becoming a yogi in an ashram at the source of the ganga in india
Rahul Rajendran ©
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 ashram yoga indiaashram yoga india |  ashram yoga indiaashram yoga india |  ashram yoga indiage 2023-10-02 at 12.02.17 (2)ashram yoga india |
In today's fast-paced, time-crunched society, we wonder how we can live differently.
However, other ways of relating to time are possible, other ways of living and becoming aware of our impact and our purpose in life. Taking the time to be more aware of our actions and their impact on our well-being and that of others, as well as that of the planet, is an essential and highly enriching learning experience.
By sharing the Yogic philosophy of life, the Gurus (a person who removes the shadow and brings in the light, in other words: a person who gives a teaching) you meet in an ashram can enrich you with a new vision of life, as well as giving you the keys to practising a way of life that is more beneficial for yourself and for others.
Yoga is seen more as a sport in the West, but in India, where it originated, it is a way of life and a philosophy.
It consists of setting up daily rituals and training the body and mind to find peace and achieve one's life goal.
During my stay in India, I was lucky enough to spend 1 month in two Sivananda ashrams in India to learn about the Yogic lifestyle. Experiencing an ashram for the first time can be unsettling. Seeing all these people praying and dedicating themselves to a cause that is beyond them, seems a bit remote when you live in an individualistic society where social value is determined mainly by the money in your bank account and the responsibilities you take on in your job.
Complying with rules that limit our freedoms can also be a challenge if you come thinking of doing a yoga retreat in beach club mode, here the aim is not entertainment but learning. We take care to limit interactions other than those dedicated to practising and understanding the yogic environment. It's not a place for romantic encounters, nor is it a cool holiday spot.
However, if you are prepared to open the doors of your preconceptions and try to understand the deep motivations of the people who will guide you during your stay, you will come out on top. Comfort isn't the priority in an ashram either, so goodbye biscuits and chocolates from the vending machine - and no vending machines, by the way - and hello healthy, balanced food. Gone are the cosy mornings when the alarm doesn't go off until 9am, here the bell rings at 5am.
The routine is always the same.
Day after day, getting up at the crack of dawn, meeting for a first session of meditation followed by chanting to evoke the Hindu gods in order to pay homage to them and ask for their help in overcoming the obstacles presented to us in our daily tasks. This is followed by a first yoga session, where we learn to master the classic Assanas, which are yoga positions that bring benefits to the body. For two hours, we'll be practising breathing control, then training our bodies to be more flexible under the expert guidance of our teacher. Lunch is long overdue, and we enjoy vegetarian and Satvic dishes, a diet made up of vegetables and local ingredients such as rice and chapatis (wheat cakes), dipped in deliciously flavoured sauces. This is followed by a time of helping the community in various ways: cleaning, serving meals, setting up rooms, ringing the bell for various activities. The afternoon will be punctuated by a lesson on yogic philosophy, a second yoga session and then dinner. In the evening, we'll join together for a meditation and a song before heading off to our quarters for a rest.
The first few days pass slowly, the heat is stifling even at the foot of the mountains, the body is rigid and the mind has to get used to a new routine. The nights can be restful or restless, depending on your state of mind. Then the routine starts all over again. Each day brings changes, the mind becomes more mobile, the body more flexible.
New ideas and sensations are born in our minds.
We meditate every day to silence our egos and listen to what's going on at a deeper level. What are our motivations, expectations and desires? I feel a sense of peace and serenity, a connection with nature, with myself and with the people around me. My mind empties of its constant futile preoccupations, and I understand more and more that something else can make me vibrate. That my outlook on things can be changed and become more aligned with my values. My relationships slowly become based on more listening and compassion for the other person. I recognise myself in them instead of judging them. I also recognise my own limits.
Practising a yogic lifestyle can be complicated in everyday life.
However, making retreats from time to time and recharging our batteries by applying a daily routine that suits our rhythm and that we can put in place according to our lifestyles can bring about a profound change mentally and physically. This kind of teaching helps us to put a lot of things back into perspective: our vision of the world in a consumerist society where we're always chasing happiness, our relationship with time and what's important, our diet and its impact on our health and our environment. In the end, taking the time to reconnect with ourselves and with others also helps us to find more meaning in the things that surround us and to recognise the value of nature and what it brings us.
Rahul Rajendran ©
