What is Yin Yoga?

Yin Yoga – Yoga of Mindful Stretch

Yoga is the science of life with spiritual exploration. There are different schools of yoga for the same purpose. “Yogah Samadhi” means yoga is Samadhi, equilibrium, the awakening of Kundalini, expansion of consciousness and isolation so on. The harmony between the Sun (Pingala) and Moon (Ida) is Hatha Yoga, then it starts Raja Yoga. The union of Hatha and Raja Yoga is Ashtanga Yoga or Classical Yoga. Yoga is itself feminine energy.  Its final tool or device is Dhyana (Meditation).  Dhyana is commonly applied in every form of yoga, even while performing asanas. So, it means performing asana is its-self a practice of Meditation. If something is done on SMS theory, S – stands for Straight body, M – stands for Mindfulness, and S – stands for Smiling, which is the realistic Yoga Science.

Yoga is the spiritual science obtained from Kundalini awakening, which is feminine power or Yin energy or lunar (Moon) power or Ida Nadi. So yoga is Yin Yoga by nature. You should combine physical movements, breathing techniques, awareness, duration, and the experience of their effects. Finally, we reach in state of spirituality through the yin or moon power. Traditional yoga and Yin yoga concepts are the same.  Yin yoga is a new brand based on classical yoga ethics which offers focus, toleration, endurance, stillness, and deeper stretch into the core.

Principles of Yin Yoga

1. Be calm
2. Be stillness
3. Retain the energy
4. Get the position
5. Hold the posture
6. Feel the sensation
7. Gain the effect in depth

During the long hold times of the yin asanas, teachers usually give “dharma talks,”. Informal monologues often explain the physiology and anatomy of poses, including the affected meridian lines. They may tell traditional Buddhist stories, recite poetry, sing songs, or reflect on their own experience.

SO Learn Yin Yoga with Us.

Overview: FAQs about Trekking in Nepal

Are permits included in the price of the trek?

Yes. All of the necessary permits for your trek are included in the quoted price and will be arranged for you before your trek. For certain restricted regions (like Manaslu), you’ll need to have a full day in Kathmandu before your trek as your company will need your passport for the permit registration.

Where can I store my luggage during the trek?

You can leave your additional luggage at your hotel in Kathmandu or our academy in the common room or also in a locker, we have available. Either way, your luggage will be safe in our academy or at the hotel.

What kind of trekking boots do I need?

You should bring trekking boots that are comfortable for you during your trek. Normally if you plan on doing high-pass treks then you may bring very good shoes but if you plan to do middle-grade treks, then normal hiking shoes will be fine.

How much should I tip the guide and porters?

Tipping is not compulsory and depends on how satisfied you are with the service. Guides (both for trekking and cultural tours), porters, and drivers(basically expect) are typically provided with a tip at the end of your service with them.

How important is the fitness to go trekking?

Fitness is certainly a very important aspect of trekking in the mountains. You need to be at an optimum fitness level to trek for days in the mountains. Pre-trekking workouts and small hiking can be greatly helpful. Also slowly hiking with yoga practice will keep you strong and pain-free.

Is there any particular dress code I need to follow when I travel to Nepal?

Nepal is pretty much a liberal country and does not have any particular dress code. However, decent clothing is expected, no matter what you wear. When you trek in the mountains, you will walk past villages with traditional beliefs and cultures. It is respectful and comfortable if you keep your attire decent so as not to offend and attract attention.

What else can I do in Nepal except for trekking?

Nepal is a country with a huge diversity in all aspects. Although trekking sounds big and it is, there are several other activities to visit the country for. There are beautiful cultural heritages to explore; amazing wildlife to witness; and thrilling adventure activities to indulge in. You can visit Nepal for various activities other than trekking.

Overview: FAQs regarding Yoga Retreat in Nepal

1. Do you offer discounts?

Yes, we do offer early bird discounts or some special offer discounts. So, Normally during your inquiry, if you ask us for some discounts, then we will notify you that we got discounts due to these reasons.

2. How do I reserve my spot?
To reserve a spot at our retreats, go to the retreat website and click “Book Now.”

3. When should I book my flight? After you make the inquiry, do not book flights until you get a confirmation mail from our team. You will get a mail saying that you are confirmed for the seat. You are welcome for the retreat.

