Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Om Shanti

It has taken me awhile to write this next posting as I really needed time to absorb the last month in India.  And I have to up front say that I am not a changed person in any sort of enlightened way.  For me, I feel like my month in India confirmed what I already knew...and maybe that's my "ego" getting in the way...but I knew in my heart ahead of time how I wanted to live my life and what kind of teacher I wanted to be...and now, I still feel the same.

So let me give you a glimpse into a typical Ashram (Teacher Training Course-TTC) day:

5:20am - the security guard rings the bloody bell that wakes you from screwed up dreams.  By the last week, I became so irritated by it that I started not hearing it (or maybe it was just selective hearing).  Much thanks to my awesome roommate, Niki (from Albuquerque), for waking me on those days that I decided not to hear the bell...but then there were also days that she needed the wake-up tap.  Anywho, literally roll out of bed, throw on the white pants and yellow t-shirt, maybe splash some water on your face, maybe just leave the crusties in your eyes.

6:00am - "Ommmmmmmmmmmmm"  It's still dark as I stumble my way to the hall and try and meditate with 150 other people.  People sneezing, coughing, burping, farting, oh the sounds and smells that come from meditation.  Satsang continues with our most favourite daily chant, wait for it, wait for it..."Jaya Ganesha, Jaya Ganesha, Jaya Ganesha Pahimam, Shree Ganesha, Shree Ganesha, Shree Ganesha Rakshamam..."

7:30am - perhaps my favourite time - tea time!  Delicious milk (Chai) tea under the tea tree.

8:00am - run back to the dorm to change.  By the third week, what to wear was determined by what smelled the least (there was a place to do laundry but at this point, all vanity is out the door).  Asana (posture) class.  Sometimes relaxing.  Sometimes (ok, almost always) a circus.  Most of the time, I just ignored what was going on and focused on my mat, on my own practise...as yoga should be.

10:00am - what would we be served today?  I hope there's protein.  I hope there's iron.  I just hope I can digest it.  There's a topic that never got old...bowel movements...or lack of...or abundance of...let's just say it was a regular (no pun intended) subject between everyone.  Haha, I am reminded of a day trip four of us (two guys, two gals) took to Kanyakumari.  On the way back, desperation set in on all of us.  We got our cabby to stop pronto at a gas station as we all lined up with TP in hand.  When nature calls, nature calls, and nobody cares.

11:00am - karma yoga.  I was one of the lucky one's who did not have to clean the toilets (thank you to those of you that had to!).  Tyler (from Saskatoon) and I alternated with cleaning the back office as well as giving morning and evening annoucnements at meal times.

12:00pm - chanting and Bhagavad Gita class.  Back to sitting on our arses...which I think I forgot to mention prior.  There was a lot of sitting on our arses.  Morning Satsang, breakfast, lectures, dinner, and evening satsang.  Near the end of week one, my knees were in extreme pain from being cross-legged all week long.  By week two, I thought I was getting used to it but come week four, the pain returned. 

Anyway, chanting class.  The teacher, Swahalia, was an Indian woman who was quite captivating.  She had a beautiful voice and I was intrigued the first time I heard her speak and chant at our initiation ceremony.  In this class, we learned various chants (in Sanskrit) and their meaning.  All I can say is that I am glad there were 119 others chanting/singing...no one needs to hear a solo performance from this monotone voice. 

Half-way through our course, chanting class ended and Bhagavad Gita class commenced.  I found this class to be the most engaging and interesting.  Mohini is a child educator so she definitely has some teaching techniques.  Maybe not all were suitable when you look at adult learning principles but when you have a room of 120 people of all ages and cultures, I will give her props on her efforts.  In this class, we went through the chapters of the Bhagavad Gita and their significance.

1:30pm - tea time again.  But this time an herbal tea that was usually way too spicy.  A snack was also served which was usually fruit but in the last few days there was some interesting choices in snacks that seemed to contradict the teachings...deep fried broccoli anyone?

2:00pm - philosophy lectures from a man dressed in orange.  The topic would be interesting but then about five minutes in, the Swami would go off on a tangent and I would have no idea what was being said (thick accent included) and so very easily, I would lose interest.  That is until I start hearing, "Blah blah blah, abdha, blah, blah."  What is going on here?  This man is nuts.  Or as Sinead (from Dublin) would say in her awesome Irish accent, "He's f*cking demented."  Pardon mon francais, mama et papa.  I laughed and thought about the talking twin babies (click here if you don't know what I am talking about).  When I wasn't making "WTF faces" at the crew, I found myself staring outside taking in the beauty; a constant reminder that I was in India. 

4:00pm - Shamu Show.  Sorry, I mean this class was taught by Shambhu.  It was at this time when we were taught how not to teach.  At times, it was very frustrating because I know the kind of (asana) teacher that I want to be and I felt like this was not it.  I did not find a guru here; however it became clear to me that she is in Kelowna.  Yeah you, Bren :)  I dub thee, Guru Brenda Wowk!  Anywho, I just feel like there could have been more emphasis on the anatomy/physiology and it's relation to the postures.  And some inspiring teachers would have helped too. 

