Thursday, November 10, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
The meaning of AUM, Om, Ohm...
This is a short video of my beloved grandson who is a special needs boy. He doesn't speak much at all--it is a real challenge for him. In this video, we are trying to get him to brush his teeth in a playful way. He has a charming, sweet way of wiggling around things he doesn't want to do, and chanting 'Aum' is one of them. Notice how he pronounces each sound with perfection. We never taught him this, somehow, he just knows. Which supports all the evidence out there of what 'Aum" really means.
The mystic symbol "Om"or "Aum" represents pure consciousness, the true source of all that is manifested in world, the sound of absolute reality. The individual syllabic sounds of "AUM" is said to each represent a different state of consciousness--(A), waking, (U), dreaming, (M), the state beyond the mind and spirit, and the silence after Aum, the true essence of absolute reality. The dot about the symbol Aum is the fourth state which combines all three states and transcends them.
Aum conveys the concept of omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. Aum is said to mean the best prayer, or the best praise. The letters A,U,M, symbolize speech (vak), mind (manas), and the breath of life (prana), while the entire symbol stands for the living spirit which is but a portion of the divine spirit. The three letters also represent the three genders, masculine, feminine, and neuter. They stand for the three gunas or qualities (sattva-balanced, rajas-light, tamas-dark). The letters correspond to the three tenses-past, present, future, while the entire symbol itself stands for the Creator, who transcends the limitations of time. They also stand for the three teachers--mother, father, and Guru, and the three stages of yogic discipline--asana (poses), pranayama (breathing regulation), pratyahara (regulation of the senses) while the entire symbol stands for Samadhi--the goal of these three disciplines. They represent the triad of divinity--Brahma (the creator), Visnu (the maintainer), and Shiva (the destroyer), but the whole symbol together represents Brahman from which the entire universe emanates.
The letters A,U,M, and stand for the mantra, "Tat Twam Asi" "that Thou Art." And so we may conclude that the word Aum might be too vast, too abstract to define it into one thing. It is all things. It is beyond definition, beyond tangible. It is everything.
And so, as I listen to my grandson chant it as a way of skipping out of brushing his teeth, it gives me another meaning, another sweet meaning and understanding of inclusion.
Aum, Shanti!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Good Night Moon! Good night Ganesha!
Do you remember that children's story, 'Good night Moon?" Do you remember George Burn's old line at the end of his show, "Say good-night Gracie"? And are you feeling the influence right now of the shorter nights as Summer Solstice approaches? It's hard to say good-night, because the light is growing longer each day, and maybe we all feel a little off balance. But right after the Solstice, the influence of the moon will start to roll in and the days will grow shorter, the nights longer. Everything has a cycle, a season, a natural pattern of processing, and we are no different.
So, this little old yogini is coming of age--50 is just a few weeks away. And, yup, I'm a moon child--continually waxing and waning, rising and falling and trying all the while to keep balanced. On June 21st, I'll ring in the Solstice with Sun Salutations, but then I think I'll celebrate by doing 50 Moon salutations of June 28th (my birthday). I love Moon Salutations, I love them much more than Sun Salutations. And I love the story of Ganesha and the Moon, which allows us to understand the intentional energy of the Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana). Do you know the old story?
First, let's look at the pose itself, as "a picture is worth a thousand words." This is a pose of balance. We strive to find balance between strength and flexibility. We stand on one foot and one hand, and eventually look toward the sky. This takes practice, and the ability to do this pose waxes and wanes everyday.
Ok, so here's the mythical story.
Ganesha, the elephant God adored by so many for his gift of creating new beginnings and clearing the path was said to have a love for sweets. Many times you'll see him pictured with a bowl full of prasad (blessed sweets) and his belly full. But he was also a master of yoga, (of course he was, he had no choice with his father being Shiva!) and was usually adept in balancing indulgence. One day after stuffing his belly full of sweets (out of balance) and mounting his trusty steed (that tiny mouse you always see with him), a cobra slithered in front of their path and frightened the mouse. The mouse darted one way, and Ganesha (off balance from over-indulgence) fell the other way. When Ganesha hit the ground, his belly exploded and the sweets scattered everywhere. He got up, dusted himself off, gathered the treasured sweets and stuffed them back in his belly, grabbed the cobra and tied it around his belly to keep the sweets in. Chandra (the moon) had been watching this scene from above and exploded into laughter. This upset Ganesha to no end and in a fit of rage he broke off his right tusk and hurled it at Chandra. The hole in the moon made its light go out, and so the earth was stuck with continuous sunlight. They say, that with this action, love was lost. Everything became scorched and romance had no place to reside. A group of gods pleaded with Ganesha to allow the moon to shine again, and he agreed, but with a compromise. The moon would have to wax and wane, and only mature to its full potential every four weeks. The moon would never laugh at Ganesha again, and Ganesha would always carry his broken tusk with him as a remembrance of when he lost his balance and became enraged.
This story is a paradigm for us. As we live through our stages of life, we are given lessons. We carry these lessons with us, as scars, as 'baggage,' as shifts in moods, changes in our bodies, changes in relationships and the elegant simplicity of growing old. We need opposing halves to keep in balance. We need both light and dark energy. Without these two opposing energies, we do not half a halfway point, the perfect balance between light/dark, male/female, prana/apana, etc. The practice of yoga keeps us in balance and allows us to recognize when we are tipping off balance. When this happens, it is our yoga practice that sustains us and illuminates the path back to the halfway point, back to balance. Stay Human, stay real. Open your heart to peace, love and happiness.
