Burning the Inheritance

(Editor’s Note: For reasons which I’ll get into a bit more in the next segment of our blog, after the Taj Mahal, Colleen and I did something we had not done before on this trip – we went our separate ways. Following is Colleen’s account of what in the world she did for a week without me!)

I first started thinking about yoga retreats a few years ago when I was considering ways to mark or reflect on my retirement from a job and a community that I had loved for many years.  India was my first choice, however, the pandemic was just beginning to wane, vaccinations available, but India was still struggling more than other places to keep up with medical needs.  That is how I ended up in Sri Lanka at the very wonderful Sen Wellness Sanctuary, an experience that has set a very high bar.  Anyway, that is how our travel conversation went from “we’ll be in India for a month or more, Rishikesh is the “yoga capital of the world”, can we work time at a yoga retreat into our itinerary?” 

I signed up for a yoga retreat that promised yoga (Hatha and Ashtanga), meditation, pranayama, and spiritual sightseeing opportunities.  My little adventure began when Ritchard dropped me off at my terminal at the Indira Gandhi Airport.  My flight was quick and I was met by a driver from the Hare Rama Institute and driven up into the mountains of Rishikesh, around the cows and in and around the motor scooters. 

I settled into my basic room and private toilet, reflecting that this experience was likely to be very different from my first yoga retreat.  My goals were to deepen my yoga practice, meaning learn more, and to expand my meditation options.  And, after 6 days, I am happy to report that both goals were definitely met.  Our little group was small, only 5 of us, which allowed for a lot of 1:1 instruction and explanation. 

Although I have been practicing yoga for many years, the opportunity to receive in the moment guidance and explanation is rare, so having it and being focused on yoga sequences, breathing or pranayama practices and meditation was pretty awesome.  Much of our instruction was with a young man who is passionate about his yoga practice and his community.  I enjoyed learning more about young adult Indian culture as I listened to our instructor talk with both young and older Indian participants, always very grateful that most spoke English very well. 

A typical day:

• 6:00-7:00  Pranayama (breathing exercises)
• 7:00-8:30  Hatha yoga
• 9:00 Breakfast
• 11:00 Sightseeing activity (or earlier or later, depending on event)
• 1:00 lunch
• 2:00-4:00 Free time
• 4:00-5:30  Ashtanga yoga
• 5:30-6:30  Meditation
• 7:00 dinner
• 8:00 lights out

In addition to the in-studio practice, the spiritual sightseeing began with a sunrise yoga session on the shore of the Ganges River.  This was an epic way to start the retreat, in my opinion.

One evening at sunset we headed off (on the back of motor scooters) to attend a celebration or Ganga Aarti of holy mantra chanting that reverberates through the whole setting.  This celebration was part of the Durga Puja festival and in honor of one of the 9 goddesses. 

One morning we headed off to another Temple along the Ganges, the Darshan Temple, which is 13 stories high, you just keep circling around, stopping in to seek blessings from the monks who are praying there.  This temple is also dedicated to 9 goddesses.

One morning we hiked up the Neer Waterfall.  It was a strenuous and very beautiful hike, ending at the waterfall, where all were proud to have made it to the top!

Our last excursion was a before sunrise hike up to the Kunjapuri Temple, dedicated to the goddess Kunjapuri Devi.  Admittedly, it was difficult to get up at 4:15, it was also quite chilly as we were in the mountains and headed up higher.  However, it was worth the effort to share the beautiful sunrise with my friends from the retreat.

The week went very quickly, I enjoyed the daily physical activity and the routine of it all.  That is definitely something that I miss and have to work at creating for myself while we are on the road.  Looking forward to catching the plane to Kolkata and reuniting with Ritchard.  In ten months this is the first time we have been apart, I’m sure he missed me 😉