Everywhere We Go, There We Are

Well, it's been 1 week since I arrived in India and it amazes me how quickly our surroundings and lifestyles can change. Yet with such changes I am also reminded that no matter where we go, there we are! No matter which continent we are on, we have ourselves and all of our light and all of our dark right there with us along the way!

It has been quite the week of adjustments and transitions but I am proud to say I am starting to find a routine and drop back into this yoga lifestyle.

After a lengthy journey from Lake Erie, southern Ontario, to Abu Dhabi, to Delhi, to Rishikesh and finally to Laxman Jhula, I am pleased to say I slept my first night in India at my final destination where I will spend the next 2 months!

Arriving into smog filled, filthy, chaotic Delhi at 5:30 am left me wanting nothing more than to keep moving through and beyond it. After lingering in the airport until I felt confident to step out into my new reality, I made my way directly to the New Delhi train station only to learn the earliest train I could catch was at 11 pm. Not soon enough for me! So I continued on to the next best thing, a local bus. Suddenly I was at the bus stand, away from other options, such as the possibility of splurging on a relatively more 'luxurious' air conditioned bus. At that point I was committed so I piled in the overly crowded, decrepit local bus headed for Rishikesh. I was happy to be moving, even though pathetically slowly, for my final destination. Turns out the 9 hour ride only cost $3 CDN but included a flat tire along the way, stops way too often for people getting off, crowding on or for the many guys trying to sell us everything from watches to water to coconut pieces. I went for some coconut to chew on and smiled, letting go of needing to be anywhere at any particular time, or even the need to feel completely comfortable in this new, yet familiar, chaotic reality that I chose to be part of at this time. Ah, India!

I decided to spend my first night in Laxman Jhula (10 mins from Rishikesh) at the same place I spent most of my time here during my last trip in March. Upon arriving, dirt covered and exhausted, I was amazed that the owners recognized me. Indians have incredible memories but it was over 6 months ago that I was here and they see so many tourists, that I didn't expect such a warm welcome. Already, after just moments of arriving, I was feeling like I had just left yesterday. So much is similar and yet there are the small things that are slightly different, such as the murky brown colour of the Ganga River post monsoon. Already I am constantly hearing myself say "Same, Same, but Different!" b/c it's so true.

It's interesting to return to a familiar place and yet feel so different within ourselves. This is how I felt returning to Canada in June of this year and it is once again how I feel dropping back into Laxman Jhula. I find it is as though I expect the level of changes within me to be reflected in my surroundings. Perhaps it's simply a matter of taking responsibility for the shift within ourselves and reflecting it, for example in our actions, to our surroundings. Who knows.

After a well deserved horizontal sleep, resting and reading, getting re-aquainted with this part of India and indulging in things I missed most from here like refreshing lemon nanas (fresh lime, mint and ice drink), I have settled into a lovely bachelorette suite with my very own kitchen, clean bathroom, bedroom and large porch. I have a beautiful view of the surrounding green hillsides and the Ganga River in the distance. And yes, I have started practising with Louise!

It is such a delight to be in her presence, learn from her and open up in my yoga practise. It's a small group at the moment practising each morning in a glass enclosed rooftop shala overlooking the Ganga River. We face east as we practise and each morning as I start the seated poses of Primary Series the sun rises over the hilltops right onto my mat. It is not nearly as hot here as Goa, which is wonderful. The temperature drops quite a bit here at night and the wind picks up making it cool and comfortable for sleeping. The days still reach the high 20's to 30 C by mid day but it feels very tolerable in this dry climate. Each day is getting a bit cooler as we move into winter and I must say, I love it.

I'm slowly getting into the flow, finding my post travel ashtanga practise and as my body adjusts, it is nice to remind myself that there is no rush. I have 9 weeks here with Louise, which is plenty of time to dive deeper into my practise. Once again, it is a matter of letting go and letting things unfold as they will b/c truly, that is the only way one can survive in this part of the world. Nothing ever goes according to how you envision it - ever- so you either drive yourself crazy wishing things were different, of just step back, breath and accept that for whatever reason, they are going as they are going. You can either fight the current or go with it and although sometimes I find myself still trying to swim upstream, more and more I am learning to go with the ease of the flow!

I find I have plenty of time on my hands, which I knew would be a struggle for me particularly this time around without Iain's grounding presence. I realize, this is my work right now, to drop into where I am, remembering that it's where I want to be at this time and not worry about what the future will bring. As many of you know, the unknown future has been a bit of a struggle for me lately and to be honest, on some level I thought I would arrive here and that would go away. Where to? I am not sure. But it turns out it is right here with me. Even on the other side of the planet, my internal struggles came along for the journey, which is just fine. As Rumi reminds me, this being human is a guest house, each day a new arrival. And also, it is clear to me that everywhere we go, there we are.

So here I am being with Theresa, dropping into my surroundings and finding my own rhythm, soaking in all that this same, same, yet new experience has to offer!