Ashram Do’s & Don’ts

Our Ashram is a peaceful sanctuary away from life’s stresses. It’s a safe place to grow personally and explore spiritual values.

People from all over the world come here to discover the rich spirituality of ancient India, including practices like yoga and vedanta. To keep the spiritual vibe positive, everyone – guests and staff – needs to be on the same page.

We kindly ask for your cooperation in following these rules and guidelines:

Attendance: 

  • Attendance at all Ashram activities is mandatory as part of the Ashram Yoga Vacation programme.
  • To truly tap into all the rejuvenating effects of a yoga vacation, we encourage everyone to attend:
    • Morning and evening satsangs and one yoga class daily
    • Announcements are made during morning satsang
    • The more you can tune in and really soak in the natural peace of our environment and community, the better your body and mind will feel overall.
  • As a mark of respect for the teacher and as a practice of self-discipline, guests are required to be on time and to remain for the duration of each programme.
  • Asana classes are open to resident guests only.
attendance of ashram satsangs and classes
Silence in the ashram

Silence:

  • Please observe silence during meals, before morning satsang and after evening satsang.
  • Detach from your cell phone, especially during Satsang. If using it as a recording device during the spiritual lecture (as it is a nice way to deepen your learning), ensure the device on silent/ DND or airplane mode before leaving your room.
  • If you are working from the Ashram please be respectful of others around you.
  • Silence is observed from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am so that all can have a restful sleep and a peaceful mind before morning Satsang.
  • Lights out after 10.00pm.

Free Day: To maintain the sattvic ashram atmosphere and to derive the maximum benefit during your stay, we expect guests and staff to remain in the ashram compound during their stay.

  • Guests are required to attend at least one Satsang morning or evening
  • There are no lecture or coaching classes on the free day
  • The morning yoga class and meals run as usual
  • Guests may go out on Fridays between 7.30am – 5.30pm
  • The ashram also offers organised day trips on Fridays
Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai

Male-Female Relations: To respect the local culture and the monastic tradition, kindly restrain expressions of affection such as hugging or kissing in public. Guests at the Ashram are advised to observe celibacy (brahmacharya) as part of the spiritual discipline. Male and female dormitories are separate. Men are not allowed in the ladies’ dormitory and vice versa. The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre organisation of India disapprove of and condemn any form of harassment directed at guests, staff or visitors.

Harassment Policy:

  • Specifically, no harassment, proposals or innuendos with a sexual connotation will be tolerated during any programme or activity organised by the Ashram. Guests and students participating in such programmes and activities are accordingly made aware of this policy and invited to apply it in their personal behaviour during their stay.
  • Any guest or student who thinks he/she may be the victim of unsolicited advances or any other form of sexual harassment is asked to notify a senior Swami or director immediately in order for corrective action to be undertaken without delay.
  • Complaints made to a senior Swami or director will be treated confidentially and the alleged violator or any third party will not be advised of the complainant’s identity without the latter’s consent.
  • Our Prevention of Sexual Harassment/Misconduct (POSH) Policy is in place to protect all who are present in the Ashram.