I stayed in the Ashram for 16 days and left on the last day in November to go to Calicut (about 400km north of Trivandrum) to see a rare ceremony not knowing what exactly to expect. I will meet up there with a friend from Germany, who only travels to India because of this, so I guess it's worth it.
I was lucky because an Indian girl who also left the Ashram today was sitting on the same bus from the Ashram back to Trivandrum. She helped me book the bus to Calicut which is still a big help at the moment. Right now I am sitting at the main bus station in Trivandrum waiting for my night bus which will take 10 hours to reach my destination, so I decided to begin writing a summary about the stay at the Ashram.
Religion
I probably mentioned before that there is a lot of praying and chanting going on, not only during the Satsang but also at the beginning of yoga classes and before food is served. I did not completely get behind it but it's mainly Hindu related, but some chants also include the "Gurus" of other relegions. The good thing is no one expects you to sing, pray, kneel down or anything like that. I was wondering though why so many non Indian people who where most likely not hindu put a lot of devotion into this. I assume it has to do with one aspect of yoga "Niyama" to practice your spiritual devotion. It was definitely one thing some people did not like but I did not really care.
I probably mentioned before that there is a lot of praying and chanting going on, not only during the Satsang but also at the beginning of yoga classes and before food is served. I did not completely get behind it but it's mainly Hindu related, but some chants also include the "Gurus" of other relegions. The good thing is no one expects you to sing, pray, kneel down or anything like that. I was wondering though why so many non Indian people who where most likely not hindu put a lot of devotion into this. I assume it has to do with one aspect of yoga "Niyama" to practice your spiritual devotion. It was definitely one thing some people did not like but I did not really care.
Rules
Despite all the rules like proper clothing, attending all classes, only being allowed to leave the Ashram at certain times I assume it was a rather relaxed Ashram. Every Saturday there was a Talent show, where anybody could perform her or his talent in dancing, singing, acting, joke telling and so on. It was very entertaining and always made me wonder if I am really in an Ashram ;).
Despite all the rules like proper clothing, attending all classes, only being allowed to leave the Ashram at certain times I assume it was a rather relaxed Ashram. Every Saturday there was a Talent show, where anybody could perform her or his talent in dancing, singing, acting, joke telling and so on. It was very entertaining and always made me wonder if I am really in an Ashram ;).
Also on some nights we had other shows like musicians from outside playing traditional music. On one night the TTC students (a little over 150 people doing their one month Teacher's Training Course and who we have to thank for having an extra Swami and all these special events going on at the moment) went totally crazy and one after the other startet dancing to the music. At the end half of the Ashram people were on their feet making the Shiva hall look like a night club. I guess they had to release some tension after all the studying. I also joined after a while - it was a lot of fun.
Yoga
Although I came for the meditation I really enjoyed the yoga classes. Of course we did not only do the Assanas but also meditation and pranayama but I especially enjoyed the postures and Assanas. I always kind of mix it up, but Yoga does not only stand for the work out part but also a whole world around it. After 2 weeks of 2 hours yoga twice per day I definitely made a lot of progress and plan to take part in various yoga classes during my trip.
I can definitely recommend it, but I have to warn you ... Yoga can be really exhausting. I am happy to be able to regenerate now, I even had to skip 2-3 classes because I had no energy left. Even if the work out part is the most fun a decent class should at least also include pranayama.
Although I came for the meditation I really enjoyed the yoga classes. Of course we did not only do the Assanas but also meditation and pranayama but I especially enjoyed the postures and Assanas. I always kind of mix it up, but Yoga does not only stand for the work out part but also a whole world around it. After 2 weeks of 2 hours yoga twice per day I definitely made a lot of progress and plan to take part in various yoga classes during my trip.
I can definitely recommend it, but I have to warn you ... Yoga can be really exhausting. I am happy to be able to regenerate now, I even had to skip 2-3 classes because I had no energy left. Even if the work out part is the most fun a decent class should at least also include pranayama.
Services
The Ashram did not only have a Boutique and a library but also a very nice Health Hut where you could go after Brunch and Dinner to get some fruits, juices or even some chocolate shake, which is a rare commodity here. On special days they also had nice vegan cakes or power bars. It was like a bar and a nice place to hang out and chat or chill.
The Ashram did not only have a Boutique and a library but also a very nice Health Hut where you could go after Brunch and Dinner to get some fruits, juices or even some chocolate shake, which is a rare commodity here. On special days they also had nice vegan cakes or power bars. It was like a bar and a nice place to hang out and chat or chill.
Most of the people washed their stuff on their own but you could also utilise the laundry service that was run by locals of the nearby village. I had some stains on a white shirt I could not clean properly myself so I gave them a shot. Sadly it was not my incompetence since they also failed at that task ;).
Free time
I mainly stayed within the Ashram but during the last days I went to the nearby lake with somebody from the Ashram to go swimming. In the beginning I was a little bit scared because there were stories about crocodiles. These were backed up by a couple of warning signs prohibiting swimming for that same reason. Yeah...In the beginning I also thought that the people who do it anyway are stupid or crazy and maybe that is true, but lots of people from the Ashram went swimming before and no one ever saw crocodiles. So we had some fun and I had some adrenaline :).
I mainly stayed within the Ashram but during the last days I went to the nearby lake with somebody from the Ashram to go swimming. In the beginning I was a little bit scared because there were stories about crocodiles. These were backed up by a couple of warning signs prohibiting swimming for that same reason. Yeah...In the beginning I also thought that the people who do it anyway are stupid or crazy and maybe that is true, but lots of people from the Ashram went swimming before and no one ever saw crocodiles. So we had some fun and I had some adrenaline :).
The other options outside the Ashram were a small shop nearby that also sold fresh banana cake at noon, visit the Dam recreational park or go to the next biggest town.
In the end I can recommend this Ashram to almost every one as long as you are OK with the rules and the religious aspects. For me it was a great experience although I am not a fan of rules or of religion :).
P.S. It took some time to post this because I don't have WiFi here. The next post will be either very crazy or rather short depending on how I will manage to put the stuff that happend here the last few days into words. So I hope I won't get your hopes up now and then disappoint.
I'm looking forward to this :) "The next post will be either very crazy or rather short depending on how I will manage to put the stuff that happend here the last few days into words." Take care, man!
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