Musings ...

Ever since completing the 'Vipassana' 10 day mediation... the intention oscillated between 'to share' or 'to keep silence'  'To-share' because there is much to be gathered and be inspired from sharing - i too, have experienced such learnings. Perhaps one may inspire as well. And to 'keep silence' because it's a highly personal process, not wanting to colour people's perceptions of the process rather have them experience their own... It's been a year since; feelings of 'expression' emerge; & i respond articulating less in words & more in form.  The choice is 'Dhammakuta' nearby the hill town of Kandy in Sri Lanka. A buddhist nation, gentle people, beautiful country.  The rains begin as we settle down our bodies and minds. Nestled in the mountains, the pitter-patter of rain continues for the entire period, cocooning us in. From these depths.... emerges... Days 1 to 5 Codified grap...

To sing openly Eyes drawn closed Without hesitancy Drown in devotion To find a soul who feels devotion in you And teaches the heart To cry tears of ecstasy At the understanding; of a separation that begs to enjoin Eyes do not see, ears do not hear The love is in the depth To drown; to die is to be reborn in 'Bhakti'

The instant-messaging group name promptly changed to “Kumbh-Karn”, at a near flight miss due to sleep of gigantic proportions by a traveling companion. There were 4 - 3 Mysore lads & a Bangalore yoga teacher .... ' I '  The story begins.... Braving a minor injury... red 'dupata' wrapped around the neck as support, we make our way out of Mumbai Airport in search for a cab to take us to Nasik... to the “Kumbh Mela” Myth has it, as the 'Deva' & 'Asuras' were churning the ocean of milk for 'amrit' (divine ambrosia) a heavenly fight ensued for it's possession. Out of the 'kumbh' (pot) 4 drops landed at four locations – at Allahabad, in the 'Triveni' (confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna & mythical Saraswati), at Haridwar in the Ganga, at Ujjain in the river Shipra & at Nasik in the 'Godavari'; sanctifying these locations. To attend a Kumbh, therefore, is to celebrate good's triumph over...

One of the founding principals of Yoga Mat-ters was "community building". From inception, this theme ran through every Yoga Mat-ters event.   July 2014, on the completion of a year; an email to selected friends,well-wishers with the hopes to ignite inspiration to carry the story over print-media was sent - an edited version gives the essence. "Some time last year in June 2013, three friends & yoga practitioners spoke about taking the practice of yoga outdoors. Since Bangalore has beautiful parks, gorgeous weather & people; we invited friends who practice yoga to roll our mats out in the open, under a July sky to share a yoga practice. Spontaneous thought gave birth to an  initiative called Yoga Mat-ters.  With a little planning, o n July 7th 2013, Yoga Mat-ters launched it's first event in Cubbon Park -  "For the Love of Yoga ". The response was great & the experience 'different'.  This last year Yoga Mat-ters has seen collab...

To say 'yes' or to say 'no' To fly high above or stay grounded below  To burn the midnight oil or to sink into dreamless states of sleep  To flow through the lines or to fall in line within a grid To hold on or let go  To give or to receive  To laugh with reckless abandon or to stay present to unbearable pain  To reach out and help or to choose to help oneself  To bow down in reverence or hold the head up  To stay or to move on ... The choice is ours to make While allowing others to  make choices for themselves  Is Freedom Today one chooses to put on headphones Turn the music loud The beats pulsate in my heart & head Dancing barefoot in the garden  And when morning comes ..  Unroll the mat Quieten the mind. The choice is ours to make. While allowing another person theirs... Freedom 

The last working day at Zela, went prepared with the new visiting cards ... handed the first one to the CEO right after his farewell speech. It was a beautiful purple, with an awakened lotus. Created with the help of a dearest friend ... it read... radhika chaliha +91 ********** radhikachaliha@gmail.com passionate about yoga & sharing it with you. ___________________________________ That was 4 years ago! If there was a second tipping point in my life, this was the moment... everything changed from here! What began as a "passion for yoga" & "sharing" it.... continues even today .... in similar textures but entirely different hues. Zela Health Clubs gave the platform to lead 'asana' classes & it was quite a ride. A small tucked-away quaint neighbourhood studio named Core Pilates in Koramangala, enabled to reach out in an intimate manner - to be able to listen to nuances of the breath & modify accordingly wa...

A month since soaking the whole experience of 'World Yoga Day'. In this reflective space, the assimilations happened & now for expression.... Being invited to participate 2 months ahead, was indicative of the significance of 21st June to people related to 'yoga'. A day to commemorate "YOGA" had to be celebrated! It was exciting to be invited to be part of what I sensed a tipping point for things to come. Reflecting back, 3 distinct phases unfolded experiences & emotions of varied hues. Stage I -  Pre 21st June :  The International World Yoga Day Celebration  - 4 schools coming together in celebration immediately resonated. The various forms of yoga - classical to neo-classical, to contemporary; shared by guides/ teachers at a common platform cultivates a sense of community among teachers. One that is essential in maintaing this eco-system - we as teachers, should rely, support, learn & thrive through each other's capabilities....

….was the question… She rambles…. A friendship is a 'relationship' - relationships are formed through shared experiences & communication The more sharing ... stronger the bond I t's a need for socialisation - humans are social animals that seek community , kinship & companionship Why ? Because deep down we want to be loved & give love - that makes us most content (love is not expectations but considers human values & ethics) Friendship or any relationship is vibrations at the similiar frequency... the law of attraction brings us together but then what? Where do we go from here ? We exchange , share , love ... we grow ... we stay &…. we part . It seems quite natural & organic - t his coming together & parting (or staying i f the vibrations resonate - t here is harmony … music & oneness) Is friendship or any relationship based on exclusivity or inclusivity .... Why are you my friend ? Can we all be friends ? Must we cho...