Bad experience at an "Ashram" in UP

I spent the last 4 days at an "ashram" in UP.
I thought it would be peaceful and good for natural health, and provide interesting opportunities in sustainable agriculture, as all these characteristics were advertised on their site.
I got there, and initially thought it was pleasant and peaceful.
The baba (leader) was initially welcoming enough.
That evening, I noticed he became enraged, and was running around yelling at family members/neighbors.
I was trying to keep an open mind, but was feeling uneasy at this point.
The next morning, I wanted to see the agricultural aspects.They had field workers, so there were no opportunities for me to learn.
Upon waking my first morning there, I noticed patches of bites. I had been under a mosquito net, so was puzzled. I was told that they were mosquitos.
The next day, I saw more bites.
The baba was enraged at least daily.
Once, during lunch, he stood up angrily and ripped a newspaper in half.
In addition, the website claims that it's a place for natural health...
He's a chain smoker.
It just seems like a sham.
This was my first experience in India, so, I'm a little stunned.
Because the "program" seemed so appealing, I had planned to stay several weeks.
Due to my experience, I left after 72 hours.
Turns out the bites weren't mosquitos, they were bedbugs.

Very many Ashrams in India, are just money making institutions..Choose your wisely..

Still sorry to hear about your bad experience, bedbugs are a bitch!!!

The problem is that this was my first experience in India, so I'm resisting the urge to run back to IGI airport, with my (metaphorical) tail between my legs, and just get out.

Are you sure you read the website right it might have said asham not ashram??

Maybe you should put a link to the website here as a warning to other unsuspecting seekers,were there other westerners staying there?KK

yatharthyogashram.org
I was the only foreigner.

I'd probably take this with several more grains of salt had I been to india before, but as this was my first time, the effect is far greater.

Head for the hills, the ultimate ashram....Gazing out to snow caps surrounded by cedar trees AHH...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9858331...7606014435482/

No mention of Yoga meditation etc on the website.KK

Are you that one-way ticket guy ?? You just asked us about ticketing. If you had said I wanna go get peace we's have opined on that too. You've been had ! Attribute it to research what you want to fob off to inexperience and first visit.

Head to Pondicherry. Make some friends there, who knows you might get lucky and be gifted with an unlimited stay visa, courtesy of a special Act of the Parliament Mostly French get this gift, not even the brits who sustain 90% of Goa's economy and the russians who make up the rest.

It is always important to be sure of what outcome you are looking for and how much variance you are willing to give.

From the website:



Wasn't there a thread or an IMer by this name here some years ago ???
[Sorry, am in no mood to dig it up now]


I see a business opportunity here - spirituality backed securities, and yoga backed Happiness Default Swaps.

I'm still reeling, and thinking about going back to Paris.
I know I haven't seen most of India, but I'm just kinda shocked.

mate, don't visit any place in India without taking advice, reading past views and experiences of people. we have more than 1b people here..you can come across very good people sometimes but there may be fuck-ups as well. As far as Ashrams are concerned, now-a-days most of them are under criticism.

It rings a bell. Was he the guy who wanted to 'walk a cow' across India?

Yes !!! I thought it was from another website, but probably it was IM...

Ah yes, here we are ...

Walking a Cow: February-March 2010

Oh don't do that, India is just breaking you in you'll probably start enjoying it now,that's how it goes for first timers sometimes.KK