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An Introduction Rishikesh, a quaint Indian town on the foothills of the majestic Himala-yas, is globally known as the ‘birth place of Yoga’. Sprawled across the banks of the divine River Ganges, this rustic habitation comes alive in the month of February/ March when Yoga Gurus, practitioners and en-thusiasts from all over the globe flock down to participate in the Interna-tional Yoga Festival. Organised annually by the Uttarakhand Tourism , the International Yoga Week has gained immense popularity and patron-age over the years. During this week-long International Yoga Festival, yoga followers revel in comprehensive lectures and demonstrations of a wide range of yoga styles and asanas. Distinguished proponents of Yoga conduct sessions along the banks of the sacred river and speak about not just this ancient technique, but also the celestial unity of the mind, body and soul. This year, the International Yoga Week 2013 will be held from the 1st till the 7th of March. This festival will be hosted by Hotel Ganga Kinare where all visiting yoga and meditation enthusiasts and seekers will be presented with a wholesome week long window into this 1000 year old traditional art form and way of life. They will also be treated to a grand cultural evening every day where they will be presented with the rhythms and symphonies from across the country. It will truly be an experience to remember.

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International Yoga Week— a history The International Yoga Week and Hotel Ganga Ki-nare were born in the same year - 1989. When the In-ternational Yoga Week was conceptualised in 1989 by the erstwhile UP Tourism, Hotel Ganga Kinare was chosen as its venue owing to the breathtakingly scenic location and picturesque views. Between 1990 and 1998, Hotel Ganga Kinare hosted the first 9 International Yoga Weeks consecutively and played host to various na-

tional and international celebrities and dele-gates who visited Rishikesh for this prestigious event. Ho-tel Ganga Kinare was blessed to have been visited by some stal-warts of the Yoga and Meditation world - right from Shri BKS Iyengar

to many more including Swami Rama and Swami Chidanand, who deliv-ered personalised sessions to delegates and enthusiasts amid unprece-dented media attention. There have been some moments of International Yoga Week etched in the collective mem-ory of people. Some of them being - A young Shubha Mudgal, relatively lesser known back then performing during the festival at Ganga Kinare and Pandit Jasraj, a global figure then and now, performing to packed houses. Presented

here is a pictorial trip down memory lane where we take you through some memories of the History of the International Yoga Week through the eyes of Hotel Ganga Kinare.

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Jivasu’s (Pradeep Kumar) teachings are named as Naturality or Sahajta. Naturality is to ‘to live according to our nature’ to bring harmony within and with the nature outside. The core of his teachings is about the fear of death (and life) and the emer-gence of the ego or the self in response to the fear. The ego or self helps in es-caping from the fear of death and prom-ises an illusory immortality to its owner. While living in Sivananda ashram he experienced his first awakening which came to full fruition twelve years later in the experience of ‘wholeness’ and ‘freedom from the psychological fear of the death.’ Eventually the process culmi-nated in the realization that death is an illusion. Only the mind and the body die but consciousness is immortal. Currently Jivasu is practicing acupuncture and is a faculty in the Contemporary Acupuncture Program in McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. His teachings in McMaster University are an effort to synthesize the insights of Yoga, Ay-urveda, Meditation and Acupuncture with the contemporary science for the bet-ter health and well-being of people and the environment. To know more about him please visit www.jivasu.org Jivasu Ji will be conducting 2 hour workshops every day of the festival covering a variety of topics. Roshan Singh Roshan is the founder president of Rishikesh Yog Peeth (www.rishikeshyogpeeth.com). He is an E-RYT 500 yoga teacher and a well-known expert in the field of yoga phi-losophy. His simple and contemporary style of delivering deep philosophical concepts endears him to his students. His vision is to make the essence of yogic heritage available to all in an ac-cessible and effective format. Yogi Roshan Singh will be holding two very important interactive sessions dur-ing the International Yoga Week. One will be on ‘Tantra: The Genesis of Yoga’. Tantra is said to be the original spiritual science that originated in India. Yoga is said to be a part of the broader Tantra ritual. To understand Yoga, it is important to know about Tantra and its teachings. Yogi Roshan Singh Ji will conduct a synergistic session on Tantra and how it relates to the genesis of Yoga. The other lecture that he will be on ‘Sankhya Philosophy’. Sankhya is one of the earliest philosophical schools of thought in India, attributed traditionally to Rishi Kapila. An understanding of this philosophy will help provide the listeners clarity on the history and purpose of humanity.

