Babaji
|

One full week

Byskydiva

BabajislaDE and I have been at the Mount Madonna Center for one full week. So far the time on the mountain has given me a chance to:

  • become evermore curious about Baba Hari Das (a silent monk) and this exciting community that he has built here at Mount Madonna;
  • recognize familiar faces and associate the names behind the friendly features {many community members have chosen Sanskrit names — not an easy task to remember them all, let alone pronounce people’s chosen moniker);
  • discover the vegetarian menu as it unfolds (there seems to be a cyclical and rotational consistency to the menu with moments of surprise and awe thrown in);
  • develop a beautiful routine within these amazing surroundings ~ daily walks in the Redwood forests, a consistent yoga practise, evening visits to the magical garden, etc.;
  • feel comfortable and safe within this spiritual and yogic community.

menuI love that this communal environment, so far, has given me an incredible amount of space and flexibility to discover / accomplish whatever it is I have come to MMC to do (whatever that may be! I’m still assimilating and digesting this new reality). I’m learning such a wealth of information about the history and philosophical principals of Ashtanga yoga within our weekly gatherings, and at the same time, I’m flourishing within my own spirituality, exploring on so many levels, beyond the schedule of my volunteer tasks. Karma yoga in it’s most beautiful form!

Since finding the strength to participate in the early morning Pranayama classes, I haven’t missed a beat with my daily yoga and dinacharya session. This is such a fabulous fresh start to a new year. Not that I made a resolution as such, but rather, I wanted to give the full-on experience of this lifestyle a dedicated effort with supreme love, attention and devotion. I must admit, it’s been good for me, despite my continued and petulant flu / cold sickness. This nasty bug persists unrelentingly despite my daily efforts of Ayurvedic attention and nurturing. Time to be at peace with what is and know that I am doing my best to quell the beast within my body :). Hopefully it won’t drag on for months like it did 3 years ago. If the chesty cough and flemmy goo still lingers on for another week, it’ll be time to schedule a doctor’s visit.

Similar Posts

Recovering
|

Recovering

Byskydiva

What a joy it was to sleep in this morning. The temperatures of the past week had waned, and a cool morning breeze filled the room and warmed my soul. I couldn’t help but wake with a smile, thinking of the past month here in Montreal. So many amazing and diverse memories, all involving flight…

|

Yoga Beyond the Mat

Byskydiva

Since leaving Canada, our momentum has kept us pretty busy as we’ve winded our way south away from the snow. Yet the Arctic Blast has followed us and the need to continually empty our water lines each evening, avoiding burst pipes, has been a constant reality. slaDE~s been really diligent about making sure that this is done….

Full Moon Blessings

Byskydiva

Here in Northern California, the sun sets later than it does back home. The glowing sunset over the ocean eases into finality around 6pm this time of year. A bonus to have an extra hour of daylight compared to our Toronto friends. Tonight the full moon shone brightly as the darkness settled over the valley. It…

Going Deeper

Going Deeper

Byskydiva

‘Going Deeper’ is a focused Meditation Retreat at the Mount Madonna Center that begins for us today. Officially it began on Friday night but we were uprooted from the full experience by full paying customers who registered last minute. I was quite disappointed, but am grateful to at least experience part of the process. What…

Return from Paradise
|

Return from Paradise

Byskydiva

Both slaDE~ and I were excited about waking at the crack of dawn to watch the sun crest the ocean horizon. Unfortunately, what has become a common occurrence here on holiday, I awoke at 3am fully alert, twiddling my thumbs, random mundane thoughts rampant in my brain, tumbling like a dryer full of static electricity….

Self-Care in a Politically Charged New Year
|

Self-Care in a Politically Charged New Year

Byskydiva

Loom and Doom?
With tomorrow’s inauguration looming on the horizon, it’s really easy for people to become weary of the ‘negativity’ in the air.
Healing, as I know it, is a complicated process that often depends upon a greater supportive and inclusive community. But ultimately, the healing journey begins with self-care.