In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Swami Atma Muktananda Saraswati, the long-time resident teacher and manager of Rocklyn Ashram, where we’ll be gathering for my upcoming October Returning Retreat.
Swamiji has spent more than 40 years living, teaching, and serving at the ashram, and in this conversation we explore the traditional Satyananda Yoga system, the role of Yoga Nidra in creating deep relaxation, the history of the ashram, and what life in an ashram is actually like. We also talk about community, practice, and why stepping away from the pace of everyday life can create space for something quite profound to happen.
After spending time out at the ashram recently, I’ve become even more excited for our retreat. There’s something very special about the place — the warmth of the people, the beautiful bush setting, the simplicity of the rhythm, and the feeling that you can put down all of the usual “doing” for a while and simply arrive as a student and practitioner. If you’ve been craving more depth in your practice, more spaciousness, or simply a few days away from holding everything together, I genuinely think this experience is going to be incredibly special.
A quick reminder too: the super early bird pricing for the retreat ends this Sunday, so if you’ve been considering joining us, now is a really lovely time to book in.
Enjoy the conversation.
Check out all the Returning Retreat details here: https://www.amymcdonald.com.au/returning
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