We Miss You! Even tho we are having the time of our lives we think about All of You and wish You were here to share this Adventure with us . There is always something New to see in Kathmandu and we recommend this place as a Great travel destination. Shoppers paradise ! Amazing Temples and side trips . We will take all of You with us in 2 days to Pokhara, a lake town surrounded by the Himalaya mountains. Thanksgiving day- tomorrow, we will take a hike to a temple- market place and visit a local restaurant that is serving a Thanksgiving buffet! Blessings to All of You as You gather together with your families for Celebration!! We will be thinking of You !!
Love Annie
Author: Annie Hickman
The Yoga at Ananda Ashram
There was a lovely group of students in the teacher training program at the Ashram. I asked one of them the book they were using for their coursework, and I was delighted and tickled pink to find out it is my Favorite Yoga Guide Book, which I refer to as my ancient dusty guide from India- which has Incredible Illustrations of yoga poses, and Many ab exercises that I recognized immediately as Pilates exercises! Here it was- the proof that Joe Pilates got his work out techniques directly from Yoga!! Including the 100’s, leg raises, the roll over , the double bicycle, and others! I have , in my yoga library at home, this very book, which I have referred to many a time, I have copied the illustrations and the pages are falling out of the book. Just before leaving on this trip, I saw the book in my bookcase, and the thought went thru my mind- Continue reading “The Yoga at Ananda Ashram”
Shivering like a leaf, our last night at the Ashram
I was expecting cool temps at the Ananda Ashram and I have with me a lot of warm clothes, but last night took the cake. Our tiny room has open screen windows and the same in the bathroom. I was trying to sleep but Continue reading “Shivering like a leaf, our last night at the Ashram”
Sunday at the Ashram
Sunday at the Ashram
Allynn and I have been taking daily walks and Friday we met on the street a group of children and their lovely teacher. Allynn worked his balloon Magic and I shot video. And we made a plan to do a show for the school today- Sunday! They have school here 6 days a week. Saturday is their only day off. So the teacher, Jennifer, arrived about 11:00 am with her motorcycle and all three of us hopped on! Terrified, I was in the middle, feeling Doom was around the corner and Continue reading “Sunday at the Ashram”
Daily Ashram Life
6:00 bell calls us to Chanting
Netti pot nasal cleansing is next
We mix salt in warm water in a small container with a spout that is small enough to fit into the opening of your nostril, like a T pot. Then we stand with feet very wide apart and lean towards one knee- elbow on knee for support. Then with the other hand holding the netti pot, we put the spout into a a nostril and the water drips out out of the other nostril . Repeat and switch sides. You tip your head as you do this. Then you blow your nose many times, clearing the nasal passages! It takes some getting used to but it becomes something to look forward to! ( I guess life at the ashram is pretty dull))
Next comes yoga class – an hour and a half followed by breakfast on the roof terrace. Breakfast is the same as dinner- a big helping of white rice with tasty and spicy veggies served on the roof top terrace.
11:45 Yoga Nidra class on the roof
This is a guided relaxation where we lay on our backs and take a nap. Really Really Wonderful
1:30 Lunch on the terrace This is fruit- banana. Cut pieces of apple and a bowl of yogurt . A cooked grain of some sort is included ( I can not identify ) . The lunch does not fill me up so I supplement it with a few cookies.
After lunch Allynn and I take a stroll thru town which is not really a town.
And I look for things and people to photograph and Allynn does balloons for kids getting off the school bus.
3:30-5:00 Yoga Class
6:00 Dinner
7:00 campfire with singing or storytelling.
Today, at the request of some of the gals here enrolled in the teacher training program , I led a FairyTale Yoga Workshop . I showed them how I combine a story with yoga poses.
Then a staff member asked us if anyone would be willing to lead the Yoga Nidra class . I said Sure! So I went to the roof as everyone relaxed and I made up a bunch of words to make it interesting .
The days are going quickly . It is all repetitive but pleasantly so. Quite chilly late afternoon and evening. There is no heat but we have very thick quilts to keep us warm at night. As I write this on my I phone, I am sitting on my bed wearing fleece pants and shirt plus a heavy fleece jacket with a down jacket on top . Wow! That sounds like a lot of clothes. Allynn is dresses in just slacks and a fleece shirt. – hardy soul.
