When I started to get my groove as a full-time Yoga Teacher in 1999, I was offered the most generous opportunity to travel to India. Sarita had been a loyal student of mine for a couple of years at the local racquetball club, where she practiced with me several times a week. Her family invited me to spend a month with them after the December holidays, with plans to visit ancient temples, Rishikesh, the Great Ganges River, and regions highlighted for their beauty and spiritual significance. It was an opportunity of a lifetime.

Going to India felt like a pilgrimage (and special privilege), and months went by as we detailed each site, received invitations from their relatives for homestays, and made reservations at ashrams. My friends were excited to share their beloved homeland with their American Yoga teacher. On the day of travel, we checked in at Lufthansa, and we went on our way from LAX ---> FRA ---> DEL. After over 24 hours of travel, close to landing in Delhi, I realized I did not have my visa. When I shared this important news with my travel friends, I was so embarrassed and shocked that I had not been on top of this essential documentation. OF ALL THINGS! They assured me that they could work things out when we landed.

Upon arrival, men with guns argued over what to do with me. I was in my early 20s and traveling with a prominent family (both respected medical doctors), but they had protocols. After heated deliberation, they took me back into a room for questioning. My heart was pounding. Somebody told my friends to leave. The officials said I had two options: go to Bangladesh or Frankfurt and see the American consulate for the visa. I was devastated and felt SO DUMB. They let me use their dial phone to rebook to the next flight out - if there was room. One seat was left on that destined flight to Frankfurt (the exact plane I came in on). The representative said it was in the middle seat at the back of the aircraft...

The rest of this story will be presented in the following newsletter 😇

Until then, can you scroll down and see if there's a class I'm offering that you'd like to join? Click on the BLUE links below for more info.

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Sharing Real Life Magic,

Erika Faith Calig, E-RYT 500

aka: Yoga Fairy Godmother

Cloud Nine Yoga School: Yoga Alliance Registered since 2002

Syzygy Spiritual School: A Collective Learning Space for Mystical Souls

Hula Alaka'i for Fern Merle-Jones & Halau Hula Na Lei Kupua O Kauai