Journey to Petra: Yoga Adventure - Jordan 2017

Petra District, Ma'an Governorate, Jordan

DM
David Moreno
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22 reviews
Nov 1 - 11, 2017
Group size: 10 - 25
Journey to Petra: Yoga Adventure - Jordan 2017
Petra District, Ma'an Governorate, Jordan

David Moreno
  • Email address verified
  • Facebook verified
22 reviews

Nov 1 - 11, 2017
Group size: 10 - 25

About this trip

(Early Bird Registration through August 1, 2017 - To get discount select, Early Bird Registration under Standard Pricing option.)


Assalām 'Alaykum!  I am very excited to announce the return to Petra after an enormously successful first adventure in 2016. There are no words or pictures that can describe the unique beauty and magnitude of Jordan.

In all of my international travels, and in the many international yoga travel adventures that I have led, I have never felt safer in a foreign country than I have in Jordan. This has been a total surprise considering how volatile the Middle East can be, which has also been the number one concern expressed by students interested in traveling to Petra. I often hear, “Aren’t you afraid to go to there?” and equally often I have heard from my Jordanian friends “Please tell your friends to come visit us. It is safe here.” 

To date, Jordan is the safest country in that region, exceeding even Turkey’s political unrest and violence. Jordanians want you to come see their amazing country, and so do I! The benefit about this misconception about Jordan being a dangerous place is that tourism is down so none of the great sites, like Petra — the 7th Wonder of The World — are overrun with tourists making it easy to get a real sense of these sites with little hassle. Equally surprising is that vendors are low key and respectful and seldom bother tourists to buy their wares even though one would think they would be desperate to do so — something also very different from other Arab countries.


As I write this, everywhere in the media from the New York Times through National Geographic are articles about a recent new discovery at Petra just this year! Thanks to better satellites and drone images, archeologists have received a much better idea of the scale and importance of this new site even though it will be years before it is excavated. Not to worry, there’s already more than you can imagine at Petra and I only mention this because it is just part of the en vogue and buzz about visiting this timeless country and ancient culture. Traveling around Jordan is effortless and seldom takes more than 3 hours to get from place to place in our air-conditioned tour bus. The weather in November is the best, which is why it is considered high season.


HERE’S OUR ITINERARY FOR 2017

http://moryoga.com/shop/journey-to-petra-yoga-adventure/


ABOUT DAVID


David Moreno, RYT 500, has taught at international yoga conferences, festivals, universities, and teacher trainings worldwide. He has worked privately with students in the fashion and entertainment industries as well as professional athletes. Among those athletes taught include the U.S. Olympic Men’s Swim team coaches for the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. He has worked as a product advisor and ambassador for the Canadian Athletica Company, Lululemon, is a certified Pilate instructor, Somatic Fitness Trainer, and an ordained minister.

 

His yoga commentaries have been published in Yoga Journal, Yoga International, LA Yoga Magazine, and Common Ground. His dance criticism and reviews are featured Culture Vulture. David is also the creator and producer for Yoga DVDs, electronic books, Yoga Nidra downloads, and subscription yoga classes through Yoga Vibes.

 

David began practicing yoga in the late 70s studying the Iyengar and Ashtanga styles of yoga before studyiing Anusara and the Bihar schools of yoga. He continues his study in Tantra and Ayurveda, delving deeper into yoga’s primodial roots. He is know for his depth, keen sense of humor and timing making his teaching both playful and informative. When not traveling he teaches in the San Francisco Bay Area.


What’s included

Price Includes: Transportation to and from airport, Chattered Bus, All Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 4 Dinners, Daily Yoga Instruction, Tour Guide, Site Fees


(For Early Bird Registration Discount you must select that option underneath Standard Pricing in Check-out menu.) 

Not included

Price Does Not Include: Airfare or Tipping

Before You Go

Cancellations received 60 days or more prior to the departure date are subject to a $100 cancellation fee. Reservations cancelled 30-59 days prior to the departure date are subject to a cancellation fee in the amount of 50% of the journey cost. Reservations cancelled less than 29 days prior to the departure date are non-refundable.

Available Packages

Shared Room
$3,850
Deposit: $1,850
Single Room
$4,650
Deposit: $1,850

Itinerary

Jerash
Day 1
Tour the modern and ancient capital of the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan, Amman. Amman has a population of about 2.8 million people and is a busy commercial and administrative center. It is home to many fine hotels, restaurants, art galleries, three museums, as well as old markets and Souks that sell gold and spices. Modern boutiques offer everything from local handicrafts to the latest imported fashions. History and Architecture Towering above Amman, in an area known as the “citadel”– excavations have revealed structures from the Neolithic period through to the Hellenistic, late Roman period to the Arab-Islamic period. The structures include: the Temple of Hercules, the Umayyad palace, and a Byzantine church. At the foot of the citadel, carved into the hill, lies the roman theater. Having 6,000 seats, it is still used for various events to this very day. The marvels of nature and the genius of medieval Arab military architecture have given northern Jordan two of the most important ecological and historical attractions in the Middle East: the sprawling pine forests of the Ajloun-Dibbine area, and the towering Ayyubid castle at Ajloun, which helped to defeat the Crusaders eight centuries ago. Ajloun Castle (Qal’at Ar-Rabad) was built by one of Saladin’s generals in 1184 AD to control the iron mines of Ajloun, and to deter the Franks from invading Ajloun. Ajloun Castle dominated the three main routes leading to the Jordan valley and protected the trade and commercial routes between Jordan and Syria; it became an important link in the defensive chain against the Crusaders, who unsuccessfully spend decades trying to capture the castle and the nearby village. After Ajloun Castle we drive to Tell Mar Elias and Anjara where we will have a garden lunch at Lady of the Mountain village under ice pine, olive and fig trees. The ladies of the village will prepare this wonderful home cooked meal and the profit goes to helping out the community and orphanage. After lunch we head to Jerash – A close second to Petra on the list of favorite destinations in Jordan–the ancient city of Jerash boasts an unbroken chain of human occupation dating back more than 6,500 years. Jerash lies on a plain surrounded by hilly wooded areas and fertile basins. Conquered by General Pompey in 63 BC, it came under Roman rule and was one of the ten great Roman cities, the Decapolis League. The city’s golden age came under Roman rule, during which time it was known as Gerasa, and the site is now generally acknowledged to be one of the best-preserved Roman provincial towns in the world. Hidden for centuries in sand before being excavated and restored over the past 70 years, Jerash reveals a fine example of the grand, formal provincial Roman urbanism that is found throughout the Middle East, comprising paved and colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop temples, handsome theaters, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains and city walls pierced by towers and gates. Accommodation Marriott Amman

