Day 68: Clarity in Contrast
Musings from Day 2 in India
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The past two days have been the first two times I’ve done a personal asana practice in my own room, in the morning, before my day starts. Something about being back in the homeland of yoga (India) has triggered that in me. I’ve been meditating twice a day for over 60 days now, but the asanas have felt impossible since I was assaulted. Moving my body felt daunting, almost like stepping back into a space I wasn’t sure I was ready to inhabit.
But this morning, I woke up at 5:00 a.m., rolled out my mat on the floor, and moved. The ceiling fan hummed softly above me, stirring the thick, warm air of Delhi. Outside, the city was already waking up far in the distance - street vendors setting up their carts, the distant prayer calls, the sweep of brooms on pavement. The world beyond my room was alive, and yet, in that moment, I felt anchored.
I knew I needed my own practice before stepping into the day of holding space for my students. I wanted to land fully in my body, to find stillness within myself before guiding others.
After my practice, it was time to teach the 7:00 am class for the students. I went into it with the theme of “the pace of one place”—the heart, the mind, and the body all arriving together. This was the theme my teacher, Rolf, had offered in the morning On Demand class I did before I taught. A reminder to slow down, to be entirely where you are.
And then, as I sat in front of my students and closed my eyes, the contrast of this place became undeniable. The 7:00 a.m. honking and chaos of Delhi’s streets hummed in the distance. We could hear tuk tuks, motorbikes, and cars weaving through the city. But here, in our courtyard, time moved differently. Birds chirped, leaves rustled in the morning breeze, and there was an undeniable sense of peace within the gated walls of our retreat.
Clarity in contrast.
This became the theme of our practice today.
We find clarity through contrast in so many ways:
The feeling of stepping into a retreat, away from the routines and responsibilities of home.
The difference between being hungover every morning and waking up clear and present in sobriety.
The shift between the darkness of night and the light of day.
Delhi’s hectic streets versus the stillness of our sanctuary.
Before I arrived, it didn’t even feel real that I was coming here. I was so submerged in my own trauma recovery that India felt like a dream, something too far away to grasp. And yet, here I am. Stepping out of the narrative and into the moment. Fully here. That to me feels like a huge clarity in contrast. I’m stepping away from the narrative mind, that’s processing everything that happened to me in my past, and into the experiential mind - what’s happening in the moment.
If you look at the pictures above that I took today, you’ll see it—India is a sensory overwhelm. The vibrant colours, the smells, the heat, the sounds. It is everything, all at once.
And I am so grateful to be here.
Today was a whirlwind of energy. The busy markets busy with colour and sound, the powerful presence of the mosque, Gandhi’s burial site, and a delicious 13-course meal. The day was full, rich with contrast and experience, but by the end, exhaustion settled in.
I was grateful that we made it back in time for a rooftop sunset yoga practice, a moment of stillness amidst the movement. As the sun set, we flowed through gentle yin shapes, journaled, and shared reflections in our circle. It was a much-needed shift - from the overstimulation of the day, where our sympathetic nervous systems had likely been on high alert, into the calming embrace of the parasympathetic nervous system - the space of rest, digest, and integration. At the end of the day, in the circle, I offered my students three journal prompts to reflect on our first full day in India:
What did you notice today in your surroundings that you wouldn’t have noticed at home?
How did you feel moving through Delhi?
Where did you feel most present today?
The reflections sparked insightful conversations.
On a personal note, I’m doing really well - better than I ever expected. I told my guests today that I’m honestly shocked at how steady I feel. I can’t believe I haven’t had an emotional breakdown or even cried since this retreat began. More than that, I feel present - I can actually hear what others are sharing, truly sit with them, and take in their words. Just a few weeks ago, that didn’t feel possible, as I was processing the traumatic events of last month.
The beautiful thing is that this group has given me full permission to simply be - to take it easy, to show up exactly as I am. And I told them, “Honestly, this isn’t a performance. I really am doing this well.” And for the first time in a long time, I believe it.
We had such a special sunset gathering to share reflections. I can already feel it—this is an auspicious beginning for our group. We are going to connect deeply, unravel, transform over the next ten days. And I can’t wait.
Thank you India.
You don’t have to be a yoga teacher, a Sanskrit scholar, or even someone who practices yoga daily to benefit from the Yoga Sutras. This course is designed for anyone interested in self-discovery, mental clarity, and a deeper connection to life itself. Whether you’re looking for ways to manage stress, improve your meditation practice, or find a sense of purpose, the Sutras offer timeless wisdom that can transform how you move through the world. Join our next cohort starting March 23 & March 26!
EARLYBIRD COUPON: yogasutraearly
Only valid until March 13!