Last week, I spent 7 days in the Bahamas experiencing life at an ashram. It was peaceful and relaxing - my time was full of reflection. I took a 5 day course on positive thinking and the power of keeping negative thoughts at bay. Aside from learning a great deal about yoga, I learned a great deal about myself. Most importantly - I actually enjoy spending a significant amount of time alone with myself.
The daily schedule was regimented: morning satsang at 6am sharp (meditation, chanting, and a lecture), 8am yoga class, 10am brunch, 12pm positive thinking class, 4pm yoga class, 6pm dinner, 8pm evening satsang (same format as in the morning).
The cuisine was vegetarian, mainly vegan - no tofu, mushrooms, onions, or garlic and very little fat. I ended up fully embraced the meal times as there were only 2 each day. It was also up to the guests to clean up after ourselves. It's amazing how cleaning made me feel so much more at home and invested in my stay. Each day, I would spend a few afternoon hours on the beach, in a hammock, or in the ocean. I made a group of girlfriends from around the world who had each come on their own as well. We easily bonded over our love of yoga.
This vacation was everything I needed and more. I feel like an entirely new person. The horizons in my life are less foggy. I've been back for a week now and the feeling of inner calm and self-love hasn't gone away. I continue to practice yoga daily.
Upon arriving home (after making a quick stop to my parents' home to do my extremely gross laundry), I began to look at my life with a new set of eyes. It's easier to pick out all the negatives than the positives. It takes serious effort to have a sunny outlook. And, as it turns out, being positive leads to a happier, longer life. After taking a deep look at my innermost self and after spending a considerable amount of time inside my own head, I fully appreciate the power of positive thinking. A more positive version of myself is who I will strive to be every single day.
