more-in The Neyyar river flows by placidly even as heavy showers paint the surroundings in verdant shades. Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram, nestled on a foothill a stone’s throw away from Neyyar Dam in the suburbia, exudes tranquillity. The Ashram has a vantage point of the quiet river and its picturesque surroundings. It is hard not to take a deep breath of the fresh air. Groups of guests, mostly foreigners, relax in an open courtyard. One of them tells me its their “weekly off”, when they enjoy a light schedule and are free to simply “relax and explore or even step out.” It’s about noon and their next satsang, or group meditation, is slated for 3 pm. Everything works on the dot at the ashram and every one is only too happy to comply with the “rejuvenating” routine, be it having to get up at 5.20 am or following a vegetarian diet. If some have arrived at this destination “in search of solace and inner peace”, there are others who jetted across continents and took the yogic route to tide over health problems. A view of the ashram campus | Photo Credit: Harikumar J.S. Like, Priya Ladwa from Toronto, Canada, a two-time cancer survivor, whose tryst with the Sivananda school of yoga happened during a vacation in the Bahamas. “I used to have acute aquaphobia and couldn’t even go near the water. After the chemotherapy and all the strain of the treatment, I was going through a rough patch and wanted a getaway. Thats when I decided to take a vacation at the Bahamas where I chanced upon the Sivananda Yoga Centre there. Practising Yoga Nidra immediately had a profound impact in me. After three classes, I waded into the sea neck-deep,” says Priya with a smile. A Bhujangasana, or Cobra Pose, session at the ashram | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement She is here on a two-month retreat and has been undergoing panchakarma, part of the Ashram’s Ayurveda wellness course, after finishing the yoga courses. For 26-year-old Jessica Hoffman from New York, yoga has been the magic bullet to her “stressful life” in the cosmetics industry. “I used to have a job that many girls back in my place would die for. But after a few years of living with the computer, I felt overworked and started developing anxiety and health issues. I wanted to try something outside my bubble and my therapist encouraged me to take up meditation,” she says, adding that her sojourn at the ashram has been “a great experience.” Natarajasana | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Many of the foreign inmates say yoga has gained acceptance in their countries more as a fitness routine than as a pure and healthy way of life. For example, 28-year-old Kevin Barker from Austin, Texas, who had “an elective” in yoga during high school is here to “learn more about the practice from a place where it is not just an exercise.” He has taken a break from his work in digital marketing. But for Paul Stade from Berlin, Germany, yoga and panchakarma treatment are an attempt to help him with an immune system disorder. He says his life at the ashram, though brief, has helped him feel “better physically and mentally” and vows to come back. Many Indians also reach the Ashram for a rejuvenating experience or to hone their yoga skills and acquire a teacher’s certificate given by the Ashram. Some others come on account of therapeutic reasons. Thirumal Kumar from Madurai who works as a caterer can’t shake off the smile off his face. He came to the ashram on the recommendation of his doctor to tackle a “weight problem”. “I have lost nine kg in 24 days, but I’m surprised I don’t feel any exhaustion or loss of energy,” he says cheerfully. A combination of strict dieting and targeted yoga practice have done the trick. “I survived on horse-gram soup for the first 14 days. Then on, it’s been just two meals a day but a normal vegetarian diet,” says Thirumal, adding that the only “catch” has been the kashayam early morning every day. A Sirsasana session at the ashram | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The ashram’s yoga teachers’ training courses (TTC) have takers from far and wide. “They are the most popular classes offered here due to the general popularity of yoga and the opportunity they provide for an intense practice and preparation for yoga teaching as a career. However, ‘Yoga Vacation’ is the core activity of the ashram and it is, in fact, attended throughout the year by people from all walks of life, for a minimum of three days. It is a perfect way to relax and recharge at the same time,” says Nataraj, the Ashram’s director. Once you have completed the one-month teachers’ training course, a person is deemed qualified for teaching yoga and, often, many guests stay put and continue to “serve” at the ashram as instructors. They also have the option of going for an advanced course. One instructor, who has assumed the spiritual name ‘Sathya’, says most of the teachers, both foreigners and Indians, stay at the ashram as “voluntary staff”. “Once you finish a teachers’ training course, you can practise and teach at the ashram if you wish to. You then start on the beginner’s level training and can move up with practice,” says Sathya, who hails from Mahe. The ashram currently has over 20 trainers, while this can go up to over 40 during the “peak season” in September-October period. After ablutions, a day in the ashram begins with meditation at 6 am, followed by chanting and reading from “the teachers”. Brunch is served at 10 am, the first meal of the day. Meditation sessions throughout the day are interspersed with various yoga practices, like karma yoga, asana, pranayama, Vedanta study, talks and so on. “The 10-acre ashram is both relaxing and gently energising due to it’s natural environment. Morning walks to the dam to see the sunrise in a group are conducted twice a week instead of meditating in the main hall,” explains Nataraj. Sean Morrison, an actor from Sydney who goes by the ashram name Hari, attests to this. “I’ve been coming back and forth here ever since I came here for a ‘Yoga Vacation’ course some 10 years ago. This place has been like a magnet.” This time, he’s availing himself of the full benefits of a two-week panchakarma programme. Ask him if he’s troubled by any ailments? “No, I’m just interested in Ayurveda treatment. And, yeah, I’ve been feeling pretty good.” He then breaks into a gentle smile, before taking a deep breath of the clean air and the quietude. Breathe easy indeed! The yoga centre organises a series of assisted yoga classes commemorating International Yoga Day at Jimmy George Indoor Stadium on Thursday

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