Above – shoes outside the Institute during the kids’ 8am class. I attended the same 9am kids’ beginner class I attended last week. I decided to follow the same class to see how it progresses throughout the month. It’s very playful and fun to watch.

After class, I went to Pune Central (department store about half a block away) to get a white dupatta. As you can see, they’re having a big sale. I can’t think of a better reason to shop!

Walking past the Institute on the way back to my flat.

Fresh vegetables anyone? I bought four cherimoyas off another cart for 100Rs (= $1.57 US).  

Cheese and tomato utapa for lunch.

These boys look like they’re up to no good …

This is legal and really safe.

I made Nana pull over so I could get this photo. He remembers from last time in 2013 how I got excited every time we came across a cow. Cows have the right away, you know. Pedestrians do not. But cows do. I would stop for a cow.

This is Soba. He’s a very nice man from Cashmere and this is his Cashmere shop. I bought some beautiful Cashmere scarfs from him when I was here in 2013.

Here we are (Jill and I) in the rickshaw on the way back to the flat.

Saving the best for last, and not necessarily iNdia …

  
My two sweet grandsons – Alo and his baby brother Kando.

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The people … colorful and friendly and have no problem posing for pictures either.

Making name tag bracelets.

I mentioned in an earlier post that I brought with me 25 white ladies t-shirts to be batiked (remember the motorcycle ride?). Today Sudhir brought me my sample. Here it is – a size medium so I can wear it in class or wherever. This is only one of the elephant designs. The other elephant design has two larger “playful” elephants. Some of the t-shirts will also have the Om symbol, the heart chakra or designed with two Adho Mukha Svanasanas (down dog) with a Navasana (boat pose) in the middle. The t-shirt colors will be pink, red, green, blue and orange and I’ll have them in S M L & XL.

I took a solo walk to MoMo’s and got “take away” vegetable dumplings with really good dipping sauce all to myself. Yum yum.

Sunita taught the ladies’ class this morning. What a tough class! She is so demanding yet she takes the time to explain in detail exactly what she expects us to do. With Sunita you don’t dare make a move unless and until you’re told. We did mostly standing poses and during most of the class our arms were either extended straight out to the side or lifted straight up [Urdhva Hastasana]. My shoulder was put to the test and it passed! Needless to say, I did a restorative practice this afternoon consisting of mostly passive forward bends.

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If you’re “subscribed” to my blog, when you get an email notification that I’ve added a new post, I recommend you go to the link instead of reading the post on your email. Many times I make corrections and/or additions after I publish that you won’t see in the email. Also, the “Featured Image” which I consider an “editor’s pick” at the top of the blog will not appear in the email notification. If you click in the email where the blog title appears it will take you directly to the blog. If you’re not subscribed (Mom), please ignore this.

After class yesterday I went for a walk in the park just next door to our flat. It’s got lots of tropical trees, foliage and birds. Interestingly, the park closes for a few hours in the middle of the day, but when it’s open you will see people walking, sitting, studying, chatting …

I love the Banyan trees. This is a single tree with many hanging roots.

Below is a large group of bamboo.

  No, Evan, these are not the same photos I took in 2013!

Here’s an arial view of the park from our dining room window. We look right out over it!

At dawn and dusk, the birds fly around making all sorts of bird sounds and landing just outside our windows. It’s one of the highlights of every day here. Since I am the first one up in the morning, I can sit with my cup of Nescafe and enjoy some personal time – just me and the birds. Here they are outside my bedroom window.

That’s an Indian version of a window screen. Last time I was here, there were no screens which means mosquitoes were able to get in. These “Indian style” screens are velcroed to a wood trim around each window. They’re not very sophisticated, but they’re doing their job. So far I haven’t seen any flying insects in the flat.

Last night I observed the medical class and took notes on the pregnancy sequence given to four pregnant women in class.

Prashantji:

Today marks the day Prashant formally won me over. The last time I was here I spent the month in the medical classes because I was recovering from rotator cuff repair surgery, then after about the first 10 days I was permitted to attend the women’s classes. I wasn’t allowed to go to any Prashant classes. His philosophical teachings are fabulous, and he’s witty and compassionate. I am thoroughly enjoying his classes.

“Yoga is intuitive mysticism. Intuition. In-Tuition.” [an inward learning]

” … that is why no one takes notes after Prashant’s class – Trikonasana Trikonasana Trikonasana! [big smile]”

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Top: Photo Op from one of my walks

Shortly after getting back to the flat yesterday after practice, Aneeta (same cook as 2013) arrived to fix lunch.

Then Sunita arrived to clean the flat (same house cleaner as 2013).

All is familiar here and it’s nice to have these two gems back in my life for the month.

I purchased some white 100% cotton ladies t-shirts (S M L XL – US sizes!) from Target before I left SD and carried them here to be batiked. Sudhir (the owner of Dimpex, the batik shop) told me he’d pick me up at the flat and take me to the shop. OK. That works for me.

