India Cancellation Policy:
There is a non-refundable $350 administrative fee.  Students will receive a 75% refund of remaining tuition if requested 120 days or more before the course, and a 50% refund if requested after 120 days. No refunds will be issued less than 60 days in advance.

Venue Change for Unforeseen, Last-minute Events:
In 2020 we had to move our India retreat teacher training online because a global pandemic was declared. Obviously we'd all hate for that to happen again! But if some major unforeseen event were to happen again that put everyone's safety at risk (i.e. a new major COVID variant of concern (as defined by the WHO); a heatwave, earthquake or other climate-related danger; or political unrest with Pakistan or China, etc.) we will refrain from meeting in-person and instead meet online. By sending your registration payment, you agree to this aspect of the cancellation policy as well.

Health Consideration Agreement:
We hope that COVID numbers will be low at the time of the retreat and we can enjoy singing freely without covering our mouths and noses.

We will consistently err on the side of caution, meeting or exceeding current official government guidelines and recommendations from leading epidemiologists to protect the vulnerable among us.

There are 3 levels of Covid consideration we have to mention:

1. NATIONAL: Each nation's (and each airline's) travel policies are your sole responsibility to navigate. (Vaccination, masking, immigration, visas, etc.)
2. LODGING: Any lodging place (hotel, āśram, etc.) may have different requirements and it's your responsibility to navigate.
   
   (In other words, whether or not you're allowed to travel, admitted into the country, or able to check in to your lodging is your responsibility.)
3. RETREAT TRAINING: Our Heart of Sound teaching space + any outings requires another set of group agreements (below) because we're in an intimate sound space together, singing!
   
   There will be some ventilation in most settings but not enough to consider ourselves protected if a participant has an active infection and sings their aerosol droplets into the room.
   
   It's a risk we're willing to take IF everyone abides by the precautions as needed.

In order to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, we'll consistently err on the side of caution. The retreat training can only meet its potential if everyone remains healthy! If serious illness is spreading, it puts a huge damper on our time together.

HOS Community Health Agreements

1. We have no interest in debating the efficacy of standard public health measures such as vaccinations or masks.
2. We also have no wish to police your personal health choices.
3. Please respect others’ choices to wear a mask at any time they wish.
4. We request that everyone be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 according to the latest definition by the WHO or American Centers for Disease Control (or your own government's equivalent agency) at the time of the retreat.
5. Whether or not you're vaccinated, by registering for the India Retreat Training you confirm you are willing to employ any and all of the safety measures we deem necessary at the time, including:

   -Take a rapid test daily each morning before practice
   -Wear a mask in the classroom if community spread is high
   -Wear a mask around other students, in your room with your roommate, and in the classroom at all times, if you feel the slightest bit sick.
   -Stay in our student bubble and mask up when in close contact with people outside our bubble
   -Take meals “to go” and eat outdoors or in your room if risk is high
   -Remove yourself from the class or practices altogether if you are feeling ill or have virus symptoms (fever, cough, sneezing, etc.)

6. Please bring your own supply of the latest, most accurate rapid tests available at your time of travel (1 for each day of classes) and remedies for covid/flu as recommended by your doctors and wellness practitioners.

NOTE: There are medical clinics and a large AIMS teaching hospital nearby Rishikesh, but quality of care may not match your expectations and getting to/from can be inconvenient. (Services are much more limited in the remote Himālayas.) Best to be prepared yourself!

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Parmarth Niketan Covid Policy as of May 2022:
(SUBJECT TO CHANGE - Please see parmarth.org for any updates.)
Despite the fact that India has reopened and many of the steps taken by the State and Union governments have been suspended, we at Parmarth still remain vigilant about Covid-19 and continue to do our part to ensure the health and safety of our Parmarth Parivar – our saints, sevaks, residents and guests. The protocol that we follow is not complicated, and we greatly appreciate your assistance in helping us to practice it.

