1053 31st St NW
Washington, D.C. 20007
202.342.7779
www.georgetownyoga.com
Yogic Travel
to Japan
|
In
August, I traveled to Japan and was inspired to see the
many yogic ways that were inherent to the Japanese. Upon
my arrival in Tokyo, I felt a sense of serenity that
remained with me throughout my entire trip. Between
visiting gardens and temples, practicing yoga and
sipping tea, each moment was blissfully
enjoyed. Contributing to this serene feeling was the
importance placed on sauca, or cleanliness. Shoes
are removed when entering certain areas and slippers are
worn in their place (there are even special bathroom
slippers!), a hairnet is worn when trying on clothes,
and hand towels are commonly carried so as to keep skin
fresh. There are also cleansing and bathing rituals,
which the Japanese are glad to try to explain to
you. Their willing nature further reveals their sense of
santosha, contentment. As visitors, my boyfriend
and I often had questions or special requests, and their
pleasant response was consistently “it’s okay.” Rather
than being disturbed by our unfamiliarity, the Japanese
maintained their friendly disposition when helping
us. It truly is a beautiful thing how external
cleanliness and a content mind naturally create a sense
of serenity. This experience has made me reflect on the
connection and encourages me to incorporate such ways
into my daily life.
The
portrayal of my trip would not be complete without
sharing my yoga experience as well. Prior to my travels,
I contacted Lululemon in Tokyo, to let them know about
my impending trip. They graciously invited us to come by
the store to meet them and suggested we take an Ashtanga
yoga class at the International Yoga Center. What an
experience! When we arrived at the studio, they
informed us that the class would be entirely in
Japanese. We thought it would add to the experience and
enthusiastically signed up for it. The teacher and class
were amazing. The teacher was able to convey her
instructions in such a way that it was very clear to us
what she was expressing. My boyfriend even commented
that the language barrier encouraged him to focus more
on the subtleties of her movements, and thus, his
own. This focus led to a more present practice. As our
practice came to a close and we laid down for
Savasana, we were treated to the beautiful sound of
our instructor chanting the Vande Gurunam. It
was an delightful closure to a wonderful class.
I
hope each of you enjoyed your summer as well and have
renewed inspiration for the upcoming fall season. We
invite you to join us for our studio events listed below
as well as the DC Global Mala on Sunday,
September 23rd, at the George Washington University
Marvin Center. This DC-based event is part of a global
effort to unite the global yoga community from 6
continents and over 100 cities, forming a "mala," or
beautiful necklace, of collective practice around the
earth. The DC Global Mala Project takes place from 11am
to 9pm, which you are invited to join for part or
all. The day will include a dharma talk, guided
meditation, 108 Sun Salutations, kirtan, and a healing
arts marketplace. All funds raised will be given to
Trees for the Future; a minimum $20 donation is
requested of participants. You can register now, or read
more about the DC Project at
www.dcglobalmala.com.
Please feel free to e-mail me -
liana@georgetownyoga.com with any questions or
comments.
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