Day 26 • Community Living Guidelines
You’ve come a long way. We’re now 26 days into this 30-day journey—and as we enter the final stretch before your interview, we’re shifting our focus slightly to help you prepare for the day-to-day realities of living at the ashram.
Over the next few days, we’ll introduce a series of short readings that outline key areas of ashram life. These include:
Community Living Guidelines – the shared values, practices, and respectful boundaries that help everyone feel safe and supported
Selfless Service Guidelines – ways to approach your seva (service) as a living part of your spiritual practice
Kitchen & Meal Guidelines – how we handle food preparation, cleanliness, and shared meals
Shrine Guidelines – how to participate in shrine life with clarity and reverence
Health Protocols – basic wellness agreements that help us all stay healthy
Upon arrival at the ashram, you’ll revisit these guidelines and explore them in more detail. For now, it’s simply helpful to become familiar with them and note any questions that arise.
We also hope you enjoy the final pranayama and meditation practices coming up over the next few days. These are part of a unique offering in which the guided sessions begin with pranayama and seamlessly transition into meditation. This shift is designed to help you directly experience how the breath can lead you deeper inside—supporting and sustaining your meditation. It’s a beautiful way to round out this journey.
Community Living Guidelines
How to Live Harmoniously at the Ashram
Community Living Guidelines
Main House Hours: The main house is accessible from 5:15 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Please ensure quietness during these hours to allow everyone to rest. Indoor showers should not be used after 9:00 p.m. or before 5:15 a.m. due to noise.
Please remove shoes when entering all buildings.
Cell phones and video calls are not permitted on the lanai— this very much includes the meal table. Even if it appears that no one is around, don’t use your phone to have an conversation on the lanai, in the outdoor Ganesh Shrine, on the yoga deck, or in the living room. Please use them in your bedroom or off of any deck.
Please do not hang wet laundry on railings. Use the line next to the yoga deck or the drying rack in the bathrooms.
Social guests are not permitted at the center without prior permission.
Photography inside the shrine is prohibited. Photos taken during class should not disrupt the flow of the session.
We may use photos of you around the ashram on our social media and website with your permission
Please refrain from practicing massage therapy or energy work on each other at the ashram due to liability concerns. Focus on the practices taught here during your stay.
Your bedroom at the ashram is a private space adorned with sacred art; please respect the furnishings and avoid personalizing to maintain its condition for future occupants.
Work-study staff may need to move to well-furnished tents during trainings and retreats, and occasionally share accommodations; please communicate any specific needs with us to ensure a harmonious living environment.
Use air conditioning only when you're in your room, turn it off when you’re out. Use it sparingly to support our community and reduce environmental impact. This is really important.
Mixed-gender bathroom use is allowed for tasks like brushing teeth and using the toilet, but not for showering; be mindful of time, and create schedules if necessary.
On your weekly day off, which starts after morning practice and ends at the 9 p.m. curfew, consider the transformative power of your meditation practice. While we don't dictate how you spend this time, embracing simplicity and mindful activities can nurture the inner changes you're experiencing.
The Ashram requests an 8 pm curfew on regular days and 9 pm on your day off to ensure community safety and respect early morning practices. Please text a manager if you can't return on time.
Drug use, including alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco, is not allowed on ashram premises; smoking tabacco should occur off-site. Please openly discuss any concerns or medical needs with us for support during your stay.
During your time at the ashram, focus on deepening your spiritual connection and be conservative when it comes to romantic interactions. Take a moment to read more about this in the extended guideline description.
Access to ashram vehicles, contingent on demonstrating responsibility and integrity in your work, is possible with a valid international or American driver’s license after several weeks of consistent commitment at the ashram. This is not guaranteed, and access can be revoked at any time.