International Yoga Retreats
Karma Yoga (Sanskrit: कर्म योग), also known as Buddhi Yoga, focuses on the adherence to duty while remaining detached from the reward. It is the concept of complete selfless service, in which the ego is given up to the action. In essence, it is helping others in need and working for the greater good with no desire for personal gain. Karma Yoga is done as a spiritual practice, as a way to help others and thus help ourselves!
At Leela Travel, we strive to ensure that Karma Yoga is an integral component of each trip. Through community involvement and volunteerism, we give back to the local communities we visit for a mutually enriching experience. Our volunteer efforts assist communities that face many challenging social and economic concerns. With our yoga retreats, you will be able to extend your Karma Yoga practices while volunteering at a local orphanage, school or community center by taking part in various activities. We will also incorporate efforts with local ecological conservation programs where needed.
Our yoga retreats provide a unique and amazing opportunity to practice your commitment to a yogic lifestyle, both on and off the mat. Allowing you to engage in the act of being human and present with one another begins your journey towards realization. Every action we do becomes a way of nourishing the universe that nourishes us. As we give, we shall receive.
Community Projects at CESiaK Eco Lodge - Tulum, Mexico
Join us in giving back by taking part in our karma yoga outreach in conjunction with CESiaK and Sea Turtle Conservation in the Riviera Maya. Each year, from May to October, the beaches of Quintana Roo become the scene of one of nature’s miracles – the nesting sites of the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). The Leela Travel group will contribute to the conservation of endangered sea turtles during 2 overnight observation periods when yogis will protect nursing female turtles, observe and record physical characteristics, and handle clutches according to the situation they face. This is an amazing opportunity to learn more about the world of sea turtles, and see how these ocean inhabitants continue their ancient cycle of life in the modern world.
It is said that Mexico is a country of sea turtles, as the diversity of coastal environments and the richness of our coasts offer ideal conditions for food, rest and play. Of the 8 species of marine turtles in the world, seven nest on Mexican beaches and four in Quintana Roo.
For the turtle (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) in particular, Mexico's Caribbean beaches are among its main nesting sites worldwide. But fishing, poaching, and habitat destruction by human activity have led to sea turtles to be currently considered endangered species.
The program Sea Turtle Conservation in the Riviera Maya was created to protect, monitor, investigate and conserve populations of sea turtles that come to spawn in the main nesting beaches of the Central Coast of Quintana Roo. The program covers 13 nesting beaches totaling 34 kilometers of beach in a total area of 120 km. of coast from Punta Venado, south of Xcaret, to the Biosphere Reserve of Sian Ka'an, which makes it the largest program of its kind in the country. Join in the conservation efforts and learn more about the wonderful world of sea turtles. The beach walks are designed to share with you the importance of respect and care for these species, now endangered. You can meet one of the ancient species, most interesting of our planet, now threatened with extinction: sea turtles. And you can see how these inhabitants of the ocean continue the cycle of life.
Activities at the nesting beaches and campsites include: protection of nesting females over night trips ranging from 20:00 hrs. until 6:00 am, the registration of morphological characteristics of females, review and observation of presence/absence of injury, maimed and/or diseases and the handling of clutches (in situ, relocated or pen) according to the conditions that they face.
Community Projects at Khao Lak, Thailand
Leela Travel and Haadson Resort are proud to work with a local orphanage operated by the 'Duang Prateep Foundation', and is specifically for children that have lost parents/relatives from the 2004 tsunami.
The orphanage currently hosts 65+ children, and are located in Baan Pru Teaw, which is a large housing area in Takuapa town built by various organizations & foundations to aid in the tsunami relief.
The Duang Prateep Foundation is an established nonprofit community aid agency founded 40years ago in Bangkok to aid the slum children of the Klongtoey district of Bangkok.The current HQ of the foundation is still in Klongtoey, and the orphanage in Takuapa, Phang-nga is a branch of their foundation. http://en.dpf.or.th/
Community Projects at
Los Cardones Surf Lodge, Nicaragua
Arte Accion - Arte Accion was founded in 2007 by Athena Lamberis, then manager of Los Cardones Surf Lodge, with one weekly class in the village of el Zapote. Through Arte Accion, we use art as a medium to teach social, cultural and environmental values through free art classes, crafts and workshops for kids 5-15 years old every Saturday morning. The Lodge gathers donations of arts and craft and teaching materials for use in these classes, and also needs help organizing donations to supply to three more local schools in addition to the one in Zapote.
Health Workshops - We can arrange visits to one of four local schools to teach children about the importance of preventing health issues through hand washing and dental hygiene.
Beach Cleanup - Los Cardones regularly cleans up the beaches in front of the Lodge, but the beaches stretch for miles north and south and unfortunately, trash builds up and impacts local wildlife and ocean ecosystems.
Turtle Conservation - Los Cardones regularly rescues turtle eggs from poachers. Los Cardones needs help preparing and improving our vivero (nursery) that we use to incubate the turtle eggs. Depending on timing, volunteers may be lucky enough to help rescue turtle eggs or to assist with a hatching!
