Think of the ashram as a full emersion into ashram life and not a place to stay over while in Athens. Rather plan your holiday in Greece either at the end or just before your ashram stay to make the best of your time here. So, the four things to be prepared for when staying at Satyanandasharam Greece are that :

1. you will meet people from all over the world who come from different cultures, reli-gions and are of different ages.

2. you will have the opportunity to work in different departments of the ashram commu-nity (such as, the kitchen, administration, publishing, gardening, film and music) and contribute your skills and energy to its running.

3. your day will be organised to fit in with the various events and celebrations depend-ing on the yogic calendar.

4. you will get insights into your thoughts, words and actions as the ashram’s high vi-brations begin to raise your awareness.

 

What is the true purpose of an ashram experience?

The true purpose of being in the ashram is to raise your awareness and increase your knowledge of all the different aspects of your being. This is effectively done by partici-pating in the daily ashram routine, serving in different areas and mixing and dealing with different people.

One is encouraged to learn to live in the present, which also heightens your awareness. Just being present in the ashram is an opportunity to imbibe the prana there and spend time in an energetically vibrant place which works on many levels – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

 

How does living in an ashram change your daily life?

When staying in the ashram for a longer period, you start to observe your reactions to situations, your prejudices, your limitations and opinions due to the circumstances you find yourself in. The energy that exists here shines a light on your mental conditioning and programming that you have acquired throughout your life and that you may need to revise and reprogram how you see life.

You become more aware of your motives, thoughts, words and actions. You learn to slow down and check yourself before reacting to situations, circumstances and people.

Here, you experience something very different from the outside world and the comforts that you are used to. Contemplation after the visit is also very important, so as to start to understand the benefits of ashram life with its routine and discipline. You may find yourself approaching situations differently using some forethought before acting. After a visit to the ashram, you certainly think back on your experiences there; the people, the atmosphere and the beauty of the nature in the ashram, and so you start to think about and plan your next visit as you feel the pull of these higher vibrations.

 

What should you consider before living in an ashram?

If planning to visit an ashram for a few weeks, then you simply need to arrange the practicalities and ensure they pack suitably e.g. appropriate clothing, alarm clock, min-imal essential toiletries and so on.

If you are planning to spend a longer period in the ashram, you also need to consider and take care of your householder duties, work commitments and social obligations. While in the ashram, you really should become absorbed in the experience there and not be distracted by worldly concerns. When you have reached the stage where you sincerely want to make a change for the better in your life, then that is the time to stay in an ashram for an extended duration of time; away from the mundane materialistic way of life you are no longer enamored with.

Daily routine and discipline

The ashram is run on a strict routine and this should be adhered to. There are rules to obey as you are living communally and an ashram is run for the benefit of all. Meal times are always at the same time every day. Seva yoga times are also fixed. Downtime for shower, clothes washing, etc. is also built into the routine of the day. There are also yoga classes, Yoga Nidra sessions, mantra chanting and time for self-study each week.

Simple lifestyle and minimal comfort

The yogic lifestyle is simple and minimalist. Food is prepared and served by the central kitchen. The food is healthy, sattwic and vegetarian. Hot water for showers is available at certain hours of the day. You might be sharing a room with others of the same gen-der as yourself. Permission to leave the ashram for any reason needs to be requested from the Front Office. You may be asked to vacate a room and be moved to another. You may be asked to wake up very early for a yoga class or to participate in the pro-gram preparations.

The emphasis is on ‘simple living – high thinking’ – shifting the focus from self-centered unnecessary luxuries which weaken the mind and will-power, to a lifestyle that increases personal strength, adaptability and consideration of others.

Inner reflection and silence

There may be times when talking is restricted and silence or mouna is encouraged. During these periods one goes about one’s daily duties observing the inner workings of the mind, the thoughts and reactions. During periods of mouna our awareness becomes much more pronounced or sharper.

Mouna also creates mental space for ourselves and others, which is important when living in close proximity with different people. What we might feel as awkward silence in worldly situations becomes quiet contentment, where we value time with ourselves and discovering our inner nature and potential.

