If making a spiritual journey to
the birthplace of yoga is on your
bucket list—or, if you’ve been and
want to return in a way that feels
more authentic and connected—
read on. From the must-see placesand pilgrimages to top tips on how
to stay healthy on the road, here’s
what you need to know before
you plan your trip.
BY MEGHAN RABBITTI started practicing yoga in a crowded New York City gym, my mat
so close to the student’s next to mine that I couldn’t tell whose sweat
droplets were whose. Like many Americans, I was introduced to yoga
as a physical activity—I considered it a complement to the triathlon
training I was doing at the time—and thought of it as only that for the
fi rst fi ve or so years I practiced.
Then, I started practicing with a yoga teacher who dropped lessons
about yoga’s lineage into her classes. That led me to another instructor,
who taught me even more about this ancient practice, the origins
of which date to pre-Vedic times (1500–500 BCE) and are widely
believed to have morphed into the Hatha Yoga that spread during
British colonial rule of India and that Westerners practice today. The
more I learned, the more I realized that eventually, I’d want to make
a pilgrimage to yoga’s birthplace so I could understand more fully the
practice I’d come to love.
I had that chance three years ago. What I learned is that, similar to
my journey on my yoga mat, a meaningful trip to India can’t just be
about taking. Rather, it should be about studying up on the places you’ll
visit and cultures you’ll experience, connecting meaningfully with
the people you meet when you’re there, giving back through
seva (selfl ess service) work, and, most important,
staying open to learning. It’s my sincere hope
that this guide will help you do just that.