I'm still in Rishikesh and find myself getting more settled in and not so anxious to travel. The last 6-days I have been taking some Ayurveda courses. Ayurveda lifestyle and nutrition and marma point massage. Marma points are similar to acupressure. They are the opening to the mind, body and soul on a spiritual level. On a physical level, the 117 points are located where arteries, veins, joints and tendons meet in the body. So they can relieve physical and emotional pain. It is a lot of information in a 6-day course and the instructor is American who trained with the famous Indian Ayurveda doctor, Dr Ladd, of Albuquerque.
The area is booming with activity now as there is a free 4th Annual Yoga Festival which coincides with the Kundalini Yoga fest, Nov 5th-11th. The kundalini one is pretty pricey. They are charging attendees $1111 USD for one week and marketing it as the dawning of Aquarius! November 11th is suppose to be a special day. I think I'd be pretty upset when I got here to realize that same thing is free for the yoga, and you can eat and stay at an ashram for about $10-$15 per day! So it is a bit overpriced to say the least.
I have taken up a new project similar to what I did in Antigua. I have found an American lady who is taking care of all the street dogs. She is not a veterinarian, but ran an animal shelter in Chicago. I was wondering why most of the dogs are in reasonably good shape. She also helps cows. There was one cow recently whose tail got run over by a motorcycle and she re-attached it. I noticed the cow with the bandage on before I met her and wondered who did it. This is all rudimentary medicine as she has no clinic and does what she can on the streets. She does take some to her small apartment who can't be released on the streets. There are few animal clinics here and they are in desperate need of sterilization. Many of the male dogs get into fights during mating season. I heard there will be 50-males on one poor female dog to mate!
I bought a big bag of dog food and I told her I will care for all the dogs from Laxman Julia to Rohm Julia along the Ganges. (julia means bridge in Hindi). So it is a long stretch between the two bridges on one side of the river. I'm guessing about 2.5 kilometers. I look like Doctor Doolittle with a trail of dogs following behind me when they smell the food I am carrying or after I have fed them. One day I ordered 10-chappatys (wheat tortillas) to feed the cows. I had about eight cows surrounding me to get fed. Since the cows are sacred, they are somewhat fed; except they eat cardboard, and plastic or anything elese they can scrounge. And there is still some pretty skinny and sickly looking ones around. I thought they were all wild cows, but someone owns each and every cow in India! There are some beautiful cows that look like they have on eye make-up.
I'll do this for a few more days until I take off for Dharmsala. I feel if I don't go to this area, I will regret in the future. I am so close, yet so far away. It's a 10-hour train ride, then a 2-hour wait at the station in the middle of the night, then another 3-hour bus ride, and finally a tuk-tuk. Dharmsala/Mcleod Ganj is home to the Dali Llama and the seat to the Tibetan government in exile. I have signed up for a 8-day course "Introduction to Buddhism". I will be staying in silence, and in minimalistic accommodations at Tushita, a monastery. I feel it will be a good experience for me. I'm told it will be very cold there, at 6800 feet and there is no heat in the monastery. My flexible plans are to return to Rishikesh afterwards and take a month long course on agama yoga, then a 5-day workshop afterwards. There are many styles of yoga. (Google Agama) Some are just too intense for me. I felt a good opening of my chakras while attending a one day class here last week. I am taking level I. There are something like 24-levels!!!!!
Well I am off to my last day of Ayurveda class!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Rishikesh and a Tiger Reserve nearby
I've been back in Rishikesh area for a while now. I'm in Laxsman Julia, a big tourist area. Lots of backpackers and world travelers as it is cheap here. To watch my budget I've been staying at a $10 per night place. Food averages about $2.50 per meal. Reminds me of the 70's. You can smoke hash in the restaurants. The wait staff does and it takes forever to get your food as everyone is stoned! Many restaurants have seats/cushions on the floor. I have not indulged in smoking.
The egg police came in and a couple of restaurants got fined and had to take eggs off their menus. River rafting was my highlight although I got the cold Ganga water in my ears and had a slight ear and sinus infection. The yoga classes are hard. Many students are training to become yoga teachers. I am the oldest in every class by far. I enjoyed a concert of classical Indian Music with drums and the sitar.
