Student Musings: Ashram Life

Mar 19

5 min read

On the 5th of February 2025, I finally arrived.

After years of thinking, wondering, and questioning, I arrived back at the place it all began: Govinda Valley Ashram & Yoga School.

Within a blink of an eye it's already been close to 30 days since I arrived. It's been a wild ride. First, let me give you some context as to what Govinda Valley means to me; let's take a minute to set the scene.

A look back

I first arrived at Govinda Valley 5 years ago. I was a stoner, a boozer, and a purveyor of the finest caffeinated beverages I could get my hands on. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing, but I knew something had to change. During those initial months here, everything as I knew it would change forever.

But, let's back up a second. You might be thinking, “What the hell is an ashram, Jake?”. Let me explain. An ashram is a place where you can go for spiritual, emotional, and physical growth. Think of it as a shelter for the chaotic “real world” that we all inhabit. Basically the arrangement is you help around the property or centre for a couple hours a day. You wash dishes, cut carrots, change beddings - anything to maintain the upkeep and function of the place you live in. In exchange you get some food in your belly, a place to sleep, and a supportive environment that helps you to journey inward, grow, and practice spiritual discipline; this is the basic ashram arrangement. However, Govinda Valley is a little different.

"5 years ago, I couldn’t begin to even fathom how this place would affect the trajectory of my life. When I came here then, I engaged in sobriety for the first time."

I also discovered the power of meditation and breathwork, and I met a whole host of incredibly special and beautiful people. This place changed everything for me. It set

me on the path that I am on today.

A spark ignited

Govinda Valley ignited a fire of curiosity in me that has been raging through my soul for the past 5 years. The initial experience propelled me forward on a journey of self development and growth. As I continued my life back in Scotland, things were good. I felt like I had positive momentum. I had a good group of friends. But this place just kept coming back into my consciousness. I knew deep down that there was still work here to be done. Questions to be answered and experiences to be gained.

Originally when I came here, the structure was fairly loose. You did your 4 hours of service a day (a.k.a. volunteering) and in exchange you got three amazingly beautiful vegan meals, a place to stay, and access to the retreat program that the guests had access to. A glimpse of student life

Things are a little different now. I am taking part in their Level 1 course. In this course we do one hour of yoga everyday from 6am - 7am. We have classes on Yoga philosophy, habit creation, Ayurveda, and many other esoteric disciplines. My service is in the kitchen and everyday I help prepare delicious vegan meals for up to 100 people. The rest of my afternoon is spent on cultivating good habits. I'm meditating more, working out more, writing more; doing everything I know that is good for my soul and spirit.

There are certain guidelines to being in a place like this. Commitments that we make to ourselves to uphold the integrity of the space. Things like no meat, no dairy, no caffeine, no alcohol, no substances. Men and women sleep in different buildings. We are encouraged to spend our free time mindfully - working on our dreams and our visions for the future.

You might be thinking, “Wow, Jake this sounds like a lot,” and you're right - it is. A place like this is not for everyone. However, if you are a curious soul looking to expand your heart and mind then you should keep reading.

It’s not all sunshine and vegan rainbows though.

"Trust me, it’s not easy getting up at 5:15am everyday to do my yoga and meditation practice. But I can tell you that my body feels the best it’s felt in years."

Washing dishes is not my favourite thing to do in the world. However, with each dish I wash I feel like I’m cleaning a corner of my soul. I get to be blessed with the amazing company of a group of beautiful souls. There is no shouting, no swearing; everybody is always smiling. We engage in soul-centred discussions around growth and spirituality. It doesn’t matter how many dishes I wash, how many carrots I cut, or how many potatoes I peel, I always walk out of the kitchen feeling lighter than when I came in.

An emerald oasis

Govinda Valley is situated in a beautiful emerald oasis that is Otford, NSW in Australia. No matter which way you look you are always surrounded by trees - a protective green embrace that shields us from the outside world. These ancient beings protect us and shield the ashram from the outside world, helping create a space where we can dive deep to explore the texture of our souls.

My Learnings in One Month

I feel lucky that I get to be a part of this environment for at least 4 months. One month in - what have I learned?

Restriction is the key to freedom. We live in a world where we can access almost any of our hearts’ desires within the click of a button. A world of infinite choices and possibilities. You’d think that would be great, right? Wrong. Our brains are simply not able to process this mass of data and information that is thrown at us on a daily occurrence. Restricting yourself for a time helps to open up your mind to what you need vs. what you think you need. I used to think I needed to drink coffee in the morning. One month without coffee and it turns out I don’t.
The act of selfless service can cleanse any emotion that the heart faces. Do you remember the last time you helped someone? It felt good, right? Well that’s how service can feel. Every single day.
Stillness is the antidote.
We live in a world where your value as a human being is intricately linked to what you produce, what you can offer the world. Intentional stillness brings us back to our true nature. It brings us back into a space of being. We are not human doings, we are human beings.
The ups and downs of living in a community.
There are approximately thirty residents on the property. That means I have thirty roommates. Living in a community is such a beautiful experience but it does come with its challenges. It helps me to be aware of my social battery - when I can give and when I need to take a step back and bathe in the silence that surrounds me.