Pee's Yoga & Wanderlust Blog

I wasn’t really sure what was going to happen for Christmas this year when planning to be away. While working away one day I got a text from one of my best friends saying he will see me in Goa for Christmas.. to be honest I wasn’t too bothered about being here for Christmas but it really has exceeded all expectations.

Dave is a Yoga Teaching Foodie who knows Goa on the back of his hand and this has certainly made my Christmas & visit to Goa. I also now don’t think I’ll be leaving anytime soon…. To be continued..

The build up & excitement about Christmas day was all part of it here where were we going to eat, what time, what will we eat. It didn’t feel like Christmas as it has been really hot & the Hindus don’t really celebrate Christmas…there is a Catholic society here since Portuguese Rule.

On the Day, I went to the beach early for some yoga but just did one sun salutation and a few postures before just watchin sunrise in peace. We scooted off to the church to celebrate & experience Mass, the droves of people filled the church all in their Christmas outfit. All the little boys were togged out in the cutest suits very 80’s style seriously funky. Mass was in the local language so obviously I couldn’t understand a word of it! But at least I knew what was going on.

I then went to chill out on the beach whilst waiting for the rest to join me for, a swim in the sea, a cocktail and then off to the most amazing brunch.

Blue Planet is a vegetarian, vegan organic restaurant with a reputation that is second to none, the waiter is the owner the chef is his wife. They had a restaurant on the busy beach front for years that was always jam packed serving up the best of foods but eventually jealousy and lots of hatred among the other businesses moved them out to the countryside, a house in the middle of know where!

On the day there was David, his two friends that had been here since nearly day one of my trip, my friend Maria who I met in Mysore & we had some new arrivals on the morning three girls who were friends of Daves…

So pulling together a group of virtually random strangers for a Christmas Bash could be risqué to say the least but Davids organisation of it all really wooed the new arrivals and we enjoyed a mouthwatering selection of foods – one of everything on the menu to share among us for lunch. It was all so tasty, healthy & mouthwatering! Unusual to say the least but the Sweet Potato & Pineapple Mash was to die for!!I just wanted MORE

I did manage to have a Christmas dinner tummy but it was full of Salads, Veg, Tofu! Replacing my bread sauce craving with Vegan Mayo!

We then headed to the beach for a sunset swim while the boys played hurling on the sand.

As is with Christmas Day (in our house anywyays) the eating didn’t stop there as David had coordinated a huge FISH FEAST is all it could be described as, with 4kgs of Prawns, King Fish & Red Snapper which the chef in the local restaurant prepared for us while we enjoyed a few cocktails.

Tandorri Prawns, Fish Goujons, Goan Fish Curry, Rice, Chapati, Prawn Biriyani, Vegetables, Baked King Fish… the food just kept on rolling… I also had a few glasses of the local Indian wine which was very pleasant Chenin Blanc!

For the second time on Christmas day I got had Christmas Day FULL tummy! we had a great time with good banter chats & I was even allowed to play my  Christmas music.

It was my first Christmas away from my family but the messages, texts & phonecalls made me feel very close to everyone!  Wishing you all a fabulous Christmas & New Year!

Love, Light & Yoga,

Pxxx

Ashram Life Its hard work, free time is limited but the learning is profound on so many levels! As I type the bell is ringing warning us ten minutes before class starts. Some of the words that have been used to describe it – Prison or Boarding School. The difference is I have chosen to be here!

Emotions are all over the place here grown men & women weeping, at random spots. So much clearing going on for so many people it can be a pretty difficult place to be! This is truly a real yogic experience. Early up: According to Hindu legends between 3am & 6am the Gods pour all their blessings on the people so if you’re in bed you’re under the covers and when we push the covers off the blessings are thrown away! I remind my self I’m getting all those blessing in the morning as I walk to Satsang. 5am bell rings.. I’m still asleep & I stay in my bed until bell goes again at 5.20am

6am Morning Satsang.. Building up from 10 mins we now do 30mins of Silent Meditation. I wasn’t sure about meditation – how, what, why – but now it really is a great opportunity for Peace and I’m finally managing to not twitch, wiggle or adjust myself for the half and hour & enjoy it. We then chant for about an hour until tea time…

8am Asana (Yoga Postures) Class.. This started as a gentle Asana class… but it has gone from beginners to very advanced in days … I can’t believe it!! My progress also has been good! Asana Class is good! I’m finally getting to hold postures that were a challenge for me at home, as with everything, once you’ve achieved it there is another variation or posture that looks – oh my God I’ll never be able to do that… Swami (Our Guru) here tells us that it is 95% Mind & 5% Physical! Once we overcome the fear or whatever the emotion is we are holding onto the posture will just happen. Let Go & Let God!

