Living Simply, Living Local - The Beauty of Restraint in Practicing Yoga

- By OmShanti Pelkonen

A primary Sankalpa for 'Niwas this year is "Be the Solace."  Every action, every breath has been dedicated to this Divine aspiration of SOLACE.  These past months have provided such an opportunity for us all to cultivate restraint and simplicity.  The Living Local retreat has always gifted those at the Ashram experience of freedom that can arise from restraint and this year, this feeling of freedom, for me, felt particularly elevated... I felt the solace.  The solace that was birthed from being with others all dedicated and focused on the Sankalpa of a Paramhansa, and committed to building community and soaking up the teachings of Truth. 

Living Local is a retreat where we dive into the beauty of Karma Yoga and practice the Sadhana of only eating foods from within a 150km radius.  The majority of foods come from Annapoorna Garden herself, here at the Ashram.  This practice and experience of restraint through Sadhana all us to experience that restraint is not a constrictive word; restraint is merely a set of conditions to keep things within limits.  Without self-discipline, there is no opportunity for spiritual development.  Ashram provides opportunity to cultivate self-discipline.  As Swami Sivananda has said: "Discipline harmonizes the opposing elements of the soul."  To harmonize the opposing elements, we learn to balance the impulses - this is Yoga.

My duty throughout the retreat was kitchen lead.  It is always so beautiful to experience the meals "making themselves."  Karma Yogis would come and go in the kitchen, the children would step into action without complaint, and plants would communicate how they wanted to be of service!  The smiles in the photos speak for themselves.  We worked hard, we laughed hard, and ultimately I saw everyone leave the Ashram with full hearts, elevated Prana, and a higher sense of purpose. 

With gratitude for the abundance of Ashram life, community, and the teachings!  

Harvesting potatoes in Annapoora Garden

Living Local is one of the few retreats of the year wherein full families may participate. The children were involved in Karma Yoga with full hearts!

Local bowls make themselves! This year we tried local scones with ground wheat from Annapoorna Garden and hand-churned butter. Incredible!

In Ashram life, everyone has purpose and duty. Here Pavitra and Bianca and preparing corn for storage (and for the evening meal!)

Smiling faces! So looking forward to next year!

Some of the first recipients of meals out of the NEW Annapoorna Kitchen!