4. What should I bring?
Generally, you should bring the following to every retreat: a yoga mat, yoga clothes, walking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, flashlight or headlamp, water bottle, and bug spray.

5. Do I need yoga experience to go on a retreat?
Our retreats are open to people from beginners to advanced yogis – no yoga experience is needed! Our teachers are well-trained to work with all different yoga levels. Come as you are and we will meet you on your journey. A yoga retreat can be a great way to find your practice and meet others on their yoga journeys. As Everyone has to start somewhere!

6. What’s included in the retreat fee?
We design our retreats to offer a complete retreat experience. Our retreats generally include all accommodation, 3 times freshly prepared meals per day, 1-2 excursions/retreats, daily yoga, and else as mentioned in retreat inclusions.

7. Is my retreat refundable? What is the cancellation policy?
If you wish to cancel your retreat you must notify our Himalayan Yoga Academy Team through Mail. We generally refund all the money as prior to our rules if he/she cancels three days prior to retreat then it is subject to our plans & policy.

8. How do I know if a retreat is right for me?
Please reach out to us so that we can get to know you a little to help you decide which retreat is right for you. Contact Dr. Subodh at +977 9860831725

We care that you get the rejuvenation and relaxation you need and deserve whilst being on holiday. We curate fulfilling travel experiences that focus on this. So We brought you those postures that will help you maintain your holiday stress and create a cheerful mind in dealing with those stresses. Those poses that greatly help you (Yoga Poses to Reduce Holiday Stress) are as follows:

Supta Bhada Konasana – Reclining bound angle pose

Sitting on your mat, place a large cushion on the floor just behind you. Then, bring the soles of your feet together – don’t strain to have the feet close to your pelvis. Take two towels/blankets and roll them up so they’re the same height, then place one under each thigh. Recline back onto the cushion behind you. Place your hands over your pelvis or belly. Close your eyes and stay here for 5 minutes. If your groin muscles feel tired or strained, place extra padding under each thigh. Say on each inhalation, “Just”; and on each exhalation “Breathe”.

This pose relaxes and quiets the mind. It opens the groins and hips. The group of muscles called the hip flexors get tight when you spend a lot of time sitting. Stretching them can help relieve and prevent back pain.

Paschimotanasana – Sitting forward bend (supported)

This pose stretches these areas and helps open up your hips. This stretch is excellent for runners who tend to have tight hamstrings. It is also considered to be a calming pose. It is said that this pose can help relieve stress and even improve your mood.

Bring your arms straight out to the sides and up over your head, reaching toward the ceiling. Inhale and draw your spine up long. As you exhale, begin to come forward, hinging at your hips. Imagine your pelvis as a bowl of water that is tipping forward.

Savasana – Corpse pose

This is the ultimate relaxation pose! Stay here for 10 minutes or as long as you need. Some people like to place a cushion or towel under their knees, and a folded blanket under the back of their head. Wherever you feel you need a cushion or blanket to feel more comfortable, use it.

On the mat lie on your back totally flat. Your legs should be hip-width apart or wider, fleet-splayed outward. Your arms should be flat on the floor, hands comfortably away from the body with palms facing upward.

Viparita Karani – Leg up the wall pose

Legs Up the Wall Pose is a restorative yoga posture that allows the mind and the body to relax, relieving stress and tension. It is one of the most approachable yoga poses as it doesn’t require much flexibility or strength. But even though it’s a passive pose, its benefits are pretty amazing.

Basically, find a place near the wall, then bend your leg perpendicular lying down then, shimmy your hips as close to the wall as possible, then start walking your feet up the wall until your body is in a somewhat L-shaped position.

Balasana – Child pose

Balasana (bah-LAHS-anna), also known as child’s pose, is a gentle resting pose that stretches the hips, thighs, and legs while calming the mind and relieving stress and tension. Balasana’s dome shape provides the perfect pose for refocusing and enhancing the benefits of the breath.

• Gently stretches your lower back, hips, thighs, knees, and ankles.
• Relaxes your spine, shoulders, and neck.
• Increases blood circulation to your head, minimizing headache symptoms.

