India yoga program! For those who want to go to India... not just travel around tourist spots but stay in one place longer to understand it more deeply in their own way — highly recommended! Also recommended for those who want to escape a life of comparison and competition, be with nature, practice yoga and spiritual training, and gather themselves. -FREE YOUR SOUL India Healing Yoga |
Q.How did you come across Gap Year?
A. Well... it''s been so long that my memory is fuzzy... Back when I was focused on building my resume, I used to visit online communities about credentials whenever I had free time. I think it was there that a helpful person posted information about the gap year program and I became interested.
Q.Among the many programs of Korea Gap Year, the India yoga program...What motivated you to decide to take your gap year through it?
A. First, I''ve been doing yoga for a long time and was very interested in it. When I practiced yoga, I — who used to be trapped in thoughts — could just fully focus on my body and clear my mind. I also always thought I should visit India someday. Then I saw this perfect yoga program that combined the two — ''learn yoga in India'' — and felt I absolutely had to go.
Q.When you said you were going to India for your gap year...How did people around you react?
A. As for my family, my older brother and mother readily agreed. The problem was my father. ''My daughter is going alone to that scary India!'' And he was upset that it wasn''t to do something that would help with employment but just to learn yoga. However, I reassured him about the purpose of the gap year program and the safety on site through the Gap Year site, and in the end I was able to leave after giving him the contact information of a Gap Year representative.
Friends and people around me were mostly envious but asked whether I really had to go alone to dangerous India. But the more they told me not to go, the louder the rebellious frog inside me croaked, insisting that I must go there.
Q.What are the differences between similar programs taken domestically and the India yoga program?What are the differences?
A. I had briefly learned yoga before in China and Korea. I also practiced yoga by myself at home from time to time. Before joining the India yoga program I only thought of the physical yoga I knew, but because I could also pursue spiritual training, it truly was a healing time for both body and mind.
Q.What did you personally prepare before participating in the gap year?What was it?
A. First, raising funds was the priority. So I took a leave of absence and worked hard at part-time jobs for several months. With that money I applied for the program, bought a camera to capture precious memories in India, and prepared various things before leaving. I also practiced yoga at home every day to prepare for life in India.
Oh! I also had a personally meaningful preparation. Except for babyhood, I had lived for about twenty years with long hair — a symbol of femininity — so I wanted a short haircut. But 99% of the people around me told me not to, so I hadn''t tried it for a long time. Two days before leaving for India, I went alone to the hair salon without even telling my family and got a short cut. The reaction?! It wasn''t as bad as I expected ^^ Every time I showered in poor facilities in India with my short haircut, I felt I had really done the right thing. If I hadn''t done it then, I''d probably still be worrying about whether to cut it, concerned about what others think. I was proud that I could start this new departure to India from a small change in myself.
Q.How was the structure and organization of the educational program you participated in in India?
A. The program was arranged so that each day wasn''t too relaxed nor too tight; there were classes and time for rest. Classes start at 6:30 AM, and internet isn''t good there and Wi‑Fi doesn''t work in the rooms, so you have no choice but to go to bed early. Because you go to bed early, you fall asleep quickly, so getting up isn''t a problem.
Q.Can you tell us about the people you met in India or any memorable people?Could you tell us about them?
A. Honestly, when I arrived in India I was very scared. After taking a taxi for over seven hours, hearing the constant honking and experiencing real India on rough roads, I finally realized I was alone thousands of kilometers away from Korea. I arrived at the yoga school after 10 p.m. and sat awkwardly alone in the lobby, when EANA, a Singaporean who was the only Asian there, warmly approached me, talked to me first, and helped me with various things. Also, because I could speak Chinese, we were able to have fun private conversations, which made it even more memorable.
And the FANTASTIC 4—EANA, the Indian Siddharth, and BRYAN from the U.S.—were cheerful friends who got along well and were always together, making my month in India beautiful. Even now when I close my eyes I feel like I can still clearly hear their laughter..^^
Q.How was your leisure time outside of the training activities?
A. There were many places nearby for rafting, camping, Himalayan trekking, and various activities that you could easily arrange through travel agencies. On weekends I usually went out with friends to try foods other than the yellow curry we ate every day at the yoga school. There was also a clear, clean river (the Ganga) nearby, so my friends and I went on picnics and meditated on the riverbank, spending peaceful, relaxed time. There were many temples and scenic spots just a short taxi ride away, so it was easy to go out for a breath of fresh air.
Q.What was difficult while participating?
A. The most difficult part was the language. Even though I had consistently studied English in Korea, I struggled when I first encountered an environment where everyone used English. The daily yoga lectures contained many difficult body-related terms, and I often couldn’t understand when friends were joking. I want to continue studying English so I can travel more and make more friends in the future.
Ah! The cold weather was really tough too. I went in February and shivered the whole month; when March arrived and the weather became warm and spring-like, it was a shame that I had to return to Korea. The buildings didn’t have good heating and, being located in the mountains, it was very windy at night, so at first I lived and slept wearing my padded jacket 24 hours a day. Sigh... If I have the chance to go again, I’ll try to go in March or April, or in September after the monsoon!
And the food was the local cuisine provided daily by the yoga school, but because ingredients like garlic, onions, and meat were prohibited, I eventually got a bit tired of it. Still, I really miss it now and want to eat it!!!
Q.Advice you would give to friends who will participate in the India yoga program,or ''who would you recommend this program for''.
A. There are many foreigners in Rishikesh, so if you don’t wander around late at night and are cautious, safety is fairly good. Besides yoga, when the weather warms up you can try rafting, safari experiences, and many other activities, so it’s good to keep those in mind.
India yoga program! If you want to go to India but don’t want a trip that just ticks off tourist spots—if you want to stay in one place for a long time and get to know it more deeply in your own way—I highly recommend going! I also recommend it to those who want to escape a life of comparison and competition, be with nature, practice yoga and spiritual cultivation, and gather themselves together.
Q.What changed before and after your gap year?
A. I take better care of my body and pay more attention to myself than before. For example, when eating: before, I always had my smartphone in my hand while eating, or I would try to do something—read the newspaper or watch TV—to keep my mind occupied. Now I try to focus only on myself while eating. My body is focused on eating, but my head and thoughts, driven by external stimuli like social media, news, and celebrity gossip, want to keep thinking endlessly, which I feel causes digestive problems or constipation and creates disharmony between body and mind.
Although it was a short month, I feel I learned how to manage my thoughts and mind during that time.
Q.You have safely completed your gap year and returned.What are your plans for the future?
A. I don’t have concrete plans. I just want to keep doing what I love. I want to keep visiting great exhibitions, reading books, seeing interesting and wonderful works, and living a rich life. I’ll also keep studying English consistently for the many opportunities I may encounter on future trips.
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