Namaste'
So, this little old yogini is coming of age--50 is just a few weeks away. And, yup, I'm a moon child--continually waxing and waning, rising and falling and trying all the while to keep balanced. On June 21st, I'll ring in the Solstice with Sun Salutations, but then I think I'll celebrate by doing 50 Moon salutations of June 28th (my birthday). I love Moon Salutations, I love them much more than Sun Salutations. And I love the story of Ganesha and the Moon, which allows us to understand the intentional energy of the Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana). Do you know the old story?
First, let's look at the pose itself, as "a picture is worth a thousand words." This is a pose of balance. We strive to find balance between strength and flexibility. We stand on one foot and one hand, and eventually look toward the sky. This takes practice, and the ability to do this pose waxes and wanes everyday.
 | |||
| Me in Ardha Chandrasana on the Albion River, Mendocino |
Ganesha, the elephant God adored by so many for his gift of creating new beginnings and clearing the path was said to have a love for sweets. Many times you'll see him pictured with a bowl full of prasad (blessed sweets) and his belly full. But he was also a master of yoga, (of course he was, he had no choice with his father being Shiva!) and was usually adept in balancing indulgence. One day after stuffing his belly full of sweets (out of balance) and mounting his trusty steed (that tiny mouse you always see with him), a cobra slithered in front of their path and frightened the mouse. The mouse darted one way, and Ganesha (off balance from over-indulgence) fell the other way. When Ganesha hit the ground, his belly exploded and the sweets scattered everywhere. He got up, dusted himself off, gathered the treasured sweets and stuffed them back in his belly, grabbed the cobra and tied it around his belly to keep the sweets in. Chandra (the moon) had been watching this scene from above and exploded into laughter. This upset Ganesha to no end and in a fit of rage he broke off his right tusk and hurled it at Chandra. The hole in the moon made its light go out, and so the earth was stuck with continuous sunlight. They say, that with this action, love was lost. Everything became scorched and romance had no place to reside. A group of gods pleaded with Ganesha to allow the moon to shine again, and he agreed, but with a compromise. The moon would have to wax and wane, and only mature to its full potential every four weeks. The moon would never laugh at Ganesha again, and Ganesha would always carry his broken tusk with him as a remembrance of when he lost his balance and became enraged.
This story is a paradigm for us. As we live through our stages of life, we are given lessons. We carry these lessons with us, as scars, as 'baggage,' as shifts in moods, changes in our bodies, changes in relationships and the elegant simplicity of growing old. We need opposing halves to keep in balance. We need both light and dark energy. Without these two opposing energies, we do not half a halfway point, the perfect balance between light/dark, male/female, prana/apana, etc. The practice of yoga keeps us in balance and allows us to recognize when we are tipping off balance. When this happens, it is our yoga practice that sustains us and illuminates the path back to the halfway point, back to balance. Stay Human, stay real. Open your heart to peace, love and happiness.
Namaste'
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Studying the self within the sound of silence...
The Buddhists have a saying about the practice of silence; before saying something that may potentially harm, "Make like a block of wood." In the eight branches of yoga, the first branch (Yamas) has five principals, one of them being truth (Satya) which includes the practice of right speech. Right speech embraces controlling what is said by not committing the four sins of speech, which are: abuse/obscenity, dealing with falsehoods, calumny (telling tales), and ridiculing what others hold to be sacred. And even though the list of written texts about the importance of impeccable speech is indeed vast and profound, we still struggle with it. Why is that?
I've had an interesting past few days in silence, not by choice but because I am in the midst of an acute case of laryngitis. Every other year or so I come down with laryngitis, and even though it might begin with a little help from mother-nature (allergies or cold), it's really just a way my body forces me into silence because I am to busy 'running like a chicken with its head cut off' and can't be stopped. I know I'm not alone when I say that I like the rush of busyness. There's sort of a justification to the ego of importance when one is caught in the rapture of 'too much to do, not enough time'. The dictionary defines laryngitis as "an hysterical reaction." I remember my sister, (an R.N.) telling me years ago, when I lost my voice, "you are having a hysterical reaction." WHAT! Me! I am not hysterical! What do you mean! And then I actually looked it up in the dictionary, and there I was! I swear, if I squint my eyes and look sideways at that page in the dictionary, I can see my picture! hahaha!
But there is this transformation that happens when one is silent. You get to be with yourself. You are stuck with yourself and that allows you to study yourself. The people around you sort separate from you--truly like oil and water, and the result is this vast, open space surrounding you. Now since I've become somewhat of an expert at it all these years through 'practice' it doesn't bother me at all like it did in the beginning years (this has been going on for around 30 years now). But in the beginning I remember feeling really alone, really alienated from my circle. I didn't have the right tools to cope with it. But over the past 20 years, as my yoga practice and matured, I actually have come to embrace the gift of silence. As the old axiom goes, 'Silence is Golden,' but the self digging, or mining one has to do to get there is indeed a journey or work. It's like riding a bike. At first you stumble and fall, and don't understand that this is a great thing, but then you have that 'aha' moment; it all makes sense! And then, when the bike presents itself later on down the road, you happily get on and enjoy the ride.
I think the practice of silence serves as a great paradigm for many other opportunities we stumble upon, but don't 'see' right away. Life is hard, but life is a gift. Loss is hard, but loss is a gift. Pain is hard, but pain is a gift, Love is hard, but love is a gift. And yes, the true, full embrace of yoga practice is hard, but indeed it IS a gift. So maybe, just for today, you can make like that block of wood, sit back and pause before you use the gift of speech, study yourself, embrace all your gifts, and LIVE this day to it's absolute fullest.
