Chantin' with the Swamis some mo'

At the time, it really seemed like everyone was into the chantin'... In the video, it looks like one monk and I are the only ones chanting and everyone else is either watching or bored. lol

Hollie gets her yoga certification!!!

Final Dinner at the Ashram

Chantin' with the Monks on the Last Night

I'm really liking this meditation stuff. Supposedly, one of the best times to meditate is while listening to the sound of mantras and chanting. I've tried the technique a few times (during this yoga course) and I agree, chanting does seem to help me go more quickly into a meditative state. Meditation is such a powerful technique. I love how refreshed and alert I feel after a meditation session. Still, I think that meditation will be a little easier (for me) back home than it is here. The main distraction are the many insects here in India (They are everywhere, in the rooms, in the food (we're all fradulently calling ourselves vegetarians), and of course, outside too) For a while, I was trying to ignore the ants and insects, which crawled on me during meditation. Then, Swami G told the class a story about a famous yogi who went into seclusion. The yogi spent days meditating in a cave. During his stay he went into a deep state of meditative bliss, keeping his body completely still. Apparently, some of the cave's resident insects bore into the yogi's skin and dug tunnels in and out of both sides of his legs. The yogi simply continued his meditation, undisturbed by what was happening to his body. After a number of days, some Himalayan locals found the monk and rescued him from (his body) being completely overtaken. Swami told the story with respect and admiration for the great yogi. For me, the story left me a little more aware of crawling sensations during meditation. I may not yet be ready for full enlightenment.

Pregnancy Yoga Class

Naryana

This is a video clip showing Naryana, a little 9 year old boy whom Hollie and I adore. Naryana lives and works in one of the shops in town. His parents live in an impoverished area of Northern India. They, like many poor families here, send their children away to work for part of the year. If I could, I'd adopt this little boy. However, to actually adopt, or even to ensure that a child can go to school, is a complicated process. Recently, because of child abuse rings and other criminal/fraudulant incidences, the Indian government toughened the laws governing foreign adoptions. If a person just gave money to the shopkeeper, Naryana's parents, etc, there would still be no guarantee that he would be able to attend school. Naryana taught himself to speak English by observing the tourists and has the coolest personality and perspective on life. Everytime Hollie and I go into town we see him and invite him to share a meal with us. Usually, he also orders food for his "auntie" (shopkeeper - she isn't related to him), and a few other people. lol :) I like Naryana. When I think about it, when gifts or freebees are being given out, every child I know tries to get as much as he/she can. Still, I wish I could do something more meaningful for him. The clip is pretty short; the battery on my video camera died after about 20 seconds. Naryana is teaching us a song in Hindi. The English translation is "Sleep boy, sleep. Dreams will come." He was so cute when he was telling me the meaning of the song. He said that in translated to "Sleep boy sleep, there will be a movie in your head." Really, its the same. The syllables just don't properly fit in the longer translation. :)

Yoga Food

India nearing it's end.

Hi, this is Hollie!


We have been taking final exams for the last part of the course. I am actually going to teach the class yoga today!!! I am very excited, a tiny bit nervous, but REALLY excited!!! I really am excited to go back home and teach people too.... Anyways, I'll let you know how it goes. The exam was HUGE and VERY VERY VERY hard. But, I think I did okay, and we have more to come. I am practicing teaching an intermediate class, then next week I am teaching a beginners, which is a little more detailed. I'll let you know all about how it goes. Okay, tootalooo!!


Hollie

Lost Video Camera

Sadly, my video camera was lost today along with 4000 rupies. Apparently, unbeknownst to me, the bag I was carrying had a hole. So, unless a miracle occurs, I will be unable to post any more video clips. We'll still update the blog with text and pictures though.:)

Yoga Schedule

Below is a schedule of our day at the yoga center.

