SAT NAM
ARE YOU GETTING READY FOR SUMMER SOLSTICE 2014????
"YOU must do it! A Spiritual teacher only inspires you. He gives you the technical know-how, but it's for you to work it out, and to experience the result!"- Yogi Bhajan"
WELL, ITS THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN…….
22 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO TO SOLSTICE (NEW IMPROVED EDITION)
1. CAMPING
The first year I thought, that all I needed was a very small and light tent to sleep in. NOT! LET ME TELL YOU THAT YOU SHOULD GET A TENT THAT YOU CAN STAND UP IN. It doesn't have to sleep 16, but you should be able to stand up in it. My first year I couldn't stand up and I was changing my clothes in a crow squat. It was light to carry, easy to assemble, and basically disposable. And I did dispose of it because it was useless. The second year, I bought a larger, more commodious tent with better construction. THERE IS WEATHER THERE, SO MAKE SURE YOUR TENT IS WATERPROOF and sturdy enough to withstand rain and wind. IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WE'VE HAD FEROCIOUS WINDS AND A STRONG TENT IS A MUST IF YOU WANT TO HAVE SOMEWHERE TO SLEEP. Some people came back from events on the site only to find their tents collapsed or if there's rain, their belongings sopping wet. This is avoidable...so I say, Invest in a decent tent that is waterproof and large enough to stand up in. (REI, TARGET, COSTCO all have good tents)There are other more expensive tents out there but these stores carry good strong tents at a fair price. You can also check Amazon.com. Last year I brought a gigantic tent that was the size of a one bedroom apartment....it was too big for just me.2. CLOTHING
Bring clothing that is easy to wash by hand, layer-able, and warm. It can get both very cold and very hot. If you are there for a while, you'll need to wash your clothes....which you'll probably wash by hand and hang up on a line or a tree. Bring lots of t shirts, comfortable pants, etc. for yoga practice, serving and "playing". Bring something to wash them with. I BRING DR. BRONNERS LIQUID SOAP BECAUSE I USE IT FOR BODY SOAP, SHAMPOO, AND LAUNDERING. REMEMBER THAT ESPECIALLY DURING WHITE TANTRIC DAYS YOU'LL BE WEARING WHITE AND IT'S VERY DUSTY AND DIRTY ON THE SITE AND YOU'LL BE WEARING TAN AND BROWN BEFORE TOO LONG. WORD OF ADVICE….LET IT GO. TAN IS THE NEW WHITE.
3. WEATHER
Be prepared for the rain: waterproof tent with rain flap. a portable, foldable rain coat or poncho is a good thing to have just in case. If you don't like to walk in the rain, bring an umbrella. Be prepared for high winds. Make sure your tent is secured and tied down and not in an exposed area where it might fall prey to high winds from all directions. As I said before, a good strong tent is worth the investment. BUT THEN AGAIN, IT COULD BE MILD….BUT IT'S GOOD TO BE PREPARED.
4. FIRST AID
There is a first aid building on the property which is well stocked with things for minor pain and discomfort, sunburn, scrapes and abrasions, etc. There are doctors and nurses on staff for anything more serious. SO IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU MIGHT NEED, BRING IT. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A FIRST AID KIT OF YOUR OWN....don't forget your prescription medication or supplements that you are used to taking. If you have a way to handle muscle pain (narayan oil, arnica, traumeel, ben gay, etc. for example) bring that with you. If you have funky knees, bring an ace bandage or knee support.
There are massage therapists, chiropractors, healers offering their services in the bazaar tent so you can handle most minor injuries or discomfort for a reasonable fee. Just remember to bring what you think you might need based on past experience.
5) EATING AND DRINKING
Bring water bottles, hot bottle for yogi tea, eating utensils, a plate (reg food) and bowl(soup). You can pick these things up at places like Costplus, an Army/Navy store or Target. You'll be washing your own plates and utensils at every meal. There are water dispensaries all over the site which includes electrolyte water, too. You don't need to bring dishwashing soap...they have it at the dishwashing station. OH AND LABEL ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING. EVEN YOUR FLATWARE AND ESPECIALLY YOUR BOTTLES. THINK SUMMER CAMP!!!!
