Monday, November 12, 2012

Yogaville

After a three month long hiatus --

In May of 2011, my dear friend Ally came to stay with me before she got married.  She had just returned from a month-long yoga teacher training program in Yogaville.  Little did I know that my life would change forever right there in my living room as she taught my first Integral Yoga class.  Now I am a few days away from graduating with my certification to teach Integral Hatha Yoga, taking the same path that Ally did.

yogaville LOTUS
Me in Yogaville in front of LOTUS

Integral Yoga "is a scientific system which integrates the various branches of Yoga in order to bring about a complete and harmonious development of the individual", as quoted by its founder Sri Swami Satchidananda.    I am learning the yogic way of life, which includes a vegan diet, the asanas (poses), meditation, service, kirtan (chanting/prayer) and general guidelines for being a good person.  

Since I am doing 220 hours of yoga training in one month, the schedule here is quite rigorous.  My days begin at 5:30 am and end at 9:00 pm.  In that time, I am meditating, doing yoga, learning about how to teach yoga, learning about anatomy, health science and how to be yogis.  I am with a group of 11 other individuals of all ages and nationalities.  We have become a family and the ashram has become our home.  

yogaville yantra
Truth is One, Paths are Many

I find it difficult to describe the transformation that has taken place in everyone in my group, so I won't try.  However, I will say that yoga is so much more than I ever knew it could be.  

I will write more, probably after graduation!


1 comment:

  1. Anjali!

    What a beautiful post with beautiful pictures. I know exactly what you mean when you say that you "find it difficult to describe the transformation that has taken place in everyone in [your] group." It is a transformation that transcends words...an inside out sort of evolution that will change who you are, and the path that you take from here, forever.

    I can't wait to hear more about your Yogaville experience when I see you in person.

    In LOVE and LIGHT~
    Jyothi

    ReplyDelete

Leave comments here, but be nice or I will delete them!