It's been a week now that I am living in an Ashram for my first time and I actually like it a lot.
When I arrived there was directly a lot of life going on everywhere. There are many international guests but also a lot of Indians from India or other parts of the world.
Everything that happened on that first day directly made me feel at home. It was like being part of a new family and that is actually also one meaning of an Ashram, to become part of the Gurus family. No worries, so far nobody wanted me to donate all of my money ;).
Luckily I got a twin room that means the experience to live in a dorm still has to wait. My flatmate is Indian so I have the chance to get to know the culture a little better.
When I arrived there was directly a lot of life going on everywhere. There are many international guests but also a lot of Indians from India or other parts of the world.
Everything that happened on that first day directly made me feel at home. It was like being part of a new family and that is actually also one meaning of an Ashram, to become part of the Gurus family. No worries, so far nobody wanted me to donate all of my money ;).
Luckily I got a twin room that means the experience to live in a dorm still has to wait. My flatmate is Indian so I have the chance to get to know the culture a little better.
The first thing from the daily schedule happening on the day of my arrival is Dinner at 6 pm ;). I wait with some other people in front of the dinning hall (one of the few good moment to chat) while the food is being prepared by the students who have this as their Karma Yoga (selfless service). When we go in they are chanting, which creates an incredible lovely atmosphere hard to put in words. Of course everybody sits on the floor on straw mats, the food is on a metal plate and after the final prayer we start to eat. We eat in silence and as everywhere in India you only eat with your right hand. In the meantime I kind of got the hang of it and find it very practical :).
After dinner there is a little bit free time, where people use the Boutique to shop (e.g. toilet paper, meditation shawls, yoga mats ...), go to the Health Club (kind of a bar for tea and fruit juices) or use the WiFi ;) (which is only on in the break after brunch and dinner). At 8 pm the Satsang begins. It's in the main hall, the Shiva hall. A very deep repeating Oooommmmm is sounding from the speaker, on the stage the statues of the Gurus and Shiva are dimly lit, again an amazing and also mystical atmosphere. First there is a 15-25 min meditation, after that the Satsang (singing of prayer like chants) and at the end a talk with changing topics.
The next morning the wake up bell rings at 5h20 to be on time for the 6 am Satsang (same as in the evening). I get up at 5 though, because my roommate has to be there earlier because of his Karma yoga duties and he has a really loud alarm clock. Jumping under the shower I realise that I quickly have to get used to showering cold, since there is no other option. The really warm outside temperature of 26C at night and over 30 during the day makes it relatively easy though. Fresh and full of energy I go to Satsang. The Satsang is followed by a short tea break.
At 8 am the Yoga Class starts, which has a program designed for 2 weeks. It's not only Hatha Yoga but includes also the other aspects of Yoga, like proper breathing.
At 10 am we have brunch, everybody is quite hungry until now :). After lunch there is Karma Yoga from 11-12 am, but times can be different depending on what you do, I work in the Boutique from 12h30 to 1h30 pm, a very easy job.
At 1h30 pm there is tea and snacks before the start of the lecture at 2 pm. At the lecture you learn a lot of stuff about the background of the ashram and what's the goal of it all. It's taught by
a Swami who learned under the latest of the Ashram's Guru. He is a very cool and almost always slightly smiling guy.
At 3h30 pm there is Yoga again followed by dinner at 6 pm, which concludes the daily schedule.
Except after food there usually is not more than 15min time between the classes, so after about 7 days now I do feel a little exhausted, but good exhausted :).
To mix it up there is a Silent Walk on Wednesdays and Sundays instead of Satsang. The first one was up to a close by mountain to watch the sunrise and also meditate and sing :). That was totally awesome. It was also surprising how fast they were walking, I never hiked with a group anywhere close that fast, Yoga really seems to have a good physical effect ;-).
The Silent Walk after that was to the lake of the Dam very close by, still very pretty but a much easier hike.
Every Saturday evening they do a talent show here were everybody who wants is invited to demonstrate his or her talent, like singing, dancing, telling jokes and so on. I enjoyed it and it shows how relaxed this Ashram is.
Every Friday we have a day off and usually they offer a tour. This will be covered in the next post.
The next morning the wake up bell rings at 5h20 to be on time for the 6 am Satsang (same as in the evening). I get up at 5 though, because my roommate has to be there earlier because of his Karma yoga duties and he has a really loud alarm clock. Jumping under the shower I realise that I quickly have to get used to showering cold, since there is no other option. The really warm outside temperature of 26C at night and over 30 during the day makes it relatively easy though. Fresh and full of energy I go to Satsang. The Satsang is followed by a short tea break.
At 8 am the Yoga Class starts, which has a program designed for 2 weeks. It's not only Hatha Yoga but includes also the other aspects of Yoga, like proper breathing.
At 10 am we have brunch, everybody is quite hungry until now :). After lunch there is Karma Yoga from 11-12 am, but times can be different depending on what you do, I work in the Boutique from 12h30 to 1h30 pm, a very easy job.
At 1h30 pm there is tea and snacks before the start of the lecture at 2 pm. At the lecture you learn a lot of stuff about the background of the ashram and what's the goal of it all. It's taught by
a Swami who learned under the latest of the Ashram's Guru. He is a very cool and almost always slightly smiling guy.
At 3h30 pm there is Yoga again followed by dinner at 6 pm, which concludes the daily schedule.
Except after food there usually is not more than 15min time between the classes, so after about 7 days now I do feel a little exhausted, but good exhausted :).
To mix it up there is a Silent Walk on Wednesdays and Sundays instead of Satsang. The first one was up to a close by mountain to watch the sunrise and also meditate and sing :). That was totally awesome. It was also surprising how fast they were walking, I never hiked with a group anywhere close that fast, Yoga really seems to have a good physical effect ;-).
The Silent Walk after that was to the lake of the Dam very close by, still very pretty but a much easier hike.
Every Saturday evening they do a talent show here were everybody who wants is invited to demonstrate his or her talent, like singing, dancing, telling jokes and so on. I enjoyed it and it shows how relaxed this Ashram is.
Every Friday we have a day off and usually they offer a tour. This will be covered in the next post.
For more pictures see link on the right.
It seems as if you found a good place for you! It's great to read about your experiences! Take care!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Yes it is a perfect start.
ReplyDelete