6. FOOTWEAR
The terrain is rough and dry and while flip flops might be ideal for going to and from the shower area, your feet are going to get beat up. Trust me. If you are the slip-on, slip-off kind of person that I am, I like to use keen-type sandals which are waterproof, easy to get in and out of, offer support, and cover the toes (if you choose). I got mine at REI and it'll be another year I'll be wearing them all the time... if you know what you want, you can go to Zappos and get them for less money. I wear the Venice H2.....and the Daytona...both EXCELLENT CHOICES FOR SOLSTICE! While we're on the subject of feet, there is a foot therapy station at Solstice SO YOU SHOULD CHECK THAT OUT...and I highly recommend bringing BANDAIDS, FOOTCREAM, etc. because I can guarantee that your feet will get DRY. REALLY REALLY DRY.
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7. WAKING UP-
Bring a battery operated alarm clock (and batteries). Even though every morning at 3am before sadhana, Guru Singh and his band of 20-60 (maybe even more by now…) merry people walk through the camp sites starting at around 3 singing "RISE UP"...you still may want a back up plan. And then, you can roll right into your pre-sadhana routine!
8. TOILETRIES:
SUNSCREEN, LIP BALM, SKIN LOTIONS, TOOTHBRUSH AND TOOTHPASTE. BRING YOUR OWN TOWELS AND WHATEVER ELSE YOU NEED TO STAY GORGEOUS AND HAPPY ON YOUR TRIP IN THE HIGH DESERT. OH and DON'T FORGET THE Q-TIPS.
9. FOR WHITE TANTRIC YOGA YOU'LL NEED:
White cotton or natural fiber clothing and a white cotton or natural fiber headcovering....ALL of which ARE available at KUNDALINK.COM and at our table in the bazaar tent. If you haven't experienced Kundawrap or a Kundabini…OR even an EZ-WRAP, you're in for a treat. THEY STAY ON ALL DAY, ARE EASY TO "RE-WRAP", AND ARE QUICK TO WASH AND DRY. GUESS WHO HAS THEM? ME! THE BLOGALINI GAL, AKA MS KUNDALINK!!!!!
10. THERE IS NO HOT WATER. COLD SHOWERS. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE COLD SHOWERS. If you are not used to taking cold showers, now is a good time to practice it. By the time you get to solstice, you'll be a pro. You'll figure out pretty quickly that the water is not that cold there……so chill!
11. SADHANA
Sheepskin, yoga mat, warm blanket, and a hoodie or something warm for morning sadhana. Some people take their entire bedding to the tent! It's pretty cold when you start but you warm up pretty quickly after you start doing yoga at 4 am. Afterwards is a Gurdwara service in the same Tantric Shelter.
12. THE SUN IS STRONG!!!!!!!!
Bring a hat to protect you head from the sun unless you wear a headcovering. And Don't forget the sunscreen...
13. NIGHTTIME
Bring the following for a comfortable nights sleep: SLEEPING BAG, WARM BEDDING, YOUR PILLOW, SLEEPING PAD OR AIR MATRESS OR COT. IF YOU BRING AN AIR MATRESS, TRY TO GET ONE THAT HAS A BATTERY OPERATED BUILT IN AIR PUMP. (otherwise you'll be dragging it around all the time to electrical sources to refill it) I found that I liked the cot experience….so that's what I use.
14. EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Bring a bathing suit just in case. Some people go down the hill to the hot springs and you might, too.
15.EVERYTHING IN ONE PLACE
Bring a bag to carry around your stuff. We sell a great oversized denim yoga bag in which you can carry your mat and sheepskin, etc. Of course you can buy this or a tote bag at the Kundalink.com table in the Bazaar (the tote is perfect for taking your personals to the showers and carrying around your stuff) that is, if you don't get one on line NOW….IMPORTANT, they used to let you bring your own bags into the tantric shelter, but now they forbid it. They give you a uniform-size bag when you register. This bag has the 3HO summer solstice logo on it and it'll get you through the door.
