to treasure

Sometimes all you need is to get back to the people that know you in the way only old friends can...all of your mistakes, your past loves, your dreams, your heartache, your tears, your crazy nights, your victories, the things that you can't even remember. (and sometimes don't want to) That kind of stuff. That kind of friend. The rare kind you treasure. Treasure forever. I was lucky to see more than one on my short trip to Michigan. It was so lovely. And lovely in that 'this is something I want to remember forever' way. I miss them already. Oh, and Michigan was beautiful. I forgot how much beauty there was in the mitten state. Especially after the first snow, sparkly, and the trees bare as the sun sets. Pretty Michigan.

No honking horns or elephants...

Back home now. It's quieter here, no honking horns or elephants walking past. Everything is so clean, no one is living on the streets...and, of course, there's Starbucks. Coming back during Thanksgiving has been a bit of a culture shock, America at it's buying best...Black Friday, sales, sales, more sales, people fighting each other for the best deal. Not the prettiest part of this country, in my opinion. But my family is here, and that's really all that matters. Even though I miss the elephants, the colors and all things India, it's good to be back. Sometimes the quiet is exactly what you need. Sometimes you just need to be near family, to soak up the familiar stuff that only they can give you. The weird, crazy, fun stuff that always happens when you're with your family. I'm happy to be soaking it all up. Happy to be home.

Love from CA.

Dear India, I will miss you

As this is my last day in India, I wanted to post something in my blog before I leave for the airport. I feel like it should be profound and deep but, to be honest...it just feels a bit surreal. I mean, six months goes really fast and I feel a little bit shocked that I am actually packing my last few things into my suitcase. I have known this is coming, so I shouldn't really be surprised, but it's still there a little bit...

I am so excited to head back to my family in CA, and then back to Brisbane after a few weeks. I need the comfort of home and to hold my nephew again and to have coffee with my mom...I have no idea what it will be like to be back in America after this time in India. I think there is a part of me that will miss this place more than I can understand right now. This place has made a home inside my heart and is there to stay.

We may find ourselves here again someday. But until then, dear India, I will miss you. You are beautiful, sad, strange, silly, crazy, amazing...you are unlike anything I have ever experienced. And for that I am grateful.

Love from India. 

addicted to Break ton Neck

I am addicted to this video right now. 

I think if I don't stop watching it soon, Craig is going to get jealous! No, but seriously, there is something very beautiful but raw in this video and 

I wish the dancer would come take a Bikram Yoga class. 

And then show me how to dance like he does here.

Love from India.

Magical Goa

 

We spent this past week in Goa. It was our first break since we've been in India. It was magical, it was fun, it was everything we needed right now. Every day we hopped onto our little scooter and went somewhere new, no plans, no idea where we were headed, just a brand new day with nothing but adventure. It was so much fun and if we could have stayed longer, we would have! The villa we stayed in was amazing, so peaceful, very private...the perfect place to come home to each night after the beach, or the market, or visiting one of the many cafes or bars along the side of the road (there were so many). Each day we ate fresh fish, soaked up the sun and pretty much fell in love with Goa. You know when you have a holiday and even after you leave, you can't stop looking at the pictures? Yeah, it's like that.  We miss it already and can't wait to go back someday.

Love from India.

minds without fear

I am already a big fan of Imogen Heap and her ability to mix her songs into 

unbelievable, strange and angelic ways...so when I saw that she had come to India to

make music, I didn't want to miss it. 

The song originated from a new program here called The Dewarists, 

bringing artists together to collaborate on a piece of music. Each show is based in 

a different part of India, so it's beautiful for the eyes as well as the ears. 

The music in this country is unlike anything else and this song captures it,

captures India, with a little Imogen spice sprinkled on top. Love it.

You can listen and watch the video here. 

Love from India.

you take up so much space

There are people who have come into my life
and made their own space,
a room of sorts,
and they decorate it with their own pictures,
a table, some books, a few items that say
I am here
for a while.
Some people take a seat on the couch
and linger
for a cup of coffee...
but they don't bring any chairs or pictures.
They might carry a mug for the visit
but they take it with them when they leave.
There have been some who just needed to take something
from my life, so I gave them a few of
my blankets, my favorite plates, my bookshelf.
Maybe I gave them more than they deserved
but I didn't know that at the time.
These people sometimes leave
marks on the walls, scratches on the floor,
a mess in your heart.

