Relaxing in Mumbai…now there’s an oxymoron. Most people, no matter where they live, would say that they don’t relax enough because, ironically, relaxation usually requires some planning and forethought. The very idea of having to organise relaxation can seem like too much effort and most of us don’t take the time to think about it. Personally I prefer to attempt to make the most of a spontaneous opportunity that may arise to have a peaceful moment, because I’m not very organised, but I’ve found those are harder to find here in Mumbai. The excessive volume of humanity, lack of privacy, noise of revving vehicles hooting mercilessly, continuous construction, dust and smells, all conspire to assault and fatigue the senses.
In many parts of the world you can just go for a walk and chill out-not so in Mumbai. There are pleasant parks where early morning walkers and joggers congregate, but you will never be alone and thus still require people dodging skills, and of course you have to get to the park. If you are lucky enough to have pavements in your neighbourhood it is still impossible to amble along inattentively because your eyes have to be continuously glued to the ground. There are usually piles of rubble, pipes, holes and poo (not necessarily doggie in origin) to be negotiated.
So what do people do? This is where I think the whole inner peace thing comes in and why yoga is still very popular in modern India. Pragmatic Indians understand that attaining a smidgeon of ‘inner’ peace is essential because it is so difficult to find ‘outer’ peace.
I started yoga about two months ago. Yep I actually organized myself (blagh) to attending two yoga classes a week. To be honest the motivation wasn’t originally to relax but an attempt to improve my stiff neck and shoulders caused by sitting in front of the computer and typing for long hours (see…proof that I am actually working). But as the weeks passed I found a masochistic joy in that hour of holding tortuous poses and thinking of nothing else except ‘let this be over’-it certainly disciplines the body and mind. I adore the ‘Om’ chanting at the start of each session, it resonates deep and somehow connects the group. At the end of the session our teacher chants in a beautiful, pure signing voice that relaxes my mind and muscles like old rope. But alas my neck didn’t get much better.
I decided to go for an impromptu neck, shoulder and back massage. I thought that it had to be better than my husbands attempt to rub me like a ham (he scored points for trying but not technique). The diminutive Asian lady looked harmless enough as she greeted me pleasantly in halting English. With the help of hand gestures and facial expressions that any mime would have been proud of, I think I was able to explain my aches and pains. I wont bore you with the details except to say that a one stage I feared for the integrity of my brain stem as she massaged my neck at the base of my skull, digging her deceptively strong, little fingers, deep into my flesh. It was a pleasure/pain experience worthy of a kinky novel. I’ve not written any BDSM tales but I felt like I was living one when she dug her elbow in the region of my kidney-thank God I’ve two of them. But I did feel smug when she pulled my arm behind my back and twisted my spine because ha! we do that one in yoga and it didn’t illicit the grunt she’d clearly been expecting. Actually, all said and done, it was an okay massage. I have to be honest that my neck does feel a bit better, although that’s probably due to now taking frequent keyboard breaks, better writing posture and hitting the gym more.
So, the point of this blog? That no matter where you are or what you do, it is possible to find a little peace-you just have to look for it and plan (yuk) to take the time. Oh…and it’s also my excuse for why my next book is taking a wee bit longer than expected. Ooooooommmmmmm.
Love
Dawn