6:00pm - dinner.  If breakfast was really good, it was safe to say that dinner would be shite...and that the Health Hut would be a busy place in the evening.

8:00pm - satsang.  Same story as morning satsang.  Although, throughout the month there were a few presentations including traditional dance, martial arts, and sacred ceremonies - all very beautiful.  Oh and lest we forget the weekly Ashram Talent Show...which for the most part was entertaining.

10-11:00pm - chat, vent, bond, laugh, dance, sing, act crazy with the gals in the dorm.  Then crawl under my mosquito net and fall into a sleep which will no doubt be full of crazy dreams.

There you have it.  A day in a life of a TTC student (at least my experience!). 

So looking back, it was an overall good experience.  Nothing to rant and rave about though.  I do however, appreciate what I learned and I do feel I have an excellent grasp on the beginnings (history, philosophy, etc) of yoga.  A solid foundation.  I look to take a few more courses that will emphasize the postures and the importance of alignment and a more indepth look at the relationship with anatomy/physiology.  And if anything, I LOVE to teach.  I was to teach a class at a time when I was feeling frustrated and drained but I was very much looking forward to teaching...and it was aMaZiNg!  Teaching brought back the passion, the love, and the knowledge that I made the right choice.  It literally re-energized me and I couldn't wait to teach another class!

Now let's talk about India.  Wow.  To put it into words: colourful, dirty, friendly, hectic, AWESOME.  Probably not for everyone.  Mom included.  She would have a heart attack in a taxi.  Rules do not exist on the road...passing anytime, on blind corners, and fast.  Wait!  That's a lie, the only rule is: honk your horn...at everything and everyone!  I'm not going to lie, we almost had a head-on collision one day.  Passing on a corner (on a hill).  Brakes were slammed on from both parties and we probably stopped within one inch from each other.  I still remember the look on Sinead's face.  And there I was laughing.  I just figured, this is how they drive all the time.  It works for them, so just be trusting.  For the most part I was; except, I got worried when I would see a dog on the road! 

Anywho, on our days off we took day trips to Kovalam and Kanyakumari.  Beach, fruit, shopping, temples, food, and relaxation.  Let me tell you, these days off made me truly appreciate all the little things.  From the taste of a delicious fresh squeezed pineapple to the feel of the ocean breeze.  Life is beautiful :) 

After our training, a big group of us headed to Varkala for our last days in Kerala.  It made it easier to say goodbye to some fantastic people as we got to just hang out in an awesome environment and then go our separate ways.  There a lot of fantastic people that I met at the TTC but I really want to give a shout out to Sinead, Ania, Tyler, Ivy, and Maria.  Thank you for your optimism, pessimism, intelligence, sarcasm, humour, openness, beauty, strength, fragility, and compassion.  I'm glad we shared in this crazy experience together!

So to close off on this chapter, I must share a moment that I experienced at the Ashram.  One morning as I stepped out of the dorm, a crow immediately swooped down over my head; I am talking a dive bomb here.  I felt it's feet, body, and wings fly over my head.  I stopped suddenly to catch my breath and to realize what just happened.  I continued walking but no more than five steps more and the crow comes back and flies directly over my head again.  "Holy sh*t."  A little freaked out, I continue walking with one eye up to the sky waiting for the crow to take me down.  I manage to make my way to the tea tree to pick up my yummy morning pick-me-up and then head back to the dorm.  As I start making my way up the first set of steps, I see this black object coming towards me from the side and whooosh, the crow did it again.  "What do you want from me??!!?"  I walk back into the dorm and am just amazed and stunned at what just happened.  I tell a few people and I hear various things, it's a bad omen, it's a good omen, it means magic, it means you were about to be attacked by many crows...I didn't know what to believe but I just took it as the craziest thing that happened to me in India. 

For the next couple days, I can't stop thinking about this crow.  I decide to ask Elizabeth (from Trivandrum) the significance of the crow in Indian culture.  The significance is plenty!  I could share many stories with you but I will share what the direct significance is.  If you see one crow it's not good; if you see two crows, it's good.  However, if a single crow flies over you, such as this one did, it is acting as a messenger.  The message being that whatever you have done in your past life and are doing in your present life is what is right for you.  Good things will happen in the choices you have made and continue on with the journey you live.

I had goosebumps and tears in my eyes as she was telling me the meaning of this encounter.  I wish I could say she was BSing me and that I am BSing you but this came from the lips of an amazing, smart and wise woman who didn't even know much about me and the direction I was headed.  And that my friends, is where I will leave off with my experience in India.

Om Shanti.
Nelly, myself, Tyler, Ania and Paula after our silent meditation hike.
And P.S. I apologize for the lack of photos - my camera crapped out on me so will need to wait for some friends to post some pics that I can share.  Thanks Nelly for this photo!