Halfway There

Episode 6

Saturday, June 4, 2016

We’re halfway through the 300-hour course and at times I feel like I’m livin’ on a prayer. Highlights from Week Three include:

More…

·      High temps

·      Progress in jumping toward my handstand

·      Willingness to try formerly fearful poses

·      Shopping

·      New friends

Less…

·      Naps (though I still take naptime to rest my eyes)

·      FEAR

·      Confusions in anatomy class

·      Gecko interaction

NONE…

·      Leaving lecture class for a “quick” power nap

·      Intestinal sickness

Pointing out the obvious, it’s incredible what progress one can make on poses when one practices them every day. Whenever someone asks me about my yoga focus, I always say asana is secondary for me. It’s true that I’m more comfortable with pranayama and meditation, and I don’t want to engross myself in a competitive nature. I try to stay calm with poses and not set goals. If I’m going to make progress with the asana, I will. If it’s not the asana for me today, maybe it will be someday or maybe never. The physical and emotional state of the body varies by the second, so I can’t always count on an identical practice to the previous day. I’m patient with myself and with my progress.

Unexpectedly, I’m making progress with my kriya practice. Episode 3 focused on the first horrendous experience, but I would hardly deem the subsequent practices horrendous. I’m beginning to feel the effects of jala neti (neti pot), though maybe not as intensely as someone who struggles with nasal issues. My nose feels clogged on Sundays when we don’t practice jala neti. I practiced sutra neti (catheter in the nose and out the mouth) in front of a mirror to feel where the catheter tickles the back of the throat, but it was still so uncomfortable. I’m letting it lie for now. Maybe I’ll do it someday, maybe I won’t. Vaman dhauti has been the biggest surprise throughout the progression of my kriya practice. I no longer gag during the practice and my shock and disgust has disappeared.

Saturday mornings are devoted to teaching practice with a partner, in order to reinforce the cues Krishna has been using all week. I couldn’t wait to say, “Suck in the metatarsals!” “Sternum up!” “Show your clavicle!” Vicky was my partner this week, and she wanted me to teach first so she could listen to my English cues. She is a French native speaker. The same thing happened with Kae last week, wanting to listen to my English as she translated it from her native Thai. I’m happy to help my new international friends with their English. I didn’t mind teaching first because I’m accustomed to cueing and teaching spontaneously over the past year. I’m working on more subtle cues than the typical placement of limbs, hips, and gaze. I’ve been surviving on simple cues throughout my first year of teaching, but aspire to graduate to cueing specific muscles. Mostly, I teach beginning yoga students who may not recognize those cues, but that’s how I learned certain muscles and Sanskrit terms during my years of study. My teachers had broad knowledge that they passed on through their teaching.

Another highlight of the week was meeting my Facebook friend Alyssa for the first time, in-person. Alyssa and I met on Facebook about a year ago when she was searching for yoga teacher training courses in India. She contacted me to enquire about my experience at RYP. Of course, I gave the school a glowing review, and didn’t mention my trips to the hospital! Eventually, I confessed that I acquired a parasite, only so Alyssa could take precautions and not have the same setback. Alyssa set off on her trip and had some Indian visa complications at first, but worked it out so she could remain in India for a course and ample time for travel. When I made the decision to complete a 300-hour course, I contacted Alyssa and we serendipitously found ourselves in Rishikesh at the same time. We decided to meet in front of Freedom Café in Laxman Jhula, where we enjoyed a lunch overlooking the Ganges. Parenthetically, most of the cafes in Laxman Jhula overlook the Ganges! I fed my paneer addiction while we chatted, comparing notes on our 200-hour courses, at the Royal Café, inconspicuously tucked within an ashram. We walked around a few shops before we parted ways, hopefully to meet up again before I leave. Again, it’s amazing how we can meet friends online, already slightly vetted by their postings, and then meet up, akin to reconnecting with an old pal.

