Settling In

Pune has the look of prosperity. There are new buildings, new businesses, and new paint all over. The Chetak has become quite posh with some air-conditioned rooms and TV sets. The rooms at the Chetak have received a new coat of paint and the bare lightbulbs have been replaced with light fixtures. There is more traffic and the vehicles are less accommodating. I think it is easier to get hit by a scooter, bus or car now, especially if crossing the street with the belief that vehicles will give some sort of right of way.

The expansion of the Institute has given so much more space. There has been no crowding in the classes I have attended so far. There looks to be over 40 western students. The Tuesday evening class with Prashant (advanced) was nearly all westerners. Do only westerners study yoga in the summer months? It is no longer necessary for us to place wooden props out on the balcony before class (for space) and return them to the hall (protection from the weather) afterwards. The prop closet, which used to be a long closet with another attached, is now one big open space. Replacing props at the end of class is a bit easier. A big part of this ease, however, is that, so far, there has been organization on the part of the students.

Along with prosperity comes an increase in prices, for just about everything. Paula, another student who was here in Pune when I was in 2001, made it her mission to find an apartment. It was my luck that she found an apartment (2 actually) that required another resident. Enter Dale. So I am now staying with Paula and her husband, Jack, in an apartment across the street from the Institute. She says it is the apartment that Meera Mehta stayed in when she was studying at the Institute. We will stay in this apartment until July, when we will need to relocate to another apartment. The July apartment is in the new multi-floor building next door to the Institute. It is luxurious. We will be sharing this space, which has 3 bedrooms, with an Aussie, Lenny. The advantage is savings on rent as well as on food. It will make a difference in the economic picture of my stay.

I have held my own in classes thus far. Though things are much more difficult for me this time than before. It can be discouraging to work so hard at what had come easily for so many years. But, there it is. During practice sessions I have opted to repeat the sequence Geetaji sent to me for during my cancer treatment. I hope that investment gives me the energy I need to make it through class. So far, so good. However, I did become nauseous during practice yesterday and had to make a trip downstairs out of the hall so I could be courteous with any emesis. It never came to that. But, upon my return to the hall I scaled down my practice even further. I believe I was ill because of the heat and not enough water to drink. My solution is to drink more water and ask less of myself in the heat of the day. Like today, it’s 3 PM and I’m at the internet café typing this missive because the internet café is air conditioned.

Prashantiji seems to be on the schedule for more classes than during my 2001 visit. Geetaji did not teach the Wednesday morning lady’s class. An assistant, Devki (spelling?), taught. She is a good teacher so it was a fine morning. Things begin slow in the first of the two-month session which is definitely in my favor. Geetaji was the instructor for the Pranayama class and this, too, was a beginning pranayama class. It was very calming and good for me to not have the demands that a pranayama class might lead me to make on my poor irradiated lung. As I said, progressing slowly is what I need to do. (those who know me – what do you think? Possible?)

People at the Chetak and at the Institute remember me. Not so many westerners appear that we don’t each make an impression, good or bad. At the bottom of the information sheet hanging on the Chetak room doors (new) Mrs. Shirole, the owner, says, “We appreciate all our customers, some when they come and some when they go.” I don’t know which I am. They would not be so rude as to tell me.