I have not washed my hair in 10 days. There is a hot shower here but it is not appealing to me . In 3 days at the end of our week here we will return to Kathmandu to a hotel with a heater I hope And a hot shower.
Until next time , Namaste and lights out!
Shock and Awe
Sunny day at the Ashram. Men are plowing the fields with pick axes and women are carrying rocks and we are doing yoga. I am loving the style of Yoga they are doing here. It involves many rrepetitive exercises for the hips and stretching the back. Also core exercises. Then sun salutes with resting imbetween and all kind of interesting leg stretches. A fellow at breakfast was raving about Thailand and I felt like that really resonates with me ! Then a dramatic thing happened. My acceptance in Mysore at the Ashtanga Yoga Institute was pending, but after Allynn applied online at the earliest possible moment he could, according to the calendar and their requirements, I figured I was in the door for the month of Feb ($ 500). When you apply online, it cannot be before 2 months of when you want to go – But- the classes fill up so fast , if you don’t apply at the stroke of midnight, exactly 2 months before your time to be there, you will not get in. So We planned our whole trip around going to Mysore in Febuary. And last nite, in our tiny ashram bedroom, Allynn howled loudly and I wondered What had happened! He then read an E mail from The Ashtanga Institite, saying I had NOT been accepted!!’ Horror of horrors and Shock of Shocks!! I didn’t know What to think!! Allynn got busy writing an E mail back, explaining How Much This Means to me- How I live my Life around my Daily Ashtanga Practice for the Past 10 Years!!!!! And this was to be an Event of My Lifetime!!!!!!!’ Ok- Onto Thailand !!! We will change our plans and go from Nepal to Thailand . We will see. Yesterday I had a long walk up the mountain and just as I was taking a picture of a beautiful tree, 2 handsome old gentlemen appeared from the road behind it and walked towards me, both with their walking sticks. I got a Wonderful photo and that moment made my heart sing!!! So We Take the Good with the Bad!!
Hopefully a happy disappointment?
Annie just received and email that she was not accepted in the February class at Pattabhi Jois’s yoga school in Mysore. That was the reason we came to india. She’s dreamed of studying there… she done their yoga every morning for the past 15 or so years. I tried signing her up for October, November, December, and January but they were always filled by the time I applied. Finally I waited to get her application in at the crack of dawn on the day they began to accept applications for the February class. They received the application and we set up out 5 months here with the final full month set for Ashtanga in Mysore. Two weeks into out trip we just got an email that the class is filled and she isn’t in it.
I sent them a letter saying disappointed we are and CC’s it to important Yoga Centers in the US (some reason, some fantasies… all but one name was fantasy (the other emails all came back to me as expected.
Here’s my letter to them:
-as a follow-up, everyone at this ashram who’s “in the know” about what we’re going thru says we should skip Mysore and just reroute to Thailand…. that sounds good to us.
SharonandDavid@Jivamukti.com, StevenAndrews@YogaJournal.com, JulieTaymor@YogaInternational.com, JulieNelson@HimalayanJournal.com
One step away from Doom
One step away from Doom. That is how I feel when I am riding in a taxi here. I feel like I have to stay on my toes but I try to just relax and go with the flow because there is no other way when traveling . But it does feel precarious sometimes and a bit overwhelming –
I want to wake up and Continue reading “One step away from Doom”
Annie’s visit to three temples in Kathmandu
Annie’s visit to three temples in Kathmandu
New Hotel in Kathmandu by Annie
Nov 14 Yesterday moved to a new hotel,from Hotel Pilgrams to Hotel Himalaya Yoga. This one offers a free yoga class ( Sivananda style) at 8:am and a free meditation class at 6:00 pm. Breakfast is free- eggs, any style with hash browns and toast, butter and jelly.Our room has twin beds(small but comfortable) and private bath. The shower and toilet are is all combined, so when you use the shower, Continue reading “New Hotel in Kathmandu by Annie”
After yoga and breakfast- a veggie omelette which is the Indian style – Allynn and I hopped in along side of Sharon in her drivers car and we drove a few blocks to a studio where she teaches a Sunday morning dance class. I have never seen Sharon dance and it was an amazing experience. Three lovely young ladies showed up, wearing loose Indian pants and tunic style tops with a tie at the waist. The studio was down a flight of marble stairs and the room also had a white marble floor, double mirrors and a purple curtain at the opposite end. I wasn’t sure what to expect- never having been to an Indian dance class. The women all faced the mirror, with Sharon in front and she was the leader of the dance and the others copied her movements, to to perfect the hip,rib,feet and hand movements. It reminds me of Balinese dance. The foot rhythms were intricate and I wondered how many years it takes for the body to assimilate all of this exacting and specific style of movement! The class was an hour and a half and the group did many different dances, each with its own piece of music. Afterwards I asked one of the women how long she has been studying with Sharon- She said 8 years. Back to the house for lunch-lunch and Dinner are pretty much the same . First comes a fresh salad with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and carrot. -Sharon orders all her veggies -organic over the phone- which surprised me. They are more civilized here than I thought- Rice is next with 2veggi dishes with Indian flavorings and spices. It is always similar and delicious.