On the walk back to Ram Jhula, I passed by a particular vendor stall. These stalls line the road and you can find anything from a refreshing drink or snack for your journey to jewelry and mala beads. I was looking for my friend Dadu and greeted him as I passed by. “Hello! How are you doing? What are you selling today?” Dadu answered, “My friend…I want to give you something…my gift to you.” He pulled out a box from under the cart and slipped a badass kundalini snake arm band on my upper arm. I was so grateful, mostly because I would never buy anything like it for myself and now I had one. The kindness of my Indian friends increases my gratitude every day. On to Week Four and the second half of the course!

A Day in the Life of a RYP Yogini

When I finished my PhD coursework, I vowed to never take another class. Last summer, I found myself in yoga school, sitting in class and studying outside of class. I even checked out books from a library again, grimacing at the thought of the waist high stack of books I checked out from Honnold Library while I was writing my dissertation.  I survived, and though I can attest that earning a RYT 200 certification drastically varies from the stressors of graduate school, some portions are similarly taxing.  My daily schedule, with the exception of Sundays, is described below.

5:30 Wake up

I'm not a morning person. One of my former colleagues still teases me about how her friendly morning hallway greeting was usually met with a terse grunt. However, when your alarm rings at Rishikesh Yog Peeth, you know you have two hours of asana class in your immediate future, not a commute to work.  In that case, I was willing to wake up.  In the spirit of California water conservation, I was accustomed to taking one shower per day, and when I arrived at the height of the 2015 Indian Heat Wave, a nightly shower was a necessity.  However, after philosophy class was underway and we delved further into the niyamas (observations of your personal life), I began to practice saucha, or cleanliness, by showering before my asana practice.  In the temperamental and oftentimes frigid water, showering in the morning didn't take much longer than just rolling out of bed.  I did feel more emotionally cleansed and prepared to practice after a morning wash.

A lovely morning view from my room, Krishna Cottage 107.

6:00 Tea and Neti Pot
Glasses of herbal tea awaited the students in the dining hall.  Most people took their tea to the courtyard to contemplate the day, but I usually sat in the dining hall to consume mine.  I liked to have a few moments of solitude while I drank my tea to begin my day.  Out on the lawn of the courtyard, two metal vats of lukewarm saline water were prepared for our neti kriya, or nasal cleansing ritual.  After filling the plastic neti pot from the spigot of the saline water vat, I chose a spot along the perimeter of the courtyard, squatting over a boundary of shrubs.  I tilted my head slightly to the side, nestled the tip of the neti pot inside the top nostril, and dribbled the entire solution so it exited the lower nostril.  This procedure was repeated on the opposite nostril after refilling the neti pot.  This ritual resulted in much sniffling, snorting, exhaling, and coughing among the students, resembling a tuberculosis ward.  I returned my neti pot to my room and grabbed my mat to ascend the stairs to asana class.

6:30 Asana Class
We arrived to asana class a few minutes before 6:30 to set up our mats and props, and to ground ourselves before the teacher entered at the stroke of 6:30.  Three asana teachers, Narendra, Deepa, and Jeet, rotated through the three classes for two days at a time.  However, sometimes the typical rotation was upset by extenuating circumstances, and the teacher who walked through the door was not whom you expected.  I enjoyed the different styles of each teacher and admired them as both mentors and practitioners, but each of them possessed a different level of intensity.  Depending on my mood or level of fatigue that day, I either silently groaned or silently cheered when the teacher walked through the door.  Usually, the morning practice was less physically intense, focusing on more pranayama and meditation.  Kapalabhati (breath of fire) was the typical morning pranayama technique, and I was impressed that I achieved the goal of 100 strokes by the end of the course.

Deepa, our asana teacher who completed her teacher training at RYP several years ago.

9:00 Breakfast
I never thought I'd be able to practice asana for two hours on a completely empty stomach, but my body adjusted to it.  Breakfast was always a ravenous affair, consuming two to three bowls of fruit along with the rice or the RYP favorite, ramen noodles.  I always drank a black tea in the morning, as a psychological substitute for coffee.  Sometimes, if the asana class was especially taxing, we stepped out for a coffee at the local Ayurveda Cafe after breakfast.

