Sadhanapada 2022 Experience: It changed the way I perceive life

First thing first, What is Sadhanapada ?

Sadhanapada - at the Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore, India - is a 7-month residential program for inner transformation for those looking to establish balance and clarity, emotional stability, seeking spiritual growth, or to live an intense and energetic life. The program prepares one to see the world from a revived and delightful lens and experience life with an abundant sense of joy and liveliness.

Why did I attend Sadhanapada?

A bit about me: I am Amit, a 33 year-old Indian, was based in the USA working for a technology giant just before I attended Sadhanapada. Life was going good professionally but during 2020-21, I was struggling with some personal life issues due to which I was not at my best, emotionally as well as physically.

Being faced with stressful situation in life, which somehow compelled me to look deeper within. Fortunately I got connected to spirituality via Sadhguru’s online presence. After some profound experiences at some of the Sadhguru/Isha's programs, I decided to leave my job and dedicate 7/8 months of my life to understand spirituality a bit more, to deepen my life experience and to upgrade/enhance myself in all possible ways. And hence, Sadhanapada happened!!

The transformation time…

From Day 1 in the course, it was a roller-coaster ride for us. Physically, we were stretched to the limit I couldn't imagine. Mentally, we were introduced to new dimensions of life and focus on inner growth and transformation. In Sadhguru's words, "the design of the Sadhanapada program is such that you shouldn't have energy as well as time to apply your logical mind,?you should just be ON-and-ON and do as per whatever guidance is given to you, everything here in the ashram should be taken as your Sadhana, all the resistances should be dropped and by the end of each day you should just die on bed." All I can say, course execution met these expectations.

After the orientation program where they taught some very effective yogic practices, our Sadhana time was around 4 - 4.5 hours which slowly increased to more than 7 hours as we gradually completed advance programs that Isha foundation offers. Waking up before 4:30 am without requiring any kind of alarm/support, eating only 2 meals a day with no snacking in-between, reduced sleep to around 4 - 5 hours, less urge to talk, more focus on our Sadhana, irresistible smile and charm on the face, no stress whatsoever may be the external situations; these are some major changes that started happening to almost all the participants.?

It’s hard to put in words the kind of stillness within (in terms of body, mind and emotions and energy) I started feeling. When I used to sit for meditation, time just started flying. I would often get surprised when I do time-check after meditation. Initially, I was struggling to even sit peacefully for 10-15 minutes in Ardhasidhasana but by the end of the course, I was able to sit for hours in meditation totally still and unmoving.?

In the normal world, we get so busy chasing life and dreams that we never pause and give attention to life within and around us. Here, we started looking at life with gratitude, sometimes just looking at small insects crawling on the ground gave me happiness, small blade of grass dancing with cool breeze brought tears in my eyes, playing with a bunch of calfs in the ashram brought immense joy, every festival is celebrated in ashram with boundless love, enthusiasm and devotion. Sadhguru says "The most responsible way to live is that you are playful with life".? I can say, ashram life lives up to this principle and gives a glimpse of it to everyone in the ashram.

My takeaway from the program

Now, after completing the course I can say that I feel like I am in the lap of grace, life's basics will be taken care somehow (like earning a living won't be a concern). I will be focussing on living a vibrant, intense and adventurous life together with balance and clarity. Ease, stillness, gratitude and devotion towards every bit of creation are the other virtues that I imbibed in this high energetic fast-forward divine place.?

Here is a small collection of photos of me at different times (not in order) throughout the beautiful journey of the program...?

Few other highlights of the distinct visible changes in me includes;

• Losing weight by almost 12 kgs. I was not that heavy before, but not sure from where my Sadhana found this extra weight in me and kicked it out.??
• Sitting in Ardhasidhasana with ease for longer durations of time. In fact, it comes as my goto posture these days for sitting.?
• Not worrying about the future and stopped getting bothered by the past. Living in the moment, keeping in mind the inevitability and uniqueness this very moment offers (Continuing to work on it, still a long way to go though ????????????).
• Our life is totally our making whatsoever be the external situations are. Pain is inevitable but suffering is definitely our choice.

Thank You!!!

Thanks everyone for taking time to give this article a read. I have written a more elaborate article about my overall journey encompassing why and how I decided to take this major step of taking a career break and dedicate 7/8 months to this course, deeper details of my growth progress, experience of the program and how different elements of the course contributed to my amazing experience and transformation. If possible, please do checkout Sadhanapada: The Definite Path for Inner Transformation

Finally, I would love to hear your thoughts after reading about my spiritual journey. Moreover, please do write in a comments below in case someone is curious and interested to know more about the Sadhanapada program or anything related to my big decision for this experience or overall journey.