INDIA:
YATRA
EXPEDITION

Recently I became aware that certain changes are necessary in my life. Everything seemed too organized, and moving along same lines of comfort. I felt a definite desire to experience something new. But I didn't know, how I would approach that and where I should begin. The answer came when I accidentally learned about Living Myth expeditions. I never thought about traveling to India, and Yatra' program was way beyond the scope of my everyday interests. I wholeheartedly trusted a person who suggested that this trip would be good for me, so I decided to go. And I had a plan "B" in case things would go wrong, but remembered about it only twice: while flying to India, and after getting back home after the trip.

What happened to me during Yatra trip was something short of miraculous. "Living Myth" organizers – Yana, Vlad and Michael – created a truly magical atmosphere on this trip. Everything was permeated with serenity, friendship and boundless joy. We had seen it all during this trip: wild elephants, ferocious monkeys, mountainous landscapes and rice paddies… We took part in Pongal celebration and explored overcrowded Bengaluru, visited eco-villages, alternative schools, Shivaist temples, and climbed holy mount Arunachala. Sometimes India was testing us and giving us hard time, but Michael was always there to take care of everything. And all our trials and tribulations became interesting experiences worth sharing with friends after coming home.

Everything was perfectly organized, and ran like clockwork. I saw that behind the scenes there was a lot of professional work done by our organizers. They are truly wonderful people: charming and always smiling Yana, smart and enthusiastic Vlad, and Michael – a genius facilitator, a universal erudite, and a master of body-oriented practices.

Expedition participants were equally remarkable. I have never seen a group of so many kind, intelligent and outgoing people. I am very grateful to them all for helping me on my Yatra, for filling my days with joy and friendly care. Thank you very much to all of you, and may sun always shine upon your path!

I do not have much time in my busy life for myself. However, from now on, I will find ways to organize my vacation is sync with Living Myth journeys. I am sure that whatever the next expedition will be, and to whatever country we would venture, it would always be a miracle! Living Myth will always show me the world from an entirely new perspective that I would have never imagined possible.

My expectations for this expedition were 100% fulfilled! Many thanks to "Living Myth" for organizing this trip! I have never thought about going to India, which was a scary place according to some stories that I have heard: unsanitary conditions, awfully spicy food, crowds of spiritual seekers, etc. But, fortunately, the main focus of this trip was so important to me that I couldn't resist going. It was about visiting unique alternative schools, which I would never be able to see otherwise!

What I saw was very contrary to my bad expectations. I was very comfortable, everything was clean and beautiful, people were hospitable and kind. India met us with its open warm heart, filling me with inner serenity and sheen of eternal childhood.

Most notably, Yatra made it possible for me to meet people that create schools, which are free and truly alive. We were fortunate to stay in some of them, to feel their atmosphere and lifestyles, have a chance to get to know children and teachers, witness wonderful educational processes, methods and forms. It was wonderful to find myself in my most natural environment: in all five schools that we visited, I recognized something of the school, which I created in Moscow. It was a homecoming. My intention to find kindred spirits was fulfilled in most unexpected way, but I have never expected that happening in India!

Our organizers – Yana, Vlad and Michael – have made the trip exceptionally interesting, bright, filled with many wonders, and, most importantly, – very lively. I love it when kind attention of organizers is felt at all times, difficulties are met with flexibility, and all participant's needs are taken into consideration. Our trip felt as if everything goes effortlessly with the flow, but behind this effortlessness, there was a lot of hard- and heart work.

We had a beautiful, masterfully designed journey that was gradually unraveling and reached its highpoint toward the end. The interest expressed at Aarohi school to my "Culture of Intention" master class was very surprising. To my astonishment, at the very end of the trip, I was asked to lead a class there for kids and teachers! Two hours of happiness, shining eyes, an entirely new experience for me, and a lot of gratitude for that.

As of now, my personal results of the trip are: several profound insights about freedom, responsibility and service; two new fairy tales; many methodological ideas; enthusiasm and trill about the infinite process of creating our own school in the future.

And my million thanks to all participants, whom I got to know and love very much!

Yatra is a journey. A journey to discover one's inner dimensions, new dimensions of another country, to discover other people, other types of knowledge, other practices and skills, аnd many other things...

Here's what Yatra gave me, and this is why I am on top of the world after this journey:
– I came back a different person. I am not only emotionally and physically rested, but also have made many close friends, and even found new teachers.
– In a real, non-touristy way, I experienced an amazing world of India, some of its ethnic groups, temples and tribal people.
– I saw living examples of how people, united by certain ideals, change the world around them.
– I got a behind-the-scenes experience of alternative educational systems and other modes of thinking.
– I experienced authentic Indian cuisine, and learned how to properly eat rice.
– We watched a herd of wild elephants passing by.
– We did many spiritual practices together, many of which I've never seen before.
– We cooked a giant pot of borscht for a local village, and sang songs to a guitar at night...
– We bought sacks of most delicious papayas, learned some startling ways of opening pomegranates, drank tea at roadside diners, and ate from banana leaves instead of plates.
– We shared our happiness, laughter and experiences in a company of friends.
– We helped children at alternative schools.

Yes, I am another person now. I breathe differently, feel differently, and differently perceive the world around me. That happened thanks to two things: Yatra gave me a chance for such transformation, and I was open to it.

In order for Yatra to become a space for such transformation, awareness and wholeness, our organizers thoroughly prepared in advance these essential ingredients:
– Two main Yatra themes: alternative education and communion with nature.
– Unusual places to explore: we visited an eco-village, various schools, a huge ecosystem that grew around a hospital created by a group of doctors, etc.
– Absolutely unique people with which we traveled together and met in India.
– Everyday body-oriented and spiritual practices: in the morning we practiced yoga and, in the evening, Qigong.
– Deep group interaction and shared collective attunement provided by MySelf laboratory.
– Ample space was given for master classes and practices offered by our group members.
– Excellent organization of everyday life and transportation.

All of the above allowed me to blissfully flow and swim in an exceptionally rich program, without any need to plan a thing: to just be and experience everything. In other words, to practice that very principle of "being in the here-and-now". And had enough time for contemplation, self-reflection, philosophizing, and experiencing the transformation of my consciousness and perception. I can't always do that at home, but during Yatra journey it was happening naturally.

And I forgot to mention the most important ingredient: the participants of our expedition. Without thorough and wise approach to forming the group, all magic that i mentioned before just wouldn't be possible.