10:00 Philosophy Class
Roshan is in the echelon all teachers aspire to achieve.  He is brilliant, passionate, and highly experienced in yogic philosophy. We were lucky that our course coincided with the first ever International Day of Yoga on June 21, 2015. Roshan organized a gathering on the banks of the River Ganga that included most of the yoga schools in Rishikesh (the ones that chose to participate). Though we had been studying yogic philosophy within the confines of a four-walled classroom, being present with so many yogis in one location reinforced the interconnectedness and collective consciousness we sought during our studies.

Roshan, the man and legend.

11:00 Self Study
For the first few weeks, I used this time for reviewing notes and reading texts I had checked out of the library.  I had started reading Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar before I left home, but struggled with applying the context outside my own practice.  During the course, I strived to adopt a teacher's mindset as I was absorbing the information as a student.  I had completed 15 years of elementary school teaching, so I knew the teaching aspect wouldn't confound me.  Teaching is teaching, no matter what the topic, as long as you know your content.  This course was more about learning content and lesson planning than attaining comfort in front of a group of students.

Course Essentials:  neti pot, nose towel, notebook, & woven mat (provided by RYP).  I checked out these books from the library and found them most helpful in completing my projects.

1:00 Lunch
Many students took the opportunity to study at a local cafe and enjoy their lunch off campus before returning to the afternoon theory class.  I rarely participated in this detour because I found myself doing more socializing than studying.  I enjoyed meeting new friends during the course and consequently, our conversations drifted away from the topic of yoga.  By separating the study and lunch times, I could be more present during the social aspect of lunch.  Because of the long break between lunch and dinner, I usually helped myself to seconds, thus negating any weight loss the sattvic diet and four hours of asana per day might have caused.  Typical fare was rice and dal (lentils or chickpeas), along with a cucumber and beet salad and chapati (similar to pita bread).

Attempting to study at the Health Cafe, but the coffee with coconut milk was too distracting.  Once I read about the effect coconut milk would have on my cholesterol levels, I nipped that habit in the bud.

2:15 Anatomy Class
I am NOT a science person, and my liberal arts college only required one science course, which I took intensively during the summer twenty years ago.  I knew anatomy would require memorization, so I employed some of my elementary instructional strategies to learn the terms and their functions.  Roshan presented the information in a simple and straightforward style.  He also reiterated that we were not expected to become experts in a short six weeks.  I absorbed and internalized what I could, mainly the basics, with the knowledge that Yoga Anatomy was waiting for me on my bookshelf at home.

3:15 Self Study
I used the afternoon study time to slowly compile my asana portfolio, one of our final projects.  Again, I tried to work at the outside tables, but became distracted by unrelated conversations.  I was forced to confine myself to my room to study.  The upside of this confinement was that I was always on top of my laundry.  I put a load in the bathroom bucket to soak for about 20 minutes, rinsed each item, hung them up around my room, and by the next day the clothes were ready to wear.  Once in a while, I gave myself permission to leave the ashram for a quick walk or errand during this time.  My teacher at home had admonished me to balance the studying with the adventure of living in India.  I certainly didn't want to banish myself to my room and miss out on an adventure, so when I felt on top of my work, I allowed myself a short excursion, even if it was merely a toilet paper run.

My "washing machine" went through several packets of Tide, sold at the local sundry stall for 10 rupees per packet (about $0.16 USD).

25 rupees per roll (about $0.40 USD) stocks you up on this essential.  Don't forget to stash a bit in your bag during outings.

5:00 Asana Class
During the first few weeks of the course, when the heat was most unbearable, evening asana class was a dreaded occasion.  I was assigned to Yoga Hall 2, which Narendra referred to as The Oven.  I didn't dread my practice, but I dreaded the lethargy that resulted from the sauna-like conditions in the room.  Air conditioning is not an accepted and authentic condition for asana practice.  At the height of the heat, before Narendra arrived to class, one student turned on the AC to cool down The Oven.  Needless to say, Narendra was not pleased when he entered the room and felt the refreshing luxury of AC.  He controlled his frustration and offered a less intense practice to acquiesce to our chicanery.  "Practice doesn't make the yogi!  The heat in Rishikesh makes the yogi!" he exclaimed. We promised to humor him with an Ashtanga practice the following morning, and never turned on the AC again.

