March 2009

Omm'ing, bending and breathing;
Ashram life awaits...

So, after finding my feet again - solo stylie - and encountering the bizzare world of Ttheyam... I found myself Ashram bound..
A long held dream of mine was to check out what all this Ashram business was all about - being fairly curious when it comes to matters of the soul and spirit the thought of exploring an Ashram had been a long pondered on idea of mine.. and then as only an Indian adventure can provide = an Ashram opportunity presented itself on a plate..

I discovered that starting within a few days, a 2 week course in Yoga was taking place at an ashram very close to me.. way too good an opportunity to pass up - and a choice that I have lived to be thankful for ever since...

So off to Sivananda's place in Neyyar Dam I went..


It started perfectly encountering the infamous Chelsea and Mike - now aptly named Mike JEEE -
At first I felt lost and, too be frank, quite nervous - the thought of signing myself up for 2 weeks without being able to leave a place I had no idea about, was daunting - but a tad exciting!! -
I quickly discovered we were all bricking it - and so we were all in it together one for all and allf or one - and all of that!!! (I was relieved!)

So on arrival I immersed myself into 4 hours of Yoga a day.

6 am rises,


with chanting,

vegan food and spiritual guidance lessons.

I must admit I digged the Yoga and really enjoyed it, but the changing of names and spiritual chanting didn't grab me.... but it was amazing experience - I ended up staying there for 3 and a half weeks - experiencing Pancha Karma

(an Ayurverdic treatment - not for the faint hearted - or for public explaination!!! but a must if you can handle it!) and I fell in love with the tranquil environment.

We woke to the noise of lions mating daily

(a lion sanctuary was nearby - quite a disturbing a frankly hilarious noise when trying to meditate at 6 am each morning!). The Neyyar Dam provided a beautiful lake for daily swims


and weekly meditation...

I met a whole host of amazing people at the Ashram - this was where Lucy and I met - the all important Lucy...
I also met Kate,

Nadine and the wonderful Mono Loco

Marcel

oh and a load of other amazing peeps...

Apart from learning how to stand on my head

I found a great group of friends


But everything has its darker side and for me the routine and all the strict rules (which I can see are important) were too much for me at that point in my trip (especially after nearly 3 years on a boat!)...
So, although I loved the Yoga, I had to leave.... and so I headed forward to my next experience =


"AUROVILLE"