I have noticed a few improvements in my yoga practice. Today was my first day back to yoga in 2 days. I was up all night Saturday with Delhi belly again...the joys! I missed Sunday's led practice, and I hear there were a bunch of TV cameras around again. Gurujii's quite the celebrity! I may end up in some documentary somewhere. You may see me with Sharath holding my leg in the air in 'Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana' pose and there is red mud splashed all over the back of my calves!
Sharath bumped my time up from 7:30 am last week. When I showed up at 7:15, he yelled at me "You're late! Next time 6:30!" Around here it is a compliment, as the more advanced students practice as early as 5 am. However, I am finding it a challenge enough to get up in the mornings, as I am finally getting used to the 11 1/2 hour time change. Just in time for me to go back home in 6 days! This morning I show up at 6:15 am to sit in the vestibule with the other 10-20 students waiting in queue. Sharath spots me & points "You! Next!" I always do the "Who me?", as I am not sure if it is a complement or I am getting picked on. Then I got the 2 on 1 adjustment from Saraswati and Sharath in the turtle pose (Supta Kurmasana). The adjustments are a bit rough here! I felt hands grabbing every limb and yanking them into position. All I could say was "Wow". I never realized my body could do that!
It was off to Bapuji orphanage again, but this morning I went earlier. The kids all recognized me and came running up in the courtyard to give me hugs. I could see how they get attached so easily. There was one kid screaming bloody murder as four adults held him down for a haircut. I fed the little baby boy his bottle, and as he drifted off to sleep in my arms I thought to myself: This is peace. He was in such a relaxed state of bliss. Warm milk, the security of loving arms, body heat and the rhythm of a heart beat. Twisted boy sat and watched me with his big grin. I came and sat next to him and he giggled and looked at me with his crossed eyes, crawling onto my lap and holding my hand. When I sang the ABC's, he moaned along with me. I picked him up and he screamed with delight, then carried him outside, put him in a stroller to roll around the playground. All the other smaller kids hung off the stroller like a pack, following us around. I put him on my lap and swung on a swing and he laughed with freedom. He then went to school like the older children, carried off by an Indian caregiver. The twisted up boy reminds me of limitless thinking. We have 60,000 thoughts a day, 95% the same as the day before, and we use less than 25% of our minds. Indian yogis in the Himalayas can control heartbeat, digestion and nervous functioning through breathing and meditation. They can go without food or sleep and endure an enormous amount of pain, by controlling their thoughts. The boy chooses to be happy despite his circumstances and draws people in with his positive energy. If he was sullen and withdrawn, nobody would pay attention to him.
With the remaining youngsters, we played outside. I sat them on my lap and we swung on the swings, played patty cake, ring around the rosie and they sang me Indian songs, performing in their adorable little childishness. I found some chalk and drew hopscotch on the cement and the kids picked up quickly. Another handicapped boy of about 2 was crying, so I brought him out and put him in the stroller for the little girls to roll around. I lay on my back and gave airplane rides to the kids on my feet and they laughed and laughed. There are a list of rules for the orphanage. No gifts, no photos, and a few other regulations. I haven't been 'dismissed' yet...so I think I am fairing out okay.
After, I went to an Indian beauty parlor where there was more '2 on 1', with two ladies working on me. I went in for a pedicure and they seduced me into more things over the course of 5 hours. I ended up with a full body wax, which I had never experienced before. Since I had been letting my hair grow to that of a teenage boy, I thought I better clean up my act before I get home. They stripped me and put me in a halter dress that was more like medical scrubs with a drawstring that held it up at my chest. I sat there with my arms spread out, as they scraped burning wax on me with butter knives, simultaneously ripping the hair out with strips of material. It tickled and I shrieked as they spread wax on the backs of my thighs. It felt like I had been dipped in honey, covered in stickiness. Then I got the 'ice massage', which is not very pleasant. She kept saying my hair is small, Indian womens is big, therefore it was too fine for waxing. An interesting thing in India is they also use 'threading' for hair removal. The lady bit one end of a white thread in her mouth and then winded and twisted the other 2 ends around her fingers, pulling the hair out in a quick, fluid motion.
With Indian head massages being so cultural, I had to experience the authentic form. It is called 'Hair excercise'! Henriette does them as well, and much better than here! I was asked to go topless for the back massage (salons are segregated in India) as she rubbed my back, she told me I was all bone- Indian women healthy! After, they put a steam bath machine on my head, and washed the oil out. It was frustrating, because they use junkie hair products and a trickle of water and my hair still feels greasy. Even the blow dry was a 2 on 1. One brushed, while the other lady turned on and off the dryer every few seconds to conserve energy? The sign said credit cards accepted, so when I went to pay, she had to take me to her husbands jewelry shop....on a scooter, so help me God. I was driving down the insane streets on the back of a bike with a woman in a sari. I got off, dropped to me knees and praised hallelujah that I made it alive.
Price: 590 rupees/ $15 CDN. Experience: Priceless.
Experience is like cotton candy...sweet for a moment but then you soon discover that nothing lasts.
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