5:00 a.m. - 5:15 a.m. Wake up and take a shower (there is only cold water available)
5:15 a.m. - 6:45 a.m. Meditation and Pranayama Breathing
6:45 a.m. - 7:15 a.m. Drink Hot Ginger Water and Perform Yogi Cleansing Practices
7:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Yoga Class # 1
9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Brunch/Lunch and personal study
11:00 a.m - 12:15 p.m. Philosophy Class with Swami G
12:15 p.m.- 2:00 p.m. Personal Study/Free Time
2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Fruit and Salty Lassy Snack
2:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Yoga Theory Class
3:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Break
4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Yoga Class #2
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Dinner
7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Ayurvedia or History of Yoga and India Classes
9:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Bed/Lights Out

Next Day:

Repeat

We do have one day "off" each week however, that day is set aside for trips to temples and ashrams, a backwater tour, etc. We've had one day off so far and it began with a special 3 hour meditation folled by a backwater tour to a very cool island temple and then a visit to Bhooma's ashram.

The group yogic cleasing involves use of a neti pot, running a rubber catheter tube up one's nose and pulling it out through the mouth, swallowing cloth and then pulling it back out, and soon to come... a special salt water cleanse in which we drink excessive amounts of salt water, do special yoga poses, repeat and repeat until we throw up and are compelled to spend much of the day on the toilet (this will be done on one of our days "off"). The cleansing practices are all optional. Still, I never thought that I would do things like this in a group setting. Strangely, in the context of the course, it all seems doable. No one is really embarrassed.

Yoga has been great!

Hey everyone and good morning, this is Hollie! Well, I must say it's not been easy. It's a mental struggle than a physical one, but with discipline, it will be a very very rewarding outcome. I am learning lots! That is the part I enjoy the most, that I'm able to grow. Well, I hope you all are doing well! If you have any questions about anything, feel free to ask me! The food at the center is very much all the same (the whole fried and battered banana was okay, kind of like rodizio grill),but it's nice to go out and occasionally get westernized foods and desserts ;). Any questions about culture or so forth? I'm glad and appreciate this growing experience. Talk to you later!

Hollie

Hollie doing side crow

We have about six hours of actual yoga class each day. Here's a clip from this morning.

View From Our Room

Laundry

Bhoomas Ashram

Bhooma began studying to become a monk at the age of 17. I think he is in his 40s now. He has such a powerful yet gentle presence. He is also the best, most grounded and competent yoga instructor whom I have ever met. Ashrams are an interesting concept. The founder of Bhoomas ashram Sri Narayana Gurudev, was born in the late 1800s. He was a social reformer along the lines of Ghandi. Gurudev was born into a weathy family, which observed the rules of India's social structure and caste system. From a young age, Gurudev disagreed with the caste system. He would spend his days among the lower class or untouchables and then, return home with the clear intent of "corrupting" his family. Gurudev's fearful family members were oblivious that all their efforts to remain untainted were, on a daily basis, be thwarted. The ashram was built as a place where all religons, christians, muslims, hindus, jews, etc, could worship together. Ashrams are places where an individual can go and work, uninterupted, on his or her spirituality. Staying at an ashram is typically inexpensive, the stays often cost around $10 U.S. dollars per night and include simple food and spiritual study/programs. There isn't really an equivelent offering in western culture, at least not an organized respite from the world. For me, camping and backpacking have served this purpose.

Temple Food

Often, Hindu temples will offer food to visitors, usually something sweet, which has first been offered to and blessed by the gods. Hindu's worship many different gods and Gurus, Siva, Ganesha, Vishnu, Sai Baba, Sri Aurobindo, Sri Naryana Gurudev, etc. Once, I read a book on Hinduism, which stated that it is very difficult (and also easy in a way, depending on how one looks at the situation) to convert a Hindu to Christianity. When introduced to Jesus Christ, Hindus will simply add him to the list of gods in whom they worship and believe. Swami G explained that, in reality, for Hindus there is only one God. The different forms of God are simply stylistic focal points, which allow one to reach/access the one true God. He said that the God is like music or color. It doesn't matter what style of music you like. It doesn't matter what your favorite color is. If one says that he or she likes Progressive Indy Folk Rock, or Punk Rock, or even Country, he or she is still expressing a love of music. The variations are just styles. Likewise red, blue, orange and green are just expressions and variations of color.

