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Where will we be staying? Is it a resort?
Are Ayurveda Trip events only for women?
Do I need to know much about Ayurveda, India or yoga to enjoy and get the most out of this trip?
Which airport is closest to Rasa Ayurveda?
Are group rates available? Will the group travel together by plane to Trivandrum?
Do you recommend anyone to help with flight planning?
What are the Check In and Check Out times at Rasa Ayurveda?
Do I need a passport and visa for travel to India? Where do I get these?
Is travel insurance necessary?
What is the cancellation policy?
Can I bring my children on this trip?
I'd like to stay in touch with family and friends while I'm in Kerala. Is that reasonable to expect?
Can I expect single-occupancy accommodations for every night of the trip?
I'm curious about what how much cash I should bring, what I should pack, things like that...
Will the food and water be clean and safe to ingest in Trivandrum? Will I like it?
What about toilets? I always hear about the lack of toilet paper in India.
Will personal one-on-one meetings with Niika be available?
I want to learn more about Ayurveda and Kerala. Do you suggest any reading material?
Where will we be staying? Is it a resort?
While in Trivandrum, we'll stay at the Rasa Ayurveda Healing Centre for Women. Rasa Ayurveda is not a resort, but a retreat—a “guruless” "guruless" ashram and Ayurvedic clinic, dedicated to providing a nurturing space for healing and learning. At Rasa Ayurveda you will discover that Mother Nature, and your own nature, offer all the guidance you need to live a whole life.
Rasa Ayurveda is located in a village-like neighborhood, and the amenities make for a simple but comfortable environment. The main luxury offered is attentive care to your healing, education and transformation thru the therapies, foods and experiences offered, along with the personal connection you'll enjoy with those who will make Rasa Ayurveda your home in Kerala.
Are Ayurveda Trip events only for women?
Generally, yes. Some trips welcome men, also. Look for additional text in the trip description or feel free to send us an email.
Do I need to know much about Ayurveda, India or yoga to enjoy and get the most out of this trip?
Ayurveda Trip groups are always small, and our goal is to offer personal and planetary healing, learning and cross-cultural connection. Expect a unique, non-tourist experience, no matter which trip you choose.
Many people join us for their very first trip to India, to Kerala and to be introduced to authentic, traditinal Ayurveda. Some even enjoy their first yoga class while on one of our trips!
Most of our trips are suitable for anyone who feels drawn to experience and learn authentic Ayurveda in an intimate group setting, regardless of their level of familiarity with Ayurveda. If you are a trained practitioner, you will learn more than you can imagine by joining us in Kerala on any trip. If you've never heard of Ayurveda until you learned about this trip, you will discover a whole new world of health and balance.
Some of our trips are designed specifically for scholars or practitioners of Ayurveda or related healing approaches. Please see trip descriptions for details. If you are unsure about whether a trip is right for you, please inquire! We'll help you decide if a particular trip will suit you.
I want to take Ayurvedic treatment at Rasa Ayurveda in addition to what is offered with the trip I'm registering for. Do you recommend arriving early or staying later for therapies?
We are happy to accommodate your wish to add treatment days at Rasa Ayurveda, either before or after your scheduled trip, as long as space is available.
Coming early has it's advantages: You'll get a jump on jet lag recovery, receive your personal Ayurvedic diagnosis and begin treatment before the full group arrives. Many trips are structured to begin with a week of experiencing Ayurvedic therapies, so depending on the trip you are registered for, you may be able to arrive early, begin your treatment, then carry on with receiving therapies thru the first week of the trip to accomplish your full and completed treatment.
Staying later is great, too: After the trip, you'll be ready to completely relax and settle in, and you'll be able to add a few days of complete rest after your therapy days, which helps ensure the long-term effectiveness of your treatment.
Which airport is closest to Rasa Ayurveda?
Book your ticket to fly into Thiruvananthapuram, also called Trivandrum.
Are group rates available? Will the group travel together by plane to Trivandrum?
Since trip participants fly from a variety of locations and may choose to arrive at different times, group rate airfares are not usually available. If the group is flying from a single location, we are happy to explore the possibility of securing group rates for flights.
It's not likely that the group will travel on one plane. Traveling on your own may be a rewarding part of your adventure! If another group member is departing from your origination airport, we can put you in touch with one another if you request this.
Do you recommend anyone to help with flight planning?
If you are flying from the US, try phoning Anu at Magic Carpet Travel. (phone 414-769-4800) She can often find good deals.
What are the Check In and Check Out times at Rasa Ayurveda?
You will be met at the airport regardless of when you arrive.
Regular Check In: Airport/train station pickup as early as 7am. (50% of the daily rate applies to airport pickups scheduled prior to 7am.)
Regular Check Out: Airport/train station drop or clinic departure no later than 9pm (50% of the daily rate applies to departures scheduled later than 9pm.)
