the motherland

india. birthplace of yoga, world capital of spirituality. i have longed to visit india for many years, and this summer it finally seems to be materializing. i am planning a trip to north india, to stay at an ashram and study and practice yoga for 4-6 weeks. i am eyeing a city called rishikesh, which is near the foothills of the himalayas, on the banks of the ganges river. there are a number of yoga ashrams there which i am researching and contacting. in late june, i will be flying into new delhi and then traveling by train or taxi through the noisy confusion of a foreign land. i am considering flying out of boston instead of austin and spending a few days there before heading east. (tommy..?)

i could not be more excited. it will be a pilgrimage, for sure. the goal: to study authentic yoga. though i certainly entertain notions of romanticized spiritualism pervading the very air of the country, i know that 'the only zen one finds on a mountain is the zen one brings up there.' it's not where you are but who you aren't.

p.s. if you have been to northern india, or to india at all, and have tips for the weary traveler, please do share them!