My days in India began to blend together. Time began to move in different ways. With the amount of introspection, healing, and work (physically and emotionally) that I was being immersed in, so much was happening so fast. I felt as if I were processing my life times worth of experiences and emotions all in a condensed period of time. I was finally hitting the refresh button on life, seeing what I was left with and who I was.
The days were hot and the trainings were grueling. I remember one back bending session that still makes my face grimace with discomfort. For some reason as we entered the session, I'd made a pack with myself that I'd bend further and test myself more than I had in the past. A totally egotistical mindset that is in total contrast to the very practice of Yoga, but alas, that was me at that moment. The practice was in the peak heat of the day, meaning the body would be warm and in optimal conditions to stretch. On top of this, I was fasted. Meaning there'd also be no internal hindrances. Little by little we delved into postures and sequences that opened all the necessary pathways for back bending. My body felt light and pliable. We arrived at the climax part of the practice, which is typically where the most advanced postures reside. With an intimate connection to each and every one of my inhales and exhales, I began to bend....and bend..and breathe...and relax...and release. I began to simultaneously suffer while contrarily being at utter peace. I had found my limit and couldn't conceive of going any deeper. My vision began to slightly fuzz up and I imagined I'd break in half like a twig being stepped on. My teacher, with a sly smile on his face, gently approached me.
Teacher: Corey, can you go deeper?
Me (still in posture):Ummm...uhhh...(barely able to speak) I think no...eerrr ughhhh...
Teacher: (releasing an all knowing laugh) Oh yes you can.
Me: ....(grumbles and heavy breathing)....
Teacher: Let's go!
And without further adieu, he pushed and pulled me in all the right places. In that moment I completely surrendered to pain and the future of my back, allowing my teacher to completely have his way with me. For better or for worse. Everything became nothing and nothing became everything. I was standing on my hands with my feet comfortably resting on my head. It was the first time my body had ever done anything of this sort to this extreme. After the peace passed, reality came striking back with a vengeance. I broke down and consequently passed out for a few moments. As I laid on the ground, an explosion of emotion washed over me in a manner that I'd never felt before. I cried. I laughed. My body hummed. I didn't dare to move. I needed to process whatever was happening. I was properly blissed out.
Throughout all this my teacher never showed the slightest degree of worry. Other students who were in the class wanted to assist me, but he assured them (and me) that this was apart of the practice and is exactly what needed to happen. Following this asana session I didn't leave the bed for 3 days. I was totally fucked. Completely bed ridden. However, my back has forever (atleast until now) obtained a further range of motion. Worth it? 100% yes. Would I recommend this approach to everyone? 100% no.
In typical fashion, when it rains it pours. During my first day of rest after the back breaking session, I was also hit with the infamous Delhi Belly. As I write this, I'm convinced that I don't need to describe in detail all of the beautiful effects of Delhi Belly, but I'll say this. Delhi Belly left me scared to be any further than a few feet from any toilet. At a moments notice my insides would (independently of me) melt right out of me. When it happened I had no choice. I was a slave who had to comply with the demands of the Delhi Belly gods, which it so happened to be every 30 seconds. If I had one wish for humanity, it would be that no person ever has to experience the sensation of there insides dripping out of them.
Apart from the internal scenarios that were happening within me, there was plenty happening in my outside world too. I don' really know how to start so I'll just start. Wild monkeys. Every day I had to walk from where I was sleeping to the Yoga shala to where we practiced. It was approximately a soccer fields distance between the two. A small distance, but a great feat always remained in my way - the aggressive battle scarred monkeys that looked like they belonged in a post apocalyptic world from a Cormac McCarthy novel. They had missing limbs, eyes, and skin hanging off their war torn bodies. Up until India, monkeys had always been my favorite animal. Now I can only look upon them with distain and a bit of fear. I've been tainted. Each day, multiples times a day, I had to navigate my way around or sometimes between the fickle fuckers. One glimpse of accidental eye contact and they'd erupt into a manic (eye contact and the showing of teeth are signs of aggression in the monkey world). Many times I found myself running for dear life, never being sure if I'd come away unscathed. Furthermore, they were constantly stealing bananas right out of my hands. They were the banana mafia. They would swing from trees, drop from buildings, always coming from all directions. Many students from the training course had been bitten and had to be taken to the nearest hospital for a round of shots. We even had to have a stick that was named the "Monkey stick" that was always kept at the door of the shala to be used to defend oneself.
One day, after a brutal asana session, we were all eating bananas outside the shala. Slowly we noticed a gang of monkeys approaching us. It was obvious they wanted the giant basket of bananas that we were all eating from. Our teacher said, "Watch and learn." In an instant he transformed into some sort of alpha monkey human cross breed. He growled, hissed, stomped his feet, and began to make a mixture of intimidating animalistic sounds. He went on the attack, challenging the fast approaching gang, which ended up dispersing quickly. We were saved. Coming out of his trance, back to human form, my teacher said, "You see, monkey no problem. You need to become monkey in order to fight monkey. Very simple". We then enjoyed our bananas in peace. I'd use his technique for the remainder of my time in India. It turned out to save me many times.
If you've been reading along, thanks. It's nice to share and release these stories into the world. Onwards ever,
Corey
Fun fact: Many many years earlier when I was in Thailand, I'd been bitten on my left nipple by a wild monkey. Minutes later, my friend whom I was with, had his pants pulled to his ankles. I remember laughing as he stood in his underwear surrounded by a horde of monkeys. All in all I guess you could say that when it comes to monkeys, I'm traumatized.
Next post: "Bhang Lassi, Holi Festival, and Disputes with an Angry Baba"
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