Yasodhara Ashram - Trinidad Following

This post will let followers know about learning about the Yasodhara Ashram (http://www.yasodhara.org/), Swami Radha and Swami Sivananda.

A work colleague of mine, who I currently attend Kundalini classes with, invited me to my first Hatha Yoga class. I arrived there and met a petite and soft spoken individual, my Yoga Teacher. She had done extensive training in the Yasodhara Ashram and currently taught classes right through the week.

We started off with Hatha Yoga and practiced this for one year, closing off with a Retreat at eco resort, Footprints (www.footprintseco-resort.com) in our neighbouring island, Tobago. That Retreat was wonderful...we ate healthy and nutrious vegetarian dishes from the hotel, had a lovely private villa with our own pool and we would sit on the deck next to the pool to conduct our Retreat Workshops.

The serenity and quietness did a lot for me, and it was then I really came to appreciate a quieter life. I felt more in touch with myself and a lot more at peace without more worldly distractions. Since then I have sought a quiter lifestyle and feel better for it.

My teacher travelled to the Yasodhara Ashram for more training in the summer, and on her return, we used the Retreat to get familiar with the Kundalini Yoga system and Mantras, using the large charts and starting to journal our thoughts. I do not generally journal my thoughts so this was a challenge, but it was good to think outside the box, and pretty amazing what you can come up with.

We have just completed a year of Kundalini classes and will be starting back in September after our annual Retreat which of course I am really looking forward to. On to more Kundalini, Hatha and introducing Dream Yoga.

I now really enjoy reading books from Timeless (www.Timeless.org) and do a lot of Yoga research to understand myelf and the teachings as best possible. My goal in 2011 or possibly 2010 is to attend Teacher Training at the Yasodhara Ashram, then do the Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Certification immediately following. This is another reason why I truly enjoy exploring the many aspects Yoga as much as I do.

Swami Radha's teachings have inspired me. Her devotion motivates me in many of my endeavours, an I use her books as reminders when I feel I am a little off the right path in life. Also her stories of her guru, Swami Sivananda, and the many others whose paths she crossed were so interesting and open-minded that they really touched me.

There will be more to come on how we will be working on a Yasodhara Center in Trinidad.

Namaste