Interview: British yogi Swami Nischalananda of Mandala Yoga Ashram

Emily Horton meets the homegrown yogi who has spent 30 years bringing yoga to the West

Down on one’s hands and knees scrubbing out a toilet bowl is not an activity ordinarily associated with contentment. Yet such was the case last August, as I bent over the u-bend in the practice of karma yoga – the path of selfless service – at Mandala Yoga Ashram in South-West Wales.

I was staying there as a working guest – my board and lodging in exchange for a small fee and my helping out. In the easy company of the resident yogis and quiet isolation of the rolling hills, I started to let go of my worries and take stock of life. Just 36 hours of the ashram’s routine – stretching, chanting, cleaning, gardening and quiet contemplation – left me as rejuvenated as if I’d simply spent a fortnight at the beach.

For 30 years, the property and its small community has been run by Swami Nishchalananda, who converted the old farm into a place to live and practise yoga, welcoming visitors from all corners of the Earth.

“The term ‘ashram’ comes from both the Sanskrit words ashraya – meaning refuge, and shram – denoting hard work,” he tells me. “An ashram is a place where one can take time out to gain clarity, but it also demands that you work on yourself. Unlike a yoga centre, an ashram operates under the guidance of a spiritual teacher who practises yoga on a very deep level – a guru, you might say. And somehow, the residents trust him or her...”

Of course, physical yoga has become the mainstay of many a modern Western gal’s exercise routine. Yet, popping down to the gym in lycra leggings is just a twig on an ancient, sophisticated, holistic tree with its roots in the soil of India.

“One of the beauties is that there are many different paths to it,” says the Swami.  “I started by doing hatha – the physical practice of yoga. Stretches are a good place to start, as most of us can identify with our physicality.

“If you enjoy sound, you can go on to mantra yoga; if you are into work, do karma yoga; those with strong emotions can go into bhakti yoga of the heart, or follow the path of gyana yoga and embrace meditation. Formal yoga is great if you have time, but if not, you can still practise yoga in your attitude.

“All the paths are ways of refining body and mind, so that one can start to understand oneself on a deeper level.”

Is yoga a religion?

“There is no question that its roots are in Hinduism. The original purpose of religion was surely to help people go deeper into the significance of life. But then it gets institutionalised and socialised, becomes political and loses its purpose.”

Not so with yoga, says the Swami.

“You can happily practise it without subscribing to any religion, or even yoga concepts. What matters is what you feel comfortable with. That’s why it has become so popular all over the world – it doesn’t demand that you believe in a particular set of beliefs. It merely suggests that you do some practice and see the effects for yourself.”

Born in Romford, Essex in 1945, Swami Nishchalananda – or plain Peter, as he was then – grew up with an equivocal attitude towards the things of the spirit.

“I was philosophically minded and there certainly was a need within me – as with most people, I think – to know about the fundamentals of life.

“However, I couldn’t see much point in religion. It all seemed a bit false, although many religious people are very good and sincere. Then, after studying, I went backpacking across Europe, the Middle East and Africa to see how other people lived. Unconsciously, I was looking for something.”

It was an encounter with a young South African on a kibbutz in Israel that first drew yoga to his attention.

“It was simple stuff – just sitting quietly, concentrating on one’s breath and doing a few physical exercises – but it really touched me. Later I ended up in Belfast and there was a yoga centre there – right between the Protestant and Catholic communities. The Troubles were on and sometimes, doing our yoga, we’d hear noises outside...”

Inspired, Peter decided to go to India.

“My friends thought I was nuts to give up my career, but I’ve always listened to my gut. For me, finding a deeper meaning to life was more important than a job.”

In India, he was initiated as a monk in the Saraswati yogic tradition, received his personal mantra – a sacred and transformative word used as a focus for concentration and meditation – and took instruction from his guru.

“It opened my eyes to the enormous potential of yoga,” says the Swami. “I went to study for two years and ended up staying for 14.”

Returning to England for a visit in 1985, he started receiving requests to give seminars. Gradually, the desire to start an ashram took over, and though India was his favoured location, he eventually hit upon the idea of using the disused family farm in Wales.

“It was totally neglected,” he recalls. “I thought: ‘No way! It’s too wild and woolly!’ But anyway, we arrived in July 1986, started work on it and haven’t looked back.”

“It was a hovel in those early days. Sheep would come off the fields and join us for meditation! But we got a fence put up and then a water system connecting to the well. We began our courses  – which have now trained hundreds of yoga teachers and been attended by thousands of people from across the world – and I started giving seminars across Europe, pumping the money back into the restoration. We lived simply, often on mushrooms from the fields – but somehow the money came in.”

Thirty years on Mandala is thriving as a centre for yoga teaching, yet still upholding a simple way of life. Having passed on the day-to-day running to his team, the Swami spends much of his time writing (he has been published several times) as well as teaching abroad and at the ashram’s many courses.

In helping to establish yoga in the UK, the Swami formerly known as Peter has added much to our collective contemplation of the fathomless mysteries of life. 

Mandala Yoga Ashram holds many events and courses throughout the year. Visit its website for details and further information on its teacher training, and keep up to date with Swami Nischalananda's writings and books via his blog

LOOK UP LOCAL YOGA TEACHERS

GUILDFORD/SURREY

Guild of Yoga teacher Puran Bhardwaj (right) – author of ‘The Himalayan Bond’ teaches regular classes in Guildford and Shamley Green. Puran also hosts special events throughout the year, including an annual International Yoga Day workshop in the beautiful setting of Nurscombe Farmhouse, Bramley.

- (01483) 304155; puranguide@gmail.com; guildofyoga.com 

FOR THE AUTHENTIC YOGA ASHRAM EXPERIENCE NEARBY...

PUTNEY, LONDON

For a local yoga ashram experience, take the train to Putney and visit Sivananda Yoga (right), a residential ashram offering the full yogic experience in London. The centre has drop-in classes, courses and residential workshops.

- (020) 8780 0160; sivananda.org/london/ Felsham road, Putney

NORTH LONDON

Yoga in Daily Life's London ashram in Queen's Park, North London (nearest station: Brondesbury Park Overground/Queens Park Underground), is open seven days a week, with classes for seniors, beginners, relaxation and advanced practitioners. 

- 020 7328 7163; Yoga in Daily Life 133 Salusbury Road, NW6 6RN 

Pick up your free copies of the Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead Magazine, plus the Guildford, Farnham and Woking Magazines for June 2016 to read the above article in print.