Escape from Alcatraz, oops I mean ashram

The view from my penthouse apartment
overlooking part of the ashram 

It has been 11 days since graduation day at the ashram and it has taken me this long to feel not so wrung out and tired and ready to put pen to paper so to speak. 

The month at the ashram was likened to a prison (by locals and the boys at Seaflower Hotel – where we spent two months last summer lazing on the beach, Oh, they were the days!) and a boarding school (for those yogis who went to one). 

I can’t really put my finger on why I found it so extremely hard.

Was it the early starts when the bell went off at 5.20am for the morning’s hour of meditation and chanting?

Or the late nights, lights out at 10.30 pm after the evenings meditation and chanting?

Or was it the rigorous days schedule, running from class to class?

Or the fact I was living with 400 other people, 205 that were also doing the course?

Or the physical, emotional and mental challenges faced each day?

Whichever the reason or reasons I felt like I was living in a cage – you could only leave the ashram on a Friday, the one day off for the week.  The discipline of the place was suffocating.  I’m not a rebellious person in any way but it affected me in a negative way and it showed in my demeanor I am sure.

View over the valley from my room's back verandah

The ashram is located in a beautiful setting and I had to remind myself each day to stop and appreciate its beauty.  I would make a point of standing on the verandah of my room at sunrise and sunset to take in the beautiful sky, mountains and jungle surrounds (and to stretch my weary back).

India is a place of raw beauty but also of noise.  Every morning at 5am the ‘spiritual disco’ as my newfound friend Tracey described the chanting coming from a local temple would wake us up before the 5.20am bell.  Everyday there was noise coming from one Hindu festival (of which there are many) or what sounded like a political rally.  We would often go to bed with chanting, music or noise of some description in the background.

Li-Hsien, my non English speaking room mate, we got by with sign language (and body language)

I am using the word 'yogi' out of a sign of respect for my fellow course attendees.   Many had travelled from all over the world including India to be united by yoga.  There were translators from Japan, Taiwan, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Russia, Hindu, Kerala & Tamil Nadu.  We were all experiencing similar emotions over the month but to varying degrees depending on personal circumstances and what brought them to the ashram.  Regardless of emotions running high everyone was friendly and helpful to each other. 

My biggest problem was going in not 100% committed – I really thought it would be easier than spending another 2 months in Gulmarg having to go out every day and ski on terrain which I felt was beyond my capability (and confidence level).  The joke was on me.  At least in Gulmarg I could stop skiing whenever I wanted and go for a leisurely cross-country, enjoying a chai and chat with the locals.  At the ashram if you thought you couldn’t go on or needed a break – tough!  There was no option but to go on.  

Did this develop inner strength – maybe, maybe not!  It felt more like exhaustion at the time. 

Mealtime was another trial for me.  We were given two meals a day – brunch and dinner and in between morning tea was chai (milky spiced tea) and afternoon tea was herbal tea and fruit.

The food was vegetarian (no eggs, onion or garlic) that I like and it was tasty and plentiful and served with herbal tea.   Dinner wasn’t as fresh or as tasty as brunch because it was prepared during the day as the staff finished their shift in the afternoon.   The battle for me was sitting crossed legged on a hard floor trying not to touch knees with my neighbours and eating with my fingers – I resorted to a spoon after a couple of days, then having to queue to rinse my plate whilst trying not to slip (because you are barefoot – no shoes allowed) on the wet floor near the sinks.  My hip was hurting a lot of the time and I was paranoid of slipping on the wet floor and making it worse. 
Mealtime was a quiet affair has it had to be in silence - can you imagine up to 400 people trying to be quiet.

Karma yoga, the duty of selfless service is a priority in the ashram.  Each person is given a job in the running of the place.  My job was in ‘the hell hut, sorry I mean Health Hut.  It was a café (of sorts) serving toasted sandwiches, oats, muesli, juices, chai, milk shakes and fruit salad.  I worked on the fruit salad bench.  I enjoyed assembling the fruit salads but the evening shifts were a nightmare as I say brunch was better than the evening meal so the hut was frantic at night time with people choosing to eat at the Health Hut over dinner.  Lucky there were two shifts – one after brunch and one after dinner and each team got to do a week about.  I gave up having dinner by the end of the second week (due to its lack of appeal and having to rush to eat and be at the hut to start the pm shift.  I can’t complain I did get to eat fruit in between making fruit salads.  I also survived on peanut butter on dry crackers (purchased in Kovalam on a day off) and other nut and fruit treats available at the ashram boutique.  I consumed a lot of sugar during the month. 

Camera shy local Keralan lady, Margot (with her cute French accent) & myself in Health Hut

The first two weeks were the hardest.  I desperately missed Jim because I was unhappy and we had no communication except for a phone call on Fridays.  The start of the third week I thought I am half way through and time flies – I’ll make it.  The last week was the easiest as far as the course content and the asana classes.  I, along with many other yogis were counting down the days.

Being silly as usual - afternoon asana class by the lake,
shame about cow dung floor which ended up mostly on us, the mosquitoes and the threat of falling coconuts
but the breeze was lovely.

Graduation was based on teaching ability, participation in ashram life, karma yoga attitude and the written exam.  Lucky for me my teaching ability and written exam helped me pass because I know I failed miserably in the other areas.  Ashram living was just not for me.  

Graduation ceremony - Tracey (Canadian) & Adora (another special friend- a bit like an Asian/American Raine)

Graduation dinner on the Saturday night was special, a typical Keralan dinner served on a banana leaf.  The teachers served the meal as a sign of respect to the students. The graduation ceremony was after dinner with every yogi being presented with his or her certificate and group photo.  The day the photo was taken satsang (morning session of chanting & meditation) was cut short for the photo shoot.  Imagine 205 people trying to be organised by height.  It was one of the more light-hearted moments at the ashram.  I am taller than Tracey but luckily got to stand beside her for the photo which is nice because we became good friends.  
Due to the photo shoot the morning tea of chai was taken away before most people could get a cup, there was near anarchy.  It was very funny. 

Graduation dinner

Tracey & I in the dining hall awaiting our graduation dinner

If I were asked was the experience worth it – I am still reluctant to say a full hearted yes.  

It is not one I would recommend to any of my friends and I don’t plan to do it again in this lifetime but in saying all of the above I am grateful for the friends I met and the support they gave me over the month and I have come away with seeds (as the teachers liked to say) from the course that I will use in my daily life and yoga practice so I guess I am grateful for the experience after all.

The boys at Sea Flower (JC & Riju) I had to do the rabbit ears for Jim
 -sorry Claire Muntz I know how much you hate rabbit ears

Tracey and I left the ashram as early as we could on the Sunday morning to spend the day in Kovalam.  We had a fun time catching up with the boys at Sea Flower where we stayed the night before heading our separate ways on Monday morning.  Hopefully she will visit us in Australia on her travels this year.