Sadhana: Practices & Philosophies

A simple yet profound analogy that is often used in consideration of human nature is that of the multilayered onion. Like an onion, the human being is composed of varying levels of manifestation starting from the most tangible physical form of the anatomical body and ending with the intangible eternal universal essence (which is the center of the onion, the empty space at the middle). Life for every human being interacts with each and all of the onion’s layers, yet the intensity of our interaction vary depending upon our perspective and state of awareness. Our most dominant layer determines our philosophy of life: the material sciences are based on the outer most layer, the psychological sciences on another, and the spiritual on yet another.

At the ashram we respect and explore each of the layers of human existence, however the foundational tenants of what we teach and the techniques associated with the practice of yoga are fundamental spiritual. Each of the practices, including the most physical of yoga asanas, are ultimately designed to bring you closer to your spiritual nature, bringing each of the onion’s layers in contact with each other to unify towards the essential goal of spiritual development.

The most beautiful feature of a spiritual-centered approach to living is that regardless of whether enlightenment is your goal or not the holistic nature of the system will improve your performance on every level. This is possible only because human nature functions best when all the layers are in communication with one another, and when we begin to train ourselves within this unified design many wonderful things begin to happen: the body becomes healthier, the mind clearer, and the spirit freer.

Though we teach many things at the ashram including how to operate in relationships, how to train and heal the physical body, and how to discipline the mind, the central underlying intention is to grow near to the spiritual paradigm of reality.