Then … Oh Dear God! He arrives on a motorcycle!! Fright sets in, then laughter. Then more laughter, and even more laughter, and I figured “What the hey. When in India …” He hops on. I hop on and off we go.

It wasn’t so bad being “in” traffic on a motorcycle. It’s much different than dodging motorcycles on foot.

These women are doing batik work.

The shirts are going to be really nice. I picked several different colors and designs. Sorry, I’m not going to give these ones away, but they’ll be very reasonably priced.

On the way back we drove through a slum area and look what I saw!

PIGS!!! Yay Pigs! That one pig in the upper left corner is nursing at least 8 little piglets.

Here, I zoomed in for ya.

Shortly after getting back to the flat “the electrician” arrives to fix the fan. With Aneeta’s help, I took a photo of his tool bag.

Two necessities for an electrician – wire cutter …

and hammer.

Here’s a video that speaks for itself. I took it while waiting to cross the road.

It was a good class with Prashant this morning. Mostly seated revolved poses and forward bends. Then a two hour practice and more knee therapy followed by an Ayurvedic massage and a home made Ayurvedic meal included in the price that consisted of paneer, cooked corn with pomegranate seeds, soup with “drumsticks,” brown rice and chapatis. The ride to and from the massage was also included in the price.

Prashantji:  “I don’t ever tell you to focus. If you focus you miss some of the things. If you focus you may miss all of the things.”

Behind the scenes: I experimented with yesterday’s post by importing the photos directly from the Macbook which reduced the quality of the photo. The photos turned out smaller and looked blurry to me so today I went back to my old method of typing the blog on the Macbook, saving it, then importing the photos into the blog from the iPhone (aka camera). In other words, I toggled back and forth between the Macbook and iPhone, which is what I usually do. It’s more of a pain this way, but I’d rather upload a good quality photo that gives a better picture of what I saw when I took the photo.

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I was on my own all day yesterday. Jill went to a remedial yoga class outside the institute taught by Gulnaz, and I opted out to observe the 9am kids’ beginner class. I attended all the kids’ classes when I was here in 2013 and I didn’t want to miss it.

The kids’  class was full of energy – lots of jumping, arms up, arms down, “Take the right arm up. Now take the right arm down.” “Jump Jump Jump.” They’re expected to learn the names of the poses and repeat them back, going quickly from one pose to another.  “Tadasana. Uttanasana. Urdhva Hastasana. Uttanasana. Malasana. Uttanasana. Urdhva Hastasana. Urdhva Namaskarasana – clap the hands together. Arms straight. Arms straight. ARMS STRAIGHT!! No talking!” Boys and girls full of lots of energy. It made me want to start a kids’ class.

After class I took a walk around Model Colony (the name of this little suburb I’m calling home for these 5 weeks).

About half a mile away is Om Supermarket with surrounding fruit and vegetable stands.

The two photos below are of the store directly across from Om Supermarket. You’re not allowed in the store. Instead, you tell the man behind the counter what you want and he goes and collects the items. There are two sections of the store where everything is packed in tightly. This is very typical of the way shopping is handled here. The stores are very small and most of them are in what we would call a trailer.

If you followed my blog in 2013, I don’t have to tell you how much I love animal sightings. I really get excited when I see cows, pigs, goats, camels. Camel? Did someone say camel?

There are a lot of dogs roaming the streets here. They appear to be much healthier than the last time I was here. Some nice residents drive around and do food drop offs for them. The dogs seem to know the areas and times of the drop offs because there’s usually a good sized group of them waiting for food.

Men hard at work. My observation is that it’s not unusual for men at construction sites to be seen doing what appears to be absolutely nothing. 

This is the site of future “Premium Luxury Homes.” Notice the bamboo stakes being used as support.

Every day people …

I got home from my walk, organized my room since I’m going to be here a while, folded laundry, and crashed with my audiobook (Vanishing Acts) for a couple hours before getting picked up by Nana to fetch Chris Stein from the Chetak for the two of us to have dinner at the Marriott. We both had a veggie burger and fries and ketchup.

This morning’s class with Prashantji:

• “Who is the who in you?”
• “Is my pose correct? It’s not the pose that’s correct, it’s the process, and the process will change with the condition.”

Blogged on Amma’s MacBook from iNdia with LOVE!

Above – Ganesha at the Institute

Yesterday we checked out of the Chetak and moved into our new digs at the Anugraha. Here’s a photo of the building from the street. We’re on the 9th floor (there are 10 floors in the building).

We had a bit of a fiasco checking out at the Chetak. Don’t get me wrong. All the staff at the Chetak are very nice and accommodating, always with a smile. But … It’s typical Indian custom to make things confusing and difficult.