Your Organizer


DM
David Moreno
22 reviews
David Moreno, ERYT 500, YACEP, SFT, has taught at international yoga conferences, festivals, universities, and teacher trainings worldwide. He has worked privately with students in the fashion and entertainment industries as well as professional athletes. Among those athletes taught include the U.S. Olympic Men’s Swim team coaches for the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. He has worked as a product advisor and ambassador for the Canadian Athletica Company, Lululemon, is a certified Pilates instructor, Somatic Fitness Trainer and, an ordained minister. His yoga commentaries have been published in Yoga Journal, Yoga International, LA Yoga Magazine, and Common Ground. His dance criticism and reviews are featured Culture Vulture. David is also the creator and producer for Yoga DVDs, electronic books, Yoga Nidra downloads, and subscription yoga classes for Yoga Vibes. He is known for his keen sense of humor, making his teachings fun and informative. David lives in San Francisco, CA.

Reviews

Incredible transformative experience!
By Ned M for MAS YOGA: Playa Viva, Mexico 2024 on Feb 20, 2024
JM
i had a great time every day and evening on the stunning property. My treehouse #18 was just gorgeous, and amazing with our attached full bathroom perched up off the ground, and falling asleep every evening to the sound of the breaking waves was so serene. Delicious food was offered at every meal, and i adored helping out at the neighboring turtle sanctuary to bury harvested turtle eggs, and witness the newly-hatched baby turtles enter the sea. Everything was so thoughtfully laid out and executed so well, and the staff is so happy and pleasant. The outreach to the farm production and water conservation for the greater watershed is SO impressive and transformative to the local communities. What you all are doing is a game changer for your greater ecosystem, given the recent & disturbing shifts in the local climate. You are doing more with less, and empowering the local peoples to learn and teach these practices to others. Outstanding work. It was a privilege to stay at Playa Viva. Profound Thank you.
By James M for MAS YOGA: Playa Viva, Mexico 2024 on Feb 17, 2024
David's humor and wisdom shone through, as always. Lovely people in an amazing setting. Thank you!
By Ted O for MAS YOGA: Playa Viva, Mexico 2023 on Feb 10, 2023
It was an incredible day of self-reflection and growth. David is a wonderful leader, full of wisdom, humor and warmth. He made meditation very approachable and I found myself falling into my medidations much more easily by the end of the day and with subsequent meditations at home. I could eat the food at Green Gulch all day long, and it was so fullfilling to nourish both my body and soul at the same time. I can't wait to go back for another journey beyond the self with David.
By Lesley Z for Deliberate Stillness Day-long Retreat 2023 on Nov 22, 2022
TG
Thank you David, We had a great week and I greatly enjoyed the yoga The people and the food at Danena were great I hope it worked out well for you. Toni
By Toni G for Pasta e Prana: A Sicily Yoga Retreat 2022 on Oct 31, 2022
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References

Abhimanyu (David,) I’m glad I waited to tell you about my experience in New Mexico, because I wasn’t aware of how much it would affect me now that I’ve returned to my “normal life.” There was a sadness that I think we all felt when we had to say goodbye to our magical alternate reality we shared, and you helped create for us, in those mountains full of deep wisdom. But since I left the retreat I’ve felt a return to something that I forgot, or missed within me. I’ve taken so many tools for my own spiritual practice from this that I honestly did not expect, I’m so grateful. And like Wolf said, “so inspired by you!” I feel a deep connection with everyone who shared this experience with me, and I think they would agree that this was a transformative experience, to say the least. I would sincerely encourage anyone to do something like this. Going into this I was in a particularly worn down place, emotionally, but yoga has allowed me to transcend that and be in the moment, and cultivate a practice, both spiritually and physically that is nothing short of amazing. Like my mom said, this is a turning point for me, and I didn’t even realize it at the time, but my practice is bolstered by, and draws upon the truly transformative experience I’ve had at the Jemez retreat. I am eternally grateful! THANK YOU! From the bottom of my heart, much love.
By Marlowe K on 08 Nov, 2016
David's trip "Journey to Petra" was an unforgettable trip that was so much more than Petra. The community, the yoga, the food, the sights, the time spent walking the roads of ancient civilizations put so much of my daily life into better perspective. This was some combination of retreat and adventure in a land that holds history of mythic proportion. Seeing this part of the world was also a humbling experience that brought me compassion and understanding for past and present political, religious and social events. I am changed and I would do this Journey again in a heartbeat.
By Ceri, D on 12 Oct, 2016
My personal highlight of the trip was the famed Wadi Rum desert stay with an early morning camel ride with the Bedouins and an exquisite "glamping" private tent stay. Every moment was like a dream, steeped in age old history and beauty beyond explanation...
By Kevin, S on 12 Oct, 2016
Show More References