Made It To India and Back

Thanks to Joerg at CIBT and I guess Cox & King the Indian visa grantors, I received my visa at 11:30am on Saturday, for my 4pm flight to New Delhi on Sunday!  I had already let go of going so I guess that is why it all worked out!

On December 11th I flew from Stuttgart to Munich to New Delhi, then to Kolkata where I was received by a driver to be transferred to the Kolkata train station.  The ride from the airport to the train station was pretty much the most interesting thing I had done in a long time.  Wow.  So much to see that I certainly haven’t seen before.

Sharing the Crowded Road

So Much Trash Everywhere

A “Packed” British Occupancy Era Bus

All in all I didn’t really see much of the typical tourist spots like the Taj Mahal  because of the  11 full days spent in India, only one was spent outside of an ashram.  This actually suited me just fine because as my friends and family  know, I am not the typical traveler.

Ganga Darshan Munger, Bihar India

After a 5 hour train ride and a very sketchy arrival at the train station near Rikhia where I wasn’t received as planned (quick thinking and a well timed taxi got me out of there),  my first night was spent in Rikhia, at the Rikhipeeth ashram.  Here I joined the others from my group who had just finished attending a huge celebration, Yoga Poornima, at the ashram.  In the morning we left for the next ashram in Munger by car- a 5 hour car ride that would have taken less than two on a German highway.  For someone who flew over 70 thousands miles this past year riding in cars and taxi’s in over 15 countries in Europe and Asia, I can say unequivocally that when it comes to driving, nothing compares to India.

The next 9 days were spent at the ashram, “Gange Darshan”, in Munger where we didn’t leave the premises except for a short walk to an affiliated ashram.  I signed up for the ashram experience, and that is what I would be getting!

The program that I attended was “Ashram Life, Yoga & Satsang Week.”  The programming was wonderful from beautifully lead early morning yoga classes that included pranayama and meditation to two daily satangs with Swami Niranjanananda!  Also, our Cleveland group was asked if we would like to transcribe Swamiji’s lectures and a few of us jumped on the chance!  It was such a blessing to be able to listen to his words over and over, and in my case over, and over, and over (not so good of a transcriber!) to really let the meaning and the message sink in!

Swamiji During Satsang

Living the typical ashram life, our accommodations were bare bones, no hot water or central heating in the dorms and daily “seva” or selfless service  which consisted of cleaning the dorms, bathroom facilities, etc.  Food was authentic Indian fare that was simple but delicious. Other than a close call with “Delhi Belly,”  my stomach made it through unscathed thanks to some anti-diarrhea meds and Siprol that my friends had on hand.

It is suggested that yoga aspirants spend at minimum of 15 days ever other year at an ashram.  I completely understand why.  Being there is a reminder of how little one needs to survive and how much we have and take for granted.

Varanasi on the Ganga

Next stop Varanasi! After waiting for a train that was over 6 hours late (this is to be expected in India) we road off  sharing our train compartment with a few nice Indian men as well as a few cockroaches and mice, (also to be expected in India) into the night passing rural India as depicted in a Discovery channel documentary to Varanasi where our last night was spent in a hotel. A real hotel with hot water, a bed with a mattress and an all you can eat breakfast buffet. As a group we gave thanks for the abundance before us!

According to Wikipedia, Varanasi “is regarded as a holy city by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and probably the oldest in India. The fog was the thickest I have ever experience fog to be but we managed to still take a boat trip on the Ganga.  Cows, funeral pyres, Ganga bathers, and hawkers abound, this was authentic India!

The sights, sounds, and smells of India and certainly the ashram experience are  probably not for everyone.  While there I tried to picture some of my nearest and dearest along side of me and all I could do was smile.  It is a place that would certainly challenge even the most broad of comfort zones!

That said, for over 10 years I had hoped to make this trip and it finally came to fruition.  God willing I will be going back again, and probably again and again.  Low maintenance family and friends who have open minds and hearts may come along!

