Member
I participated in a Sanyasa Intensive Training in 2012, stayed there 8 months. This particular training was a specific type. Together with other 107 overseas mostly participants I got to be involved into karma yoga type of work in book editing, kitchen, accommodation, cleaning, event set-up, construction, storage, coordination, etc ... departments. at times almost 24/7 no days off non-stop schedule , at other times with specific yoga training enmeshed into the tight schedule. I had a dual feeling at times during my whole stay there. I felt I was doing my best on one side, at other times I was questioning the ideology of the place which seemed cult-like, no questioning was allowed, cultural barrier between Indian & foreigners to me became obvious. Than I came to know about the Satyananda Yoga Australia sex abuse scandal, wow that was shocking. I quit the training after 8 months, i had a hard time taking my power back, the whole procedure of leaving the training earlier was made difficult. I learnt much from that experience. There were good things too for sure. What I disliked the most is to be forced in the name of spirituality & cult-like statements: "swami Satyananda said ...." When I returned few months later to pick up some things I was not allowed to enter the place. Maybe I chose a wrong program. Anyhow I never returned.