Parmarth Niketan

Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh,

&

Patanjali Yog Peeth, Haridwar

present:

INTERNATIONAL YOGA FESTIVAL 2008

MARCH 1-7, 2008

See www.internationalyogafestival.com for more details

This year’s highlights include:

REVERED SAINTS:

H.H. Sri Shankaracharya Swami Divyanand Teerthji is revered for his profound and deep commentaries on the holy scriptures, and he travels the world spreading these divine teachings. Sri Shankaracharyaji achieved great levels of academic success and accomplishment prior to taking his vows of Sanyas. As the Adi Shankaracharya traveled from South to North to spread the message of unity and dharma so has Sri Shankaracharyaji traveled from North to South to spread the messages of universal brotherhood, love and righteousness.  H.H. Swami Ramdevji , is probably the world's most well known proponent today of yoga and pranayama. A disciple of Pujya Swami Shankerdevji Maharaj, Pujya Swami Ramdevji is the founder and head of Patanjali Yoga Peeth in Haridwar. He teaches and touches nearly 200,000 people per month through his huge yoga camps as well as the numerous hours per day his yoga/pranayama shows are aired on interntional television. He is well versed in Sanskrit Grammar, Ayurved and Vedic Philosophy and a strong Proponent of Indian cultural values.  (www.divyayog.com)

H.H. Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji is the President of Parmarth Niketan Ashram. He left his home at eight years old and spent his youth in seclusion, silence and sadhana in the Himalayas. Today he is world renowned as a great saint, spiritual leader, visionary and divine guide. Pujya Swamiji's religion is unity, and he has been a leader in numerous international, inter-faith conferences and parliaments. He has also been honored with innumerable awards and has also led a number of pilgrimages for peace across the world. The "Yoga" taught by Pujya Swamiji is a total yoga - of body, mind, spirit and soul. It is Yoga for every minute and every day of our lives.

(www.parmarth.com)

H.H. Swami Veda Bharatiji has been imparting the wisdom, insight and treasures of the Vedas since the age of nine. He is a prolific writer and his works have been recognized in the West as well as in the East. Pujya Swamiji is the spiritual head of the Swami Rama ashram in Rishikesh as well as the spiritual guide of the Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust, Jolly Grant, Dehradun. Pujya Swami Veda Bharatiji travels extensively around the world, bringing the divine gift of meditation and Vedantic knowledge to seekers of innumerable countries.
(www.swamiveda.org)

H.H. Dr. Pranav Pandyaji  M.B.B.S., M.D. is the director of Brahmvarchas Research Institute, Shantikunj Haridwar and spiritual head of the world Gayatri Parivar. Dr. Pranav Pandya is a close and direct disciple of Pundit Shriram Sharma Acharyaji. He joined Brahmvarchas Research Institute in order to serve masses and to establish inter communion of Science with Spirituality. More than 20,000 people have received psycho-spiritual treatment relieving them of  stress and strain and also of psychosomatic ailments. Pujya Dr. Pranav Pandya was awarded The Hindu of the Year and has delivered lectures on Scientific Spirituality, Art of Living, Herbal Healing & Science of Soul.
(www.awgp.org)

H.H. Acharya Balkrishanji Acharya Balkrishanji is the Chairman of Divya Pharmacy, the Ayurvedic wing of Divya Yog Mandir and Patanjali Yog Peeth. While the Yoga aspects are overseen by Yogrishi Swami RamDevji, the Ayurvedic treatment and research work is being carried on under the supervision of Acharya Balkrishanji. Acharyaji is a post Graduate from Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishvavidhalaya, Varanasi, in Sankhya-Yog & Ayurved. He has delved deep into the 'Charak Samahitya', 'Ashtang Hriday', 'Bhaysajya Ratnavali' and other such Ayurvedic compositions. Over 100 thousand people annually receive treatment from the Divya Yog Mandir.
(www.divyayog.com)

H.H. Swami Vishwanandaji
Sri Swami Vishwananda has dedicated his life to the spiritual guidance of people from all cultures and religions. It is his wish to awaken Bhakti, devotion to God, in the hearts of people and to bring them to Self-realisation, to realise the Divine within. Swami Vishwananda was born in 1978 in Mauritius. At the age of fourteen he became fully aware of his mission, and after school he started travelling the world “wherever God sent him”. In 2004 he built an ashram in Germany and founded the “Bhakti Marga monastic Order” (Bhakti Marga = Path of Devotion) and began to accept disciples, initiating them into Brahmacharya.
(www.vishwananda.us)
H.H. Sadhvi Suhrad (Premben)  Sadhvi Suhrad is the head of the women's wing of the Haridham Ashram under the leadership of Pujya Swami Hariprasadji. She oversees the women devotees and sadhvis. Since youth she has always been very devotional and longing to live only for God. She came to the Swaminarayan tradition and Pujya Swami Hariprasadji in 1974.  Her dharmic life, devotion, wisdom, divine love and Saintliness are an inspiration to all.

