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!

Indian Sundays, Indian Fundays

Episode 5

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Sundays are a highly anticipated day of the week. Though I enjoy my studies throughout the week, I look forward to a day off. A short recap of the three Sundays that have passed so far:

Sunday, May 15

I met my friend Rahul through his Facebook page Rishikesh Spirit almost one year ago. He combs Rishikesh-related posts for people who might be interested in sharing their experiences on his page. I messaged him as soon as I arrived to arrange an in-person meeting. Inviting some friends along both for safety in numbers and to introduce them to him, we agreed to meet at the Ram Jhula Bridge. Unlike most Indians, Rahul arrived right on time, almost to the second. Impressive. We walked down to the Ganga beach and relaxed on some rocks for a while, chatting. We discussed meditation and its challenges, not the typical get acquainted drivel. Rahul has a keen interest in helping people in their practice, and he teaches some courses himself. We strolled along the lower beach road to Laxman Jhula, where we crossed the bridge and searched for a secluded swimming spot. Lili and Rebekah scrambled down the rocks to dip in the Ganges while Anna and I cooled off in the shade with some cold water. I was overheated and dizzy, abiding my body’s wishes to take some rest. We finished our visit with a lunch of paneer and garlic naan at the Ganga Beach Café.

At 5pm, we reported to the yoga hall for our puja ceremony, in which we were blessed and welcomed along our journey of yoga and meditation over the next six weeks. Chanting was performed, tilaka applied between our eyebrows, and kalava string bracelets were attached to our wrists as reminders of why we were here in India. We approached the altar one at a time to wave the burning lamp, initiating us in our next step toward our yoga and meditation transformation. Our teacher, Krishna, participated in the ceremony too, which was a caring, bonding gesture. I looked forward to what the upcoming weeks would hold.

Sunday, May 22

Shopping was on my mind throughout the week as I observed others in their new tops and pants. Not that I really need any new clothes, but I wanted to treat myself while prices are low. I’m a frugal shopper, and spending more than $20 on any item of clothing in the US is a splurge for me. I purchased two sleeveless, printed tops for less than $10, and I changed into one of them on the spot due to the stifling heat. One purse, one mala bead necklace, and two sets of earrings later, it was time for lunch. Little Buddha was a restaurant fixture during my stay last year. We seemed to gravitate toward the restaurant for its views and excellent food. This time, I enjoyed paneer and garlic naan, of course. The food was just as delectable as I remembered, and I was happy to introduce some new patrons to its delicacies. We journeyed back to Ram Jhula to clean up for our evening at Ganga Aarti.

Ganga Aarti is a daily devotional celebration along the banks of the Ganges River at Parmarth Niketan Ashram. We arrived early to enjoy the incessant singing by the ashram residents and changing views of the sunset. When the Swami arrived, more singing occurred before the aarti lamps were passed around. The lamp made its way toward me, as did a mad rush of Indian women. I inched in the opposite direction, as fire and crowds of sari fabric are never a good idea. I was satisfied for another year.

Sunday, May 29

We eagerly awaited our morning of whitewater rafting. My anticipation was especially acute since the season had already closed last year when I arrived. We walked to the Ram Jhula Bridge, crossing and hiking uphill to find the taxi that would take us to the launching point. One of the staff members from RYP ushered us to the taxi, thankfully, or we never would have found our ride among the identical taxis. After meeting our guide, Amit, we agreed that using the toilet would be a good idea before embarking on the river. The toilet was located up the steep hill we had just descended in the Jeep, so a large rock would have to suffice. A group of men watched from afar as we took turns behind three large rocks. I’m sure the view was especially exciting for the swarms of travellers along the mountain road in the distance as well. We carried the raft to its launching point and boarded, after listening to Amit’s safety and instruction speech. We asked him what our team name would be and he immediately and happily replied, “Moola Bandha!!” If you don’t already know, moola bandha locks your energy (prana) when you contract the pelvic floor or perineum. Momentarily, I thought Amit’s reply fringed on sexual harassment, but it was all in good fun and we found it amusing. Paddling and maneuvering our way along the river all the way back to Ram Jhula, we encountered rapids that are designated up to Class 3. Pretty impressive for what I’ve always considered a calm current! I was thrilled with the rafting experience, definitely one of the highlights so far.

After resting and cleaning up post rafting adventure, I set out for a solo dinner and shopping journey. I walked out to Laxman Jhula to purchase yet another mala bead necklace. The prices were better at the shop in Laxman Jhula, and I enjoyed doing business with the owner. I chose one plain sandalwood mala but requested that the tassel be lengthened, as I like the look better. Immediately, the owner sat down and worked meticulously on the tassel while we chatted. During the conversation, I scrutinized the other malas that hung in the enclosed viewing boxes. I had recently discovered that one of my birthstones is a moonstone, and I was looking for a pleasing mala of that stone. One sample was too long, but when he brought out one that was mixed with rudraksha seeds, I knew I had found my mala!

My dinner plans with a friend fell through, so I treated myself to a lovely paneer dinner with a lovelier view of the Ganges at Zorba’s restaurant in Laxman Jhula. Wait, maybe the paneer was lovelier than the view. Nonetheless, it was nice to relax with a meal outside the dining hall.

The following Sunday warrants its own post, so that’s coming soon. I can’t wait to discover what the subsequent Sundays in India have to offer!

School's in Session

Episode 4

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Two full weeks have passed in the course, signifying one-third completion toward my RYT 300, which will eventually be RYT 500. I’m trying to stay in the present to absorb every moment, but when deadlines loom it behooves the student to stay organized. The first few days of classes were exhausting, to say the least. I was looking forward to working with Krishna. I’d seen him around RYP last year, and I heard he’s a tough teacher. “Tough” is a relative word, as it can be subjective. I arrived with an open mind and ready to learn.

