Delhi Belly, Grumpy Yogini

Oh, woe is me. I have the dreaded Delhi Belly, which apparently doesn’t restrict itself to just that ancient city. Who knows where I got it from, whether it was last night’s meal, or if I inadvertently got water in my mouth as I washed my hair and face in the shower, but I feel pretty miserable today. Ah, well, better to get it over and done with and build up some gastric immunity for the next few weeks.

Grateful for my medical supplies

I’m relieved I brought my travel kit of medicine and supplies – many thanks, Rande and Michele! It might seem over dramatic when you’re sitting in the comfort of your own home, to stock up on medicine you might not need, but there’s nothing worse than feeling sick when you’re away from home. And even though it’s easy to get regular antibiotics and mainstream medication here in India, I’m pleased I don’t have to venture down town looking for a chemist (pharmacy). In my kit: flu capsules, general antibiotic, off-the-shelf as well as prescription anti-diarrhea tablets, antibiotic ointment, insect repellant, alcohol swabs, Benadryl, bandaids, earplugs and even a safety whistle with compass and flashlight.

We’ve been here just over a week and we all seem to be falling apart! Various states of upset stomach and flu leave us fairly depleted and I am decidedly grumpy. It’s most likely a combination of settling into a foreign place and adapting to the intensity of the training schedule, as our brains are crammed with new information, our bodies get used to doing four hours of daily yoga, and there’s not much time for anything but studying. I’m finding it a challenge to fit it all in.

I’ve also noticed that I’m not quite into the routine recommended by Yogi Sivadas and I’m sure that has a lot to do with it. His constant message so far is that the agitation of the mind is mostly brought on by bad diet, poor digestion, not enough sleep, lack of exercise, shallow breathing and stress (i.e. the opposite of everything that is Yoga).

I know I’m not getting enough sleep as I find it hard to break my habit of going to bed late and I’m still awake long after the recommended 10pm. And I’m still eating too much refined sugar.

The good news is, none of our physical yoga practice is forced or aggressive, as Yogi Sivadas keeps reminding us not to push ourselves beyond what our bodies need. My asana practice today is a gentle four hours, resting and respecting the tiredness of my body.

It’s okay to feel grumpy when I know where it’s coming from and I also know it will pass, that tomorrow will be a different day. Now, time for an early night’s sleep and we’ll see what the McLeod Ganj mountains look like in the morning.