June Update
The HYA summer is here in full force! We have had four volunteers pass through and experience the starter course and karma yoga teachings that we offer. We are doing work projects every day and have attained the certificate of occupancy for Jnanda's house. We look forward to him moving here the 30th of July. On Friday night, we will have 14 people staying at the ashram, our highest number all summer!
So far, our work projects this summer have included finishing up little details in Jnanda's house and beginning to get it furnished and ready for him to move in, as well as landscaping around his house, lots of silvopasture maintenance such as weeding and scythe mowing, and many stewardship related tasks like reorganizing our various sheds for better use, clearing paths of brush, and buying more groceries for the ashram.
June brought very intense heat. Given our current living situation it was important that we were very careful with our work projects. We all drank a cup of electrolytes each day before we began our blocks in extreme heat and paid attention to our bodies' needs as we worked. On especially hot days we did some of our work in the evening (in addition to doing the bulk of our work between 6:45-11:00 like we always do).
We participated in the first No Kings protest and plan to participate in the second one. We are proud to stand in solidarity with other people that are against fascism and Trump.
We have also been steadily getting clearer on our goals for the next five years and how to achieve them during our monthly board meetings. Sama, our new president as of three months ago has been especially instrumental in this process. Our goals for the rest of this year include finishing the ground floor of Saucha and Gudu's house, landscaping around the Ajna (green) cabin, putting the finishing touches on the Mani and Pura cabins (microcottages), and building a chicken tractor! Our goals for next year include: building a greenhouse, beginning construction of a barn for sheep and cattle, and regrading and widening our road. These projects will require more funding and we are currently in discussions about how to increase our fundraising capacity.
Finally, we congratulate Ayana Arrington on earning her Sanatanadharma Hindu Yoga Vedic Power name: Vishada BhAJ Cetas Ananda / Bright Duty Mind to Bliss.
Namaste'
