Mountain Trails and Mental Pathways

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes” - Proust

Each journey I embark on eye opening and thought provoking in its own way. My most resent trip to Nepal was certainly no different and the spirit of the Himalayas reached out and kissed my soul once again. There is definitely something special about these mountains.

I had the great pleasure of guiding a lovely group of individuals in a country whose landscapes and people have stolen my heart. My favorite part of what I do in my business is arrange  international yoga adventures. When I decided that I wanted to be a yoga instructor back in 2008 I said to myself, "I want to be a yoga teacher and I want to take people on grand adventures". Back then I was trying to find a career path that spoke to me and would allow me to keep traveling. Back then I didn't know it would cultivate such passion in me and be the vehicle for tremendous growth, 

On the first part of our trip earlier this month we trekked for 5 days on the “Everest Panorama Trek” and it was nothing short of breathtaking. There were some tough days and the apex of the hike we climbed to 13,000 feet. The effort was so worth it to take in the view of Everest and Amadabla on the veranda of the Everest View Hotel with a cup of hot and delicious chai in hand. Each day was filled stunning views of snow capped mountains and peppered with prayer wheels to spin as I recited my mantra; I believe. Each day we stopped for the evening at a tea house and were always met with gracious hospitality. Aside from Everest View Hotel my favorite stop was Namche Bazaar, a small village with a beautiful monastary on the hill overlooking the valley. The cobbled paths that led through town were lined with tourist shops and although I often don't like this type of thing it was part of the charm in Namche. Yoga sessions throughout the hike were often outside and here we had a stunning view of the valley and surrounding mountains from the rooftop of the teahouse. In spite of the cold, I woke up at dawn for some solo sun salutations to take it all in. It was an easy place to practice gratitude. 

I spent most of the hike walking with my guests and sharing experiences and observations, but periodically I would fall back and spend some time in quiet contemplation. The past months have not been easy for me. I have fallen off track in a few ways, not the least of which is my mindfulness practice. The stress of getting settled in China and a new job that makes me feel like a fish out water sometimes has really gotten to me. I was allowing the anxiety to take over more often that I care to admit. Although I have some tools to reign in my mind my fuse was short and I was losing confidence. I don't need to go too far down that road but suffice it to say I was really in need of a mental reset. Getting back into the Himalaya and doing what I love gave me a chance to reconnect to myself; and this was only the first part of the trip.

After our trek we visited a remote village in the Dhading region called Achane. On my 2016 trip we took our group there and raised money for the local school and helped with some earthquake clean-up. That experience touched me deeply and I knew I wanted to return and do more to help. So When I planned this recent trip I decided to link it with a fundraiser. A portion of each person’s registration fee went toward a fund raiser so the village can purchase a water pump and improve farming efforts. Other individuals who came on the 2016 trip donated to the cause and some other generous souls  contributed as well. In the end I raised $4100 for Achane. They were deeply grateful for the contribution and we were welcomed into the village with open arms and great hospitality. While in Achane we paid a visit to the local school, saw the place where the water pump will be installed and practiced yoga overlooking the Dhading River. We even joined in the village dance party on the night of our arrival. Laughter was abundant and I was deeply touched to see immense joy on my guest’s faces as they danced with the local women. On the night of our departure one of the local residents told me that I’m like family now. Tears filled my eyes and they return as I write this. This kind of experience is what makes travel the most special. True connection to a country and its people is not made simply being an observer. Having the opportunity to make these connections fills my heart with joy. There was one old woman I had a particularly special connection with. She’s 85 and doesn’t speak a work of English. But when she looks at me its as though she looks into my heart and her wise eyes speak volumes. That day of our arrival as we sat in the sun listening to the music she gently held my hand. It is a moment that I will always hold close to my heart. 

After returning to Kathmandu we had a few more days to relax and I took my group to a retreat center for more yoga and some time for stillness. It had been a busy tour and it was the perfect place for my guests and I to unwind. I was able to go for a run up the Buddha Cave (I spent time there in May and discovered it) and had time to reflect on my own experience. It was the perfect way to end the trip.

Over the course of the two weeks I felt the stress of the past few months melt away. Detaching from it helped me look at my life in Shanghai with a new perspective. I have been failing to notice the little things that make life here special. I was forgetting to have gratitude for my friends here, the opportunities and the unique life I have created for myself. I was getting too caught up in what I saw as shortcomings and that is certainly not a recipe for a contented life. I was nervous to come back here. I was afraid of falling back into those negative patterns. I was afraid I would lose the joy I had returned to in the Himalayas. As the plane touched down I felt bits of anxiety creep back into my belly. But then, something shifted. When got in the taxi and watched the buildings fly by glittering in the sunshine I felt glimpses of that joy again. Sure, snowy mountain peaks provide a far superior view; but the view and the life I have here are pretty great too. When I returned to my little apartment and headed to the market to buy my veggies I knew I would be ok. I knew I could hold onto the joy the journey in Nepal reminded me was there all along. Travel is amazing and new places, astounding views and new experiences do have the power to shift the mind. Yet the ongoing magic is the shift in perspective that can be possible if we choose to pay attention. I think a lot about perspective and write about it from time to time. I fully embrace the power of the mind to shift our reality but it sure can be hard to put that into practice. I guess all that we can all do is to continue to work to do better. All I can do is remind myself to stay rooted in the present, breathe through the issues that arise and remain confident in my ability to persevere. Thank you Nepal for these reminders. I can’t wait to see you again.

A special thank you to Kumar and his team at Asahi Treks and Adventures for taking such good care of my crew. It was a pleasure working with you again. Thank you to everyone who donated to make the fund raiser a success and thank you to the wonderful souls who joined me for the grand adventure. It was a great joy to guide you and to get to know each of you.