Sivananda yoga

[pepper]

I've tried a (relatively small) variety of different yoga types over the last fifteen or so years. I used to mainly focus on Hatha yoga, because it seemed slow enough to not be aerobics, but hard enough to give me a workout (depending on classes, though – some were far too gentle for my liking, and some far too fast). I've never done it consistently, but I always go back to it.

About three years ago, my mum suggested we take a yoga holiday together, to India, to the Sivananda yoga centre in Kerala. It was a strange holiday – it took me a week to accept being there (no internet, no television, no CHOCOLATE OMG), but by the end I didn't want to leave.

Yoga was behind everything we did there. We woke up at 5am, just before sunrise (surprisingly not that difficult, possibly because we went to bed at 10pm, or possibly because the beds were basically wooden boards with sheets, a pillow, and a mosquito net). First thing was Satsang (an hour of meditation as the day dawned, and then some chanting - the most difficult thing for me to get my cynical head around, far too much like being in a cult – and a lecture). Then we had a refreshing cup of chai – hot, spiced, sweet, and very addictive – and went off to do the first series of breathing exercises and asanas (postures) for two hours, led by a tutor. At 10am there was the first meal – hot, filling, fairly bland (the Sivananda belief is that food should not be too stimulating), and vegetarian.

Then free time, during which we could have a shower, hang out with friends, or speak to the teachers – there were non-compulsory classes running at this time. I did go to these a few times, because I was determined to manage the Bakasana (Crow) before I left the ashram. We also did chores at this time – my regular one was to sweep the platform by the lake, which was always covered in leaves from the overhanging trees again by the next day.

At 4pm there were lectures about yoga philosophy, and then the next set of asanas with the tutor, again for two hours. We usually had to scramble to get to dinner at 6pm (dinner being the leftovers from the first meal, with some additional dosas, or rice pancakes). Then at 8pm there was evening Satsang, which was a bit less formal than the morning one, and we went to bed at 10pm.

And that, in a way, is the Sivananda philosophy. It wasn't just about the breathing and stretching exercises, but was about structuring your life around the yogic paths. Doing asanas, eating properly, learning how to breathe, doing chores ("karma yoga") – they were all about making yourself comfortable in body and mind, to enable you to sit in silent and still meditation. The meditation's aim was to reach Samadhi – transcending the body and mind and becoming one with the Self or with God or the Life Force or whatever you want to call it (it's kind of an areligious idea).

I think my favourite part of it all was morning Satsang, towards the end of the holiday. My body had loosened up enough, and I'd relaxed my mind enough that I could sit there for an hour in silence, eyes closed, listening to the birds wake up and feeling the air warming around me as the sun rose. Only once in all that time did I manage to sit perfectly still for that hour (and I mean not shifting at all), but I'm pretty proud I managed it at all. I managed to quiet my thoughts for maybe five full seconds in the whole two weeks, and I'm proud of that, too.

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For the asanas themselves, we first did breathing exercises – Anuloma Viloma (as previously described) and Kapalabhati (emphatic breaths, pushing out all the air in your body by sharply compressing the stomach muscles). Then Sun Salutation. Then as many of the 12 basic postures (Headstand, Shoulder Stand, Plough, Fish, Forward Bend, Cobra, Locust, Bow, Spinal Twist, Crow, Standing Forward Bend, Triangle) as we could fit into the time. I never did manage the headstand, and only managed the shoulder stand with assistance, but I could at least do versions of all the rest by the end of two weeks. Then relaxation, at which point I had to fight not to a) fall asleep, or b) swat at mosquitoes (real or psychosomatic). We did that twice a day, every day, so that the postures would become completely relaxed and natural.

I did a lot more exciting stuff on that holiday, but that was holiday stuff, so I won't write it out on here. :)


Anandoham, Anandoham, Anandam Brahman Andam = I am Bliss, I am Bliss, Bliss Absolute, Bliss I am.

Comments

[zats_clear]

thanks so much for writing about this! It sounds like it was a really unique experience, the kind you can get your mind back into when you think about it.

[pepper]

Once I started writing, it all came back to me (well, with the help of their online stuff to prompt me about the details). It made a huge impression on me. It's a lovely, calm memory to look back on.

[muck_a_luck]

That sounds like an amazing way to spend a couple of weeks!

[pepper]

Thanks, yes, it was completely... well, I got back to work, and everyone there was like, "Wow, you're back already? Have two weeks really gone past?" Whereas I felt like I'd been away for months.

[catsmeow]

That sounds like a really wonderful way to spend your vacation!