Yoga Different

Yesterday was a day “off” again….though the Iyengars are back from the wedding, apparently nobody felt like teaching the Tuesday night class so it was cancelled. I made lunch for one Kiwi and a couple from London. They drew in my drawing book the schematics of a couple of Iyengar yoga centers in Britain. Design research is part of my research and development mission here. I want to design, and ultimately build, the most amazing Iyengar yoga studio.
The afternoon was largely unremarkable. I tried to buy the book by Dr. Telang—they are out of copies. I observed the medical class and ended up showing the crowd the Yogatoes. Though Geeta was not in the house, the Yogatoes were met with approval by the other lead teachers there.
For dinner, I ventured out by myself to a local nearby high-end hotel. Being the first person there, I ended up waiting in the empty restaurant for the action to begin. The sound of bugs being eliminated emanating from the two bug lamps was my only company. So I read the menu carefully, wondering with amazement what on earth the appetizer “cheese cherry pineapple” or “sparking crispy veg” could mean. The name of the restaurant is Aroma and outside the hotel, the neon sign advertised “Pure Vegetarian Food”, yet on the cover of the menu? An artistic drawing of two girls walking….the first carrying a turkey and the second eagerly following with knife and fork in hand! I love the inconsistencies of India the most.

Eventually, Sergey from Moscow, Russia joined me for dinner. We enjoyed a lovely conversation over Phad Thai---though the meal had absolutely no resemblance to anything Thai I’ve ever had before. It was delicious nonetheless.
The tick-tock of an estabilished routine of daily practice and classes has become a beautiful rhythm. I look for joy and amusement in the small things of life: the smiling faces of Inida, the music of the chanting across the street, the progress in my practice, the new friends that I meet. Om.