Social media is funny. I generally share what interests me, but I’m always shocked by what interests you. With that in mind, I decided to share more about my history of studying yoga abroad. I spent eleven years of my life living, studying and teaching yoga in Asia—nine of those years were spent in south central India in a relatively small city named Bangalore. This city (now known as Bangaluru), is home to more than 12 million people—which is still a relatively small number compared to other cities in the Asian subcontinent. Bangalore is a hill station about 3,018’ above sea level… not quite Denver standards, but definitely high enough to impact your physical training. I certainly felt the difference in my practice when I’d return to the US for a yoga conference at sea level.
BTW—my yoga asana training was not superior to anything you might get here in the United States. In fact, I’ve always maintained that if you want a solid education in yoga movement—do it here in the US. However, if you are interested in a mind-expanding experience and you are comfortable with the discomfort that change creates—go to India… but be prepared to be uncomfortable. Some things I learned:
1) There is no such thing as individual space. It’s a subcontinent of over a billion people, so get used to sharing your personal kinesphere with strangers. Get used to very direct and personal questions. Get used to other people’s opinions about you. Your existence is just as special and unique as every single one of the 1.3 billion residents that call India home. Many Westerners assume that the developing world looks up to them and the residents want to trade places with them— but they don’t.
2) If you want to have an authentic yoga experience, understand that the guru (or teacher) is to be respected and not questioned. It is not acceptable to ask a million and one questions to the “authority” in the room to test their knowledge on anatomy and/or physiology (or anything else). Many Western-trained yogis know more academic aspects of human functioning— but validation of your education on the physics of movement is not why you’ve traveled around the world! Nope, your education in India will be about quieting your “knowing” part long enough to absorb the millennia long tradition of darshan. There’s so much more to say on this topic, but I’ll save it for another post.
3) The multi-theistic practices of Hindus and the unique qualities of their gods are very beautiful and not such a departure from the religious symbols of the West. Each god represents a rich, descriptive aspect of the human psyche and if you really listen to the stories you can begin to witness the human universality apparent in every tale. There are stories about lovers, friends, wars and sacrifices—and even more stories about egos and the delusional tales we tell ourselves about human behavior. As a visitor, it is a good idea to be open to the mythology because it will explain a lot about how things operate (or fail to operate) for you, while you are there. Please be respectful of their symbols—probably not a good idea to buy underwear with an image of Krishna… or Ganesh… despite the fact that you might sport a similar “Jesus” pair at home.
4) Coincidences? Nope (everything happens for a reason). Six degrees of separation? Nope (nothing separates us). Magic? It’s “maya” (probably). Have you watched the movie Slum Dog Millionaire? It’s a magical tale of being in the right place at the wrong time (and vice versa). The story twists with curious whimsy and tragic fantasy—quite clear that Indian writers (like South American writers) are wonderful fiction essayists. However, to me, that movie represented a crystal clear description of the energy power of India. The impossible is possible, but in my experience that phenomenon consistently exists solely in that part of the world. The first couple of mystical experiences you encounter are easy enough to brush off, but after a few years of witnessing multiple slap-your-head moments it’s hard not to believe that either magic is real, OR the world is not as we are trained to see it. Don’t’ get me wrong, living—or much less travelling through India is challenging for the Western yogi, however, it is completely worth it if you seek experiences that force you to question your perception… and at times, even your sanity.
I’m grateful for my second home in India. I haven’t returned in 14 years, but… god willing, I might in the near future. Love to all my family far and near. XOX
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