My experience in India

Being here now

This was the theme of our 10 days together in Goa, and most likely one of the drawing points for me actually booking in the first place. As well as 10 days with teachers who I have been inspired by since first meeting them a few years back. Norman was my Yin teacher back in London and it was with Norman and his wife Maitripushpa that I studied to teach the Yin Yoga practice.

The poem above acted as part of our intention for our twice-daily yoga and meditation practice and also our lives. Yoga on, and more importantly, off the mat. In fact, off the mat is where true yoga happens and the real benefits of yoga can begin to be witnessed.

I physically arrived in the blistering heat after an epic journey of 3 flights and just under 24 hours. Greeted by my teachers, a few students who’d arrived earlier, the friendly and helpful Jivana staff and of course a handful of dogs eager to meet their new guests.

Each morning started just after sunrise with a gentle body awakening and guided meditation with Maitripushpa followed by Ashtanga yoga (with love) with Norman. The emphasis was always on treating our body with kindness, delving into what our body, mind and spirit genuinely need each time we step onto our yoga mat and appreciating that this might differ depending on a huge number of variables.

A gorgeous way to start the day.

It took a few days to fully arrive. Getting over the jet lag, getting used to the heat and becoming familiar to our new surroundings all took a bit longer than the actual flight time itself. But slowly, gradually and with love we all fully arrived.

Finally, we were able to be here now.

One of the things I love about immersing myself in retreats away from home is that after a significantly short amount of time you realise that you are home – new friends who you feel like you’ve known for years, building connections and trust, supporting one another when emotions or sickness surfaced, sharing and listening to stories with kindness, compassion and love.

Our evenings were spent together in an extended Yin yoga practice lead by Norman. Again the focus was on being in our bodies right now and honouring whatever our body needed at that exact moment… be here now… more blocks or bolsters? Something to rest your head on? Or the suggestion to take it to your edge and enquire how you feel right there.

After a long day of yoga & free time (more often than not free time was spent on the beach) by the time we got to the end our yin yoga practice most of us were pretty sleepy. But the final piece of our daily yoga indulgence was with Maitripushpa leading us through a meditation to close the day. We explored walking, sitting and standing meditation as well as chanting and even going onto the rooftop to meditate while the sun finally set.

Although the focus was on being here now there was still an element of play. Yoga is serious, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun! Indeed the playful, experimental aspect of yoga is often where the magic lies. Norman & Maitruspha eloquently brought an aspect of play into their teachings (check out the video at the bottom of this post to see the playful side)

Half way through the retreat there was a full moon. If you’ve met me before you probably know how much I love the moon and am affected by the energy from it. I gathered a group of yogis and we went up onto the roof to watch the full moon rise. I also got to try out my new singing bowl as each of us let go of the old and set new intentions for the next cycle. It was beautiful to share this experience with my new friends.

On our penultimate evening together in the yoga shala, I felt something strange happen as we practiced the Metta Bhavana (loving kindness) meditation together. I couldn’t really describe it or put my finger on it. Perhaps there was an energy shift or a release of stuff I’d been holding on to. Whatever it was, I suddenly felt lighter, taller and clearer in my mind than I had for a long time.

As our final practice drew to an end we were asked how we felt… for me it was gratitude. Gratitude to my teachers for their daily inspiration, kindness and support. Gratitude to the other 13 yogis on the retreat who have now become good friends. Gratitude to all the staff at Jivana for making us so welcome and ensuring I had something to eat that didn’t contain coriander. And gratitude to myself… for investing in myself and giving myself the time and space to allow shift to happen.

Being here now. I’m no longer in Goa, but I am definitely here now. Breathing with awareness and practicing yoga and meditation with a subtly different mindset than before.