I've had an interesting past few days in silence, not by choice but because I am in the midst of an acute case of laryngitis. Every other year or so I come down with laryngitis, and even though it might begin with a little help from mother-nature (allergies or cold), it's really just a way my body forces me into silence because I am to busy 'running like a chicken with its head cut off' and can't be stopped. I know I'm not alone when I say that I like the rush of busyness. There's sort of a justification to the ego of importance when one is caught in the rapture of 'too much to do, not enough time'. The dictionary defines laryngitis as "an hysterical reaction." I remember my sister, (an R.N.) telling me years ago, when I lost my voice, "you are having a hysterical reaction." WHAT! Me! I am not hysterical! What do you mean! And then I actually looked it up in the dictionary, and there I was! I swear, if I squint my eyes and look sideways at that page in the dictionary, I can see my picture! hahaha!
But there is this transformation that happens when one is silent. You get to be with yourself. You are stuck with yourself and that allows you to study yourself. The people around you sort separate from you--truly like oil and water, and the result is this vast, open space surrounding you. Now since I've become somewhat of an expert at it all these years through 'practice' it doesn't bother me at all like it did in the beginning years (this has been going on for around 30 years now). But in the beginning I remember feeling really alone, really alienated from my circle. I didn't have the right tools to cope with it. But over the past 20 years, as my yoga practice and matured, I actually have come to embrace the gift of silence. As the old axiom goes, 'Silence is Golden,' but the self digging, or mining one has to do to get there is indeed a journey or work. It's like riding a bike. At first you stumble and fall, and don't understand that this is a great thing, but then you have that 'aha' moment; it all makes sense! And then, when the bike presents itself later on down the road, you happily get on and enjoy the ride.
 | |
| Sandy sitting in silence Banglore, India |
I think the practice of silence serves as a great paradigm for many other opportunities we stumble upon, but don't 'see' right away. Life is hard, but life is a gift. Loss is hard, but loss is a gift. Pain is hard, but pain is a gift, Love is hard, but love is a gift. And yes, the true, full embrace of yoga practice is hard, but indeed it IS a gift. So maybe, just for today, you can make like that block of wood, sit back and pause before you use the gift of speech, study yourself, embrace all your gifts, and LIVE this day to it's absolute fullest.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
It's been a month!
Yup, it's been a month since I've been back. I can't believe it!
It's very strange in a good sort of way--(I think haha)--people keep coming up to me (since I've been home) saying, "you look so different!" And then they sort of scan my face, like they are looking--I can't help but suspect they are looking to see if I've had some work done, some plastic surgery of some sort. But besides my hair being a little longer and being a couple of pounds lighter (really just 2 or 3), nope, it's the same old me. The only thing I can think of is, "Well, I've been to India recently. I kind of 'get it' now!"
A few people have said, not really asked, but stated, "It really is a life changing experience, isn't it?" My answer is, "yes, it is." But how? And how can one explain it...ah hem, I'll try!
It's kind of like being a parent--only those of us who have actually been parents know the experience. You can try to put it into words, but until you've actually lived it you really don't get it. And when couples are about to become parents and have all these predetermined ideas of how their baby and what there family is going to be, only those of us who have lived it just smile and say, "uh huh," knowing it never turns out exactly (sometimes not at all) how you visualize it. I can only write about my own transformation from visiting India. I feel bigger, huge, internally expanded. I have been the the other side of the world, really been there and smelled, heard, tasted, breathed, and seen it. My practice with Arunji's instruction has shifted and changed. I can access much more of my yoga practice now, and not just in my body, but it's in my breath, in my spirit, in my relationships. It comes across in my teaching too--I am watching more, sensing more, and able to describe more as a teacher. I appreciate the comforts we have at home more and do not take them for granted. I stop and hang around with my grandson more, we laugh and play a lot more than we used to. "Life is so short and fragile" I keep telling myself, so make each moment count and tell those you love how important they are.
Anyway, I've been so inspired that I can't wait to go back, and want to share India with others. So I've joined a new budding business, Hatha Global. http://www.hatharetreats.com/ We organize retreats mostly to India for now, but eventually we'll be adding some other exotic locations. And the synergy and opportunities in connecting with others has been amazing! Just one small example (there have been so many), I went to a farewell part recently to say goodbye to some old friends moving back to Kenya, and I felt so sad. But we are now in the process of planning retreats to Africa, so goodbye wasn't goodbye at all but a new healthy vein opening into my heart. And now I have an opportunity to work with some of those fellow teachers who have inspired me awed me over the years.
So, where to from here? This yogini is off to Mexico in a couple of weeks. I am bringing a beautiful group of students with me to Troncones, where we'll practice lots of yoga on the beach, soak up some sun and laugh, cry, sing and dance, and have a fabulous time with my good friend Zoreh. It is my third trip back there. Sorry, this time I'm all sold out, but stay tuned...I'll probably post a date for next year soon. And then in June, I have a retreat in Calistoga, Ca. and in October in Muir Woods, Ca. Check out my website for details about those! http://brentwoodyogacenter.com/retreats
If you're in the Bay Area, come take classes, workshops, Kirtan with us! We're always busy and always building the community!
Here's a recent pic from our latest Kirtan event which featured a slide show of India, Yoga dancers and of course, chanting! It was a great evening!
Om Namah Shivaya,
Sandy
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
The rest of the trip...
So, what happened to days 8-14? Where did we go, what did we do?