My new gentleman friend took me to Corbett National park, a famous Tiger Reserve. I had a private car drive me as he was coming from Delhi. Some how we managed to meet under a sign after both of us traveled for 6-hours. Thank goodness for cell phones.
We had deluxe accommodations at a lodge outside of the park. Our lodge must have been about 1000 square feet. We went through about 5-bottled of good wine and lots of vodka and Bourbon! Whew! I had a blast. He reminds me a lot of my friend Dave from Denver. Both of them have excellent tastes!
Tiger foot prints were everywhere, but we did not get to see one up close and personal. The scenery reminded me of Africa. We got along well and I hope to see more of him as he can sneak away from his home in Delhi.
My new room back in Rishikesh is right on the Ganges River, four stories up. It's is a small, clean and quiet room. Am I adapatable or what??? I have champagne tastes on a beer budget.
I start a class on Ayurveda Marma points in a couple of days. They are the acupressure points of Ayurveda.
The egg police came in and a couple of restaurants got fined and had to take eggs off their menus. River rafting was my highlight although I got the cold Ganga water in my ears and had a slight ear and sinus infection. The yoga classes are hard. Many students are training to become yoga teachers. I am the oldest in every class by far. I enjoyed a concert of classical Indian Music with drums and the sitar.
My new gentleman friend took me to Corbett National park, a famous Tiger Reserve. I had a private car drive me as he was coming from Delhi. Some how we managed to meet under a sign after both of us traveled for 6-hours. Thank goodness for cell phones.
We had deluxe accommodations at a lodge outside of the park. Our lodge must have been about 1000 square feet. We went through about 5-bottled of good wine and lots of vodka and Bourbon! Whew! I had a blast. He reminds me a lot of my friend Dave from Denver. Both of them have excellent tastes!
Tiger foot prints were everywhere, but we did not get to see one up close and personal. The scenery reminded me of Africa. We got along well and I hope to see more of him as he can sneak away from his home in Delhi.
My new room back in Rishikesh is right on the Ganges River, four stories up. It's is a small, clean and quiet room. Am I adapatable or what??? I have champagne tastes on a beer budget.
I start a class on Ayurveda Marma points in a couple of days. They are the acupressure points of Ayurveda.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Bigtime Splurge
I splurged the last few days and have stayed at one of the top spa destination resorts in the world. I had always wanted to stay at Ananda of the Himalayas. I have totally blown my budget for the month and will now live like a pauper the next 10-days. I had a couple of nice spa treatment including a Tibetan Ku Nye Massage, using warmed tiny salt bolstices. An Ayurveda Heart Chakra opener using hot oil poured into a wheat gram reservoir on the chest. I should feel loved now! Hehe I also enjoyed a Kudalini Back Massage complete with a full body scrub using essential oils of black pepper, ginger and cardamom. The kundalini is an esoteric form of energy located at the base of the spine. One she is awakened…………..look out!
I had a lovely room overlooking the town of Rishikesh and the Ganges River! I enjoyed two long baths in an oversized tub. This is only my second bath in India. Usually I use a 5-gallon bucket and a dipper cup to get cleaned.
What I liked he best is everyone is given white pajamas, a long cotton kurta top and matching pants. So there is no pretension, everyone looks the same. Nice to wear your PJ’s to dinner! I’ve gotten a little sick due to the rich food, a bit of alcohol and strong coffee. I had an egg sandwich three mornings in a row. I miss my eggs but am still remaining vegetarian other than eggs and cheese.
An American lady I met at my 21-day class came up and spent the day with me before she was off by train to Delhi then a flight to Goa. I’ll see here there in a few weeks. She has lived in India for 40-years.
Checking out later today and staying at a very cheap guest house. What a difference a day makes!
I had a lovely room overlooking the town of Rishikesh and the Ganges River! I enjoyed two long baths in an oversized tub. This is only my second bath in India. Usually I use a 5-gallon bucket and a dipper cup to get cleaned.
What I liked he best is everyone is given white pajamas, a long cotton kurta top and matching pants. So there is no pretension, everyone looks the same. Nice to wear your PJ’s to dinner! I’ve gotten a little sick due to the rich food, a bit of alcohol and strong coffee. I had an egg sandwich three mornings in a row. I miss my eggs but am still remaining vegetarian other than eggs and cheese.
