don't worry, i haven't joined a cult, although my new nickname is swami natalie-ananda... uh oh

i arrive at sivananda ashram late-ish at night, just in time for evening satsang. i enter the hall and am immediately struck by the humungous, illuminated om symbol at the front of the room. i sit amongst the congregation of people swathed in various diaphanous (sp?) pieces of cloth. a thin white zimbabwean swami enters the hall clothed all in orange. we mediatate. and then we begin to chant. and then we chant some more. and then we chant to conclude the chanting. i sit there and my mind goes: o shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit, what have i gotten myself into?

first impressions are often deceiving. i now attend two additional optional chanting sessions everyday. two meals a day. two asana classes a day. i prostrate. i sing. i go to puja. and yes kerria, i do catch myself singing about jaya genesha all the live long day. we can hang out some day and have an om namo narayanya ho down. anyway, my course has finished and yet i'm still here.... everyone has moved on except me and an israeli boy named asaf. a new crew is pouring in, refreshing this little world as monsoon refreshes the rest of the country. i can almost do a headstand. i can do the crow. i'll be here a little longer. i'll be in india a little longer. extend your back, extend your trip, roll your vertabrae gently up on top of each other, one at a time, roll through your days one at a time. another week at the ashram. i'll let y'all know.