Rishikesh

I am now in Rishikesh where people come for three reasons: because it is one of the Hindu holy cities (so thats the main motivation for Indians), because the Beatles wrote the White Album here (thats for all the white kids) and because it is the "yoga capital of the world" (again all the white kids). So far all that I have done here is yoga though before I leave apparently it is very important to swim in the Ganges which makes me a little nervous because the monsoon has turned it into a really high and really terrifying river and also to visit the Maharishi Ashram where the Beatles staid. I am planning on being here for a while though so I have time to check off all those boxes. For now the focus is yoga and getting myself back in shape after a year of eating fried chicken and beer in Korea. After trying out a few classes I was recommended to this one instructor who is great and since it is low season its just me and one other girl in the classes. Now my darling mother immediately worried that the instructor would try and put the moves on me in the studio but unlike the majority of young Indian men it seems that those that practice yoga are extremely spiritual and not at all creepy. Anyway, the yoga is very traditional and therefore very different from what I was used to in the US. For proper practitioners the physical aspect of yoga is only a minor step on the way to meditation and full self-realization and its just us westerners who stay on that first step. The classes have been great as he is really specific about each pose and getting us to perform them just right. With only two of us we get lots of help and corrections and also don't get to slack off in the back of the class the way I usually do. I am have been going everyday for almost a week and even though I am super out of shape I can tell that I am getting a bit stronger and have better endurance.
Besides yoga and all the other new age crap that hippies bring with them wherever they go there isn't much to do here besides hang out in cafes and read. I have been meeting some interesting people though so I am not going crazy being alone. One of the benefits of being in a super new agey hippy area is that there is awesome food that is also super healthy so its been over a month since I have eaten meat or drunk any alcohol. Don't be too worried that I am going to come home a changed person I plan on order a rare steak and a dirty martini the first chance I get when I come home...which by the way is September 27th so get ready!