I want to do whatever I can to reduce the negative impact of my activities on our beautiful Mother Earth. How can I offset my flights' carbon footprint?
Here are a couple of websites offering information:
http://www.carbonfund.org/site/pages/land/plane_climate_tags
http://web.conservation.org/xp/CIWEB/programs/climatechange/carboncalculator.xml
Do I need a passport and visa for travel to India? Where do I get these?
Yes, you need a passport and tourist visa for entry into India.
Depending on your country of origin, passports can take up to 16 weeks to process, so apply early if you need a passport.
In the US, visas for travel to India are available thru Travisa. It's wise to apply for your visa early, but rapid turnaround is also available. A visa can usually be had within a week's time.
There are several options available for length of visa. Here is text from the TraVisa website: "A Tourist Visa is given to those visiting India for tourism or other non-business related purposes. 5 year and 10 year visas are available only to US citizens under a bilateral arrangement. All non-US passport holders are only eligible for up to a Six (6) month Tourist visa. There should be a gap of at least 2 months between two separate visits to India on a Tourist Visa. Irrespective of the duration of validity of visa, on each visit maximum period of stay in India is limited to 6 months (180 days). Please note the visa is valid beginning on the day it is issued. So a 6 Month visa issued on January 1 would be valid until June 30."What about immunizations?
Make an appointment with your doctor or clinic to confirm that you are up to date on any needed immunizations. Explain that you are traveling to South India. Some immunizations and prophylactics commonly prescribed for travel to Northern India, such as preventative malaria medicine, are NOT usually recommended for travel to South India.
For general info on U.S. government travel recommendations, visit:
http://www.cdc.gov/travel
Is travel insurance necessary?
Travel insurance is not required, but we strongly recommend that you protect yourself with travel insurance for airfare and programme costs. Some credit cards offer protection if used to pay for your trip. You can also ask your travel agent, or check out an insurer such as TravelGuard for low cost insurance. Here's another good place to find a travel insurance policy that will suit your needs: http://www.SquareMouth.com.
What is the cancellation policy?
All payments are non-refundable. We highly recommend travel insurance to protect your investment in case of emergency or other need to change your plans.
However, if we receive and confirm your written cancellation (email is fine) at least 8 weeks before the trip start date, the payments you have made (or the 50% deposit, whichever is more), less a $350 processing fee, will be held as credit in your name for future trips, valid for 24 months.
If you give less than 8 weeks notice of your cancellation, 50% of the full cost of the program is forfeited, and 50% will held as credit in your name for future trips or treatment at Rasa Ayurveda, valid for 24 months, less a $350 processing fee.
If you are able to fill your place with a friend or family member NOT already on a Ayurveda Trip waiting list or registered for an upcoming Ayurveda Trip, the full credit for the program can be transferred, less a $350 processing fee.
We highly recommend travel insurance to protect your investment in case of emergency or other need to change your plans.
Can I bring my children on this trip?
Children ages 14 and over who are truly interested in the experience are welcome to register, accompanied by a registered parent or guardian.
While we love kids and revere family togetherness, we cannot accommodate children under age 14 during trips or group programs, or children who do not truly desire to participate.
It might seem like a solution to set up an offsite place to stay and arrange daily transportation and childcare so you can participate in trip activities and still care for your child's needs. We do not recommend this and cannot assist in making these arrangements. The additional coordination complexities created are not within our scope of management ability during trips and group programs.
Also, it is important to consider that bringing young, western-born children to India can be risky. Pediatricians often recommend that parents wait until their child is at least 6 before bringing them to India, simply so their immune system and physical mass can withstand all the novel exposure to bacteria, etc, that may be part of their journey.
We hope all trip participants will be completely free to experience and participate in the offerings of the program. Some trips involve several days of "rough" travel, unsuitable for children..
While we stay at Rasa Ayurveda,program days often begin at 7:30 am and end around 9 pm. This schedule can invite conflict when children-in a completely foreign environment-need your reassurance and involvement in their day.(If you want to bring your children to Rasa Ayurveda at other times, please inquire directly to Rasa Ayurveda Traditional Healing Centre about coming at another time for Ayurvedic treatment as a patient/guest or intern.
I'd like to stay in touch with family and friends while I'm in Kerala. Is this practical?
Yes — it's easy. Rasa Ayurveda has a computer and internet access available to patient/guests.
If you can, set up a SKYPE account for yourself and each family member or friend you'd like to stay in touch with. This is a convenient and free way to connect to anyone, almost anywhere in the world. To get set up, go to SKYPE.com, download skype and open a new account.
Phone cards are also available for sale. Patient-guests at Rasa Ayurveda are welcome to use the land line with a phone card to dial any phone on the planet.
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Can I expect single-occupancy accommodations for every night of the trip?
