In March 2018 myself and two other local yoginis adventured to Nepal for three weeks, experiencing it’s diverse rich spirituality, expansive vistas, deliciously fresh food and welcoming people.

The first few days in Kathmandu were interesting, chaotic and colourful. We attended Hatha yoga classes with one of the most authentic hatha yoga teachers I have met. In just a short period of time he helped me learn so much about myself, which is not what I expected to happen so quickly after landing on the other side of the world. I felt warmly welcomed to Nepal and connected to a deep sense of peace, notwithstanding the mayhem of Kathmandu.

View of Kathmandu City from Stupa

View of Kathmandu City from Stupa

After becoming familiar with the lay of the land we visited some of Kathmandu’s famous sites including Boudha Stupa, Swayambhunath Temple and Pashupatinath Temple. Traveling on the roads in Kathmandu was chaos but everyone appeared to know how to remain safe. Being in Kathmandu gave me an opportunity to live my yoga more deeply every moment of the day, drawing upon my inner reservoir of calmness and trust within to know that I was going to be ok here in this place.

After a few days we traveled by plane to Pokhara to attend a yoga retreat which was a truly positive experience, both personally and professionally for me. I finished the retreat with a deepened sense and connection to my personal yoga practice and understanding of hatha yoga principles.

Yoga at Australia Base Camp to the backdrop of the snow capped Annapurna Ranges

Yoga at Australia Base Camp to the backdrop of the snow capped Annapurna Ranges

Trekking was in the plan, however a sprained ankle on day three of the holiday curtailed my capability to just an overnight trek. We set off late one afternoon towards the Annapurna Ranges not realising we would see the sunset over the ranges on the same day we had witnessed the sunrise over the ranges from Mt Sarangkot (from where we  paraglided back down to Pokhara). Wow! The next day we watched the sunrise and then meandered our way along the trekking paths, observing nature and wildlife to the backdrop of the Annapurna Ranges. We returned to Pokhara with tired legs, hungry bellies and expansive mountain vistas etched in our memories and hearts.

Circumstances lead us to serendipitously discover Ayurveda Health Home in Pokhara. Aspects of the science of Ayurveda has played a role in my life for many years and I studied this in more detail during my yoga therapy course last year.  Immediately when I arrived at the Home I felt I was in the right place and that I needed to be there. This was not in the plan but I stayed for six days. The practitioners and therapists made me feel safe and supported. I yielded to receiving and experienced a depth of richness to my life and precious healing of my heart, mind, body and soul. This has been a true gift to me.

After returning to Kathmandu we traveled by car to Namo Buddha, one of the most sacred Buddhist Pilgrimage sites in Nepal. We had the honour of staying at the Monastery and being given a private tour of the school. After a game of basketball with the student monks we visited the classrooms and interacted with the students, teaching them a little bit about Australia. We were asked to sing our national anthem and luckily the three of us were able to remember all the words. To our surprise one of the youngest students we met knew the song “Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree”. What an absolute delight! I was invited to share my teachings of yoga with the students and found this to be a most cherished experience.

Yoga with Lynette at Mt Sarangkot in Pokhara. Love Yoga. Love the Annapurna Ranges in the background.

Yoga with Lynette on Mt Sarangkot in Pokhara. Love Yoga. Love the Annapurna Ranges in the background.

Like the snow atop the Annapurnas, this account is merely the tip of a far deeper and expansive journey that was my three weeks in Nepal.

For many years I have wanted to go to Nepal and if you asked me why I wanted to go to Nepal I couldn’t really give you a reason. I suppose my mind was curious, but I feel it is my heart that drew me to Nepal, and I am so glad I listened to my heart. My senses feasted upon new sites, new sounds, new smells and new tastes, a delicious experience indeed. I plan to go back to Nepal in March 2020. I’m not sure what this next trip will look like, but I know my heart knows what it will feel like.

Perhaps your heart is curious to explore Nepal too…..