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Mind Body Colleen

10 Experiences That Will Make You Fall in Love with Rishikesh, India

colgrady| Blog+ Travel

In the last 10 years, Rishikesh, India has become a hotspot for Western tourists. Spiritual seekers from all over the world travel to the birthplace of yoga to explore spirituality, Indian culture, and authentic Eastern yoga. Rishikesh is a safe haven to deepen and expand your connection with your inner self and the outer world. Once a tiny village at the foothills of the Himalayas, the town is now buzzing with a vast array of ashrams, temples, world-renowned gurus, and an immense vivaciousness. Here are 10 experiences that will allow you to soak up the richness this town has to offer.

1. Dip in the Ganges

The Ganges is India’s holiest river. Many traditions believe a dip in the Ganges is a sacred way to purify the soul and body. Rishikesh is located on the upper part of the river and it is one of the cleanest areas to take the plunge. 

2. Feel the Vibrations of a Traditional Kirtan

Kirtan consists of creating a community together to sing and chant different vibrational sounds and songs. There are different instruments and occasionally dancing from joy and devotion. Whether you participate in the singing or soak up the energy from the group, a kirtan is an energizing and heart opening experience.

ganges river, prayer

3. Reconnect with Your Groovy Side at the Beetle’s Ashram

In the late 60s, the Beatles spent some time away from the world in Rishikesh studying transcendental meditation under Maharishi. The ashram the Beatles sought refuge in then still remains as main tourism site. The ashram campus is filled with a wide range of street art and a sacred pranic energy left from the transcendental meditation lineage. 

4. Detox with Panchakarma Ayurveda Healing

Panchakarma is a 5 day Ayurveda treatment to help cleanse and detoxify the body, mind, and consciousness. Ayurveda is a medicinal and healing methodology developed in ancient Indian traditions. Rishikesh is filled with Ayurvedic doctors that can help you identify your dosha, personalize your healing plan, and help to make great shifts within your body and mind. 

5. Practice Your Bargaining Skills in Rishikesh Market

Many areas in Rishikesh have been softened and reconstructed for Western tourism. Rishikesh market is an area that has been left untouched by the Westerners’ culture and offers a glimpse into the authentic Indian shopping experience.

6. Design Your Own Clothes + Jewelry

In India, it is common to have clothes personally made from a tailor versus buying them premade in a shop. It is a very humbling and a creative experience to find your own fabrics, communicate your designs, pick the embellishments, and haggle on the price. The process provides a new exposure and perspective to the work that goes into making a garment. It is a very special souvenir to take home seeing the hands and minds that went into creating your pieces. This is commonly done with jewelry, as well. There are a plethora of gem stores, mala stringers, and silversmiths that will work with you to bring your ideas to life.

7. Energize Your Spiritual Self at a Ganga Aarti

Many different ashrams or ghats (banks of the Ganges) offer a pooja, or a ceremony of worship and offering. These are immensely vibrant and uplifting ceremonies to witness. A good place to begin the search for popular events is at the Parmartha Ashram and the Triveni.

8. Immerse Yourself in Learning a New Skill

Rishikesh offers and abundance of courses from harmonium playing, mandala drawing, yoga instructor certifications, belly dancing, energy healing, etc. There is bound to be some new skill that will be accessible to learn and that also draws your interest.

9. Find Your Stillness in an Ashram

An ashram is a spiritual community center typically built under a specific lineage of practice or guru. They typically offer a daily schedule which includes mediations, yoga classes, meal times, quiet hours, etc. There are ashrams on nearly every corner in Rishikesh and they are a safe place to work on your own personal growth and practices.

10. Flow in a Yoga class with a World-Renowned Guru

Many different spiritual leaders from all over the world call Rishikesh home. It is not hard to find public offerings in a wide range of styles and practices. It is vital to experience yoga in its purest form while in India to begin to understand how the western world has changed the practice of yoga over time.  

