As I approached my 60th birthday, I realised that the only thing that could make this milestone truly special would be a grand adventure. So, I packed my bags and headed off to Rishikesh with my dear friend, MC. Little did I know, I was about to embark on one of the best experiences of my life.
**Arrival in Rishikesh: An Orange Oasis**
From the moment I arrived in Rishikesh, I was greeted by a riot of colors—especially the vibrant orange that seemed to follow me everywhere. The locals wore saffron robes, the temples were draped in marigolds, and even the sunrise appeared to have a heavy orange filter. I felt like I had stepped into a giant bowl of happiness, blessed with serenity.
**Yoga: A Breath of Fresh Air (and Some Giggles)**
Now let’s talk about yoga! If you’re expecting me to describe some deep transcendental experience, think again. My first day on the mat was mostly spent trying not to fall over during the Hatha class. Picture this: there I was, trying desperately to hold a Warrior pose, while the only thing I was truly dominating was the air around me as I swayed like a poorly designed piñata.
But thankfully, I had MC there, and together we decided to interpret “downward dog” literally and ended up barking quietly under our breath as our teacher kept repeating the words "Higher, Higher". Classic moment for us both holding back the giggles, in our book previously "downward dog" was a restful pose!
I can’t say that my yoga was perfect during our 2 week retreat, but it certainly provided a lot of comedy—and it did wonders for my flexibility and spirit!
**The Ganga River: A Splash of Sanctity**
After one of our insanely early yoga session, we took a taxi ride to where the two rivers meet and form the Ganges River Now, let’s just say the Ganga is a better blue than your average swimming pool and even more popular. It’s not the best place if you want to lounge around; it is very fast flowing and full of locals here to be blessed. Trying to keep my yoga-calm demeanor while bobbing around in the current felt like a magical flotation adventure. I held on to the chains so not to be swept away and took in the experience as the locals beaconed us for yet another photo. Blonde and Grey hair with white skin was turning out to be quite a novelty!
**Culinary Awesomeness at Be Monk**
What’s better than yoga and swimming? Food, glorious food! Be Monk became our favorite hangout for daily feasts. The food was not just “good”—it was an explosion of flavors! I’m still dreaming about the exquisite dishes and fresh fruit juices that felt like they were hand-squeezed by a sun-kissed deity. I might even have exchanged my yoga mat for a plate or two (sorry, not sorry).
**Daily Massages to Die For**
Each day came with breathtaking views and daily massages that often made us chuckle. “Breathe in peace, breathe out chaos” became my mantra. The quality of the treatments was nothing less than outstanding, everything came with a head massage and at one point whilst hot oil was being dropped on to my forehead I thought I had gone to heaven.
**The Transformative Power of Yoga**
As I rolled out my mat each day, I took in more than just the yoga poses. Through mantra chanting, breathwork, and the Ashtanga Vinyasa practice, I learned that yoga was more than just pretzeling my body into absurd shapes—it was a journey to self-discovery.
Despite my initial clumsiness, I somehow managed to find grace in the chaos of Rishikesh—and consider this: if you can surrender to the mistakes on the yoga mat, you can probably also surrender to the chaos of life. Who knew turning 60 could come with such wisdom—and unconditional love for that glorious orange hue?
**Conclusion: Here’s to Many More Orange-tastic Adventures!**
As I left Rishikesh, I couldn’t help but feel that this trip marked a turning point in my life. The laughter, the yoga, the water, and of course, the food left such a sweet mark on my heart (as well as my waistline). So here’s to many more birthday adventures, plenty of orange moments, and finding balance on and off the mat. Cheers to life, love, and the endless flow of the Ganga!
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