When I got a small cold in Isha yoga center last year, the in-house doctor suggested I quarantine and wear a mask to avoid infecting others. I was considering wearing the mask, but when I mentioned it to a volunteer friend, she said, “maybe he thinks you might have TB”. Obviously. That is the stigma in India. EVERYONE thinks wearing a mask means TB. Thankfully, with COVID, for now, this stigma is removed.

But from the above incident I should have realised the extent of paranoia and security the Isha folks insist on with regards epidemics and viral infections.

I didn’t think much of all this, because it was a small matter UNTIL NOW!! It’s been 7 months and the Isha yoga center is in a total “restricted entry” zone. Very few avenues to enter.

Good news: Adiyogi is open 😀 Read my post on my Adiyogi visit after the lockdown.

Me and many others have been asking often, “when will Isha yoga center open?!” Well, here’s what I know,

21 Day Sadhana Program

There is one 21 day program they are opening up for Isha meditators who have done the Inner Engineering program. You can apply by filling this form.

If selected, then in the next step it requires you to fill out an 8 page long medical form…. And from reliable sources I hear the medical panel evaluation is super strict.

This 21 day program is open for all Indians. And will be conducted monthly. So if we fail the medical this time then hopefully next time we can get in.

I also hear about a 21 day hatha yoga program and other specific 21 day programs which are going to be started but I don’t have any details. These programs are mostly 3 weeks, 2 weeks are spent in quarantine in the particular isolated area and the other 1 week we can visit the temples and other areas of the ashram.

When will Dhyanalinga Open? All other Coimbatore temples including Marudhamalai are open already!

In case you were thinking that with Adiyogi, the Dhyanalinga and other temples are also open. Think again. 😀 Temple opening seems to be at least 1-2 months in future.

So how do we NOT go crazy without visiting the Ashram? 😀

Especially, for folks like me who stay nearby in Coimbatore, I was visiting the temple every week before the lockdown. It’s been pretty tough these past months. However, in all seriousness,

1) the temples and ashram energy is accessible to us beyond space and time. Can be accessed through dedicated practices, yantra (says many people who have a yantra at home), devotion, volunteering with Isha activities and the various indic cultural routes.

2) in fact, often said in the ashram “the absence is stronger than the presence”. Bask in this absence.

3) take time to reduce dependence on the physical ashram structure. (my earlier blog: inside v/s outside the ashram)

4) Sadhguru didn’t kick us so we could be such floofs (He actually did gently kick me once). We can surely manage and do our best whatever the situation. 😀

5) Life takes its own turns. We, especially I, could have easily been in the ashram during lockdown. But it didn’t take that turn. So, chill. Let’s not judge the situation.

6) Explore other powerful spaces. India is replete with powerful temples and samadhi spots and what not. And associated to Sadhguru itself there are many spots. We can explore these.

That’s all I got. How’s it going with you?