Palampur Sivananda Yoga Camp

In summer vacations i always plan at least one travel and one experiential holiday with my daughter Baani. Luckily when Baani joined Sivananda yoga class in May, they announced Yoga camp for parents and kids in June. We immediately registered! 

This was our first yoga camp and we were really excited to do it together! We took overnight volvo to reach Palampur which is little ahead of Dharamshala. The Asharam was located away from main town, in middle of hills. There were rooms, a meditation hall and yoga hall, and big open courtyard and open space to walk and play for kids. 

It was a week long programme, based on gurukul system. In gurukul system you live with your teacher in asharam, help in daily chores, like cleaning, cooking, washing etc, learn your course and follow principles of simplicity and minimalism in guidance of guru (teacher). 

Parents and kids had independent timetable for day, and just an hour of together time, which kids hardly spent with parents. Total 21 kids and about 30 adults living together following disciplined yogic day routine - Early to bed and early to rise, satvik diet, yoga , karma yog, meditation, satsang, chanting. It seemed tough, felt tough for a day or two, but then we got used to it and started enjoying our routines and karma yoga duties.

Everyday started and ended with meditation. We experienced different ways of meditating. One of the most interesting experience was 'Walking Meditation'. Everyone walk together in silence through the nature trails to reach a small temple, sit under tree and chant and soak in the fresh energy. One would wonder if kids enjoyed meditation and satsang and yoga and all these things which we think is serious stuff  and for grown ups. Thats the myth which got fully busted. Kids loved each and every part of it, they connected instantly with teachers, with other kids and with yoga ; they overjoyed with nature, ran around, made their games, filled with refreshed energy followed their routine. Kids very easily get in our natural state which is Happiness. Its us grown ups who over the time has built blockages in mind and body and struggle and need to work hard! In gurukul gurus are there to guide at each step, hold us in our weak moments. That was the best part of this yoga camp, the sivananda yoga teachers, who are well experienced to handle adults and children equally, balancing the guru's discipline and motherly care.

One of the day was given to go out to explore the town and areas around. We visited Norbolingka Institute in Dharamshala and some other places, got back to Asharam before evening aarti. The experience of contrast of quietness in Asharam to the chaos of outside world! Both have its own beauty, yoga shows the way to find balance, beauty and peace within and outside world, whatever situation it is. 

No television, no time or desire to look at fones, clean fresh air, yogic routine -  it was complete detox for mind and body. It opened up our hearts to the pure energy, we felt light and happy. 

Yoga shows the way!!