A day in the life of the Ashram

The day starts when everyone gathers to drink tea in silence before chanting together before sunrise.

At 6.30 as the sun rises, the first yoga session of the day includes chanting and pranayama (breathing techniques) and relaxation. These sessions can be held on top of Ashram Hill during your visit, to enjoy the sunrise and the 360 degree views from there.

The practice of Karma Yoga is another daily practice before breakfast, helping the Ashram to cook, clean, garden and water plants. This communal activity is a great opportunity to get to know others staying at the Ashram.

Breakfast is the first of 3 meals a day, all of which are taken in silence. Ashram food is vegetarian, cooked on the premises, and delicious. Lunch is at 12.30pm.

A yoga session in the late afternoon is often linked to a session of yoga nidra or meditation.

An evening walk is a perfect opportunity to enjoy the glorious sunsets from Ashram Hill. During the week there will be the opportunity to practice chanting and yoga on the hill to enjoy the sunsets from here.

Before the evening meal, there is a practice called Havan. This is chanting whilst burning ghee over a fire, a very spiritual practice that improves health of the body and mind, it is recommended you try it. It is performed every night, but not mandatory to attend.

Additional activities during the day include at least two daily yoga sessions, led by myself as well as other Ashram teachers; meditation; yoga nidra sessions; workshops and talks on Ashram lifestyle, Ayurveda, the Chakras and different types of yoga, for example; practical lessons such as cookery, cleansing techniques and Om chanting.

The Yoga Therapy Centre offers health treatments costing between £1 for a Triphala footbath to £7.50 for a 1.5 hour hot stone massage. Ayurvedic massage and Shirodhara are particularly enjoyable Indian treatments to try.

The beautiful swimming pool at the therapy centre is a great place to cool off. Relax at its small sunbathing area or enjoy the views from the Watch Tower or from one of the swing seats at Sunset Point or around and above the Ashram at the dam.

In the evening the Ashram might organise a Q&A session, story telling or a bhajan, which is a sharing of spiritual songs. Silence is requested after 10.30pm.

The ashram’s location is significant as it is in the vicinity of Lord Trimbakeshwara, one of the 12 most important and auspicious Shiva Temples in India. Lord Shiva is the origin of Yoga Tradition and millions of devotees visit the temple annually to achieve salvation. It is fascinating to join them at dawn on a visit by taxi to Trimbak. It is at the source of the sacred Godavari River and the surrounding mountains are considered heaven for Yogis, allowing them to perform Yoga & Mediation practices.

The yoga I teach is hatha yoga and reflects the practice which is taught here, I spent a month at the Ashram 5 years ago attending a yoga therapy course, it was one of the best things I have done. I remained calm and stress free for a long time after returning to England. The experience spurred me on to follow a long term dream, which has been fulfilled (moving up north to open a family business).

To book your place on this retreat I will need to speak to you to make sure you are aware of the lifestyle that will be required.