Trust myself...Trust in the Universe.

30 Jan 2012
Reflections from India...Heart of Yoga...Myself.
I am so alive and smiling...my fellow yoga peers noted how refreshed I look. Really?
How can one feel and look refreshed after traveling to the other side of the world one day and then within hours commence the yoga spiritual-mindful retreat?
Well, I truly do-I feel awakened-alive-and so enlightened by all that is happening around me and within me.
Today is Monday-first day at the Yoga Mandiram and there is such a beautiful variety of people who are joining me with this course.
From Los Angeles to Japan to Germany...Fiji, Australia, Texas, Canada and even Finland...My goodness..South Africa and the U.K.
So very interesting.
THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.
As I sit here on my India patio...feel the breeze on my feet...through my toes and up to my face it sure does feel lovely. There are three large palm trees right in front of me-I hear crows cawking...rikshaw horns blaring...also the sound of men working in the streets.
Yes, men.
Today was such a beautiful day.
I noticed a few things...since it's quite chaotic on the streets with a million things happening at once-I am able to find peace within myself to observe and observe only. I smile at people passing-and the children are so beautiful and smile-and stare back at me.
With all of the commotion happening around me-I am able to remain groudned and trust within myself that all will be okay. I am learning to NOT second guess myself-because that can only lead to panic, negativity and extreme fright.
So...Jenna Margaret...you must trust yourself within this journey in India-as well as the journey all throughout life.
I trust myself by walking from my guest house to the KYM and back again...it's so easy to second guess...but I must trust in my heart! *

31 Jan 2012, Tuesday
Good morning, India.
Went to sleep last night around 6:30pm and right now it's 6:30am-I just took a bucket shower. I never knew how great that would feel! The water wasn't even warm.
I woke up in the middle of the night and it was pouring rain. It sounded so peaceful. Right now there's a bit of commotion happening outside-there are a few mosquito's buzzing around me-there is Indian singing that fills the whole air-I believe it is prayer music.
I sleep with a net around my whole bed-so mosquito's don't eat me alive! ;)
Today we will have yoga asana at 730 this morning and every morning. Such a wonderful way to start the day. Then after that, we will eat a breakfast with chai-ginger tea.
While walking to and from the KYM there are a handful of cows behind a wooden fence as well as a few "Cock-a-dooodle-doos" ROOSTERS!
I have a lovely woman who is preparing my meals for me in this guest house and I sit at a very small square glass table on three small pillows and eat my meals. :)
I would love to live in a place like this-just the set up is quite lovely.
I forgot to mention how wonderful the sun feels on my skin! It's about 85 degrees and when we break for breakfast and tea in the afternoon, the sun is beaming and i can feel it all upon my face and skin!
In the community area of my portion of the house-currently I'm the only one staying here...but next to the dining table there is a book shelf into the wall full of interesting looking books-I definitely will have to look into them. Alright...I'm off to asana now, look forward to writing again later.

Xo,

Jenna Margaret

Day 1...Travel to India=Success

Oh my goodness.
Flight from Minneapolis to Chicago...such a breeze of 50 minute..sat with a man, garry...
this was garry's first flight, ever. Wahhooo, I reassured him and promised it would all be okay.
As i write this...my eyelids are quietly closing...flight from Chicago to Delhi, India a
delicious 14 hour flight. HA! OH man. At the airport in Chicago I met this lovely, bright loving
energy-filled man...I shall call him Michael. He was such a bright light...unfortunately
we weren't able to sit next to each other on the flight to Delhi...we tried and tried, but
no such luck...I already know it would have been too much fun! Haha, right, michael?
He gave me a nice bottle of red wine as a gift...like i said, he was just great to be around
and laugh with as chaotic traveling internationally can be. I was calm and it just felt right.
Now I sit alone in my next terminal in Delhi waiting for my flight to Chennai, India...
I knew this trip was real when I received the custom forms on the plane that stated
"Welcome to Incredible India!"
This is really REAL.
It feels great...despite the fact that I'm beyond tired and I have to poop.
I did brush my teeth and wash my face if you wanted to care. haha.
all around me...i Have no idea what people are saying...my legs are aching from the flight...
jenna jenna jenna...stay positive, you can do this, you can do anything.
i am strong. I am bold. I am powerful. I am faithful.
This is just the beginning.
Must save my battery now.
WELCOME TO INCREDIBLE INDIA!!!!!! <3 Much love, jenna

