Never Take Clean Feet for Granted!

Hari Om!
So in short the therapy course ended about 20day ago.  Since then we went to the beaches of Goa, then came back to Nasik to see the Swami and work 10 days at the yoga therapy center-this was totally incredible, if you were wondering.  Which catches you up to the present*   Allie and I are now heading out on a night train up the Delhi tonight and will make our way into the Himalayas around the 16th!  It is pushing 100+F here daily, so it will be quite a relief to get up north.  It also will be cleaner and BEAUTIFUL!  We are going towards the source of the ganges...think glacier clear water :)  I can't even begin to discuss how wonderful this India adventure has been and how much I have grown and learned.  But alas, after just a 17days loop up north and I fly out of Delhi to Thailand 30 April.  More of that to come...but things are looking good <3  Much love to you all  <3  I think about you everyday!

Enjoy the pics-they are more or less in order :)

 Lots of snakes!!

 NO TALKING AT MEALS

The scenery was beautiful*  Mountains all around

 Mud Treatments

 Neti

 2 of my roommates-Sanja & Leslie

 2 half moons makes a full...

A trip to Old Nasik:

 Train to Goa!

 The beach is lined with bars at Anjuna*

 ...not so modest here*

 Nothing like fresh coconuts off the side of the road :)

 Beach at sunrise (6am is now sleeping in for us!)

 Sandcastles and mangos on the beach

 yoga

 Me and Allie in our sleeper compartment on the bus back north

 Swami Naranjananda

 This made my month!

 Happy Gudi Padwa!

 Therapy Center

 The goood short cut...uh possible tetanus shot required

 Coconuts to go...

 On the last the the therapy center women (Foola & Rashne) dressed us up!

 The winery

Temple in Old Nasik

Hari Om!

Well I am writing from an internet cafe in Nasik (Nashik) about a 5 hour bus ride northeast of Mumbai.  I has been living on the ashram for a full week now, so the craziness of Mumbai has all but left me.  But it was very intense for me.  I was very happy to leave, and I have no plans to return there!  It is just toooo crowded with no places to just sit, and when I did find one-people would stare and not-so-subtly take photos (which is actually pretty funny) but none-the-less it really wasn't my scene.

Nasik is  a much nicer city, a bit calmer.  And the Ashram is AMAZZING!!!!  The scenery in spectacular with mountains all around, it reminds me of the southwest a little--i will be able to put some pics up in a couple weeks.  I live in a cabin with 3 other girls (1 from singapore, 1 from scotland, 1 from croatia) we get along quite well, which always makes the experience a bit more smooth.  We have limited power and hot water and shower over a bucket.  We get up at 5:20am to have a morning beverage followed by chanting and then some yoga as the sun comes up.  We do chores everyday-mine has turned into giving massage to people with pain, which I'm loving.  Our lectures are interesting and I am so excited to get into the belly of the course!  The food is nourishing and quite tastey :)   Everyday I can't help but think about how lucky I am to be here.   After the program I plan to work/volunteer at the health clinic affiliated with the ashram.  They run 10 day in patient courses to help manage illness in disease.   

It is also very interesting to meet people from all over the world, from different places in their lives, who use and practice yoga differently, and just talk.  I am so inspired.  I have so many new ideas for myself and my life and how I want to apply this new knowledge.  But I guess this is why its my life in progress* 

Well, I won't have access to internet again until the course is over 21 March (ish), so until then, be well and enjoy the pending spring.  

Shanti,
Sarah*

A Brief Intermission

I am writing from White Plains, NY where I have spent the last couple nights.  I have been in the states for 3.5days and am eagerly awaiting to hop on my flight to India this afternoon.  After a 16hours trip I will make it to the asian sub continent tom night (26hours after I take off!) 

My last few days in Ecuador were whirlwind as Chio left a day before me, to visit Thailand, Vietnam, and Loas!  This also happened to be Valeria's birthday, plus Rogelio was leaving for Chili on Sat, so we had going away/birthday celebrations Tues, Wed, and Thurs!! <I left Fri morning>  I have never been so full in my life...I'm still full!  On Wed Richi and his cooking partner teamed up to make a sushi feast...  

Followed by the gooeyest chocolatey, carmel cake ever! And some going away love <3

 It has been a perfect stopover in the city.  It was so good to see all of you*  And I will write when I get to India!!!