8 Limbs of Yoga – so we’ve got to try to master all of these… only one of the limbs is Asana Classes – what we know yoga at home to be. Chanting.. we chant a lot we told that we are raising our vibration and getting closer the divine – so we’re told.. I love it. All my singing classes have really ingnited a passion for me to exercise these lungs of mine and I just go for it now 

Kriyas – Cleanses.. yes I did some today, 130 of us were gathered together given an explanation HOW to do it.. then off down to the lake to cleanse our nasal passages and stomachs. The first one was pouring warm salty water through one nostril with a special little jug letting the water flow out the other nose. The second one was sticking a thin rubber tube through one nostril & out the mouth. The third involved trying to swallow a long piece of salty wet material. The fourth one we had to drink 10 cups of salty water quickly then forcefully vomiting them up again. I attempted them all and succeed with three of them. As you can image this was a sight for sore eyes.. tubes hanging out our noses & mouths, people puking into the lake, water flowing out of nostrils. My nasal passages do feel much clearer, my stomach feels very empty & not really hungry. Luckily we are not getting a demonstration on Basti (Enemas) or being told to do them

I thought I’d struggle with two meals a day, this has also been manageable – the odd trip to the health hut for a juice is necessary. We eat at 10am & 6pm: Some people’s Karma Yoga is Serving the food, we all sit on mats in a huge hall, where we start by chanting a prayer and we’re served our food. All the food is Sattivic – which means no meat, no eggs, no onions, no garlic. It is delicious, naturally healthy pretty tasty.

Philosophy Class: Wow – so for the past few years, I’ve been reading books about Energy, Positive Thinking, Spirituality… all giving me different insights & revelations. I arrive here and I’m engrossed as this is all encompassing all of this! All of these are ancient teachings. I was pretty daunted the first week or so with all the references to the Hindu gods and all the randnom puja’s (rituals) singing to the God. Thankfully this got clarified and the similarities between all religions: Here they use the Mala Beads, my Granny uses Rosary Beads! Chanting – we have Hymns.We see Mary, Jesus, Saints, Angels – They have Vishnu, Shiva, Lakshmi, We get holy communion – they serve Darshan..

Escape from the Ashram! We get one day off a week and get to leave the Ashram to visit local sites or beaches. Our first trip we were on a Ashram organised trip to Kanuymari which is at the tip of India where three oceans meet, It was an interesting trip & included to visits to three Temples – all were very different. There was one where the stink of ghee(butter) was so unbearable I was nearly sick.. at every temple depending on the Diety the offering people bring is different – so Ghee was the one at this temple Yuck! The temples varied in age from 3,000 years old to 1,000 years old. There was certainly lots of energy in the temples – some were huge with hundreds of people chanting, giving offering and praying.

The second two Fridays – I left with a few friends & we headed to the Beach. Varkla & Kovalam, both of these were typical tourist areas with plenty of shops, restaurants and lots of tourists. These days were great we ate – A LOT, a day where we really let the senses go wild – Garlic, Eggs, Fish & Desserts!! It was actually difficult to get back into the swing of Ashram Life after the day off.

Karma Yoga – Self less service to God! This is where we all get a duty at the Ashram. Our names were all called out to different jobs – I was put with the Dinner Service (AM I EVER GOING TO ESCAPE HOSPITALITY??) My name was the last name called out.. I was praying not to get this but alas God seriously was out to have a bit of a giggle as well as maybe teach me a lesson! Dining Room duty involves either serving food or cleaning. I decided that I’d do cleaning duty, its not too difficult or laborious. I know it would be a different story if Mum was in charge, the standard is certainly Indian! We roll the mats, sweep & mop the floors, clean the sinks and then we are done! I know that I certainly didn’t clean as much as others did in Lohans so maybe that is Karma coming around again to me. My boss – now leaves me in charge believe it or not!

