November 14th, 2009
Meditation in phnom penh
Phnom Penh, is a pulsing metropolis – but still maintains a serenity that travellers so yearn to find. Explore the wonders of Cambodia while searching for inner peace – in Phnom Penh, there is an abundance of both.
Detox from your high-stress life at one of the many meditation and yoga centers. Kundalini Yoga Cambodia has internationally certified teachers, and offers classes suitable for beginners and advanced students. They specialize in trauma and stress relief, as well as yoga for special groups such as pregnant women, seniors, and those with special physical needs. NataRaj is the oldest yoga studio in Cambodia, and was listed as one of the top 25 yoga studios in the world by Travel and Leisure magazine. Western-style classes, such as Pilates, are also available, as well as private instruction.
The city offers a multitude of serene outdoor venues perfect for quiet contemplation. The gardens of the National Museum are dotted with fountains, floating lily pads, and statues of the Leopard King, and the corridors are quiet and often filled with orange-robed monks and the scent of jasmine offerings to the ancient statues. Next door is the Royal Palace, with over 174,000 square meters of immaculately manicured gardens.
The Khmer word for temple is “wat”, and there are half a dozen in Phnom Penh, with many more a day’s ride away. Wat Phnom, after which the city is named, is built atop an artificial hill and offers peaceful views of the city and the Tonle Sap River near Sisowath Quay.
