Entering the gates of an ashram

Yoga Teachers' Training Week 1 (21/3 - 27/3)

On the 21st of March 2021, I entered the gates of an ashram. Without breakfast, a little hungry and with a lot of commotion in my mind. With bags, more than the number of my hands and legs, I carried my luggage through a flight of stairs. (Courtesy: my detour from the Trivandrum airport to the ashram. More about it in another post). It was the first time that I was in an ashram. I was in Sivananda Vedanta Dhanwantri Yoga Ashram, Neyyar Dam, Trivandrum, India.

I arrived at the ashram at around 10:30 AM, hungry and thinking that I will not get food. In my mind, I had this image of the ashram, where 10 AM meant 10 AM. And if you were late to the dining hall, that meant no food.

At the reception, the receptionist asked if I had filled a form. And to my know-how, yes, I had. The receptionist told me he did not have the details, and I need to fill a form, upload a picture and a photo id.

Now, I don't know about you. But when I am hungry, this task feels like climbing Everest. I had been hurrying since morning. And that is how I had entered the ashram, with a racing mind, a mind in great commotion. Standing at the reception window, I tried a few times to complete the form, find a photo here, find an id there, but all in vain. There was some resistance there in me. I told the person in charge that I just wanted to make it on time to the meal. He told me that it was something that needs to complete before I am allowed inside. But I was assured that I would get food. And wow, what a relief it was!

I calmed myself down, went to the side and took a seat, cross-legged. And slowly, I told myself that I have to fill the form. Have you ever experienced a feeling? Where your mind is rushing from one place to another. Or, in this case, from one screen to other, unable to accomplish the task it came there for, in the first place. Well, after taking a few breaths, I finally was able to submit the form.

I was allotted a Dorm, given some utensils for meals. And I marched like a warrior to my dorm. Only the items in this warrior's hands were not weapons but a bag here and a bag there. And yes, the extra-large plate provided for the meals.

I took an empty cubicle to the far end of the dorm. It was time to eat something and get some rest. The evening Satsang started at 7:30 PM, with welcome messages and a symbolic ceremony called initiation (as a student).

Monday, the 22nd of March, was officially considered the start of the program. It began with a beautiful pooja. Slowly we started settling into the ashram routine.

The next day, Tuesday, 23rd of March, in the evening Satsang, the teacher informed us that we would go out in the morning for Satsang. And all faces lit up. Every Wednesday and Sunday, we would go to a temple across the lake, about 2 mins walk from the ashram. This place was a beauty in itself. To be able to see the sunrise while we chant and pray was a blissful feeling.

And we were allowed to take pictures here. But it was only fair that instead of taking pictures, all the heart desired was to sit quietly and bask in the glory of nature.

And then came the Ashram weekend Friday. I had booked myself an Abyang massage in the ayurvedic treatment centre. After practising yoga for 4 hrs a day in the week, this is what you need.

Choosing Friday as an off day seemed like a significant psychological decision while being in the TTC. After an off day was Saturday, or should I say Saturday Night. The night that gave the students and guests a stage.

And then it was Sunday. Nothing special about Sunday, but hey, It is Sunday (the universal week off day). And already, you are halfway through the ashram week.

And this was the Week 1 of ashram life. Peaceful and calm.