Swami Samarpan Ashram

I spent 25 days at Swami Samarpan Ashram in June for a 200hr Vedanta YTT. I’m grateful for the personal growth and for the lovely people I met, but I wouldn’t recommend the ashram for teacher training or a spiritual retreat. I wish I’d known more before committing. With all the positive reviews and the website description, I expected an authentic yoga school and ashram. My experience was very different, and I got the sense I wasn’t the only one, though people are afraid to post negative reviews. Anyone thinking of staying or training here should visit before paying in advance. The YTT was the biggest disappointment. It lacked structure, depth, and quality. As a certified teacher and long-term practitioner, I found key subjects like Asana and Philosophy were taught by unqualified teachers. The program didn’t meet Yoga Alliance standards, and I don’t think it would prepare someone to teach with confidence. The atmosphere also raised serious concerns for me. Swamijis behaviour toward students and staff made me question his intentions and character. He has profound spiritual knowledge, but seemed more focused on money than students. Conversations often turned to money and self-praise, including “I’m an enlightened master,” as well as criticism of other schools, cultures, and religions. He was often stressed or unavailable, and it didn’t feel open to real learning or questions. People who met him on different terms in the past were lucky 🙏🏼. He seemed caught up in ‘worldly’ responsibilities he doesn’t manage well. Running YTTs brings in money, so he can fund costly annual international trips and, after over 20 years, start building a second building on the premises. Think about it… 🙈 The ashram is in upper Tapovan right beside a busy main street, with bedrooms about 2 meters from it. Honking, loud music, and shouting went on day and night. During my stay, rock drilling for on-site construction ran from 9am to 5pm, alongside construction in the neighborhood. It was far from the calm, meditative place I’d expected. Bhavana-ji cooked delicious sattvic meals, and the helpers were kind and caring 🤍. I just wanted more fresh fruit and salad. The setup is basic, and my room was simple but comfortable. Hygiene around the sink and water filter could be better. There were also unacceptable incidents, including workers entering my room without warning during construction while my belongings were there, including my underwear hanging up to dry (lol 😅). Om, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti 🪷