An American lady I met at my 21-day class came up and spent the day with me before she was off by train to Delhi then a flight to Goa. I’ll see here there in a few weeks. She has lived in India for 40-years.
Checking out later today and staying at a very cheap guest house. What a difference a day makes!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Life after the ashram
My Pancha Karma finale treatment was extra special and very erotic! My oh my……………therapy is wonderful! It was called Navarakizhi.
NAVARAKIZHI
Navarakizhi is a special massage, which rejuvenates the body. A highly effective rejuvenation technique using a special type of rice that is cooked tied into boluses and dipped into an herbal decoction and warm milk. Medicated oil is first applied liberally over the patient's body. Then the body is massaged with small linen bags filled with cooked Navara rice. The rice is cooked by boiling it in cow's milk along with suitable herbs. The linen bags filled with rice are dipped in the same mixture kept boiling and applied by massage therapist at a comfortable temperature over the whole body. Body perspires & releases toxins through this treatment.
This treatment improves complexion of the skin and restores vigor. This therapy endows several benefits to a healthy individual as well as to the person suffering from musculoskeletal disorders, degenerative conditions and neurological problems etc. The boluses made up of Rice, herbal powder and herbal leaves used in the treatment are called Njavarakizhi, Choorna Kizhi and elakizhi respectively.
I had 4-lady therapist working on me at once. Yes that is 16-hnads! You will never see this in the USA because of labor costs. It is hard to describe the sensations, but here goes. You are naked, except a little diaper g-string and spread eagle on a droni, a wooden Ayurveda massage table.
They used several gallons of hot cow’s milk mixed with herbs and mushy cooked rice. So it felt like a hot mud concoction. They are also using bolstices, linen bags filled with the rice mixture to massage and exfoliate you. This must have lasted for good 45-minutes. I would consider this my favorite Ayurveda treatment I have ever received. If it were in a luxury spa environment it would be an off the chart experience!
Today I traveled by private car to Mussorie, a big tourist spot the British set-up as a summer retreat. It was a mild case of culture shock after being in a quiet and protected compound for 5-weeks. I stopped in a large capital city of this state called Dehradun to get my hair done. I was shocked. I was the most expensive hair cut and treatment I have ever received at a $150 USD!!!!! I was shocked. India can be very expensive if you do not live like the locals. It was obvious to be an owner operator salon. He was the only stylist but probably had 15-people working for him. All he did was cut hair. My cut lasted about 2-minutes. My hair was washed, colored, and I was attended to by several others. There was even a worker to dust off the hair around your neck and one to hold the bowl with color in it. Only in India! I then had lunch at a nice place. It was the first time I have had the opportunity to have meat in 6-weeks. I ordered Chicken Tikka which is similar to Chicken tandori; only chicken breast chunks are used. I couldn’t eat it! I had to send it back first because it wasn’t done. Then I just couldn’t eat it the second time. Maybe I will become a vegetarian after all.
I am going to tour around for a couple of weeks, including meeting a friend at a wildlife refuge. I’ll tell you more about this soon. I am so excited, especially about my new friend. During part of my Joyful Living Program the teacher opened my heart chakra, so now I feel more open to giving and receiving love. I need love in my life and maybe this why I have experienced so much pain. I have also missed having my hands on bodies. It was my way of giving love.
I am at beautiful retreat that is like being in an English cottage. I’ll do some exploring in the morning. I am locaed at about 6800 feet and it is chilly tonight. It feels like teh foothills of Denver. I haven't been this chilled since early March in Antigua Guatemala. I went for a walk this evening and the monkeys scared me away. There were about a dozen or so of them on each side of the road and in the middle of the road. When there are mothers with babies I get intimidated, so I didn’t walk far. This is the first time in 5-weeks I have not done yoga or stretching in the evening. I am enjoying vodka tonic before dinner………..also first drink I have had in 5-weeks!!!!!