Why is Nepal such a fascinating country for many people? Some FAQs regarding Nepal Travel

Nepal, the land of the Himalayas provides you ultimate choice to do and gain experiences from thrill to total relaxation. Nepal has thousands of trails crisscross the land, providing almost limitless opportunities for hikers and climbers to get away from it all.

As a traveler, there are an endless number of surprises Nepal has to offer you. Kathmandu Valley with its thousands of Hindu temples, Buddhist stupas, stunning architecture, and rich pageantry can be quite beyond words. If you are careful enough not to get entangled in the superficial facade of a fastly “modernizing” capital city, Kathmandu probably offers you as exotic and urban experience as you can get.

How do I get to Nepal?

You can take direct or indirect flights from your home country stopping below cities. We have a direct airlink from the below airports. We have direct airlink with Seoul, Hongkong, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Dhaka, Singapore, Guangzhou, Kunming, Chengdu, Lhasa, Paro, Kolkata, Varanasi, Delhi, Mumbai, Karachi, Dubai, and Doha.

What about Visa of Nepal information?

It costs USD 30/50/125 for 15/30/90 days of single entry visa that you can get on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and other entry points of the Nepal-India border. The visa fee is payable in any major currency but land border officials may require payment in cash US dollars.

What are the Meals like?

Nepal is rich in cultural diversity. Meal habits of the Nepali people vary with the ethnicity and geographical differences. Normally, The lunch and dinner comprise Dhido, Dal, Bhat, Tarkari, and Achar (Lentil, Rice, Curry, and Pickles) So, the meals will be healthy, organic, and very delicious as well.

How much luggage can I take on domestic flights?

For mountain flights, you’re allowed 5 kg for carry-on and 10 kg for checked-in luggage. For non-mountain sector flights, the check-in allowance increases to 20-25 kg.

How many days should I spend in Nepal?

So, Normally if you are planning to come to Nepal for relaxation purposes then you may join a retreat based on your choice. But if you wanna experience getting into the Himalayas on a multi-day trek, you’ll want at least 10 days to have enough time to reach higher altitudes and safely acclimatize.

What is a Singing Bowl Used For?

• To make you feel better
• As an aid in meditation, yoga or a spiritual practice
• As an aid in teaching
• For healing practices
• As a ceremonial object, an altar piece
• For music and performances, even in orchestras
• To soothe upset children and babies
• Getting a classroom full of kids to come to order
• As a conversation piece that speaks for itself
• To remind you of something you might have forgotten

How to Use a Singing Bowl

To create sound with a singing bowl, gently press the accompanying mallet in a circular motion against the bowl’s outside edge or rim. When you start to hear a bright, clear tone, you can slow down the motion. Use your full arm to make the motion, rather than just rotating your wrist.

You can also make the same circular motion against the outside belly of the bowl. Additionally, you can gently strike the bowl before beginning the circular motion.

Concentrating on the bowl, especially the pulses of sound as they become quieter and quieter, is an excellent way to bring the mind into focus. The point where you no longer perceive the sound is your point of release from the external. My suggestion is a soft playing surface and a mallet that fits the bowl.

Himalayan Yoga Retreat with us is like a vacation where you will get the combined feeling of relaxation, homeliness, cultural vibes, and many more experiences. Before you can enjoy all the exciting experiences a yoga retreat has to offer, you have to get there. Traveling abroad can be hard for somebody and somebody easy. We will provide you with tips that will help you during your yoga retreat travel. Here are Yoga Retreat Travel Tips

Whether you’re planning for your first abroad yoga retreat or you’re an experienced traveling yogi. Taking the time to make certain mental and practical preparations is essential for everyone.

7 yoga retreat travel tips to prepare for your next yoga retreat are as follows : 

Early Planning

Planning is the most important step for traveling abroad. If you plan wisely then you get the travel experience fullest without any obstacle. But if you plan to delay, then there might be chances that you will face some difficulties. So, Planning early will help you get the best deals. Also, you might even have time to convince a friend to travel with you for the retreat.

Wisely Choose Your Destination

When you start thinking about your yoga retreat, think about places that you want to visit the most. Think of places that you have been creating on your travel bucket list. So a yoga retreat is about getting away from things you know and opening yourself to something new experiences. Don’t hesitate to explore unseen parts of the world but choose a destination where you’ll feel the most comfortable navigating the travel, accommodations, and conversation.