You can’t be the light of the world if you can’t pay your electricity bill. ⁣⁣⚡️
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How many yoga teachers out there feel this? I definitely did when I was a yoga teacher… but when I became a yoga entrepreneur things started to change… my finances, my confidence, my organization, etc, etc.  ⁣⁣
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Just think of the energetics of when someone introduces you, “oh she is a yoga teacher” or “oh she is a yoga entrepreneur”. When you hear an entrepreneur the spine straightens up a little more and you may breathe deeper into your belly.  ⁣⁣
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Here are 4 things that must dramatically shift when you are going from a yoga teacher to a yoga entrepreneur - ⁣⁣
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Mindset: When you see yourself as a professional business owner The way you carry yourself changes. The way you communicate and behave changes. How you chose opportunities will change. For example as an entrepreneur, you are not going to say yes to every opportunity that arises you are going to say yes to the ones that benefit and grow your business.⁣⁣
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Owning Your Value: It’s time to start deeply believing in the value of what you offer and start confidently asking for it. If you don’t truly believe that your gifts and services are worthy of your asking rate then why would anyone want to pay you for them?⁣⁣
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A Personal Brand: It’s time to create a name for yourself in the wellness industry with the platforms and socials to back you up. It has built my credibility, visibility, and reputation in the wellness world. ⁣⁣
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A Business Plan: There needs to be some clarity and strategy behind all the choices you make and the opportunities you take. Without it, you are just throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what sticks. Have you heard that phrase before?⁣⁣ 
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If your ready to level up and you need some help laying the groundwork for your business plan - I’ve got you covered. ⁣⁣
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I just created a Wellness Entrepreneur Workbook with everything to finally get your business off the ground. #linkinbio for your complimentary copy. 👼🏼🌸😚
Self care is health care...⁣ ⁣ I am a FIRM bel Self care is health care...⁣
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I am a FIRM believer that we need to actively nourish yourselves, honor your boundaries and needs, AND take time to depressurize and rest. ⁣
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Because when you neglect doing these things - they start to add up. And the body doesn't forget... anything. ⁣
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Your mind may be able to skip over it but lack of care will start to manifest as chronic pain, disease, headaches, fatigue, disorder, etc.⁣
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So take care of yourself this weekend & do something that makes you feel FULL.⁣
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I love nourishing myself with this all-natural facemask from @leoranatural. The acne facemask lessened the redness of my breakouts & left my skin feeling fresh and rejuvenated.🌈👼🏼🌸
Do you feel like you spend your days using your gi Do you feel like you spend your days using your gifts?⁣
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This question stopped me in my tracks. It is what made my yoga career pivot into becoming a creative. ⁣
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Actually, the first time I knew I need to do something in the creative industry was when I was in India 2 years ago. In a short time, there were a number of things that happened that really gave me this insight.⁣
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* My teacher gifted me the spiritual name Shakti Devi - Goddess of Creativity. Hence: why my biz is called Studio Shakti. ⁣
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* My roommate in my ashram told me how much of an artist I was and I cried because I was so deeply touched.⁣
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* Someone else asked me what I studied in university and when I said health edu they said really...? I would have guessed something like advertising or interior design.⁣
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I was getting the feedback that everyone was seeing me & praising me for my gifts of creativity. The only person not honoring that in myself was me...⁣
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It wasn't until a year later did I get serious about starting my creative business. And in the beginning stages, I fought a lot of internal battles allowing me to see myself as a PROFESSIONAL CREATIVE.⁣
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But creativity is it is one of my biggest gifts along with intuition, my skills of observation, listening, problem-solving, making people feel seen.⁣
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It makes me feel really fulfilled running a branding and web design business that uses all of them while still working in the yoga and wellness industry.⁣
