Traffic Jam in the morning > Coding > Traffic Jam in the evening > Netflix > Sleep > Repeat – This is a typical day-to-day conventional routine of a software engineer laboring in a metro city in India. Unfortunately, i am also sailing in the same boat. However, being a part-time travel blogger and influencer, i tend to travel places too. That’s a sigh of relief, isn’t it ?

At some point of time even while travelling, you crave for iota of me-time, some introspection of self. These thoughts had been whirling in my mind since months when i finally settled to go for a retreat at some ashram where i can meditate, learn/practice yoga and perform basic inner engineering for a few days.

While searching and inquiring for an optimal ashram in Rishikesh – the yoga & meditation capital of India, i got to know, of my surprise, that it has develop into an emerging business where they charge hefty amounts and equip you with 5-star facilities. It made me re-evaluate my consideration and speculation. I was not admiring for a luxury stay, instead i was looking for some peaceful place where i can follow a fixed spiritual schedule, connect with yogis & sadhus, learn the art of meditation from them and get the demon inside me sorted.

After a lot of consultation and probe, i found one Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh and went for it. It is a non-commercialized place, unlike others. In this article i will educate you about : the location of Sivananda ashram, how to get an accommodation/entry there, about it’s authentic beautiful positive vibes and the daily schedule i followed.

Sivananda Ashram is located at a walking distance from Laxman Jhoola.

Getting into this Ashram is not an easy task. There are 2 ways to do so :

1. The Tough way : There is a complete 2 month residential program which incorporates academic study, philosophical lectures, preparation to lead a successful life with an integrated personality, Yoga, Vedanta & Meditation practices, and social work. This course is completely free of cost, but the permission or denial will be decided by the ashram faculty upon reviewing the candidate. For instance check out this course, it’s details, and contact personal here : http://sivanandaonline.org/public_html/?cmd=displayrightsection&section_id=1715&parent=1707&format=html
2. The Easy way : Find a friend or a relative who has done any residential course in this ashram in the past, and you will be allowed to accompany him for a few days retreat. Prior reservation is a must, which can be done via E-mail.

I chose the Easy way and stayed there for 12 days. This is the schedule of the daily programmes which the ashram follows.

The advantageous part of the ashrams like these is : there is no fixed guideline or rules to follow, except the last time of entry before the hostel gate closes. You are free to attend or skip any practice/programme as per your own will ( This is not true for the residential programme though). But it is preferred to pursue most of the practices, adhering to the timings, in order to get the finest results from within your charisma.

I had a blissful time there interacting with different gurus from all parts of the world, doing karm sevas, following different yoga practices, guided meditation, long walks in it’s serene campus, eating pure authentic yogic food and following the natural day-night schedule for a change.

(After serving food to the devotees, that’s me serving food to the head guru ji in-charge of the kitchen.)

After this precise and brief stay, i can assure that the implementation of these divine habits can contribute and lead to extravagant changes in ones life. It is true to much extent, that, with the daily work-life schedule most of us chase, the above mentioned cannot be incorporated to full utilization, but we can to try go for such retreats once in a few months to gain back the strength and serenity our mind and body has lost in the meantime.