| The Sivananda Ashram yoga travel retreat lies on | | | | however I'm not sure I agree with this approach. |
| Paradise Island in the Bahamas. A short boat ride from | | | | Bodies get tired and your heart may not be into |
| Nassau, the ashram truly sits in the heart of a tropical | | | | practice at a particular time. In my opinion, no one |
| paradise. Surrounded by an authentically preserved | | | | should have to feel bad about listening to themselves |
| tropical forest, the blue waters of the Atlantic, and | | | | with loving compassion and deciding to take a break. |
| white sand beaches, the Sivananda Ashram is | | | | Meals are given twice per day and the food is 100% |
| aesthetically breathtaking. | | | | vegetarian. Almost all reviews herald the quality of the |
| Like most tropical locales, there will be mosquitoes so | | | | food being great. Most reviews also say that there's |
| pack your spray. Yoga Travel tip: to ward off | | | | not enough food offered. An on-site boutique offers |
| skeeters, eat garlic and don't wear deodorant or | | | | snacks to supplement your diet. If you have a big |
| perfume. Unfortunately, the same tricks that repel | | | | American appetite like me, I'd be seeing you there. |
| mosquitoes also work on humans. You decide. | | | | As you may already be picking up, the central theme |
| Right next door to the ashram is Club Med's Paradise | | | | at the Sivananda Ashram could be perceived as |
| Island resort. A true behemoth, Club Med boasts | | | | strictness. Depending on your religious openness, you |
| everything from casinos to water slides and can be | | | | may be turned off of the morning chants to Hindu |
| quite distracting in contrast to the ideals of simple | | | | gods. However, many yogis deep into their practice |
| ashram life. And when the techno from the | | | | might already be accustomed to this. For me, this is |
| booze-cruise hits your ears when you're trying to hold | | | | fine. I don't consider myself to be Hindu, but I |
| a headstand, this is certainly true. Despite the | | | | understand the importance of devotion and dedication |
| distractions, Sivananda Ashram strives hard to uphold | | | | of practice. |
| ashram expectations, which may or may not be to | | | | Many people that have been to Sivananda have |
| everyone's tastes. | | | | reported that they pick up a yogier-than-thou vibe at |
| Accommodations are simple. Just how we would | | | | the ashram. You may have run into this before. |
| expect them to be if we're on an ashram yoga travel | | | | Someone with a big case of yoga-snob. This is |
| retreat. Reminder: its a yoga travel retreat, not a | | | | something that I completely don't agree with. Every |
| resort. Even the most expensive rooms do not have | | | | level of yogi, and every human being for that matter, |
| TV or internet. This atmosphere is setup with the | | | | should be honored with the same respect. After all, by |
| intention of encouraging simplicity while urging you to | | | | yogic philosophy, we all carry the same light within us. |
| go inside to find happiness. | | | | In summary, for some, the Sivananda Ashram is an |
| The daily schedule is structured. Morning starts at | | | | ideal yoga travel retreat; a place for devout yogis to |
| 6:00am with a meditation. Asana (posture practice) is | | | | immerse into their practices. The rigid schedules and |
| given twice per day at 8:00am and 4:00pm. The final | | | | steadfast ideals perfectly embody the concept of an |
| meditation is at 8:00pm. Both meditation and asana | | | | ashram. For those with more of a yoga travel |
| practices are mandatory for guests. I understand the | | | | 'vacation' in mind, this may not be the best choice. |
| motivation behind strictness. It's an ashram after all, | | | | |