February 11 Rishikesh

Showered at 5 AM to get warm before going to yoga. Love the class Vishvaketu does, as it involves singing mantras, which he uses as a theme for the yoga practice. Always spiritual advice in the lesson as yoga is spiritual and not only physical. Amazing pranayama combined like kapalabati breath with great stretching. Superb for the lungs and body. It is always challenging too, and usually some kind of sun salutation. Breakfast is always dates, fruit, and today pancakes with mango chutney ( no maple syrup!!) and herbal tea. I am getting used to the vegetarian diet. After breakfast I went shopping and discovered a lot of Tapovan, the part of Rishikesh where the ashram is. I had lunch at a different German bakery and it was excellent food, so cheap. The carrot juice with ginger was red, as carrots here are red and delicious!! Then bought yoga pants ( alibaba ) in cotton/silk, and two yoga shirts in excellent fabrics, and so cheap ( cotton/silk) and bought supplies, wondering around the shops. It was great. Discovered how to get to the Sixties cafe ( the Beathles cafe!!) so will make a trip there soon. Then off to afternoon yoga....great class by Chitra, and Indian lady. The yoga here is Akhanda, which is holistic yoga as it contains meditation, breathing ( pranayama) sung mantras, mudras galore, postures of course. Western yoga us usually physical only, which many Indian yoga teachers disagree with . Supper was ok, and then for an hour I went to Kirtan ( chanting). Well it is singing not chanting. We sing Hindi songs, and there are percussion instruments of people to use, and it is very successful. I enjoyed it. People love kirtan. We sing mantras, which start with call and response, then we all sing, get louder and then fade out after many repetitions. Afterwards I went with a Dutch guy and a young South African guy to the Honey Hut for a cinnamon saffron tea, and chocolate ball!! Then home and blog and bed. Thanks for checking in. I feel better now, so so much better after the nightmare of everything going wrong. Nearly done the antibiotics!! Hope you have a good weekend coming up!! Sorry no pics today!!