The spiritual element of India is unmistakably one of the reasons that people travel to the sub-continent. Tolerance in the religious sense of the word has been a part of Indian history and as I’ve mentioned in one of my earlier posts, I've learned that it's one of the reasons why it has produced the spiritual leaders of its time – that and the ancient knowledge that has been passed on through many generations, some of which are captured in the Vedas and other aspects of Indian heritage.
More specifically, devotion as a way of life.
India has not been without religious conflict - it has had its fair share and some of which is still ongoing in parts of the country. By “tolerence”, I’m mainly referring to the acceptance of religions like Jainism and Buddhism that had arisen as alternative to Hinduism – the respecting of these alternative schools of thought.
A big part of the spiritual experience of India is Yoga and many people head over there looking to practise or learn more about Yoga and Meditation. It can be a tricky process to figure out what you’re looking for when searching for Yoga related experiences, and it takes hours of reading to understand the difference between types of Yoga the retreats, Ashrams, Gurus etc. Much of the time you'll find that what's required is a combination of research and speaking to people - that is often the way in which it finds you..
When contemplating the study of Indian devotion practices, there are two important questions to ask:
What Are You Looking For?
I think that the most important question to ask is what it is that you are looking for? Is your priority the volunteering work itself? Do you chiefly want to benefit from the physical implications that Yoga offer and the health benefits associated with it?
An important thing to bear in mind is that Indian devotional practices are holistic. You undertake them to hone your mind and your body and to engage with the wider community around you (and a host of other things aside). For me, it was more about a lifestyle change and an exploration of different schools of thought and ways of life as to find something that would work for me.
Where Can You Find It?
I’d visited some Yoga schools and Ashrams and can share a bit more about that, but there are many more out there than I could cover, and anyway, it's my belief that finding the right one is part of the experience and therefore shouldn't be dictated.
In Goa, you can find everything from short Yoga courses to daily classes on the beach. You can do anything from cooking courses to Reiki and even Swedish massage courses. It also has options around Mediation, which raises the point of the definition of Yoga in the West (where it is most commonly seen as a form of exercise) vs. its original, holistic role in the East. Yoga means ‘union’ - a joining of the mind, body and spirit.
In the West we often refer to the exercise element (Asanas) as Yoga. These are the poses that help develop a strong, healthy body by enhancing flexibility and improving circulation. This is however only one element of Yoga.
“The practise of yoga is a way of a achieving a healthy body and mind that leads to spiritual evolvement.” - Sivananda.org
There is a spiritual element to Yoga which is further underpinned by teachings, best described by Master Sivananda, and I’ve used his five points of Yoga to help explain these teachings. They are based around Pranayama, which is deep, conscious breathing; Relaxation which helps keeps the body from going into overload mode, easing worry and also around your diet; Eating simple, healthy and easily-digested foods have a calming effect on the mind and body (as well as a more positive environment and societal impact in most cases); Vedanta, a focus on positive thinking; and lastly Dhyana, which means Meditation.
These are believed to be the true keys to achieving peace of mind and eliminating negativity in our lives.
Yoga in the India also refers to: “Union with the Divine and while this refers to a certain state of consciousness both individual and Universal, it is also a method to help one reach that goal.”
With this in mind, you can think a bit more about what it is that you are looking for before starting your journey. (I should point out that I’m not a Yoga teacher and what I’m writing is based on my own experience and understanding of the practise).
More specifically, devotion as a way of life.
India has not been without religious conflict - it has had its fair share and some of which is still ongoing in parts of the country. By “tolerence”, I’m mainly referring to the acceptance of religions like Jainism and Buddhism that had arisen as alternative to Hinduism – the respecting of these alternative schools of thought.
A big part of the spiritual experience of India is Yoga and many people head over there looking to practise or learn more about Yoga and Meditation. It can be a tricky process to figure out what you’re looking for when searching for Yoga related experiences, and it takes hours of reading to understand the difference between types of Yoga the retreats, Ashrams, Gurus etc. Much of the time you'll find that what's required is a combination of research and speaking to people - that is often the way in which it finds you..
When contemplating the study of Indian devotion practices, there are two important questions to ask:
- what do I hope to find?
- where can I find it?
What Are You Looking For?
I think that the most important question to ask is what it is that you are looking for? Is your priority the volunteering work itself? Do you chiefly want to benefit from the physical implications that Yoga offer and the health benefits associated with it?
An important thing to bear in mind is that Indian devotional practices are holistic. You undertake them to hone your mind and your body and to engage with the wider community around you (and a host of other things aside). For me, it was more about a lifestyle change and an exploration of different schools of thought and ways of life as to find something that would work for me.
Where Can You Find It?
I’d visited some Yoga schools and Ashrams and can share a bit more about that, but there are many more out there than I could cover, and anyway, it's my belief that finding the right one is part of the experience and therefore shouldn't be dictated.
