A Shotgun Blast of Yoga Anybody?
- Adam
- Sep 27, 2017
- 3 min read
Lets start this blog-post by saying that just to be clear i'm not a medical doctor, so if you need medical help you should consult a medical doctor at minimum as part of your strategy for getting well. Whilst we are at it if you have a severe mental health problem then you should seek help from a counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist . If your affliction is of a spiritual nature then perhaps you need a witch doctor...im joking! Maybe you need help from some form of faith system. In my case I know the practice of Hatha yoga to be a physical practice with a spiritual outcome. If you tried to pin me down I would label myself as an Interfaith Yogi. This means I can recognise the treasure in many faith systems but often default back to yoga for answers and actions. Unity in Diversity as Swami Sivananda would say.
From time to time we can find ourselves in a malaise, generally out of sorts . Perhaps we have tried all the obvious things to get back in the groove but its still not happening. What to do, what to do? Perhaps a shotgun blast of yoga will do it? Im not kidding, I dont mean just any old yoga either Im referring to Sivananda Yoga. There are many great forms of yoga with different strengths and weaknesses but if you are looking for a shot gun blast, cover all, multivitamin type of yoga then Sivananda is my recommendation.
You can find Sivananda yoga centres all over the world and take a class or two. Better still is the Yoga Vacation program that they run at all of the Sivananda Ashrams. This is the shotgun blast I'm talking about. Check in for a couple of days or a month your choice, but the day will look something like this.....
Up early for 30 mins meditation
Followed by 30 minutes singing (Kirtan , devotional chanting)
Followed by 30 minutes Satsang which translates as meeting with the truth, not unlike a sermon
Later on the a yoga class in the form of pranayama breathing exercises and asana physical postures. Deep final relaxation of course
Breakfast brunch - you'll be ready for that at this stage
Karma yoga/Selfless service (affectionately known as bedpan yoga) Means doing something useful to contribute to the community
Perhaps take in an afternoon workshop on some kind of yoga related topic?
Wash rinse and repeat
16:00 Afternoon yoga class
Evening meal
Temple program as above.
Full on program right? Yes, but so comprehensive. Its as though they dont need to know what is ailing you, physical, mental, spiritual because something within that shotgun blast of yoga is going to move you profoundly along your road to Wellville. Give it a go and let me know how it works out for you.
Personal Story
I did my yoga teacher training at the Sivananda Ashram Bahamas. I have spent many happy months of my life with this organisation in their ashrams all around the world either as a volunteer or on staff or continued education in Ayurveda, Thai Yoga Massage, Raja Yoga etc.
With all that said I still found myself one time checking into the Sivananda Yoga Austria for a yoga vacation in need of some TLC. The problem was I arrived with such a busy mind that I couldn't concentrate enough to read a whole page in a book! Big problem because I was in the midst of another training that had an extensive reading list. Lots of good books I was struggling to focus on. Within three days at the ashram the pranayama breathing exercise had "cooled" my brain down and I was crystal clear and reading like a proper book worm again. Miraculous!