Understand International Travel Requirements 

If you really plan on traveling abroad, research the documents that you’ll need to enter your destination country and get back home. Normally, you’ll need a valid passport that will be valid for at least six months after your return. You may need a visa to enter some countries but as in Nepal, you get a visa on arrival. So before traveling, check all the documents that are needed for traveling properly.

Get your travel insurance and book in advance

So if you have planned your destination for the retreat, then don’t delay booking. Booking at least six months in advance ensures that you’ll get the best pricing on flights and accommodations. Also when you book, purchase travel insurance as well. Though travel insurance will cost a little, it is well worth the peace of mind you’ll have regarding things like a delayed flight, lost luggage in case of medical emergencies, etc. Nothing should keep you from enjoying your relaxing yoga retreat to the fullest.

Pack Things Wisely :

Basically yoga retreat is like a place where you do relaxation and recreation type of things. So, A few pairs of yoga pants, a lightweight dress for small trips, and a cardigan for chilly nights will be enough. You should pack things according to the weather at your destination. Wear a sensible pair of shoes on the plane and bring a comfortable pair of dressy sandals if you want to dress up one night. 

Take time to settle in

Once you arrive at your destination, take time to settle in. Explore your surroundings and sample the local cuisine if you have the time before your first yoga session. If there’s no activity during the day on your arrival, choose a quiet place to spend a little time on your own in order to prepare yourself for the change.

Grab New Experiences

In order to gain new experiences try to grab every challenge the retreat has to offer. Also, Take a walk without a specific destination in mind or choose a restaurant at random and try some of the local dishes. Keep your mind and heart open to every possibility and give yourself plenty of downtime to rest, relax, and absorb as much as you can of the experience. 

Nepal is the perfect destination for people who wanna experience luxury tourism activities to wild trekking adventures. Every experience can be found in this small landlocked country. Yoga Teacher Training can be a wonderful experience for travelers who wish to broaden their knowledge of yoga and have full experience of traveling abroad. Nepal being a hyper tourism bomb can create your yoga teacher training experience to the fullest and thrill.

So here’s the question Why do your yoga teacher training in Nepal?

 From the remotest corners to the urban landscape, Nepal embodies a sensory experience of colours, sounds, sights and tastes. Visit Nepal welcomes you to life’s amazing moments. So does Yoga Teacher Training in Nepal provides you with ultimate knowledge and experience?

What is special about Nepal? The reasons are :

Local Food

Nepal is very famous for its food and local culture. Although small and landlocked, you can enjoy a variety of dishes with a warm welcome and the best hospitality.

if you visit Nepal, you get the wonderful chance to get familiar with the delicious local food of various ethnic groups of Nepal. During your teacher training, you get to eat different dishes from Delicious Dal Bhat to Chapati etc. Nepalese food is more than just delicious and healthy as well.

Local Culture

During your yoga teacher training, you get a chance to be familiar with various new cultures and traditions. During your holidays in training, you get a chance to visit multiple Temples and Stupas. The city of Kathmandu is known as the City of Temples. Also, you can be part of Nepalese festivals and traditions and have an enjoyable time. This way, you get to know people and places much better.

Low-Budget destination

Normally if you have a low budget and wanna have a wonderful experience for your yoga teacher training then Nepal could be the perfect destination. For Nepal, all flights, accommodation, and other significant services can be found at ridiculously low prices. So, Nepal may be one of the cheapest yet best tourist destinations in terms of the cost of services.

National Parks and Conservation Areas

Nepal is home to vast natural resources, Currently, there are nine national parks, three conservation areas, three wildlife reserves, and 11 buffer zones. And it is 19.67 % of the total land area of Nepal. Nepal is saving wild dense forests and wildlife so effectively.

During yoga teacher training or after training, if you wish to see wildlife, then you may go to different locations and enjoy your sightseeing beautifully. You may also do different hikes as well.

Special Reason’s Why to Visit Nepal ?

