The Sanctuary, located on the island of Koh Phangan, Thailand, is just that – A Sanctuary. A mecca for yogis and lost souls alike, this mini village begins a few feet away from the turquoise waters of Haad Tien and extends back to include bungalows, activity centers and a Tea Temple [...]]]>

The Sanctuary, located on the island of Koh Phangan, Thailand, is just that – A Sanctuary. A mecca for yogis and lost souls alike, this mini village begins a few feet away from the turquoise waters of Haad Tien and extends back to include bungalows, activity centers and a Tea Temple to satisfy anyones chakras. This resort/spa/detox center offers daily yoga and meditation, body cleanses and any other healing workshop imaginable. Make sure to check their website, as the schedule varies constantly.

You can stay for a day, a week, or forever with programs and restaurants to keep your senses titillated. But don’t feel out of breath just yet, the beach, food, and abundance of pillows and hammocks is perfectly conducive to hanging with a tea. Chill out and self reflect or say hello to a stranger. Chances are they will have an intriguing story. Lesser intriguing guests, however, include the multitude of pestering flies. Only other minor complaint is the beach. Although the water is clean and vibrant, the sand is not the silkiest. But after traveling much of Thailand, The Sanctuary’s facilities are among the best  – as long as the Four Seasons, Hawaii isn’t your reference point.

Dwellings ranges from dorms to two storie houses which means prices range dramatically as well. You can’t book in advance but take the risk. There is a lot to gain and a little to lose as there are other resorts minutes away. The Sanctuary welcomes all, even if you haven’t scored a room.

This is a place where the ‘locals’ are not only the Thais but the lovers who continually return. I’ll be back and I’m sure I’ll see some familiar faces when I do.

I recently read that delving into 8 minutes of deep meditation daily can increase ones brain size. Although 8 minutes may seem like an easy feat, meditation is one of the hardest exercises to conquer… for me at least.

For those of us [...]]]> The Ananda Ashram shifts towards sustainability through the Ananda Harvest.

I recently read that delving into 8 minutes of deep meditation daily can increase ones brain size. Although 8 minutes may seem like an easy feat, meditation is one of the hardest exercises to conquer… for me at least.

For those of us still struggling to ignore our overly stimulated minds and reach a sense of heightened relaxation, The Ananda Ashram, located in Monroe, NY, offers a perfect balance of yoga, meditation and now FARMING!

If your mind resembles an erratic maze, with your thoughts running amuck, chances are, silencing those thoughts will prove to be like a maze with no end.

Some yogis use chanting as a way to focus ones energy on repetitive mantras in order to calm the mind.  These yogis use farming.

I was introduced to The Ananda Harvest by one of the founders of the farm, David Gottlieb. Gottlieb with fellow founding farmer Jerri Chou, among others, saw an opportunity to start a farm, escape from the city, and help decrease the amount of money the Ashram was spending on food.

I got a chance to chat with the two Brooklynites and here’s what they said:

Why did you decide to start the Ananda Harvest Project?
We didn’t even know we WERE starting it at first. It all started when a group of us started visiting Ananda. It was this amazingly peaceful place on such beautiful land. We started wondering why it wasn’t being used to produce anything and got to thinking how great it would be to start a farm and grow veggies on the land! We started building the idea and then began the actual garden with friends. It’s been a beautiful exercise, not only in body, but community, and personal growth.

Who is involved?
There’s a group of us (mostly creative, eco/socially conscious people from the city). We’re programmers, communicators, designers, etc. But it would never have been possible if not for the original farmer of the land, Dave Washburn, and his son, Matt, who have been holding down the fort up there!

What can we expect to see in 2010?
There’s a lot coming. There’s been so much excitement! We’re planning on building an additional cabin for people to stay in and holding a workshop on how to build that cabin! We’ll be planting in the spring and expanding our growing to more areas of the Ashram. We’re also looking to host all sorts of courses including permaculture, beekeeping, etc. It’s going to be a jam packed season of growing!

Is there any synergy between the farm and the yogis that visit the Ashram? If not, do you plan on creating any?
Definitely. The whole concept is based on meditating with your hands. So many of us need a place of peace and where we can create something tangible. That’s what this farm is for us, a meditation. Not to mention that all yogis are welcome to pick up a pick and help dig and we’ll be encouraging those who visit to partake in the amazing and extensive series of courses at Ananda.

How can we help?
We’re always looking for help, supporters, or just visitors. For more information you can check out anandaharvest.org and sign up for our newsletter. Or feel free to send us an email at hello@anandaharvest.org.

Answer’s Contributed by David Gottlieb and Jerri Chou
Founding Farmers at Ananda Harvest
www.anandaharvest.org <http://www.anandaharvest.org>