1. In order to ensure the health and safety of all of the guests and residents of Parmarth Niketan, we require proof of double vaccination, with the second dose having been taken at least 15 days prior to check-in.
2. If you are not vaccinated, have only the first vaccination or have taken the second vaccination within 15 days of check-in, we require a negative Covid RT-PCR test, dated within 72 hours of check-in. We greatly appreciate your helping us to ensure the health and safety of all of our guests and residents.
3. If you develop symptoms before your arrival, please do not come for your planned visit. Traveling while ill - whether Covid-19 or a common cold - can be damaging to your health and to the health of anyone that you come in contact with. So, we humbly request that you stay home if you’re not well.
4. Please ensure that you bring several masks, as well as hand sanitiser, with you. You will need both while visiting with us.
5. Please use hand sanitiser and properly wash your hands frequently.
6. The Ashram is the home to many older immuno-compromised Sadhus, Saints and Matajis, some of whom have made Parmarth Niketan their home for decades. We anticipate that you will honour them and their long and beautiful lives - as well as the lives of the entire Ashram family and community - by exercising the utmost caution when you’re around them, and by making choices that will ensure their health and well-being - choices such as wearing masks, washing/sanitising hands, refraining from risky behaviours, etc.

We will have you sign the liability waiver before the retreat training.

Yes and no.

Our primary purpose of gathering is to enjoy our practices together.

There is a training element, as multiple levels of teacher trainees will be present and growing their skills.

However, no foundational lectures or basic skills classes will be offered during this retreat. The core curriculum for the Heart of Sound training is much more effectively offered online, where trainees can absorb at their own pace. 

If you review the schedule above, you'll find several opportunities to nerd out with fellow trainees and get support from Anandra and the teaching team.

If you're currently enrolled in the (online) teacher training, this will be an extraordinary delight!

If you wish to get teacher training level content, please enroll for the Online Teacher Training now and get a head start before arriving to Rishikesh. (Save money with a package deal for the online TT + India Retreat Training)

We'd recommend getting to at least Phase 8 of the Self-Study Map for the 200hr program before arriving to Rishikesh.

Note that internet may be unreliable and slow in India, so don't plan to be able to access streaming video content or download large files.

Yes! We would love to have you attend the retreat only. You will have lots of free time in the schedule to enjoy āśram life on the banks of Mother Gaṅgā.

To make the most out of the practices during the retreat training, we request that you complete the following prior to attending:

• FREE Teacher Training Preparatory Course
• Up to and including Module 4 of the Sacred Sanskrit Sounds course (included with the retreat training for new students)
• Participate in one 40 day Mantra Meditation course of your choosing (included with the retreat training for new students)

Lodging is not included in the retreat price. Information on accommodation and how to book your room can be found in the (free) Prep Course, scroll to the India section FAQs.

Basically, you'll contact Parmarth Niketan Āśram by emailing their reservations and make sure to tell them you are a part of Anandra George's Heart of Sound Retreat. Their process may be a bit wonky, but if you're with us you will have a room. You can pay them directly when you are there. Rates for rooms are very affordable.

• The nearest airport is Dehra Dun, and it's about a 45 min-1 hour taxi ride to where the retreat is held at Parmarth Niketan Āśram.
• Please plan to arrive to Rishikesh a few days prior to our February 25th start date so you can acclimate and settle in.
• February 25th, we'll meet in the afternoon at 3:30 pm for an orientation and our first practice together, followed by Ārti at the banks of the Gaṅgā and a group welcome dinner.
• The daily schedule for February 26th - March 5th is above, starting at 9 AM each day.
• We will finish at 11:30 am on March 6th.  

Please refer to the Self-Study Map for the certification requirements for your level of training.

This retreat offers an opportunity to attend group practices and count those towards your hours.

If you wish to self-motivate to do so, you may also do buddy practices, chant experiments, and present your practicum in small groups with other students. We envision a rich environment of learning as trainees try out their leadership skills on each other!

