Just prior to moving from Saudi Arabia, back to Canada I scheduled a 30 day yoga teacher training course at an Ashram in Nasik India. A dear friend of mine Brenda Chmelyk, from Fort St. John joined me. We arrived a few days early so we were actually there for 33 days in total.

Both Brenda and I lost a lot of weight living like yogis. I lost a total of 17 pounds. We ate pure vegetarian food and attended 4 hours of yoga daily. We arose at 5 am in the morning and did not retire until 9 – 10 pm at night. We had one day off a week to do what we chose. Brenda and I shared many triumphs and challenges while at the Ashram.

I cannot tell you the number of times that I wanted to bolt. I doubted my purpose while at the Ashram. In the end I received a standing ovation from the Guru’s son and staff for my hard work and stamina. I was one of the eldest members at the Ashram and I held my own.

I have to tell you that Yoga, meditation, and breath work has changed my life. I feel better inside than I have in many years. The Guru of the Ashram left us with one line at the closing ceremonies. If you don’t use what you have been taught, you will lose it. I practice yoga daily. I could never imagine my life without it. I feel like a new creation, and I love to teach it to others. Yoga, meditation and breath work has helped me to integrate my mind with body and spirit.

I noticed the little children in the surrounding neighborhood. They had very little and they were the happiest children that I have ever seen. They always had a cheerful smile and loved to have their picture taken. And to see their photo immediately on Brenda’s camera was the biggest thrill of all to them. Daily the children headed out from home to collect Cow piles to bring back to their families for future use. The cow piles were used for fuel, incense, and to patch the holes in their walls.

Cows are very sacred in India, and they know it big time. The cows had attitude like I had never seen. Every day around the same time the Sr. Cow would give her shepherd a run for his life, since she had her belly full from grazing all day she had lots of energy to expend and off she would go down the road as fast as she could; knowing full well her shepherd would be right on her tail, barefoot on the rocky road, and waving his arms with all his might. It made me laugh every day.

Life was simple at the Ashram, Something I knew nothing about. I have come to realize that there is no good or bad in life. I had too many preconceived notions about how life should be and how complex it had become by my unrealistic expectations. I can learn a lot from the children in India. They were happy right where they were at. As the Buddha saying goes: Want what you have and don’t want what you don’t have.

Hari-Om