A personal and authentic experience of India and its spiritual culture through the lens of mindfulness
Next Dates:
October and November 2019
10/6-10/18
10/20 -11/01
11/3-11/15
11/17-11/29
Where: Rishikesh, India
It is a lot easier to transform when practicing mindfulness in a foreign context, different from our day to day lives. Join us for an all-inclusive retreat in India, located in the Himalayan foothills, right on the banks of the Ganga river. Package includes daily practice of traditional yoga and meditation, philosophy and visit of caves, temples and sacred places in the Himalayas. This is not just another retreat, this is designed to be a complete reboot, a life changing experience specifically for people who always wanted to see India but not ready to go on their own.
My name is Tony Saccardi and my first encounter with India was when I was 20 years old. At the time I was on a budget of $2 a day and I got to see and taste the real India, traveling in 3rd class or on top of buses and sleeping in people’s spare bedrooms for 25ct a night. This experience had such a profound effect on me that it totally changed my life, it became a part of me.
It took another 20+ years for me to come back for a 300 hours meditation retreat in Rishikesh. I was now looking at India through its philosophy, culture and through the lens of meditation and it transformed me to the bones.
I met my colleague Ani at the retreat and we immediately thought it would be a gift to make it easier for more people to come here and experience spiritual India. The result is a retreat for people who always wanted to come and experience spiritual India but weren't sure about coming here on their own.
Rishikesh, known as the yoga capital of the world is the perfect spot to acclimate yourself. It is safe and tourist friendly while still being beautiful and authentic. And it is the perfect launch ramp for excursions into the Himalayas.
You meet us in Rishikesh, a sacred city in the foothills of the Himalayas where Ani, myself and our local team will be waiting for you. First 5 days is in the hotel/ashram where we will practice daily meditation, yoga, visit temples and listen to Aarti. We will also take long walks in nature, along the Ganga river and visit the local waterfalls. On the 6th day we leave Rishikesh to Ukkimath, deep inside the Himalayas passed the roots of the Ganga river. We will visit the sacred temples in Ukkimath, Deoria Tal, and weather permitting Tungnath at a height of 13000 ft. Then back to Rishikesh on the 10th day to rest, contemplate and enjoy the place.
This trip requires some sense of adventure and the willingness to sacrifice a little comfort in exchange for a deeper experience of what India has to offer. Coming back from this trip, you will be changed, feel a deep connection to your true self and the readiness to tackle whatever comes your way.
If you always wanted to experience spiritual India but weren’t sure about doing it on your own, know that we designed the retreat especially for you.
Ani and I met in Rishikesh last year. We have different styles and we both are very passionate about philosophy, mindfulness and India
Aniruddha Tewari is a wellness professional who is covering all aspects of the body, mind and soul. His is very skilled in meditation, corporate yoga, psycho spiritual guidance, fitness, body aesthetics and general wellness coaching. Ani has many certifications, including a meditation teacher certification from the Shree Mahesh Heritage in Rishikesh, Fitness and nutrition from ACE, Reiki level 2, CBT for depression from the Beck Institute, yoga teacher training from Kaivalyadhama and also a Master of Science in Psychology from the university of Madras. Ani is very well versed in all historical and philosophical aspects of Yoga and a very patient teacher who can explain in very simple terms the most elaborate philosophical systems.
I’m a certified meditation teacher from the McLean meditation institute in Sedona, Arizona and from the Shree Mahesh Heritage in Rishikesh India. I have been practicing mindfulness since my first trip in India in 1982 and as a young adult I spent 15 years in a Gurdjieff community studying and practicing the 4th way system. I have been teaching meditation for a little over 5 years now and I recently completed my co-active coach training. As a co-active coach, I guide you through deep emotional work to help you find your true values and live your life’s purpose. I am not affiliated to any religion, belief system of guru. I see meditation as a tool we can use to reconnect with ourselves, find our true values and live a fulfilled life, free of unnecessary negativity and self-inflicted suffering.
Our idea is to create an experience that leave you with a sense of renewal and connection to something bigger and larger than life.
From the first day to the last we will do everything we can to help you immerse in the spirituality of the place itself
We suggest you arrive a couple of days in advance to acclimate yourself to the new time zone and maybe stay a few additional days to check the town or travel on your own.
Each additional night will cost you an additional $150 including meals.
Our partners in Rishikesh offer full travel services anywhere in India, Aryuvedic consultations, massages and more should you want to prolong your stay and get some adventure on your own.
This is a representative schedule that we reserve the right to modify depending on the participants needs.
Day 1 - Arrival, welcome and overview of program
Day 2 through Day 6 -
Yoga, meditation, philosophy, walk to town, Aarti
Day 7 - Field trip to Ukkimath
Day 8 - Ukkimath, Deoria Tal trek
Day 9 - Tungnath and Chandrashilah trek
Day 10 - Back in Rishikesh
Day 11 - Mindful walk to Ganga river
Day 12 - Closing circle
This is representative of a typical day schedule that we can modify depending on the participants needs
This is what some of the people I was blessed to share the experience with have to say about Rishikesh and meditating with us
"The beauty and spirit of Rishikesh takes your breath away. You can sit by the winding Ganga, bask in the vibrating aarti at dusk, or meditate at one of the many ashrams dotting the foothills of this magical city. It's my spiritual home that my soul never really left. In November of 2017, I studied meditation with Ani and Tony, and have had the pleasure of experiencing their teachings remotely, since. They are wise, genuine and experienced meditation teachers I highly recommend their services.“
Berenice Tan – Meditation teacher - Brisbane, Australia
"I was in Rishikesh, India, in November 2017 to learn Meditation. It is a perfect location to indulge in meditation, find peace of mind and to understand your feelings and true needs. I really enjoyed Tony’s guided meditations! He has this deep charming hypnotic voice, which is just perfect for guided meditations. Moreover, Tony is a knowledgeable effective meditation teacher, which is so important for beginners. He is also a very kind, easygoing person with a very good sense of humor.“
Anastasia Harputluoglu, MBA - lives in Istambul, Turkey
"While doing my meditation teacher training in Rishikesh in November 2017 I got to know a lot of wonderful people. 2 of them were Tony and Ani. 2 completely different personalities with 2 skills in common: Wisdom and the ability to share it with others. I was impressed to see how calmly and intentionally they would approach a subject on one hand and not take themselves too seriously on the other hand and bring humor to make it easier to assimilate. I am convinced they’re going to make the retreat a success and a wonderful learning experience.“
Katha Kushi - World traveler, Austria
Schedule an interview with us to reserve your spot
$3500 for the all inclusive retreat
$500 early bird discount if you register before end of July 2019
Groups discounts: 2 receive 10% off, 3 or more 15% off
Additional bonuses when you sign up
1 month of free live meditation after retreat
4 hours of Individual coaching sessions
Contact us at info@mindfullink.com for any questions about our retreat