Today’s yoga lessons focused on ‘Pranayama’ - mindful breathing and ‘Pratyakhara’ turning inward to the senses. Related to that we learned about the “Six enemies of the Heart”. These six poisons are symptomatic of a heart unsatisfied and a life characterized by suffering.
(Note: The six items listed in the image on the right are what my instructor provided. In other searching online, those six items differ a bit.)
Our instructor described yoga as a journey into deep self-awareness, helping us transform negative impulses into positive actions and recognize our habitual responses. She also emphasized that yoga practice encourages us to find contentment in the present moment without falling into complacency. These ideas seemed ambitious to me, but I realized that if I stayed mindful and worked to bring some of these practices into my daily life, I might genuinely experience their benefits.
One of the breathing techniques we learned was "opposite nostril breathing," also known as "Nadi Shodhana" or alternate nostril breathing where you inhale through one nostril while holding the other closed, then exhale through the opposite nostril. This practice is believed to balance the brain's hemispheres, calms the mind, and reduces stress. I was actually surprised how well it worked.
This was the day we were given a free afternoon. I headed to Asheville for a tour of the Biltmore. In August 2000 I took the girls on a road trip to North Carolina to visit my sister Becky and see Washington DC. I planned a night stay in Asheville so we could tour the estate. When I got there I realized the cost was $100 a ticket. I couldn’t justify spending that much on a 9 and 5 year old. So we just looked in the gift shop. Now it was my turn to actually see it! I was very pumped.
On the way, the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center signs caught my eye. With the government shut down, I assumed it would be closed but I thought, what the heck, the area around the visitor centers are always nice. To my surprise, the Center was open. The gift shop personnel explained that a private grant was keeping them running during their busiest month, October, though future funding was up in the air. I was glad for the chance to explore the Visitor Center and acquire my Passport stamp.
I booked a self guided audio tour of the Biltmore. The grounds are 8,000-acres so just figuring out where to go, park and get a shuttle required a map which they supplied at the entrance gate. The Biltmore Estate is a historic property which belonged to the George Vanderbilt family. It was built in the French Renaissance-style and took 6 years to build. It was completed in 1895 and is America's largest home with 250 rooms. It features elaborate architecture and an extensive art collection. It is impossible for me to describe. The pictures below don‘t do it justice.
The gardens and grounds around the estate are amazing as well. Of course it was raining so I was limited in where I could go.
The grounds also included the Biltmore Winery and Antler Hill Village. They have free wine tasting every day, so of course I partook in that! You had to walk through a long tunnel to get to the winery.
Once I got there, the line to get in was pretty long. I wasn‘t sure it would be worth it but I figured I didn‘t have anything else to do and it was still raining. Once the line started to move, it went quickly. People were assigned to a bar and a bartender provided you with your wine list options as well as oyster crackers to cleanse the palate. You are given tastes of 6 different wines. It was a lovely atmosphere.
I hadn’t eaten much that day and was growing a bit weary of dining hall food, so I decided to treat myself to a nice meal in Asheville. I picked Chestnut for an early dinner. Sitting at the bar, I had their delicious lobster bisque—one of their signature dishes—and a half order of scallops. They even brought out a complimentary amuse-bouche! It was a truly wonderful experience.
Driving back to Montreat, I stopped at a gas station to have a few snacks in my room. The check out lady asked me “Do you accept your Lord, Jesus Christ?” I was so surprised that I could only say “Sure”... so she gave this tiny Jesus.