Community and shared responsibility

Living in a community can be difficult as we come across different types of people that we have to live with, work with and share a room with. At these times we must remem-ber that everything happens for our good and for our learning. In the outside world if we come across a situation or person we do not like we simply avoid them, but in the ash-ram we have to face the situation and do some inner work to find out why we have this prejudice or negative attitude or fear.

Living in a community like this is a way to work on ourselves and take a look at our ‘shadow’ selves and resolve inner tensions, conflicts and issues. Very often the person or situation that presses our buttons, is in actual fact our teacher. Our fellow ash-ramites become our spiritual brothers and sisters, and are life’s instruments facilitating our journey of self-discovery and evolution.

 

What lasting lessons can you take from living in an ashram?

All inner work done on yourself while living in an ashram can make huge changes in your life after you leave the ashram. In an ashram you learn good habits and discard bad ones. You continue outside the ashram with the new good habits and, by doing dai-ly sadhana (regular spiritual practice) and self-reflection, the awareness continues to deepen and grow. Revisiting the ashram for events or celebrations or a recharge of your batteries is indeed a great support to speed up your journey on the spiritual path.

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Satyanandashram Hellas

Alithias 1, 19002 Paiania, Greece

PO Box 22, 19002 Paiania, Greece

+306947009660

info@satyanandayoga.gr

Paiania Meditation Center

Dimarchou Iona Vore (former Diadochou Konstantinou) 32, 19002 Paiania

+30 210 6641545, 695 6482415

sycp@satyanandayoga.gr

Athens Meditation Center

Simetelou 2, 115 28, Athens

210 3311178, 694 2974467

syca@satyanandayoga.gr

Thessaloniki Meditation Center

Proxenou Koromila 1, 54623 Thessaloniki

+30 2310 283109

sycs@satyanandayoga.gr

The trademark Satyanandashram Hellas CENTER OF YOGA® is a trademark owned by Satyanandashram Hellas, Greece and used with permission.
The term SATYANANDA YOGA® is a trademark owned by IYFM and used with permission.
Satyananda Yoga Nidra® is a registered trademark of IYFM used with permission.

How you can be part of this beautiful community of service

You are welcome to come and unite in our efforts to help us accomplish our aims and goals. Our association needs people who are ready to offer their hearts, their skills and ideas as well as monetary contributions, and to integrate their ‘head, heart and hands’ in service.

If you consider the needs of others, we need you.
If you have a generous heart, we need you.
Ιf you have large hands, we need you.
If you have bright ideas, we need you.

Your contributions allow us to reach out to more and more people. Your contributions enable us to support and work towards the fulfilment of the vision of Swami Satyananda, Swami Niranjanananda and their lineage – that of peace and prosperity for all humankind.

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satyanandashram

Living In An Ashram: 4 Things To Be Prepared For

Think of the ashram as a full emersion into ashram life and not a place to stay over while in Athens. Rather plan your holiday in Greece either at the end or just before your ashram stay to make the best of your time here. So, the four things to be prepared for when staying at Satyanandasharam Greece are that :

1. you will meet people from all over the world who come from different cultures, reli-gions and are of different ages.

2. you will have the opportunity to work in different departments of the ashram commu-nity (such as, the kitchen, administration, publishing, gardening, film and music) and contribute your skills and energy to its running.

3. your day will be organised to fit in with the various events and celebrations depend-ing on the yogic calendar.

4. you will get insights into your thoughts, words and actions as the ashram’s high vi-brations begin to raise your awareness.

 

What is the true purpose of an ashram experience?

The true purpose of being in the ashram is to raise your awareness and increase your knowledge of all the different aspects of your being. This is effectively done by partici-pating in the daily ashram routine, serving in different areas and mixing and dealing with different people.

One is encouraged to learn to live in the present, which also heightens your awareness. Just being present in the ashram is an opportunity to imbibe the prana there and spend time in an energetically vibrant place which works on many levels - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

 

How does living in an ashram change your daily life?

