Hello, world out there.
So, I've been on the go for about a month and a half now, and this is my first entry since then. There is no possible way I'm going to catch up all that time that has sailed by me, but I will give you this:
One week in Bejing, One week in Sri Lanka - arrival, Trivandrum, Southern India. Sivananda Neyyar Dam Yoga Ashram.
It is a cell, practically shut out from the world, where soul transformation is attempted. Very intensive, one-month yoga teacher training course. I can't comment on whether one can become a yoga teacher in a month; people are drawn here for many reasons, but certainly it's liable to do SOMETHING to us..
I am already in the third week. Every Friday, we have a day off, and most of us come to the nearby beach, in Kovalom. I have been studying yoga theories and Sanskit words on the balcony of a cafe, with the other yogis, but wanted to write a little something about what it has been like thus far. (Before I take a dive into the waves... :-) ~ ~~~ ~
The wake-up bells start at 5:20am, and our first class at 6a.m. - SATSANG - japa (Mantra chanting), with bells, drums, shakers, and a short meditation preceding. There are about 120 of us in the course, as well as other people living at the ashram for various reasons. After Satsang, tea, then we have ASANA (yoga postures/exercise) for two hours, where we either practice, or learn how to teach Asana. At 10a.m is breakfast. We sit in lines on the floor in a hall, eating sattvic vegetarian Indian food. We eat with our hands, and are *supposed* to eat in silence. Which we don't really do, but sort of. Then we are meant to have karma yoga from 11a.m. to 12p.m. My karma yoga is to serve dinner, so I have this time off. I usually do homework, wash my clothes (i wear the same few outfits every day, and they are sweeeeaty!!) or wash me (>.<), nap,or just sit like a zombie, trying to absorb everything. 12a.m. Chanting/Bhagavad Gita studies, 2p.m. main lecture, on various premises of yoga. 4.p.m. afternoon ASANA class, 6p.m. dinner, 8p.m. evening Satsang, Every day is so packed! So hectic and intense. I want to explain the experience in more detail, but am processing it now. Every day lights are out at 10:30a.m., and I usually sleep like I die each night and am reborn in the morning. It's sooooo hot here!
So, I've been on the go for about a month and a half now, and this is my first entry since then. There is no possible way I'm going to catch up all that time that has sailed by me, but I will give you this:
One week in Bejing, One week in Sri Lanka - arrival, Trivandrum, Southern India. Sivananda Neyyar Dam Yoga Ashram.
It is a cell, practically shut out from the world, where soul transformation is attempted. Very intensive, one-month yoga teacher training course. I can't comment on whether one can become a yoga teacher in a month; people are drawn here for many reasons, but certainly it's liable to do SOMETHING to us..
I am already in the third week. Every Friday, we have a day off, and most of us come to the nearby beach, in Kovalom. I have been studying yoga theories and Sanskit words on the balcony of a cafe, with the other yogis, but wanted to write a little something about what it has been like thus far. (Before I take a dive into the waves... :-) ~ ~~~ ~
The wake-up bells start at 5:20am, and our first class at 6a.m. - SATSANG - japa (Mantra chanting), with bells, drums, shakers, and a short meditation preceding. There are about 120 of us in the course, as well as other people living at the ashram for various reasons. After Satsang, tea, then we have ASANA (yoga postures/exercise) for two hours, where we either practice, or learn how to teach Asana. At 10a.m is breakfast. We sit in lines on the floor in a hall, eating sattvic vegetarian Indian food. We eat with our hands, and are *supposed* to eat in silence. Which we don't really do, but sort of. Then we are meant to have karma yoga from 11a.m. to 12p.m. My karma yoga is to serve dinner, so I have this time off. I usually do homework, wash my clothes (i wear the same few outfits every day, and they are sweeeeaty!!) or wash me (>.<), nap,or just sit like a zombie, trying to absorb everything. 12a.m. Chanting/Bhagavad Gita studies, 2p.m. main lecture, on various premises of yoga. 4.p.m. afternoon ASANA class, 6p.m. dinner, 8p.m. evening Satsang, Every day is so packed! So hectic and intense. I want to explain the experience in more detail, but am processing it now. Every day lights are out at 10:30a.m., and I usually sleep like I die each night and am reborn in the morning. It's sooooo hot here!
We have studied a myriad of things, including: the history of our swamis at the Ashram, the various types of yoga: Karma yoga, Raja yoga, Bhakti yoga, and Jnana yoga, of which we study parts of them all in our regular daily schedule. The eight limbs of yoga, anatomy, the seven bhoomikas, yoga lifestyle, and so on and so forth. I'd like to write some of the important notes out on my blog at some point later.
Every day we have several pages of written homework on what we have studied, on which we get marked, and on which at the end of the course there will be a written final exam. In ASANA class, we are learning the sanskrit chants, and the Sivananda formula for a class. We practice and do corrections on each other. We have to teach classes in groups, with the other students as well as supervising teachers evaluating us. I'm done this part now.
After the course, I have plans to travel with some of the other students, to the beach at the southern most tip of India, where you can see the sunrise and sunset in the same day, as well as other places, including an elephant festival in Cochin. After that, I'm either coming back to the ashram or going to anther ashram to do more yoga for another month. Midway through my visa, I want to fly to Nepal, then into Delhi and around Northern India. There is soooooo much to see and do, but on this trip I'm focusing mostly on yoga, and am interested in the Tibetan community in exhile. Though I aim to remain open to possibilities that come along.
I am meeting really great people that I'm sure will be good friends in my life. As well, I feel strongly my love and devotion to my friends/loved ones waiting for me. LOVE you!!
Here is a present:
~~ ~~~~ L O V E Y O U ~ ! ~
~~~ ( ) ) ) )
~ ~~ ( ( ( ( ( - . -) ) ) ) ) ~~ ~
connection on the waves..
do you FEEL it??
(I see you).
OM ..
xxx (yogi star kisses.)
Subtle vibrations, thought forms.
OM Nama Shivaya.
Rhea
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