City of Joy

I loved Kolkata (Calcutta). The people were friendly, the food was great and life seemed pretty easy. However, I think my favorite thing I did was spend time at the Rabindra Sarovar park. There were all types of free activities taking place. Meditation and yoga classes were happening in all corners of the park. There were these adorable meditation huts, a walking path designed for reflexology and positive and inspirational sayings all over the place. There were also separate workout facilities for men and women. However, the reason I originally went to the park was to participate in a “laughing yoga” class.

Laughing Yoga benefits

Walking path for foot reflexology

One of the meditation huts

Laughing yoga was formed by Indian physician Madan Kataria and originated in Mumbai, however, there are “laughing clubs” all over India. “Laughter Yoga (Hasyayoga) is based on the belief that voluntary laughter provides the same psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter” (Wikipedia).   I remember watching a documentary on laughing yoga years ago and I told myself that whenever I got to India, I would be participating in laughing yoga. The class started at 6:30 AM and most of my classmates consisted of older women, over 65 and it was a blast. The class was only about 45 minutes and consisted of light stretching, deep breathing, and the touching of pressure points. The laughing component was reserved for the end and we all completed “ho-ho-ho-ha-ha-ha” sounds while smiling and throwing our arms up in the air. It was fabulous and the forced laughter soon turned into actual laughing!

Some of my fabulous classmates

I think there needs to be “Laughing Yoga” on the beach on Kauai!

The woman next to me kept smacking me affectionately and then hugging me! They all had sons working in America and they were all concerned about my safety!

Although I would have been happy to just hang with the ladies in my class I did see a few other things while in Kolkata. I really enjoyed visiting the Mother Teresa house. I grew up thinking Mother Teresa was amazing and I remember my mom telling me that she was not afraid to touch sick people and that she cared for people who had nowhere else to go. From the moment I arrived at the home, I felt so welcomed. I sat with Sister Ruth Sheela and we talked. I talked to her about when I lived near the Vatican in Rome and how I saw the pope speak. She was so excited and happy that I had that experience. She suggested I get the New Testament to read and told me to keep reading it, even if it was hard at first. She also told me that if Jesus wanted me to become baptized, I would know. I have no interest in joining the Catholic church, but I really loved Sister Ruth Sheela and I also liked how she was not pushy and she seemed to really put everything in God’s hands. I have met many people on this trip who have tried to convert me and/or have seemed very pushy. Sister Sheela Ruth was neither of these.

Sister Ruth Sheela and I

Mother Tersea Staute

Mother Teresa’s Tomb

I spent a lot of time doing my favorite thing, drinking chai and hanging at the chai stands!

Chai Stand!

I enjoyed this sweet man

I also experienced my first Indian rainstorm (and my first rain since South East Asia!)

Kolkata was the first place I actually saw humans pulling the rickshaws

So much rain!

Kolkata was great but I was excited to head to Rajasthan to meet my amazing childhood friend, Amy! I boarded a train to Jaipur and started my 34-hour journey back north.