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Also the book The Great Work of Your Life by Stephen Cope is profound read to help uncover your gifts. It was a key resource along my journey. 🌈🌸📿
This last week has been up there for one of the mo This last week has been up there for one of the most stressful and overwhelming weeks of the year for me. So I have not had the headspace to really process, seal the chapter, and vision cast for the new year. But I have been thinking of 5 things I want for myself in the new year. 🤍⁣⁣
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1. Practice each morning before checking my phone. ⁣⁣
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2. Confidently charge my rates and value in my business. ⁣⁣
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3. Stop picking at my skin. ⁣⁣
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4. Find more ways to be generous.⁣⁣
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5. Fearlessly show up and speak up as my true self. ⁣⁣
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NOTE: These AREN’T my proper goals & visions. 🙈 These are way TOO rough…. They’re not actionable, desire led, or measurable. ⁣⁣
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IF your goals sound kinda like this let me help you sharpen them, making them more clear, manageable, heartfelt, and pointed toward a real result. ⁣⁣
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TOMORROW is my Visionary’s Blueprint Workshop! We are going to be creating VISION BOARDS & ACTIONABLE GOALS & finding our CORE DESIRES for ourselves next year. ⁣📝☁️⁣
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Let's step into the year with a clear vision & structured blueprint of how to get there. ⁣⁣
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Limited spaces are available. Link in bio to join 🌈🦋🕊⁣
8 days later I came out of my Kundalini cocoon. I 8 days later I came out of my Kundalini cocoon. I am 2/3 modules complete in doing a 200hr kundalini yoga teacher training.⁣ 🕊🌿
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I am sorry guys I can't ever shut up about kundalini but it's such a powerful and potent practice that has given me rapid results of personal transformation. And I love it so much I tear up when I really get talking about it from how grateful and deeply moved I am by this practice.⁣
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Here are some unique things I especially love about it:⁣
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• You chose the same meditations, pranayama, kriyas, and mantra and commitment to this set for 40 days. After 40 days you can add in something new or adjust. This is so you build a relationship and depth to your practice. — excuse me where was this in any other yoga formats. ⁣
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• You're working with your energy systems and the subconscious mind to wipe your slate clean and unhook all the negative patterns that hold you back from being and living in your true self. ⁣
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• It's a philosophy where healing is just a straight charge forward. If you want things to change and traumas to heal just keep your focus on your practice. It is not a place to wallow in your own shit, you don't need to make it bigger by constantly sending more energy and focus to all the bad things that have ever happened to you.⁣
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• It a high-speed practice. Results come your way fast and in ways you probably did not imagine.⁣
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• It brings a ton of clarity and creativity to your life. Your nervous system and energetic bodies are constantly being expanded and repatterned in Kundalini yoga. This allows you to make new neural pathways and open up parts of yourself and new sensitivities that previously were turned off. ⁣
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🤯🤯🤯 it’s the fitness of the future ya’ll. ⁣🧘🏼‍♀️🦋🌈
You probably already know this but if you don't... You probably already know this but if you don't....⁣
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My next Visionary's Blueprint workshop is Jan 2nd! & here's how it will go 👇🏼⁣
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In this workshop, we wrap up 2020. Together we will reflect on our pivotal moments, highlights, and growth. We will admire how far we have come and then finally sign off once and for all.⁣
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Next, we will start digging a little deeper to ask ourselves what we really want to experience, feel, grow, and achieve with the fresh slate of 2021. Through this process, we will create the aim for the new year and new you.⁣
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Once we have a clear direction and goals we will create the vision board to remind us of the person we are going to become this year. I will teach you how to create a vision board for your computer desktop and mobile home screen. Your visions will be plastered on the place you look most, so you will not forget how you are going to show up this year.⁣
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Saturday January, 2nd 2021⁣
CST 5:30 PM⁣
PST 3:30 PM⁣
EST 6:30 PM⁣
Bali 7:30 AM (Sunday 3rd)⁣
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LINK IN BIO TO REGISTER 🦋🌿🌈

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