Brothers Narendra and Jeet, awesome and intense asana teachers.

7:15 Dinner
Somewhat of a nightly celebration, we gathered after evening asana class to congratulate each other on another completed day.  Oftentimes, this camaraderie was more of a commiseration from sore muscles and confusing concepts than a relaxed meal.  As I learned during my dissertation writing, foreign concepts will eventually elucidate their meaning and purpose if given enough time to marinate.  I didn't stress and let the learning happen organically.  Discussions with fellow students made me realize that I wasn't alone in my struggle.  Eventually, as predicted, the concepts solidified.

Special Outings
Saturday was still a "work day" but was designed slightly differently.  We were still required to attend tea and neti cleansing, but then set off on a hike through the local hills.  It was a welcome outing after experiencing the same learning environment all week.  As a meditative hike, it was refreshing to take in the local nature.  As mentioned above, our timing was auspicious in the sense that our course coincided with International Day of Yoga on June 21, 2015.  The BBC and other local media came to film our morning asana practice.  We walked to the beach to provide a soothing setting, along the banks of the River Ganga.  Some students were interviewed and I was featured in Navasana, my new claim to fame.  We all felt fortunate to experience the first International Day of Yoga in Rishikesh, the yoga capital.

A hike through the hills above RYP.  That's Krishna Cottage in the green.

I thought elephant pants made the perfect hiking attire until I had to climb up a steep precipice and split the seam.  It was worth it to see this meditation cave.

Asana class on the beach of the River Ganga.  Here, we were filmed for a BBC feature about International Day of Yoga.

Our lovely group of new friends and yoga teachers, who are now spreading yogic knowledge all over the world.

Changes in the Sangha

A sangha, or Buddhist meditation community, is essentially a family away from home.  Unconditional acceptance, listening, caring, and kindness prevail within the sangha.  Yes, a sangha can have its share of drama, but it's difficult to be petty when you're studying the inspirational dharma (Buddhist teachings).

About two weeks ago, Open Door lost one of its dearest members, Larry Murdock.  We were wrapping up Melanie's Beginners Meditation class when she received the upsetting news from Larry's daughter.  We were shocked that a man as fit and active as Larry could suddenly collapse and pass away.  One of our founding sangha members had died.

The next few days were consumed with planning Larry's memorial service.  His family requested that it be held at Open Door, and Melanie was happy to officiate.  Food, program, speaking, singing, and photos were all delegated to eager volunteers, pleased to participate in such a great man's final acknowledgement.

On the day of the service, even more members pitched in toward various tasks:  floral arrangement, locating additional chairs, cleaning floors, and emptying the trashcans.  Work that is sometimes delegated to hired help was lovingly performed with one end goal in mind:  honoring Larry's memory.  Interestingly, Larry would have been the sangha member to perform those duties and more, without request.

In the subsequent weeks, we will each discover a new role in the sangha, as we absorb Larry's former duties.  Andrew will assemble the lectern, Lynette will teach Larry's yin class, Diane will greet new people as they enter the center, and Melanie will continue her leadership.  Larry's photo will perch atop the library bookshelf that he drilled into the wall, sending us approval and guidance as we navigate the sangha's "new normal."

On a personal note, thanks to Larry for encouraging me to try yin yoga, after observing that my flexibility could improve.  In his words, "If you do the pose on the right side, you must do it on the left."  After all, Larry was master of the balanced existence.

Peaceful Larry in his meditation posture.

Playing around in asana class.  I'm so grateful to have taught many classes that Larry attended.  Afterwards, he always complimented or encouraged my teaching in some way.

