Stepping In to India

This isn't my first trip to magical India, but each time still has the same effect when I step out of the airport and into the warm, sultry air. The smells and noise hit you first, your eyes are slower to process the visions. Nothing is subtle in this Country--you gotta be in 100%. It's beautiful!

After checking into our Apartment, meeting with our cook, taking a nice bucket bath, (oh and a reuniting with the toilet hose), I'm ready to go native just as I remember past trips. And one of those things is riding in a Rickshaw! These rides are so much fun, and I have the greatest driver! I trust him 100% I feel safe when I'm with Nana!
 

Geared up for Rickshaw travel!

 Our first class was with Prashantji. It was a very inspiring class. Although I was (and still am) very jet-laggged it was the perfect first class to take. What a lovely man; elegant, articulate, kind, and intelligent. Second class that evening was a Pranayama class with a different teacher. Oh my she was also so lovely and the teaching was so beautiful. But guess what? Yours truly almost fell over falling asleep! Sheesh, really? What? I can't up for 30+ hours and think I'm going to stay awake for Pranayama?

We've got GREAT WiFi where we are staying. That's a first and we are so grateful and excited about keeping in touch with everyone we love on the other side of the planet. I FaceTime every night with my husband. Isn't technology magical when it works? So, stay tuned, I promise to write something every night from here on out. Look for the sequence I took with Sunita today on tomorrow's Blog.

Good Night!

Here's a mild sample of Rickshaw travel for those of you that have never done it before:

A Journey to the Source

It was a BIG decision deciding to go to Pune and study with the Iyengars. I had been thinking about it for many, many, many years.  The advise I always got though was, "don't go." Even my family (except my incredible husband) did not want me to go.  But still, the strong desire tugged and pulled at my heart. What to do? The final push to apply for admittance nearly 2 years ago after my dear teacher Donald Moyer retired and I was trying out some other teachers. Although I miss him terribly, I was lucky enough to find a wonderful community where I feel so welcomed and loved. My new teacher, Heather Haxo Phillips (owner of Adeline Yoga in Berkeley) is a certified Iyengar teacher. She supported and mentored each step of the way to study the Iyengar method, apply for Pune and apply for Assessment. Another teacher I have taken classes with for years, Michael Lucey (who just passed his Senior Assessment this year) also teaches at Adeline so I arrived exactly where I was supposed to. Oh, and guess what? Yours truly just just became a CIYT too. I can't believe it!

Anyway, my point is, ALL my teachers have been Iyengar teachers, including dear Donald. I even had the good fortune about 8 years ago to have connected with a South Indian Senior Iyengar teacher, HS Arun from Bangalore who comes annually to my studio and teach.  I have made the glorious trek to Bangalore a few times to study with him. So---here I am at the SOURCE, in Pune, finally, the place where all my teachers came from. I've docked on the mother ship, communed with the Source Sangha. It feels so right to be here. Atha Yoganusasanam!

The trek to India is always an experience. It is certainly not for everyone, but I love it. More about that tomorrow. I'm seriously jet-lagged right now and need to go to bed so I don't fall asleep again during Pranayama class like I did tonight UGH!

Goodnight and
Stay tuned Yogis.

Me and my rommie, Stephanie Barnes-Castro at the RIMYI gate 

The Big Day

Thursday was Arun's birthday according to the Hindu calendar. I don't think I've ever seen such an elaborate, huge, celebration. There were so many things going on at the same time, it was challenging to pick one thing to watch in fear you might miss something else.

From what I understand, the day celebrates his life from before birth to the present time. Once of the rituals is tying the knot, another one is getting a shower from the guests. The shower is given by the guests who poured water over Arun and his wife's head. I didn't have the heart to do it as it went on for what seemed a long time to me. There was also an amazing 28+ course meal served, and I am positive all the guests including myself ate too much. Later that evening we gathered at the yoga school where the celebration (which included Diwali) continued. There were speeches, singers, and dancers, and even a very short "talent show" in which the international students sang happy birthday to Arun is different languages. It was a very lovely, sweet evening.

The festivities ended with lighting fireworks in the street for Diwali. The amount of fireworks, and firecrackers is wild. It is reminiscent of the old days of fourth of July when we too were allowed to light these things up in the street. One of the traditions of Diwali is handing out sweets. We've been handing our American chocolate to kids and even merchants we buy supplies from. The little children are especially delighted to receive these goodies. One little boys face lit up so bright, I think is was he who stopped the rain and brought out the sunshine.

