The Strategy

With departure for Delhi only two days away, the subject of packing has occupied many conversations. We've been told that this is the best time of year to travel in India because the temperatures are moderate and the humidity not as overwhelming as usual. Nevertheless, we'll be visiting diverse climates and regions during our two weeks there, and doing a wide range of activities, so packing is a complicated and precise process.

While many people in our group have opted for a rolling duffle bag for their luggage, I've chosen a wilderness overnight pack so that I can have my hands free for other things. My pack contains:
- three pairs of tight yoga pants that can double as long underwear in the cooler climates and as leggings under skirts
- two long sleeve yoga shirts
- two long sleeve casual shirts
- two short sleeve casual shirts
- two skirts
- two pairs quick-dry, wrinkle-free pants
- a fleecey sweater
- a rain jacket
- underwear, socks and whatnot
(Oh gosh, I just realized I forgot p.j.'s!)
My universal packing strategy (for this and every trip): ROLLING. I can fit waaaay more into my suitcases and bags when I roll my clothes than when I fold them!

My carry-on (which I consider much more important) contains:
- my new camera (SWEET!)
-  passport, money, medications
- two of the most eye-opening books I've ever read: "The Bhagavad Gita" and  "The Science of Breath" by Swami Rama, Rudolph Ballentine and Alan Hymes (though the latter might be better characterized as "nostril-opening." Haha!). The Gita - like most ancient works of cultural and spiritual significance - offers something for anyone who seeks with an open mind and something new every time. In short, you find what you need when you read the Gita. "The Science of Breath" is a practical guide for how to use breath to change your physical and emotional reality. In addition to being a fascinating scientific subject (for example, "breathing is the one physical function which is both involuntary (it goes on by itself) and voluntary (we can control our respirations consciously"), I figure it will also be a good resource at the ashram. There, we will learn and practice pranayama exercises (using the breath to move "prana," known in English as "energy".).

Most of us are bringing some magical assortment of nutritional supplements (i.e. choline, zypan, acidophilous, GSE) touted for keeping the digestive tract happy so we can avoid "Delhi Belly." (India is one of the top two countries in the world for traveler's diarrhea!) Everyone in the group has a different strategy for packing and different "necessities". We've been told that certain foods - like peanut butter and chocolate - are hard to find, so some people are bringing their own supplies. Other required (and often quirky!) items people are packing include:
- earplugs
- a "binky" (a blanket that someone - I'm not saying who! - needs to cuddle with to sleep)
- a do-dad called a "Go Girl" (given to Beth as a birthday present from her mother-in-law) that allows a woman to pee standing up (?!?)
- mala beads
- wedding vows
- games, crosswords, soduku, computer gadgets like laptops and ipods
- crutches, arthritis medication, asthma medication, and whatever else we need to deal with what we've got!

But the one thing we're all bringing with us is our excitement to discover India, as Michael puts it: "to get to know interesting people with an entirely different cultural outlook."

About Inner Connections Yoga
Inner Connections Yoga, in Castle Rock, Colorado since 2002, is a place where the ancient traditions of Hatha yoga are brought into the experience of our modern lives. John and Jeanne Adams, the studio owners, help their clients to unite the interconnecting aspects of body, breath and spirit, and also connect yoga enthusiasts in a supportive, friendly community. Every year, Inner Connections leads a group yoga trip to an international location. Past trips have included Brazil, Fiji, Honduras and Costa Rica. For more information, please visit www.InnerConnectionsYoga.com.