NAVARAKIZHI
Navarakizhi is a special massage, which rejuvenates the body. A highly effective rejuvenation technique using a special type of rice that is cooked tied into boluses and dipped into an herbal decoction and warm milk. Medicated oil is first applied liberally over the patient's body. Then the body is massaged with small linen bags filled with cooked Navara rice. The rice is cooked by boiling it in cow's milk along with suitable herbs. The linen bags filled with rice are dipped in the same mixture kept boiling and applied by massage therapist at a comfortable temperature over the whole body. Body perspires & releases toxins through this treatment.
This treatment improves complexion of the skin and restores vigor. This therapy endows several benefits to a healthy individual as well as to the person suffering from musculoskeletal disorders, degenerative conditions and neurological problems etc. The boluses made up of Rice, herbal powder and herbal leaves used in the treatment are called Njavarakizhi, Choorna Kizhi and elakizhi respectively.
I had 4-lady therapist working on me at once. Yes that is 16-hnads! You will never see this in the USA because of labor costs. It is hard to describe the sensations, but here goes. You are naked, except a little diaper g-string and spread eagle on a droni, a wooden Ayurveda massage table.
They used several gallons of hot cow’s milk mixed with herbs and mushy cooked rice. So it felt like a hot mud concoction. They are also using bolstices, linen bags filled with the rice mixture to massage and exfoliate you. This must have lasted for good 45-minutes. I would consider this my favorite Ayurveda treatment I have ever received. If it were in a luxury spa environment it would be an off the chart experience!
Today I traveled by private car to Mussorie, a big tourist spot the British set-up as a summer retreat. It was a mild case of culture shock after being in a quiet and protected compound for 5-weeks. I stopped in a large capital city of this state called Dehradun to get my hair done. I was shocked. I was the most expensive hair cut and treatment I have ever received at a $150 USD!!!!! I was shocked. India can be very expensive if you do not live like the locals. It was obvious to be an owner operator salon. He was the only stylist but probably had 15-people working for him. All he did was cut hair. My cut lasted about 2-minutes. My hair was washed, colored, and I was attended to by several others. There was even a worker to dust off the hair around your neck and one to hold the bowl with color in it. Only in India! I then had lunch at a nice place. It was the first time I have had the opportunity to have meat in 6-weeks. I ordered Chicken Tikka which is similar to Chicken tandori; only chicken breast chunks are used. I couldn’t eat it! I had to send it back first because it wasn’t done. Then I just couldn’t eat it the second time. Maybe I will become a vegetarian after all.
I am going to tour around for a couple of weeks, including meeting a friend at a wildlife refuge. I’ll tell you more about this soon. I am so excited, especially about my new friend. During part of my Joyful Living Program the teacher opened my heart chakra, so now I feel more open to giving and receiving love. I need love in my life and maybe this why I have experienced so much pain. I have also missed having my hands on bodies. It was my way of giving love.
I am at beautiful retreat that is like being in an English cottage. I’ll do some exploring in the morning. I am locaed at about 6800 feet and it is chilly tonight. It feels like teh foothills of Denver. I haven't been this chilled since early March in Antigua Guatemala. I went for a walk this evening and the monkeys scared me away. There were about a dozen or so of them on each side of the road and in the middle of the road. When there are mothers with babies I get intimidated, so I didn’t walk far. This is the first time in 5-weeks I have not done yoga or stretching in the evening. I am enjoying vodka tonic before dinner………..also first drink I have had in 5-weeks!!!!!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Life at the ashram and beyond
I have now been In India for 6-weeks. And it has been a life changing visit thus far! I have been rather cooped up (for over a month) and am ready to do some touring of the northern regions of the country. I’ve got to get my hair colored and there is only one town nearby to do so, Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand.
My stay in Rishikesh was for 10-days at a really nice hotel close to the tourist sights and the Ganges River. I received daily spa treatments and the staff treated me like a queen. Rishikesh is known as the yoga capital of the world.
After the spa hotel, I checked into Swami Rama’s Ashram for a 21-day Science of Joyful Living Program. It was very basic living. I had my own room, but shared a bath. We hate in a dining hall and had to be silent at meal time, and then wash our own dishes. There were lots of bugs and critters around. I got trapped in my room for 2-hours because there were 20-monkeys outside my door, and many were mothers with their babies. They demolished a fruit tree and tumbled over the garbage. There was a cobra spotted in the cupboards of the area we washed our dishes. Thank gawd I didn’t see it! And I was rather intimidated by a spider that was the size of a coffee cup saucer who camped out in my bathroom. Kind of scary sitting on the toilet while looking over your shoulder at the spider. It was part of our program, over coming your FEARS. (False expectations appearing real). Otherwise I would have had him removed! Thank goodness the spider didn’t appear until my 3-days at the ashram. One day I saw the security guard with a stick, and I immediately thought the stick was to kill off all the cobras. But then, I saw him use the stick to get fruit off the trees!