I spent the afternoon trying to sketch a costume for the stilt performer, of the Gypsy Slum Tribe-we are going to meet tomorrow!!? More about that!! I felt very klutzie trying to come up with something suitable – that could be packed flat ( for slum living) so bizarre- half the people in Delhi live in slums- Later Folks!!! Annie
Thank you Sharon Lowen
Nov 10 Monday – our Big Day at the Slum, meeting Emma, who works as a travel agent ( thanks to our friend Eve Sheridan, from home. She introduced us to her friend Chris, a woman who has spent years living with her husband in Delhi! She now lived in Washington DC I was Excited to speak with her about Delhi, and she recommended I get in touch with her friend who lives in Delhi and sets up tours! Perfect – I thought. So- meeting her at the Turtle Cafe at the Kahn market was like a dream. We had a mishap with our driver getting back to Sharon’s but challenges add to the excitement! ( He vanished to get his car repaired but reached us by phone and all was well) And I reminded myself Don’t Panic!!! Continue reading “Thank you Sharon Lowen”
A New Day at the Delhi Slum
Another Sleepless Night! Goes on and on! But this day, Monday had a Lot of magic in it. Our driver picked us up at 10:00 am and drove us thru Delhi with all the usual traffic, which we are getting used to-and the streets suddenly became a lot more narrow and filled on either side with market places- vendors of fruits and veggies. And lots of street action- kids running willy nilly and motorcycles zooming around – everywhere honking. I forgot about being tired , as I knew we were about to enter the slum. I was a little nervous about what we might find there. Allynn had told me that half of Delhi is a slum! Such an upsetting idea! We turned a corner, pulled into an alley way and I realized we’d reached our destination. I was filled with dread , not wanting to jump out of the black jeep. Continue reading “A New Day at the Delhi Slum”
Sleepless in Delhi
Another nite, I cannot sleep. I wake at 2 and cannot get back to sleep. It is becoming a pattern. For Allynn too. In fact we are on the same schedule. I am finding it highly annoying. I hear a chorus of dogs so I put on the ceiling fan – which is really loud and then I get up and turn it off. Then I rummage thru my bags searching for my earplugs which I bought at Walmart. Then I find them and put them in . Then I notice how uncomfortable they are. Then I take them out. Then I decide to walk to the living room and take a picture of Sharon’ pillows and now I am hoping I can get the photo onto this blog and I am also thinking how kind and sweet my husband is- I would never do this on my own – you absolutely Must have a travel companion!!! We have been also mumbling in the dark about how to get to Katmandu and one large corner of my brain is SO missing Starbucks!! How am I going to take it?? Annie- Be a big girl – don’t whine!!! Feeling Pitiful.
Flight to Delhi
I hate to fly and I was feeling very nervous on our way to Paris and even more nervous as we flew over the Caspian Sea and we had So Much turbulence! I thought maybe we would crash. But we didn’t!
We found our name sign and driver after a Long search and were worried. Our luggage would not fit into his tiny car – but it did. After a 40 minute drive thru highways we made it to Sharon’s apt. A 3 flight walk up with emerald marble! We were captivated by Sharon and her decor of Indian puppets, masks, sculptures and mirrored pillows. We were grateful to find our own bedroom- with bath and ceiling fan- no AC- and slept Great.
The next morning I awoke with a sense of gloom Continue reading “Flight to Delhi”