1. In Nepal, the various tourism service providers will provide various offers and discounts for their products. That will help you experience different things. For example, Airlines will provide special fares, Hotels will provide special rates for rooms, etc.
2. For tourism promotion, the government is organizing different cultural, adventure, and breathtaking events which will provide you chance to enjoy various experiences.
3. During this year, the government is promoting sustainable tourism and well-managed tourism, which will make your travel more smooth and worth it.
4. Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation(MoCTCA) will review the air service agreements with Thailand, Japan, Egypt, and China among others which will make your flight experience easier, cheaper, and reliable.

Question on Yoga Teacher Training in March

Namaste, if you are looking for doing your yoga teacher training in this year 2025 or any year ahead, why consider March as your perfect training time? Learn reasons for Yoga Teacher Training in March in Nepal.

Do you love the warm temperatures, blooming flora, and good weather while yoga teacher training in Nepal? March is the start of one of Nepal’s two annual peak tourist seasons, and it’s also when the temperatures have truly warmed up after winter. March is a great time to travel to Nepal. In Nepal, March signifies the beginning of the Spring season. And it is very special! Appeasing sunlight, flowers blooming everywhere are filled with the fragrance of blossoms.

Temperatures on the Terai can be scorching by March, well above 90°F, while Kathmandu and Pokhara can reach 80°F. The mountain areas at high altitudes will still be cold, however, especially at night.

March Events

Traditional Nepali festivals (whether Hindu or Buddhist) usually follow a lunar calendar. This means that some festivals that fall in March one year may be in February or April the next. Some festivals that often fall in March are:

Ghode Jatra, a festival in Kathmandu when the Nepal Army performs horse races to ward off the demon Gurumapa.

Maha Shivaratri, is celebrated throughout the country but is particularly lively at Kathmandu’s Pashupatinath Temple where thousands of sadhus (Hindu holy men) gather to worship Lord Shiva.

Holi is a festival of color celebrated around the country (on one day in the Terai, and the next in the hill areas) to welcome spring. Water and brightly colored powder are thrown in the air—a great opportunity for photos.

In Conclusion

Above you saw, why March is a very good time to do your yoga teacher training in Nepal. March brings the spring season, brings a lot of happiness and it brings a pristine change in nature that activates our inner aura very deeply. If you do yoga teacher training in March then you may do surely amazing small hikes during your holiday. Warm and shining weather adds a lot of boost and power to our behavior and mood during training. Also during this month, you may convince your yoga teacher to practice your classes in the outer environment as the climate totally supports you.

Singing bowls are used during meditation sessions to evoke spiritual, healing energies. Handcrafted from seven different metals, the singing bowl emits melodic vibrations that synchronize with inner chakras and restore harmony.

Types of Singing Bowl (Dwani Patro)

Thadobati

“Thado” literal English translation is straight. Thadobati singing bowls are defined by relatively vertical sides and a flat bottom. Some Thadobati singing bowls are rounder than others however the most common ones have a bottom diameter only slightly smaller than the diameter of the opening. Thadobati singing bowls are relatively deep, up to 5″, while a 9″ diameter is about the largest size you will see in this style.

Thadobati style may be the most ancient common singing bowl, with simple thick examples dating back well over 500 years. These thick old singing bowls will weigh more than a similar diameter Jambati singing bowl. The Thadobati style, especially those with a high copper content and a golden color was preferred by Nepalese.

Thadobati singing bowls usually have no discernible lip overhang and are quite thin from extensive abrasive cleaning over the centuries. Some Thadobati come with interesting punched and etched decorative markings. You could say there are different sub-styles of Thadobati bowls based on recurrent marking patterns but there is no commonly accepted nomenclature to describe these styles. You can see some fanciful names for these styles but this is modern marketing, not tradition.

Singing bowls in the Thadobati style range in tone over four octaves, the widest range of any style. It would be possible to put together a hundred bowl sets, all with discernably different strike tones. Thick small Thadobati bowls can be very high well up into the 6th octave while thinner large bowls go down to the bottom of the 3rd. A few rare examples can ring in the upper ranges of the very low 2nd octave.

