Interview with Geetaji

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Chris: When your mother died you were left with a lot more to do in the house. We know that teaching and running a house is extremely demanding. What advice do you have for those of us who are trying to balance teaching, practising and having a family? It can be very difficult sometimes.

Geeta: It is difficult. My mother's death came exactly in the middle of my life, when I was really marching ahead. If she had lived, I would have had more time to practice and I would have continued to do as I was doing. It has brought a limitation, that is true. But at the same time, when there is such a strong interest what can be done? There are two ways of looking at it. For outsiders, I might appear to be a failure when they look at me. But for me, it is okay. I have to accept it. And I know very well that this was not my original condition. In my performance I was good. The lack of practice has put me back a little. Sometimes I have missed my practice. I won't say that I was absolutely regular. The demands on me have made it impossible to be completely regular. Whenever I have free time, I make full use of it because I never know what problem might present tomorrow. When guests come we have to be there in the kitchen and cook for them. I can't be strict. For men it is different. They can be strict with their program. They make a schedule with time to practice, office hour or work hour or whatever and they can go according to the plan. They can do this because there is somebody supporting them, to help them maintain that timetable, such as their wife or mother. Ladies help men to maintain their schedule. For ladies it is a bit difficult because the demand is such that anytime you have to be ready for any demands that may come. When Prashant met with an accident we had a hard time. He was very dependent at that time since he was seriously injured. We were under stress, not knowing what would happen, and we had to look after him in the hospital.

Chris: But that kind of sacrifice is part of yoga, isn't it?

Geeta: Yes, that is life and you have to accept it. What can be done? That's why I say I cannot be absolutely strict with my timetable. But when there is time, you have to use it well. Today, to give you an example, this morning I did pranayama but otherwise I have not practised. There are so many things on my table now I don't know how to clear it off. It goes on and on. Now on Wednesday, I had household things and other work. So I came to the practice room at 8:30. And 9:15 is the class. So I did only Janu Sirsasana because I was tired. You might ask me what kind of work I have. Since I am not going to the office and just in the house, people question what kind of work I do. For the past few nights I have been going through the Yoga sutras and correcting the cassettes until 12 midnight and this morning, I finished it so Guruji can send it off. I was also checking the translation of Light on Pranayama in Hindi and in Marathi. And there are so many letters.

Chris: I was wondering what a typical day for you might be but it sounds like there is no typical day.

Geeta: No, there is no typical day. But on Saturday and Sunday I work on these things. I am also rewriting all the question and answers that Guruji has done while abroad. There are nearly 200 questions that we have ready for print and there are two more sets on my table now, to finish this month.

Chris: What time do you usually get up and go to bed?

Geeta: I get up at 4:30 and go to bed at the latest by 11 p.m. It is not much sleep and can be a bit of a problem.

Chris: So what you practice depends on what your day is like?

Geeta: Yes, absolutely.

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