Day 16 - The Man in the Moon has Never Been More Handsome

Typically in Ashtanga yoga the day of the Full Moon or Moon Cycle is a day off or a day of rest.  Some people experience their energy levels and flexibility increase exponentially while others experience the opposite.  However, here at Kranti we have our hours to get in and today was our Hip Opening Class with Julia, just like each Wednesday.  It was a tough one . . . but she made us aware later that she didn't hold us in the poses as long as she does usually . . . it didn't feel that way haha.

Anand after a gruelling class

The tide is incredibly high today with the ocean water lapping up over the ridge of  sand on the beach from its usual lower tide.

Later in the afternoon I went to Palolem with Rose to get an iced coffee and sit in the air conditioning and do some studying.  That was truly the right decision.  It felt good to regulate my body temperature. However, this being my first coffee in 2 months, I got about halfway done and looked up at Rose, who looked up at me at the same time, and I said, "Holy crap . . . I'm really buzzing right now" to which she replied, "Meeeeeee toooooo".  When your body is a clean vessel void of toxins like caffeine, it doesn't take much or long to feel the effects.

We had our introduction to Ayurveda workshop with Kranti.  I did my quiz again and YUP, still very heavily Pitta.  I didn't need a quiz to tell me that.  However it's quite interesting to see how I used to be very predominantly Pitta in some things about my character or personality . . . things I didn't necessarily like about myself . . . things I wanted to change . . . and those things just aren't my story anymore . . . I'm more Vatta for those things or even Kapha . . . inner growth and peace is what it's all about.  

"When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others" - Peace Pilgrim

Later in the evening we had the most fun Mudra Mantra meditation class yet with Upendra.  He brought his hand drums.  We learned about a bunch of different mantras and their purposes and meanings behind them.  I recorded our group performing the mantras with Upendra.  The he started playing the drum and it sounded so incredible.  Eventually he had us all get up and dance and we just had the best time.

Ellie's favorite dog Lola returned to the shala just at that moment after we had built up a lot of energy with our singing of the matra and the drumming, that all the dogs felt all the energy and didn't know what to do with it and started getting aggressive towards Lola and a fight broke out which several of us had to break up and separate the dogs.  It was interesting to see how that energy affected the animals.  I know I was feeling energy.  Later they were all best buds again and so happy to have Lola back in the family.  Ellie was beside herself with excitement that her little baby was back.  The owners came into town and decided to let her keep Lola until the Monsoon season starts and Ellie leaves.

After dinner we had our Beach Moonlight Meditation session.  We all took our mats and pillows onto the beach and laid out under the moon meditating on the handsome face in the sky.  It was so bright it lit up the entire sky as though someone had turned a light switch on.  We had walked and placed our mats somewhat close to the sand ridge where the sand was a bit damp and I wondered about the tide, hoping that it had gone down somewhat since the morning.  We had been laying there for about 10 minutes and all of a sudden somewhat let out a shreak and we all jumped up - towels and pillows soaked . . . it was so hilarious.  Some laid on their wet towels or mats, I went and got a new pillow and sat and meditated.  It would have been nicer to be laying down, especially near the end when Upendra said we could sleep with the moon in our psyche . . . I folded onto my knees and felt sleep kiss me gently but it didn't last.  

It was one of the most amazing things I've done.  The open sky here in India is different from the moons that I see back home in the wilderness, say at Mantario, where the sky is filled with stars . . . which I can stare at for hours.  I think the moon was so bright that most of the stars just weren't visible.  

When I stared at the moon tonight I felt the face of the moon smiling so warmly on my entire being . . . like a massive embrace from the universe.  Yet another moment to feel so very grateful for.  

Some full moon beach fun

The full moon starting to come into view

Alicia holding the moon in her hands

I hope you all took a moment to honor yourselves and take in the moon tonight and all it's glory and wonder.  I hope you all were kind to yourselves on this day

Namaste

J