“We travel initially to lose ourselves. And we travel next, to find ourselves. We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate. We travel to bring what little we can in our ignorance and knowledge to those parts of the globe whose riches are differently dispersed. And we travel, in essence, to become young fools again. To slow time down and get taken in, and fall in love once more.”

- Pico Iyer, from Why We Travel

I’m in the last week of my time in India, and what a trip it has been. I’ve had a fantastic week co-teaching a retreat and learned so much myself from the experience and my students, for which I am truly thankful. As I relax a little now, I’m spending time with my mum and auntie - three ladies chilling and gossiping on lazy days beside the beautiful river Periyar in Kerala.

On Travel

In Pico Iyer’s (above) reflection, I can certainly relate to why travel is so alluring. Steeping in the newness of things, people, and places, we get lost in charm and wonder; new memories are created with plenty of stories to tell. When travelling, days at once slow down and speed up, and we manage to savour moments with intentionality - taking in the colours of life a touch more purposefully that we can’t help but ‘fall in love once more.’

Aside from many other benefits of a holiday - rest, folly, learning, food, 😛 - I’ve observed a balance between the sacrifices and gains we accept in the name of travel.

Lost and Found

Without fail, I’ll always lose something when travelling. The last time I travelled, I lost my favourite pencil case; this time, I lost my mouthguard (an essential item for a teeth grinder!) The things we lose are often replaced by souvenirs and the unexpected items we pick up along the way. This time, I found something special while walking on the beach - a small asymmetric shell with one smooth and one sharp edge, which I tucked away into my hat and will bring home with me.

It’s not just objects that are lost and found. I’ve dropped a little excess baggage for the return flight - more emotional than material weight, to be frank (both are very expensive to be holding onto) - and instead carry home large but weightless lessons about boundaries, values, kindness and self-respect presented to me with crystal clarity during an eventful week of teaching.

Wherever you Go

Now, holidaying in a place so other-worldly, it’s easy to feel like I’ve managed to escape somehow from the trials of daily life. And enjoy a ripe backdrop to lose and find myself, assisted by the enchantments of exotic surroundings.

However, this trip has made me realise that travelling isn’t always the perfect escape, especially if we are running away - consciously or unconsciously - from difficulty, boredom or sadness.

While our external experiences might serve as happy distractions, no amount of travel will change the deep, complex landscape of our inner selves if there is work to be done or awareness to foster. For the inner terrain imposes wildly upon our every experience, whether at home or abroad.

“Wherever you Go, There you Are”

- John Kabat-Zinn

I am reminded of the phrase from the father of modern mindfulness, John Kabat-Zinn, who said, “Wherever you go, there you are.”

Whether watching sundown over a Keralan river or sitting in a fluorescent office feeling stressed, you cannot escape yourself. The same neuroses, attitudes and values travel with you - wherever you go.

Coming Home

Even as I contemplate the effects of travel this time on mind, body, and spirit, I’m thinking about home, too. Journeys are as much about coming home as the time spent away. Something about returning to familiar spaces and faces but having fresh eyes to see the things we take for granted.

I’ve realised in these past weeks that between the joys of travel and the comforts of home, freedom really does lie firmly within, as yoga continues to affirm. As BKS Iyengar once said, “You do not need to seek freedom in a different land, for it exists within your body, heart, mind and soul.”

This is why the principles of yoga are so important to me - they provide a foundation for finding peace and contentment independent of location. Practising yoga allows me to establish a sense of home within myself, which I can always return to, regardless of where I am.

Let’s practise.