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VOL.9, NO.3, MAY-JUNE 2015

Udayan Care in Nainital

Wandering into an unknown land, eager to grasp the surroundings through all five senses, is conducive to a deeper realisation of the self. Nature has its own way to educate us; with competing mountain peaks, patient trees, humble flowers and restless rivers.

Just like last year when the opportunity was given to our boys, this year, girls from eight of our Udayan Ghars were taken to Nainital to experience its magnificent beauty. A total of 75 people went on the trip, including 59 children, 6 care staff and 5 social workers.

The girls stayed in Van Niwas, which is at a height of 7,648 ft, and is set in a picturesque backdrop. Beginning on 21 June, this 8-day trip dealt with topics like healthy living, character building, national problems and role of youth, and the joy of meditating in the mountains.

Heartfelt thanks to Ms. Lali, Ms. Soni, Mr. Jayunto, Mr. Sachin and Mr. Manoj (instructors) for their support and care. All this wouldn't have been possible without the support of Team Aurobindo Ashram, Delhi, who helped make the trip a reality.

We will forever be grateful to Tara di for introducing our children to such profound experiences every year.

Higlights of the trip:


Adventure activities like rock climbing, scrambling, bouldering, rappelling and river-crossing left the girls breathless, but also helped build courage, stamina and self-confidence in them.

The group scaled Land's End (4 km), Sri Aurobindo Peak (6.5 km) and Tiffin Top/Dorothy seat (7-8 km) peaks, repeatedly testing their endurance. The reward was viewing the serene beauty of the town from that height.

We helped our children channelise their energies toward healthy and value-added activities with taekwondo and a volunteer programme, Shramadan.





Meditation and lectures on health, nutrition, yoga, and on the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother were used to promote self-development and spiritual upliftment.

We underlined the importance of national integration and harmony through community living; devoid of any religion, caste or creed.


Yoga By Mrs. Rekha Saraf at Aurangabad USF Centre

It's never too late to adopt a healthy lifestyle...and what better way to get started than with yoga! Yoga and yoga postures are beneficial as they bring a harmonious balance within your system. A state of total well-being is not just a healthy body, but a healthy mind and spirit too.

To mark our contribution towards the first International Yoga Day, Mrs. Rekha Saraf, on 17 June, helped us conduct a Yoga workshop at our USF Aurangabad Centre. The workshop was attended by 72 Shalinis with great vigour and enthusiasm, where they were taught a few warm up exercises and Surya Namaskar techniques.

A renowned Yoga teacher from Bihar School of Yoga, Mrs. Rekha Saraf introduced them to the benefits of yogic asanas in day-to-day life. She mentioned that yoga postures improve the flexibility of muscles and joints while massaging internal organs, thus improving their functionality. She also added that the purpose of including yoga in one's daily schedule is not to achieve the perfect bend, but to bring the body, breath, and mind together.