A day in the life….

by Melanie Alexander.

I’ve been practising different forms of yoga irregularly since 1998, comprising mainly of asana practice. After several years of this, I realised that it wasn’t satisfying all the levels of my being and I enquired into studying yoga further. It took me a couple of years to find the ‘right time’ to do this… and finally, I made it to the Yogic Studies 1A course at Mangrove in June 2004! The experience so far has been completely life-changing in so many ways – both large and small. Firstly, every day of the 2 weeks spent at the ashram was jam-packed with in-depth teachings taught by inspiring and wonderful yogis. The craving for knowledge was satisfied – but so much more than that – I started to understand what it means to ‘experience’ the practice of yoga. All things at the ashram facilitate this… the beautiful, serene environment, the space to contemplate and reflect without day to day stresses, the wholesome food, and the like-minded group of people there. I was not sure at the time how I’d go integrating what I’d experienced back into my hectic life in Sydney, but the time at Mangrove created such a deep impact on me that I have enjoyed new perspective and a greater sense of peace since that time. I’ve found something that I can rely on in my life. I have a sense of a higher purpose and more excitement for my future. In a practical way, the course has given me the structure that I need in order to incorporate yoga into my daily life, and the effects have been subtle yet profound. The simple discipline of getting up a little earlier and practicing asana, pranayama and meditation with fresh understanding, continues to aid in my awareness of body and mind in my day to day activities and helps me to be more fully present in the moment. A quote from one of our teachers has stuck… “Don’t just do yoga… live it!” I feel that every body would benefit so much in undertaking this course, if only to understand themselves and their place in the world a little better. I’m so looking forward to continuing my studies and exploring the rest of the iceberg – of which I’m just at the tip!