It’s 5.30 a.m.

The forest is still dark. In the calmness of nature, a dozen of drowsy barefooted people walk in the meditation room. Next to the door, different kinds of shoes and sandals are neatly arranged on a handmade wooden shoe rack. Inside, a wood stove warms the morning sharp air. Next to a sitar, a candle is lit under a portrait of Swami Satyananda. The silence is powerful and overwhelming. Participants are wrapped up in big woollen blankets, and sit on purple-red cushions in the lotus position: back straight, legs crossed, hands on the knees with index fingers touching the thumbs. Their eyes are closed. Mouna, the vow of silence from dawn to dusk, reigns undisturbed over the Satyananda Yoga Ashram, nestled within the depth and quietness of the Wombat State Forrest near Daylesford, Victoria.

Atma, an elder yogini (a female yoga practitioner) wearing a cotton orange tunic, greets the guests joining gently her hands. “Hari Om!” Her low and soft voice breaks the vast silence. Above her head, rays of sunshine softly pierce the stained glass window.

It’s 7.00 a.m.

The morning mantra chanting follows the yoga session. The very interesting aspect of these chants is they are written in Sanskrit, the ancient language of India, which was formed with all the different sounds which human voice can make. For this reason, according to yoga, mantra is a particular combination of sound vibrations with powerful and beneficial effects on all levels of our being.

Thirty minutes later, the relaxed and hungry group silently get out of the meditation room to have breakfast. Two yogini, wearing green aprons and hairnets, serve English porridge, fresh fruits, and different kinds of tea.

The rest of the morning is dedicated to karma yoga activities around the property. This work practice consists of several chores, such as scrubbing toilets, raking leaves, cropping blackberries, or any other tasks that are necessary and useful to the community.

Every morning, a roster of names is hung up next to the reception, and everyone has daily task. Melanie, who is a police officer in Melbourne, is assigned to the kitchen garden, where residents cultivate different varieties of vegetables and spices. “All the healthy meals in the ashram are strictly vegetarian and are generally prepared with locally grown greengroceries and organic products,” she explains with a bright smile.

At a short distance, Thiago, a 31-years-old Portuguese designer who has recently travelled across South-East Asia, is engaged in cropping weed by the lakeside. “In our ordinary lives, activities such as household tasks are considered unpleasant and are usually performed in a hasty and careless way,” he says trimming a huge blackberry bush. “In the ashram, instead, these are viewed as an important form of meditation.” The purpose, in fact, is to revalue the aspects of a simple life developing concentration, awareness, and acceptance.

In the afternoon, there is also some free time, which can be spent by exploring the numerous forest walking or bike riding tracks, engaging with other residents, visiting the ashram’s library, or participating in workshops and seminars on topics such as “Yoga: Tools for Everyday Life”.

The interesting aspect about yoga is that everybody seems to know what is about: it is the fashionable stuff which movie stars are doing nowadays to keep themselves thin and fit, isn’t it? Not really. Yoga is much more. It is an ancient Indian system of philosophy, lifestyle and techniques, which aims at evolving the person through several healthy principles. Yoga is generally defined as a set of practices or techniques to promote physical fitness, mental clarity, stress management and general well being. Nevertheless, spirituality remains a strong underlying theme.

Perhaps what is the most unexpected aspect of ashram retreats is that most of the people are not adherent to Hinduism or other Eastern religious practices. They are nonbelievers who are looking for a “time out”.

Despite ashrams have been around for several decades in Western countries, until recently their residents were mainly yoga students or guru’s devotees. Today, our comforting but hasty lives do not give us time to relax, think over, and dedicate to ourselves. For this reason, even those who have had limited interest in Eastern philosophy or yoga increasingly find refuge in ashrams. These peaceful places, situated in forests or mountainous regions as far as possible from human affairs, offer a refreshing return to an uncomplicated and spartan living style in very close contact with nature and its rhythm.

Furthermore, considering the dorm-style rooms are rather basic and the bathroom is shared, it is not an expensive stay (around $60 per night). Travellers would find with difficulty a cheaper accommodation for a few nights.

Although the purpose of ashrams is not to convert visitors to any particular religion or guru and only want to provide peaceful retreats as a getaway, many participants find the experience beneficial enough to come back.

Phil, a 45 years-old engineer from Melbourne, is a frequent guest of Satyananda Yoga Ashram and he finds a visit necessary once in a while. “I come here often, for a couple of days-break,” he says. “It clears my mind and revitalises me with positive energy to cope with my stressful and oppressive life in the city.”

In a world where time is money, it’s usually stress that leads many people to experience a personal retreat. Hundreds of kilometres away from their own problems, fears, and anxieties, those can finally have a refreshing break to recharge mind, body, and spirit.