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Gurus & Presenters

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Suhas Tambe, born in India,is an MBA (Indiana University) who practices and teaches Yoga, and works in finance. In 1993, the author met his guru, a Yoga master, who had learned the practices of a secret system related to Pātañjali’s Sū-tras. This secret knowledge had been passed from master to disciple for gen-erations. For over twenty years, Suhas has studied his guru’s unpublished writ-ings, extensively researched its many unexplained concepts, and constructed a contemporary presentation for today’s readers which he captures in his highly acclaimed book – The Making of a Yoga Master (see amazon link here) The father of two grown sons, and blessed with five grandchildren, he lives in Shaumburg, Illinois with his wife Vibha, an attorney. Shri Suhas Tambe will be conducting Yoga Sūtra workshops over the first 3 days of the International Yoga Week. This is a cumulatively 10 Hrs module, based on his path-breaking book “The Making of a Yoga Master”. The book brings to you a new sequence to sutras that reveals Raja Yoga as a sound ho-listic theory and a clear road-map with well-defined milestones. It is the most exciting introduction of Yoga Sūtra to the newcomers and a great value-add for the Yoga teachers. The workshop is thoroughly modern, the narrative structured around power-point presentation, the exposition visual and contemporary and the treatment intense, yet fluid enough for every participant to take home a valuable experi-ence and launch a meaningful yoga journey. Dr Kathy Kangarloo (Ph.D. in Esoteric Studies) is the founder of "emerging Om" in Tustin California/USA. She has taught and practiced yoga, Reiki, and meditation for over 25 years in the United States and across the world. Dur-ing years in India, particularly while study-ing in a Reiki hospital in Madras, Kathy learned of the boundless opportunities offered by this practice. She then devel-oped “Yukt Yoga” which is a combination of Hatha yoga, deep breathing, soft movements, Mindful meditation, Qi- Gong and Reiki. Yukt Yoga dedicated to healing in all its forms: spiritual, emotional, men-tal, and physical. Kathy will be conducting 4 sessions of 90 minutes each during the festival on ‘Introduction to Yukt Yoga’

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Gurus & Presenters Natwar Singh is an expert in the field of Yoga therapy and Naturopathy. He did his PG Diploma in Yoga Education from Ra-jasthan University, Jaipur and Diploma in Yoga Therapy and Naturopathy from Gan-dhi National Academy of Naturopathy, Delhi. He has worked in close association with Kaivalyadham, Lonavala to implement Yoga education programs in schools as part of an Indian government initiative. He deepened his understanding of asanas and their therapeutic benefits under the guid-ance of Swami Rudradev Gowda, a direct disciple of BKS Iyengar. He is currently working as a Yoga therapist and Naturo-path in Jaipur, India. At the International Yoga Week 2014, Nat-war will be conducting 2 interactive ses-sions on Yoga Therapy.

Yogini Timea is distin-guished visiting faculty at Rishikesh yog peeth. She maintains a busy teaching schedule in Italy where she focuses on vinyasa flow and traditional hatha yoga styles. Timea turned to yoga after a serious accident when she was twenty years old. Regu-lar yoga practice helped her rehabilitate and she has never looked back since. In 2011 she won the Gold medal at the Copenhagen Asana Championship. Her aim is to make the healing power and joy of yoga practice accessible to everyone. Yogini Timea will be conducting evening Hatha Yoga, Pranayam and Shat-karma sessions during the week long programme as well as holding a few medi-tation sessions during the festival.

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Yogi Akhilesh Pandey hails from Rishikesh and his interest in Yoga began since his childhood. Al-though a graduate from the Commerce field, Akhilesh did not find fulfil-ment in life and had a feel-ing of detachment for the material world. Through a friend’s recommendation he found mental, physical and spiritual peace through Yoga. Akhilesh has now been a professional Yoga teacher since 2005. His working experience has taken him to many parts of the world and he has taught Yoga at various wellness retreats including Ananda in the Himalyas. Akhilesh’s approach to Yoga is very holistic and down to earth. Yogi Akhilesh will be conducting early morning Hatha Yoga, Pranayam and Shatkarma sessions during the week long programme.

Yogini Deepti is a visiting faculty at Rishikesh yog peeth. She completed her RYT 200 training in Hatha Yoga at Rishikesh Yog Peeth. She has been teach-ing at Yog Gugu, Noida for the past 4 years and has also had a stint at JP Sports Club, Noida. She loves fo-cusing on alignment and in giving scientific explana-tions for the effects of yogic postures. She mixes differ-ent styles and structures classes as per the specific requirements of the stu-dents. Yogini Deepti will be con-ducting evening Hatha Yoga, Pranayam and Shat-karma sessions during the week long programme as well as holding a few meditation sessions during the festival.