YOGA, VEDANTA & AYURVEDA

Taught by Dr. David Frawley (Pt. Vamadeva Shastri), one of the few Westerners ever recognized in India as a Vedacharya or teacher of the ancient wisdom. In 1991, he was named Vamadeva Shastri, after the great Vedic Rishi Vamadeva. In 1995 he was given the title of Pandit along with the Brahmachari Vishwanathji award for his knowledge of the Vedic teaching. Vamadeva is a prolific and renowned author on a vast array of topics ranging from Vedanta, to yoga to Ayurveda. He is also a distinguished speaker and teacher in USA as well as in India and has lectured at most of the major Vedantic and Yogic institutions in both countries. (www.vedanet.com)

KUNDALINI YOGA

Taught by Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa,  the co-founder and director of Golden Bridge, the premier center for the study and practice of Kundalini yoga and meditation in Los Angeles, CA, and now also in New York City. For over three decades, students around the world have sought her classes in Kundalini yoga, meditation and pre and post natal training. She is the author of "The Eight Human Talents: The Yogic Way to Restoring the Natural Balance of Serenity Within You", and "Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful: Experience the Natural Power of Pregnancy and Birth with Kundalini Yoga and Meditation    (www.goldenbridgeyoga.com)

POWER VINYASA  YOGA

Taught by Duncan Peak.  Duncan has over a decade of experience in leadership and personal development. In the last 5 years, he has devoted himself to teaching his unique style of Power Yoga in Australia and around the world. Duncan is a Baptiste Power Vinyasa Master Teacher and has a close relationship with world-renowned Yoga and Fitness Guru, Baron Baptiste. Duncan has trained some of Australia’s biggest sporting personalities, athletes and celebrities and owns and operates one of the country’s busiest yoga studios. He runs studios, retreats, teacher trainings and workshops under his brand, Power Living Australia.  (http://www.powerliving.com.au/duncanpeak.htm)

YOGA NIDRA AND NADA YOGA

Taught by Sadhvi Abha Saraswati, an avid yoga practitioner since the age of 25, when - through yoga - she cured herself of a terminal kidney ailment called nephritis. Since then she has delved more and more deeply into various forms of yoga and has become not only a practitioner, but also a teacher. Sadhvi Abha took Sanyas diksha in 2003 from H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji. She resides at Parmarth Niketan, where she teaches yoga nidra, nada yoga and Vedic chanting to students as well as infuses the Ganga Aarti with the heavenly sound of her voice. (www.parmarth.com)

IYENGAR yOGA & pRANAYAMA

Taught by Shri Birjoo Mehta, a long standing disciple of Yogacharya Sri B.K.S Iyengar, as well as the managing trustee of the Light on Yoga Research Trust, Mumbai. Birjoo has been a student of Sri B.K.S. Iyengar since 1975, and since 1984 has accompanied Sri Iyengar on many tours in India and overseas. Birjoo has been teaching Iyengar yoga in Mumbai for 18 years and has been one of the principle teachers at the Iyengar Yoga Conventions in UK, France, Holland, Spain and Israel. (www.bksiyengar.com)

MEDITATION

Taught by Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati. A graduate of Stanford University, she came to Parmarth Niketan from America in 1996. She took Sanyas diksha in June 2000 from H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, marking her pledge to a life of service, renunciation, purity and devotion. She performs a vast array of service at Parmarth Niketan as well as teaches meditation and yoga in travels around the world. She also speaks to audiences across the world on spirituality and Indian culture.