Man Peeing Near Ganga

Produce That Can Only Be Eaten By Locals ;-(

Bathing in the Ganga

Indian School Bus

Yoga Friends

One of Many Roaming Cows

Traveling to India for My Own Inner Light

In a little over a week I should be leaving for India to attend “Ashram Life” Yoga & Satsang Week at the Bihar School of Yoga ashram in Munger, India http://www.yogavision.net/.  I say “should” because I have the airline ticket and  itinerary set but I still haven’t received my passport with visa stamp back from the Indian consulate in Munich.  This is the second visa that I had to obtain this year; the first was back in September for a trip to China.  Obtaining the visa for China was difficult because I am not a permanent resident of Germany, but this one for India has proven to be even more challenging.

It is a trip that I have wanted to take for over 10 years now.  Ever since I completed my first yoga teacher training back in 2000, I felt that it was important to eventually make the trip to India, to the ashram, to the source and light of yoga I have been studying.  There have been numerous opportunities to make the trip before but with other planned travel as well as life circumstances, it was never the right time..  While Joerg at the visa service CIBT in Munich, has been very helpful and tells me that the visa has finally been approved, I will feel a lot more confident once I have my passport in hand.  At this point,  I have done my due diligence and it is out of my control and I can only believe that things are going to work out and I will be having an experience of a lifetime in India starting in about 10 days time.

Swami Satsangi

This past June I traveled to Hungary to attend a program given by Paramahamsa Satyasangananda “Swami Satsangi”, the second in line of the Satyananda lineage.  The opportunity to be in the presence of someone who has been literally living and breathing a yogic lifestyle for over 40 years was very inspiring.  During this visit I took the Jignasu Sannyasa initiation and received a spritiual name, Karunadhara (Karun:  kindessss, compassion  Dhara:  flowing, stream).  Jignasu sannyasa:  sannyasa means “renunciation” and jignasu means “willing to learn”. During this visit I took the second level of initiation to Satyananda Yoga-Jignasu Sannyasa  and received a spiritual name, Karunadhara (Karuna:  kindness, compassion  Dhara:  flowing, stream).  Jignasu sannyasa:  sannyasa means “renunciation” and jignasu means “willing to learn”.  As a Jignasu sannyasin I  agree to renounce, or give up, part of my  time to learn more about yoga and to help others who wish to learn about it.   Having continued my personal study of yoga  and seen the benefits manifest in my own life,  I felt that is was the right time to further my commitment to help more people discover the the wonderful and healing tools of yoga.  It was after this visit to Hungary that I started looking into taking my commitment one step further and finally make my way to India.

2011 has been the year of travel for me. Moving to Germany in December of 2010 and  traveling around Europe with my family and friends and Asia for my work with the Inline Certification Program, I have been to more countries this year than I had ever imagined and more then most people will ever see in a lifetime. It is almost absurd the amount of places that I have been.  I have been so very  fortunate to have the opportunity and means to travel like so much this year but another 2 week trip, even to the “holy grail” of destinations  like India, might be too much to ask of my family.  Even with my husband’s blessing, I started to feel overwhelmed about having to pack my bags and go somewhere again and thought it might be more yogic to slow down and  stay put.   However, when  I told my teacher, Swami Atmarupa who organized the trip, that it still might not be the right time for me, she strongly urged me to consider making the trip regardless of all how I might be feeling.  She told me  that there is word that

Paramahamsa Satyanananda

Paramahamsa Niranjananda

Paramahamsa  Niranjananda, who is currently the head of the lineage, may be going into seclusion very soon and that this could be one of the last programs that he conducts at the ashram for a long time.  Back in December 2010, Paramahamsa Satyananda, Swami Niranjananda’s predecessor,  left this life one evening during his meditation.  Having read  so many of his books and listened to his teachings and meditations, it would have been such an amazing experience being in his physical presence and I knew that I missed out by not making my way to India sooner.  Knowing what I missed by not seeing Swami Satyananda,  I  knew that regardless of how hectic my life was with travel I did not want to miss out on seeing Swami Niranjananda as well.

So, that’s it.  I am waiting form my passport and visa and meanwhile continuing to pack my bags.  Like I said, I have been to a lot of countries this year, but I have a feeling this journey will take me further then any of the rest.  Through daily ashram living I will experience simplicity, service, and silence.  Three things that will help develop a more deeper understanding and appreciation for my life and all the wonderful people who share in it.

