Yoga as you most likely know it is just one aspect of yoga (the physical "exercise".) Although ashrams can have a heavy religious aspect to them for "finding yourself" etc., the Sivananda Vedanta Menakshee Ashram offers a toned down version known as a "Yoga Vacation" which is what we signed up for.

We had a quick day and night in Madurai (where the awesome Menakshee Temple complex is located about 20km from the Ashram - see photos). Though the city itself is fairly unremarkable, the towering temples - the largest of their kind in India - must have been an incredible sight 1500 - 2000 years ago, because they are still spectaular now.

As usual, Brett agreed to 2 weeks of non-stop yoga without really giving too much thought as to the ins and outs. Stacey of course is a bit better versed in the physical demands and was a little apprehensive about what we were agreeing too!

Here's the deal: Everyday is the same and each consisted of a total of:

4 hours Asana class (physical yoga)

3 hours Meditation & chanting/singing

1.5 - 2 hours lecture on various aspects of yoga

1 hour Karma Yoga (selfless service / cleaning)

The day started at 5.30 with a wake up bell, meditation and chanting at 6, cuppa at 7.30, asanas 8-10am, brunch til 11, karma yoga til 12, tea at 1.30, lecutre at 2, asanas 4-6pm, dinner at 6, mediation and chanting 8- 9.30pm, lights out 10pm.

Not much time to sit about and do nothing that's for sure!!!!

They don't exactly give you an induction of any kind beyond giving you a pillow, mosquito net and a couple of sheets and show you the dorm. So when we rocked up to our first evening session and started singing "Hare Krishna! Hare Rama! Rama Rama, Hare Hare!" Stace and I had long hard look at each other, both clearly thinking "what the $#*& have we got our selves into?! We've only gone an joined the Hare Krishnas! If our parents could hear us now!"

After day two, we both almost jacked it in. It was so full on, but once we actually got some perspective in the lectures about the function and meaning of the chants etc., it really helped and we both agreed to really go for it. Resisting certain aspects while embracing others was not the way to get the benefits here. What we learnt was that yoga needs all of these aspects, drop one, and it has a negative impact on the others. (just trying to do the excercises is no good if you can't control your mind and focus, or control your breathing and your diet is bad etc.)

So much is literally about "good vibrations" - both audible and psycologically - and Sivananda is not about religion and the fact that it embraces any religion or none at the same time, kind of put our mind at ease.

In terms of value for money, at about 6 quid a day each all-in, it is hard to think of a better environment, quality of teaching and opportunity to get answers and advice from source. Really, really interesting. Not to mention the really nice people from all over the world we met while there, too many to mention, and most we'll never see again, but there was a really commoradery there that helped make it feel like a safe and happy place to be. (Cheers to any and every one of you who might read this.)

Neither of us are "spiritual" type people, but learning about the importance of looking after your mind as much as your body, the power of control and the ability to really focus was certainly worth investing the time and energy into. We'd both really recommend it to just about anyone.

A really cool way to finish off and relax in India. We had a Valentine's night back in Madurai before heading off to the airport on the morning of th 15th for a day of flights to get us up to Kathmandu, Nepal in time for dinner!

(Wow, we are only one week behind on our blog now!! Photos and Nepal updates to come shortly.)