Swami Rama was a famous Himalayan yogi who bridged the East and the West and introduced yoga to America. He was tested in Oklahoma in 1970 for being able to control his autonomic nervous system. He made one side of his body 11-degrees higher in temperature than the other. He made his heart stop beating and could control his heart rate. Swami made knitting needles move from across the room. He was recorded as being asleep, yet new everything going on in the room. There is still a huge campus in Honesdale, PA, promoting yoga, meditation and spirituality. On a sad noe, if you Google Swami Rama you'll find lots of info on the good things he did for humanity, but you will also find some not so ood newsd. He was charged with sexual misconduct even though he vowed for celibacy. It was more than just one incident. It sounds like a big over up with his faculty. I am a firm believer that no one can live sanely and be celebate. Enough said.
I felt like I was at a boot camp for joyful living. We were getting up at 3:30 am and our teacher kept us busy until after 9 pm every night. We learned about the body and the mind and how your emotions can cause illness and disease in the body. I experienced some unusual things that people who practice yoga and meditation for many years have never been able to experience. During one of my episodes, my classmates thought I was dead. I was so relaxed! My body didn’t move, and appeared to be dead or asleep, yet I was conscious and aware of everything going on in the room. (like Swami Rama did above) For 3-day afterwards I felt like a newborn baby. I had the total conscious awareness going and had reached a state of “Samadhi”, or enlightenment. Nothing in my body hurt, (very rare for me to not experience pain somewhere in my body) I felt like I was walking on air. Everything seemed new. Washing dishes and brushing my teeth seemed new and such a joy. Eating………….even the ashram food was such a pleasure.
On the other hand, toward the end of the program, m my sympathetic nervous system was out of whack. It was too high and put me in a fight or flight zone. My heart was racing, erratic and skipping beats, my breathing wasn’t right. And I was hot and sweaty all the time and felt agitated and anxious. I think I was too aware of my breathing, or my thyroid got out of whack. Our teacher was always watching us and would say, Your CHEST BREATHING. We’re suppose to breath through our diaphragm. I still don’t know what happened to me, but I liked the stages of Samadhi much better. I have since had a few other odd, but good things happen to me. I hate to put things in writing because I’m afraid it won’t happen again!
My classmates were fun and it was a multinational group. A mathematician from Russia, and Osteopath from Germany, an American who has lived in India for 40-years, an India couple from Mumbai. She was an educated nuclear scientist, who never worked, and he owns a huge worldwide manufacturing company………. and then there was me! The teacher only takes a maximum of 7-students at a time.
I had planned to take a 10-day break then return for another 21-days course. The teacher said it was too intense to do back-to-back programs and suggested I wait for 6-months to do another one. He is a doctor from Malaysia and was personally trained by Swami Ram for many years before he left his body in 1996. He is also on the board of directors for their hospital campus, affiliated with the ashram. So having no other plans, I am now going through Pancha Karma (cleansing and seasonal detox) at the Ayurveda Center. Who in their right mind pays to get four enemas? Your suppose to feel great afterwards. I received Pancha Karma in 2007 in Kerala, Southern India. Afterwards I craved sweets and was cold all the time. Usually I love spicy food and am hot blooded. I met an interesting sophisticated, sexy Indian gentleman here for Pancha Karma who comes here twice a year. He says because he loves his wine, alcohol and rich food that he is able to eat this way even though he is a diabetic.