Hinduism, as the oldest religion with the oldest existing language (Sanskrit) advises followers on every aspect of life, diet, healthcare (ayurveda, yoga, pranayama breathing, etc, sexual behavior, one's obligations in life etc. Hinduism teaches the importance of being fully present in the moment. Aspects of of this teaching involve collecting prana (life energy) from nature another aspect involves more fully using ones senses. Walking barefoot, spending time in nature, eating with ones hands, only consuming food made by people who have love for you, etc are all expressions of this belief. Historically, monks and spiritual people were often tasked with preparing food because of their ability to love everyone. In India, it is also common to eat with ones hands. Personally, I think the food tastes better when using more of my senses.

Backwater Island

Hollie Gets A Nose Piercing

Nose piercings are as common (probably more common) than earrings here in India. I think Hollie's new nose piercing is really beautiful; the monks, nuns and people here in India think so too. Today was our first day off (Every seven days we get one day off from our yoga training). We took a backwater boat tour into a jungle like environment, which was like stepping into another world. The scenery here is mythically surreal. Sometimes it is almost too much to process. While on the river, we visited an island with three temples, one for Ganesha, one for Vishnu, and one for Shiva. Like many of the temples, we were given food during our visit. (I'll try and upload a few video clips.)In addition to the temples, the island has a Swiss Family Robinson style playground with swinging ladders and lots of trees to climb. I decided to try and wear my saree all day long. This made tree climbing a bit more difficult but, not impossible :). Later in the day, we visited Bhooma's ashram. Apparently, after tree climbing, my saree was in disarray so, several women at the ashram decided to help correct my sorry looking saree. They didn't speak English but I understood the following things: It is inappropriate to gather and lift up the bottom material of my saree while walking up stairs. I should get prettier shoes. I (though this does not apply to everyone) probably need to use safety pins when wrapping my saree. In the evening, Bhooma held a cooking class for our group. He is such a sweet and gentle person, truly dedicated to his faith. In Hinduism, there is a principle called Karma yoga, which simply means doing one's duties without regard for the outcome. Bhooma is a good example of this principle. He tirelessly dedicates himself to service without worrying about a reward or the outcome. Swami G also embodies this principle. They both show patience, love, and dedication in whatever task they engage in. The Bhagavad Gita states that both karma yoga and spiritual pursuits lead to the same outcome. Through selfless, non-attached work one becomes spiritual. Through a pursuit of spirituality one becomes selfless and naturally begins to work and serve others without attaching other agendas.

More Driving In India

I love how drivers in India just drive towards each other and honk until one of the two drivers backs down. Attached is an example. Apparently our taxi driver was suffering from small vehicle syndrome.

Daily Yoga Philosophy Class with Swami

Daily Yoga Philosophy Class with Swami

Crazy Taxi Ride to the Yoga Center

I love driving in India. The concept of lanes is completely ignored. It is common for a two lane road to somehow accomodate eight or ten lanes. Horns are unabashedly used to let other drivers and pedestrians know that you are behind them, ahead of them, next to them, in the other driver's lane going 128 kilometers per hour and about to crash, head on, into them, etc. No one seems to get upset; they just honk and honk and honk. Its nice really. I've been to other countries with wild driving however, Indians seem to be having more fun with the chaos. I wish that I had a video clip which did this phenomenon justice (maybe I will by the end of the trip :)).

