Lessons in trust and surrender
This post was written in September 2009 as I was embarking on our apprenticeships in India for my Ayurvedic degree.
Yoga teaches us steps so that we can achieve ishavara pranisad Surrendering to Universe or God.
If you have traveled in India you may have experienced the frustrations due to the lack of obvious
organisation and structure. Try crossing the road for a start…
Hmm my lessons started before this trip. I am now in India and feel very peaceful amidst the seemingly noisy and busy bustle of rickshaws, cows and people. But the organisation back in the UK leading up to this trip was not so peaceful.
I am here as part of my degree in ayurvedic medicine. And it was challenging waiting for our itinary for our placements and advice regarding visa.
We finally did get our tickets… Then our next challenge were to apply for visas. We were all refused a student visa with some getting 6 months entry or tourist visa and some (me) just a 3 months visa – notvlong enough to finish our placements or time for a bit of travel.
Reaplying for the visa was slightly nervewrecking. I handed in my passport yet again on the Tuesday
planning to leave Friday. In that time I learned, or started seriously to learn, the lessons of surrender towhat is. I had done all I could but however long it may take the Indian High Commsion to cancel one visa and make another I had no idea… So the only thing I could do was to be present – one breath at the time. I am still learning but this was a valuable lesson for me in being in the moment. Yes I was worried about not getting my booked plane or having to leave early from India. But “what is the worst case scenario?” my very supportive husband asked. And really the worst cases I could come up with were really not all that bad!
But visa arrived and I breathed a sigh of relief getting very excited about going to the magic land of
India.
The journey could not have been easier. Heathrow terminal 5 was as calm and serene an airport ever
could be. Myself and Sharon had a lovely filling meal at Waga Mama and did our last minute shopping before boarding our overnight flight to Mumbai. Arriving in Mumbai on schedule we dished the plan of a 15 hour overnight train to Belgaum and a long stay in Mumbai waiting to depart and instead bought a last minute ticket for a flight to Hubli. And we got our tickets, did our transfer and our check in just in time. Absolutely perfect timing (with not a minute to spare). In Hubli we got a taxi for the journey to
Belgaum listening to Bollywood music along the way whilst wacthing the scenery. Ahh bliss.
Our contact was here waiting for us despite us arriving a day early making sure we got settled in each
of our lovely little appartments.
I can not express how absolutely wonderful this experience is so far. How kind and warm the people
we have met are and how helpful. I am at this moment sitting in the shade at 8.30am on my balcony. I
woke up did my yoga practise, got ready and am now waiting for my friend to join me for breakfast.
Looking forward to idli and sambar. And then we are off to the Big Bazaar with yet another helpful
staff from KLE ayurvedic hospital.
Am feeling very blessed!