Yoga Nijn: Easter Bliss

Easter is all about painting eggs. Asking people about whether and when we will paint the eggs yields quizzical looks though. Hmm, that is very European isn’t it? I learn the hard way that when Canadians refer to European ways, they simply mean no. Another important feature of Easter, is singing along to a showing of Jesus Christ Superstar. Again I am disappointed. So I sing Hosanna Hey Sanna to the lake, smoothly transitioning into ‘Edelweiss’ (the geese like this one the best) yet stumbling over the words of some ‘Hair’ song.

Still, Easter is great. We do a garden blessing in the sun, in which we all plant some peas, and then we start the hunt. All the way up to Easter rock, there are 6 stations, where chocolate eggs can be found, that have been blatantly hidden in large quantities. At each station we are invited to do an asana, so we honor Raj, the large tree near the garden with the tree pose; we do a sun salutation in a field filled with animal droppings; and do corpse pose after an invigorating climb.

The weather is beautiful and there is a great community vibe. On top of the rock, I follow Clare and Kristina into the cedar forest, where we discover a mysterious pond, covered with ice. Pure magic. Afterwards, I join Rebecca, Rachel and Meg for our 30 something party. We go off ashram property to Rebecca’s house which is just higher up the mountain from the ashram, and talk 30 something stuff while indulging in salt & vinegar chips. Salt and vinegar! Sweet! (My Canadian English is improving)