I had terrible experience living at Shankar Prasad Foundation. I worked for four months with Swami Yogaratna Saraswati (age-70) and Shyam Nadkarni (age - between 73 and 76). Only these two stay at Ashram. Unfortunately she is unpopular in Gokarna. The only reason I am writing this review is that it will help others to be wise before they spend their time, energy and money (working for them as employee or volunteering & giving them donations).
No doubt Swami Yogaratna is good at teaching Yoga Nidra but she is an expert in using people in the name of 'Karma Yoga'. I am deeply hurt not just because they owe me money, also in the name of Ashram, Satyananda Bihar Yoga School, Religion, Orange clothes, spirituality, astrology and finally God, they have been ethically, morally and professionally manipulating people. My faith and value system has been shaken completely by her.
Their bank accounts are not clear. They use onion and garlic in Ashram. She drinks and encourages lot of tea and coffee in the Ashram. She often loose her temper and what she preaches no way matches to her lifestyle. I am not concerned about her lifestyle, but she is using her age & spiritual background (foreigner converting into Sanyasi) and poor animals to get money from people.
I questioned all her actions that are completely contradicting Sanyasi lifestyle and the result is she didn't give me the money she owes me. In the name of Ashram, she fulfills her desires. The trustees of the Ashram are for name sake and all decisions, money are handled by her only. None of the visitors visited Ashram second time to stay there. Only reason people go there or associate with her is for her Yoga Nidra Knowledge.
I worked for her at Ashram (Bankikodla, Gokarna) from November 2020 to March first week 2021. They asked me do Marketing and PR for their online courses. I did my job and Ashram received more than 11,00,000 INR through swami Yogaratna Saraswati personal account and through Ashram's account in the form of course fee, donations and accommodations. I was promised to pay 30% of fee received for online courses only after excluding marketing expenses. To be honest I donated 30000 worth phone and every month 3000 to Ashram while I was staying there.
By end of Feb, there was lot of ambiguity in my roles and responsibilities. I was told to do works that were not part of job, in the name of Karma Yoga, even though she has employees for cleaning and maintenance of Ashram. I took a small break after taking their permission in beginning of March, as Swami Yogaratna Saraswati was also not giving any classes in March and April as she was taking her back treatment in Goa.
I asked them to send me a clear document with my roles and responsibilities, to avoid further miscommunication so that I can resume my work. I was constantly in touch with her and Shyam via emails, text and phone calls. They never responded. Then lockdown happened and still I never heard from them about my job.
When I constantly followed up for payment of my due salary(comission), April to July. Swami Yogaratna and Shyam Nadkarni conviently made up different stories, and denied to pay me. Now the final one they are saying is that Ashram incurred losses, because of me in the months April to July.
This is unethical & unprofessional. The person who preaches giving, love, spirituality and moral living is contradicting her own preachings.
I have all the email trails, messages and clear account statements what they owe me. I requested them, to have a third party to help with the decision, they choosen not to.
I deeply regret the association with them. On positive note, whatever happens it is for my betterment. I learned a lot from my experience.
Finally I want people to be aware and don't get fooled by her appearances.