Well, there was no WiFi at Yoga Nikaya, so we kind of dropped off the grid for a week, which was actually great! Yoga Nikaya was so peaceful and quiet, such a contrast to the busy city of Bangalore, and a welcome change.
So, I'm summarizing the rest of the trip. First let me start with a sum total of what we saw and did:
Aside from having Bangalore 'do us' (ha!) we saw Leela Palace, a fancy posh hotel which I already blogged about; lunch at Koshy's--I call it a 'flash back restaurant,' with a complete menu of Indian and American food, plus the infamous 'Thums Up' soda-pop (sweet, syrupy coke--actually made by Coke); Nandi Temple; Mysore Palace; Krishna Consciousness Temple; Halebeedu Temple; Vishnu Shanti Ashram; Belhur Temple (Mr. Iyengar's birthplace); Yoga Nikaya (the brand new, beautiful retreat center just south of Bangalore; attended the Harvest Festival, complete with decorated, dressed up cows getting blessed with water and fire; and a visit the the most amazing organic farm run by Ghandians (people who follow the teachings of Mahatma Ghandi).
There were so many wonderful things that occurred during our stay at Yoga Nikaya. The first real delight for me was being greeted with a fresh coconut. I don't know, I must have been really thirsty and hungry from the 2 hour drive into the country, but nothing ever tasted so refreshing and delightful, and the meat inside the coconut was so sweet and soft, I ate the whole thing!
The daily invocation (several times a day) to Patanjali must have brought him to me as the first night I was there, I dreamed of snakes--not in a scary way, but just lots of beautiful, colorful snakes. It wasn't until a few days later that I realized the significance of it. I had lots of vivid dreams during my stay there--perhaps it was the energy of the place and my energetic response to the Indian experience, or the really firm (ok hard), thin mattress I attempted to sleep on which was organically stuffed with coconut hair, or maybe it was the cold-water bucket baths--so refreshing and enlightening--I have a new appreciation for water running hot from the tap. These dreams could also be influenced by the amazing Chai, and delightfully spiced food there, enhanced by the experience of eating with my fingers, and the sweet soft friendly voices and company of the local Indian students, and international students with us--from Chili, Argentina, and Denmark. But truly, it must have been from the amazing, I mean amazing classes that Arunji taught. His expert, precise instruction combined with such an artistic way of using props was truly the highlight of India for me. The consistency of practicing for several hours a day along with great great food, sweet company, and relaxed atmosphere just lends to an opening in the body, mind and spirit. We were even more blessed by the array of exposure to art, dancing, music and ayurvedic lectures we received while there. What an experience for all the sense organs! Even in writing this last long entry about India here on this blog, I feel I am not doing it justice.
I wrote in my journal, "I have changed. Go home changed. Spend more time with those you love, with the activities that inspire you, and worry less about what doesn't really matter."
And, Arunji is the real deal--he has a way of seeing and teaching that transcends. One day, I heard him chanting/singing to himself as I walked by his room, I wished I could have bottled it up so I could open it when I needed to remember the feelings I had once home. His little sayings (so many of them) before class still stick with me. "Be silent first to practice anything" "Exhaling is most important. Life begins with an exhale, life ends with an exhale, we sneeze, cough, cry, and talk all with an exhale. And if you have been good in your life, your friends and loved ones will cry for you with an exhale." "Be doubly careful if you practice pranayama, if you aren't, it will eat you and you may become sick""You must have a personal practice; the teacher--your inner teacher arrives during personal practice" "Do not let you heart become dry and your chest to close--this makes us depressed"
Right now (it's been just a few days since I returned home) I am grateful for the fresh memories as I know they will fade (as all things do) with time. For now, I can still see the vivid colors of the sun rising and setting, the incredible full moon, the sensual delight of a few hot water/bucket bath :), and the lingering tastes, smells, and sounds of India.
Where are the pictures? All you need to do is check out the Facebook page of any of us that went--there are thousands (I took over a thousand myself, including video) for you to view and enjoy!
Will I return? You bethcha! I can't imagine not returning...come join me next time!
Well, there was no WiFi at Yoga Nikaya, so we kind of dropped off the grid for a week, which was actually great! Yoga Nikaya was so peaceful and quiet, such a contrast to the busy city of Bangalore, and a welcome change.
So, I'm summarizing the rest of the trip. First let me start with a sum total of what we saw and did:
Aside from having Bangalore 'do us' (ha!) we saw Leela Palace, a fancy posh hotel which I already blogged about; lunch at Koshy's--I call it a 'flash back restaurant,' with a complete menu of Indian and American food, plus the infamous 'Thums Up' soda-pop (sweet, syrupy coke--actually made by Coke); Nandi Temple; Mysore Palace; Krishna Consciousness Temple; Halebeedu Temple; Vishnu Shanti Ashram; Belhur Temple (Mr. Iyengar's birthplace); Yoga Nikaya (the brand new, beautiful retreat center just south of Bangalore; attended the Harvest Festival, complete with decorated, dressed up cows getting blessed with water and fire; and a visit the the most amazing organic farm run by Ghandians (people who follow the teachings of Mahatma Ghandi).
There were so many wonderful things that occurred during our stay at Yoga Nikaya. The first real delight for me was being greeted with a fresh coconut. I don't know, I must have been really thirsty and hungry from the 2 hour drive into the country, but nothing ever tasted so refreshing and delightful, and the meat inside the coconut was so sweet and soft, I ate the whole thing!
