Why Nepal Is Good For Meditation And Yoga
Meditating is something that has been a part of all cultures regardless of religion, nation, or race. Closely related to meditation, the practice of Yoga is also not limited to a certain demographic group. Both activities are thousands of years old and originated in ancient India (presently part of Nepal), the land of spirituality. Sharing its eastern, western, and southern border with India, Nepal is a small landlocked country that’s a perfect getaway from the everyday hustle of crowded cities.
Being a predominantly Hindu country, meditation and yoga have been a part of the Nepalese culture and tradition for millennials. Since they are a part of the Hindu holy book “Bhagwat Gita”, meditation and yoga in Nepal has been around since 1700 BCE. They are also mentioned in the oldest Hindu book, Veda. The book includes different yoga techniques and postures.
Furthermore, Nepal offers a plethora of unique attractions and is incredibly hospitable to visitors, including those who practice yoga. As a result, there currently are numerous yoga instruction centers where students can learn from renowned and experienced yoga teachers. Such an organization’s primary objectives are to enhance people’s well-being on all levels and to teach the discipline of yoga to a broad audience.
Being one of the most naturally gifted countries, there is no shortage of captivating eye-candy views all over the country. The hills and mountains offer a great scene while also being peaceful surroundings for meditation and yoga. Here are some of the features that make Nepal a good place for meditation and yoga.
Cultural Immersion
Along with yoga and meditation, you will also get to learn a whole lot about the traditional Nepalese culture since the two are closely related to one another. While you are in Nepal, there’s a great chance that you will get to take part in national and local festivals. Religious and historic festivals are celebrated throughout the year and visitors are encouraged to join the celebration.
Along with that, if you are in a yoga program, you will also get to know a little about the teachings of Hinduism and Buddhism.
Spiritual Retreats
Since the practice of yoga is not a worldwide discipline and a major factor for tourists visiting Nepal, many spiritual retreats have been established to offer a great spiritual and physical yoga experience. You will find yoga programs held at scenic and calming locations across Nepal.
Usually, these spiritual retreats are non-profit organizations that focus on teaching people yoga without expecting any monetary gain. Monasteries and ashrams are such places. On the other hand, you have retreat centers that yoga programs at beautiful and calm locations. These businesses offer yoga retreats at a fair price, usually cheap.
Serene Environment
Naturally blessed, the landscape of Nepal is perfect for meditation and yoga. Far from the city area, escaping the rush and modernity, you can experience a truly peaceful experience in the hills of Nepal.
Spiritual Energy of Sacred Sites
Along with scenic sites, Nepal also has a bunch of sacred sites that are some of the best places for meditation and yoga. While Hindu temples are often crowded and offer loud bell rings as a call to the gods above, Buddhist monasteries are very quiet and peaceful. Often far away from the noise, monasteries have always been the primary place for meditation.
These sacred sites have an energetic aura; you will feel the difference as you step into the grounds of monasteries while the monks are chanting sacred prayers.
Experienced and Skilled Instructors
Yoga gurus in Nepal have in-depth knowledge of the history of yoga and effective yoga practices. Not to downplay the yoga gurus from other places, but since Nepal is technically the birthplace of yoga and the religious culture here integrates yoga, it’s a no-brainer that the quality of yoga gurus in Nepal is better.
Accessibility and Affordability for Travelers
Since Nepal is a developing third-world country, you can expect a reasonably-priced spiritual journey. The plane tickets might be the only “expensive” part of your journey. Usually, the yoga retreats are placed in quiet areas that are also accessible, since they would want many people to join in. Moreover, the food and lodging expenses in Nepal are very affordable.
History of Yoga
Yoga is said to have started in the mountains of Nepal, as stated in historical Hindu books. Millennials ago, in the towering Himalayan Mountains, Lord Shiva taught the Saptarishis (the seven sages), his vast knowledge of meditation and yoga. According to the texts, the wise men dispersed the powerful yogic discipline over the whole world.
Yoga used to be a blend of bodily, and emotional activities that were taught from master to trainee. Amongst these instructors was Patanjali, who is regarded as the most important figure of modern yoga. He also put out a yoga book in 200 BCE, named “Yoga Sutras”.
Throughout the past, practitioners from many different faiths, including Buddhists, and Hindus, have indulged in teachings of Yoga. Following that, it gained popularity in Western societies in the latter part of the nineteenth century when renowned instructors like Swami Vivekananda began providing instruction on a global scale.
In the past few years, there has been a trend of yoga practitioners visiting nations in Asia to witness and engage with genuine yoga traditions. Nepal, the birthplace of yoga, has become a hot travel destination for followers of yoga. Nepal is a calm land full of mountains, rich in ancient traditions and histories, and the perfect location to study the principles and exercises of the millenials-old practice.
Benefits of Meditation and Yoga
- Increased consciousness and perceptual abilities
Meditation helps you amplify your consciousness while also making your perception better. While you clear away your mind during meditation, your mental abilities are enhanced by the end of the session. It is like a much-needed restart or refreshment for your brain and spirit.
- Increased self-compassion
Often while taking care of our loved ones, we forget to take care of ourselves. This is true for all mothers, fathers, working individuals, sons, and daughters, regardless of the demographics. Being compassionate for others is a great thing and meditating will make you compassionate to yourself as well.
- Setting aside time for self-nourishment
At the end of the day, you work for others more than yourself. A meditation session is not only a yogic act but also a much-needed alone time; a time to process your emotions and channel your spirituality.
- Less critical of others as well as oneself
One of the best parts of meditation and yoga is that you become more considerate and more accepting of reality. You also get rid of the habit of being critical of others and judging other’s actions.
- Being able to wait before responding to a situation
Yoga and meditation are slow activities, you do not see yoga gurus doing fast-paced cardio exercises. It teaches people to be more comfortable with taking time, being patient in essence.
- Less stressed out from the hectic day
Since your mind and body begin to act as one, rather than separate entities, you will automatically feel more in tune with yourself and more efficient. Your daily stresses seem trivial in the bigger picture of life.
- More content
You become more accepting of who you are, what your situation is, and most importantly what you have in life. We often long for things that are out of our league, not appreciating the things we have in life. Meditation and yoga make you realize the trivialness of materialistic wealth.
- More composed and focused
As you begin your yoga and meditation journey, you are destined to be more composed. You become more aware, more understanding, and more considerate, all these qualities make you more composed and focused.
Natural Beauty
After you are done with your meditation and yoga program, you can take an adventure exploring the natural beauty of Nepal. There are a plethora of options waiting for you. If you are a trekking enthusiast, you can do the Annapurna Circuit Trek, Manaslu Circuit Trek, Everest Base Camp Trek, and others. But if you are here with a shorter time frame, you can do short treks such as the Ghorepani Poonhill trek, Ghandruk Trek, Mardi Himal Trek, and more.
If outdoor sports are your thing, Nepal offers exciting adventure sports including rafting, kayaking, parachuting, paragliding, mountain biking, etc. You will not find any shortage of extreme sports here. If you are not a fan of both, you can simply enjoy the beautiful scenes of Nepal from different viewpoints around you.
Personal Growth and Inner Peace
Meditation and yoga are all about personal growth and inner peace. Your main goal of joining meditation and yoga programs should not be to feel enlightened, but instead, grow spiritually and accept the reality of your life. Enlightenment is not something that can be achieved easily, so, keep your expectations real and hope for inner peace.
You will definitely grow personally as your mind and spirit get closer to each other than ever and your best self comes out naturally. You become more emotionally intelligent and spiritually clean.