But you...
You are building a home in my life.
Not a room, not a spot on the couch,
but your own home.

You take up so much space,
sometimes it scares me, so vast,
but the most beautiful space...
so different than the others.
There are windows and light and
it's always changing, growing and
you bring
more of yourself here each day.
It doesn't feel crowded or stuffy
even in the darkest of times.

It's warm, cozy...
safe and strange all at once...
and I never want you to take your pictures,
your coffee mug,
or any of the pieces of you.
Bring everything.
Stay.
Stay for longer than a while.

some india love

Some things I love right now about our India adventure...

Less than one month left here in India. I am trying to take more pictures, to soak it all up, trying not to miss...well, anything. Last weekend our friends took us on a lovely adventure, we saw a temple and also went up to a beautiful fort. (pics above from both places) We also got to eat dinner with the beautiful Rajashree Choudhury, Bikram's wife, that was so much fun! One of the highlights of the trip for me, she was so delightful and easy to talk to and I wish we'd had more time with her. Tonight we have been invited to celebrate Diwali at our student's home, he and his wife both practice the yoga. It's amazing to me how welcoming and kind so many of the people are here, they have treated us like royalty and made us feel right at home. I will miss our students very much.

Happy Diwali everyone, enjoy your day!

Love from India.

 

inspired

This is what inspires me right now.

And this.

 

This.

The story is that Robert Sturman, photographer, ran into Meghan Currie, yogi, at a cafe in NY....

she had a yoga mat, he asked her where she was going to do yoga...

and then they walked out into the city and made art. 

I can't stop looking at these pictures, I find them completely stunning.

For more inspiration by Robert Sturman, go here.

If you're like me, and have a mini yoga crush on Meghan Currie after seeing these photos, go here. 

Love from India.

wide open

Only a short time left...do I rejoice or cry?
On the way to the studio today, walking along the streets before
the chaos, the people, the traffic
I feel a rush of emotion and my eyes are suddenly
wet.
This place has dug deep and
buried herself inside me in ways I don't even understand.
Altered me.
Scared and angered me and then
amazed and blessed and humbled me.
As I near the end of this adventure,
dear India,
may my eyes stay wide open,
open my eyes.
May my heart stay wide open,
open my heart.

 
Love from India

Maru the cat makes being sick better.

As someone who does not usually get sick, I am officially admitting that I am sick. Ugh. The weather has been strange here, very muggy and heavy and I think this is the culprit...that and I think my body is probably ready for a break soon! (only a few more weeks now!) It's strange having days off from my yoga practice but it's good for me to learn to listen to my body...isn't that what I teach my students in the room anyways?? Sometimes practicing what I preach is the toughest part of all.

One good thing about being sick...you get to watch awesome, pointless You Tube videos like the one below. Seriously, even if you don't love cats, you will laugh out loud when you see this one. This cat is weird. And awesome. Just watch it.

Love from India.

Mirrors. Love. 90 Minutes.

Bikram Yoga is a 90 minute class practiced in front of mirrors. Lots of mirrors. Mirrors in front, sometimes mirrors to the side, mirrors behind, it depends on the studio. But always mirrors in front. When I first started practicing this yoga, I found it unnerving to stare at myself for 90 whole minutes. That's a long time in front of a mirror. Especially for someone who, when starting, had a less than stellar self image and never liked the image looking back at her from said mirror. So stepping into a class and being told at the beginning of the class, "Focus one point on yourself in the mirror. Don't move your eyes. Don't blink your eyes."...yeah right. Are you kidding me, lady? But there were all of these people in class doing it! I was amazed. I remember that part of being a beginner...the awe I felt for those students in the front row (so darned close to those mirrors!) who had this intense focus on themselves the whole class. 90 minutes, looking straight ahead, no distractions, complete stillness...it intimidated me to no end. I wanted that too. I wanted that confidence, that focus, to stare at myself, to see myself in the mirror. To see my strengths, my beauty and my flaws and to keep staring. 

