A Few Moments to Remember.

A few funnies / highlights from life in the ashram:

As we were across the lake from a lion safari park (poor lions – not cool!), often during the early morning or evening, food time, we would hear the lions roaring loud and proud (very cool!)

Once you signed in to the ashram, you technically weren’t allowed to leave.  We had certain periods of the day where we could request a pass and “sign out” but needed to be back to make it to those ever important lectures and such.  Caroline and I quickly figured out a way to conceal the passes we were meant to hand over to the security guard (yes, there were security guards) so we could use them over and over again without having to ask permission to leave.  Sneaky, sneaky. 

The director, the man in charge as the swami was away apparently, was South African.  Yes, maybe he was an ashram king but to be in an ashram, in India, I was kinda hoping for an Indian guru, know what I mean?

 I am sentimentally drawn to South African accents; they make me weak in the knees for my life in Africa.  The director near destroyed my love affair for this tongue as he may have been the most disengaging African I have ever met - boring, dull, flat, blah.  Trying to destroy my soul, are you?!

I may have developed a small crush on one of my Indian yoga instructors.  Especially after I saw him leave the ashram on a big, shiny motorbike. 

While I managed to control MY bodily functions, there were more than a few honking farts heard echoing throughout the yoga hall whilst moving through different postures.  And yes, I did laugh.  

There were some incredibly interesting people, some incredibly boring people (I think I fit into this category), and some incredibly weird people (maybe this category too) in the ashram.  A people watcher’s paradise (you would have LOVED it, Deb!) And the staff, well, a regular ole soap opera. 

Hippie-ville confirmed when I was oohed and aahed over at least once a day by both men and women commenting on my hair.  I got everything from "SO jealous!" to "Good for you, natural looks amazing!" to "Did you dye it those colours?"  Yes, I DYED it grey.  *sigh*  By the end I took it as an ego boost, at least people were noticing me.  Thanks ashram, grey is the new blond apparently!

The ashram hosted an AMAZING Christmas celebration, of which I was both surprised and over the moon appreciative.  Caroline and I almost got kicked out of the Christmas satsang however.  I convinced her to stay with the promise of cake at the end of the boooooring and atrociously massacred Christmas caroling session.  I then pretended to shoot myself in the face when we were told the director was going to read us a story about Jesus which resulted in us laughing until we couldn’t sit up straight, hence getting in a bit of trouble.  Oops.  I would NOT have survived without her.  The INDOOR fireworks and ginormous chocolate cake to wrap up the evening made every sitting second worth it.   

There were a couple of talent show evening performances ( I think to prevent ashram mass suicide) and as we all know, there are some people who are born to be on stage and others who think they were but really weren’t.  Still better than having to chant. 

I adhered strictly to the no phone, no snacks policy for the first two days until I saw everyone else indulging and jumped on board.  Off to the wee village I go for chocolate and biscuits to stash under my bed.

The ashram had arranged, bless their hearts, a group travel day so that we could visit the very southern tip of India, experience a bit of beach life, and visit some important temples.  Being very good at ashram scheduling doesn’t mean you’re good at travel plans, apparently.  We missed the ferry to take us over to the monument at the end of India as it was yet another Indian holiday crammed full of millions of people, our beach time was limited as decisions were unable to be agreed upon, and we were only able to zoom through one very impressive temple as so much time was wasted deciding who did and who didn’t want to go.  HOWEVER!  The end of India fair-like atmosphere was AMAZING, the beach area where we had to swim in our clothes to be respectful of the conservative company was FABULOUS, and the temple was jaw dropping GORGEOUS.  Despite all the waiting and rearranging, an incredible day in India.  Thank you, ashram!

On our “free day” Caroline and I headed out on our own to discover a nearby town under the wagging finger of the ashram law telling us to be back before 8pm satsang.  We smirked and skulked our way back through the gates around 11:30pm and had to insist that the scolding guard let us into the dorm so we could go to bed.  We took a scenic train ride, a backwater boat trip, explored a strange little town, hung out on a fabulous local beach, and solidified our forever friendship.  Treated like school children but absolutely worth it. 

My “borrowed” yoga mat was one of the stinkiest things I have ever set my body upon.  Ever. 

I sometimes fell asleep during the “relaxation” part of yoga. 

Our two “silent walks” off the ashram as part of satsang were some of the best chats I’ve had.  Silent.  Silly. 

On our first walk, we were told to not pat the local dogs as they believe that they are the gods protecting us.  The first dog I saw … taking a big poo in the middle of the street.  Oh, how I laughed. 

Despite the militaristic managing of a very popular ashram, I was surprised to find myself a bit sad to leave.  I can see how people are drawn back there year after year after year.  Powerful place. 

Humour is uncompromisingly important.  Life was serious, far too serious, in the ashram and I think it was simply due to the current folks in charge.  When an instructor arrived about half way through who laughed his way from one class to the next, the entire atmosphere changed (if the director wasn’t present).  Yoga is SO much more fun when you’re making faces at your neighbour and not taking your spirituality so seriously.  Again, thank Ganesha, Jesus, Allah, and whomever was watching over us that Caroline was game for all of the silliness.  Whew!