After telling a friend about my upcoming India trip he sent me the lyrics to the George Harrison song “Inner Light”:

The Inner Light
Without going out of my door
I can know all things on earth
Without looking out of my window
I can know the ways of heaven

The farther one travels
The less one knows
The less one really knows

Without going out of your door
You can know all things on earth
Without looking out of your window
You can know the ways of heaven

The farther one travels
The less one knows
The less one really knows

Arrive without traveling
See all without looking
Do all without doing

I know the above words to be a universal truth but experienced by many.  However,  there are those who need to travel far and wide to remember that there is really nowhere to go.  That would probably be me.

A Weekend in New England

Beautiful New England Foliage

Last weekend I met my daughter Evan in New York City and from there we drove up to Peterborough, NH to attend a skating conference.

Trish Alexander who heads up Skate Instructors Association or Skate IA with the help of local skating instructor and outdoor enthusiast Colleen Clark, organized the event. Instructors from the US, Canada, the UK and even Brazil came together to share their passion and experience. There were presentations from a variety of masters in the industry on various skating disciplines as well as short workshops on improving skating skills, teaching technique, and building a skating business. Former Ice Speedskating Olympian (1988, 1992) and current Executive Director of US Speedskating, Mark Greewald reviewed the importance of developing good skating technique, which coming from such an accomplished skater, was truly appreciated and internalized by all. World renown slalom skater and instructor, Naomi Grigg, was on hand to give multiple slalom skating presentations getting all of us moving and grooving around the cones like pros. Skating instructor Phil Lenihan, known as the “The Old Dude On Blades” , was there to remind us why we should NEVER EVER stop skating.

The picturesque Friday morning drive up to New Hampshire that I was looking so forward to was anything but in the foggy and rainy conditions. However, by Saturday morning it was about as beautiful as New England can get in October. It was arranged for my daughter and I to stay at a neighbor of Colleen’s who owns a 220 year old house on 8 acres of land that abuts a nature preserve. New Hampshire. October. Leaves changing. 220 year old house. Nature preserve. Are you kidding me?! What a unbelievable place to spend the weekend!

What a treat to mug for the camera with California skating instructor and good friend Janet Miller

I was honored to conduct a short presentation on Mobile Yoga and had the opportunity to run the attendees through the basics of the workout. Since they were all already skaters we focused more on the yogic elements and how they can incorporate these concepts to improve their skating experience as well as their student’s. In spite of the well warn surroundings of an old armory where the conference was being held, we managed to create an atmosphere that was conducive to a short pranayama and meditation practice. Even on a cold, hard, dusty floor, people still managed to fall asleep while lying in shavasana! That is the beauty of shavasana, isn’t it?

The event was a great opportunity to connect with many skating friends of the past and enjoy the company of those who love skating as much as I do.

Everything I heard about New England in October was true. Skating there with friends, my daughter Evan, and with Barry Manilow lyrics floating in my head was a bonus.

Practice What You Preach

Brandenburger Tor

Holocaust Memorial Site

Berliner Fernsehturm

My family and I traveled to Berlin this past weekend so my son and I could skate the Berlin Inline Marathon on Saturday afternoon.  It was a perfect day for a race…hovering around 70 degrees, sun shining.  The race was in the afternoon, an 3:30 start which is unusual when it comes to marathons, skating or otherwise, as they usually start by 8:00am.  Having the whole day free my family and I enjoyed walking around Berlin-Check Point Charlie, “The” Wall, the Berliner Fenserturm, etc.  It really wasn’t like a race day that I was used to.  With the casual “not really feeling like a race day” air about the day, as could be expected, we ended up running around like lunatics to get to get to the race on time.  No water, no “emergency snack”, nothing.    Days earlier I finished an article about what to bring on race day or a long training skate, and none of what I suggested to bring was in my backpack!

Training was another thing.  As with most things, where passion become work, the less we find time to actually engage in the activity that we love.  That is the case for me when it comes to skating anyway.  In the last 6 moths I have spent hours and hours writing about skating, teaching skating, and coaching people to become skating instructors, that I haven’t spent enough time skating for myself   So, to follow suit, I certainly didn’t skate enough miles prior to race day.

