Leaving Ashram Life

There comes a time when all good things must end so that greater things can begin. And so it was with the long-awaited exam day for our Ayurveda course. The angst, anticipation, and stress of completing this final component had been building. We’d attended every lecture, sat through the Satsangs, chanted our hearts out, meditated our minds out, endured long hours of sitting cross-legged (well, mostly), eaten the vegan food, and ticked all the Ayurvedic boxes. Phew. It’s been a steep learning curve—one that will stay with us long after we return home.

The exam was hard. Really hard. We looked at the paper and balked—yikes, what on earth did some of those questions even mean? Minds racing, we put pen to paper for two hours and wrote (some even drew) furiously, crossing our fingers and hoping for the best.

We had already made a unanimous decision that regardless of the exam results—and in spite of the evening graduation ceremony—we were leaving the ashram today. It was time to explore the seaside town of Kovalam, shop our wallets empty, and treat ourselves to some long-overdue luxury. Clean, pressed white sheets (with no bugs), hot showers, swimming pools, ocean views, and cocktails were calling.

Like naughty schoolgirls, we packed up our gear and headed out.

For three of us, maximum luxury was the only option. So Leela Kovalam it was—super lux. From chauffeur drivers to stunning architectural design, an infinity pool, food that delighted every taste bud, and of course happy hour (no need to explain that one), it was heaven.
Others chose to stay right in the busyness of town, opting for something more modest and close to the shops, bars, and restaurants.

What a hoot we all had. We celebrated our first night’s happy hour together at the Leela, joined by Darren from our course, who very generously collected our certificates and graduation shawls and attended the ceremony on our behalf. We’d all passed—yay! Sharon performed exceptionally well, with her drawings earning a glowing comment from Doctor V: “the best I’ve ever seen.” Now all we need to do is put it all into practice. Easy, right?

We indulged in massage therapies in Kovalam, did more shopping, more eating, and—after night one—a little less drinking.

Kovalam sits right on the beach in southern India on the west coast. It’s touristy but beautiful, and it’s easy to see how you could while away days by the ocean, sipping coconut juice and watching the sun set dramatically over the Arabian Sea. Bliss.Read more