Larry's last Sunday sitting ~ January 10, 2016.  We documented our intentions for the year.

First Impressions Don't Matter, India

No one can create an image of a faraway place for you, as a substitute for the visceral experience. I struggled with the decision of attending yoga school in the U.S. versus India or another foreign country. Since I'm an avid traveller, but also didn't have thousands of dollars to spend, I chose India. I wanted to experience my training in an authentic environment, culturally immersed.

The decision was made to attend Rishikesh Yog Peeth for its location, residence and meals onsite, and expedient responses to my numerous enquires via email. The school offers to coordinate a taxi from the Delhi airport up to Rishikesh for a discounted price and piece of mind that the driver is reputable.

Sophie and I had emailed before leaving the U.S., as we were paired up by the school to share a taxi. I waited for her at the designated spot outside the airport, and we soon found our driver, Mr Tayal. He held a sign with our names written on it, hopefully evidencing the VIP treatment.

After loading the white sedan with our luggage, we set off on our 6-8 hour tour of the Indian countryside. We soon realized that it might take 6-8 hours to exit the Delhi city limits. Honking is a form of the driving culture here, as a warning to your fellow drivers, not as an insult or reproach as in the U.S.

Mr Tayal was courteous and asked whether we needed food or a restroom break. We were both apprehensive about eating at a roadside restaurant, for fear of getting sick. The school had advised us to only eat food from the dining hall for the first few days, to allow time for our systems to acclimate. I had the feeling Mr Tayal was simply trying to provide a cultural experience. He stopped for "sugar juice" and asked if we wanted a glass. I glanced to the left and saw a cane press, reminiscent of the rum distillery I visited in the Amazon. Sophie and I observed as the vendor got up from his plastic patio chair, grabbed a few stalks of sugar cane, and squeezed them through the press. The liquid was plentifully extracted straight into a glass and handed to Mr Tayal. The men chatted as Mr Tayal enjoyed his refreshment. I envied a taste, but watching the process was satisfying enough.

We continued on our way, naturally clogged up in another traffic jam. This time, Mr Tayal impressed both us and our fellow travellers by off roading on the shoulder to bypass the cars ahead of us, honking the entire time. No one seemed to mind. Mr Tayal again provided the VIP treatment as he bounded over the median and passed in the oncoming traffic lanes. Why not? Instead of merging back into the traffic, which was impossible, we stopped in our tracks. Thankfully, the oncoming traffic did the same. We were now stuck in traffic on the opposite side of the median, creating even more of a blockade. Mr Tayal had obviously performed these maneuvers before and wasn't content to wait his turn to merge. He had VIPs with him, after all! He worked his way to the shoulder of the oncoming traffic, now making good time bypassing everyone. An opportunity arose again to work our way to the proper lane on the proper side of the road, so we stuck our nose over the median hoping to sneak in this time. Some frustrated traffic officers approached in the distance. They were carrying sticks that measured about five feet long and might have been a bamboo material. I wondered what they were used for. My question was answered when the officers began slapping the hoods of cars that were blocking traffic! I just imagined the lawsuits that would ensue should the LAPD slap cars with sticks. Mr Tayal seemed concerned and frantically inched forward as the slapping officers approached. I slunk low in the backseat as the inevitable slapping drew closer. Miraculously, the officer shouted at Mr Tayal, giving the hood a gentle tap, as Mr Tayal was forced to turn around, backtracking for a while until we found a spot to merge.

We arrived at our destination, grabbed our jostled bags, and Mr Tayal walked us to the main office to check in. Sophie and I had discussed how to pay our fearless driver, since the cost was $70 and we only had $20s. We agreed that Mr Tayal deserved a $10 tip for ensuring our safe arrival. We each handed him two $20 bills. By the time we looked up from stashing our wallets, Mr Tayal had vanished.

We were shown to our rooms by the lovely and helpful Amit and Ankit. Exhausted, but eager for the start of the course, we ate dinner and retired to our respective rooms for the evening.

