The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram in Kerla, India is rich with meditation, yoga, chanting and lectures. Ever since I can remember I was curios about India. This heightened when I became a student of Yoga. When arriving at the Ashram in India I felt right at home and was comfortable from the first day. The teachers at the Ashram are excellent and their emphasis was on posture, breathing and discipline. Sound familiar?

The yoga classes were held both in the temple and by the lake. The heat of India and Yoga are made for each other, naturally allowing for freer movement. To describe the yoga classes one could say "vigorous". The classes by the lake during the day looked out over the dam and mountains. We were told there were crocks in the lake… how exotic!

At night mediations were in the temple. It was very much like a dream state for me. We were surrounded by jungle with all the sounds moving all around us. There were 150 students of yoga in the temple at night from all over the world. While in the temple, from across the lake would come the roaring of large cats in the jungle! The first night my mind could not adjust or relate. This experience was so unreal and out of my element. So much of India was trying to relate to the experience and realizing that "it is not always as it appears".

We spent time doing Karma yoga during the day. My thoughts were many while working, picking up leaves in a hot day in India. They were not always good positive thoughts. Then I would be laughing at myself and my ego and knowing I was really having a Karmic experience on a hot day in India.

My experience in India and the Ashram were truly incredible. There are many experiences in India that are difficult and sometimes you really wish you were home in Canada. It is a country full of contradictions. For me it was a life altering experience and my mind often wanders back to the Ashram in India.

• Dhanwantari Ashram Meditation

  • Sit still and be comfortable
  • Close your eyes
  • Breath-just breath
  • Do not worry about any sounds you hear
  • Be calm- relax and allow yourself to settle into a comfortable position

In order to calm the mind it is important to calm your breathing. Oxygen going to the brain excites the mind so we will reduce the amount of oxygen to the brain and calm the mind.

Begin by being aware of your breathing. Bring your complete focus to your breathing. Notice how you breathe in and how you breathe out.

Breathe. Breathe in slowly to a count of four then breathe out more slowly to a count of six. Breathe in to four. Breathe out to six. Breathe in – breathe out.

Focus only on your breathing. Do not worry about any sounds you may hear. If you must shift your position to be more comfortable do so. If you have an itch you may scratch it. Breathe in to a count of four and out to a count of six.

Now we will begin to breathe more shallowly. Breathe in a little less to a count of four and breathe that out to a count of six. Become comfortable breathing in more shallowly than before. Breathe in and breathe out and focus only on your breathing.

Breathe. Be comfortable and breathe.

Now we will again begin to breathe even more shallowly. Breathe in slightly less to a count of four and breathe that out to a count of six. Become comfortable again breathing in this smaller amount. Breathe in and breathe out and focus only on your breathing.

Breathe. Be comfortable and breathe. Breathe in to four and out to six.

One meditates by becoming an observer of the mind. Become an observer now as though you are observing a movie or a play. Do not direct the movie simply observe how it unfolds. Do not force images in or out of your mind simply be comfortable and breathe and observe.

Do not worry about any thoughts that enter your mind.

Do not feel guilty or anxious about any thoughts that enter your mind. Simply observe

We will now breathe and observe our mind for 15 to 20 minutes. Just breathe, be comfortable and observe.   Namaste.