Being Mindful in Cambodia through Yoga
I left the airport in Siem Reap and headed into the city center that boasted heavy traffic, friendly faces and lively colours. The air was sticky with heat. It was five o’clock and the evening rush was in full swing. I pulled up to my hostel, dropped my bags and took to the streets before the night settled. People wound their way through the busy streets, wheeling carts of rice, dried fruits, spices and cigarettes.
My first stop was a small juice stand. Little juice stands are set up on any vacant land. Every corner of Siem Reap was host to flimsy shelters piled with fresh fruit. The sweet smell mixed with the aroma of spices had stirred my appetite. I ordered a mango smoothie and continued to turn unfamiliar corners; not knowing this would soon become an evening ritual.
Arriving in Cambodia is like stepping back into the real world and out of the human bubble. I arrived at Hariharalaya the next morning by tuk-tuk. Here, awareness is awakened by the life of trees and animals; insects and frogs jumped across the pathways, rain and sun share the skies. Hariharalaya is a Yoga and Meditation retreat supportive of conscious living. Moment by moment you are guided with awareness — Be simple. Be creative. Be free. And it was this that I took with me as I traveled through Cambodia gaining perspectives of life.
Disconnected from the world at home, as you stick to the rules of no technology, you are invited to become more connected to the culture of Cambodia. By engaging with local communities, purchasing local produce and providing jobs, Hariharalaya allows those who visit to continue to make a positive difference wherever they go.
I gained perspectives on life and how to make a positive difference through Dharma talks with Joel — the founder of Hariharalaya and lover of life. We were asked what is the real yoga? The true yoga? And we were taught to recognise that this question is not how deeply you can stretch or how far above your head you can get your legs. The question is how truly can you love and how big is your capacity to love yourself and others, taught to dissolve into divine love of not only the humans around you but all of life around you — all of the creatures, the elements and the land.
Hariharalaya stands on the grounds of the ancient capital of Cambodia.
Immersed in tradition, I stayed in an open air hut built with local materials — wood, bamboo and palm leaves. Knowing that within biking and walking distance you are surrounded by ancient temples, pagodas and wild jungle excites your spirit and being given the opportunity to live in a traditional Cambodian village was magic. I was able to see the lifestyle the villagers of Bakong live.
On the other side of the dirt road people are farming cows, families are living simply, walking and riding bicycles to the local market (Psaa Rolou) which dates back over 150 years. At Hariharalaya you become an integrated part of the local community as you are welcomed with open arms.
I woke up at 6:50am every morning from the sound of a gong, 10 minutes before our yoga and mediation session, I crawled from my hut through trees and found myself in an open air space looking across the green fields that surrounded. It was silent until breakfast at the retreat and the only sounds that preceded the gong were the ducks that waddled through the fields and the shuffling of feet as everyone gathered to find their place on their yoga pat. This session consisted of an hour of yoga practice in a space of healing, of peace and of happiness. It put you in the right frame of mind for meditation, led by Joel with chanting. With no communication other than from the teachers it offered a time for self reflection, and was a peaceful start to the morning.
Food philosophy at Hariharalya teaches you to open your eyes and recognise food as a way of participating in the great cycle of life. We ate simple, local, seasonal, colourful, vegan, and delicious foods, and I began to honour the life that sustains me. By purchasing local foods Hariharalya provides much needed income to local farmers.
Breakfast always included fresh fruit, smoothies (it was always a hard choice between mango/passion fruit or chocolate/coconut), traditional Khmer rice porridge, vegan waffles and so much more! Lunch and dinner was a spread of Khmer curries, rice noodles, Indian Dahl, pumpkin soup, hummus (my favourite), fresh salads and brown rice! I loved every meal I was fortunate to share at Hariharalaya.
Hariharalya is an incredible experience that gives you the chance to share, challenge, learn and play, returning to the natural rhythm of life. What stayed with me the most was an afternoon I spent with one of the ladies who helped to maintain the huts. I’ll never forget the joy we shared.
I was playing around with my hula hoop before our afternoon yoga session and we shared a smile as she walked past so I asked her if she had ever tried to hula hoop before. She looked at me and laughed. “Me? Hula hoop?” she said in broken English. I said “sure, why not?” and handed her the hula hoop. She was amazing at it. I think we were both shocked and I quickly asked her to teach me. Her face lit up and we were both overcome with laughter. Taking the time to connect with people in the communities you visit is so important and leaves you with a true connection to the culture.
After learning so much about the traditions of Cambodia I was intrigued by the history of this country and as my time at Hariharalaya came to an end, my next stop was exploring Angkor in Cambodia’s northern province of Siem Reap.
To book a retreat, visit the Hariharalaya website.
