Ashram Life

The first week I was in New Zealand I spent at an ashram called Anahata in the area called the Golden Bay in the northeast of the south island. It was beautiful there and I really enjoyed my time there. I was living the yogic lifestyle for sure. The style of yoga is called Satyananda yoga and comes from a long lineage from India with many Swamis(teachers or gurus). Swami Muktidharma was there and we got to listen to him talk at a satsong-a talk about life and different aspects of yoga and incorporating that into everyday life. Easy for the residents since they are living that life style day in and day out. It’s a communal living environment….or just one big happy family….where they are very organized about the everyday chores that a household requires. As “guests” we also had a choice to participate. This meant that we had a schedule 6 days out of the week. A typical day was to get up at 6:00 and begin with a yoga class and/or meditation then have a breakfast of porridge(oatmeal) to help sustain us for the next three hours of karma yoga-the yoga of action. So basically we all had jobs cleaning, cooking or tending to the garden. After which, there was a session of yoga nidra-deep relaxation yoga-followed by a wonderfully tasty vegetarian lunch. After lunch the afternoon was typically ours to do as we wished. On a nice day, there were lots of trails to explore. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t lend too much of exploration but reading by the fire was always a good option. In the evening there was often some sort of activity like kirtan-music and chanting or a fire ceremony which was very interesting to see.

I have to say that although it was a wonderful, powerful and relaxing week, the yoga ashram life would not be for me. Too regimented and limited but I’m so glad that I had the experience. The yoga teacher at in Thailand made many reference to “living a yoga life” and this is certainly one way to do that. Another is to do your own practices and incorporate it into “normal” life.

I also had the opportunity to meet some really wonderful people while there and am currently on the road traveling with two of the girls that I roomed with at the ashram. Jess is from Canada and Inbal from Israel. We are traveling in Jess’s car south on the south island and have wonderful weather the past three days. We have been taking the western route along the coastline and there has been spectacular scenery. We are staying in backpackers accommodations along the way which is really nice since you have a place to cook your meals and even do laundry if need be. It has been wonderful to not have a schedule and to just stop wherever you want and explore along the way. Today we will head to Franz Joseph where there is a glacier to hike and from what I can remember from 20 years ago, some equally breathtaking sights.

www.piscasaweb.google.com/tonibodeau/anahataashram
http://www.anahata-retreat.org.nz