***************16) BE THE LIGHT*********************
Bring a flashlight OR one of these head lamps. If I have to recommend ONE THING that I couldn't do without, I would say it was one of these. I USE THE HEADLAMP BECAUSE WHEN I WALK TO THE BATHROOM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND I AM CARRYING THINGS TO THE BATHROOM, I NEED MY HANDS and you might, too! Highly recommended. No not recommended....NECESSARY.
17. PARTY TIME
On the 3HO website, they used to suggest bringing one or two dressy outfits for social events, but i have to say, this is not really necessary. It's pretty casual.
18. EXTRA PROTECTION
Bring a hooded windbreaker or hoodie... layers of clothing is the best way to go. I rarely wore socks although they can be helpful in the early morning chill.
AND if you need to charge your ipod or iphone or cellular, there's a charging station and you can plug in from time to time. I can tell you that you won't be using your phone very much, or at least much less that usual. The reception has been intermittent at best in the past.
19. KEEP IT CLEAN
A "DOORMAT". SOME HEAVY TOWEL OR SHOWER MAT SO THAT YOU CAN WIPE YOUR FEET OFF BEFORE YOU ENTER YOUR TENT. JUST A THOUGHT....
********20. TRAVEL LIGHT*************
The best advice I can give you is to travel light. You should be able to fit everything in a duffle bag and a medium suitcase. Try to keep your things to a minimum....and make sure you have enough clothes to layer and keep in rotation, comfortable shoes, comfortable bedding, and a tent that you can stand up in. You won't believe how helpful, generous and friendly everyone is and if you need something, if someone there doesn't have it, you can always go down the hill into "civilization" and buy it. LABEL EVERYTHING
21.SHOW ME THE MONEY!
Bring some money because you can get some fantastic products at the bazaar.... most of the vendors take credit cards and checks, but cash is always nice!!! see you there! www.kundalink.com and don't leave it laying around in your tent.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST...
HERE ARE SOME:
FROM 2O13
FROM 2012
FROM 2011
OKAY, SO NOW THAT YOU KNOW WHAT TO BRING AND WHAT IT'S LIKE…WHEN IS IT AND HOW DO YOU GET THERE???
AND NOW FOR SOME PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS….
ON JUNE 27TH AT 7:15AM, I'LL BE TEACHING A RIBCAGE-OPENING SET IN THE EARTH TENT. YOGI BHAJAN SAID, IN SO MANY WORDS, THAT THE RIBCAGE WAS A MICROCOSM OF THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE.
JUST IMAGINE HOW EXPANDED YOU'LL FEEL!
JUNE 27 AT 7:15 AM
Earth Tent (Yoga and Meditation)
“You will never be free if you have the concept that you have a complex. You will always live in dirt. You will always eat your own ego-maniac, self-created pain. Your life will be nothing but a tragedy.” – Yogi Bhajan, 1996. Don’t live life half way! Your soul is just a prisoner of the ribcage until you set it free! Break through imagined limitations and crippling doubt with this fun and energy-driven kriya and meditation.
WAHE GURU! THIS JUST IN…..I WILL BE JOINED ON STAGE BY MY GOOD BUDDY JAI GOPAL.(That's him on the left just in case you were wondering LOL)
and FOR A TASTE OF THE LIBERATED SPIRIT …..
LOVE LOVE LOVE
JAI-JAGDEESH'S RECORDING OF "I AM THINE, IN MINE, MYSELF. WAHE GURU". LISTEN TO THE RECORDING ON
YOU TUBE AND THEN
The night before the Workout for the Liberated Spirit class, (the evening of 6/26, the evening of the last day of white tantric yoga) I will be playing the Gong. Nighty night.
For those of you who have never experienced the FUN of trying and tying the kundawrap and our other fun head coverings…here's a video that Elena made that shows you how easy it is….this is from Summer Solstice a few years ago…
ON THAT NOTE…….I THINK I'LL GO. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU UP THE MOUNTAIN!!!!!!
SAT NAM
RAGHUBIR
