Integrating the Andean Cosmovision: “Stuck” in Pisac, Peru for the Covid Lockdown

“The real teachings come from Nature,” my yoga teacher Daya said during our training, “All I did was look around and put it into words.”

Daya is a light-hearted, peruvian man with a passion for yoga and the spirituality of the Andes Mountains (also known as the Andean Cosmovision). Thus, he birthed “Andean Yoga” into life, a hatha/vinyasa practice inspired by the three worlds within the Andean Cosmovision. This was the style of yoga I received certification in from march 10-april 1, 2020. As the rest of the world went into lockdown, I was given the opportunity to expand greatly; deepening my knowledge of yoga, Ayurveda, and the teachings of ancient Andean spirituality. It felt more necessary than ever before to be receiving teachings on earth-based wisdoms; I was infinitely grateful and deeply moved.  

I felt rejuvenated to be a student again, and my interest in the teachings was palpable. I had a hunger for both spiritual awakening and earth connection, and most mornings couldn’t believe that I’d found this YTT. Or rather, that it had found me.

But it wasn’t just getting certified in this style of yoga that had me thinking differently. Getting quarantined at a yoga retreat--where everyone was sober, connected to the land, living in a conscious community, in prayer daily, and constantly expressing gratitude-- was exactly what my inner being had been so desperately craving.

This was the higher vibration I had written about in my journal just months prior. And now I was living in the manifestation of it. I was blown away. Everyday.  

Within a few weeks of lockdown, our small family was living the quarantine dream. I was teaching bootcamp every weekday morning (this was my first experience stepping into a teaching role and it brought me deep joy, not to mention I was able to encourage others to move their bodies, which is something I love to do). Daya and Ann--the two teachers who led our YTT--taught yoga everyday. There were muay thai classes 3x a week, taught by the meditation teacher (meditation AND martial arts? God bless you Rafael). There were permaculture classes; we had a professional chef living with us; we were a group of people from all around the world and spoke both english and spanish with each other daily. We sang sacred songs in sanskrit on thursdays. We prayed in temazcal sweat lodges on full and new moons. We made offerings to the earth. We respected our place within the cycle of life.

It was unlike anything I had ever experienced before; though somehow this style of living seemed more familiar to me than anything else I’d known. 

I remember when the quarantine first began, while we were still in our YTT, our teacher Ann shared a Hopi Elder’s Prophecy with us. Ever since hearing it, my life has new meaning.

We are the Ones We’ve Been Waiting For

You have been telling people that this is the Eleventh Hour, now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour. And there are things to be considered…

Where are you living?

What are you doing?

What are your relationships?

Are you in right relation?

Where is your water?

Know your garden.

It is time to speak your truth.

Create your community.

Be good to each other.

And do not look outside yourself for your leader.

Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said, “This could be a good time! There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are being torn apart and will suffer greatly. Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water.

And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, least of all ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey come to a halt.

The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves! Banish the word ’struggle’ from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.

--Hopi Elders' Prophecy, June 8, 2000

Since then, I’ve put that prophecy in each of my journals (plural yes, I’ve 4 journals in the last year; 3 months to fill one up is average for me). This prophecy to me is like a wise friend: someone I always want close by to draw wisdom and inspiration from, someone I’m always excited for my new friends to meet.