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Yogini Mukta Ghosh Yogi Mukta is a trained yoga instructor from the Bihar School of Yoga in Munger, Bihar which is the world’s first yoga university and has been associated with various important institutions like the Vishwa Bharati Yoga Sansthan, Delhi as well as the Sewa Niketan, Bhagalpur, Bihar. Mukta conducts yoga classes for people from all walks of life. Mukta loves motivating people, es-pecially the younger generation, to understand the benefits of yoga from a very young age. Yogini Mukta will be conducting evening Hatha Yoga, Pranayam and Meditation sessions during the week long programme.

The Vina Maharaj School of Music which is known for its expertise in the in-struments sitar, tabla, harmonium and flute. Every evening before dinner you will get to witness the musical prowess of the artists of this institution. Partici-pants will get to witness all forms of Indian classical music – from vocalists to instrumentalists. Classical instrumentalists on display during the festival will in-clude Sitar players, Table players, Sarangi players among various other ancil-lary instrumentalists presenting the audience with a collection of rhythms and symphonies from across the length and breadth of India.

Bhuwan Chandra manages the Vina Maharaj School of Music and is the foun-der of the Nad Yog Trust in Rishikesh. Bhuwan is himself a professional classi-cal Indian musician with mastery in playing the Sitar. He has graced many audi-ences with his music in India and internationally. He participates in many chari-table projects in Rishikesh and contributes towards Yoga awareness for man-kind in whatever way possible.

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Rishikesh & Yoga

Known as the Gateway to the Himalayas, Rishikesh is considered to be one of the holy sites for Hindus in India. The history of Risikesh is mythi-cal, and it is believed that a saint named Raibhya Rishi performed strict penance on the banks of the river Ganges. To reward him, Lord Vishnu conjured up in the form of Hrishikesh, thus giving the region the name Rishikesh. Known widely as the ‘Birth Place of Yoga’, Rishikesh has over the years witnessed millions of yoga followers and practitioners throng its saintly landscape. While meandering through the town lanes, you will stumble across hundreds of Yoga Ashrams and meditation centers that cater to the needs of Yoga lovers. A testament to the popularity of Rishikesh as a Yoga hub is the visit of the legendary Beatles in the 1960s. In February 1968, The Beatles stayed at the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in Rishikesh, where they even recorded a song called 'The Happy Rishikesh Song'. In between their lessons on Yoga and meditation, the band composed nearly 48 songs during their stay at the ashram. So it is only natural that the International Yoga Festival be birthed and hosted in this small town at the feet of the Himalayas. With the holy and majestic River Ganges sinuously weaving through the landscape, and the towering mountains of the Shivalik Range touching the sky – the ideal stage is set for a transcendental journey into the world of medita-tion. Lectures and yoga lessons are conducted by yoga experts from dif-ferent parts of the world. Meditation sessions and chanting also forms a pivotal part of the yoga festival in the city. Ganga Aarti and other reli-gious ceremonies are also celebrated during the Rishikesh International Yoga Festival.

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About the venue — Hotel Ganga Kinare

Rishikesh is a land where spirituality and Mother Nature form a heady concoction, and Hotel Ganga Kinare is a true embodiment of this magic. Apart from being right on the banks of the majestic Ganges, the hotel also overlooks the Rajaji National Park, one of North India’s largest parks and a melting pot of flora and fauna. A serpentine esplanade run-ning alongside the hotel - “Aastha Path” (Path of Faith), is the ideal way for guests to stroll alongside the sinuous river, soak in the sight of the mountains and revel in the sheer verdancy of the surroundings. The hotel offers experiences that suit the spiritual seekers ideally - whether it is the special Ganga Aarti/Puja that is performed every single day, a holy dip by the private ghat of the hotel, early morning yoga ses-sions, evening culture walk to soak in the sounds and sights of Rishikesh, ayurvedic massages to appease the body or just letting go while one sits by the bank with one’s favourite book. Built in 1989 in the city of Rishikesh, the resort has played host to the coveted ‘International Yoga Week’ nine times in recent years and contin-ues to be a pivotal space for Yogic gurus to impart their teachings. This year, Hotel Ganga Kinare will recreate history for the tenth time, and will play host to the International Yoga Festival 2013. To learn more about our one-of-a-kind abode, visit www.gangakinare.com

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