A good friend and I went off to a yoga retreat last weekend. It was in a remote hostel outside Inglewood, near New Plymouth, in the middle of nowhere. It was very beautiful, reminding me a little of Devon where I come from in England. Lots of rolling pastures and green and lush. It was also out of mobile reception.
No calls, texts, emails, TV or internet. It was also in true strict ashram style: no tea, coffee, meat, eggs, dairy, alcohol. But there were mung beans. For breakfast. Whoa.
To begin it was an assault on the senses to have all the things I take for granted that are under my control (when I eat, when I wake, and being able to get hold of anyone or any information anytime I like) removed. It was very tempting to become focused on what was missing until I realised that would be to miss the point of the experience. By removing so many things it really opened up the space to experience more of what was actually present.
The mung beans actually started to taste good...ish (let's not get carried away).
There, with no TV or distraction, food tasted better as it had my full focus. I lay on the grass between classes and watched the dragonflies buzzing lazily about and read a book.
And I didn't feel guilty about all the other things I "should" be doing or checking my email because, quite simply, there was nothing else to do. There was more joy in the simple things; a hot shower; the chickpea fritters; the body moving through the yoga asanas; the silent but tangible energy of the group meditations. It was as if I was experiencing the sensations of regular things more than I usually do. Everything felt more intense.
