cont’d..

Justin Reeve is Lazarus’ co-ordinator for India. He has lived and worked in various countries for the last 18 years and is a well seasoned traveller - especially to places that are ‘off the beaten track.’

‘After finishing a degree in the UK, I travelled extensively around the world and worked in various countries, including a post as a lecturer in Japan for 6 years. India was always in the back of my mind but it wasn’t until 1997 that I finally ventured there. It soon proved to be all that I envisaged it would be; from its huge mountains, vast deserts, holy rivers and long stretches of beaches – its numerous gods, tricksters, holy men and spiritual seekers; India seemed to embody all that I was searching for.

Due to extensive holidays when teaching in Japan, I was able to spend long amounts of time in two of the most extreme and contrasting countries on the planet. Then I developed an interest in yoga and Indian philosophies in general and began a serious study of hatha yoga; Shivananda, Ashtanga, Iyengar and now Kundalini. I’m currently based in rural England for 6 months of the year and for the rest of the time I live in India, where I continue my yoga practices and immerse myself in its spiritual teachings.’

Jutta Bellstedt-Prophet is Lazarus’ co-ordinater for Germany. She has lived in Northrheinwestfalia for over 30 years where she raised 4 daughters. She has had numerous trainings in various body-work techniques, including Rebalancing and the Dorn & Breuß methods. She gives individual consultations related to bodywork, massage and spiritual awareness. She also travels to numerous countries leading seminars on these subjects, as well as personal/spiritual growth in general. Jutta first met Mary in 2001 when they were on a retreat together in India and she will be co-ordinating the Lazarus' retreats in Germany and assisting on some of Lazarus’ retreats in other locations. Contact details and website information are in the booking form section of this website.

‘My inner journey began in 1990 whilst reading a book by Dr. Joseph Murphy entitled ‘The Power of Your Subconscious.’ As I was reading, I felt the weight of all my suffering. I remembered my childhood, - saying prayers and feeling carried by an invisible higher power. From the depths of my heart, I sent this pain out to this higher power - everything that I felt had harmed me. Afterwards, I fell into a deep and healing sleep and when I awoke, there was a profound sense of lightness and relaxation behind my breastbone (the heart chakra.) Since that experience, I have felt led from one place to another to rediscover this forgotten wisdom which I trusted as a child.

In 1997, I began to share this journey with other people and I also started a practice for relaxation and consciousness work. I laboured with all the different levels that, as human beings, we embody; the physical, mind and soul and supported others to get in touch again with their capacity to heal themselves which naturally extends to self-forgiveness. This part of my spiritual process lasted almost 10 years.

In February 2000, I went to India with a friend to participate in a retreat. It was then that I first met Mary. As our home was in Europe, we met several times in London and we talked about taking people on retreat to the Himalayas. But it was not the right time as we had to both go through many experiences during the following years, on many different levels. Mary gave up everything in order to live in India to experience it first hand. In the meantime, I started giving retreat seminars, mainly in Austria, for people who wanted to work with their ‘inner child’ and other phenomena, such as ‘projections’ and the ‘inner man & woman.’

Now, my personal practice involves endeavouring to communicate directly from the heart and to support people who are also searching for their own spontaneous voice. Lazarus is a great opportunity; a ‘homecoming’ for your inner self and that forgotten child. I’m grateful to Mary who gave birth to these retreats which are really a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ journey created through that once shared vision.’

Anil Bhardwaj was born in Shimla and his knowledge of the inner Himalayan regions is renowned and extensive. He has had is own travel agency and trekking business for over ten years including a fleet of vehicles and drivers trained for travelling into the remote glacier regions.

Mitter Singh was born in Dharamasala where he continues to live with his wife and two children. He developed an interest in yoga at a very young age and was top in his school in this activity. After completing his education, he worked for eight years as a guide in the higher Himalayas, with a trekking company and also in tourism in general. He went on to train in Ayurveda and then with his brother he opened an ‘Ayurvedic Rejuvenation Centre’ where he also taught yoga.

In 2005, Mitter's brother immigrated to America and now Mitter continues to run and teach in what is solely his centre. ‘The Ayurvedic Rejuvenation Centre’ has several rooms where people come to stay from all over the world to do detoxification intensives, yoga retreats, various Ayurvedic courses and to also learn about his unique healing treatments. Morning yoga with him, on certain days when we are not travelling, is included in your overall price. Prices for Mitter’s massage sessions below, paid by you at the end of the journey, are in Indian currency:

Head massage 600
Back massage 650
Head, neck and shoulders 650
Head, shoulders and back 800
Reflexology 700
Full body massage 1,000
At the moment there are 82 Rupees to one UK pound.