End of week three approaches and this will be my last letter from India as internet time must now be spent on changing our meals on our flight etc. Internet is either much more challenging here than it used to be or my expectations of E-access have increased considerably. I’m so grateful to be able to relax in our apartment while I compose these letters. Due to internet access, some of you will receive all three letters at one time.
This has been a courageous week of back bends and I am feeling wonderfully open; a great antidote to the chest cold and “Pune fever” I had late last week. Geeta and Prashant are both weaving the theme of yoga kriya’s into their teaching. Focusing on the cleansing (body, mind & breath) aspect of the yogasanas by demanding we stay with our breath and mind throughout. “Make body, mind and breath like sponge and water.” Prashant continues with the alpha and omega of Trikonasana, and I experience the deep wringing action of uddiyana in Trikonasana. Geeta has us becoming taller and taller in Urdva D, telling us this pose is all about the arms and legs as she has us stare at the pictures of her father bordering the walls.
Pranayama was mostly savasana this week as many people are coughing due to the heavy Pune air. It was enlightening as Geeta spoke at length about savasana and the difficulty of finding stillness. We kept our focus on keeping space at the back of the throat.
A VIP came to RIMYI this week to take private lessons from Guruji. A federal minister, received one on one time with Guruji during our women’s class. I love the way the Iyengar’s do not close everything down for a VIP but instead require they fit into the existing schedule. When we came out of class a dozen militia in camouflage cradling machine guns were standing around waiting. A bit astonishing!
This coming week is pranayama week, what a delicious way to end a month here. The month of classes will end with a Saturday morning and we hope to make a side trip to the Lonavla Buddhist caves before making our way to Mumbai for our Monday night flight home. We have all had an exceptional time inspite of air quality, consequent colds etc. My daughter has fallen in love with India the people and the food and looks forward to coming back here to this culturally rich country again one day. I am so grateful to have made this trip as a family, to share an important part of my life with my husband and daughter. Together we can randomly stare in any direction, between the elephants, the traditions and the modern development it is like gazing out through all of time. Like RIMYI, something you can only know through direct experience. Ohm Shanti