There was a break from the festivities on Friday, but the day was wonderful in that I took three classes with Arun. The first class was a ladies only class which is always sweet well attended.  I love the way Arun recognizes and modifies the practice for everyone. He quickly noticed the dryness in my body due to menopause and gave me modifications so as not to make my situation worse. Wow, is it that obvious in my body? Maybe, but it's more that he sees beyond what most don't including yours truly. So I head back to the hotel after class for a lunch and to ponder my practice.

The two evening classes were sequenced so amazingly. With the help of Jim Coughlin, we were able to write down the sequences. Hopefully I will be able to decipher my notes later when I get home and not completely forget the sequences. 

Taste Senses

Early Wednesday morning we picked up my BFF Darcy from the airport. The car ride back was full of laughter and bliss, even though she had a pretty horrific experience getting here as she was rerouted and spent 5 hours waiting in Denver due to Lufthansa airlines being on strike snd then almost missed her connection in London. As the old axiom goes, it's the journey, not the destination. Talk about an opportunity to practice yoga, right?

Shortly after that we went to the beginning of our festivities where a puja for Ganesha was underway. It began with another incredible meal on a banana leaf. Each meal includes all the tastes. Apparently you are to begin with sweet to evoke digestion. I also discovered the sweet helps calm the spicy, that can be helpful after accidentally eating a  chili. I can't help but realize the brilliance of the way food has been served to us. First, a totally biodegradable banana leaf is your plate, and you eat with your hands, so no washing of utensils are involved at all. The totally acceptable way to clean your hand is by licking your fingers, and then there is a huge communal sink with a dozen faucets where you wash your hands. It's all so efficient, social and Eco friendly. Oh and the food has been served to us by a group of Brahman priests. They have each dish in a big bucket, and walk down each table giving you a spoonful and then the next priest plops down another spoonful, etc. until your leaf has a complete meal on it. It all happens within a couple of minutes, so everyone is served pretty much together at the same time. Again, I marvel at the efficiency.


The Ganesha Puja is the first celebration as he removes the obstacles for the festivities about to take place. There's an arati ceremony of sorts in the temple which is followed by many hours of  chanting, and offerings to Ganesha. Some of the items offered to him are flowers, ghee, and of course, prasad (which has been hand made by the priests). One of these rituals I have fallen in love with is when a whole coconut is placed on top of the fire. This coconut respresents the ego, the fire is the sadhana (the practice) and it is the fire (the practice) that destroys the ego but busting it open.

Another incredible lunch is served, and we eventually take a walk to shop. Although exhausted, we end up at a Saree store. We have a lot of fun trying on Sarees and taking pictures of each other. We all end up with not one, but two Sarees. They are an incredible deal, will be tailored to fit and we are all looking foward to picking them up in a couple of days. 

Bliss after the long journey

10/21/14

We arrived in Bangslore at 3am. Although I know I'm tired, my body is revved up on adrenaline in anticipation of a hot shower and a hot cup of chai and my first class with Arun. It's been raining so the air is moist and clean and cool. When we arrive at the new hotel, there is a delightful surprise of it being exceptionally clean, brand-new, with towels never used and beds never slept in. This feels so luxurious!

We make it to the 6:15 AM class which is the perfect remedy to jet lag from the long journey. As we stroll along the early morning dark streets, there's the wonderful sounds of birds starting to chirp, monkeys in the trees and dogs barking in their yards. The cars are just starting to come out and the horns beeping are faint.  I want to slow down a bit and savor all the auditory sensations.

Stepping on the entry steps of Prashant Yogashraya is like putting on an old favorite pair of jeans. It's great to see  friends there from around the world taking class at this auspicious time for the studio. Not only is the studio full of students, but there's also the usual students around the perimeter and this time, even in the office, practicing therapeutics. I always find this so fascinating and interesting. We chant the invocation to Patanjali, and because this morning is Patanjali's birthday, we chant the ending, "Pranamami Patanjali" 108 times. My energy lifts and my heart swells.

After class the international students are gathered off to the side for a little informal debriefing about the festivities for tonight. There is to be a Patanjali Puja at the studio this evening. I am so excited!

We walk back to our hotel where there is also a great restaurant for breakfast. Our first meal in India is scrumptious and does not disappoint. We devour fresh, hot, idly, vata, masala dosas, curd, Indian pickles, mint chutney, and hot chai. We eat until we are so full, it is impossible to take another bite.  Yum! Indeed yum to it all! 

Off to India again...