A Weekend of Yoga, Hiking, and Meditation

I've concentrated on travel thus far in this blog.  My intention was to write about my four favorite, and obvious, things equally.  Last weekend, I attended a retreat that combined yoga, hiking, and meditation in perfect balance.  It was a two day retreat, Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon, so I was curious as to how all three activities would be featured equally.  I made the decision to leave my phone at home.  I figured any emergency message would be communicated the old fashioned way, by carrier pigeon.  I have no self discipline or will power when it comes to texting and Instagram.  I'm obsessed with studying and commenting on other photographers' photos on Instagram.  I guess I could have a much worse obsession, but I wanted to completely detach from reality, or at least social media reality, for these two days. 

It snowed in the mountains on Friday night, and we were headed up to Mt. Baldy, located just north of Claremont, California.  Once we passed about 4000 feet, the precipitation from the previous night was evident.  We had our eyes out for the Mt. Baldy Zen Center, but ended up at the top of the road, near the ski resort.  Jeanne and Diane both brought their cell phones, but the service was virtually nonexistent and we weren't able to access a map.  We took the opportunity to snap some photos of the freshly fallen snow, then asked for directions.

We arrived at the center, unpacked in our room, and met for orientation.  I brought my meditation journal which had been distributed in my meditation class last summer.  For numerous reasons, I hadn't written in it since.  A death in my family and the seemingly constant rejection from jobs I've applied for provided the perfect fodder for a meditation journal.  I'd been so frenetic over the past few weeks.  Our breath work began with kapalbhati pranayama, which basically means you are exhaling in quick succession.  It is also called breath of fire, most notably in Bikram yoga.  It's a cleansing breath that helps rid the body and mind of toxins and negativity.  Plenty of that to expel!  During our initial practice, I decided on my intention for the weekend:  expel the negative energy, refocus, and return with a fresh perspective.

On the itinerary, three hours were slotted for the afternoon hike.  We knew we would encounter some snow and intended to stop when we hit San Antonio Falls.  The snow was melting quickly, which I experienced firsthand when a large chunk freed itself from a tree branch and slipped down my shirt!  Otherwise, it was fascinating to observe the snow melting off the branches and the flecks that survived.  We arrived at the Falls and decided to continue up an incline, exploring the trail as we ventured.  Pausing at the top to admire the view of Claremont and areas to the south, Jeanne exclaimed, "Look!  Look up at the clouds!  Trippy..."  Diane and I craned our necks upward and sure enough, the clouds were languidly swirling around.  "Am I hallucinating?" I asked the others, not that I would know what that's like.  I wished that I'd had a blanket on which to stretch out and observe those clouds for hours.  Sometimes I wish life would move that slowly, or that we'd take the time to observe cloud swirling.

On Saturday night, Nancy, a reiki master, offered card readings and orb photos on a voluntary basis.  I'd never had my tarot cards read, but I soon discovered that she uses angel cards, which are all positive.  It seems contradictory to eliminate the prospect of all negativity from a reading, as unfortunate things happen in life, but the angel cards give people hope.  Jeanne shared that she had her tarot cards read previously, and the prediction was that she would die a slow, painful death.  Now, that's her expectation.

We sat around the yoga room, waiting for our turn, and chatted.  Melanie, my meditation and yoga teacher, asked me, "How's the job search going?"  I explained how I'd been applying for both faculty and research positions, but wasn't really focusing on one or the other, mostly because I'm interested in and qualified for both areas.  I've had some rejections, which are always frustrating, but you have to persevere.  I walked out to the foyer where we remove our shoes and hang our coats, and ran into Andrew, one of the other attendees.  He handed me a black crystal, which I researched was a tourmaline.  I said, "Oh wow!  This is beautiful!"  I admired it for a few minutes, then handed it back to him.  "It's yours.  It absorbs negative energy," he offered.  "Are you serious?  Thank you!" I later read that a black crystal promotes power and confidence, which can combat negativity.  I had noticed Andrew listening to my conversation with Melanie, and suddenly realized that I'm either giving off negative energy or appear to be in the process of shedding negative energy.  I hoped it was the latter.

