This retreat is open to anyone who wishes to facilitate self-discovery in the truest sense; opening the mind, body and soul through cultural immersion, yoga practice and humanitarianism through volunteering with our established communities in the Pink City of Jaipur. We need YOUR help and YOUR OWN UNIQUE LIGHT to be part of this journey.
Listen . Volunteer . Learn .
March 24 to April 3, 2024
Areas of volunteer work will be based on your own life experience and personal interests. From yoga and art, to language skills, you will be free to create your own unique teacher-student experience with the children of the “slum-school” in Jaipur. We will assist in helping your find your special way of connecting to this community. In just one week of volunteerism, you will be amazed by the positive impact you have made and the friendships you develop that will last a lifetime. Additional funds raised will aid in providing new uniforms for the 87 children that attend the school. Yogamour volunteers have been working with this population since 2015.
As a part of this curriculum, there will be an introduction to the art of non-violent communication as well as goal setting techniques in preparation to work with a group of skilled craft women that have had limited access to the outside world. Yogamour has been partnering this cottage industry since 2015
Our third point of interaction will be volunteering at a hospital for the disabled. We will visit with the residence and participate in providing needed services.
Community Member in Jaipur
Yogamour facilitators will be hosting a series of presentations on the language, perspective and science of introducing Trauma-Informed yoga into your personal practice and teaching.
Tell Us a Little About Yourself…
Diwali Festival in Jaipur.
Additional Activities
Experience the amazing Holi, the festival of color, while in Jaipur. This is one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs. We share this tradition of celebrating with local residents in true authentic Indian style.
Additionally, there be an opportunity to enjoy the vibrant and sacred city of Pushkar. Markets are abundant in this city where good finds include jewelry, glass lamps, embroidered fabrics such as wall hangings and shoulder bags, Rajasthani puppets and traditional music. The pedestrian markets make this a shopper’s heaven which is without the hustle and bustle of vehicular traffic.
And of course, this trip could not be complete without a private Indian cooking class. Unlock authentic Indian flavors and discover the love of fresh, healthy, straightforward food!
Accommodations & Cuisine
Accommodations in Jaipur will be at a 500 year-old marble ornate yoga shala. This 3-star boutique hotel boasts a serene garden tucked away in the business of the Pink City. The food is provided by the healthy vegetarian restaurant that accommodates all diet restrictions while providing safe natural produce. The hotel features a gift shop and small spa so even on the low key days, there is plenty to do within the gated grounds of the shala.
This is an adventurous trip for the open-hearted and safety is always Yogamour’s first consideration. The long time trusted local support team and drivers will accompany on all excursions outside of the hotel grounds. For longer drives, larger passenger vans or cars will be provided for travel. While in the Pink City of Jaipur, rikshaws will be the mode of transportation. Our team has lead hundreds of volunteers, forged amazing friendships and explored new corners of the world.
In Pushkar, accommodations will be high end tents or glamping. The tents are located on the edge of the city which bridges an experience of the past while enjoying the sacred city at its finest. During the three final days of the retreat in Pushkar, we encourage a digital detox. There will be wifi/internet only available in the shared common area. No alcohol is permitted in Pushkar as it is a sacred place of worship. This city is unique in that it is easily walkable without the hustle and bustle of vehicular traffic. In addition, there are beautiful hiking trails to majestic temples. Additional trails historically traveled by nomadic tribes, lead to the world famous Camel Festival. This will be the ultimate experience for body and soul.
Pricing
Inclusions & Exclusions
Inclusions:
nightly accommodations
in country transportation
donation to each partnering organization which you will see in action during your trip
breakfast daily
daily yoga classes
1 spa treatment (60min. massage)
all excursions (paper factory tour, winds and water palace, Amber Fort, Jantra Mantra, Market Tour, Henna, Temple Hike etc.)
