Life at the Ashram - Day 5 (aka Lessons in Folding Sheets)

Today is a great day. I'm not as tired as I was. Usually at night we have Satsang which is a lot of fun but has a very devotional feel to it. Last night, the newly trained Yoga teachers were doing their wrap-up and had a play they put on. It was absolutely fantastic. Lots of laughter. And they fed us Karma Yogis treats (carrot cake, unbaked chocolate cookies, chocolate dipped strawberries and more).

This morning I was on accommodations, and learnt how to fold fitted sheets. My mom has been trying to teach me for 36 years, but somehow I think the Ashram way might work for me.

The winners at lunch: fresh bread and tuna salad.

Thanks for the comments L.L. and M.P. I am definitely enjoying my stay, but I wouldn't have necessarily said that a few days ago. Just like last time it took about 3 days before I felt like I belonged and didn't want to just head on out of here.

Being here is sort of isolating and not all at the same time. I am isolated from my friends and family (with additional self-imposed isolation by not checking my email/fb). But it's hard to feel isolated in a community this large. People here are very warm and welcoming and so it's not like going on a private secluded retreat.

As far as how being here works? I'll let you know what my regular days are like:

• 6 - 6:50 - personal time in which I meditate and walk over to the lodge for class (but many people just sleep)
• 6:50 - 7:50 - Yoga Asana class
  
• 7:50 - 8:30 - Breakfast in silence
• 8:30 - 12:30 - Karma Yoga (work)
• 12:30 - 1:00 - Lunch in silence
• 1:00 - 1:30 - personal time in which I blog and read
• 1:30 - 3:30 - Karma Yoga
• 3:30 - 4:00 - reflection break (we all journal and in small groups share what we've written)
  
• 4:00 - 5:30 - Karma Yoga
• 5:30 - 6:00 - personal time in which I read
• 6:00 - 6:30 - Dinner in silence
• 6:30 - 8:00 - personal time in which I shower, do my personal Asana practice, journal, read
• 8:00 - 9:00 - Satsang (chanting, prayer, singing)
• 9:00 - 10:00 - personal time in which I meditate, do "legs up the wall" and anything I didn't get done during the earlier break
• 10:00 - lights out for me (that's individual, but I'm sticking to my pre-Ashram schedule)

Of course there are lots of days that differ from that with various other things like dish duty, dinner serving, ceremonies, classes, etc.

M.P. I'm not sure if I've answered your question regarding how it works being here, but feel free to ask me a more specific question in the comments if there is something else you're wondering about. That goes for everyone!

Namaste