The daily invocation (several times a day) to Patanjali must have brought him to me as the first night I was there, I dreamed of snakes--not in a scary way, but just lots of beautiful, colorful snakes. It wasn't until a few days later that I realized the significance of it. I had lots of vivid dreams during my stay there--perhaps it was the energy of the place and my energetic response to the Indian experience, or the really firm (ok hard), thin mattress I attempted to sleep on which was organically stuffed with coconut hair, or maybe it was the cold-water bucket baths--so refreshing and enlightening--I have a new appreciation for water running hot from the tap. These dreams could also be influenced by the amazing Chai, and delightfully spiced food there, enhanced by the experience of eating with my fingers, and the sweet soft friendly voices and company of the local Indian students, and international students with us--from Chili, Argentina, and Denmark. But truly, it must have been from the amazing, I mean amazing classes that Arunji taught. His expert, precise instruction combined with such an artistic way of using props was truly the highlight of India for me. The consistency of practicing for several hours a day along with great great food, sweet company, and relaxed atmosphere just lends to an opening in the body, mind and spirit. We were even more blessed by the array of exposure to art, dancing, music and ayurvedic lectures we received while there. What an experience for all the sense organs! Even in writing this last long entry about India here on this blog, I feel I am not doing it justice.
I wrote in my journal, "I have changed. Go home changed. Spend more time with those you love, with the activities that inspire you, and worry less about what doesn't really matter."
And, Arunji is the real deal--he has a way of seeing and teaching that transcends. One day, I heard him chanting/singing to himself as I walked by his room, I wished I could have bottled it up so I could open it when I needed to remember the feelings I had once home. His little sayings (so many of them) before class still stick with me. "Be silent first to practice anything" "Exhaling is most important. Life begins with an exhale, life ends with an exhale, we sneeze, cough, cry, and talk all with an exhale. And if you have been good in your life, your friends and loved ones will cry for you with an exhale." "Be doubly careful if you practice pranayama, if you aren't, it will eat you and you may become sick""You must have a personal practice; the teacher--your inner teacher arrives during personal practice" "Do not let you heart become dry and your chest to close--this makes us depressed"
Right now (it's been just a few days since I returned home) I am grateful for the fresh memories as I know they will fade (as all things do) with time. For now, I can still see the vivid colors of the sun rising and setting, the incredible full moon, the sensual delight of a few hot water/bucket bath :), and the lingering tastes, smells, and sounds of India.
Where are the pictures? All you need to do is check out the Facebook page of any of us that went--there are thousands (I took over a thousand myself, including video) for you to view and enjoy!
Will I return? You bethcha! I can't imagine not returning...come join me next time!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Day 7...
Oh man, I wish posting pictures was working! I've taken over 700 photos so far and they have really turned out great. It'll just have to wait until I get back.
So what happened to day 6? Well yesterday was a great yoga day for me. I was able to take 3 of Arun's classes. His ladies class have over 50 women in it. The Indian women practice in their Salwar Kameez outfits with grace and beauty and humor. I feel so honorednto be with them, they are all so welcoming and sweet.
We also went to the Krishna Conciousness Temple in Rajajinagar. The temple in an active place of worship for Hindus. When we arrived late in the afternoon, it was packed, but for some reason, they waived us right to the front of the line. All I can think of is we are obvious foreigners visiting and maybe might donate a little money, which of course, we did. Andy, Maria, if you are reading this, Darcy, Jim and I thougt of you guys because the entire time we were there the Hari Krishna, Hari Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, (etc.) chant was being piped in. We chnted it with a priest performing an Arati ceremony just for us, received prasad, and joined in on a Kirtan jam! No cameras are allowed in the temple though, so we didn't capture the moments on film. :( Anyway, the experience was just so amazing, it is hard to put into words. But visualize an old enormous temple made of stone, filled with thousands of people all chanting, prostrating, crying, and worshiping Krisha and Rama. After receiving our blessings and supporting the gift shop (where ingot this amazing tulsi mala and frankincense) we revived another form of prasad--some very tasty, spicy, kitcheree. It was delicious and piping hot and so we all ate it of course with our hands, no forks or spoons here--you eat with your hands, including kitcheree, which is a mixture on rice and dahl, the consistency is like oatmeal, which makes eating it with your hands a little challenge. But where there is will, there is always a way, and we managed just fine.
On then way back from the temple (heading to a shopping district) I saw a cow, yes, an actual cow standing inside the bus stop, as if he was waiting for the bus like all the other passengers. As I mentioned previously, the cow is sacred, so he was not shooed away, but rather treated justnas any other person/being waiting for a bus. Anyway it was a hilarious sight, and one I will not soon forget.
So that brings me to today. Today we drove 200 kilometers into Belhur to see the Halebeedu Temple. The temple Is an eleventh century architectural phenomenon that is beyond words to describe, but was well worth the 4 hour drive in. Then journey itself was such a rich experience. Just like the scenes from the movie, "Slumdog Millionaire," we drove through slums as we left the city, through yards and yards of garbage, saw a beautiful sunrise amidst the hazy air, and really felt the reality of the billion plus people that live here. We left very early (6am), so we witnessed the rising day, the beginning of the sound assault as the beeping, honking, literal laying of horns began. The smog was so thick it was difficult to see some kids practicing yoga on their school lawn, oxen and cattle being walked by their owners (this vision appeared when we got out of the city), the women walking with large jugs of water on their heads, and the carts full of reeds and kindling wood slowly moving down the road, and the ever-present colorful sari clad women floating down the streets (both in the city and out in the country). There are sad disturbing visions as well, like the polio inflicted beggars in the streets, hands outstretched, sitting on tangled limbs all turn the wrong way.