JAPANESE SHINTO YOGA

Taught by Hikaru Hashimoto. Hikaru has been practicing yoga since the age of 23. in order to promote yoga widely in Japan, he established Japan Fitness Yoga Association in 1993, and developed original programs based on Dharma Yoga and Hatha Yoga. The association has trained hundreds of instructors and currently is in charge of more than 700 fitness yoga classes in Japan. Japanese Shinto Yoga, incorporates Hatha Yoga practices as well as the various exercises of Japanese Shinto, Japan’s great ancient wisdom. (www.yoga.co.jp)

HOW TO FIND YOUR PASSION IN LIFE

Led by Janet Attwood, The NY Times bestselling author of “The Passion Test- The Effortless Path to Discovering Your Destiny”.  The Passion Test is a simple process that has been given to thousands of people all over the world aligning anyone with their special gifts.  Janet is also the creator of “The Dialogues With The Masters Series”, a compilation of over 60 interviews  with Saints and Sages all over the world. (www.healthywealthynwise.com)  (www.enlightenedalliances.com).

POWER YOGA

Taught by Brahmachari Vishwapal Jayant (Yogiraj) a famous pranayama and power yoga expert and also an ayurvedic expert. Brahmachariji is the head of the Kanav Ashram in Kotdwar where he gives yoga and pranayama camps as well as ayurvedic treatment.

REIKI

taught by Smt. Rohini Khatri a renowned Reiki master a Tarot reader from Hyderabad, India. She practices and teaches all levels of Reiki , Crystal healing, Tarot reading ,Aura reading and a string of Indian ,western and Zen practices at her healing center in Hyderabad , the south of India.She conducts workshops at different levels all across the globe. She has been guiding people on the healing-path, giving love, light and peace to one and all. (www.rohinikhatri.com)

VINYASA YOGA

Taught by Bhavini Kalan. Bhavini started practising Bikram Yoga in 1999. She has completed the Sivananda Yoga Teachers Training Programme as well as the program in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga (of Pattabi Jois), in Mysore, India. Bhavini now teaches Integral Vinyasa Yoga. Since receiving her teacher certification from the Sivananda Ashram in Kerala , she has been teaching in South Africa.

YOGA THERAPY

Taught by Saul David Raye. Saul began practicing yoga and meditation as a teenager and has studied with master teachers in various spiritual and healing traditions.   He holds numerous certifications in yoga, bodywork, and energy healing.  He is an ordained minister and a musician who infuses his classes with healing music and chants.  He co-founded the Sacred movement Center in LA.  He currently teaches locally and internationally, and is co-founding a new center for Seva, Yoga & Ayurveda.

lectures on the connection between mind-body

cultural song-dance programs musical performances

Experience the Evening divine Ganga Aarti. Set to devotional music, this special light ceremony in the evening, called 'Aarti' is sure to stir your soul and touch your heart regardless, of your religious or cultural background (click here for more information about this beautiful ceremony)

For travel suggestions to Rishikesh from Delhi please see www.parmarth.com/gettingthere.htm

For assistance in booking plane tickets, hotel arrangements, tours or transport to Rishikesh,
please contact Mr. Neeraj Gupta at gupta_ng_in@hotmail.com or by phone on +91-9811111044 or + 91-9310111044

Yoga means “union;” it is a union of breath to the body, of the mind to the muscles, and most importantly of the self to the divine. What better place to become “united” than on the sacred banks of Mother Ganga, in a land to which rishis and sages have flocked for millennia?

While all aspects of yoga will be discussed, the focus will be on yogasanas, pranayama, and meditation. Using the body as a medium, the breath becomes still, the mind attains peace and the soul moves closer to liberation.

Through yoga we learn how to use the body and the breath as a path to inner peace and transformation.

For more information about Parmarth Niketan's Yoga and Meditation, please contact:

Yoga and Meditation Section, Parmarth Niketan
P.O. Swargashram, Rishikesh (Himalayas) 249304, India
Phone: (0135) 2440088, 2440077, 2434301 
Fax: (0135) 2440066
[from abroad dial +91-135 instead of 0135]
E-mail: parmarth@parmarth.com

PLEASE NOTE THE LOCAL TIME OF INDIA WHICH IS 13 1/2 HOURS AHEAD OF USA EAST COAST TIME, 10 1/2 HOURS AHEAD OF USA WEST COAST TIME, 5 1/2 HOURS AHEAD OF UK AND 4 1/2 HOURS AHEAD OF EUROPE.

PLEASE CALL BETWEEN 10 AM AND 10 PM INDIAN TIME