Day Four & I'm Sore!

Here's an overview of the courtyard outside the yoga hall where meals are served


After the Jivamukti class we're pretty happy, including our new friend from Boulder, CO.


These school girls walk in line through the ashram. So pretty!


We slept in today and began with Iyengar at 8:15am. All of us are so blown away by this teacher. He seems to be warming up to us a lot since every day we are all sitting on the floor in the front row waiting patiently when he arrives. After class we eat, which seems to be our regular schedule now. The food has been really good here at the ashram so we eat here for almost every meal. The chai tea is great. I told myself I wouldn't get hooked again while I'm here though so I try to only drink it every other day. Natalie and Priscilla are drinking Starbucks steamed milk with coffee. Natalie loves it! And Mr. Starbucks loves Natalie. We walk after eating to help digest our food. Plus walking through the market is always an adventure. The people here are so used to seeing westerners that they don't stare at us as much as other places I've visited first time through. Sometimes it's hard to not stare when we see people on the ground begging for money, blind people perched on a ledge by the Ganga chanting a mantra holding out their hands for ruppees. It's hard not to look at the holy men sitting at the edge of the market reading their scriptures as if they are inside a temple. The niose in the market is disturbing at times with the constant honking and motorbikes and barking dogs. Sometimes it's overwhelming.



After our walk we hurry back for our next class. Day four and we're all sore! This is how Gabrielle, our Jivamukti teacher, began the class today. The room was filled with about 100 students. Natalie, Priscilla and I were in the front row as usual. We chanted; Lokah Samasta Sukino Bavantu (May all being beings be happy and free. And may our words thoughts and actions contribute in some way to the happiness and freedom of all beings- sound familiar?), to begin our class. I video taped a bit of it so you could all share in on the vibration. But I don't think Natalie's camera has sound. (:-( Anyway, at least you can see all of the beautiful yogis practicing Dharana and Bhakti. The class was a blast. Some modified Sun Salutes and lots of holding postures including pigeon( which I have been totally craving lately) and gomukasana. Our hips feel great after this. Gabrielle's voice is so soothing and trance inducing. She plays beautiful rhythmic music that helps us stay in the moment. She also has 3 or 4 assistants doing ajustments in the room. If you've never had a Jivamukti adjustment, you have no idea what you're missing. The helpers rub china gel on every body in the class, or maybe that's just a benefit of being front and center. This helps our bodies move more easily in and out of each posture. The class ends with a long Savansana and three oooooooooom's. Nice!

By this time the sun is gently setting over the Mata Ganga(this means mother Ganges- Hindu's and others believe the river is a living breathing healing being). Natalie and Priscilla are on their third day in a row massage. Today they are including the facial for free for us being such loyal and regular customers. I decide to do some shopping along the river and write on the blog. We meet at our favorite restaurant, Madras, where there are many westerners eating and hanging out. They know us now after our fourth day in a row eating there. They have this amazing banana pancake that melts in your mouth. They don't use syrup though. Instead it is served with honey. Sweeeeet! A bit too much, so now we order sauce on the side. When I was in Pune in January I fell in love with Paneer(Indian cheese), Masala(sauce) Tikka( I have no idea what this word means!) It's kind of a redish sauce with the cheese and veggies mixed in served with rice on the side. The sauce has a sweetness to it that is incredible unique and delicious. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. So anyway, that is my Indian Veggie Heaven. Or my Indian Vegetarian Pizza from Georgio's!. You that know me know exactly what I mean.

Write more later. Namaste and lots of Love from India~ Lynne