Arun teaching and demonstrating at Brentwood Yoga Center

October 19, 2014

"Atha Yoganusasanum" (Now the exposition of Yoga begins)
 
Although it's been a little hard for me to wake up lately as the Northern California days grow short and the weather is turning cool and crisp, I did wake up early this morning. It was the sounds of morning that tuned me in. I heard the Canada Geese honking, the doves cooing, my cat meowing form the other room, and the very faint sound of cars driving. As I opened my eyes, thinking, well, this is the last morning in my own bed, next to my warm husband for 3 weeks, I remembered the amazing sounds of India. The mornings in India will be quite different--first before day break, I'll hear the chant of prayers from the nearby mosque in Bangalore, then the vegetable cart lady calling for sales, the dogs beginning to bark, and one beep, two beeps of the cars and buses, which will turn into a riot of beeps very quickly and not subside until late in the evening.

I was having mixed emotions about returning to India. Several close family members of mine aren't in 100% of health and I am concerned about being so far away (India is a 20 hour plane ride), and then (not to open a can of worms), there's all these virus' being spread around on airplanes. I'm usually not paranoid, but a few close friends and family (who all watch TV and the news too much in my opinion) have urged me not to go because of this. My mom even offered to pay for my trip if I would please cancel. It's hard to not have this in the back of your mind.

"Yogas CittaVrtti-Norodah" (Yoga is settling the mind into silence)

It was actually my dear, dear husband, who said to me last night, "All will be fine, you are always careful, we will all be fine. Make this a spiritual trip, and stop worrying." Wow, was that really Bobby that said make it a spiritual trip? The trip is always spiritual to India, I know that, but somehow I let that part slip away from me in the me hem of getting caught in the mind stuff. I tripped and fell on the very basic teachings of this practice I love so much. So thanks a million my love, Guru-Bobby, I am set back in balance like a strong, blissful  Tadasana, and I am ready to go.

I look forward to practice every morning and afternoon with Arunji and the community at Prashant Yogashraya. I look forward to celebrating Arunji's 60th birthday with him. I look forward to celebrating Prashant Yogashray's 30th anniversary. I look forward to being in India during Diwali. I look forward to putting on my Sari and wearing Indian clothes. I look forward to eating the best Indian food ever and having lots of veggie and vegan choices! I look forward to my little side-trip down to the southern tip of India. I look forward to the wonderful assault on all my senses--sounds, sights, smells, taste, and touch.

I'll try to blog as much as possible (WiFi willing)--stay tuned. Reply back with questions!

Namaskar,
Sandy

My journal notes from India

Recently, my teacher from India, Arunji asked me to send him my notes from my studies with him last year in India. As I read through them, I cried softy, missing India, the people, the smells, colors, authenticity, and of course, classes with him. I was so inspired by my own notes that I decided to share my letter to him from me.

 Picture Above of me and Arun at Yoga Niykaya, India January 2011

Dear Arun,

Here are some of my notes--as promised. These are just my notes specifically about you from my journal I kept while in India. If they are not exactly what you are looking for, feel free to let me know and I can write something more formal.

First Day:

"Yoga class at 6am with Arun was well received and attended. His studio in Bangalore located above his house was packed full with students. The smell of India, of the cool, fresh morning along with the colors and beautiful people was sweet, new and wonderful. We began class with an invocation to Patanjali. I cannot describe in words the experience of a full room of yogis, in India, actually chanting Om with just conviction and passion. The sensation of the vibration went right down to my soul and felt so exhilarating and justified after such a long journey.  Women and men seem to practice in separate parts of the room--interesting..."

Same day, afternoon class:

"Argh, such a great practice with many twists, but I am just too exhausted from the long journey to keep up they way I want to and can't remember the entire sequence. I will pay more attention tomorrow so I can better document the practice."

Quotes and Gems from Arun during pranayama:

"Be doubly careful. If you do not practice pranayama properly it will eat you, and you may become sick."

"Be silent first to practice anything"

"The exhale is important. Life begins with exhale, ends with exhale. We sneeze, cough, talk and cry all with an exhale. And if you have good karma in the end your friends will cry for you."

"If your heart is dry, you become depressed as the chest closes."

"The inner teacher arrives during personal practice."

"The inner tambora comes out during pranayama; the inner vibration."

"Accept what you are and enjoy it."

"Practice kindness; have no enemies."

"We learn how to conquor our own sorrow through the holistic practice of yoga."

"Muhtita"

"Be content with what you have. Do not be greedy. Accept what your teachers give you without questions or wanting more."

I wish you well Dear Arunji. And thank you for asking me to do this. It brought tears to  my eyes as I read through my journal and reminisced with the teachings from you. I feel truly blessed and privileged to know you and have you as my teacher.

With love and light,

Sandy