I have never thought about yoga as a blood sport, but it seems you can get friction injuries when perspiration-soaked cotton rubs against skin while doing 22 sun salutations. My white ashram pants are soaking in hot water in hopes that the blood stains will come out.
I am in my final days here at Meenakshi, and as much as I’m looking forward to the next adventure, it will be difficult to leave. I’ve said good-bye to some wonderful people over the past few days, and there is more of that to come. My roommate Evi is an extraordinary woman and i can only hope that she enjoyed my company as much as I did hers. One of Evi’s pet peeves is people who chant off-key, and we had a winner in that category during last week night’s satsang. He started off rather subdued but then really cut loose. Evi was seated in front of me, and I was praying she wouldn’t turn around because I could barely contain myself. When we got back to the room, we let it all out…belly laughing is also a form of yoga I’m told.
Vandana, a lovely woman of Indian origin who has spent most of her life in Australia, left early this morning. I already miss her calm presence and her patience in helping me to understand some of the many things I just don’t get about this marvellous country. Janna and her boyfriend Florian are next; they are head to Pondicherry tomorrow by train.
When one door closes, another opens (although sometimes you have to jimmy the lock). The mass exodus of students over the last couple of days means that there are lots of left-behind goodies to be had. Some folks scour the empty rooms for food. Evi, on the other hand, has been doing daily reconnaissance missions for cleaning products and insect repellent. I may not have mentioned that in addition to being wonderful, she is a cleaning fanatic and has had dengue fever. She also thinks she’s tall, but that’s another story. I am so going to miss this woman.
It isn’t only the students who are disappearing. My best teacher Saju quietly made his way to Madurai a few days ago to take over at the centre there. Nandalala, another excellent teacher who is extremely easy on the eyes, leaves Thursday, shortly after I do.
It gets a little warmer each day. Temps are in the high 30s the last week or so, and they are in the low 40s in Madhya Pradesh where I am going on Thursday. Om.
Meeting and getting to know people while travelling has to be one of the nicest parts, I think. Just confirms there are nice people everywhere. 🙂 Enjoy!