Why the project “Living yoga and learning yoga in Ashram"
Improving health has always been an individual choice, but it must be recognized that the energy of a modern lifestyle does not contribute to human health. Everything we are seeing now: rapid technological progress, changing social norms, a sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits, lack of sleep, alcoholism and drug addiction, information overload, social isolation, isolation from nature, promotion of consumerism and materialism - is having an adverse effect impact on people's physical, mental and social well-being. In our opinion, we all need an effective reboot in order to find strength within ourselves and discover internal resources for self-transformation and maintaining physical and mental health.
In India, for thousands of years, ashrams have been a place for spiritual growth along with physical and mental well-being. The ashram has always been associated with wisdom, purity and self-discipline.
We deeply believe that we all need to plunge into the atmosphere of the Ashram to again feel the positive values and energy of life. What are these positive values and energy? These are spiritual growth, self-development, a deeper connection with oneself, a conscious lifestyle, immersion in yogic practices and traditions, spending time in nature, simplicity and detachment from materialism, information detox, healthy eating, the company of wise people, daily routine and discipline, Karma yoga and much more.
The ashram lifestyle provides an ideal environment for development these positive values.
Also, in our understanding, yoga cannot be taught like any other another ordinary profession, mastering it within a separate module as a set of necessary professional skills. We believe that this training should be different from the training of a fitness trainer, manicurist, marketing specialist, etc.
Otherwise, a similar truncated training format will not allow future instructors not only to understand the value of yoga themselves, but also in the future they will transmit their narrow understanding to people who want to get acquainted with yoga.
As a School with Indian roots, respecting and admiring the ancient knowledge and wisdom of the science of yoga , our goal is to provide the most traditional training, which primarily contributes to the self-transformation of students. And this is possible only through their own experience of being in a special spiritual environment.
All this prompted me and my wife Natalya start a project in Rishikesh (the world capital of yoga, India) “Live yoga and study yoga in an ashram.” Twice a year we conduct month-long courses for teachers and yoga retreats in the ashram so that people can touch real yoga, get real experience of life in the Ashram, feel its benefits and bring positive changes into their ordinary, everyday life.
The ashram's yogic lifestyle sets a strict schedule for students , according to which yogic practices begin before sunrise (5 a.m.) and end after sunset (8:30 p.m.). Practices in the methodology of the traditional Himalayan yoga system are based on the principle of cleansing past samskaras to create new healthy karma. Healthy karma for your own mind and body will result in a healthy person for society.
Yogicpractices include: Hatha Yoga (asanas, Pranayama, Shatkarma, Dhyana), Bhakti Yoga (repetition of mantras, Kirtan, rituals), Gyan Yoga (philosophy and science of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and Vedanta) and Raja Yoga (practice and accommodation of 8 steps of yoga, especially Yam and Niyam)
1. Shatkarma, or internal cleansing practices from Hatha Yoga and Ayurveda
2. Asana: To cleanse the physical body by removing physical blockages such as stiffness in joints and muscles, improving posture and muscle imbalances, working with various organs and organ systems and strengthening bones.
3. Pranayama for cleansing energy channels and balancing nervous and pranic energy
4. Pratyahara (Discipline of the senses), Dharana (concentration) and Dhyana (meditation) for mental peace, tranquility and concentration.
5. Repeating mantras and kirtan for emotional cleansing and establishing a connection with the highest source of consciousness.
6. Mauna (practice of silence) to develop inner peace, clarity and self-observation.
7. Upavas (fasting) to improve the internal functioning of the body.
8. Yoga nidra or yogic sleep to achieve a state of deep relaxation.
9. Philosophy to expose students to a broader picture of life.
10. Practice of Yama (especially Ahimsa and Satya) and Niyama (especially Ishvara Pranidhana) and Karma Yoga (Daan, Seva) to form the moral and ethical character of a person. Only a highly moral person is worthy of practicing yoga.
The result is a transformation of the rajasic mind (restless desires) and Tamasic mind (negative desires) into the sattvic mind. (Wisdom, the source of light)