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Published: February 11th 2007
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Ouch. Owowowowowowowowowow! While yoga on the beach in India has a lovely ring to it, the actual activity has left me sore and wishing I never came up with such a bright idea. Well, to be truthful, I am actually very much enjoying the course, aside from the not being able to walk part. The teacher, one venerable Sharat Arora, who studied under B.K.S. Iyengar himself, is both to the point and uncompromising. As he put it on the first day, "I can look at your body and know what it can achieve. If you are not striving for that 100%, then I will know". And he does, trust me, there is no wimping out in this class. I felt very dizzy on the first day and when I was taking a break at the back in order to stop myself from passing out, he announced to the whole class (though I knew it was directed at me) that people with low blood pressure should bring sugar water to class and drink it the whole day. Right, point taken. And now, three days, two 10 minute shoulder stands, 10 consecutive back arches, many precise standing and pretzel asanas, for a grand
total 13 hours of class time later, and I have a totally different understanding of yoga.
Although i always knew that yoga was used as a tool to heighten your awareness, to make you more spiritual or happy in daily life, I never really had that experience until now. Hatha yoga is meant to bring about the balance of the sun (Ha) and the moon (tha) energies. I know that that seems a bunch of new age mumbo jumbo to a lot of people, and I felt the same way before this course. But even now I can feel it opening up my inner thoughts and emotions. Today in class, Sharat said that to be a true yogi is not to run away from life and people in order to extract yourself from the challenges. To be a true yogi is to live a normal life, to be present in that life always but at the same time, to be able to let go of the daily stresses life creates. To be both present and yet to let go is to be a true yogi. That thought has been on my mind all day and I can feel the
openness creeping through me. Slowly but surely I am letting go of old hang-ups, all that baggage that one accumulates through life. Many of my fears I have already felt melt away, and I hope that by continuing the practice after the class ends, I will be able to continue to let go. It is an amazing feeling to truly let go.
O.K., well enough of that. Onto what else I have done. The day before the yoga class started, I went on a day trip around Northern Goa with a new Australian friend Carlie and I met the night before. Igor, originally from Serbia but raised in Australia, and a seasoned traveler, Carlie and I had planned to go north to a secluded beach and fort that we had read about, and then south to a big beach party we had heard about through the Arambol grape vine. Carlie however, still feeling a bit off, opted to stay near our hotel, so Igor and I were left to explore on our own. Via motorbike we headed north and soon found a lovely beach free of jewelry wallas, fruit wallas, ear cleaning wallas and most other people. After a
dip in the ocean to clean off the road dust, we took a short ferry across to the fort, which was originally built to defend India against the Portuguese. A beautiful secluded little spot, we both agreed that it would be the perfect place to have a wedding when you didn't want many people to come, as it only had six rooms, but amazing views and a very attentive staff. After this we headed back down south to a beach party, where we promptly lost the key to the motorcycle. Hmmmm, not so good as keys are important for starting motorbikes. The key was on a black lanyard in the sand, somewhere under the dancing feet of about 300 ravers. Much stress and an hour of searching in the dark later, and Igor's persistence paid of. I still can't believe he found it when I had given it up for lost and was already sorting out plans B and C in my head. We finished dinner and headed back to Arambol to meet up with Carlie and Jonathan at the late night drumming party on the beach.
Well, that is all the excitement from this side of the world.
Big hugs to everyone. We are beginning to get little pangs of homesickness, as wonderful as it is here, so keep those comments and messages coming.
xoxo
Sarah
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Marnie
non-member comment
It has been so amazing for me to read your thoughts and feelings about being in India and seeing so much juxtaposition everywhere. I always find it exciting to watch people grow and change. Reading your blogs and seeing this in both of you in such a short amount of time makes me so excited to see what else will happen over the next few months of your travels. India always has a way of changing people and in some small ways it is changing me through your writings. Much Love, Marnie