Ever tried staying in an Ashram?

I know what you are thinking… an Ashram is probably not your first preference for a holiday. Maybe just Byron instead (where I am now), or even Port Douglas?

Naturally this is horses for courses. I don’t have the dosh for a fancy holiday and this trip to Byron is definitely OTC (On The Cheap). However while I am here in Byron I found a deal that was irresistible… so I didn’t resist. The deal is, that I can have as many yoga classes as I want for a week, for $20.

The experience has been fabulous and reminded me how much I love doing yoga, and how I find the whole philosophy calming and restorative. I have done, ahem, 12 classes already, and I still have a day to go. That works out to be about 17 hours of yoga.

What it has also reminded me of is my recently acquired love of ashram life.

My first, very tentative try was in April or May of this year, in Daylesford. I signed up for a themed weekend looking at Mindfulness meditation.

It costed about $80 a night for shared accommodation and all meals. The classes and yoga are also included. The room I was in slept three and I had very pleasant roommates. I can report that it was comfortable, had shared showers and was set in a lovely environment.

The part that may not appeal to many is the routine. Personally I liked it, but 5.30am rising was a little difficult. Yes, you heard correctly, but wait… once you know the whole routine it makes sense.

At 5.30 everyone silently goes to a beautiful, large room for morning yoga. It goes for an hour or so, and blankets are plentiful. Then you remain silent for breakfast and only after the washing up is conversation allowed.

After that, there is half an hour of darma yoga, then cleaning up. Everyone helps, it is not onerous and feels good, and productive to do. Then everyone goes to  various workshops for mindfulness, followed by morning tea.

There are more workshops, then yoga nidra, deep relaxation yoga, before a simple but excellent vegetarian lunch. More of the same happens in the afternoon, prior to Havan, a chanting session. This is all very mysterious, chanting in a language you don’t understand, but I have to say that it has a certain power to it.

Dinner is served, then there is another chanting session called Kurtan which finishes about 8.30pm.

Now the bit I love… maybe not most of all but it is right up there!  More silence!  Yes, from 8.30pm it is back to silence, so really, bed is the best option.

Have I totally put you off?  Possibly.

Just remember, that as I said at the beginning, it won’t suit everyone. I really enjoy it and am going back for more, Daylesford and then Bali later this year for a whole week.

Has anyone else tried staying in an Ashram?  I would love to know how your experience went.

Photo: Moyan_Brenn