It’s been 40 years since I took the Yoga Development Course (YDC).
I was 30 years old and had no idea that I would one day be a swami.
I had lived an experimental decade in my twenties—seeking freedom through hitchhiking, dropping in and out of jobs, university and relationships. The lifestyle had worn me out and my bravado was cracking.
I was looking for direction, meaning, purpose—freedom in a less erratic way. Was there such a thing?
Although I had been strongly attracted to yoga as a teenager—learning asanas, breath practices and “OM” from books—it wasn’t until I connected with others who had been to Yasodhara Ashram that I had my first in-person Hatha class and introduction to the kundalini system.
Swami Radha was travelling and offering workshops back in the 1980s and her frequent presence in our city inspired me to think deeper. I felt almost magnetically drawn to the YDC.
When I entered the course, I was intimidated by others who were highly educated or seemed “spiritually advanced.” I was afraid of criticism.
In the Life Seals workshop I drew a dramatic picture of myself on a stage with an audience pointing sharp knives toward me.
Over the three month course I gained courage to say what I felt, to ask questions, to open tender feelings. I was not cut down but met with kindness and encouragement.
At the end of the YDC, the feeling in my body was of fluidity and ease. And what had happened to my mind?
When I re-entered life outside the Ashram, I discovered I had lost a burden of fear and gained a healthy boost to confidence.
I became bold, curious and questioning as I completed my university degrees. The kundalini system was a secret ingredient that made symbolism transparent in English classes and offered a holistic perspective to the counselling psychology I was studying.
I had gained a foundation in myself and access to my inner world. And I knew that above all, I loved Swami Radha, the Ashram and these teachings. They had broken down my self-protective walls, my flimsy facade of courage and opened a door to real freedom.
The YDC was a life-changer for me. Could it be for you, as well?
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