«Have you ever lived in an ashram?” people used to ask me. My answer was, no. But here I am, two months into it, and I can say that ashram life is more than just yoga. Life in an ashram in Rishikesh is a journey of self-discovery—one that challenges you to push beyond what you thought was possible. It demands commitment, acceptance, practice, patience—and then, even more acceptance and patience.
It’s about meeting yourself in new ways—on the mat, using your body as a vehicle, stepping outside your comfort zone, and through inevitable interactions with others.
It’s about surrendering to a different way of living—one that pushes your limits, challenges your boundaries, and, in time, transforms you into what you need to become, not necessarily what you want to be. But this transformation will only last if the practice is integrated and continued beyond ashram life.
When I decided to come to India for Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training, I had an idea of what I wanted to do with it. But what I didn’t anticipate—what I couldn’t have known—was how the daily routine would impact me. Life here is more than a structured schedule; it’s about how I spend my energy in between classes, how I feel within myself, how I manage my thoughts and emotions, and most importantly, how I relate to others. Because when you live in a space with so many people, you constantly meet yourself through them.
Structure, Stillness & Surrender
Life here is structured, almost monastic. My days begin at 5 AM and end at 6:30 PM. Solitude is rare, except for the moments I intentionally carve out. Even with a single room, the moment I step outside, I am surrounded by others—each on their own journey, yet deeply connected.
We are served three nourishing meals a day, eliminating the usual concerns of What should I eat? What should I cook? What should I buy? Instead, our focus is entirely on yoga, philosophy, anatomy, and energy work.
I’ve been diving deep into Kundalini Yoga and learning about Hatha Yoga—the foundation of all yoga forms. I have learned that while Hatha Yoga purifies the body, Kundalini Yoga awakens the pranic body.
But beyond the practice and learning, there is something deeper. This journey is not just physical—it is internal.
Yoga is not just about the body; it is about fully listening to your inner voice. When you start working on yourself—using the body as a tool—you inevitably confront yourself. It’s about knowing when to push forward and when to set boundaries, when to pause and simply be.
The Mirror of Judgment
One of the biggest realizations I’ve had here is about judgment. I used to believe I wasn’t a judgmental person. But living in an ashram has shown me otherwise. I’ve caught myself thinking:
“I don’t like sweet girls. I don’t like cool girls. This person triggers me. That person annoys me. And this bla bla could go on forever if I let it.”
But here’s the truth: when someone triggers me, it is never about them—it is about me. Something inside me is being reflected back. When I don’t like someone, it’s an invitation to look within. What part of me needs to be heard? Am I resisting something here? How can I see it with a fresh perspective? In the ashram, there is no escape from these realizations. You cannot run from your own mind when you are surrounded by mirrors—people reflecting your inner world back at you. So I chose to do something different: I gave myself and others a new chance. Instead of dismissing my own judgments or others, I met it all with curiosity. And every time I moved beyond my initial judgment, I discovered something beautiful in that person. It didn’t mean we became best friends, but it meant I saw them—truly—without the filter of my own projections. It also meant respecting my own boundaries—not shutting people out from a place of judgment, but from a place of self-awareness. Everyone is on their own journey, and so am I. So why waste energy on constant likes and dislikes, on the endless chatter of the mind that often runs on autopilot, shaped by old programming?
The Holy Grail of Human Experience
Ashram life is not just about yoga—it’s about connection. The inner journey does not happen in isolation; it happens through interaction.
For me, relationships are the holy grail of being human. It is through relationships that we truly meet ourselves. There’s an old saying: “When you point one finger at someone, three fingers point back at you.” And it’s true. Every judgment I pass on someone else is actually a reflection of my own inner world. But how to deal with emotions?
Emotions aren’t the problem. The real challenge is how we engage with them.
Are we suppressing them?
Do we react impulsively?
How can I move through them without getting stuck?
Or can we observe them, acknowledge them, and let them pass—without letting them define us or defining others through them?
This is the work, the practice. This is yoga—not just on the mat, but in life.
And as I continue this journey, I realize that the biggest lessons don’t come from postures or philosophy—they come from the people around me. They are my teachers, my mirrors, my greatest opportunity for growth.
But It’s Not All Serious!
So yes, this blog post might be on the deeper side. But trust me, ashram life isn’t just meditation and self-reflection—it’s full of fun, laughter, and unexpected moments.
There’s something magical about forming real connections in a place like this. When you bond with the people around you, even the simplest things become hilarious. Shared experiences, cultural and language misunderstandings, and collective exhaustion often dissolve into uncontrollable laughter. If you’d like a glimpse of the lighter side, check out my latest video: Unfiltered Moments from Rishikesh Ashram Life on my blog.
And who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll find yourself in an ashram too. And if you do, my advice is simple: don’t let anyone tell you who you are or what you need. You already know it within yourself. Because the world of spirituality has become a business, and many pretend to know more than you. But that’s not true. “Listen to yourself,” a wise man once told me in an interview, “and you’ll find your path.”
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