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| THE JOY OF GIVING |
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| A 7-night hiatus from our demanding lives to restore our inner balance and realize the immense joy that arises from simple acts of giving and sharing. |
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| Away from the frenetic pace of the city, nestled in the countryside, Shreyas offers a wonderful opportunity for guests to interact with the local villagers and get a glimpse into their simple, hardworking lives. And, for those who are interested, exercises in Community Service and ‘Voluntourism initiatives’ are arranged by Shreyas at the local village, schools and orphanages. The retreat also includes opportunities to learn the local traditions and customs – take-away’s that the villagers are only too happy to share with all guests who want to soak in the rich cultural diversity of India. And finally, but as importantly, the retreat provides a tranquil
oasis for you to give something back to yourself – to practice
yoga, relax your mind, ease your stresses and reset your priorities. |
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| The sharing… | ||||
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Then, join our chefs in the kitchen and help them prepare a nutritious Indian meal for the schoolchildren. A tractor takes you the short distance to the village school, where the young students welcome you with shy smiles and warm Namaste’s. Experience the pride you feel in serving the children, and as our scriptures say, the humility that you have had an opportunity to serve the Divine through the children. Guests who have any skills they would like to teach these eager minds, please let us know and we will be glad to make the necessary arrangements. Towards the cause of the environment, we provide guests saplings for planting in the village. Often, guests choose to contribute towards the schools or villages requirements. From books, stationery supplies, uniforms, contributions to building boundary walls, rain-water harvesting projects or digging wells – the possibilities are numerous - and the warm appreciation of the villagers, profoundly touching. Some have gone the distance in charity runs to
raise funds for school books for school children. They
humble us with their generosity and thoughtfulness. |
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| The learning... | ||||
During the retreat, guests also ‘get back’ many invaluable experiences of traditional Indian flavor: The chefs at Shreyas welcome you to learn your favorite Shreyas recipes with simple cooking demonstrations. The local village women, dressed in vibgyor hues will demonstrate how to deftly convert 6 yards of fabric into the most elegant of all traditional Indian wear – the classic sari. Gentlemen can try their hand at dhoti tying – the traditional attire worn by priests through the centuries while performing religious ceremonies, a custom that is alive today as well. Learn the art of garland-making with fragrant frangipanis the gentle way, without any needles piercing the delicate flowers. Soak in the heady fragrance and rich color of our organically grown Henna as the local women apply intricate henna patterns on your palms. Traditionally, the bride and the groom are adorned with Henna on their hands and feet on their wedding day, and till today women follow this tradition on festivals and marriage ceremonies. Learn how to make organic body scrubs from fresh ingredients that are known in the ancient science of Ayurveda for their restorative and soothing properties. Practice your handiwork at making colorful ‘Rangoli’ patterns with colored rice powder – a traditional art of decorating our homes during festivals. Also learn how our Scriptures show that this is yet another way of giving back - this time to the tiny insect kingdom. Participate in an “Aarti”
– the Indian ritual of offering prayers and obeisance to the
Divine, performed in the temple at Shreyas and presided over by
a priest. |
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| The Rejuvenation... | ||||
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Of course, a stay at Shreyas is incomplete without the activities that quintessentially define Shreyas – the Yoga classes in our open air Yoga pavilion, meditation exercises, sound meditation sessions, rejuvenating massages and refreshing scrubs, gourmet organic vegetarian meals and more… PACKAGE
PRICE - Apr - Sept 2010 |
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