Yoga Retreat at the Siddashram Yoga Center in the Himalayas of Turkey

Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.

Yoga is a great practice for both the body and the mind, it offers peace and mindfulness to its lovers and helps them get through daily stress. The goal of Yoga is a sustained state of pure awareness called Moksha or Samadhi. Yoga is the transcendence of the mind to realize the “true self” or “highest self.” This experience of pure consciousness is our true nature.

I do yoga every day and today I would like to share my personal experience of my first yoga retreat. I went to the Taurus mountains for a week, staying at the only ashram that exists in Turkey, to undergo an intensive detox week. Before my journey, I was a little nervous to be honest, because I did not really know what to expect.

First, I want to outline the beautiful location. The Ashram is located 750 meters above sea level, and it is also called the Himalayas of Turkey. It’s about 40 minutes away from Alanya. The yoga center overlooks a river and is surrounded by unspoiled nature. This place is magical.

During the one-week program, we were being introduced to the basic philosophy of yoga. The course is therefore also suitable for beginners. We did yoga in the mornings and evenings with different teachers, and went for a walk in the mountains early in the morning having a lot of deep conversations. I really enjoyed the conversations, especially the ones I had with Hocam Adnan and Madame Lourdes, who led and founded the camp.

“Yoga does not just change the way we see things; it transforms the person who sees.” ― B.K.S Iyengar

I would also like to mention the incredible cooking skills of Madame Lourdes. We had very delicious food every day and learned a lot about healthy eating and its importance for body and mind. Many of those things have already been integrated into my everyday life at home, but I will continue to do so.

The benefits of this purifying week are obvious. Our body releases toxins and blockages, which then results in mental clarity, more energy, weight loss, shiny skin, as well as increased and deeper awareness. After my second or third day already, I have felt so calm like I have rarely experienced before. When it was time to say farewell, I teared up a bit and I was not the only one. During that week all of us grow together so closely, that leaving this place felt a bit like leaving your family behind.

This is such a special experience that words cannot describe unless you have whiteness it yourself, which is why you simply must try it out yourself. I’ll return one day.

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