And That's That!

This morning we woke up around 6:30am to attend an early morning class. But instead we sat in our room and shared stories and discussed the day and all that we are experiencing. I can see that we are all slowing down so much. We walk slower, talk slower,( yes, even Natalie) we eat slower and practice yoga more aware of our own bodies. Yep, India is the perfect place to let go and open our hearts to the divine. So funny how misconceptions usually occur in those who are not informed about this sacred union with the one. Some think yoga is a religion. I know, some of you are laughing at this. But when I opened my yoga studio in Bemidji, MN, there were Christian people that were told not to come. I feel that I am a Christian, I am a Buddhist and also a Yogi. I suppose if we do not know ourselves enought we may be threatened that something might take us away from the things outside ourselves we are depending on. You know? I have learned from practicing spirituality through yoga that all we need is within; including God, including all the love we crave from others, and all of the answers to all of the questions we seek! Yoga helps us to experience this. I believe God brought me to yoga, to this wonderful place in India with my beautiful soul sisters, and also to true myself.

"And that's that!" At the end of our first class today this is what Raya says. We are all so used to hearing Namaste at the end of class so we, the three of us anyway, say it softly and bow. We are back to asana today adding pasvotonasana and sirsasana, head stand. Raya suggests half headstand for most. But adds that for thos who are "itching" to go up to go ahead. I do! It feels good. The structure of my postures is getting so strong. I believe this is the idea in Iyengar. To work first on structure and then bring that awareness into each pose. It really has made me feel strong again. I think this style of yoga is good for everyone. It is good for me because I have become over-flexible from years of Vinyasa and it is good for those just beginning because it sets a great foundation for the practice. Yeah, I'm hooked. And I think my sisters here would agree. Today our teacher was talking about how the spine needs to be supported with the rest of the body instead of letting the body hang on the spine. He uses such interesting analogies too. I whisper and write down his "scarecrow" analogy to describe the body hanging on the bones he walked by and asked me, "what are you doing?" We all laughed. He is so modest about his amazing knowledge. I don't want to forget a word.

After class we mozy down for brunch. It is absolutely delicious today. They are serving the same dosa's from the other day. Dosa is a thin pancake wrapped around veggies, in this case. You can get other fillings too. They are served with coconut chutney. Yummy! They are also serving peas cooked al dente,(probably not on purpose), in a sweet sauce. Brown rice with Raita, which is a yogurt(curd) with garbanzo beans mixed in. They have decided to serve spicy and non-spicy versions of everything now. Thank God, since spicy food upsets my delicate tummy. The non-spicy veggies today, green beans and red carrots, are perfect and they are also now serving baked chipati(pita like bread) instead of the fried version. The ashram is really trying hard to make westerners as comfortable as possible. When I met with Swamiji yesterday he mentioned this. Even as we sit and eat people who work at the ashram come around and ask us for feedback. I think each year we attend will get more and more comfortable. Remember though, it is still India!

This afternoons class is for only Priscilla and I. Natalie decides to take a well deserved nap instead. Yoga Nidra is also known as sleeping yoga. Sounds good to me!
Our teacher, a small Indian woman wrapped in safron robes, cured herself of a disease she was told was chronic and deadly in her kidneys. She used yoga, which you know is not just physical asana, to cure herself. She told me today that Iyengar's daughter Gita suffers from the same disease but is not cured yet. She begins the class with a beautiful class. We sit in cross legs with eyes closed to listen. This is the same teacher from yesterdays early morning class, Kriya Yoga, with the angelic voice. After that she begins to explain Yoga Nidra. She talks about Moksha, freedom. And How if we are not free, or do not understand what freedom means and feels like ourselves, we will not allow others to be free. She says that love is not binding. This is an interesting word and very appropriate. Yoga Nidra is used to explore the higher self. She explains that in order to know the self we must know the mind intimately. We must get to the point where we can watch the mind instead of being dragged around from present to future to past, from worry, to fear to anxiety. She says that we must 1st accept that the mind is distrurbed. Then we can change our attitude, the only thing we can change. Then wisdom comes, the wisdom to know the difference. Sounds familiar. She uses the Serenity prayer to help us understand. We must address the mind in Nidra and guide it as the master not the victim. From here she takes us to supine laying down position where we tighten and release each area of our body. A Tambor is used in the background to create a white noise affect and lull us into the state between sleep and awake.I think the only reason I didn't just fall asleep was because of all of the snoaring going on in the room. There are probably 100 people here today sharing this beautiful experience. Maybe it takes some time, like all things, to be able to use this as a tool of awakening. I would like to begin teaching this when I get home.

No break in between classes, we just keep our mats down for the next teacher to arrive. Mohan is a teacher from China who owns 20 yoga centers. I can see why. His presents is engaging. This class is called Yoga Adjustments. We begin the class like yesterdays with simple stretches and breathing. But today he stops the class often to demonstrate the postures. He teaches us how to push here and reach here to keep the body aligned and open. I'm learning so much. We are always students!

We leave after class to drop off yoga gear and pick up shower gear. Yep, back across the Ganga by boat for another massage and hot shower. Today I get my free facial. It's a bit awkward though as I sit in a chair as she scrubs and moisturizes my face. The lights go out while we are waiting for my clay mask to dry and she is painting my nails. She leaves the room and returns with candles. When we're done I go back where Pris is and get my head and body massage. We head to our favorite restauant for dinner. Same for me, when I find something I like I stick with it. Our waiter, MB, tells us about a book that Natalie has actualy read called Yoga Schools Drop Out. He tells us that the woman that wrote the book came to this place as she traveled through India and that he is mentioned in the book. He shoes us what she wrote about him and where his name is mentioned. Funny! He tells us that he supports his whole family which includes his wife and children, two brothers and his mother and father. All on a waiters salary, in India! Big tip for him tonight! We notice a couple of young boys, 20ish, eating piles of Chapati bread at another table. We ask about them and he tells us that they are from Nepal. They come to the restaurant every night to help clean us and then they are fed. That is why so much food. This may be their only meal today. A little later he comes back with the book to show me that the woman who wrote it and ate there ate the ame thing as me! It says it right in her book, Paneer Tikka Masla with Ginger Lemon Honey tea. So funny!

Off to the market to see what really happens late at night, loud Hindi music and lots of locals. Seems that when the yogi's are sleeping the Hindu's start rocking!

Hari Om~
Lynne