Experience the Higher Teachings of Yoga
This Year: The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
Exploring with Ananda Yoga

Yoga Alliance RYT's and E-RYT's: This course offers up to 35 hours of continuing education credit. Ask your instructor for documentation.

6 days

• Jun 23 – 29, 2012

Prerequisite: Ananda Yoga Teacher Training or consent of instructor required (call Gyandev at 800-346-5350 or 530-478-7518).

Are you ready for something more, something beyond just practicing yoga techniques? Then join us and use the techniques to explore deeper aspects of spiritual teachings. The practices will give you a more down-to-earth understanding of the teachings, and you will be thrilled to see how the teachings open the door to a more powerful and uplifting experience of the practices.

Each year, we focus on a different, important spiritual teaching. In 2011, it’s the hidden wisdom of the famous Sufi scripture, The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. Paramhansa Yogananda wrote a compelling, highly accessible commentary on The Rubaiyat, opening the door to its deep spiritual meaning. That commentary — The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam Explained — will be your course text (you will receive a copy of it when you arrive) and a launching pad for our many explorations and discussions.

Participants will need to “know what they’re doing” with Ananda Yoga, because the mechanics of asana practice will not be a primary focus of the course. Our explorations will use basic as well as a few more-advanced techniques of Ananda Yoga, including not only asanas, but also pranayamas, bandhas, and meditation — all designed to energize body and mind, and to bring that energy into the higher chakras (spiritual energy centers) to bring forth your own innate understanding.

Each day includes 2–3 sessions of practice, guided exercises, presentation, and discussion, led by Nayaswami Gyandev (Director of Ananda Yoga Worldwide) and Nayaswami Diksha. There is also time for personal study, relaxation, and additional asana practice. If you are a meditation enthusiast, you might like to join Ananda Village residents for a hour-and-a-half early morning meditation each day.

Let’s dive deep for Omar’s and Yogananda’s pearls of wisdom!

A personal note from Gyandev:

Until I discovered Paramhansa Yogananda’s profound, yet highly accessible, explanations, I thought the Rubaiyat (quatrains: 4 lines of poetry) were mere hedonism: “a flask of wine, a book of verse, and Thou.” Now, however, I see that they are clear, practical, deep spiritual teachings — and in some way that I can’t quite express, they’re just plain fun. Diksha and I look forward to exploring this inspiring scripture with you, and enjoying the light it shines on some of the high teachings of yoga.

To whet your appetite, we invite you to listen to Swami Kriyananda reading Yogananda’s explanation of the 51st quatrain: Stanza 51 (mp3)

The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.

Prices are all-inclusive and cover accommodations, meals, classes or activities, and course materials.

Experience the Higher Teachings of Yoga
This Year: The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam starts the afternoon of the first date listed. It’s ideal to arrive before 4 pm, if you are able to. That way, you can join in the afternoon session of yoga and meditation, which begins at 4:45 pm. Dinner is at 6:30. The first real gathering of your group is at 7:30 pm. If you need to arrive here after 5 pm, that’s fine, but it helps us if you let us know at 800-346-5350. We can also put aside a dinner for you if you need to arrive after 7 pm. The program ends with lunch on the last date. Please see our Daily Schedule.

See Transportation and Directions whether you are coming by plane, car, bus or train. Our Frequent Questions page answers many of the questions you might have about How to Go on Retreat.