Oh so brave! well so i’ve been told.

Indian Rail Travel, so its complicated! I’ve been told I thought how hard could it be? I’m organised looking to book my train to the South ten days beforehand.. No Darling you’re not at all organised by Indian Train travel goes..
So I get to the reservation office, take a ticket – so there are 60 people ahead of me, PATIENCE Patricia.. it will all work out. All the people (99% men) had forms in their hands so I figured I need one too.  I wander around to find an information office, he gives me a form and also informs me that I there are no places left in Air Conditioning in any class so all that’s left if Sleeper Class. The most basic of classes – no glitz or glamour for Pee on my 17hour journey.

After nearly 45mins waiting for my number to be called a gentleman taps me on the shoulder and says that there is a separate queue for ladies which I can just go to the counter ahead of ALL the men… at the exact same time my number gets called. I’m learning the hard way but certainly will be on the look out for Special Ladies Queues!!

The 24 hour train journey..

Disgruntled, tired, stinking, as I disembark of the train journey..

Since I had a struggle to get the ticket I was just delighted to be on the train…

Now time to settle in.. my seat in designated.. first thoughts this isn’t too bad..

I’m introduced to all the other people in my little area that I will be spending the next few days with.. they all seem very pleasant, a bank teller from Trivandrum, A physics

PHD Student and an engineer. They say another lady is going to arrive. A young guy has spotted me an arrives down to ‘interrogate me’ well that’s what it felt like anyways..

I’m waiting for another lady to arrive but actually two ladies arrive!! So we start to investigate the tickets- oh yes Patricia was on the right train, the right seat but it was for the wrong day!!! I suppose it just shows how disconnected from days, dates & months & time in general that I am at the moment.

The young army guys who had been over to investigate me earlier soon were soon involved in my ticket debacle and gave me one of their seats and we had to just wait for the ticket inspector, I knew this was going to cost me.. but who knows how much & perhaps there wasn’t even space for me on the train………

While waiting for the ticket inspector I was being seriously interrogated by the young army man, he tells me his life story fairly rapidly, which it includes his engagement (arranged marriage) & previous love to a girl with a girl from another cast but her family would not allow the marriage. This seems to be quite a common story here India? He has met the girl yes but he’s not in Love with her….

The Inspector arrives and a big discussion.. Finally I have to buy another ticket and also pay a fine.. This works out at about €8 so I didn’t do too badlyJ

My bunk was the upper level in small compartments with three people on each side, the lights were turned off.. the heat was bad, I don’t feel like I slept but I must have by 5am the noise started selling CHAI CHAI CHAI, COFFEE, COFFEE, COFFEE, COOKIES, COOKIES… roaring through the carriage constantly, everytime the train stopped… (I had 35 stops on my journey)

The bank teller that I’d originally been seated beside came to check on my and brought me a banana. I munched on my packet of biscuits and bottle of water.. since I’d heard so many horror stories of being robbed on the train I was too nervous to really leave my life in the hands of strangers until a family got on the train below me…. I ventured to the toilet – One toilet for 72 bunks.. it was an experience it itself not worth discussing.

The journey went smoothly after the train cell to the Ashram.. more to come on that 🙂

I’m just facing into my fourth week here in India, in this time I have met some incredible people from all around the world.

There certainly have been lots of highs with a few low moments – Am I doing the right think? Should I be working? Am I just dossing? I do miss wandering out of my apartment to have a chat with mum or dad, walking the prom with my friends.  Thankfully, I’ve had plenty of confirmation through signs &  from many little incidents I am meant to be here to meet, be inspired and share with some amazing people. Confirming to me I am on the correct path, as I learn more about myself, yoga and the importance of the people we meet, no matter how briefly.

“An invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance. The red thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break.” – Ancient Chinese proverb.

I came across this on a friends blog the other day. It hit a chord with me, not only because it’s a beautiful sentiment, but everyday  here I see a more & more truth in the proverb.

The friend who posted it I met briefly in the Philippines 10 years ago, she proceeded to put myself and my drunken sisters up in her house & share her bed with us in Sydney for a week. I recently got to repay the hospitality when we hosted her & her husband in Lohans. We’ve come along way from drunken young party animals to green juice drinking yogis…so the thread will continue when I look forward to meeting them both in Oz when I get there.