So I kept coming to class. More and more, at first a few times a week and then at least 5-7 days per week. I was addicted. And I was determined to find my focus, to look in the mirror for 90 minutes...to see (and I didn't know it at the time) and to love what I saw looking back at me. Honestly, when I started this yoga, I had no idea what I wanted to get out of it, nor did I think that it would give me all that is has or open my eyes so wide.

I can't tell you exactly when it happened...I know that it was a gradual process. But through my practice, I have found more confidence, more self-love, more focus than I ever imagined. I can stare at myself in the mirror, for 90 minutes at a time, with love, with compassion but also with truth. The mirror doesn't lie. It tells me when my ego has joined me on the mat, when I've brought my worries into the room with me and also when I need to give myself a break. I still have classes where I see things that I don't like, of course, and the old voices try to resurface and take control. But they don't last long, not anymore, as I've gained too much strength in my mind and also my body and that makes me feel beautiful.

When I see my foot coming up over my head in Standing Bow, that is beautiful. When I lock my knee and kick my leg out in Standing Head to Knee, that is powerful. When I have sweat rolling into my eyes and I stand in stillness, that is focus. When I look at myself in the mirror at the end of my 90 minutes, no matter what kind of class I've had, that is pure joy. Because I've found the focus, the concentration...and most important, the love. For me, for all that I am and all that I am working to become.


"Bikram Yoga is the first time you start loving yourself because it's the first time you start seeing yourself." Rajashree Choudhury


Love from India.

Sleepy and my new obsession

So sleepy...
Some days just leave you bone tired. 

Today was one of those days. But in a good way, 

where I feel like I gave my all when I taught my classes today, 

I practiced my heart out 

and can now sleep sleep a beautiful sleep.

But before I close my eyes, I have to ask...

have you heard of First Aid Kit?

If not, please fix that and listen here. As soon as you can. 

Two sisters with amazing voices, I can't stop listening. 

They are my current music obsession.

Wherever you may be, enjoy your day to the fullest!

Love from India.

Being present

India has definitely made it's way into my heart and I find it hard to believe it's the last month of our trip. As we talk about in Bikram Yoga, I need to remember to stay present...right now, in this moment, here in India. Because who knows if I'll ever get to come back? So I need to grab hold of today and love it love it love it with all my might.

Here are just a few things I love about India:

 fresh coconut water (yum)

 walking home and petting an elephant on the way

 Craig getting rowdy with the local boys (rockstar much?)

the food, the food, so much food!

exploring new places with our yoga students

sharing all of this with Craig

 the beauty of right now

Wherever you are, I hope you can be present. Enjoy this moment, this day...right now.

Love from India.

 

90 Minutes of Crazy

Teach, Practice, Teach...or...Practice, Teach, Teach...or...Teach, Teach, Practice...

There are a few variations to the above routine 

but either way we end up in the hot room three times a day. 

And it's hot. And humid.

So that means lots of sweating, whether you teach a class or practice a class. 

Bikram Yoga is a 90 minute hot class. 

And it's amazing. And we love it. 

Which would explain the three times a day...

every day.

And if you're wondering if I am 

a little crazy 

as I spend most of my day in a hot room 

with other sweaty people, yes, a little. 

But I love it.

Me, or my armpit, doing Standing Bow Pulling Pose.

Love from India.

Home Sweet Home

Yesterday was tough. I won't go into details but there were alot of tears. You know when you cry so much the next day you can hardly open your eyes, they're sorta stuck together? Yup, it was like that. I am not usually one to cry so much and I think it's safe to say that I am officially homesick. Yup, I am going to admit it. But not necessarily for a place, simply for my family, for our friends, for the familiar. I think this explains the tears over my lovely burger the other night and then the fountain yesterday.

We are now in our 5th month here in India and for most of this time I have been in love with this place. Yes, of course it's been hard at times and we have had some frustrations and challenges along the way...that's to be expected, but overall we've settled in quite well. We've sort of made it our temporary home and I wasn't sure if I'd be able to do that before I got here. Maybe it just hits people at different times, but the last couple of weeks I have felt like I just want to be home...to hold my nephew (he's just started walking now!), to have coffee with my mom, to see all of our yoga friends back in Brisbane. To be honest, I think I felt like I was going to skip the whole homesick stuff while I was here...silly right?

