nidra and meditation
- Dinner – Jungle theme dinner on Hotel grounds
- Overnight at Taj Sawai Madhopur, Ranthambore
DAY 7 – Sunday, March 25th
- Breakfast in Courtyard
- Coach to Jaipur
- Morning flight from Jaipur to Goa
- Evening Yoga Session in Goa
- Dinner at Alegria, a Goan cuisine restaurant at the Taj Exotica, Goa
- Overnight at Taj Exotica, Goa
DAY 8 – Monday, March 26th
- Pre-Breakfast at Ayurvedic Café
- Morning Yoga Session at Ayurvedic Pavilion
- Breakfast at Hotel
- Day spent relaxing at beach, pool or enjoying Jiva Spa and Ayurvedic center
- Lunch at Taj Exotica
- Book Club Meeting on hotel lawns
- Evening Yoga Session – Ayurveda Discussion and Restorative Practice
- Dinner at Li Bai Oriental Restaurant
- Overnight at Taj Exotica, Goa
DAY 9 – Tuesday, March 27th
- Pre-Breakfast at Ayurvedic Café
- Morning Yoga Session at Ayurvedic Pavilion – Ayurveda and Asana
- Breakfast at Hotel
- Half Day sightseeing and shopping trip to Panjim (capital city of Goa)
- Lunch at Taj in Panjim
- Evening Philosophy Discussion and Restorative Practice
- Dinner at Martins (a traditional Goan shack frequented by locals)
- Overnight at Taj Exotica, Goa
DAY 10 – Wednesday, March 28th
- Pre-Breakfast at Ayurvedic Café
- Morning Yoga Session at Ayurvedic Pavilion
- Breakfast at Hotel
- Free time to enjoy hotel facilities
- Lunch at Hotel
- Evening Yoga Session – Yoga Nidra Lecture and Practice
- Dinner at Sala Grande at Hotel
- Overnight at Taj Exotica, Goa
DAY 11 – Thursday, March 29th
- Pre-Breakfast at Ayurvedic Café
- Morning Yoga Session at Ayurvedic Pavilion
- Breakfast at Hotel
- Trip to Old Goa
- Lunch in Old Goa
- Dinner on lawns in front of Li Bai at Hotel
- Overnight at Taj Exotica, Goa
DAY 12 – Friday, March 30th
- Pre-Breakfast at Ayurvedic Café
- Morning Yoga Session at Ayurvedic Pavilion and Closing Ceremony
- Brunch at Hotel
- Afternoon flight to Mumbai
- Visit Mani Bhavan – Gandhi’s residence in Mumbai
- Visit Babulnath Mandir – famous temple in the heart of Mumbai
- Tea at a Mumbai residence
- Dinner at private club in Mumbai
- Fly back to New York from Mumbai
*The itinerary for the retreat is subject to modifications. Every effort will be made to carry out this trip as planned, but alterations may still occur after the final itinerary is sent.
B. ISHTA IN INDIA
This is an amazing opportunity to immerse yourself in your yoga practice in India and study with Mona Anand, recently initiated into the Ishta Lineage as a Yogiraj or Yoga Master by Ishta founder, Yogiraj Alan Finger. Delve deeper into yoga philosophy by developing a deeper understanding of the Chakras, Ayurveda and The Yoga Sutras.
Our focus the first week in Ranthambore will be to develop a better understanding of the Chakras and how to integrate this knowledge into our yoga practice and our lives. Each session will include a philosophical discussion that will be integrated into the Asana, Restorative Practice, Yoga Nidra and Meditation. Our focus in the second week will be on integrating the Yoga Sutras and Ayurveda into our practice.
In Ranthambore, in addition to our regularly scheduled classes, we will offer retreat participants four mini workshops to work on different aspects of their practice. For new students coming on our retreat we will have two beginners workshops, one focusing on sun salutes and the other on the basic alignment principles of asana – forward bends, backbends and twists. The next two workshops will focus on inversions and arm balances. These mini workshops will be taught by Ishta teachers assisting the retreat.
In Goa we will have two sessions each day. The morning session (approx 2 hrs) will include an asana class led by Mona followed by a yoga nidra. The evening session (approx 1½ hrs) will include a philosophy lecture and a restorative yoga class. We are delighted to have Senior Ishta Teacher, Gina Menza joining us on the retreat and teaching a couple of our evening sessions. Some of our classes in Goa will also be taught by guest teachers from India to give you a taste of yoga in India.
We will also have one book club meeting in Ranthambore and another in Goa. If you would like to delve deeper into Yoga Philosophy you can join us for these sessions. We will send you the names of the books we will be discussing shortly.
C. GETTING TO INDIA
We recommend the non-stop Air India flight from Newark to Mumbai on Sunday, March 18th. Flight AI 144G leaves on Sunday, March 18th at 5:45 p.m. and gets into Mumbai on Monday, March 19th at 5:35 p.m. Our representative will be waiting at the airport to meet and assist everyone coming in on this flight and we will have a coach waiting at the airport to take everyone to the Taj Lands End. If you would like to travel with the group, please contact Vipin Sharma at New Airways. He is holding a round trip price for the scheduled dates of the retreat at $1195 inclusive of all taxes until January 10th. His email address is vipin@newairways.com and his phone number is 212-867-5555.
