My experience of ashram life

By Prematma

So why head down the yoga path… most of us whom experiences even one or two classes will feel an internal soothing cleanse and massage to the body and mind. The calm evoked and sense of control from that 90 minute routine seems to have a powerful tune up on the entire system, which inspires a second taste

I suspiciously tasted my first Satyananda class about 2 years ago. I worked fulltime, was fit and believed I did the right things to be healthy. I regularly ran, surfed, rode, danced and yet was stressed out from the pressures of being human. I envisioned yoga as being too still and slow for my needs, but gave it a try with the proviso I could sit for 1 class rather than pay a term. My teacher’s pace, mood and presence soothed and the yoga nidra calmed me more than any other relaxation method I had tried. This led me to become eager for every class that followed. These weekly classes became my salvation for 2 more terms.

It took ‘sussing’ out the ashram one weekend and many months of private pondering in consideration of yogic studies, but it seemed to make more and more sense as it came closer to the time. What did I have to lose?
The Ashram is daunting in its beauty as the dirt road winds into the steeper escalating sandstone cliffs and the river provides a gentle flowing edge that flows backwards and forwards according to the tides. Mangrove Creek blends in beauty of architecture and gardens so well into the awesome landscape it lies within. It has an imposing presence of beauty nestled within the valley and cliffs it inhabits.

The first night of ys1a we all went round introducing ourselves and sharing what we hoped to gather. Swami Kriyatma, the head dude of education eloquently promised all of us that with the sacrifice we made in time and money each one of us would depart in two weeks, a different being, he ended with the hope that all of our individual needs and goals could be nurtured in this time. I kinda wondered how he could so freely make such a loaded promise

Kriya’s promise became true as we all discovered the intricate weavings of the textures of yoga. This course has enabled experimentation with the methods that have been carved through the centuries of yoga tradition toward the purpose of realizing and knowing the self in all its limitations in order to individually uncover the gold deep within us.
Having been a searcher for knowledge meaning and purpose I have pursued and completed tertiary qualifications and nowhere else have I experienced such a tightly structured teaching program with such clearly defined measurable learning outcomes. The content and the process is of exceptional calibre. Students are gifted to have a whole range of travelling teachers who travel the world presenting this knowledge.
The content provides something for everyone whether one’s bent is scientific, devotional or practical, the course provides philosophy, history, psychology, communication and how to flow efficiently quietly and steadily. As the mangrove tidal creek flows in tune with the moon, so we too become closer connected to our inner cycles.

Mangrove certainly provides the physical qualities to allow us to contain ourselves within an attitude of stillness and serenity whilst the yoga routine fills our space. Varied and high quality vegetarian organic tucker adds the comfort edge to the dormitory living and tight routine established in ashram living. The musical magic almost every evening of a blend of guitar, harmoniums, drums and magical harmonies invite all to participate with the call and repeat style of kirtan for even the shyest non muso to sing with fervour.

Ashrams serve as a space whereby structure, food, environment and teachings are all providing a pathway to connect with the deeper parts of ourselves that many of us surely consider at least momentarily at some stage in our lives.

The classical tradition of yoga places great emphasis on the management of the mind and regulation of the emotions. “control of the mental patterns is yoga” is the second sutra of the sage of 2000 0r more years ago Patanjali’s - Yoga Sutras.

I have just finished the 2b residential and can truly say it only gets better the deeper we climb into this knowledge Yoga gives me that soul food to handle the uncontrollable aspects of life. There are various quirky little techniques that seem so weird and bizarre but assist us to manage with so much more integrity and calm those pressures of living in the world.

Imagine a holiday what do we seek: , comfort, beauty , rest, wholesome food, good company, opportunity for inspiration, and mostly food for thought to live better and more relaxed when we return from our holiday. Yoga provides the means to keep that attitude strong to live well and drink the nectar of grace so the days can be immersed in hope to do be and see good in ourself and others as we keep on becoming the true Self we want to be. We can be comfortable either socializing or withdrawing whatever is our inspiration of the moment. There is such a strong vibration of the wise words of the grandfather Guru Sivananda filtering through the space. “Whatever you do , be true to yourself and the world. Do not hide your thoughts. Be sincere. Be straightforward. Be courageous in expressing your views. Truth has a lustre of its own. It shines for itself and sheds light for others…..May that truth guide your actions.”