Yet another month on Koh Pha Ngan has breezed by. Another month spent focusing my attentions to perceive subtle vibrations of energy in the area of the crown chakra and the other six major energy centers of the body.
The third month of Agama led up to the 'yoga aspirant exam' otherwise called the 'red sash' exam after the red cloth we receive at the final ceremony if successful. During all 12 practices, we continued to stay longer and longer in our asanas, perform pranayama breathing meditation together and learn new asanas and kriyas as well. Our teacher would encourage us to practice the harder techniques at home, like staying in one of 4 positions of our choice for TEN MINUTES without moving and staring at a black dot against the wall without BLINKING for 5 to 10 minutes, Trataka. The test, although not actually making one closer to enlightenment, serves as some sort of gage to our 'progress' and lets our teachers know if we are indeed performing certain asanas correctly and becoming sensitive to our chakras.
Nervously, we took our exam, some standing on their heads
for 10 minutes for 'bonus points' and other in sitting forward bends or laying on their backs with feet over and behind the head. We answered 25 multiple choice questions about which asanas stimulated which chakras and then sublimed our energies under watch of the teacher. Then, we listened to a piece of music and had to pinpoint the chakra it worked on through meditation. Some stared at the dot, the rest of us performed sun salutations and chanted the 12 sacred names of the sun out loud. Once finished with the list of tasks, we had a pot luck near the beach and then all met up for the 'final ceremony' at Ananda Resort.
We all packed into the yoga hall and watched some 60 or 70 people receive their first month yoga intensive diplomas. Then, my class went up to receive our red sashs... and after us, more people for orange sashs. The ceremony was about 3 hours long because each person kneeled before our founder/teacher, Swami Vivikenanda Saraswati to receive sacred ash on our foreheads, a blessed and prana infused food (cup cake! ha), a protective string bracelet tied with mantras, a flower garland and .. a red sash:)
This week, I am taking Agama's famous Tantra workshop. The class is being instructed to rewire the neural pathways and become more sensitive and aware of our bodies.
February 19th, I say goodbye to Thailand for a marathon of travel to see friends and family for six weeks, ending then with a month in Israel and back to Koh Pha Ngan to return to my new community of yogis here and get ready for a teacher training course this summer.
Wishing everyone well. Hoping to see my loved ones soon!!!