WEEK ONE – May 16-21

In retrospect, I’m not sure how I survived the first week. I wasn’t intestinally sick at all, but the heat was debilitating and adjusting to a regular yoga schedule was intense. I have a relatively consistent practice at home, but it also involves teaching. Here in India, I am forced into solely student mode.

Our schedule adheres to the following timeframe:

I’m the furthest thing from a morning person, but I enjoy waking up to kriya practice and morning asana class. We cleanse our nasal passages with jala neti each morning in the courtyard and enjoy a glass of tea. Fridays are special kriya days, the topic of Episode 3. Read that post if you want to know more! In place on our mats in the yoga hall at 7am, Krishna ensures that the curtains block out any trace of sunlight for our pranayama and mantra chanting session. On our first day, I was pleased to learn that our main mantra is the mantra I’ve been teaching my students back home. It’s the “Rishikesh Yog Peeth” mantra in the sense that the 200-hour course focuses on it as well. After the opening mantra, we perform kapalabhati (skull-shining breath), a vigorous cleansing breath with a forceful exhale. Next comes bhastrika (forceful inhale and exhale), ujjayi (constricting breath), and anulom vilom (alternate nostril breath). We wrap up the opening 30 minutes with a few more mantras. Krishna then gives us a quick toilet break before moving into asana practice.

I was skeptical of Krishna’s teaching style at first. He would ask us to perform an asana without instruction, then he would choose someone to model it for the class. During the demonstration, he points out the adjustments that need to be made. I thought this practice was slightly embarrassing and humiliating, and I haven’t even been chosen yet. After a few days, I realized that I had to let go of my perfectionism and ego in order to learn from Krishna. He was using the instructional strategy as just that: practical instruction. During our philosophy lecture, he reiterated how much he cares about us and wants us to learn, so I realized he has the best intentions.

Deepti-ji’s anatomy class comes directly after philosophy class. I had a difficult time grasping anatomy in my 200-hour course, but I made an effort over the past year to attend Gina Decker’s class at Open Door when my schedule permitted. Gina’s teaching embraces a stylized method of incorporating anatomy into her regular teaching. The first two weeks with Deepti have been a comprehensive review, with numerous anecdotal snippets to reinforce and extend the concepts from the 200-hour course. We are working our way to analyzing poses anatomically, and I’m grasping the anatomy more readily.

After lunch, the four-hour chunk of time between seminars is both fortuitous and financially dangerous. On our schedule, it’s labeled “library/self-study,” and I’ve used it almost exclusively for that purpose. Almost. However, it really is our only time to walk around, get a treat, and take brain break from the intensity. I’ve found that a quick trip to the corner chai stall is effective in boosting my energy for the afternoon and evening commitments. I’ve visited the library a few times, but find that I study better in my room, under the fan, free from the distraction of new books for my perusal. That way, I can work on laundry, studying, and take my 4:00-4:30 nap before the evening commences.

Our afternoon asana class was torturous the first week. I couldn’t stay awake, thus the implementation of the compulsory “nap/eyes closed with music” time at 4pm. Sometimes I had to rest in child’s pose on my mat to get through the two-hour session. Luckily, Deepti took pity on us at times and spent extended periods on pranayama techniques. I like Deepti as a teacher, but I dreaded her class, as I had a difficult time contorting myself into some of her more advanced flexibility poses.

The most difficult adjustment should have been the most welcome. In the 200-hour course, the evening is your own after dinner. In this course, we have a mandatory 30-minute meditation Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday nights at 8:30pm. The nights we don’t meet are to be filled with personal meditation. I was so exhausted the first few days that I couldn’t even hold my head up during meditation. Luckily, the room was darkened as Krishna guided us through pranayama and meditation, as my head bobbed from side to side, almost toppling onto my neighbor. I was so upset that we were expected to continue our physical participation until 9pm, and I wasn’t sure how my body would allow this continuous abuse. As the week wore on, the meditation session became easier and more enjoyable.

WEEK TWO – May 23-28

The same schedule continued through Week Two, but the heat abated somewhat and my body acquiesced, somewhat. Almost immediately upon arrival in the 100F+ temperatures, I developed a heat rash on my hands, prickly heat on my forearms that stung unrelentingly with sweat contact, and dry skin on my neck that slowly spread each day. I bought some lotion at the local ayurvedic shop and tried baby powder in the morning and evening. The prickly heat and hand irritation responded positively but the neck rash didn’t. I consulted the Internet and learned so much about dry skin that I was sure the affliction was life-threatening. The spreading continued down to my chest, so I bought a bottle of my stalwart remedy: COCONUT OIL! As predicted, though slowly, the dry skin healed and I was no longer mistaken for the gecko who insists on rooming with me.

I’m battling the desire to do all the shopping and restaurant eating that I didn’t have time for last year, but I also want the course to function as complete immersion. Now I realize why some people opt to study in the mountains or in a town without tempting distractions! The “chai guy” was a prevalent figure as a quick respite from the ashram. My friends Kae and Alina invited me to join them after lunch one day as they walked down to the corner, watched the precise concoction of masala chai, and walked back. Last year, sometimes several days would pass before I would emerge through the gates of the ashram. Everything was self-contained during my 200-hour course, but our residence this year requires walking outside the gates to the same dining hall. Again, fortuitous and financially dangerous.

With one-third of the 300-hour course completed, I can already tell I will emerge from this program as a transformed teacher and student.