The campus I am staying in is a massive 100-acre complex with a medical and nursing college, hospital and lodging for students and the 1500 doctors and their families. It is all funded by the Swami Rama Trust. I’m sure with all the medical testing the US did on him that they must have or are still contributing to the trust. I’m impressed, in the hospital there is the Ayurveda, osteopathy, homeopathy, mind and body medicine as well as all allopathic medical needs. I never want to go the doctor again in the USA. I saw a neurologist for my numbness in my little finger that has been acute for over 2-years and got an x-ray of my upper spine. I had a full blood panel done for cholesterol, triglycerides, and thyroid. And I saw a doctor of General Medicine, and received medications for my thyroid and vitamins for nerves. All of this for $32!
There are beautiful gardens here and lovely places to walk. I’ll be out in the real, hustle and bustle of India soon. Yikes, about 100-yards from where I am staying they found an 11-foot King Cobra snake. Now I really watch each step when I am walking!
I have a couple of days left for Pancha Karma then I am not certain what is next. I am trying to live in the NOW! Once again, more of my training. We were taught to live in the NOW, not the past or the future. The doctor wanted me to help set-up a massage center for the overworked doctors, but I don’t see it running up to my standards and getting the cooperation I would need from the local staff. I am however; want to do some volunteer wok for the campus. They have another area up in the mountains which might suit me better. I may stop in there on my way back from touring the area.
On my “to see”: list is Dharmsala where the Dali Lama lives in exile, Amritsar the home to the Sikhs, a religious population. Unlike the Hindu, the Sikhs believe in only one god. I also want to sleep in a luxury tent near the Himalayas, stay in a palace, river raft the Ganges, take a luxury train for at least one night, and see a wildlife park.
I still haven’t had an epiphany! All of my life I have struggled with do I want to be a servant to mankind or live in the lap of luxury. I may see a therapist for a Past Life Regression Session. I understand this can help a person with many things. Sometimes our past lives can create barriers for our current life. Anyway, it is something I may consider as I feel a bit stuck on where I want my life to go. Maybe I should just keep practicing living in the NOW and not worry!
My stay in Rishikesh was for 10-days at a really nice hotel close to the tourist sights and the Ganges River. I received daily spa treatments and the staff treated me like a queen. Rishikesh is known as the yoga capital of the world.
After the spa hotel, I checked into Swami Rama’s Ashram for a 21-day Science of Joyful Living Program. It was very basic living. I had my own room, but shared a bath. We hate in a dining hall and had to be silent at meal time, and then wash our own dishes. There were lots of bugs and critters around. I got trapped in my room for 2-hours because there were 20-monkeys outside my door, and many were mothers with their babies. They demolished a fruit tree and tumbled over the garbage. There was a cobra spotted in the cupboards of the area we washed our dishes. Thank gawd I didn’t see it! And I was rather intimidated by a spider that was the size of a coffee cup saucer who camped out in my bathroom. Kind of scary sitting on the toilet while looking over your shoulder at the spider. It was part of our program, over coming your FEARS. (False expectations appearing real). Otherwise I would have had him removed! Thank goodness the spider didn’t appear until my 3-days at the ashram. One day I saw the security guard with a stick, and I immediately thought the stick was to kill off all the cobras. But then, I saw him use the stick to get fruit off the trees!
Swami Rama was a famous Himalayan yogi who bridged the East and the West and introduced yoga to America. He was tested in Oklahoma in 1970 for being able to control his autonomic nervous system. He made one side of his body 11-degrees higher in temperature than the other. He made his heart stop beating and could control his heart rate. Swami made knitting needles move from across the room. He was recorded as being asleep, yet new everything going on in the room. There is still a huge campus in Honesdale, PA, promoting yoga, meditation and spirituality. On a sad noe, if you Google Swami Rama you'll find lots of info on the good things he did for humanity, but you will also find some not so ood newsd. He was charged with sexual misconduct even though he vowed for celibacy. It was more than just one incident. It sounds like a big over up with his faculty. I am a firm believer that no one can live sanely and be celebate. Enough said.
I felt like I was at a boot camp for joyful living. We were getting up at 3:30 am and our teacher kept us busy until after 9 pm every night. We learned about the body and the mind and how your emotions can cause illness and disease in the body. I experienced some unusual things that people who practice yoga and meditation for many years have never been able to experience. During one of my episodes, my classmates thought I was dead. I was so relaxed! My body didn’t move, and appeared to be dead or asleep, yet I was conscious and aware of everything going on in the room. (like Swami Rama did above) For 3-day afterwards I felt like a newborn baby. I had the total conscious awareness going and had reached a state of “Samadhi”, or enlightenment. Nothing in my body hurt, (very rare for me to not experience pain somewhere in my body) I felt like I was walking on air. Everything seemed new. Washing dishes and brushing my teeth seemed new and such a joy. Eating………….even the ashram food was such a pleasure.