When staying in the ashram for a longer period, you start to observe your reactions to situations, your prejudices, your limitations and opinions due to the circumstances you find yourself in. The energy that exists here shines a light on your mental conditioning and programming that you have acquired throughout your life and that you may need to revise and reprogram how you see life.

You become more aware of your motives, thoughts, words and actions. You learn to slow down and check yourself before reacting to situations, circumstances and people.

Here, you experience something very different from the outside world and the comforts that you are used to. Contemplation after the visit is also very important, so as to start to understand the benefits of ashram life with its routine and discipline. You may find yourself approaching situations differently using some forethought before acting. After a visit to the ashram, you certainly think back on your experiences there; the people, the atmosphere and the beauty of the nature in the ashram, and so you start to think about and plan your next visit as you feel the pull of these higher vibrations.

 

What should you consider before living in an ashram?

If planning to visit an ashram for a few weeks, then you simply need to arrange the practicalities and ensure they pack suitably e.g. appropriate clothing, alarm clock, min-imal essential toiletries and so on.

If you are planning to spend a longer period in the ashram, you also need to consider and take care of your householder duties, work commitments and social obligations. While in the ashram, you really should become absorbed in the experience there and not be distracted by worldly concerns. When you have reached the stage where you sincerely want to make a change for the better in your life, then that is the time to stay in an ashram for an extended duration of time; away from the mundane materialistic way of life you are no longer enamored with.

Daily routine and discipline

The ashram is run on a strict routine and this should be adhered to. There are rules to obey as you are living communally and an ashram is run for the benefit of all. Meal times are always at the same time every day. Seva yoga times are also fixed. Downtime for shower, clothes washing, etc. is also built into the routine of the day. There are also yoga classes, Yoga Nidra sessions, mantra chanting and time for self-study each week.

Simple lifestyle and minimal comfort

The yogic lifestyle is simple and minimalist. Food is prepared and served by the central kitchen. The food is healthy, sattwic and vegetarian. Hot water for showers is available at certain hours of the day. You might be sharing a room with others of the same gen-der as yourself. Permission to leave the ashram for any reason needs to be requested from the Front Office. You may be asked to vacate a room and be moved to another. You may be asked to wake up very early for a yoga class or to participate in the pro-gram preparations.

The emphasis is on ‘simple living – high thinking’ – shifting the focus from self-centered unnecessary luxuries which weaken the mind and will-power, to a lifestyle that increases personal strength, adaptability and consideration of others.

Inner reflection and silence

There may be times when talking is restricted and silence or mouna is encouraged. During these periods one goes about one’s daily duties observing the inner workings of the mind, the thoughts and reactions. During periods of mouna our awareness becomes much more pronounced or sharper.

Mouna also creates mental space for ourselves and others, which is important when living in close proximity with different people. What we might feel as awkward silence in worldly situations becomes quiet contentment, where we value time with ourselves and discovering our inner nature and potential.

Community and shared responsibility

Living in a community can be difficult as we come across different types of people that we have to live with, work with and share a room with. At these times we must remem-ber that everything happens for our good and for our learning. In the outside world if we come across a situation or person we do not like we simply avoid them, but in the ash-ram we have to face the situation and do some inner work to find out why we have this prejudice or negative attitude or fear.

Living in a community like this is a way to work on ourselves and take a look at our ‘shadow’ selves and resolve inner tensions, conflicts and issues. Very often the person or situation that presses our buttons, is in actual fact our teacher. Our fellow ash-ramites become our spiritual brothers and sisters, and are life’s instruments facilitating our journey of self-discovery and evolution.

 

What lasting lessons can you take from living in an ashram?

All inner work done on yourself while living in an ashram can make huge changes in your life after you leave the ashram. In an ashram you learn good habits and discard bad ones. You continue outside the ashram with the new good habits and, by doing dai-ly sadhana (regular spiritual practice) and self-reflection, the awareness continues to deepen and grow. Revisiting the ashram for events or celebrations or a recharge of your batteries is indeed a great support to speed up your journey on the spiritual path.