The group from Rollerblade that we were skating with said that we would be skating in the “party group” so I figured at the very least I could definitely hang with a party.  Well…the party group, even for me who was not in the greatest long distance skating shape, found the party going a little too slow.  In addition, I am a competitor.  Plain and simple.  It is very hard for me to “dog it” and getting passed during a race does not sit well with me.  After a few miles we  ended up picking up the pace and leaving the music and party people behind.  This worked for a while   but eventually I found myself working at max capacity.  When my son and I came to the half-way point, I thought “you have got to be kidding!”  My legs were already jelly and if I hit a crack the wrong way or needed to make a sudden move or change of direction, that I would be down for sure.

Luckily,  balance was with me as I managed to negotiate the race, jelly legged and all without a fall.  Made it safely to the end  and skated a 2:01.  Certainly not my best time.  Managed to skate the first and second half of the race at the exact same pace-at least I am consistent!  I am certain that concentrating on my form and breath, especially the last 6-8 miles is what got me through.  While I know that I was not in the cardiovascular shape that I could have been in, I know that by keeping my focus on the connecting the movement with the breath, that I was able to maintain an even, albeit, exhausted stride throughout the race. There is something to keeping the awareness on the breath and stride.  It kept me in the moment and allowed me to put one skate ahead of the other when I wasn’t sure that I could. For me, that is the true definition of Mobile Yoga.  At least I followed my own advice here!

So for next year’s marathon I will do my best to do more skating and less talking and writing about skating.  In short, I will practice what I preach and put my skates where my mouth is!

Two Very Happy Marathon Finishers!

Lengthening the Bulk-Yoga for Weightlifters

Chakrasana (Backbend)

Over the winter an old inline skating friend of mine, Adam Steer and his business partner Ryan Murdock  asked me if I would shoot a short video on how to safely perform a backbend or chakrasana for their Shape Shifter Media, Inc. blog.   For a while, subscribers of www.shapeshifterblog.com  had been asking for more information on stretching and yoga and Adam and Ryan knew that their readership would appreciate the visual.

I just happened to have recently purchased a decent camera for my computer and took an afternoon putting a few postures together.  Since chakrasana is a very advanced pose I did my best to convey this in the 3 or so minute video suggesting a few postures that would prepare the body for future success in this pose.   The video was  pretty well received and in the end was a  catalyst for two new fitness products from these prolific fitness gurus.

At the beginning of the month I went to Toronto to film and produce material for  two yoga related fitness products.   Professional fitness model and fitness trainer Vince Delmonte was on hand for me to lead him through various yoga postures.  Working with Vince was an honor, easy on the eyes  , and served as an opportunity to sell the limitless benefits of yoga to someone who is so influential in the fitness industry!  In all, more than 80 yoga movements and postures were filmed giving us enough material to create 2 unique products that will promote the merits of yoga to the weight training world.

It is isn’t difficult to see how those who do a majority of their fitness training with weights can often become symmetrically imbalanced and inflexible.  With more bulk comes more tightness and over time there is less overall improvement in muscle size and strength.   This is where some basic yoga movements and postures can have a profound effect.  However, even someone like me, who advocates skating as an off-shoot of yoga, is a little hesitant on how to best approach the traditional weightlifter.  While breath and movement awareness are integral to proper weightlifting, the typical mindset of a weightlifter is about the physical improvements they will see with little thought of how yoga can positively improve their mental and emotional side as well.  When I expressed concern in regard to watering down the message of yoga, Adam told me “Sell ‘em what they want and give ‘em what they need.”  Okay, sneak in the backdoor….I get that and it works for me!

Hopefully, with the increase in popularity of fitness model competitions where proportion and overall muscular balance is prized,  as well as buy in  and support from successful fitness model’s and trainers like Vince, the weighlifting world might just be ready for yoga.  It might not be what they want, but hopefully many will find that it is exactly what they need.

The products will be available in October/November.  For more information go to BODYWEIGHTcoach.com.