 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
14.01. - 05.02.2013
Together with Heidi from Sweden we finally left the tea plantations and went together to Madurai, where we planned to spend at least 2 weeks at the Sivananda Yoga Ashram (= monastery-like yoga center). After arriving in Madurai, we first visited the famous and very impressive Meenakshi Temple, before saying goodbye to the crowds of people and the hustle and bustle of city life.
The Sivananda Ashram is located well outside the city and is very quiet for Indian standards. From now on we should live in separate gender dorms, together with 30 - 50 other women or men under a bamboo roof and shared bathroom. Our own little kingdoms henceforth consisted of a humble bed with mosquito net. Guests and teachers form a motley group, young as well as old, from India and all over the world.
Each day follows a strict schedule:
At 5:30 a.m. a shrill bell rings to wake everybody up. At 6:00 a.m. people gather sitting cross-legged on the floor for Satsang, which means collective meditation and chanting of mantras. At 7:30 a.m. there is a short tea break, exceptionally with Indian chai, which contains some caffeine, although otherwise the consumption of caffeine is banned in the ashram, as well as the consumption of alcohol and nicotine.
The program continues at 8:00 a.m. with the asanas class, which means yoga and breathing exercises, before there is brunch at 10:00 a.m., finally the first meal of the day. As usual you sit cross-legged on the floor and you eat by using the right, "clean" hand, either with or without spoon.
! under construction !
<- previous report --- next report ->