Yogaforums.com ad for Shri Kali Ashram and 12 month long courses

Yoga Teacher Training
#1

Hello everyone,

Although I am not looking for a teacher training course, I am interested in finding a program, or an ashram, that offers prolonged periods of stay for interested yoga practitioners in both yogasana and yogic philosophy.

This site has recently hosted an advertisement for Shri Kali Ashram. I have looked over the website, however I was wondering if anyone here knows anything about it. They offer a year long course which sounds rather interesting.

Share your thoughts on this ashram and other long-period courses!

Cheers!

#2

Hello Sonrita,

You can see more at YouTube if you search for Shri Kali Ashram - Lecture with Bhagavan Natha. More videos will show up after that as well on Asana, Goddess Worship, etc. If you have an questions you can contact us through the website or at AshramContact@gmail.com

Namaste,
Shri Kali Ashram

#3

Thanks for your reply!

I’m hoping other people will come forward and share their experiences with this Ashram.

#4

Just curious…what kind of [B][U]Indian visa[/U][/B] one should apply for if he/she wants to study yoga at Shri Kali Ashram for 12 months?

#5

[QUOTE=ActiveLink;69572]Just curious…what kind of [B][U]Indian visa[/U][/B] one should apply for if he/she wants to study yoga at Shri Kali Ashram for 12 months?[/QUOTE]

It depends on what country they are coming from, but most tourist visas for western countries are 3-6 months only, and any travel outside of the country during your visa limitations requires a two month wait to re-enter. If someone wanted to study anywhere in India for 12 months, it would be best to get a student visa with paperwork provided through the school.

#6

[QUOTE=suryadaya;69580]It depends on what country they are coming from, but most tourist visas for western countries are 3-6 months only, and any travel outside of the country during your visa limitations requires a two month wait to re-enter. If someone wanted to study anywhere in India for 12 months, it would be best to get a student visa with paperwork provided through the school.[/QUOTE]

Thanks Suryadaya. My next question: [I]is a person eligible for getting a 12 month student visa if she/he registers for a 12 month course at Shri Kali Ashram?[/I]

[I]“Visas to foreigners to pursue studies in yoga, vedic culture, Indian system of music, dance, etc., are issued on production of admission letters from recognised Indian institutions”.[/I]

We’ve also been running a yoga school (registered as a Society to spread the ancient knowledge of yoga, meditation and ayurveda as per Indian law and also with YA) and some of our students get “student visa” and others are refused “student visa”. Meaning there are provisions for a student visa for yoga but it’s interpretation specially about [U]recognised Indian institutions[/U] varies …To avoid this confusion, we recommend our students to apply for a tourist visa only.

#7

Activelink -
You would have to check with Sri Kali and ask them how they go about that. There are ways to gain a very solid ‘school accreditation’ but it will take some finesse and probably a lot of bakshish. Even then, the ability of the student to get the visa is based on where they come from, the stay they are asking for, and whether they get their paperwork done correctly. They have become very strict in the last three years with foreigner visa regulations in both tourism and for business. For these 12 month programs (which cannot be done with a tourist visa because of the 6 month limit and 2 month absence requirement), I suggest you try to get some info by contacting the foreigner’s office, or a local visa consulate, to find out what you have to do to register as an accredited school. You might also try to find a way to associate with a larger institution like a university so that you can fall under their umbrella.

Then, make sure that students coming to your school have all of the information about what your students will need to do, so that you can provide it to them very clearly and they can do this without making mistakes. Prepare them also for what they will need to register at the foreigner’s registration office upon arrival, as I have seen this lack of communication cause a lot of issues with travelers.

#8

Congrats [B]Suryadaya [/B]on your 500th post on this forum.

#9

I didn’t even notice!!! WOO! Thank you! Thank you!

#10

[QUOTE=suryadaya;69618]I didn’t even notice!!! WOO! Thank you! Thank you![/QUOTE]

It’s certainly remarkable and a long journey and on the way you’ve guided so many people by virtue of your knowledge and personal experiences.

#11

Active Link,

We are in the process of getting accreditation in order for our students to qualify for student visas. Please keep in touch and we will let you know the status in the next weeks. Ashramcontact@gmail.com.

If you are US citizen there are long term Tourist visas available. When you come you register with the State police department [the Foreigner Registration Office] and you can stay for the duration of your visa [up to 10 years] without leaving India.

We also have students here from some European countries Germany, Finland, etc who managed to get 1 year visas without the requisite to leave for 2 months. I believe those are given on individual basis. The visa scheme seems to be quite subjective which makes giving all the info impossible.

I hope this helps. Talk with you soon.

Namaste,
Shri Kali Ashram

#12

Shri Kali is right - they do offer five and ten year visas for US Citizens. I heard that it was getting tremendously hard to get them though, but maybe it is just from citizens who are trying to get those visas through foreign consulates and not on US soil.

However, even with a five or ten year US tourist visa, you are still limited to a 180 day maximum stay in the country, and regardless of when you leave the two month absence requirement is in effect, after which you can return.There is the possibility to get a pass on that from the FRO, or to have acceptable paperwork to leave and come back under the two month time requisite, but the possibility of sidelining the visa rules isn’t something that they should rely on.

#13

[QUOTE=suryadaya;69656]Shri Kali is right - they do offer five and ten year visas for US Citizens. I heard that it was getting tremendously hard to get them though, but maybe it is just from citizens who are trying to get those visas through foreign consulates and not on US soil.

However, even with a five or ten year US tourist visa, you are still limited to a 180 day maximum stay in the country, and regardless of when you leave the two month absence requirement is in effect, after which you can return.There is the possibility to get a pass on that from the FRO, or to have acceptable paperwork to leave and come back under the two month time requisite, but the possibility of sidelining the visa rules isn’t something that they should rely on.[/QUOTE]

Dear Suryadaya

You are not right as Shri Kali is saying that - we are in the process of getting accreditation in order for our students to qualify for student visas. Please keep in touch and we will let you know the status in the next weeks.

#14

5 and 10 year US Tourists visas do not require an exit after 180 days, unless that has change in the last months. They do require registration in the FRO within 14 days.

I have been told by the FRO that the only way they really know is to read what is written on each visa. It is safest to ask the immigration officers when you arrive in India about what your visa does and does not require of you.