But Craig was very supportive and amazing yesterday, he let me cry and cry and listened and listened. And trust me, it was alot of crying! He reminded me that we just have to support each other, that things are going to be okay and we don't have much longer to go. And my mom just sent us a care package in the mail and it's full of Halloween and fall goodies! It truly made my day, she's pretty awesome.  See?

 How can you go wrong with Red Vines?? Or Hello Kitty Halloween socks? Today was so much better. It's amazing how a new day brings so much hope. I want to enjoy the rest of my time here, it's going to go fast and then I will be sad that it's over.

I think one thing I am learning about travel...it's beautiful to explore new places, to have the chance to meet so many unique people, to live a different life...but it truly makes you appreciate your home, your family, friends, what you left behind. But this experience is also showing me that Craig is so much my home, my place to be, no matter what part of the world we may be in..he's where I hang my Home Sweet Home sign. And that's pretty cool.

Love from India.

 

Ghee love and some Yo La Tengo

It's Monday morning and it's lovely here in Pune. Sunny and warm, the weather here is so nice and has been for most of our stay. I taught the early class and am now enjoying some music and eating a ghee and peanut butter sandwich. Have you had ghee?? It's amazing...at first I was skeptical as I have grown up eating butter all my life but now I don't want to eat anything else...I love it. Seriously, Craig thinks there's something wrong with me because we are going through ghee so fast. But I can't help it, it's so good! And they use it in everything here in India so more fuel for my new addiction. Also, ghee is actually better for you than butter, with no saturated fat or milk solids. It can even make you more flexible which is an extra bonus for us yogis! Read more about the benefits of ghee here in an article from Yoga Journal. And one last thing is that it's so fun to say...ghee ghee ghee. Try it, I bet you'll like it.

While enjoying my ghee and peanut butter sandwich, this song was playing and I had to repeat a few times because it was making me pretty happy.  Enjoy and happy Monday!

A Burger, fries and some yoga

This weekend has been perfect, just what I needed. A weekend with a burger, fries, yoga and Craig...not necessarily in that order. And some fun on Pinterest!

 All week I've been craving a good juicy American burger and fries. Now, don't get me wrong, I love Indian food and we eat a ton of it but sometimes I just want...well, food that doesn't give me delhi belly. So last night we headed to the Hard Rock Cafe near us and indulged in a burger, fries and chocolate shake. It was the best thing ever. Ever.

Like a good yogi, I practiced my Bikram Yoga class Saturday morning and had one of the best naps that same afternoon. You know the kind where it's the perfect length, not too short or too long and you sleep really deep and wake up feeling refreshed and ready for another day? Yup, one of those. And then we proceeded to watch TV movies together. I love doing nothing with Craig. It's so nice to have that person you can just be lazy with, be tired with, just be with... And then go out and eat a big burger together.

We had our old roommate Mary over today (she lived in our yoga apt. for a month) and we all hung out, ate lunch and watched the Rugby World Cup, Ireland vs. Italy. Okay, okay, Craig and Mary watched it, I played on Pinterest. Have you tried it? It's addicting!! Mary is lovely and says things like "deadly" in her Irish accent and it actually sounds so cute. Who knew deadly could be cute? Also, she brought over bars of dark chocolate and pop so what's not to love?

Tonight I will cuddle with Craig, we will most likely order some yummy but spicy Indian food and watch the movie Whip It. If you haven't seen it yet, you should, but you may want to join a roller derby league after watching it...just a warning. I did. It doesn't matter if you can't skate, you will still want to join one.

This weekend was good because I needed to remind myself how lucky I am right now. Here, in this moment. Sure, Craig and I are in debt and can't spend much money...and maybe we are a little (okay alot!) burnt out as it's our 5th month here teaching non-stop...but overall life is pretty good. We can still enjoy a delicious burger, practice our yoga every day, get fresh juice on the side of the road, spend time with our lovely students...and most of all, we have each other. I have someone who loves me for who I am right now, not how I was before we got to India, or just when I am smiley and happy, but now. When I feel sad and homesick and cry over my delicious Hard Rock burger...he listens and doesn't judge me or get embarrassed. In that way, he loves me. And for that, I am thankful.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Love from India.