DAY 1: International flight, late night arrival and transportation to Residencial Las Americas
DAY 2: LIMA
Intro to Ashtanga Yoga*, Lima City Tour, Lunch and Museum Tour. Magical Lima City Tour Many tours tend to forget about Lima on the way to Cuzco. In our opinion, the history and anthropology in Lima, which pre-dates the Incas by thousands of years, provides an excellent starting point to better understand and appreciate the Inca cultures you will discover while in Cuzco. In the City Tour you will see the Spanish city center, and get a snapshot of the most important city sites.Sites to be visited: Main Square; Government Palace; City Hall; San Francisco Monastery (including catacombs). Intro to ashtanga Damien will take us in a wonderful introduction to Ashtanga Yoga, system of Yoga taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India. This method of Yoga involves synchronizing the breath with progressive series of postures—a process producing intense internal heat and a profuse, purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs. The result is improved circulation, a light and strong body, and a calm mind. He will start with a small introductory lecture on the spiritual principles that compose the foundation of the Ashtanga practice.
DAY 3: Trip to Cusco
Intro to Pranayama to acclimate faster to high altitude. Cusco City Tour. Light Yoga Workshop to introduce the underlying principles used in practice of asanas. Dinner with folk show. Early morning flight to Cusco & Intro to Pranayama - Before starting you will rest in your room for acclimatization to the altitude. While in Cuzco, you will focus on the amazing sites to be seen, including Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and the city of Cuzco itself, the Capital of the Inca Empire. In the Intro to Pranayama class you wil learn how to work with your breathing to help acclimate faster to high altitude, to create a focused quiet state of mind and finally to enhance the experience of yoga. After that we will have a welcome Lunch at Cusco Hotel and Orientation. City Tour - After lunch you will head to a guided City Tour which will include the Inca ruins that surround the city and all the important sites downtown. Sites to be visited: Koricancha (Sun Temple); Main Square; Cathedral; Sacsayhuaman. Light yoga workshop - The workshop format will help us to introduce the underlying principles used in the practice of asanas. Dinner with folk show – Nice variety of food (we can accommodate vegetarians)
DAY 4: EARLY YOGA CLASS AT SACSAYHUAMAN & TRIP TO SACRED VALLEY
Cusco- Early Pranayama and Ashtanga Yoga Class at Sacsayhuaman (Primary Series with variations for both advanced and beginners). Visit to Ollantaytambo (Sacred Valley) Restorative Yoga and Guided Meditation. Pranayama and Ashtanga Yoga class – Damien will lead the group through the primary series, providing a safe yet fun environment by offering more challenging variations to advance students and easier modifications to beginners. The Hotel is located just outside one of the most important archeological sites in Cusco “Sacsayhuaman Fortress”, very crisp air and wonderful sensation of quietness. Sacsayhuaman has a huge open area “very magical” that we will use for the class. Afternoon Tour - Visit to Ollantaytambo Ruins at the Sacred Valley. Restorative Yoga and Guided Meditation - The tour will end no later than 5pm, this will give you time for a wonderful restorative yoga session and a guided meditation session before dinner.
DAY 5: HIKE TO THE LOST CITY OF THE INKAS
Transportation from Sacred Valley Hotel to Train Station – Train to the 104 km. At this point we start the trek for 3 hours aprox. Up to the well preserved remains of Wiñay wayna (2900 mts altitude). On the way we can see beautiful waterfalls. We will experiment with walking meditations and pranayama while hiking. After lunch, you spend the day hiking through incredible sites and exploring ruins you see terraces, towers until you get to Inti Punku, the Inca gate of the sun, you get a first sight of Machu Picchu. We finally cross the ridge that leads to our destination, and the greatest archaeological discovery of modern times is revealed. Light yoga class (for after hiking) - in Machu Picchu. Dinner in Aguas Calientes. Overnight in Aguas Calientes Hotel
DAY 6: VISIT TO MACHUPICCHU
Pranayama and Ashtanga Class in Machupicchu - We will take the first bus to Machupicchu. This will allow us to have the site almost free of people.We visit the Sanctuary and have a full day of exploring. Guided tour. We will perform energy rituals at the Intihuatana, which is believe to be an Inca Sundial and concentrates large amounts of energy. Train to Sacred Valley - Dinner at Sacred Valley.Late night chanting
DAY 7: Free Day (Sacred Valley)
Pranayama and Ashtanga Class. Massages could be scheduled
DAY 8: TREKKING TO PISAC AND SHOPPING AT PISAC MARKET
Pranayama and Ashtanga Class - for morning more experienced practitioners Hike to Pucamarca-
Partner Yoga class - A fun way to explore familiar poses with the addition relationship power dynamics, trust and humor. Dinner
DAY 9: TREKKING TO MARAS AND MORAY
Pranayama and Ahstanga Class Guided Trek to Maras - We will start our trekking from Maras Square to Maras salt mines. Maras was home to the descendents of the Incas. In colonial times, it was the first salt producing center of the central sierra. The town has a large church and several colonial houses with code-of-arms of noble families on their facades. Now are hat makers and makers of the “chicha de jora” a fermented liqueur very typical in Cusco. Close to Maras, at the peasant community of Pichingoto, are located the salt mines, known locally as “salineras” and which have been exploited since pre Hispanic times. The landscapes of the region are a must for photography lovers. Guided Trek to Moray - We will visit Moray which is located 9km west from the town of Maras. This archeological site is perhaps one of the most mysterious of the pre-Hispanic Cuzco are. The site consists of a large irrigation system and a series of concentric agricultural terraces, andenes up to 150m in depth, constructed by means of stone retaining walls. The location is believed to have been an enormous agricultural laboratory in which the Incas purposefully created several microclimates in which to grow a variety of crops. Guided Tour to Chincheros - Transportation from Moray to Chincheros. Guided Tour to Chincheros. Return to Cuzco and Chanting, Meditation and Closing Lecture
DAY 10: RETURN TO LIMA AND BACK HOME
Morning in Cusco - Pranayama and Ashtanga class and trasnportation to the Cusco Airport
*This method of Yoga involves synchronizing the breath with progressive series of postures -a process producing intense internal heat and a profuse, purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs. The result is improved circulation, a light and strong body, and a calm mind. |
