Ayurveda and Yoga Experience

  India

Trivandrum

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Dates: January 31

Description: The volunteers will be learning the Basics of Yoga and Ayurveda in these three weeks of the project. Every day, there will be topics covered by the professional master (the person in charge of Yoga and Ayurveda classes), which will be practiced by the volunteers. Yoga will be practiced every day. Apart from that, volunteers will also help at the herbal garden and the nearby school.
Ayurveda is the 5000 years old Indian health care system, widely practiced with the times. "Ayur" in Sanskrit means "life", "Veda" means "science". It is a perfect Science of health and longevity. This holistic science is the knowledge of complete balance of the body, mind and spirit, including the emotions and psychology, on all levels. It includes in its consideration, longevity, rejuvenation and self-realization therapies through herbs, diet, exercise, yoga, massage, aromas, tantras, mantras, and meditation. According to Ayurvedic tradition, health is the balance of elements air, earth, fire, and water, and illness is an excess or deficiency of any particular element. Ayurveda treats illness at its source, rather than at the level of symptoms, and helps an individual to take responsibility for their own health and well being. Ayurveda is also known as 'Ashtanga Veda' (the word literally means 'Eight branches of knowledge') as it is divided into eight specialized branches.

Yoga is a complete science of life that originated in India several thousands of years ago. It is the oldest system of personal development in the world, encompassing the entire body, mind and spirit. It is the union between a person's own consciousness and the universal consciousness. The classical techniques of Yoga date back more than 5,000 years. The word Yoga means "to join or yoke together," and it brings the body and mind together into one harmonious experience.

There is an extra fee of USD 350 for participation in this project, intended to support the hosting organization.

Highlights: The project site is in Kerala, South India. Trains and buses operate on an everyday basis from almost all major towns/cities in South India.

Cost in US$: USD 290

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: motivated to work voluntarily within an international team, tolerant, open-minded and cooperative person with adventurous spirit

Age Range: 18 and over

This Program is open to American and Canadian Participants.

Participants Travel to India Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups

CADIP - Canadian Alliance for Development Initiatives and Projects's Mission Statement: CADIP promotes peace, cooperation, tolerance and understanding in international, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural surroundings. The organization also promotes patterns and examples of civil activities focused on serving others, on building social ties and strengthening communities, on supporting civil society development. Aims and general objectives: * To promote volunteering as an expression of civic contribution * To strengthen the international contacts among young people * To build tolerance and understanding in multicultural and multi-ethnic surroundings *To promote multiunderstanding among youth all over the world * To facilitate the individual growth of the volunteers through the acquisition of work, life and learning skills * To work for the recognition and promotion of non-formal learning * To support the community initiatives and assist in community development.