After unpacking, and taking a hot bath and a shower, I settled into bed and listened to Dr. Nazari’s Yoga Nidra meditation on my ipod. After meditation, my eyes were wide open, and I was wide awake. Typically, Yoga Nidra helps me to eventually fall asleep, but I was so excited! Or, simply over exhausted. Or, both.
Yoga nidra (Sanskrit: योग निद्रा) means Yogic Sleep. Yoga nidra is one of the deepest forms of meditations, leading awareness through many levels of mental processes to a state of profound stillness and insight. In Yoga nidra, one leaves the Waking state, goes beyond the Dreaming state, and enters into Dreamless Sleep while remaining awake. While Yoga Nidra is a state that is very relaxing, Yoga nidra is not the same as deep relaxation. Yoga nidra is used by Yogis to purify the Samskaras, the deep impressions that are the driving force behind Karma.
Whatever the reason, sleep did not come to me. Maybe because I was half way around the world and she did not know where to find me.
Lying awake, and thinking about taking a Yoga class at a yoga studio in New Delhi, I wondered even relished the idea of a yoga class in India. I was entertained at my imagination of the stark contrast that would be from a Yoga class in California. {Before I digress, I will expound more on this in later posts.}
I much as I wanted to attend a Yoga class, I had been moved to the understanding that wandering the streets of New Delhi alone was probably not the wisest choice, and came to the acceptance of staying the day on the hotel grounds, safely inside the enormously huge gates.
I had arrived in Delhi about 2 days before our Yoga Pilgrimage tour was to begin, mostly because I wanted to see the Contemporary Art Museum New Dehli, which Michele (our tour leader), and Susan Crane (executive Director, San Jose Museum of Art), had both given me rave reviews. This excursion would take place the following day.
Referencing the hotel amenities book, I learned that the gym and spa opened at 7:00am, and while they did not offer Yoga classes, they did offer private Yoga sessions.
Entrance to the Gym & Spa
At 7:00am, I arrived at the gym and scheduled a massage for after later in the afternoon, and a private Yoga session for the next morning for 6:30am. My lesson was to be with Jai (pronounced Jay), the Gym Manager, who agreed to start our Yoga session earlier than the Gym opening. He is handsome, tall, with a sort of militant yet kind demeanor. Jai reminded me of an Indian Jack Lalanne.
I began my workout with the weight training exercises that Flex Rico had given me, and since a hike was out of the question, I decided to do a cardio workout on one of those Life Force sucking machines.
Jai, to my hilarity, took it upon himself to keep a watchful eye over my training. He watched over me as I moved from machine to machine and “yelled” at me to do more reps, gave corrections my posture, and “encouraged” me to stay and train longer. Which I did, without complaint or question.
“Jai’s Gym”
As with any excellent coach, they demand more, and somehow get you produce more than you ever thought you had. Well, Jai not only lived up to, yet rather exceeded this level of excellence. After my weight and cardio training, jokingly against my will, he now was on me about swimming. I told him my swim suit was in my room and that I would be back after breakfast. He walked me out of the Gym, and showed me the board where they post the pool temperatures every hour. I assured him, that yes I would return and promised to swim in his opulent infinity pool.
“Jai’s Water Temperature Board”
“Infinity Pool”
Breakfast was a bountiful buffet including fresh cut mango, watermelon juice, made to order omelets, and Masala Dosas.
Masala Dosa. A dosa is South Indian, fermented crepe made from rice batter and black lentils. Masala Dosa, specifically is when you stuff it with lightly cooked filling of potatoes, fried onions and spices.
One of the most delicious things I have ever eaten!!!
The beginning of a perfect day.
Namaste –
Kathleen
Copyright © 2016 Kathleen M. Callan
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