Not included:
international flight
lunches and dinners
additional excursions and spa services
drinks (other than water and coffee at breakfast)
Single Occupancy $2,399
Double Occupancy $2,099
$500 non-refundable deposit is due to reserve your space
Payment plans are available
All payments due in full 45 days prior to departure
Paid in FULL before November 15, 2023. receive a 5% discount
Annual Field Trip 2019 with Akshar Students and Our Volunteers to the Nature & Wildlife Conservatory
Optional: March 21-23 New Delhi Bike Spice Tour Agra & Tour of Taj Mahal
Join us for three days of adventure before the Volunteer Yoga Retreat begins. We will all arrive in New Delhi to stay in the culturally rich old city. There will be an opening practice and rooftop dinner served. The next morning bright and early we will be joining Delhi by Cycle for the bicycle tour excursion like no other. Exploring many of Delhi’s most historical sights while weaving history, learning, sights and scents ending our morning on the rooftops of the Old Spice Market. After our tour we will head back to the hotel to pack and practice yoga. In the afternoon we will journey to Agra to explore the amazing Agra Fort. We will be spending the night at the 4 star Imperial Hotel and wake the following morning to go to the stunning Taj Mahal at sunrise. There will be a guided tour provided. After the tour we will pack and take our afternoon lunches and yoga practice in the lesser known Taj Garden on the opposite side of the river from the Taj but offers a not crowded view where we can process all the beauty we have witnessed. That evening we will journey back for a long nights rest in Jaipur to begin the retreat the next day.
Inclusions:
nightly accommodations
in country transportation
donation to each partnering organization which you will see in action during your trip
breakfast daily
daily yoga classes
all excursions (Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Delhi Bicycle Tour, Taj Gardens)
Not included:
international flight
lunches and dinners
additional excursions and spa services
drinks (other than water and coffee at breakfast)
Cost addition days:
Double Occupancy $399
Single Occupancy $455
Lead Teachers
Rebeccah Bartlett is a yoga teacher trained at Sol Yoga in Frederick, Maryland. As a co-founder of Yogamour, Rebeccah is the facilitator of Yogamour Global which offers yoga-volunteer retreats, fundraising trips and community services locally and globally. She has been facilitating volunteer trips to Asia for over 7 years. Rebeccah promotes the organization's philosophy of, "yogis for selfless service" with co-founder Geni Donnelly. She continues to serve her global community through the offering heart-felt individuals and opportunity to be a part of meaningful change. While have deepened her own personal practice while living in Chiangmai, Thailand, she continues her seva in supporting the Yogamour Projects in Thailand, Cambodia and India. Rebeccah expresses infinite gratitude to those teachers who have allowed her to explore her love of yogic philosophy which includes teachers such as Seane Corn, Shiva Rae, Sarah Ivanhoe, Faith Hunter, Kathryn Budig, Coby Kozlowski, Rosey Mann and more. She has developed a unique style of playful vinyasa to open hearts and minds while allowing the practice to flow into a style of life. Her ultimate passion is to intertwine her yoga communities with the acts and knowledge of “selfless service.” Rebeccah teaches and offering workshops in Frederick, MD with Geni and the other talented teachers at Yogamour Yoga and Healing Arts Center
Contact Beccah!
Geni Donnelly is the owner of Yogamour Yoga & Healing Arts Center and co-founder of non-profit, Yogamour Inc. Geni is a registered Prana Flow Yoga®, E-RYT 200 and E-RYT 500-Hour Advanced Yoga Therapist. Further credentials include certification in Trauma-Sensitive Yoga for PTSD (founded by David Emerson and Bessel van der Kolk of the Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute in Massachusetts), Trauma Informed Yoga with Hala Khouri, Trauma Informed Yoga Training for Disadvantaged Youth with Street Yoga in Seattle, Prison Yoga Project Training with Kath Meadows, Yoga for Cancer (Y4C) Teacher Training with Tari Prinster, Yoga for 12 Step Recovery (Y12SR) Teacher Training with Nikki Myers, Grief Yoga Training with Paul Denniston and Somatic Experiencing® Professional Training.
Geni Donnelly and Rebeccah Bartlett began their journey towards uplifting the under-served by working with Run for Congo Women, a grass roots organization with Women to Women International. In 2012, they founded Yogamour, a non-profit organization offering yoga-volunteer retreats, fundraising trips as well as yoga and mindfulness programs locally and globally as an adjunct therapy on the path towards healing for survivors of trauma, marginalized communities and in-need populations. Through the eyes of the Yogamour mission, Geni and Beccah have brought together volunteers from around the globe who have worked with human trafficking, abject poverty, sexual abuse, domestic violence, addiction recovery and incarcerated populations. The organization promotes the philosophy of seva, or "yogis for selfless service.” Yogamour continues to uplift the growing voices of women and marginalized peoples who need the support of mindful and innovative folks in our global community!
Some of the talented educators who have shaped Geni's thoughts and methods of teaching include Maria Garre, Shiva Rea, Seane Corn, David Emerson, Max Strom, and Dr. Bessel van der Kolk as well as her functioning, dysfunctional fun family and fabulous dogs!
Contact Geni!