Well there's been plenty to talk about already and the course hasn't even started! So I get a cab to get to the airport and the fellow driving me is from Northern India... he was so sweet, gave me his phone number, cell number and email and told me "if ever you are in any kind of trouble you call me and I will send help to get you out"... I could tell that he was completely sincere and all well intended :) For those thinking he was trying to marry me off let me assure you that I'm wearing my trusty spoon ring on my ring finger, I wasn't going to leave home without it :). For those of you that do not know what is a spoon ring it is a ring made from a silverware: in England1800s the servants would steal the silverware to make wedding rings for there young love birds. They say that wearing such a ring now is a reminder of all the invisible folks that make our own personal world the pleasant place it is... we're lucky ducks you know!
So back to my trip. I get to the airport and I'm tired and I'm cranky and I almost drop my boarding pass in the toilet... oh that is a good sign. I'm just about to get into the gate to board and who is standing right in front of me... Gayle Poapst (aka Gayatri) and she is going to Rishikesh on the same flight path and staying at the same hotel in New Delhi! Gail Poast owns and runs the Bodhi Tree Yoga studio in Kempville. I know her because we were in a Somayog teacher training class together in Feb at her studio. Not only do I know her but she was the one who told me about the ashram and gave me the pamphlet that lead me to register AND she is teaching the anatomy part of the course :D Did I mention that there were 5 other yoga teachers on the plane also heading this way at another ashram???!!! I was no longer cranky :)
We got to New Delhi, now that I have a group backing me up... easiest travel to a crazy place I've ever done. We got to New Delhi and met up with a whole slue of eager excited yogis. Several, I might add, from Ottawa!
India has been interesting to say the least. The smog is quite bad although much less bad in Rishikesh. I had heard that India sticks, I assumed that I would get a whiff of hot garbage juice every once in a while like in Bangkok but no. As we were landing the smell started in the plane while still in the air, it smells like a pulp and paper mill... everywhere in New Delhi! That is the standard smell when not in the presence of other interesting open pits (think hot garbage juice). There is a lot of poverty as expected though I think I deal with these things just fine.
Rishikesh is cleaner (comparably speaking) and way awesome! It turns out that it is a very special, historic and spiritual place for Indians as well as Westerners, there are many pilgrimages in this area. It's interesting and heart warming to see wide amazes eyes on the Indians :) We are at the foot of the Himalayas and it is breath taking! I'm hoping that I can add some pictures although the internet here is quite limited so we'll see. Here I thought I had to watch out for tigers but it turns out it's the little brown monkeys with red butts that are up to no good. They try to steal you bags to see if you have any goodies. The white monkeys with black butts are much nicer. You also have to watch out for cow poo (among all other form of poo... like ALL forms of poo), it's everywhere! I guess some people would find that bothersome, I just feel like I'm walking around a big open farm. How can you not smile while the cutest baby cows are wandering a few feet from your door :)
On a completely different note we haven't started the training yet however we are up to our eyeballs in yoga, we have 2 classes a day of 2 hours each... I'm already hurting! Today I actually tossed my cookies... like power tossed. The good news is that I don't believe that I've "gotten sick". Yoga can do funny things to a person and well it was, considering my head space, the first of my letting go of my old ways of being. I was pushing something down because I thought it was the right thing (silly me) and as soon as a loosened my grip it came rushing up with my breakfast :P I feel great now :)
The ashram is incredible! I didn't expect it to be so beautiful and clean. The food is amazing, the people are loving and the atmosphere is serene and peaceful! I feel right being here...
So I talked about bad odors, stealing monkeys, poo, vomit, unparalleled beauty and spiritual connection... this my friends is India...
Namaste :)
So back to my trip. I get to the airport and I'm tired and I'm cranky and I almost drop my boarding pass in the toilet... oh that is a good sign. I'm just about to get into the gate to board and who is standing right in front of me... Gayle Poapst (aka Gayatri) and she is going to Rishikesh on the same flight path and staying at the same hotel in New Delhi! Gail Poast owns and runs the Bodhi Tree Yoga studio in Kempville. I know her because we were in a Somayog teacher training class together in Feb at her studio. Not only do I know her but she was the one who told me about the ashram and gave me the pamphlet that lead me to register AND she is teaching the anatomy part of the course :D Did I mention that there were 5 other yoga teachers on the plane also heading this way at another ashram???!!! I was no longer cranky :)
We got to New Delhi, now that I have a group backing me up... easiest travel to a crazy place I've ever done. We got to New Delhi and met up with a whole slue of eager excited yogis. Several, I might add, from Ottawa!
India has been interesting to say the least. The smog is quite bad although much less bad in Rishikesh. I had heard that India sticks, I assumed that I would get a whiff of hot garbage juice every once in a while like in Bangkok but no. As we were landing the smell started in the plane while still in the air, it smells like a pulp and paper mill... everywhere in New Delhi! That is the standard smell when not in the presence of other interesting open pits (think hot garbage juice). There is a lot of poverty as expected though I think I deal with these things just fine.
Rishikesh is cleaner (comparably speaking) and way awesome! It turns out that it is a very special, historic and spiritual place for Indians as well as Westerners, there are many pilgrimages in this area. It's interesting and heart warming to see wide amazes eyes on the Indians :) We are at the foot of the Himalayas and it is breath taking! I'm hoping that I can add some pictures although the internet here is quite limited so we'll see. Here I thought I had to watch out for tigers but it turns out it's the little brown monkeys with red butts that are up to no good. They try to steal you bags to see if you have any goodies. The white monkeys with black butts are much nicer. You also have to watch out for cow poo (among all other form of poo... like ALL forms of poo), it's everywhere! I guess some people would find that bothersome, I just feel like I'm walking around a big open farm. How can you not smile while the cutest baby cows are wandering a few feet from your door :)
On a completely different note we haven't started the training yet however we are up to our eyeballs in yoga, we have 2 classes a day of 2 hours each... I'm already hurting! Today I actually tossed my cookies... like power tossed. The good news is that I don't believe that I've "gotten sick". Yoga can do funny things to a person and well it was, considering my head space, the first of my letting go of my old ways of being. I was pushing something down because I thought it was the right thing (silly me) and as soon as a loosened my grip it came rushing up with my breakfast :P I feel great now :)
The ashram is incredible! I didn't expect it to be so beautiful and clean. The food is amazing, the people are loving and the atmosphere is serene and peaceful! I feel right being here...
So I talked about bad odors, stealing monkeys, poo, vomit, unparalleled beauty and spiritual connection... this my friends is India...
Namaste :)
Awesome Annie, can't wait to hear more.
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