Steady State

"You can spend minutes, hours, days, weeks or even months over-analyzing a situation; trying to put together, justifying what could've, would've happened...or you can just leave the pieces on the floor and move the fuck on."

~ Tupac

In practice this morning...finally, a sense of normality. Everything felt easy. Everything flowed. I felt light and free. Such a departure from yesterday. Unbelievable. I was pleasantly surprised, and delighted with how balanced I felt. When told that everything would come together after the Panchakarma I wasn't so sure when or how it would. Like magic, equilibrium has been restored and even better than before.

My digestive fire is back. I feel centered. Much has shifted, and not just physically...and, I have to say, it's an exciting place to reside in at the moment. Simply to be in a place of renewed clarity on various levels.

The fact I'll be leaving India in eleven days is becoming a reality. Can't believe how fast the three months has gone by. So much has developed and unfolded, that I'm learning to truly appreciate the little surprises that life has to offer. An opening. A possibility. An opportunity to trust. Growth doesn't always come easy, but then again it doesn't have to be a struggle either. If there is one thing I've learned is Love doesn't hurt. Love doesn't cause pain. A blossoming of heart, a healing of spirit...when we open to this possibility life becomes limitless.

When centered around the heart. I may not know all the mysteries of this life. But, when staying true within...fears, worries, doubt...have a way of melting away.

The Still Point of Ecstacy

The Still Point of Ecstasy

On the Night of Creation I was awake.
Busy at work while everyone slept.
I was there to see the first wink
and hear the first tale told.
I was the first one caught
in the hair of the Great Imposter.

Whirling around the still-point of ecstasy
I spun like the wheel of heaven.

How can I describe this to you?--
you were born later.

I was a companion of the Ancient Lover;
Like a bowl with a broken rim
I endured his tyranny.
Why shouldn't I be as lustrous as the King's cup?--
I have lived in the room of treasures.
Why shouldn't this bubble become the sea?--
I am the secret that lies at the bottom...

Sh...No more words--
Hear only the voice within.
Remember, the first thing He said was:
We are beyond words.

~ Rumi

The Intellectual

The Intellectual

The intellectual is always showing off;
the lover is always getting lost.

The intellectual runs away, afraid of drowning;
the whole business of love is to drown in the sea.

Intellectuals plan their repose;
overs are ashamed to rest.

The lover is always alone, even surrounded with people;
like water and oil, he remains apart.

The man who goes to the trouble of giving advice to a lover gets nothing.
He's mocked by passion.

Love is like musk.
It attracts attention.

Love is a tree, and lovers are its shade.

~ Rumi

"Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."

~ Albert Einstein

Lead Second Series today. My last lead Second Series class this trip. Wow. I was a hot mess. No lie. Still felt weak and nauseous, which the deep back bending had a way of kicking up. Sharath gave me more verbal cues then he ever has both of my trips here combined. It was a bit amusing, because quite simply, I felt all over the place. I guess it showed. Good thing is, the feeling won't last forever as I build on strength each and everyday.

Some days it plainly is what it is. Just have to roll with it.

New Set Point

"Be glad of life, because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars; to be satisfied with your possessions; to despise nothing in the world except falsehood and meanness, and to fear nothing except cowardice; to be governed by your admirations rather than by your disgusts; to covet nothing that is your neighbor's except his kindness of heart and gentleness of manners; to think seldom of your enemies, often of your friends...and to spend as much time as you can, with body and spirit. These are little guideposts on the footpath to peace."

~ Henry Van Dyke

Feel great coming off the week of Panchakarma. Energy is back. Dr. Kumar read my pulse this morning for follow up and informed me that my pitta has gotten stronger, meaning as a good sign that my digestion has improved.

Nice that it's over, and I can enjoy other foods. Although, I still have tons of kitchari left to finish.

With a new set point, now all there is, moving forward, is to be deeply aware.

Nice.

Panchakarma Day Seven

"Love is everything it's cracked up to be...it's really worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for."

~ Erica Jong

Last day of Panchakarma.

With being the day after Vireachana, practice was interesting this morning. Lead Primary. Started off feeling light and strong, until back bending. Whew. It kicked up a whole slew of nausea and weakness. Wiped me out. I'm sweating more profusely, too. It's almost as if the pores in my body are more open and able to release.

Only eating rice soup and kitchari today.

Tomorrow, I follow up with Dr. Kumar in the morning. Adding fruit and veggies to my diet, and he'll give me a course of herbs to take, fit specific for my needs.

All in all, the process has been enlightening. Yeah. I may have lost a little weight, but that's not what I'm talking about. I feel light emotionally and spiritually, most importantly. When forced to power down, and let go of outside stimulation, even looking to food for it, a greater sense of freedom is found. Especially allowing the old to release to bring in the new.

It feels good. Like a new beginning.

Earthlings

Panchakarma Day Six

"It is quite possible that India is the real world, and that the white man lives in a madhouse of abstractions...Life in India has not yet withdrawn into the capsule of the head. It is still the whole body that lives. No wonder the European feels dreamlike; the complete life of India is something of which he merely dreams. When you walk naked feet, how can you ever forget the earth?"

~ Carl Jung

Virechana ~ Purgation Therapy ~ process when toxins are eliminated through purgation. Unlike an enema and colon cleansing, virechana cleanses the entire digestive tract and intestine. This treatment is highly recommended for Pitta related conditions. Virechana is mainly aimed at restoring and improving functions of the liver and digestional tract. It helps in addressing skin diseases, gastritis, anti-aging, and all manner of digestive disorders.

