August 17, 2010

It is Monday, August 16th as I am writing and I have finished a quiet mini-retreat weekend. Oscar has been in Goa enjoying the change of scenery and the luxury of a hotel on the beach while I have stayed here in Pune. It was good to have time on my own to be quiet, reflect and process the last couple of weeks. Now I am past the halfway point of the trip! Already the time to return seems close and I feel the urgency that comes when the end is in sight. There are still so many things to do and so I have to make some decisions about how to best spend my time.

On that note, today I met with another yoga teacher here in Pune, Nivedita. She teaches small therapeutic yoga classes out of her tiny 2.5 room (one room is very small and basically just holds her bed) home and sets up individual programs for each of the maximum 8 students. The students then follow the individual program with her assistance as necessary. Because the students are struggling with issues that range from cardiac conditions to mobility and joint issues, lots of props are involved. Her methodology originates in Iyengar yoga and then her main teacher has modified and added his own innovations. That means much of what she does is very familiar to me and then there are other new things. All of this to say, there is the opportunity to study with her for time I have left here in Pune. Her program, which would be set up for me and accommodate my schedule, is still more intensive than I had expected. However, I am, of course, attracted by the new things, like the crow to the shiny bauble. So, I am sitting in some indecision. Is this something that I want to spend my time doing?

It has been challenging to balance the reality that this is my holiday with the fact that I am here as a student. Those are not completely contradictory experiences but I am cognizant of the return to work in September and the pace of the fall schedule. I want to learn and take advantage of the time here, both as a student of yoga and as a traveler in India, and still return refreshed and ready to reenter life in Montreal. So far, the student is winning. I mourn the lost travel opportunities and I dream of returning for a longer stay. I see why many people who study at the Institute come for 2 months.

So, I am thinking I will forego the therapeutics training and focus on enjoying the last 10 days here. I will rest and integrate what I know and have learned here. I will know that the future holds many many many more opportunities to learn. I will look forward to those with anticipation while sitting in this moment.

On a related note, some of the indecision above comes out of the halfway phenomenon. Today was the first day it was really hard to get up and get to class. Mornings are often, okay always, a bit challenging and 7am Monday morning classes are a crazy idea (although I must say Monday has less meaning right now than usual J). I am tired from a dog trying to convince his owners to let him in all night or barking at an animal he had up a tree or some such thing. So, my attitude is not as great as it was just a couple of days ago – and nothing has really changed. I even had a day off from class in between. As I pay attention, I remember that this often happens at the midpoint of a retreat or other intense situation. I am not happy, am frustrated and start questioning the value of what I am doing. And then a funny thing happens. I realize I have less than 2 weeks to the end and I panic. Must do more, must squeeze in everything!

Finally, with Oscar away, I have no new pictures for this entry. I will add another couple of cow pictures, though.

These cows are napping on the side of a busy roundabout or rotary. Not the most peaceful place for a snooze.

So this is not the best photo, taken from our moving rickshaw, but check out the horns painted red and the single ox neck yoke. Will work on a better picture for another post.