From basic yoga and pranayama classes to residential meditation retreats, India has no equal in terms of tradition and opportunity. Yoga is one of India's gifts to the world, and one of my greatest passions.

Rishikesh and Varanasi, both in Uttar Pradesh, are the two traditional centres for yoga, but numerous institutions throughout the country have good teachers and advanced practitioners. Vipassana is taught in more than 25 centres throughout India including in Bodhgaya, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Jaipur.

Ashrams
India is a country full of Yoga and meditation ashrams. Some are free and some are posh, well furnished, lavish and costly too. Yoga and meditation are practised all over the country and specific courses are available in temples, meditation centres, monasteries and ashrams. Ashrams are communities where people work, live and study together, drawn by a common, usually spiritual, goal. Adopting a guru is a completely different experience to simply attending a few classes, and whether one chooses to do so ultimately depends on ones deep personal commitment and on how comfortable one feels being around a specific guru. Over the years I have visited many ashrams and tried to learn from different people formally and informally. Just to name some: Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram, Mata Amrithanandamayi. Ashram and others.

Shivananda Ashram
Sivananda ashram is 12 acres of tropical splendor in the quiet foothills of Kerala's Western Ghats. The Ashram's program of classical Yoga techniques taught in a warm and friendly environment, helps to instill a deep awareness of the spiritual essence of life. The Ashram welcomes all seekers of peace and happiness from all over the world irrespective of caste, creed, sex, religion or nationality.

Bodhi Zen Meditation Centre
Twelve kilometers down the hill from Kodaikanal (Kerala) is a centre at which I had the honor of spending few unforgettable days. It is Buddhist, Zen and Catholic, if you can believe that. A Jesuit priest and Zen master runs the place. The symbol of the centre is a Buddha with a cross behind him.

Ashram Rules
My life in ashrams usually began with early morning prayers followed by satsang( group meditation). After that we used to have breakfast. It was followed by seminars, discussions. Everyday we had to do seva( service of one or the other type voluntarily as selfless service is basic to Karma Yoga. We used to go to bed early at night.

To maintain an atmosphere conducive to spiritual practice, no meat, fish, eggs, alcohol, drugs, garlic, onion or smoking are allowed inside or outside in Ashrams in India during the stay. Attendance to the all programs of Ashrams is mandatory for everyone. In these ashrams I met many people who narrated to me how their lives have changed by the blessings of their Gurus.