A blog collage

With 22 Americans from diverse backgrounds exploring India, we naturally had unique experiences while sharing one common adventure. We traveled to India with one collective characteristic: A strong appreciation of yoga borne of experience with Inner Connections Yoga. Yet, after seeing the same sights and sitting in the same yoga workshops, each of us came away with a very different lesson on our personal journey – of yoga and of life.

Please enjoy reading the insights and recollections from some of the members of the India group. It’s been a joy sharing your journey with you and having your company on our's!

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Diane:

First of all, when we first learned that we were going to schedule a trip to India, I happened to mention it to my cousin Nancy in Ohio.  She said immediately, "oh my gosh!  let me know the details, I would love to go!"  I gave her the details on the times, etc. and she said "tell me how much money to send for a deposit".  That's how it all started!  I then learned that Marianne was from the same small town in Ohio that Nancy lives in.  What a small world!  Marianne was traveling back to visit relatives so I asked her if she could possibly meet with my cousin so that someone else could give input to the studio on how cool a person my cousin really is.  That's how it all came to be!

I really appreciated the time that we spent at the ashram.  What an incredible insight into the true study of yoga.  The 1 1/2 inch thick mattress on the wooden bed was a little questionable, however, I did OK in the end.  I enjoyed the simplicity of everything, including the food being served out of stainless steel pails. I had a chance to talk with several people who worked at the ashram and also a few of the Swamis.  What deeply insightful people!  One Swami I spoke with had won a Nobel prize for her studies on ecosystems around the world.  The experience at the ashram made me feel spiritually connected on a more global level somehow.  Hard to explain I guess.

As often happens, the one thing that we were not looking forward to very much, turned out to be the most enjoyable.  That was the 10 hour train ride to Agra.  Being on a local train and watching the many farms and little villages and many, many people was very enjoyable.  We changed seats many times and were sitting next to different groups of people on the entire trip.  I thought that I would sleep for most of the trip, however, it was so much fun to experience the ride with so many people and talk with them, that I ended up napping for maybe 10 minutes. 

Looking forward to the wedding of Don and Renee was truly a highlight on the trip.  It was so romantic and spiritual and fun all mixed together.  The wedding feast at the snack shack was so magical with the bonfire and fireworks and everyone letting loose and dancing and having a good time.

One evening, we stopped at one of the 'handicraft’ shops which are the nicer shops (a little more upscale than the street shopping).  Nancy and I were with Marianne and Jo.  We were all tired and getting punchy.  The salesman had quite an accent and he used the word 'silk' a million times but added an extra syllable so it came out as 'silik'.  Everytime he said it, Nancy started busting out giggling which of course made me giggle all the more.  The poor guy had no idea what was so funny and I had to get up and walk away before I had an accident and wet my pants!

The first morning in Goa, I got up early to practice yoga on the beach.  It was raining softly.  I walked down to the beach with Michael and we sat under the snack shack.  It then started to absolutely pour down in buckets with rain.  It was a magical, beautiful, moving time to watch the ocean and meditate while listening to the rain.  Again, a not so good-looking situation turns beautiful!

I love traveling with the ICY group!  It had been so fun to get to know different people in the group. Having the yoga connection somehow adds a special bond with everyone.  I first asked for the trip to Fiji for my 50th birthday gift.  What a brilliant idea on my part!  Of course, it only makes sense to travel every year to fun and exotic destinations! The trips are a great opportunity for me to have 'me' time away from home and away from my busy work.

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Nancy:

My India Trip:  A lesson in consumption

A billion people live in India, mostly in harmony.  They have a remarkable composure for the other half.  There are resources enough to make do.  However, in the past 20 years the sleeping Indian tiger has begun to consume.

The US has a population of 300 million.  We consume 75% (roughly) of the world’s resources.

As a reflection, I would like to suggest that the next time we insist on a hot shower, ice in our drink or bottled filtered water, keep in mind the following information:  energy is needed for these luxuries.  The ice in our drinks is casually tossed and the plastic bottle that will for perpetuity be in a land fill, used massive amounts of petroleum to manufacture.

