My room mates finally arrived, thank god! And it is total fate. One is an Indian woman – a mom, probably around 55 named Saddanah. Such a sweet woman. The other is a total soul sister and it is NOT an accident that our paths crossed. She a girl from South Korea named Sarang – 29. She was speaking with Saddanah the first night before we were going to bed and telling her a bit about herself…. she used to work as a Marketer here in Mumbai for about 5 years and she recently quit her job for a year of traveling, soul searching, and spiritual growth before she marries her fiance ….. I was like hmmmm, this sounds oddly familiar!!!!! We both instantly clicked and have been total besties the entire 7 day camp (and still now, a month later). Since she has lived in Mumbai for 6 years, she knows the city and the area really well (and speaks Hindi which makes it helpful to get around). She has taken me to all the cool hip spots, including this café called the Bagel Shop – I think I like this spot so much because its very “westernized” – vegan, vegetarian options, salads and healthy smoothies, coffees and pastries. We both love to just go to this café, get a coffee (since there is no coffee in the institute) and chill (+ use the WiFi, since no WiFi in the Institute either). We have so many similarities and it was so nice to find someone here that I click with so well.
The seven day camp has been an emotional roller coaster. It is from 7am to 7pm every single day for 7 days, with minimal breaks during the day – only ½ hour for eating meals and then right back to class. We are sitting on the floor all day (besides asana practices) so our bodies just ACHE. Especially for me, and other foreigners, after still adjusting to the new time zone. The content is interesting – just lots of yogic concepts and techniques. There is this one teacher who gives a lecture every day on the concept of Karma Yoga – his name is Ajay. I feel such a connection to him – he too worked in a corporate job as an accountant for YEARS before he found yoga. He was depressed in his life and with his job, and he was basically asked by the Yoga Institute to quit his job and become a full time teacher there. He said this job for him feels “easy” – he loves what he does and for him, he has finally stepped into the “flow” of life. The best part of the 7 day yoga camp so far though has been the people. There is a group of about 40 of us, and after spending ALL day with them, we have become pretty close. I have met SO many awesome people and made so many close friends.
India Vibrations 