Rishikesh, India

Rishikesh is known as the yoga capital of the world, and that’s why I went. As a yoga practitioner I was intent on being trained by brown people who are the originators of the practice, and not by people who have appropriated and profited off this ancient wisdom. Rishikesh, I found, had a little of both. But the collective energy of the city was enough to move mountains. Never have I been anywhere this powerful in my life. Nestled between the hills of the Himalayas, running alongside and with the sacred Ganga river, Rishikesh offers not only a glimpse into the pure kind-hearted souls of the Indian people, but also a space for us all to look deeply within ourselves. I cannot say enough about this city or my time here, except that this is not a place to go for cheap thrills. This is a place for healing. Be open and receive.