REGISTRATION IS
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Water
Humble pranams to all divine pilgrims, and blessings as you continue to prepare for this sacred pilgrimage in the footsteps of the Kriya Masters.
You have heard it before: Drinking plenty of pure water is good for your health. Actually, it's necessary for your health, and critical when you are hiking at high altitudes. We mention this because when we make the hike from our buses along the narrow trail up to Mahavatar Babaji's cave, we will be at the high altitude of approximately 2000 meters (1.2 miles) above sea level. Being adequately hydrated will help make this 1-1/2 to 2 hour, high altitude hike easier for you, while being dehydrated might bring on altitude illness which could pose a serious impediment to reaching the cave.
For most pilgrims on this trip, this altitude will be a big change from what your body is accustomed to. At high altitude, lungs and heart automatically work harder than usual to get the right amount of oxygen for your blood and brain. For some people, even a gentle hike at this altitude will feel like aerobic exercise. Add to this the possibility of still feeling some jet lag or sleep deprivation from long, international travel, and one could find one's energy reserves low, just when you need endurance for this beautiful hike to Babaji's cave. Be aware that some medicines to fight high altitude illness can make one even more tired.
Without question, a good exercise and fitness program will help you prepare for any hike. Regular walking in good, sturdy shoes is an excellent activity for overall fitness. (Be sure to bring your comfortable, broken-in walking shoes on the pilgrimage.) Yet no matter how much you have exercised beforehand, your body will need to be adequately hydrated to make good use of those wonderful muscles. For some of us who live at sea level, "adequately hydrated" at altitude may mean that we need to drink 3 to 4 times more water than we usually drink!
One of the simplest methods to avoid many unpleasant symptoms of high altitude illness is to drink plenty of water. Proper hydration helps your blood carry needed oxygen to your brain. Even a little dehydration at altitude can invite high altitude headaches, fatigue, queasiness, a rapid pulse, or nausea, but these are easily prevented by giving your body what it needs to operate efficiently: pure water. Note that caffeine laden drinks such as coffee and tea actually have a diuretic effect, so they can make the body lose water faster. It is better to drink plain water.
The good news is that we will have plenty of water available with us on this pilgrimage. We will have bottled water as well as purified water that is safe for our use as drinking water. If you plan to arrive early in India before the pilgrimage begins, or stay after, follow this rule when purchasing bottled water: Check the seal on the plastic cap-if the bottle looks as though it may have been opened before, discard it, and go elsewhere to buy a new bottle of water. In some places people make money by refilling empty bottles with tap water, well water, water drawn from rivers or ponds, etc., then selling it, though it may not be safe to drink.
Note that in order to avoid water borne contaminants, it is best to brush your teeth with bottled or purified water. If you are accustomed to scrubbing your teeth or drinking water in the shower, don't do it here! Unless you are told by your team leader or the core pilgrimage team that local tap water is safe to drink, you should use only purified or hygienically bottled water for brushing your teeth and drinking.
Here is something that you may not have heard before: don't wait until you are thirsty to drink your water. Drink it before you feel thirsty! By the time people notice they are thirsty they are already dehydrated! So keep a bottle of water with you throughout the day and drink, drink, drink!
Some modest pilgrims may be thinking to themselves, "If I drink all this water, won't I need to go to the bathroom more frequently? And we'll be on a bus. What will I do if I need a toilet?" The answer is to tell your bus driver or guide and they'll stop the bus. Don't be shy or embarrassed, because there will no doubt be others on the bus who also need the stop. On a recent trek when one bold person asked the bus driver to stop, at least five other people on the bus cheered, relieved to have someone stop the bus! Our bus drivers will give us lots of stops, but if you need your driver to make an unscheduled stop just ask. This is not an interruption to our schedule, it is part of the plan. We know that people need to drink plenty of water to keep hydrated.
If, as you read this, you are thinking, "I should be drinking more water anyway right now," then do so. Our bodies are composed of about 75% water and function best when we drink what we should. If you have an international flight to India for this pilgrimage, make sure you drink plenty of water on the plane. Air travel commonly dehydrates passengers, and you don't want to begin your journey dehydrated. You may wish to buy a couple of big bottles of water in your airport after you get through the security checkpoint and before you board your plane to India, and take them with you. You're more likely to drink freely on the plane if you have your bottles within easy reach rather than having to request small cupfuls of water from a flight attendant. When you arrive in India you can buy bottled water at the Delhi airport in the arrivals shops area, and there will also be water available at your hotel. For most people, when drinking large amounts of water it also helps to have packets of soluble electrolytes (such as those found in sports drinks to help rehydrate athletes), which are easy to put in a travel bag.
Ironically, as important as it is to stay well hydrated on the pilgrimage, its benefits will be almost invisible to you. For as your body gets the moisture it needs and operates at peak performance, your attention will not focus on the body but instead will be able to focus on our beautiful surroundings. You'll have the energy to hike up Babaji's hillside and enjoy the magnificent view of the mountains all around you, and when you arrive at the cave you'll have a clear head and the ability to take slow, long, and deep breaths as you begin your meditation in this sacred area.
Drink up! Salud! Salute! Prost! Cheers! To your health!
In loving service,
The pilgrimage team