The TTC refresher experience in the Ashram de yoga Sivananda

The TTC refresher experience in the Ashram de yoga Sivananda,
Loire Valley, France
-Bathing in the energy of satsang
By Sundari
January 2013: cold and dark, and a period of 6 months’ hard work ahead of me planning for
the spring of growing and gardening projects. Hmm, TTC Refresher at the French Ashram.
Definitely a break to look forward to. The advice was to book quick as the 150 places were
already filling up. June 14th 2013: the constant crunch of taxis on gravel, and cries of happy
recognition as already shiny yogis descended on the Chateau de Yoga. A sunny summer day
and relaxation on the way.
We were all coming to a reunion of the Sivananda family, and a star cast too. Not only
Swamis Durgananda, Kailasananda and Sivadasananda, but also six other swamis, two
priests, special guests, and staff members – we would each know some or all from our TTC
and subsequent journey in yoga. All under the guiding gaze of the Masters.
Yogis came from at least 15 countries and stayed in the chateau, in tents and in the
meditation hall. Late bookers found places in local “chambres d’hôte”. Many re-connected
with TTC gurubhais, some from less than a year ago, such as Padmini and two friends from
Holland who I met on the train from Paris. She explained that although theirs is a small
country they hadn’t had the opportunity to meet up since the previous April. They chatted
non-stop on the journey, and the whole Refresher too, I think. I was delighted to find four
others from my TTC in Kerala 2001; all a bit silver-haired now and still practising. Such a good
feeling to know our spiritual lives have continued from that common point.
There was a feeling of lineage and connection, even within our own short journeys. Vasishta
who has been staff and now runs Shanti Yoga School with his wife in Poland, told how he
had been really moved by meeting new teacher Nataraj from Longford in the centre of
Ireland. Six years previously, just at the start of his yoga journey, Vasishta had been working
in a hotel there. His morning sadhana had inspired a co-worker who in turn inspired the
woman who became Nataraj’s teacher. Now, with his life dedicated to yoga, Vasishta says,
“meeting Nataraj is confirmation that what we do makes a difference.”
The roar of Om in Satsang put a vibration through the body. For Brahmani living in Mexico
City, and Bhagavati in Barcelona, for instance, satsang was the key joy of the week as they
have no centres in their cities. Swami Durgananda told her story of coming to Sivananda
through a small, informal satsang in her home town of Cologne. We were moved, and
exhorted to hold satsangs in our own homes; few might come but new yoga journeys might
be inspired.
But satsang was just one of the sattvic joys with which the organisation spoiled us. There
were workshops combining anatomy, physiology and corrections held on the lawn in front of
the Chateau, all conducted with light-heartedness. We had lovely practice classes each
morning, and pranayama sessions before morning satsang. We had inspiring lectures from
the acharyas, a concert and four heart-opening discourses on the Bhagavad Gita. We opened
the week with a Ganapati homa and, I’m rushing to finish this article to get ready for a final
Lalita Sahasranama puja to close the week. As I write too, the storm that has been
threatening for the week has broken spectacularly, but yogis are carrying on their correction
workshop on the platform with lots of creativity and good humour.
Relaxation emerged as a theme of the time together. Swami Atmaramananda told me what
he enjoys is, “to be in the energy of the TTC in a relaxed way without pressure. Although we
have a tight schedule it’s with a free spirit.” Our asana classes very much focussed on
calmness, and a ‘back to basics’ refresher approach rather than a lot of possibly rajasic
advanced variations.
For me, being with fellow teachers, experienced and focussed was very relaxing, as I could
focus wholeheartedly on the practices. My feeling is that we ‘refreshers’ have all been able
to take a fresh high-energy charge of the Masters’ vision.
Thanks to the staff and swamis who undertook a mammoth feat of organising, and all who
contributed karma yoga in a marathon of cooking and cleaning. We’ve been blessed with
this opportunity. More please !
Sundari is a teacher at the London Centre
Join the TTC Refresher group on Facebook
lecture with Swami Durgananda “the message of Vedanta : we are all one”
Ganapati Homa at the temple with the 2 priests of the Ashram
Asana workshop on the lawn with Swami Sivadasananda
Asana correction workshop with Swami Atmaramananda
Swami Durgananda and Swami Kailasananda making a tour in the park