This proverb has become so much more prevalent over past years especially when I was leaving as I reflected how I was supposed to be friends with certain people and how relationships develop from the most bizarre events but for sure pre destined ways.

I think there is lots of our life which is predetermined there are certain souls our soul is meant to work with, to help us learn and grow. By the same token, we are also here to help teach and nurture someone else’s soul. These people are our soul mates. Our free will may stretch the thread, or may tangle it along the way, but can never break it. The idea that those we are meant to meet will turn up regardless of time, place or circumstance means we can’t really get it wrong. We can’t make a wrong turn, or a wrong decision which results in us not meeting the people we are meant to meet. The red thread connects us and ensures we meet at the right time, at the right place – for both of us.  Not everyone we meet will be connected to us by this red thread, but those that are, are certainly very special.

All of the people who enter our lives are there for a reason. It certainly got me thinking about where my red thread has already been weaved, stretched and tangled, and thinking about where it may be weaved in the future. Who are the people in your life connected by red thread? What are the people in your life there to teach you about yourself? Even those people we find challenging are there to teach us something, so although it’s hard, we need to embrace those people and challenges too.

I’d imagine that if you are reading my blog you are one of those people that I have a red thread connection with and I’d like to Thank you for the friendship, knowledge, lessons and love that you have put my way. I look forward to connecting with more of my red thread soul mates and caring for my existing ones.

Isn’t life such an exciting journey? Who will be my next red thread  be?…. Namaste.

Life in Mysore where I am is pretty cool, I’ve a nice ensuite room in a big house sharing with a Finish couple, Brazilian girl, Chilean guy and another American/Polish Couple… we don’t see much of each other since we are on different schedules – for yoga classes etc… I usually walk around the area but lots have scooters.. i’ll probably get one when I come back in January.

Days here feel kinda lazy but I suppose it’s just so different from my old life. I have yoga at 8.30am until 10am and again at 3.30-5pm. There are loads & loads of other foreigners practising yoga mostly Ashtanga (which I’m not doing at the moment).

I’ve met people from all over the world – I hang out most of the time with an American girl and an English girl who just arrived..
we discovered last night that she had been to the same retreat in Italy as me & Grace a few months ago – drank the chinese tea @ the ceremony and decided to quit her job, come to India to do yoga teacher training.. on the EXACT same course as me in a few weeks time!! oh what a world.. umm we are certainly on a similar path!

This week to fill the time in the afternoon I’ve started a yoga anatomy course which is so interesting.. I’m not sure why I always classed myself as ‘bad’ at science in school, I’m loving it!! Knowing more about how the body works etc will be great to have an understanding of this for my own practise but also as a teacher…this is only for a week so next week I’m starting Singing Lessons!! OK I know I can’t sing but i’m going to give it a go.. we will learn traditional indian songs and chanting which I’m also loving.

I go to two classes in a temple where it starts with chanting.. of course I haven’t a clue because I don’t read sanscrit but I join in when I can and afterwards the ‘priest’ discusses and explains it all in English- it is such a profound class and discussion about  our actions, meditation and attachments we make in life.. serious amount of food for thought.

Apart from that there are a couple of lovely cafes for yogis only, random shops and places to hang out and meet more new people!

A picture says a 1,000 words… here are some from my wanderings.. Mysore Palace, the Market,Bananas, Down town Gokulam, My street, My neighbours Bonsai Garden, Random Animals, the guard/stray Dogs @ my house, Mysore Festival Preparations… Random people, animals, places, things in Indddiaaaa…Namaste 🙂

I have always believed that we get messages in mysterious ways whether its  from a fortune cookie, an incident that happens, a book or some thing that somebody says. Last night my mum was went for a Chinese meal with some friends at the end of the night, everyone was presented with a fortune cookie.

Her fortune cookie read: Who will you miss ringing your door bell.

It took a fortune cookie for her to verbalise something that was very real in her life, that we hadn’t discussed. When she told me this tears welled up inside of me and we just looked across at each other feeling the sadness in silence. I know that she is delighted inside that I’m following my heart and going to do something I’m passionate about but I know that it won’t make it any easier for her or me to say goodbye.