A Typical Day at a Yoga Ashram
First Impressions: Arriving at the Ashram
When we arrived at Yoga Niketan Ashram, the first thing I noticed was how green everything was. Lush trees, plants everywhere, and a beautiful view over the Ganga river flowing quietly below. After the dust and noise of the cities, it immediately felt calmer.
There were monkeys everywhere, casually climbing walls and trees like they owned the place. And then there was a very cute dog who somehow decided to adopt us and followed us around whenever he could.
That first evening, we had our first ashram dinner. It was simple, basic, but surprisingly delicious - mostly vegan and very nourishing. Nothing fancy, but exactly what you needed.
The rooms, however, were as minimal as it gets.
A very hard bed (though honestly not that uncomfortable for me), a tiny bathroom, and no amenities at all. No shampoo. No toilet paper. You even had to remember to turn on the hot water before you needed it.
It was clear very quickly: this wasn’t about comfort. This was about simplicity.
Life on a Tight Schedule
Ashram life runs on a strict daily schedule and there’s something oddly comforting about knowing exactly where you’re supposed to be at any given time.
🌅 5:00 AM – Wake-Up Call
The day starts early. Very early.
At 5:00 am, a bell rings through the ashram, echoing softly through the courtyard. No snooze button. No negotiation. Just… getting up.
🧘🏻♀️ 5:15–6:15 AM – Morning Meditation
This was the part I dreaded the most.
One full hour of sitting still. In silence. At 5:15 in the morning.
I honestly didn’t know if I could do it, whether my legs would fall asleep, my back would hurt, or my mind would completely lose it.
But surprisingly, it felt… fine.
Time passed much quicker than expected.
The meditation was led by an older, very experienced teacher. He began with chanting and prayers, and then we sat in silence for the rest of the hour. No guidance, no instructions, just sitting.
It was challenging, but not in the way I had feared.
🧘🏻♀️ 6:30–8:00 AM – Morning Yoga
Morning yoga was traditional Hatha Yoga, very different from the western yoga classes I’m used to.
It wasn’t flowy or creative. It was structured, repetitive, and honestly felt more like a workout. Combined with the heat and humidity, it was quite strenuous for me.
Still, I enjoyed it.
It felt authentic, ike yoga practiced for the body and the discipline, not for aesthetics.
🤫 8:15–9:00 AM – Silent Breakfast
Breakfast was eaten in complete silence.
Usually rice or other grains with vegetables - simple, filling, and grounding.
Eating without talking or distractions felt strange at first, but it quickly became one of my favorite parts of the day.
📚 11:00–12:00 – Library Time (aka WiFi Time)
This was the only time and place where WiFi was available: the library.
I’ll be honest: I stayed in my room instead because I had an eSIM, which felt almost rebellious in an ashram setting.
🍛 12:00–13:00 – Lunch
Lunch was vegetables, dal, rice, and bread, nourishing and consistent.
No choices. No menus. Just food.
🌬️ 12:45–13:15 – Digestive Breathing
This session was… interesting.
It was led by a very young teacher who seemed quite nervous and spent a lot of time on his phone. The practice itself felt minimal, mostly just sitting, and didn’t leave a strong impression.
But I appreciated the intention behind it.
😴 13:00–15:00 – Library Time / Rest
This was officially time for reading.
Unofficially?
I took a power nap. And it was glorious.
Should I confess that I did not take one step into the library the whole time we were there?
📖 15:15–16:00 – Lecture & Q&A
The lecture was led by a younger but very experienced teacher who simply sat down in front of us and asked if we had any questions. We hadn’t prepared anything, which felt slightly awkward at first.
Eventually, a few of us asked about how to sit still for over an hour without the mind constantly wandering or the body needing to move.
His response?
He laughed and said it shouldn’t be a problem at my age.
I found it hilarious.
He had the gestures, expressions, and energy of an Indian Jimmy Fallon, making even serious topics feel light and approachable.
☕ 16:00–16:20 – Evening Tea
Tea was chai masala with cow’s milk, so I couldn’t drink it, but it was still nice to sit together quietly and enjoy the pause.
🧘🏻♀️ 16:30–17:45 – Evening Yoga
Evening yoga was led by a different teacher and had a very different energy.
The beginning was relaxed and gentle, the end, however, was tough.
My body was tired by then, but somehow it still worked.
One of the last asanas was plow pose and it did not feel comfortable that day - the yoga teacher just replied: yes, it’s comfortable 😅
🌙 18:15–19:15 – Evening Meditation
Evening meditation was led by Jimmy again.
We did OM chanting meditation, which I really loved.
Unlike the morning session, he allowed people to lie down - something he very clearly did not recommend in the morning.
He always started by asking:
“Tired? After yoga?” with a classic Indian accent.
The answer was usually yes.
🍽️ 19:30–20:15 – Dinner
Dinner was similar to lunch: grains or rice with vegetables and bread.
After every meal, we had to wash our own dishes in the back of the dining hall. Simple, communal, and grounding.
🔥 Special Practices During the Week
Wednesday: Trataka (candle meditation)
Thursday evening: Bhajan (chanting holy hymns)
Friday morning: Havan (fire ritual)
These practices added depth and variety to the routine and made the week feel special.
Me after the fire ritual - flowers in my hair, ash on my skin, and a quiet sense of gratitude.
🌿 Finding My Own Rhythm
The first day, I followed the entire schedule.
On the following two days, I allowed myself more freedom, choosing what felt right and combining ashram life with short excursions in Rishikesh.
A few times, I skipped yoga because I had a terrible headache, probably not helped by the fact that there was no coffee at all in the ashram.
Still, I did every single meditation, and I’m genuinely proud of that.
✨ Final Thoughts
All in all, staying at the ashram was a humbling and grounding experience.
I know we only experienced a small glimpse of true ashram life, but even that glimpse taught me a lot.
About discipline.
About silence.
And about how little we actually need to feel okay.
What this experience taught me: Even a few days of structure, silence, and simplicity can shift your perspective and remind you how little you actually need.