From 25 January to 3 February 2019, we had the pleasure of welcoming a group of Swiss yoga teachers and an Indologist and Sanskrit teacher to the Uravu Bamboo Grove resort.
“Yoga & Bhoga” was their theme for these ten days of mindfulness activities. The participants benefited from being in tranquil surroundings rich in natural beauty. In this idyllic environment the group was able to fully focus on yoga and the improvement of their Sanskrit knowledge.
Their typical day started with meditation and yoga in the morning, followed by a Sanskrit class until lunchtime, and a philosophy class after dinner. In addition, numerous activities were planned, tailored to the group’s needs and wishes. These activities allowed the group to explore the culture of the Uravu Bamboo Village and to connect with the local community in order to understand their way of life.
The activities included:
- Village walk
- Craft and dance classes
- Hatha yoga class
- Ayurvedic treatment
- Bird watching
- Temple ceremony
- Tea plantation visit
- Karapura dam visit
- A day visiting the famous sights of the region (Eddekal Caves, Jain Temple, Phantom Rock, Heritage Museum, waterfalls)
Among the highlights of this week was the visit to Sreelakshmi School where students and our Swiss group were able to demonstrate some Yoga Asanas (postures) to each other. The philosophical lecture given by Swamini Sivanda Puri, followed by a traditional dinner served on banana leaves was also very much appreciated by the group. Finally, the closing ceremony, organised in the Uravu Community Center for and with the local community, which starred the Wayanad Nattukoottam, a band from Wayanad playing traditional songs, dances by local women (as well as one Swiss participant), and finally some Swiss traditional songs were “the cherry on the cake”.
We are really pleased and grateful to have had the opportunity to host this wonderful group for such a special week. We hope you too will be motivated to learn or improve your yoga, to relax and rejuvenate in the Uravu Bamboo Grove Resort.