Whew! So I made it through a course of Virechana today, which will round out my Panchkarma cleanse. I arrived at the clinic around 8:30am and didn't leave until about 6pm. After Abhyanga, and Swedana, I then consumed the herbs that make up the Virechana therapy. Let me just say, I definitely got cleansed...Like you wouldn't believe. Seriously. It was something else. I'll spare everyone the details...

For the next several days I'll be eating pretty simply as I slowly start adding more variety of foods into my diet.

Before leaving the clinic I consulted with Dr. Kumar and we went over proper foods for my constitution, and some of my concerns with digestion. He left me with quite a bit to go on moving forward, and I'm extremely thankful for his expertise and insight. Nice to have an open dialogue.

As my Panchakarma comes to a close I couldn't be happier with the results thus far. I told Dr. Kumar that I'm feeling more like myself, and he nodded in agreement as if saying...yup, that's what it's all about.

Balance.

Panchakarma Day Five

"Ayurveda is above all meant for all people who by harmonizing themselves seek to act as harmonizing forces in the universe. Our overweening, arrogant passion for self-indulgence has poisoned our world. If we hope to continue to live on this planet we must reverse the damage that we have inflicted on ourselves and on our environment. We must calm Nature's ire if we want Her to return us to health."

~ Prakriti: Your Ayurvedic Constitution, by Dr. Robert E. Svoboda

Five days down. Feeling really good. No appetite today. None. Not sure why that is. However, I was told only to eat when hungry.

My body has felt pretty good in practice. At the beginning of panchakarma I felt more weakness, but today I was stronger. It's interesting practicing with all the changes. Forces me to adapt to varying energy levels...and is a good exercise for the mind.

Panchakarma Day 4

One of the staff members at Dr. Kumar's clinic asked if I felt lighter. I had to think a bit, check in with what I was feeling, and my response was, yeah...I do feel lighter. Nice feeling.

More abhyanga and swedana today...and for the duration of the cleanse. Only difference is on the last day, after my abhyanga and swedana treatments, I'll be doing a Virechana purgation. More on that later.

Have been really enjoying the down time, much more then I thought. And, eating kitchari everyday hasn't been all that bad. I rather like it. It's simple and tasty. No complaints at all.

Panchakarma Day Three

Abhyanga ~ Herbalized Oil Therapy ~ A gentle synchronized full body massage with individually selected herbalized oils which is the foundation of all panchkarma treatments, both purificatory and pallative. This is a warm-oil massage given by two specially trained technicians who work in tandum on both sides of the body. Abhyanga usually uses seasame oil, which, which penetrates the pores of the skin loosening impurities and toxins. The oils are concentrated with herbs and are metablolized by the whole body.

Swedana ~ Herbalized Steam Therapy ~ Stimulates the sweat glands and lymphatic system, increasing the elimination of toxins and stregthening the immune system. Herbalized Steam Treatment uses a special heat chamber that allows the head to remain cool, herbalized steam bath opens the body's channels (organ meridians) allowing loosened impurities to move into the digestive tract in readiness for their removal by interal cleaning procedures such as virechana (herbal purgation) and basti (enema).

Third day and I'm feeling much better since I didn't have to take another course of ghee this morning. Thank God!

So, today and for the next three days, I'll be doing Abhyanga followed by Swedana. Nice.

Panchakarma Day Two

Day 2, and I had to down 60cc of ghee...blech! I'm wiped out. But , I guess it's all about the process. Thank God I don't have to drink ghee tomorrow. Feeling a bit weak, but it's worth it. Gonna feel good when it's over and I'm renewed.

Panchakarma Day One

"The most beautiful emotion we can experience is the mystical. It is the power of true art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead. To know that what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty, which our dull faculties can comprehend only in their most primitive forms - this knowledge, this feeling, is at the center of true religiousness."

~ Albert Einstein, His Life And Times

Today I started the process of panchakarma. I'm doing only a light version because Dr. Kumar stressed the fact I'm already in good health, and in turn, can bring my body and digestive system into better balance, which were my concerns going in. Also, with the change in seasons it's always beneficial to participate in some type of detox or cleansing program...clearing away the old to bring in the new. With fasting it isn't only a time to renew the body, but also the mind and spirit. A time to reflect. A time to get rid of old psychic baggage, and grievances, and replace them with greater understanding compassion, and clearer intentions centered around one's heart's calling.

Dr. Kumar's staff were absolutely lovely and supportive. I went to the clinic early and all that was required for today was to drink a small cup of ghee, chased with hot water. Before consuming the ghee, three of the staff members and I stood in from of the alter in the clinic and they began chanting. I wasn't expecting this, but what a wonderful way to start the process. Kinda set the mood.

I successfully prepared the kitchari last night. This is what I'll be eating mostly for the duration of the panchakarma, along with a few choice things.

Dr. Kumar, also stressed that I should lay pretty low for the entire week, except for my morning practice, which I can still do. I have no problem taking time out to relax. My only reservation is the fact that I may not be able to make it to the children's home this week. Those dear children, they're so much fun.

Drop Backs ~ Lead Intermediate Class ~ Mysore, India

Headstand ~ Lead Intermediate Class ~ Mysore, India

Karandavasana, Lead Intermediate Class ~ Mysore, India