On the other hand, toward the end of the program, m my sympathetic nervous system was out of whack. It was too high and put me in a fight or flight zone. My heart was racing, erratic and skipping beats, my breathing wasn’t right. And I was hot and sweaty all the time and felt agitated and anxious. I think I was too aware of my breathing, or my thyroid got out of whack. Our teacher was always watching us and would say, Your CHEST BREATHING. We’re suppose to breath through our diaphragm. I still don’t know what happened to me, but I liked the stages of Samadhi much better. I have since had a few other odd, but good things happen to me. I hate to put things in writing because I’m afraid it won’t happen again!
My classmates were fun and it was a multinational group. A mathematician from Russia, and Osteopath from Germany, an American who has lived in India for 40-years, an India couple from Mumbai. She was an educated nuclear scientist, who never worked, and he owns a huge worldwide manufacturing company………. and then there was me! The teacher only takes a maximum of 7-students at a time.
I had planned to take a 10-day break then return for another 21-days course. The teacher said it was too intense to do back-to-back programs and suggested I wait for 6-months to do another one. He is a doctor from Malaysia and was personally trained by Swami Ram for many years before he left his body in 1996. He is also on the board of directors for their hospital campus, affiliated with the ashram. So having no other plans, I am now going through Pancha Karma (cleansing and seasonal detox) at the Ayurveda Center. Who in their right mind pays to get four enemas? Your suppose to feel great afterwards. I received Pancha Karma in 2007 in Kerala, Southern India. Afterwards I craved sweets and was cold all the time. Usually I love spicy food and am hot blooded. I met an interesting sophisticated, sexy Indian gentleman here for Pancha Karma who comes here twice a year. He says because he loves his wine, alcohol and rich food that he is able to eat this way even though he is a diabetic.
The campus I am staying in is a massive 100-acre complex with a medical and nursing college, hospital and lodging for students and the 1500 doctors and their families. It is all funded by the Swami Rama Trust. I’m sure with all the medical testing the US did on him that they must have or are still contributing to the trust. I’m impressed, in the hospital there is the Ayurveda, osteopathy, homeopathy, mind and body medicine as well as all allopathic medical needs. I never want to go the doctor again in the USA. I saw a neurologist for my numbness in my little finger that has been acute for over 2-years and got an x-ray of my upper spine. I had a full blood panel done for cholesterol, triglycerides, and thyroid. And I saw a doctor of General Medicine, and received medications for my thyroid and vitamins for nerves. All of this for $32!
There are beautiful gardens here and lovely places to walk. I’ll be out in the real, hustle and bustle of India soon. Yikes, about 100-yards from where I am staying they found an 11-foot King Cobra snake. Now I really watch each step when I am walking!
I have a couple of days left for Pancha Karma then I am not certain what is next. I am trying to live in the NOW! Once again, more of my training. We were taught to live in the NOW, not the past or the future. The doctor wanted me to help set-up a massage center for the overworked doctors, but I don’t see it running up to my standards and getting the cooperation I would need from the local staff. I am however; want to do some volunteer wok for the campus. They have another area up in the mountains which might suit me better. I may stop in there on my way back from touring the area.
On my “to see”: list is Dharmsala where the Dali Lama lives in exile, Amritsar the home to the Sikhs, a religious population. Unlike the Hindu, the Sikhs believe in only one god. I also want to sleep in a luxury tent near the Himalayas, stay in a palace, river raft the Ganges, take a luxury train for at least one night, and see a wildlife park.
I still haven’t had an epiphany! All of my life I have struggled with do I want to be a servant to mankind or live in the lap of luxury. I may see a therapist for a Past Life Regression Session. I understand this can help a person with many things. Sometimes our past lives can create barriers for our current life. Anyway, it is something I may consider as I feel a bit stuck on where I want my life to go. Maybe I should just keep practicing living in the NOW and not worry!
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