Our new day in the Phool Chatti Ashram started with a photo session of this wonderful place. Initially Lalita was not very fond of letting us go around the compound taking photographs and interacting with students, but the feeling got more relaxed after a short while. Coni ended up taking group pictures with all the yoga students, first with his…
Read MoreComplete yoga in Rishikesh: pranayama, asanas, meditation, philosophy, group chanting
We accepted Swami Veda’s invitation and stayed in the ashram for the night. It was a spontaneous decision, and we had to buy some toothbrushes on the spot. It was a great idea, we could see the full morning programme, which started at 5am with pranayama, asanas and meditation. After breakfast we visited the research center where we…
Read MoreYoga science, yoga silence
Today we visited the Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama ashram, which follows the teachings of the Himalayan Yogi Swami Rama, who was also a master in controlling body functions like heart beat. One of the central ideas of the center is to scientifically prove the benefits of yoga. In the evening we were invited for a dinner and private…
Read MoreIyengar yoga class in Rishikesh
Usha Devi teaches strict Iyengar yoga at the Omkarananda Ashram in Rishikesh. “Do less, but do it with understanding”, “See how the mind has to be connected with the body”, “Listen, you are not in holidays”, “Come on! Quickly!” – these are some of the words you could hear during her morning class which we attended. There…
Read MoreOmkarananda Ashram, Rishikesh
We met Usha Devi at 10am, just after her morning class in the Omkarananda Ashram in Rishikesh. Her guruji is none other than world famous B.K.S. Iyengar, the founder of Iyengar yoga. Each year Usha spends a couple of months in Pune where she’s in direct contact with Guruji, while the rest of the year she stays…
Read More2nd day at the Ashtanga Yoga Institute, Mysore
The first students gather around the steps of the Shri K Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute from 5am, just to get a good spot for the 6am class. This Friday morning class is led by Sharath Jois, for whom it is already the second class of the day. It is dark and cold outside, but soon…
Read MoreAshtanga Yoga Institute, Mysore
Today we’ve visited the birthplace of ashtanga yoga: the Ashtanga Yoga Institute. We’ve met Sharath Jois, the director of the yoga institute. He follows the yoga tradition of his grandfather, the world famous Pattabhi Jois. Just two significant details about Sharath’s life: He gets up every day at 1 am to start his practice. He is the…
Read MoreMystic School, Mysore
Mystic School in Mysore was today on our list. At 7am Shashi, the founder, welcomed us with a nice coffee – not the typical drink of the yoga world, but very appreciated by all of us. Shashi is a spiritual seeker with lots of influences such as Osho, internal martial arts, Qi gong, Tai Chi, Thai yoga massage…
Read MoreMysore Mandala Yogashala
We left Bangalore early in the morning to be on time at our next destination – the Mysore Mandala Yogashala, in Mysore, Karnataka. We were welcomed by Harish, the founder of this small institute. It was a great experience to spend the day there, joining the Asthanga class, watching the Bharatanatyam lesson (an old traditional…
Read MoreSivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram
A smooth ride took us to the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram at the Neyyar Dam, located in the foothills of Kerala’s Western Ghats. We were overwhelmed when seeing hundreds of people performing asanas everywhere – in halls, buildings, gardens, on the lakeside. We will examine this vibrant yoga place in the next two days…
Read MoreBathing in the Theerthakund
From Tamil Nadu to Kerala. The Isha Yoga Center students woke up at 4:30am to do their asanas and pranayama. We started our day at 6:30am wandering around the large ashram. The highlight of our day was the Theerthakund, a pool of (quite cool) water. The pool is done in an ancient way, with large steps down to the…
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