Jambati

Jambati bowls often have visible hammer marks. There are classical etching lines on Jambati bowls – below the rim on the outside and circular markings inside at the bottom. Some very old Jambati have no lines left, they have been worn off from use. Many older Jambati were made with a flattened rim, very old examples can have a broad flat rim with its own set of etched lines. These have become quite rare in recent years. Jambati bowls were often used for relatively clean purposes such as grain storage so bowls hundreds of years old can have a high level of preservation. The Jambati style, especially darker ones possibly indicating the presence of thunderbolt metal (iron), was preferred by Tibetans.

The vast majority of Jambati are in the 2nd and 3rd octave with an occasional small extra thick bowl ringing at the very low end of the middle octave.

Remuna

Remuna singing bowls are similar to Thadobati in shape and timbre. Since they have a similar soundscape they mix seamlessly with Thadobati in sets. The difference between a Remuna and a Thadobati is the Remuna have inward sloping walls to go with their flat bottom. Remuna bowls are very strong on artwork.

Remuna bowls tend to sport complex artwork. They often have deep etching with circles inside and out, even occasionally on the bottom of the bowl. It is not uncommon for Remuna bowls to have two textures outside, with a darker and rougher bottom half of the bowl. Inscriptions are more common on Remunas than any other type of bowl. As with all antique singing bowls artwork may be worn away through long years of use.

Remunas tend to be thinner than Thadobati and you never see an extra thick one. The origin of the name Remuna is not clear, however, there is a Remuna town and district on the northwest side of the Bay of Bengal, south of Bhutan.

Manipuri

Manipuri are the original singing bowls. When singing bowls first were introduced to Western travelers in the 1970s this was by far the most common type. At the time most singing bowls were coming from Tibet on the back of refugees. Due to their metallic content, they were easily sold to buyers in India and Nepal. The name Manipuri, however, comes from a state in Northeastern India. This is possibly due to that state being a center of production for brass objects.

There are many sub-styles of Manipuri bowls. No doubt over the last ten centuries millions of these were made and it is easy to imagine different makers using slightly different techniques. Manipuri bowls can be quite old and worn. They were used so extensively that thick elaborately etched bowls eventually became thin smooth bowls with no markings. it is not unusual to see a worn bowl with less than half the thickness of a well preserved version of the same sub-style. Much more so than Thadobati bowls, Manipuri were made with many hammermarks and fine craftsmanship so that they were quite smooth and even when brand new. This is not always true but a roughly made Manipuri is unusual.

Manipuri singing bowls were made in quite a range of sizes from tiny 3-inch bowls to ones a foot across. Due to their range of sizes, and also thickness, Manipuri have a very wide range of primary tones, from the lower second octave to the top of the 5th. The very worn Manipuri bowls can have exquisite sound. The shape of Manipuri bowls gives them a timbre that blends well with Jambati.

Ultabati

Ultabati singing bowls are similar to the Jambati style and come in similarly large sizes over 7″. Their distinguishing feature is that the side of the bowl is curved under the rim. These bowls are not very common which makes them difficult to find with better sound quality. Ultabati bowls often have prominent hammer marks. They can come darkened, even black, on the outside and bright in the interior. Etching lines are similar to Jambati bowls but much less common.

While Jambati bowls were a favorite in Tibet Ultabati seemed to be more of a Northern Indian bowl. Ultabati bowls have the same low tones of Jambati. Indeed some of the deepest tones I have come across are thinner large Ultabati, starting at the bottom end of the 2nd octave.

Trapezoid

Every once in a while a “new” antique singing bowl type emerges. In the past, an occasional Trapezoid shape would pop up here and there, then in 2013 the quantities suddenly jumped. In the past,, the Trapezoid bowls that would surface were large, thin, and often not very sonic. What’s come to the market recently are smaller thicker bowls some of which sound incredibly sweet. My theory is that some village in some Himalayan regional backwater was “found” by the antique bowl collectors. In this village, there was a tradition, maybe maintained by a single family, of making this style. A little time capsule treasure trove was waiting for just the right moment.

These bowls have straight, symmetrically sloped sides and a flat bottom and straight top, viewed from the side a perfect Trapezoid. They all seem to have been made with similar markings, many parallel exterior lines, and groups of inner circles. The rims are broad and outward-facing with etching lines. Some of the very oldest examples have broad rims worn down to nubs. Who knows how many years of use that took?