I wish I had film of Jim telling Darcy the story of the Bhagavad Gita along the ride, it was a beautiful sweet thing to witness, and the Gita is told in so many different written ways, it was delightful to hear it casually verbalized. Anyway, when we got there and forged through the entrepreneurs selling trinkets (btw, in Mysore there was even a kid with 2 cobras and a monkey selling the opportunity for you to take a picture of him and his pets) the temple was almost surreal. Elaborate carvings, intricate work, layers of stories all carved into stone back in the eleventh century.
I am going to explain more tomorrow in detail about the temple...
It's now past midnight and I have a 6am class to get to!
Jai, jai. Stay tuned...
So what happened to day 6? Well yesterday was a great yoga day for me. I was able to take 3 of Arun's classes. His ladies class have over 50 women in it. The Indian women practice in their Salwar Kameez outfits with grace and beauty and humor. I feel so honorednto be with them, they are all so welcoming and sweet.
We also went to the Krishna Conciousness Temple in Rajajinagar. The temple in an active place of worship for Hindus. When we arrived late in the afternoon, it was packed, but for some reason, they waived us right to the front of the line. All I can think of is we are obvious foreigners visiting and maybe might donate a little money, which of course, we did. Andy, Maria, if you are reading this, Darcy, Jim and I thougt of you guys because the entire time we were there the Hari Krishna, Hari Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, (etc.) chant was being piped in. We chnted it with a priest performing an Arati ceremony just for us, received prasad, and joined in on a Kirtan jam! No cameras are allowed in the temple though, so we didn't capture the moments on film. :( Anyway, the experience was just so amazing, it is hard to put into words. But visualize an old enormous temple made of stone, filled with thousands of people all chanting, prostrating, crying, and worshiping Krisha and Rama. After receiving our blessings and supporting the gift shop (where ingot this amazing tulsi mala and frankincense) we revived another form of prasad--some very tasty, spicy, kitcheree. It was delicious and piping hot and so we all ate it of course with our hands, no forks or spoons here--you eat with your hands, including kitcheree, which is a mixture on rice and dahl, the consistency is like oatmeal, which makes eating it with your hands a little challenge. But where there is will, there is always a way, and we managed just fine.
On then way back from the temple (heading to a shopping district) I saw a cow, yes, an actual cow standing inside the bus stop, as if he was waiting for the bus like all the other passengers. As I mentioned previously, the cow is sacred, so he was not shooed away, but rather treated justnas any other person/being waiting for a bus. Anyway it was a hilarious sight, and one I will not soon forget.
So that brings me to today. Today we drove 200 kilometers into Belhur to see the Halebeedu Temple. The temple Is an eleventh century architectural phenomenon that is beyond words to describe, but was well worth the 4 hour drive in. Then journey itself was such a rich experience. Just like the scenes from the movie, "Slumdog Millionaire," we drove through slums as we left the city, through yards and yards of garbage, saw a beautiful sunrise amidst the hazy air, and really felt the reality of the billion plus people that live here. We left very early (6am), so we witnessed the rising day, the beginning of the sound assault as the beeping, honking, literal laying of horns began. The smog was so thick it was difficult to see some kids practicing yoga on their school lawn, oxen and cattle being walked by their owners (this vision appeared when we got out of the city), the women walking with large jugs of water on their heads, and the carts full of reeds and kindling wood slowly moving down the road, and the ever-present colorful sari clad women floating down the streets (both in the city and out in the country). There are sad disturbing visions as well, like the polio inflicted beggars in the streets, hands outstretched, sitting on tangled limbs all turn the wrong way.
I wish I had film of Jim telling Darcy the story of the Bhagavad Gita along the ride, it was a beautiful sweet thing to witness, and the Gita is told in so many different written ways, it was delightful to hear it casually verbalized. Anyway, when we got there and forged through the entrepreneurs selling trinkets (btw, in Mysore there was even a kid with 2 cobras and a monkey selling the opportunity for you to take a picture of him and his pets) the temple was almost surreal. Elaborate carvings, intricate work, layers of stories all carved into stone back in the eleventh century.
I am going to explain more tomorrow in detail about the temple...
It's now past midnight and I have a 6am class to get to!
Jai, jai. Stay tuned...
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Is it really day 5 already?
So today we went into Mysore. What an experience! We visited the Ranganatha Swamy Temple in Karantaka State where we paid respects to Vishnu, Lakshmi, and Ganesha. I received a water blessing from a priest there in front of the Lakshmi Temple.
Then we visited Mysore Palace, one of the best known and most photographed monuments in India. The palace exhibits many royal artifacts and is an incredibly beautiful place. Many people go to visit the palace including Indians. We were quite the spectacle there, I don't think the locals see a lot of foreigners. We were asked to take pictures with families, and school children walking along would say "Hi" and when we replied back would squeal and giggle with delight.
It was quite along bus ride out and back though--a totalnof 5 hours on the road, so I am pretty tired (no yoga today as we had to leave at 6am). I am looking forward to yoga tomorrow and then we will be visiting the Krisha Conciousness Temple. Whew!
Then we visited Mysore Palace, one of the best known and most photographed monuments in India. The palace exhibits many royal artifacts and is an incredibly beautiful place. Many people go to visit the palace including Indians. We were quite the spectacle there, I don't think the locals see a lot of foreigners. We were asked to take pictures with families, and school children walking along would say "Hi" and when we replied back would squeal and giggle with delight.
