Gorgeous photos of the India trip taken by Karen Church can be
seen at her site
therapeuticyoga.net, click the link to India Photos > India
2007.
You can also purchase her book and calendar Following the
Ganges, Yoga Journey with Desirée Rumbaugh
here:
India,
the Motherland, the birthplace of Yoga. I have always wanted to
visit and my dream finally came true this spring when a group of
29 of us toured India following the Ganges river.
Andrew and I spent a month enjoying the beauty of Kerala with
it's beautiful palm trees and colorful culture.We drifted along
the backwaters in a houseboat and explored Amma's ashram. We saw
how ginger and turmeric are prepared, how jute is made and how
long boats are carved. We experienced traditional South Indian
food and Ayurvedic massages and met some very nice Keralans
along the way.
Then we flew to Delhi to meet out tour guide and the others in
our group. Our first stop was Rishikesh where we stayed five
days and I taught Anusara at the International Yoga Festival.
There were about 300 students from Europe, Asia and Africa,
along with some Indians and Americans. We had fun introducing
Anusara yoga there.
Then we went on to Agra to see the Taj Mahal where two of our
group members were married in an amazingly beautiful traditional
Hindu wedding ceremony.
Next was Varanasi. It was great that we had the time to become
acclimated to the "harsher reality" of India.First we took an
overnight train ride, which was quite an experience in itself.
Varanasi is a holy city, but it is also noisy, crowded and
dirty. It was the first time in my life that I have ever
experienced a "traffic jam" made up of bicycle rickshaws,
people, cows and only a few cars!! We were fortunate to have a
meeting with an old Tantric master there, as well as our sunrise
boat rides on the Ganges river each morning.
Next was Calcutta and the visit to Mother Theresa's orphanage
which rendered me speechless. It was a gift to visit her tomb
and the bedroom she slept in, to read about her life and to play
with the children whom nobody wants.
I
highly recommend a trip to India for anyone who is seriously
interested in yoga and/or meditation. In so many ways it is an
unforgettable transformational experience.
Many blessings,
Desiree
Ah. . . India. . . .
Mother of yoga. . . the path of spirituality that has captured
my heart and the hearts of so many What is it about you that
burrows so deeply into the souls of so many?
The chaos of the streets filled with life moving everywhere. . .
. or the stillness of deities draped in flowers, calling for a
moment to reflect on the fortune of life itself?
Is it the rainbow of color from the silk saris floating thru the
streets. . . . or the pairs of eyes peering thru the black
cloaks of mystery.
Perhaps it's life's daily tasks performed with commitment before
the watchful eyes of all to see. . . . .
Is it the exhilaration of a rickshaw ride thru Varanasi, dodging
cows, bikes, people, motor cycles and other rickshaws. . . . or
a meditative boat ride down the Ganges with lighted candles
carrying the prayers of love cast off to drift aimlessly on
Mother Ganges's waters?
There are new beginnings. . . . and cycles of life that have
come to an end . . .
And there are those willing to help whether or not you are their
kind. . . . .
Ah. . . . Mother India . . . your gifts are many . . . .
Thank you Elizabeth,
Thank you Desiree and Andrew,
Thank you all you wonderful yogis who shared with us this
journey, we will cherish the memories thru this life time and
beyond!
With much love and gratitude,
Lynne and John Epert
What I take home from India is an appreciation of the mundane
and the sacred living and flourishing side by side. So when my
life at home seems to be mundane I can remember that at the same
time it is also sacred.
Dan Dewberry
