With a beautiful smile on your face please open your eyes...

I left office at 3.30 PM by Volvo, got down at Jayadeva flyover and then caught an auto to reach Eknath Bhavan, city office of Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (S-VYASA). I reached there at 5.15 PM and waited for SVYASA bus for Prashanti Kutiram. After some time one man and his wife came, I asked them if they had come for yoga instructors' course. Man said "she is the participant", after few talks we settled into news paper and then another man came and sat there, I smiled, he reciprocated and we waited silently for bus.

There was a water dispenser next to my seat and I tried to drink water but there was no water, so I just sat down and just then, bus came. I inquired if this was the bus for Prashanti Kutiram. Person in reception said “wait wait, you can drink water and go” and asked security to change the water can, I drank some water and went into the bus. We were only 3 members in the bus, after introductions, suddenly it struck us- are there only 3 people in YIC PCP? Third person said more people will come there tomorrow morning. Discussion started on Yoga and its applications, we kept talking while bus went through busy traffic of the city.

After reaching, we were asked to leave our luggage in reception and have dinner. After dinner we were taken to dormitory or separate rooms based on the preferences.

Tyaga: Male's dormitory

After putting our luggage in dormitory, we were asked to assemble in Santosha, a big auditorium type class room. Some 15 people were already there, I took my place in the circle. Mr Ravi welcomed all and introduced Rudra bhaiya, Shimla didi and Natesh Bhaiya. Then, asked us to introduce ourselves, but in a different way. First person took his name, second person had to repeat the first name and add his at the end, third person would repeat both names and then his and so on... it was fun and we all remembered the names of each other. I tried to remember the names and faces while circle increased to 20 plus. After chanting three OMs, and Slokas we went to dormitory and slept.

Santosha: our class room

Next day, I woke up at 4 AM with others and after daily routine and bath went to Santosha. Shimla didi was sitting in meditative posture on stage. I took an empty space without disturbing the pin drop silence. We did OM mediation and loosening exercises and then at 7 went to attend Maitry Milan-daily morning prayer, followed by chanting of Hanuman Chalisa, Geeta Sloka Sangrah, and small lecture by a professor of S-VYASA. All participants and students attend the Maitri Milan daily at 7AM.

After Maitri Milan we went to breakfast in students' mess, first we washed the plate, then sat in line for someone to serve, and waited for Bhojan Mantra before eating. Then was the time for Karma yoga, immediately after breakfast 45 minutes of cleaning some part of campus, then washing and bathing, classes, lunch and then most loved class of DRT (Deep Relaxation Technique) and cyclic meditation. Milk was served in the evening and then Krida yoga or tuning to nature. Krida yoga was fun, while tuning to nature was serene. Evening was time for bhajans followed by dinner, and some classes and finally retiring to bed.

Schedule was same for every day with variations in contents of classes.

First day, almost everyone cribbed about the busy schedule, from second day all started liking it, and on seventh day people were nostalgic about it.

One morning was a trek to nearby Durga hill, a place with beautiful views, calm nature and awesome rocks. All enjoyed small trek and photography on top of the rocks.

Durga Hill trek

After day three, we started practicing for happy assembly, every one was excited. Enthusiasm and hard work ensured nice programs coming out of it. Rhythm of Kerala snake boat song and Nasik dol enthralled everyone. People were amazed after unbelievable Mayurasana, astonishing artistic yoga, and enjoyed lovely Taylor Swift- love story song. Fun was added by Haryana jokes and unplanned speak about Indian freedom struggle, Finally the Bhangra thrilled everyone from 2 to 82 years of age.

Mayurasana by eldest student

Eighth day, we had puja and havan in Shree Yoga Vinayaka Mandir at 5 AM and certificates were distributed after Matri Milan.

There were different personalities similar to different paths of Yoga, Some were verbose, some were quiet, some were serene, some were smiling, some were serious... At the end on eighth day, when we all opened our eyes with a beautiful smile on our face; we found Jnana, Peace, and Beginning of a path...

Ma Sarasvati statue in S-VYASA

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Aashi Yoga Research Academy

http://www.AashiYoga.com/
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