Check out was at noon. We had arranged for Nana (our good friend and loyal rickshaw driver) to pick us up at the new digs at 1pm, assuming an hour would be long enough for us to get checked out and moved in. We arranged for another rickshaw to pick us up at the Chetak at 12:15pm and take us to the new digs (less than 5 minutes away). The driver arrived on time and we had to send him away because another copy of our passport was needed at the Chetak to transfer us to the Anugraha (it’s the same owner). Evidently the photocopy machine (aka cheap printer) was broken so someone had to take our passports somewhere else to get them copied. “Just sit over there and wait. It will only take 15 minutes. [add head wobble here]” We waited and waited and waited.

Next thing we know it’s 12:50pm and we notice our passports are still sitting on the desk when we thought someone had taken them to copy. Guess again. Nana shows up (it was great to see him again!), we wait a little longer, then after some consideration we decide to leave our passports there and pick them up later.

Nana stuffs our luggage and us into the rickshaw and off we go to the Anugraha. We arrive, cram ourselves and our luggage into the very small and ancient elevator hoping it doesn’t decide to get stuck on the way up.

Nana took us for a bite to eat at Shiv Sagar, very popular with the Indians. I had a very tasty Cheese Masala Dosa and will be having leftovers for lunch today!

… and then to Dorabjee (a grocery store). This turned out to be another debacle. You can thank me now for sparing you the details. Note to self: Never go back there!

Selfie of me in the rickshaw attempting to keep the fumes out of my air intakes. The scarf is a necessity here.

Intersections with streetlights are a rarity. This one happens to have one. The rule of thumb is that the smaller the vehicle, the easier it is to squeeze to the front line. The bus must’ve been there first.

This is a pretty common site. Lots of men standing around areas where no one in their right mind would want to hang out.

Beep beep. Lot’s of beeping.

I’m not sure what this building is, but it’s big and I thought it photo worthy.

Squeezing in and more beep beeps.

This kinda looks like a drive thru corn club …

Roadside vendors.

Me and Nana. He’s talking to his next ride. He was late because of us. Nice rays of light though, don’t you think? Or is this what enlightenment looks like?

We ended the day yesterday going to an Indian music concert that was part of an ongoing weekend Guru Purnima celebration for Pandit Taranath Ram Rao Hattaingadi, aka Pt. Taranathji (1915-1991) a guru/teacher of classical Indian percussion. (Robb & Akuch, you would have loved this!) 

There were 4 of us headed to the concert so we had to take two rickshaws. The driver I was with didn’t speak English, was clueless and got us lost. Twice. To make another very long story short, I didn’t let go of our 40Rs until I knew we were at the correct destination.

This morning I’m on my own. I’m heading next door (Yes! we’re right next door to the Institute now) to watch the kids’ class. This was a highlight of my 2013 trip. The kids have so much energy and it’s a lot of fun watching them.

Blogged from iNdia on my 12″ MacBook with LOVE!

I had a good night’s sleep last night and here I am again the first one in the lobby, and I’ve already eaten my breakfast to the sound of early morning birds & a visit from a resident cat. 180Rs for 1 scrambled egg, butter jam toast (you have to say it this way) and a 2 cup pot of coffee. I’m going to miss this breakfast luxury, but am looking forward to moving to the new digs.

Last night’s Guru Purnima celebration turned out to not be a celebration at all. Geetaji said we can’t celebrate Guruji yet since it hasn’t been a year yet since his passing. She talked about how during the last 3 months of Guruji’s life he was too weak to recite the Sutras himself so he called his daughter, Sunita, to come in and recite them for him every day. She encouraged all of us to make this recitation a daily practice, as this is what Guruji would have wanted.

We first did a short Pranayama practice, followed by reciting the 108 names of Patanjali and then all four Padas of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. I have been reciting these along with a recording I have of Geetaji, so it was nice to be reciting along  in person. There was a bonus though, Guruji’s granddaughter Abijata sat beside Geetaji and led the chanting with her. Beautiful!

This morning’s women’s class was a 2-hour intense forward bend class led by Geetaji. My hamstrings and pirformis are feeling it.

My good friend Kathleen from Milwaukee arrived yesterday and we met up at her flat.

That’s the new wrap around skirt I bought the first day here. I wasn’t going to buy any clothes but I couldn’t resist. It’s an easy thing to put on over yoga clothes since you can’t walk around India in yoga clothes.

Here’s what the Pune post office building looks like.

Lunch yesterday at Charos (me & Jill)

   
I had Channa Masala & Chapati, and Jill got some other concoction that had bell peppers which I ended up digging out of my portion.

Indian electrical at its finest.

It’s a common sight to see Om symbols around town. This one’s on a nursery school building.

After class last night I went with Kathleen to an Italian restaurant around the corner from the Institute. It seemed odd having Italian food so soon, but it was really good.

Kathleen ate that whole pizza by herself! I’m not kidding. I ordered this little flatbread appetizer which turned out to be garlic bread slices with cheese, mushrooms, capers & olives.

Now here’s a concept…

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