Good morning fellow loves...Well I had my driver pick me up at the airport....his name is Andu. He was laughing at me because on the ride to the guest house the traffic was wild. And I would laugh and say ahhh this is so crazy! Traffic where I am from is NOT this busy or wild...he said...Ma'am this is nothing. Once morning comes...then it is the busiest!! Ohhh goodness.

Okay it's currently 6:10am....I've washed myself and gotten ready for the day...I have a driver arranged to pick me up and take me to the Yoga Mandiram. Loooking forward to what today will bring. Anything can happen...My heart is open to all. Most important things to let you know...I am safe and definitely still smiling.
XO,

Jenna Margaret

I am feeling.

Anxious.
Nervous.
Excited.
Thrilled.
...I am feeling ever emotion possible right at this moment.
There's two directions I can take this in.

• One: I can completely back down and not go through with this because it's unknown, new, a huge challenge, etc.
• Two: I will face it, embrace it, accept it, give it, receive it my all...from my whole heart, body, soul...I will go to India and I will get everything I can out of this special opportunity.

I think I'll choose option number two. I truly just feel all of these incredible emotions rushing through my entire body...it is quite overwhelming. I choose to live my life in this way...I choose to be who I am...I choose to challenge myself...I choose to rise above and be a better person so I can only grow to become stronger and wiser.

Tears form in my eyes when they wish me well on this journey...I just feel so darn blessed and it tickles my heart to be surrounded by such loving and supportive people.

In a matter of 20 hours I will be stepping foot on a plane from Minneapolis to Chicago to Delhi to Chennai...from there a man will be awaiting my arrival with a sign saying "Jenna Hughes" oyeee, that's me!...he is to drive me to my guest house where I will stay for the yoga course of 4 weeks.

And this is where my excitement bursts...my insides are dancing...and now I sit here in an empty house listening to Mr. Michael Buble with a big smile on my face just giggling to myself...soaking up the last bit of being alone in. While in this peaceful state of mind, I notice snow pouring from the sky as it's 34 degrees Fahrenheit outside. I am alone and will not be alone for a while, since India has super-population overload. SO as I said, I shall enjoy this time to myself and my thoughts are quiet.


My intentions in India... be bold. be bodacious. be fearless. be faithful. Embracing myself...and true to my purpose. Go big or Go home. ♥ ♥ ♥ I can do anything. and be anybody. I will do all of this with love, passion and with my whole heart. Embrace. Here I come, India...I accept you with open arms.

Namaste,

Jenna Margaret

anticipating the journey

I can only trust this journey to India to explore the realms within the divine source of Yoga will not be an easy journey.
I must keep an open heart...calm mind...and a clarity-seeking attitude with zero expectations of good or bad.
A very dear friend sent me this from Today's Gift...read and reflect upon it: 'What a moment of spiritual adventure it is to risk living through the pain! When we do not seek an escape or a quick fix, but have patience with the process, new possibilities often do develop. We can only let go of our control. We can only let go of our control - or turn it over to our Higher Power.'

This is my chance to surrender myself fully and completely to Yoga and soak everything in as much as I can.
Potential over-stimulation...I think yes.
In 19 days I will unleash myself...surrender...I will do this with great devotion...with pure intentions to gain everything I can from this experience and opportunity of a lifetime. I trust my heart this is where I am supposed to be. I can do this. I can do anything.
I will empower.
I am amazing.
I am unique. 
I will succeed.
I will make a change in this beautiful universe.

I will plant the seed, and let the universe respond how it pleases.

To be continued...