Transformative Full Yogic Day where Experiences meet Knowledge
Exploring Yogic Lifestyles, and sharing my Ashram experiences
“Once upon a time, it lasted forever, carrying it with me for my wellbeing.”
At dawn, we sit in the hall waiting for Guruji to come. The sky is still dark; the sun is just starting to rise so you can see orange clouds on the east side. As per instruction, after everyone’s settle into meditative sitting postures, there was a silent, a very powerful silence where you can feel that all your effort of getting up is worth experiencing this moment of blissful meditation where many answers come for the sincere seekers of truth, the seekers of light, the fruit of the sincere tapas.
After about 20 to 30 mins, Guruji arrived. Most of us bow to honor his present. Again, there were a few moments of silence with his powerful present, and then, without saying any word, he began, Omm….. along with the harmonium. We all follow Omm.. the first word which had broken the silence in the morning along with the 5th note. After 3 times of long resonating Omm.. Morning Raga begins.. No one moves or twitches as if everyone was taking a bath with the sound of raga. Some sing along, some simply meditating. It went on for about an hour or so.. The light came through the window as if the day was broken by the mantra and the devotional raga that we chanted.
After a long sitting in the satsang, we had a short break to drink water and take nature calls, etc…In 5mins, someone rang the tibetan bell, it is a sign for us to go back to the yoga hall. Now it is hatha yoga asana practice time. The teacher started the class from gentle warm up to Surya Namaskar, inversion, forward bending, back bending, twisting to relaxation along with pranayama practices. It was a deep flow practice for about 70 mins. Every cell in my body feels very light, active and effortless after the practice as much as my belly feels quite empty and hollow, ready for food.
After a very brief break to clean up the floor and roll up the mat, another bell rang for breakfast. We all chanted for the meal and started having kitchari, kerala, and some vegetables on the side. Hot bowl of kitchari and boiled kerala gave another type of bliss to my stomach.
After breakfast, everyone started their own assigned duty or karma yoga. All of us take turns to wash dishes after every meal. Some are picking vegetables in the garden, chopping them and getting ready for our dinner. Some are cleaning bathrooms, kitchen and hall. Some men went out for the construction project.
Mid afternoon a couple of hours break before the next class. Some took a short beauty nap. Some are chit chatting. This was usually my time to explore some more books in the library. And sometimes to learn harmonium.
Bell rang for the workshop and classes to start again. Teacher patiently showed us all the asana details and taught us many things about yoga, meditation, lifestyle, philosophy, anatomy, etc..
Before we noticed, already dinner time, the sun was starting to set. The dinner was served. Again, we prayed for the meal and had very fresh delicious cuisine cooked by sevaks with lots of fresh salad.
After the dinner and cleaning up, we all gather again for the satsang in the hall. Most of us are sitting in Ardha Siddhasana, silently waiting again for Guruji’s arrival. Those silent meditation moments are indescribable, precious moments of deep meditation experience. Due to the full yogic routine which cleans the body and mind, due to the devotional sound of nada yoga and raga, due to the great deep asana practice which awaken and open up the energy and channel, due to the wonderful nourishing yogic food, due to the atmosphere of the ashram, due to the present of elevated devotee teachers and master, …
…due to my receptivity and surrendering witness consciousness, maybe all of the above, who knows! The transformation is inevitable and obvious.
Upon Guruji’s arrival, again few devotees bow down to honor his present. With a powerful devotional voice, he started playing harmonium and started the evening raga. We all followed. The night ended with the last soul stirring raga, kirtan or bhajan. The seed was sow. The divinity was present.
A few weeks went by with the same structure. I found myself relishing every single moment. The routine was given to purify the body. The discipline was built to strengthen the mind. The situations were given to identify the ego. But by giving 100 percent effort to obey, to follow and being submissive to the fellow devotees and living full yogic days, the result was… “divine grace & divine intervention”... Whatever needs to burn from your karmic samskara was burnt to a certain point. Whatever needed to be installed for your soul elevation was purposefully installed. Everything was taken care of as if you went through a crossroad tunnel of multiple lifetimes. It might take some time to realize it for the soul.
Atha Yoganusasanam
A complete prep guide for your yoga practice and essential tips to know before you start your yoga journey.