It was quite along bus ride out and back though--a totalnof 5 hours on the road, so I am pretty tired (no yoga today as we had to leave at 6am). I am looking forward to yoga tomorrow and then we will be visiting the Krisha Conciousness Temple. Whew!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Day 3&4!!!
Oh my, here it is already day 4! The trip yesterday to Leela Palace was such a contrast to what we've been experiencing so far. Leela Palace is not a palace at all but it is a 5 star hotel where important people like our President stays when he comes to Bangalore. I've tried like the dickens to post pics both here, on MobileMe, and Facebook to show you all but with very little success. Anyway, Leela Palace was very, very luxurious. Decadent, well manicured grounds, fancy foyers, huge fountains filled with rose petals, and a big beautiful pool were just a few of the incredible things to see. Aside from that, we were there to indulge on their elegant brunch. All the foods we might not be able to get in Bangalore were certainly available at Leela Palace. We had choices from lamb brains to chocolate souffle! I personally passed on the brains, but make it a religion to never turn down chocolate! Anyway, we did a bit of fancy mall shopping as well there and headed home.
The traffic during rush hour is absolutely crazy. There are no established lanes anywhere in the streets. The road is shared without any seemingly rules (at one point our driver was driving the wrong way down a one way road) with cars, buses, mopeds carrying families of 3-4 (complete with side-saddled, sari-wearing moms on the back, child in the middle and baby in front of dad who is driving), cows, pedestrians, and what or who ever needs to use the road. There are no real cross-walks so to say, and pedestrians do not have the right of way, so it's an insane dance and I mean really insane of darting vehicles, animals, and people shooting across the road in all different directions. It is incredible, but it seems to work in an eerie sort of way. It sure looks like somebody will get hit, but in the nick of time they or the vehicle makes a sharp dart out of the way, all preceded by the honk, which I think
translates as a language, an entire dialect of its own. There was not an evening yoga class that night, so we skipped that, went out for dinner and retired around 10am. at about 2am we were roused by barking dogs. The barking literlly went on for hours. We summized somebody must have been in heat and drove all the local male dogs crazy. Oh yeah, and then we couldn't get back to sleep, so it's been a long day today!
Today started with an early morning back-bend class, a little break for chai and veggie biyrani, a late morning class for women only, (what an amazing sequence; and the studio must have has 40 women in class) and then a bus ride to a quaint little bistro called Koshy's (which was like stepping back 50 years but had some really good food including milkshakes and the infamous "thums up," a sweet Indian style cola), and a visit to the Nandi Temple. This temple is situated in a little forest and in addition to having big beautiful statues of 5 goddesses, is a tribute to the Bhagavad Gita. The verses of Gita are carved out in stone tablets and displayed in a beautiful ashram. I could have spent the night there as it was a surreal and spiritual experience to touch and read the tablets in this sort of glory. After that we did some shopping at a fun local place called, "Fab India." And then it was another crazy ride home in commute traffic, back the the hotel (I actually opted to skip dinner, take a shower (India is very dusty and the trip today left me feeling an urgency to wash off the dry, dark, dirt)), and get ready for a long, big, important all day trip tomorrow to Mysore, Mr Iyengar's birthplace.
So it's off to sleep I go in order to be ready to rise at 5am, get on the bus for 3 hours and see more of India! This has really been an amazing experience, truly a different world. Right now, 8:45pm I hear then local Temple chanting prayers and ringing in their puja as the same beeping cars, barking dogs and busy pedestrians travel home and retire for the day. So good
night for now! I promise I will do my best to keep up an the blog tomorrow!!!
The traffic during rush hour is absolutely crazy. There are no established lanes anywhere in the streets. The road is shared without any seemingly rules (at one point our driver was driving the wrong way down a one way road) with cars, buses, mopeds carrying families of 3-4 (complete with side-saddled, sari-wearing moms on the back, child in the middle and baby in front of dad who is driving), cows, pedestrians, and what or who ever needs to use the road. There are no real cross-walks so to say, and pedestrians do not have the right of way, so it's an insane dance and I mean really insane of darting vehicles, animals, and people shooting across the road in all different directions. It is incredible, but it seems to work in an eerie sort of way. It sure looks like somebody will get hit, but in the nick of time they or the vehicle makes a sharp dart out of the way, all preceded by the honk, which I think
translates as a language, an entire dialect of its own. There was not an evening yoga class that night, so we skipped that, went out for dinner and retired around 10am. at about 2am we were roused by barking dogs. The barking literlly went on for hours. We summized somebody must have been in heat and drove all the local male dogs crazy. Oh yeah, and then we couldn't get back to sleep, so it's been a long day today!
Today started with an early morning back-bend class, a little break for chai and veggie biyrani, a late morning class for women only, (what an amazing sequence; and the studio must have has 40 women in class) and then a bus ride to a quaint little bistro called Koshy's (which was like stepping back 50 years but had some really good food including milkshakes and the infamous "thums up," a sweet Indian style cola), and a visit to the Nandi Temple. This temple is situated in a little forest and in addition to having big beautiful statues of 5 goddesses, is a tribute to the Bhagavad Gita. The verses of Gita are carved out in stone tablets and displayed in a beautiful ashram. I could have spent the night there as it was a surreal and spiritual experience to touch and read the tablets in this sort of glory. After that we did some shopping at a fun local place called, "Fab India." And then it was another crazy ride home in commute traffic, back the the hotel (I actually opted to skip dinner, take a shower (India is very dusty and the trip today left me feeling an urgency to wash off the dry, dark, dirt)), and get ready for a long, big, important all day trip tomorrow to Mysore, Mr Iyengar's birthplace.
