Manaslu Curcuit (Part 1): Boundaries & Belonging (Extended Episode)

This extended episode (just over 60 minutes) takes you deep into the mountains of Nepal on the Manaslu Circuit Trek, through steep ridges, river gorges, Tibetan villages, and toward a turquoise glacier lake.This is part one of a two-part series. Along the way, we explore two powerful themes: boundaries and belonging. Not as abstract concepts, but as real, embodied experiences.From the jeep ride out of Kathmandu to long days on foot, the trek reveals where our boundaries lie: physically, mentally, and emotionally. And how belonging can appear in small, unexpected ways: in a guide’s presence, a prayer flag, or a shared moment with a stranger on the trail.This is an invitation to walk with me, one step at a time, through the edges, insights, and lessons the mountains offer.In This Episode:Leaving KathmanduA final walk around Boudhanath stupa, a sacred pause before stepping into the larger mandala of the mountains.Day 1: Machha Khola to JagatFinding rhythm along the Budhi Gandaki River. The body settles, the mind begins to listen and a spontaneous promise (Everest Marathon 2026?) floats into the air.Day 2: Jagat to DengA harder day: nausea, no appetite, and a growing tension between discomfort and self-trust. The mantra “one step at a time” becomes essential.Boundaries of the Body vs. Stories of the Mind:When do we honour the signal to slow down? And what happens when we feel we have to choose between self-care and fitting in?Day 3: Deng to NamrungTrekking as sangha and walking with others who are also pushing through. The comfort of shared effort, and the reminder: we’re never alone in our struggles.Day 4: Namrung to ShyalaThe terrain turns Tibetan. Temples, mani walls, and snowy peaks mark the shift. Cold sets in, and clarity emerges: knowing what’s truly ours to carry and when to let go.If you’re in your own version of a challenging time…grief, illness, a relationship break-up, or change you never chose, this is the practice I keep coming back to.Step back one pace. Give yourself space to breathe. Even if it’s just going into another room, onto the balcony, or away from the screen for a moment. Feel your feet on the ground. Let your exhale lengthen. Look around and name what’s real: I’m here. This is what’s happening. This is what I’m feeling.Then choose a grounded step and ask: What would help me through the next hour?Not the next year. Just the next hour. And then, do that one thing.Day 5–6: Pungyen Monastery & Samagaun. Stillness, Pace & the Power of PauseA high-altitude side trail leads to Pungyen Monastery, cradled in a dramatic amphitheatre of glaciers and peaks beneath Manaslu. A place that feels more like a hermitage than a destination.It’s not grand, it’s grounding. The trail demands presence, not performance. Each breath and step is a reminder: you're not conquering the mountain, you're being held by it.The next day in Samagaun offers rare stillness. No push. No summit. Just space. We wander to Birendra Lake, a milky turquoise glacier pool rimmed with cairns and quiet blessings.It’s a day of recovery and reflection, and a powerful reminder that courage also means knowing when to pause.To say no to proving, pushing, or producing.To take off the backpack, physically, mentally and emotionally, and remember: You belong in the resting, too.Journaling prompts:Are you really here? What’s going on in your body? Can you keep moving when it’s not easy?What pace is actually kind to my body and my nervous system?What is life asking of me right now: A push or a pause?Mentioned in This EpisodeMy trekking agency: Nepal High TrekYou are welcome to contact me for any practical tips for the Manaslu Circuit Trek.In the next episode we continue on the Manaslu Circuit… moving higher, colder and closer to the Tibetan border and Larke La Pass. And we’ll explore what altitude and cold do to the body and mind when life gets more basic and survival mode starts to kick in. Follow & ShareIf this episode resonated, please follow the show, leave a review, or share with a friend who might need to hear it. Every step matters. Every listener counts.Stay connectedExplore my work and resourcesFor inspiration: Follow me on Instagram & TikTokFor updates and inspiration: Follow me in FacebookNote: This podcast is for education and personal growth; it is not therapy or a substitute for professional care.May you walk with courage and confidence, and remember: freedom begins the moment you choose to step into the unknown.