If you registered for single-occupancy accommodation, you will enjoy your own room and bathroom for every night we stay at Rasa Ayurveda Traditional Healing Centre for Women. When we travel away from Rasa Ayurveda, we mix it up a bit, making sure everyone has a “buddy.” For nights away from Rasa, all trip participants will stay double-occupancy at mid-level Indian hotels or, if we are camping, possibly more than double-occupancy in tents.
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I'm curious about what how much cash I should bring, what I should pack, things like that...
All of this information will be included in the Welcome Letter you'll receive after you register. If you have any questions in the meantime, please email us.
Will the food and water be clean and safe to ingest in Trivandrum?
Will I like it?
While staying at Rasa Ayurveda, tasty dishes of Ayurvedic Kerala cuisine prepared from fresh ingredients will be served at every meal. Most people are delighted to discover that not all Indian food is heavy with oil and spices, but can be light and redolent with subtle flavors and lots of fresh vegetables. An amazing variety of tropical fruits are available for snacking at all times. With few exceptions, meals are wheat and dairy free and primarily vegetarian. Fish and mutton are offered occasionally or as medicinal nutrition for some patients. Clean, safe drinking water is always available.
Special dietary restrictions will be honored. Just communicate your needs.
When traveling away from Rasa Ayurveda, fresh fruit, snacks and drinking water are always on hand. Main meals are purchased from restaurants (called “hotels”). While it's wise to be cautious when eating out, compared to other places in India, water and food in Kerala is surprisingly clean and safe.
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What about toilets? I always hear about the lack of toilet paper in India.
Have no fears! Toilet paper will be provided for you. All toilets are cleaned daily and are flushed with water. Some rooms at Rasa Ayurveda have western-style toilets. Others have Indian-style, squat toilets. Be assured that you will be comfortable with the Indian-style toilet after trying it a few times. In fact, after a few days, many find they prefer the Indian-style toilets.
I notice that Niika Quistgard, trip guide and Director of Rasa Ayurveda, appears on the Rasa Ayurveda website wearing Indian clothing and a forehead mark. Is she Hindu and will the Ayurveda Trip programmes be oriented toward Hinduism?
Everyone at Rasa Ayurveda respects and may be affiliated with various religions. At Rasa Ayurveda it's felt that the true philosophical value of Ayurveda comes not so much from its Hindu origins, but from Ayurveda's emphasis on understanding the relationship with one's own true nature, and with Mother Nature. This orientation is useful and healing regardless of one's religion.
That said, you will find a Hindu altar in the yoga hall at Rasa Ayurveda, and Niika may sometimes lead the group in kirtan (devotional chanting), or to visit neighborhood temples, all of which are primarily Hindu. Niika has studied Hindu philosophy and embraces Hindu ritual and devotional practices. (Niika also follows many of the traditional cultural expectations of women in the area.)
However, a beautiful aspect of the Hindu religion, correctly understood, is the validity of all forms of the Divine, and a true appreciation for the value of each person's relationship with the Divine, regardless of the form or religion they choose. We welcome every good-hearted person to Rasa Ayurveda–whatever their beliefs–for healing and personal transformation through Ayurveda.
Will I see an elephant?
It's highly like that you will! In fact, it's not uncommon for elephants to walk right past Rasa Ayurveda's front gate. If you especially want to spend time with an elephant in Kerala, let us know and we will try to arrange it.
Can I learn to wear a sari?
Sure! You can shop for a beautiful Indian sari, have the local tailor stitch a sari blouse for you, and learn how to wrap and wear the feminine and graceful sari for a temple visit, photo session or other occasion if you like.
Will personal, one-on-one meetings with Niika be available?
Depending on availability, private consultations with Niika can be arranged.
I want to learn more about Ayurveda and Kerala. Do you suggest any reading material?
Ayurveda is grounded in what we feel thru our senses, and how we use our mind in relation to our experience. Because experience is a much better teacher than a book, the best way to learn is by taking a trip!
But if you want to “whet your appetite ” before getting on that plane, you might want to read thru Niika's blog for some background material.
Or, read these articles by Niika about Ayurvedic constitution and creating balance with Ayurvedic wisdom:
"Earth, Wind & Fire"
Yoga Journal, June 2004
Going beyond the misleading girl-zine "What's My Dosha?" questionnaire, this column clarifies the true significance of one's Ayurvedic constitution, and invites consideration of the more salient issue: one's doshic imbalance.
"Balancing Act"
Yoga Journal, October 2004
Healthful balance results from common sense, practically applied. Ayurveda's "10 Pairs of Opposites" offers us the reference points we need to make wise choices.
Find more of Niika's articles on Ayurveda....
Good introductory books on Ayurveda are:
Prakruti: Your Ayurvedic Constitution by Robert Svoboda
Ayurveda: A Life of Balance by Maya Tiwari
Here is an excellent piece on Hindu gods & goddess in Indian culture, and
the power of shakti - the feminine....
info at ayurvedatrip.com | US Phone 011-908-998-1146 | Fax 011-908-292-1093
