I fly out from Vancouver at 11:00am today! My route is as follows: Vancouver to Chicago, Chicago to Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi to Trivandrum. The journey is about 28 hours including layover time. So for those of you in B.C., I should be touching down in India about 3:00pm tomorrow (November 9th) your time. It's a 12.5 hour time difference which means arrival at yes, 3:30am (November 10th) India time. Gross, but I'll survive.
The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre is situated in Neyyar Dam. This is about an hour taxi ride from Trivandrum (in the state of Kerala). Click here for a map! I actually arrive two days before my training starts as to acclimatize myself to the environment. During this time, I will be relaxing on the beaches of Varkala (look north of Trivandrum on your map) with a girl from Ireland and a girl from Mexico. I have connected with these two through the Ashram; we will be travelling together to Varkala and then to the Ashram for our training.
The training is a total of 200 hours in a four week span. The daily schedule is as follows:
5:30am - Wake up
6:00am - Satsang
8:00am - Asanas
9:00am - Anatomy and physiology
10:00am - Breakfast
11:00am - Karma Yoga
12:00pm - Bhagavad Gita or Kirtan
2:00pm - Main lecture in philosphy or anatomy
4:00pm - Asanas and pranayama
6:00pm - Dinner
7:30pm - Satsang
10:00pm - Lights out
What does this all mean? Well, instead of regurgitating everything, please check out the website by clicking here. Definitely peruse around the site as you might find some useful information (and inspiration!) for your own yoga practice (eg. five points of yoga, etc.).
Because the website outlines the details of the training, I have a general idea of what to expect but I know that nothing can really prepare me for the experience I am about to have. The only thing I can do to prepare is to have an open mind. It will truly be a trip of a lifetime.
As much as I would love to keep you posted on how things are going, this will not be possible as electronics are not allowed at the Ashram. Thus the next time I post, I will be in Australia. So please forgive me for my MIA-ness (yes, that's a word). I would still love to receive emails:)
I leave Trivandrum on December 13th and arrive in Melbourne on the 14th. Until then, peace, love and happiness to you all.
Namaste.
And a big P.S. I want to thank Brenda Wowk of Kelowna Hot Yoga Studio for being an amazing inspiration and encouraging me to go to the origin of yoga: India. Much love, beautiful lady!