If you are arriving in India on another airline we will direct you to a taxi service in Mumbai that will be at your own cost. You should make arrangements to be picked up at the airport in Mumbai before leaving the U.S.
D. DESCRIPTION OF CITIES AND HOTELS
JAIPUR
Our trip to Ranthambore will also include a half day sightseeing trip to Jaipur. Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Color washed pink, it is visited for both for its grand palaces and forts and its renowned bazaars, famous for their hand dyed textiles, jewelry and precious stones.
RANTHAMBORE
Once the former hunting grounds of the Maharajas, Ranthambore Wild life Sanctuary is amongst the largest and most well regarded tiger reserves in India and a famous heritage site because of the pictorial ruins that dot the reserve. In addition to visiting the park for our daily Safaris we will also have one yoga session at the Ranthambore Fort in the sanctuary. The lawns we will be practicing on sit 700 feet above the surrounding planes with spectacular views of the reserve, giving us the opportunity to practice yoga whilst experiencing the majesty and stillness of the jungle, surrounded by the animals that the poses were named after.
Taj Sawai Madhopur, Ranthambore
Taj Sawai Madhopur is the only heritage hotel in Ranthambore. It was built over 80 years ago as a hunting stop for the Maharaja of Jaipur. The original art deco styled lodge still houses the original dining hall, bar and lounge. Discover the pleasure of dining at the extra-long Maharaja’s table. Check out the modern spa and pool. Walk along paths across the 12 acres of lush gardens. Experience the glory of the past, now recaptured with a modern vibe.
GOA
Goa, known for its swaying palms, white sandy beaches and sparkling waters draws over 2 million visitors a year. A Portuguese outlet for almost five hundred years, the influence of colonial rule can be seen in its architecture, east meets west cuisine and centuries old cathedrals. Visitors flock to Goa for both its pristine beaches and its unique laid back Goan culture.
Taj Exotica, Goa
Overlooking the Arabian Sea, this Mediterranean-style 5 star resort is widely regarded as one of the best five star hotels in India. Set amidst fifty-six acres of lush gardens, Taj Exotica is a showcase for relaxation with its grand architecture, a sun-drenched atrium and wide shady corridors.
MUMBAI
Mumbai is the most cosmopolitan city in India. Our day in Mumbai will include a visit to Mani Bhavan, Mahatma Gandhi’s residence and a focal point for Gandhi’s political activities from 1917 –1934, and The Babulnath Mandir, a majestic temple built in the 18th century right in the center of Mumbai. We will stop for high tea, organized by my sister in law, at their apartment in Mumbai and will have our closing dinner at a private club in India so that you can experience Mumbai as an insider.
Taj Lands End, Mumbai
Taj Lands End, Mumbai offers the best of both worlds – breathtaking views of the sea and the energy of city life. The hotel is located in the heart of the new Bandra, which buzzes with activity day and night. An integral part of the Taj Luxury Hotels and a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, the Taj Lands End offers some of the city’s finest accommodations.
E. LEAVING MUMBAI TO GET BACK TO THE UNITED STATES
If you are flying back to New York on Air India, the return flight, AI 191Q is scheduled to depart at 1:30 am on March 31st. Our coach will drop you off at the airport at 11:30 p.m. on March 30th. Please let us know your flight details if you are flying back at other times and we will put you in touch with a taxi company in Mumbai at your own cost
F. MONA’S BIO
Mona Anand was recently initiated into the Ishta Lineage as a Yogiraj or Yoga Master by Ishta founder Yogiraj Alan Finger. Mona currently teaches at both the ISHTA Yoga Studio and Yoga Works. She grew up in Bombay, India, where she was first introduced to yoga. Mona has been studying with Alan Finger since 2002. She is a lead teacher trainer in the 200 hour and the 300 hour ISHTA Yoga teacher trainings. She also teaches restorative chakra workshops at The Ishta Yoga Studio and Yoga Works. She encourages her students to individualize their practice in a group class so that the practice serves the student rather than the student serving their practice. Ayurveda and the Chakras are integrated into the practice as a means of rebalancing the body and mind. Mona has a Master’s in International Affairs from Columbia University and lives in Manhattan with her husband and two daughters.
G. RATES
| Double Occupancy | $3,100 |
| Single Occupancy | $4,000 |
| Triple Occupancy (subject to availability) | $2,600 |
Returning Retreat Participants: $200 off all packages
ISHTA and Yoga Works Teachers and Trainees: $300 off all packages
Packages may not be combined
H. CONTACT INFORMATION
All Questions & Registration – Please e-mail Puy Navarro at puynavarro@hotmail.com or call at 646-361-6773
Questions specific to the experience of traveling in India and yoga – Please call Mona Anand at 646-275-0376 or e-mail at monaanand_68@hotmail.com
To check out Taj Exotica visit: www.tajhotels.com
To check out the Taj Sawai Madhopur visit: www.vivantabytaj.com
