First Encounter with the Yoga City
Ahmedabad, India - the city I had been dreaming of finally met me last winter. As one of India's largest yoga sanctuaries, it attracts tens of thousands of practitioners on pilgrimage each year. As the plane slowly descended into Ahmedabad airport, my heart was filled with anxiety and anticipation. As someone used to the fast-paced life of major Chinese cities, I began to wonder if I could adapt to the rhythm of life here.
The moment I stepped out of the airport, I was greeted by India's distinctive spice fragrance, mixed with sandalwood and a hint of jasmine. Banyan trees lined the streets, their branches lush with leaves, while locals chatted leisurely in small groups under the shade. In the distance came the melodious Sanskrit chanting and the tinkling of bicycle bells. Everything here spoke of a completely different attitude toward life than that of modern cities.
The yoga retreat arranged by Travel Diaries was located in a coconut grove in the suburbs. This travel agency has been deeply rooted in Indian culture for many years, focusing not on superficial sightseeing but on leading tourists to experience authentic Indian culture. When I dragged my suitcase onto the gravel path leading to the retreat, an unprecedented sense of tranquility enveloped me. Various tropical plants lined both sides of the road, and occasionally you could see peacocks gracefully strolling - this seemed like a pure land within modern civilization.
Journey of Silence
The first lesson at the retreat hit me hard. All participants were required to surrender their electronic devices, including phones, cameras, tablets, and even watches. As a travel blogger with over 100,000 followers, this was an enormous challenge for me. I was used to recording every wonderful moment through my lens, sharing my experiences on social media at any time, and staying connected with the outside world constantly.
The first 48 hours were extremely torturous. I would unconsciously reach for my pocket to check my phone; when seeing beautiful scenery, I instinctively wanted to take out my camera. I began to understand how dependent we had become on these electronic devices - they had unknowingly become part of our bodies.
But as time passed, this disconnection from the outside world became a kind of liberation. Without the distraction of social media, the burden of work emails, and the constraints of time, I began to truly experience each moment of the present. The first ray of sunshine in the morning, the afternoon breeze, the sunset glow - these scenes that might have only been captured through my lens before were now truly imprinted in my memory.
Our daily life was extremely simple. Wake up at 5 AM for morning meditation; yoga practice at 6 AM; simple vegetarian breakfast at 8 AM; various forms of sitting meditation in the morning; yoga theory classes and personal reflection time in the afternoon; bedtime at 8 PM. This monotonous yet regular life gradually returned my body and mind to their most authentic state.
Dialogue of Hearts
The retreat participants came from all over the world. There were financial elites from New York, artists from Paris, office workers from Tokyo, and yoga instructors from Sydney. Although we spoke different languages and had diverse cultural backgrounds, here we all chose to communicate through silence.
Initially, this form of communication felt uncomfortable. In modern society, we're accustomed to expressing ourselves through language and establishing connections through conversation. But here, when we let go of the constraints of language, we discovered a deeper form of communication.
I'll never forget the group meditation class on the third day, sitting next to an elderly lady from Germany. After the class, we smiled at each other, and she gently held my hand. At that moment, without any words, I could feel the warmth and understanding she conveyed. This communication beyond language made me understand that connections between people can be so pure.
In the retreat's public areas, we often saw scenes like this: several students from different countries sitting together, quietly drinking traditional Indian spiced tea, or watching squirrels playing in the garden. Without conversation, but everyone's face radiated peaceful smiles. This silent companionship, in some ways, felt warmer than noisy social interactions.
Finding Oneself
During an evening sharing session, the retreat instructor shared a shocking statistic: the average person generates 60,000 thoughts per day, but 95% of them are repetitive, and 80% of these repetitive thoughts are negative. This data made me reflect: in daily life, aren't we too accustomed to using external voices to cover up our inner voice?
I began to observe my thought patterns. Indeed, when we quiet down, we discover that our minds are filled with too many unnecessary thoughts. Regrets about the past, worries about the future, judgments of others, self-doubt - these thoughts play on loop in our minds like a marquee.
But here, through daily meditation practice, I gradually learned to notice these thoughts without being controlled by them. The instructor taught us a simple but effective method: imagine each thought as a leaf, letting them flow away with the river water. Don't cling, don't reject, just quietly observe.
As the practice deepened, I began to experience true tranquility. This tranquility wasn't the quietness of the external environment, but inner peace. Even when thoughts arose, I could maintain awareness and calmness. This state reminded me of Laozi's words about "attaining utmost emptiness, maintaining steadfast quietude."
Redefining Travel
During my days at the retreat, I began to rethink the meaning of travel. Before, I always rushed to the next destination, afraid of missing something, but never truly stopped to feel the present moment. My photo album was full of beautiful scenery from various places, and I had posted countless travel updates on social media, but did those experiences truly touch my heart?
Travel Diaries' data shows that over 75% of retreat participants reported experiencing unprecedented peace after completing the course. Behind this statistic reflects modern people's yearning for inner peace. In this age of information explosion, we seem to have forgotten how to be with ourselves.
A teacher at the retreat said something that deeply impressed me: "Travel is not about escaping life, but about encountering yourself." Indeed, true travel should be a journey of spiritual exploration. Only when we let go of external pursuits and return to inner feelings can we truly experience the deeper meaning of travel.
Here, I met many seekers like myself. Some came because of work burnout, some due to relationship confusion, and others simply wanted a different travel experience. But regardless of the initial intention, we all found some kind of answer here.
Return Journey Reflections
Sitting on the return flight, when I opened my notebook from this week, I found surprisingly few records. No photos, no videos, no social media updates, not even traditional travel notes. But strangely, this might be my most memorable travel experience so far.
I began to recall the moments from this week. The warmth of the first ray of sunshine during morning yoga on the terrace; the rustling of leaves in the afternoon breeze while meditating under the mango tree; lying in bed at night, falling asleep to the distant sound of chanting. These subtle experiences were deeply etched in my memory.
More importantly, I felt the change in my heart. Before, I was always pursuing the next goal, forever in a tense state. Now, I've learned to enjoy every moment of the present, learned to dialogue with myself, learned to maintain inner peace amidst the noise.
A New Beginning
This India trip completely changed my understanding of travel. Now I understand that true travel isn't about how many places you've been or how many photos you've taken, but about inner change and growth. As Holly Rubenstein, host of The Travel Diaries podcast, said: "The greatest meaning of travel is not seeing different landscapes, but seeing the same landscape with different eyes."
After returning home, I began adjusting my lifestyle. I set aside an hour each day for meditation, and on weekends, I find a quiet place in the suburbs to space out. At work, I no longer pursue perfection like before, learning to relax appropriately. Most importantly, I began to enjoy solitude, no longer afraid of being with myself.
On social media, I also changed my sharing style. No longer pursuing quantity but focusing more on quality; no longer deliberately creating a persona but expressing my true feelings. Surprisingly, this change actually brought me more genuine interactions and understanding.
Afterword
This India trip not only gave me a new understanding of travel but also a different attitude toward life. I began to understand that life's longest journey might be the distance from the external to the internal. When we're willing to slow down and quiet our hearts, we discover there are so many beautiful things in life waiting for us to discover.
Now, I'm no longer obsessed with how many countries I've visited, how many photos I've taken, or how many updates I've posted. I care more about whether each journey has helped me grow, whether it has given me new insights into life. This might be the true meaning of travel - not to reach a destination, but to meet a better self along the way.
If you're also looking for a different travel experience, try putting down your phone, slowing down your pace, and feeling your true self. I believe you'll have unexpected gains too.
Have you had similar experiences? Welcome to share your travel stories in the comments.