It was time for my reading.  I entered the small cabin where Nancy was stationed.  "Have you ever had your tarot cards read?" she enquired.  I told her I hadn't, so she explained the angel cards.  Despite their claim to avoid the negative, I couldn't help but imagine, by some stroke of bad luck, that I would receive devastating news.  "Would you like a past, present, future reading, or do you want to ask a question in your mind?" she began.  I pondered to myself, "I know what happened in the past, I know what's happening in the present, and I'm working on the future."  I replied that I'd ask a question.  I began to summon my question.  "Will I get a job?"  That's a stupid question.  Of course I'll get a job.  It just might not be the job I want.  I quickly modified it.  "What does the immediate future hold?"  Nancy shuffled the cards, unintentionally imitating a blackjack dealer.  She drew two cards.  The first one said friendship.  "You have a friend who is counting on you right now."  Correct!  I have a friend who is experiencing a hurdle in her marriage, and we discuss it often.  The second one said spiritual guidance.  "Your friend is counting on you for guidance."  Correct again!  I feel like my friend values what I say and the advice I administer.  I know this seems like a general reading.  Most of us have friends who count on us for guidance, but at the moment, I was troubled by my friend's struggles.  She and I stayed up late texting the previous evening, and it was weighing on my mind.

Nancy shuffled the cards again.  "I want to give you one more card.  Since you are helping your friend, this card is exclusively for you."  I squirmed in anticipation of its revealing.  FOCUS!! How could she have drawn a more appropriate card?  "You're being pulled in too many directions right now and need to focus on one thing."  Again, most people are in this same situation:  too many things to accomplish and not enough time.  My problem is I have plenty of time, but I like to dabble in different activities, without focusing on just one.  I always tell myself that's why I'm not a professional athlete.  For the past four months, I've focused on writing articles, organizing and editing my trip photos, scrapbooking, reading, yoga, AND finding a job.  I enjoy my activities, but I know the job search must take precedence.  My activities will be there waiting for me.

The reading was over and it was time for the orb photos.  Nancy extinguished the light and told me to sit still on the bed.  I closed my eyes and she took several shots.  She turned on the lights and we studied the photos.  While she was taking the photos, my mind had drifted to my recently deceased uncle.  One photo featured a glowing orb in the foreground.  Nancy explained, "I see a man's face here.  He's an older man, maybe a grandfather or an uncle."  I stared at the orb in astonishment.  It was saturated with a mixture of my favorite color, which is purple, and his favorite color, which is blue.  How comforting and sweet!  Maybe he is guiding me along this journey.

Sunday morning, I woke up early for Gina's yoga class.  Gina always focuses on parts of your body you would never think to stretch.  We dedicated time to individually pulling each one of our fingers back to release the cramping caused by computer work.  At breakfast, silence was requested as we savored each morsel of food and practiced mindful eating.  I can't say I enjoyed this activity.  Since I'm an introvert and eat most of my meals in silence anyway, I delight in the time spent with others and want to chat with them.  Nonetheless, I followed directions.  The day was rounded out with seva (service) to the center, which was in the form of cleaning the women's restroom for Jeanne and me.  It wasn't as bad as it sounds.  I'm leading up to the best meal of the entire weekend.  Our lunch consisted of all of my favorite foods:  tomato and feta salad, lentil soup, and homemade hummus.  I must praise the Center on their cooking.  All of the meals were vegetarian and perfectly seasoned.  What a perfect meal to end a perfect retreat!

Sometimes we need to completely detach from the familiar to realize our next step.  On my Australia trip, I thought I would figure everything out, but then I returned and had to adjust to this lifestyle again.  Every step is an adjustment, and we must be patient with ourselves.

At the top of Mt. Baldy Road, where we stopped to ask for directions.

Snapseed edit on this one, but the sky seemed that blue.

The path from our cabin to the common areas.

Look closely, and you can actually see the clouds swirling.

Buddha, who guided us back to the cabin late at night.