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Published: October 26th 2007
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The yoga month.....hmmmm wow, i've really fallen in love...with yoga...it's an amazing thing when you stretch and begin to learn more about your body- that your left shoulder is tighter than your right, for example, and then stretching through that and being able to go deeper into poses and see yourself become more flexible and begin to staighten out in a way. A spiritual and pilisophical aspect as well. Actually asanas (the yoga postures) are the smallest part of the book of yoga, i was told something like in the book of yoga sutras, it says you should take 3 years to master the asanas (yoga as we know it) and 7 years to master the pranayama (prana is the life breath, the universal energy, breathing excercises to help control your mind)- ive been learning a lot of these techniques as well. I've just really appreciated finding yoga as a fulfilling phsycial activity for my mind, body and spirit. I hope that I can stick to it- i have my yoga mat and i have the motivation right now in my life 😊 so we'll see...
I spent the first week in Rishikesh in an ashram called Phool Chatti. Located
up about 6 km up river from the rest of the town and guest houses- so it was a beautiful spot, that we had all to our own, right on the Ganges river, with beautiful green mountains surrounding us- reminded me a lot of my area at home actually....a group of 30 of us did the retreat- yoga and meditation twice a day, some yoga cleansing, chanting and matras (which was really interesting to learn- in sanskrit- nice mantras that are fun to get stuck in your head for the day)- and yeah- going swimming in the ganges and other beautiful rivers in the area- an amazing time. Not the most inspriring instruction in neither the yoga nor meditation, but a good motivation and a place for both practices. Really the first time in my life that I've experienced yoga on this level. There were some really, amazing, beautiful people at the ashram as well- a special vibe and energy- happens sometimes when some really special, cool people get together. I know i've made some friends for life from the people i met at that ashram.
Spent the following 3 weeks in Rishikesh, going to yoga classes- found a
Pooja
The nightly pooja (an offering to the gods)- very mystical on the hazy ganga teacher that i really liked- had a faster tempo- ashtanga- went to the beach of the ganga almost everyday, so nice to get some sun on the skin- such beautiful weather! i didnt see a cloud for 3 weeks....
I completed my second degree in Reiki, and have really been inspired again...I don't know if i mentioned it in my last blog, but i've become really interested in holistic healing methods, combining some all together. My Reiki 1 master used to be a lawyer, and she's a very intelligent rational minded person from what i got to know of her. She had a change in direction, and is now an accupuncturist, a shiatsu massause (an energy based massage treatment), a Reiki master, and a Qi Gong teacher- i just think an amazing combination of things. Also to learn about herbal medicines as well- its been an interesting path i've been going down- and interesting to be aware as im going down it and observing it as im living it. I've been meeting so many healers and people that are interested in herbal healing and energy work. The conversations i've been having come at the exact moment i need them
Taking a shower in a waterfall
One of the day hikes we took during Phool Chatti Ashram took us to this amazing waterfall to be there. I've become very inspired about pursuing this field, thinking about this as my possible path, possibly pursue accupuncture, and some massage- like shiatsu and continue to work with reiki- and then maybe also become a nurse for a few years to understand and work with the western medicine philosophies and knowledge and combine all the knowledge, in my own health clinic- and also give yoga lessons! hahaha! yeah....this is what india does to you- ANYTHING becomes possible- and anything really is possible, isnt it?- it's just sometimes we have dreams, and with those dreams we have some fears of failure, or some insecurity holding us back, so we stay with what's safe and what we know....so can you tell i'm being inspired...constantly!! it's unbelievable...
really india is an amazing place- there is something different here- the first 7 months of my travels I was for sure in a special spot, on a certain level, finding things out about myself and the world, and life- but the last 2 months in india has been something else...it's an amazing feeling of freedom, and inspiration, and connection to some other energies- you can feel it here-or maybe there are
Water coloring kids!
One day i stayed behind on the river while the rest headed back to the ashram. I was warmly approached by a bunch of kids- really cute, fun kids...they let me paint some watercolor on them! ha! so many people here- especially other travelers that are into these perspectives and frame of mind that it begins to open up your own mind....whatever it is, I hope that i can keep this feeling when i go home- and continue to be inspired to pursue the things that i feel fulfilled by....but i'm confident that whatever will happen will be what i need at that point in my life.
So now i'm in Varanasi, a really interesting place....i like it from what i've seen so far. I got a great place to stay- above this families house that is back in a little alley, with stone bricked paths, and old houses, ours in bright teal, up on the roof a few rooms- 6 of us are staying there right now- one guy practices the tablas 5 hours a day (a traditional indian drum, that has an amazing sound- really beautiful instruement), a guitarist, a jimbya player and digaaredoo player, and a french guy practicing traditional indian singing- a little music house- good people also. i made my room look like home-its amazing the standards of living you get used to traveing in india- its not even worth it
to explain the conditions, but you just get used to it- haha- anyone whose traveled in india on a budget knows....but i have these cool green stained glass windows in my rooms, some other tourists painted on the walls a bit- ive been hanging prayer flags in all the rooms i've stayed at (since phool chatti ashram- and my friend Yoel and i rearranged the room and decorated it!) but so nice to put somthing up that makes the room feel more personalized - cause it gets hard after awhile of staying in these dirty, grungy rooms- they can be so dark and...blah!
So maybe i'll write about varanassi once I stay here for awhile longer. So there is my Rishikesh story...hope it finds all of you well.
may your days be filled with love, appreciation, and inspiration.
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rich
non-member comment
oh yeah...
my days are filled with love, appreciation and inspiration. You're one of my key (kee (: ) sources.