We'll provide OFNR feedback forms if leaders wish to get feedback (required for final practicums).

There are an abundance of unique chant leadership opportunities on offer for teacher trainees in Rishikesh, see the India section of the Prep Course for more info.

Organization
We'll provide signup sheets for the time slots on the schedule, and you'll be responsible to self-organize with other motivated students.

Supervision
200hr trainees at the stage of final 30-minute practicums, or 300hr trainees at the stage of 2nd 45-minute or final 90-minute practicum should sign up in plenty of time for someone on the teaching team to be present to observe and give feedback.

Cost
There is no additional training cost for currently enrolled online TT students to utilize the in-person retreat for their group practice attendance + practicum requirements.

The International Yoga Festival is happening and the dates are March 8-14.

If you have the bandwidth for the glorious madness that is the International Yoga Festival, it'd be lovely to attend following our retreat training.

Several of the HOS team will be leading practices and workshops (including magical daily sunrise Morning Rāga and Mantra on the Ganges with Anandra!), which may also count towards your TT attendance hours.

Nightly "Family Kīrtan Hour" would also be a platform for TT students to share a song for the participants (and count that towards their 300/500hr TT practicum as well)

If you choose to stay for IYF, you will register for IYF separately on the festival website. Registration is now open. If you're registered for our retreat we'll send you a Heart of Sound discount code.

If you'd like to help (and have Parmarth cover your lodging, food, and festival fee), we may also still need Sacred Sound Stage volunteers to help run it, and if not, volunteers are always welcome at the festival! Volunteering is a full-time job for the 7 days of the festival, but it's fun!

Yes, but it's more informal than the Rishikesh retreat training.

It's likely that Anandra and a few companions may drive to a most magical āśram 8 hours North towards the source of the Ganges for rest, relaxation, hiking, and personal sādhanā after the Rishikesh events end.

Morning meditations on the giant quartz crystal rock in the Ganges are worth the drive! :)

Can I count it for my TT hours?
No formal classes or group practices will be offered, though spontaneous devotional music is likely to occur.

We'll bring a pared-down sound system in case anyone is inspired to offer a chant session. Teacher trainees are welcome to work on their requirements together and offer practicums, workshops, etc. Anandra will be available by request for Office Hours / Q&A, and to observe final practicums as her schedule permits. (However, she will not be delivering primary content lectures for the training; all of that is online.)

People may choose to take day trips to lakes, hot springs, or an overnight to Gangotri (close to the source of the Ganges).

We have no fixed dates (and don't plan on making any until much closer to the event), but we'll leave 4-5 days after the Rishikesh events end and be up there for at least 2 weeks.

If you're a teacher trainee or personal friend, as well as a seasoned traveller who is comfortable rolling with uncertainties in remote places, and would like to request permission to join us, please email us.

It is not a hosted retreat or travel tour, and you'd be expected to be entirely self-sufficient for your travel arrangements and personal daily schedule.

If your dates coincide with Anandra & team, we'll be happy to share a ride with you on our mini-bus / van.

A typical day might be:

Sunrise mantra on "the rock" alone, or silently with other āśramites

Breakfast and tea served by the staff

Hike around the villages and forest
and/or self-study TT material, practice your musical skills, do TT enrichment activities with a buddy, etc.

Lunch served by staff

Nap, reading, relaxation, stretching
or more study/practice
or hike

Afternoon tea served by staff

Evening ārti for sunset
or Kīrtan open mic

Dinner served by staff

Kīrtan open mic

Quiet time, to bed by 9

Yes, we offer monthly free Yoga of Sound chant experiences and always hang out afterwards to chat. That's probably the easiest way to connect.

Register for the next event here!

Be sure to take the Prep Course as many of your questions (and lots you never thought of) are answered there.

Or email [email protected]. We can invite you to online sessions times to chat with Anandra, or answer your questions by email.

Be sure to take the Prep Course as many of your questions (and lots you never thought of) are answered there.

Or email [email protected] and we'll try to help you.