Waiting For Our Flight to Kerala & Hollie's "Dot"

Indian Fast Food in Mumbai (Bombay)

Prakash and Shailaja took Hollie and I to a popular Indian fast food restaurant. At the time, it was really yummy! Today, however, (I'm ashamed to admit) I've been craving a cappuchino and pastry. Hollie has been craving Diet Coke. We hiked to a local restaurant, which serves "European and American" food but, it still tasted like Indian food. So, I guess we'll save our money and just stick with our healthy meals at the yoga training center.

Typical Mumbai Laundry

Finally :)We have internet. Attached is a video clip of a typical laundry service in Mumbai.

Retroactive Mumbai Videos

This is how most of the laundry is done in Mumbai and throughout India. After washing, it is pressed (at small shops) and delivered straight to one's home. I have been surprised by how many goods and services are commonly delivered to one's home or hotel, money exchange services, videos, groceries, etc. I know that we can have most of these things delivered in the U.S., it just isn't as common or as, seemingly, efficient as in India. Everyday, someone would come and deliver fresh fruit and vegetables (for an incredibly good price) to Prakash and Shalijia's home. Our laundry was also picked up and delivered each day. Darn, the video wouldn't load. I'll try again tomorrow.

Kerala

Hi Friends! Hollie and I arrived last night in Varkala Beach, Kerala. We had quite the exciting taxi ride from the airport to our accomodations. Hollie, noticing my enjoyment and facination with the number of cars that can fit side by side on a two lane road, reminded me "we are not on a rollercoaster Mom; we aren't actually safe!" haha :) Internet here is a little hard to come by but, I'll try to post some video clips tomorrow. I still need to contact Prakash and Shailajia to thank them again for their hospitality and love. I also need to formally let them know that we arrived safely. Booma, one of the monks here, told me that Prakash called last night to verify our arrival. I really appreciate their amazing kindness.

Today, we visited the ashram of Sree Narayana Gurudev. Booma comes from this ashram. Gurudev was a social reformer in the 1920s. He came from a weathly family which shunned the untouchable class (as was the custom at the time). As a child Gurudev used to go among the untouchable class, interact with them and then come home to "pollute" his family. Gurudev, like many of the gurus here is also known for his creative sense of humor. We will spend a bit more time at this ashram later in the week.

Goodbye Mumbai

Tomorrow is our last day in Mumbai. We leave at 12:00 p.m. for a month of yoga instruction in Kerala. Today was a wonderful day. We took our last trek through the city, stopped by the Jain temple to get our saffron and sandlewood forehead dot, had Thai massages, ate amazing exotic food (which we didn't really recognize)and shopped for Sarees. Hollie had a private healing session with one of Shailaja's friends and yoga instructors. The poverty in India is sometimes hard to comprehend. When I was a child, I remember reading advertisements from non-profit charities, which claimed to help poor children in Africa, India, Haiti, etc. I always wondered how the photographers could walk past these beautiful children without giving them something right away. From the photos, it really looked as though the children were simply photographed and then left alone. From my experience in these countries, this was and is usually the case. Resources and attitudes are simply different here than in the U.S. Because of the sheer number of people in need, slum lords and a systemic corruption, it is difficult to get resources to these children. If one gives money to a child begger, it is immediately taken away. I need to ask more questions and find out more about this situation. Shailaja told me an interesting story about a different class of beggers, the eunuchs. Eunuchs look like men (of sorts, they were actually born transgendered before a doctor made the decision to castrate the man/woman)but, dress in (quite pretty) sarees. They are incredibly agressive beggers who are known for demanding huge sums of money from passerbys. They also find out the dates of weddings, funerals and other special events, go to the homes of the affected family and demand even larger sums. When Shailaja's oldest son was married, the eunuchs showed up at her door twice. Once when she was alone at night and another, just as the family was leaving for the ceremony. She said that it was a frightening experience. She and her family had to pay around 70,000 rupies (roughly $1,200 USD). They just stuck their foot in the front door and sat ontop of the cars until the family paid the sum.

Children in Mumbai Slum Community