So it's off to sleep I go in order to be ready to rise at 5am, get on the bus for 3 hours and see more of India! This has really been an amazing experience, truly a different world. Right now, 8:45pm I hear then local Temple chanting prayers and ringing in their puja as the same beeping cars, barking dogs and busy pedestrians travel home and retire for the day. So good
night for now! I promise I will do my best to keep up an the blog tomorrow!!!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Day 2
Right after yesterday's blog we went to Arun's advanced practice class. It was an amazing class that consisted of very long holding of poses. 5 minutes in Supata Padangustasana 1 & 2 each side twice, 10 minutes in Sirsasana (headstand), 10 minutes each side marichyasana 2. Needless to say, after the long flight, staying up all day, and truly slipping into a deeper kosha after the evening class, I hit the proverbial wall, skipped dinner, and went to bed. I think I was fast asleep by 8pm. So now it's 5am and I am wide awake. The sweet assault noise is beginning outside my hotel room--cars speeding by, 3 wheeled motorcycles aka taxis zooming around, birds squawking, horns beeping (which by the way conitinues all day long) and chanting off in the distance at the local temple. My roommate, Darcy wants coffee. There is a local chain of coffee shops called "coffee day" we are going to take a little walk and see just how early they open...
This morning we will have a 2 hour class with Arun (it's Sunday morning here) and then we are off to brunch at Lela Palace (a fancy place) followed by our first official shopping expedition. :)
Well, I'm off to look for coffee or better yet those delectable piping hot, thimble size cups of chai sold in the corner street cafe's.
This morning we will have a 2 hour class with Arun (it's Sunday morning here) and then we are off to brunch at Lela Palace (a fancy place) followed by our first official shopping expedition. :)
Well, I'm off to look for coffee or better yet those delectable piping hot, thimble size cups of chai sold in the corner street cafe's.
First Day here
Well that really was the longest flight ever! What does one do up in an airplane for 20 hours? Actually the flight wasn't so bad just the duration. But we are all here in Bangalore now safe and sound and have already gone to our first yoga class with Arun. We arrived in Bangalore at about 4am got the the hotel and was able to make Arun's 6am class. What a welcome yoga was after that long trip! India floods the senses. It is hard to describe but I'll try. Even at 4am the moment stepping off the plane floods the senses with smells, colors, noise, people, stray dogs, corner temples and energy that is so stimulating. The combination of smells alone--sweet, smoky, and pungent is enough to put you in an altertate state. the food is spicy, hot, and sweet. The colors are vibrant, enticing and beautiful. The people are quiet, polite, friendly, dark, and lovely. It's true what they say, India does you, you don't do India. So sorry for the slight delay in blogging. Internet access is spotty at best ;)
Thursday, January 6, 2011
This is it!
Well, this is it! I am finally packed, printed my boarding pass and I'm ready to go!
How do I feel? I am excited and anxious.
I have a long wait at the SFO Airport as well, so maybe I'll take a few pre-boarding pics there of the group and post another blog today. If not, I'll see you in India!
How do I feel? I am excited and anxious.
I have a long wait at the SFO Airport as well, so maybe I'll take a few pre-boarding pics there of the group and post another blog today. If not, I'll see you in India!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
48 Hours to India!
I need to pack, I need to pack, I need to pack! But that's all I have left to do...
I think my big yellow Kitty Cat is going to miss me though, what do you think?
I think my big yellow Kitty Cat is going to miss me though, what do you think?
Monday, January 3, 2011
Day 2 Getting ready for India Day only...3 days left!
Well, whew, I figured out how to work and download the pictures from the camera! Don't you just love this day and age--it is so easy with all our great technology, don't know why I was stressing about it. My plan for pictures is to use mobile me as the application. Let's see, does this work? Click in the link below...
http://gallery.me.com/sandycarmellini/100074/DSC%5F0019
So today, the plan is to pack (well at least start packing), and get a much needed pedi/mani. Does one wear color on their nails in India without looking too much like a tourist?
http://gallery.me.com/sandycarmellini/100074/DSC%5F0019
So today, the plan is to pack (well at least start packing), and get a much needed pedi/mani. Does one wear color on their nails in India without looking too much like a tourist?
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Day 1!
Happy New Year everyone!
I am just learning how to blog, and just in time for my big trip to India! It was one of my big goals to get this going before I leave!
So, here goes (I promise it'll get more exciting as the days roll by)
In just 4 short days I'll be boarding a plane for a very long ride--20+ hours--oy!
I am very excited about taking this trip--it has required more preparation then any other trip I have gone on, but 3 vaccines, 1 valid passport with a current Indian Visa stamped in it, 3 prescriptions, 1 new camera, 1 new i-pad, 2 suitcases (one full, one empty), and a lot of mosquito repellent, and I'm almost there! Today I plan on figuring out how to work and download my new camera and start packing! Stay tuned...
I am just learning how to blog, and just in time for my big trip to India! It was one of my big goals to get this going before I leave!
So, here goes (I promise it'll get more exciting as the days roll by)
In just 4 short days I'll be boarding a plane for a very long ride--20+ hours--oy!
I am very excited about taking this trip--it has required more preparation then any other trip I have gone on, but 3 vaccines, 1 valid passport with a current Indian Visa stamped in it, 3 prescriptions, 1 new camera, 1 new i-pad, 2 suitcases (one full, one empty), and a lot of mosquito repellent, and I'm almost there! Today I plan on figuring out how to work and download my new camera and start packing! Stay tuned...
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