practicing in Rishikesh

just arrived in Rishikesh yesterday, after a 8 hour long hot dusty bus ride from Delhi, finally made it here to the Divine Ganga Cottages www.divinegangacottage.com . feeling pretty exhausted from the travel and the night spent in the airport, i was not sure how energetic i’d be this morning, but tomorrow is a moon day so i didn’t want to miss practice.

having fallen asleep by 7pm i was up around 4 then sort of in and out of sleep for another hour, anyways i was up and out side on the balcony to see the sun rise over the hills around 6′ish.  the wind along with the Ganga flowing down from the mountains making the morning air pleasantly cool. practice doesn’t start until 8:30! (how decadent) this leaves plenty of time for morning ablutions, nauli, pranayamas etc.

 roof top shala 8am, windows on all sides looking out at the hills and the Divine river, feeling an awe inspiring unnameable presence from centuries of sadhana practiced along side this river, i feel honored and privileged to stand atop my mat and begin again the practice which has brought me here.

it’s a small group of practioners, only about 10 of us, but it doesn’t take long for the humidity in the room to thicken. by my second suryanamaskar B i’m sweating all over, i still do a couple more just to fully be in the groove, before i start into the standings.  all goes well and i’m into the seated poses i get my first adjustment in Pachimo C,  a solid press which i’ve missed for a while. i’m doing all the jumping forward and back and it feels good.  the space in the room allows the pacing to feel comfortable, i’m in no hurry and i’m breathing smoothly, my body is appreciative of the natural heat and the poses are coming easily.  Bhujapidasana is the first time my elbow stops me, feet are crossed and i’m tipping forward and the sensation is rising in my elbow, i pause and ask myself who am i doing this for? i don’t tip forward any further, so what if my chin doesn’t reach the floor.  i continue on through the series.  my legs are placed behind my head in Supta-Kurma, and that’s it on the adjustments until the backbends.

i tell the teacher a little bit of my arm story and she is supportive through the drop backs. again i get a good press in the forward bend, as she is on my back she says, “i had that elbow wrist thing once, lasted about 8 months, then it went away.” i am reminded of the truth of impermanence, and taking comfort in the knowing that this too will pass.” but for now it’s like this and i’m here in Rishikesh enjoying a wonderful practice and feeling grateful for the experience.

peace and Divine Ganga Love to all

S