This was me studying the last 3 weeks.
 |
| Passing all my finals with the help of my lucky Hello Kitty pen. |
So I decided to take a weekend away to meditate at
Shivananda Yoga Ranch Ashram.
A much different experience from
Ananda Ashram that I've been to in the past. Shivananda really stuck to the Ashram way of life. They wake you up at 5:30 am with a gong and then you're expected to show up at Satsang, meditation and Kirtan at 6. Yoga is at 8am and 4pm. Only 2 meals a day at 10am and 6pm. Satsang again at 8 and in the middle of the day you're expected to do Karma Yoga for an hour and there is an optional lecture or yoga class...and yes, free time! I found the schedule to be pretty easy going despite how it initially sounded. Waking up at 5:30am is not so bad since I typically wake up at 6:30 anyways. Lights out at 10pm was probably the more difficult part, but it worked itself out. The other guests were from all over the world, which was amazing to be around.
 |
| Peppermint candy flowers |
 |
| View of the Krisha temple and the area where they served meals |
 |
| My favorite Buddha |
 |
| Tallest sunflowers EVER! |