The US prides itself in water treatment facilities and sewer treatment plants.  Our tap water is clean please purchase a water filter for your personal use.  Think India.

There is a plastic gyre (Google it) in the Pacific Ocean.  It is larger than the state of Texas and roughly a mile deep.  The next time you casually dispose of that plastic, remember the heaping piles of garbage we saw in India.

I loved this trip for putting my privileged life into perspective.  My wish is that it has done the same for you.  Live simply so that others may simply live.

Namaste,

Nancy Grandillo

December 13, 2010

Mumbai, India

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Renee:

It is so difficult to sum up into words all the feelings and experiences we were so fortunate to have during our trip. Reflecting back, it was all so well put together and everything just fell into place. The 3 day visit to the ashram was a wonderful starting point, a "welcome" to India, easing into our trip and really getting to know each other. We learned so much about the importance of breathing, meditation and yoga in a wonderful, tranquil setting, unlike any other I have ever experienced. It was the perfect start.

In the cities we travelled to, we were amazed by the dense populations, the culture and history, smiling and waving faces everywhere, and completely different sounds and smells. Cars driving 5-6 tight lanes across what were 3 lane roads…yet it all worked. Amazing.

The Taj Mahal was almost surreal -- to be standing there, marveling at the craftsmanship and beauty of this magnificent structure, hardly believing we were actually there! Finding out about the translucent marble it is built of, seeing the details and mind-boggling work of the inlaid gems, and the amazing attention to the most miniscule details of building it left us in awe.

Lastly, we came away with a group of new and hopefully life-long friends, an amazing group of people who with heartfelt joy and happiness shared in our wedding, enveloped us with kindness, thoughtful gestures and came together for an unforgettable celebration.

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Jo:

When my son and daughter in law returned from a wedding in India a year ago, they commented that India was magical so I was eager to experience it for myself.   I think that we have now all seen some of the magic of India in many ways --the way that the people of Old Delhi manage their lives with such determination to survive; the way that is seems everything in India has special meaning and symbolism; the way, at the ashram, that we all learned to relax our " tighs" and to stare with relaxation at our navel center;  the way that the Taj Mahal is so incredibly intricate and indescribably beautiful and romantic and that the laborers were so skilled, inventive, and tenacious hundreds of years ago; that the electricity comes back on after going off!;  the way that a beautiful American couple had a fabulous impromptu wedding on the beach of Goa that couldn't have been any better if planned by professional wedding planner for months!

There has been magic in the smiles of people who have greeted us and allowed us to take their photos, and the gorgeous colors and magnificent beauty of the clothing worn by the Indian women and children, and the comfy pajamas worn by our guys.  There was a serene, sad magical beauty in the fire ceremony on the Ganges River in Rishikesh.  There is magic in the creativity of the flower arranging and the kindness and loving care that so many people have shown us.

There was truly magic in yoga class on the beach in Goa, especially with the amazing savasana with the special words matched to the waves washing in and out.  And what magic of having precious young Indian children join in our yoga class outside our hotel in Mumbai --an inspiring international yoga experience, and John and Michael joining in with young Indian boys' soccer game!

And it will certainly be a magic trick if we can get home with all the things we have bought!!

We want to express our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to John and Jeanne for making all these magical experiences possible and for lovingly and calmly herding all of us cats without losing any of us or our bags – and doing it all with such grace and humor!

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Our time in India was intensely packed with sensory stimuli, historical lessons and spiritual musings. For many of us, like Marianne, “this might have been the MOST all around "bestest" trip ever!" Yet, there were parts of the experience that were challenging. As Marianne says: "I'm still digesting the trip and India. I've been to 3^rd world countries but was stunned at the extreme poverty there. The bright colors of the clothing competing with the grime and busy lifestyle…are daunting to me.” 

It will require time to comprehend what we’ve learned more completely. So please check back in with us from time to time for updates and understandings as time goes on…    

To view photos of our trip, please become a fan of the Inner Connections Yoga Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Inner-Connections-Yoga/294275506729