In Goa, you can find everything from short Yoga courses to daily classes on the beach. You can do anything from cooking courses to Reiki and even Swedish massage courses. It also has options around Mediation, which raises the point of the definition of Yoga in the West (where it is most commonly seen as a form of exercise) vs. its original, holistic role in the East. Yoga means ‘union’ - a joining of the mind, body and spirit.
In the West we often refer to the exercise element (Asanas) as Yoga. These are the poses that help develop a strong, healthy body by enhancing flexibility and improving circulation. This is however only one element of Yoga.
“The practise of yoga is a way of a achieving a healthy body and mind that leads to spiritual evolvement.” - Sivananda.org
There is a spiritual element to Yoga which is further underpinned by teachings, best described by Master Sivananda, and I’ve used his five points of Yoga to help explain these teachings. They are based around Pranayama, which is deep, conscious breathing; Relaxation which helps keeps the body from going into overload mode, easing worry and also around your diet; Eating simple, healthy and easily-digested foods have a calming effect on the mind and body (as well as a more positive environment and societal impact in most cases); Vedanta, a focus on positive thinking; and lastly Dhyana, which means Meditation.
These are believed to be the true keys to achieving peace of mind and eliminating negativity in our lives.
Yoga in the India also refers to: “Union with the Divine and while this refers to a certain state of consciousness both individual and Universal, it is also a method to help one reach that goal.”
With this in mind, you can think a bit more about what it is that you are looking for before starting your journey. (I should point out that I’m not a Yoga teacher and what I’m writing is based on my own experience and understanding of the practise).
Personal Recommendations
I can recommend the Iyengar School, which I joined whilst living in India, and which taught me a type of Yoga I still practice. Iyengar is a form of Hatha Yoga, which focused on alignment of the body. Correct body alignment allows the body to develop harmoniously in an anatomically sympathetic way. To attain the full benefits of study, props are often used as support and to help the body into the correct positions. This is the Yoga (Asanas) that I have chosen for myself.
Note that this is only one of many Yoga schools. For example, the Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore is one of the best known and respected in India. I'm aware that I’ve not even scratched the surface when it comes to types of Yoga, schools and retreats or even the paths of Yoga, but it is too vast to cover in one post or even a series of posts. Also, my travels have been mainly focused on the centre and Southern parts of India. I’m hoping to travel to the Northen part of India this year, which I haven’t had much time to explore. I’m looking to travel between Dharamsala, Rishikesh and Manali and hoping to visit some of the well-known Yoga schools, Tibetan communities and Ashrams in those parts.
Ashrams
I’ve also been to a few Ashrams, one of which was Amma’s Ashram in Kerala, situated between the ocean and the backwaters of Kerala. (Amma is also known as the ‘Hugging Mother’). Ashrams are often not-for-profit, public service organizations with a spiritual leader. They offer different experiences and some offer courses.
The other Ashram and probably more significant to me is the Isha Foundation where I have spent some time. Isha is located in the Southern part of India, on the boarder of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, in the Silver Mountains. Isha has become an important part of my life since visiting the Ashram for the first time and they have centres across the globe which has also allowed me to volunteer in India and in the UK. This type of Ashram would probably be relevant to you if you are looking to make a lifestyle change or wanted to visit the idea of a different way of life.
An Ashram like Isha is where you can learn Yoga, addressing all aspects of human wellbeing. You can also join in projects that are focused on the society and environment. More importantly, it introduces the option of a lifestyle change.
Isha came at a very relevant time in my life. Shortly after doing my Yoga course at the Ashram in India (which was during my sabbatical) I was offered a role working in Mumbai. It was also during this time, whilst relocating to India, that my boyfriend (at the time) was diagnosed with cancer.
Needless to say that it was a difficult year – and a combination of Yoga, travelling and work certainly helped get me through. Of that process, it was also by doing the Yoga and Meditation on a daily basis (or more) that I gained the true benefit of what I was doing. I'm not sure what else would have been able to keep my mind and body balanced...that and of course, the craziness of living in India, surrounded by the colours, sounds and smells of devotion. Every Morning Prayer bell, every piece of burning sage, the temples, caves and Babas were all a welcome distraction.
Challenging times are what forces you to really consider the tools and habits that you’re going to use to help you get through it. I feel lucky to have found something so constructive that has now become a way of life. Perhaps these things find you at the right time, if you are open to it...
A few people have been asking me about Yoga and Meditation in India the past few months. Some who’re looking to head to India to travel and some who’ve been going through some tough times. I hope that some of the above would resonate or be helpful as a starting point for anyone who is researching Yoga practises.
If you want any advice on this, you can contact me at lezaanroos@yahoo.co.uk
