Desiree's Yoga Adventures

Anger Happens

2012-01-24T15:50:00.001-08:00

Anger Happens….

Aligning with our True Nature means continuing to develop the habit of remembering the Big Picture and seeing ourselves and others as powerful Creators. Monitoring our emotional state is a bit like taking our temperature. How we feel in any given moment is the best gauge of how connected we are to Spirit. When we are fully connected, we naturally feel happy and at peace. When negative emotions arise, such as anger, fear or sadness, we can take it as a sign that it is time to practice and remember who we are.

Anger is one of the most potent and powerful human emotions. It is often called a mask for fear. It is also a mask for hurt and part of a defense mechanism that is built into our psyche and fed by our own thoughts. Fear and disappointment make us feel separate, which breeds more fear and ultimately loneliness.

Sometimes, we get so angry with others that we close our hearts to them, blocking the normal flow of lovingkindness between us, causing even further separation. At first, we are angry about the event, and then we become even angrier as we continue to think about it or rant about it. We become so engulfed in the negativity that we draw conclusions based on anger (or fear) instead of love.

This is where the yoga that we have been so diligently practicing can and should help us. As we have been refining our ability to witness our bodies in various poses, we have become more familiar with the idea that we are the master of our thoughts rather than the slave. When a pose is causing pain, we can shift our body position and make it feel better. In the same way, we can begin to transform any type of negative emotion with increasing skill and speed.

If our practice has taught us anything, it is to see within a short time, the truth of any situation. There is an event and then there is our perception of it. The event is actually quite objective and simple. Our perception is subjective in that after the initial flame of anger ignites inside us, if we continue to fan the flame, then we are actually choosing to make it burn even hotter. In the heat of the moment, it may not feel like we can do anything to change it, however, the reality is--we can. Of course we cannot change the event, but we can always change our interpretation of it.

Anger usually feels like heat. Think of a fire and how quickly it can grow from a smoldering ember into a blazing inferno that can destroy an entire house or a forest in a short time. Fire causes transformation. How do you feel when someone you love yells at you or gives you the cold shoulder because you let them down in some way? Does it make you feel angry, sad or hurt? Is this feeling of separation ever constructive? What can you do to use your anger constructively and use it as an opportunity to get closer to the person rather than pushing them away.

The next time you have an opportunity to practice with real anger, let it to burn inside of you and allow yourself to feel the incredible power of the flame. What will you do next? Many of us will explode, while some of us will keep the anger inside and implode. Holding anger inside is not recommended for any length of time. An angry outburst allows the heat to escape, yet at the same time can cause hurt and more anger to arise in the object we are aiming at. Though it feels like a release, it is rarely constructive and most often sadly, destructive. What I am suggesting is----- Don't yell at people or raise your voice!

Perhaps there is a way to express the feeling of anger in a journal or to an outsider before aiming the intensity at the one who triggered it. The anger must be dealt with. It is not healthy to leave it smoldering inside our own heart and mind, and yet, when we turn it outward, we often end up contributing to the upset of another as well as our own.

At the core of our difficulty with handling our anger is a common belief that the behavior of others must be controlled. This unfortunately leaves us feeling vulnerable to their behavior. When they disappoint us or ignite the flame of our anger in some way, we lash out to let them know we feel hurt. The truth is that the only real reason we ever feel good or bad has nothing to do with the behavior of others and everything to do with how in or out of alignment we are with our own Higher Wisdom. That alignment is the reason for the emotions we feel. When we know that truth deep in our bones, we take notice of our state of alignment and we nurture and monitor it regularly. In this way we bring a little more peace to the world every day.

"Discomfort is an opportunity for self-reflection. The opportunity is missed when it becomes defensiveness." Unknown author
This is my New Year's offering. I intend to focus on it and bring my awareness to it and I invite you to join me,

Lovingly, Desiree

Can we help the world?

2011-10-12T15:44:00.000-07:00

What’s happening in the world today and what can we do to help?

As social protests are popping up spontaneously in places all over the world it becomes difficult to ignore the great change the world is experiencing. It's still unclear what will come about in the months and years ahead and what our experience of the world will be, but people are starting to theorize. This morning I read an article in the NY Times by Thomas Freidman (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/12/opinion/theres-something-happening-here.html?_r=1) which addresses some of the various predictions the experts are making on what is coming next. One theory suggests a complete disruption of a system they say is reaching its limits, the other imagines a shift and a new flow of ideas and possibilities.

Here is an excerpt from a Buddhist teaching that I felt really resonated with the current situation:
Ultimately, there is no escape whatsoever. That is reality and a fundamental tenet of the Truth. Comfort and happiness while certainly sometimes aided by external conditions, are found only inside.

Dissatisfaction is pernicious, corrosive and relentless. It acts like water on iron. No matter where you are in the world, this is the emotion to be extirpated or endless pain will be your lot.
Things are going to become progressively weirder, unsettled and less secure….everywhere. Watching what is coming will be painful, but the exercise will provide amazing opportunities to manifest ultimate altruism while whittling away at our powerful tendency at self-cherishing. In the end, this was the message of the Dalai Lama.

You have a short time left here on earth. A drop of water in an endless ocean. Each moment spent indulging our own pain is a moment lost forever and cuts us off from all else. An exercise in futility.

Make a decision, any decision. Live with it and thrive, wherever you are. Staying on the bubble is where the point of pain will be most acute. Once you leave the human form, who can say what opportunities there will be to be sentient? Right now, you are human. It is perfectly OK to feel pain, but doing so at the expense of joy makes the world very small and in that case, it matters little where the body resides.

Safety is an illusion.

The sun is coming up just now.
Things are far from perfect.
Things are perfect.
Awakening comes from the view of pure perception. Anything less obfuscates the truth, impeding progress and the expression of love.
What can we as individuals do to help ease the impending transition? It seems that the highest road involves doing anything within our realm to keep our hearts and minds open. We can reach out to connect with each other cooperatively whenever possible rather than separating out of fear that there won't be enough. If we share, there will always be enough and finally, we can keep remembering that we are all in this together. If everyone does better, everyone does better.

With love and compassion,

Desiree

Oprah shares her wisdom

2011-09-26T19:48:00.000-07:00

I remember watching the Oprah Winfrey show for the first time when my daughter Jessica was an infant. It was a sweet afternoon ritual--- sitting on the couch, holding my baby while her two year old brother was napping. I was just beginning my study of yoga and was very inspired by this powerful, courageous, creative woman who is about my age. Her show was ground breaking, and as she was in the running with Phil Donahue and other talk show hosts, it quickly became clear to the world that this show was different. Every day there was a new and even more inspiring topic brought to the audience and we all shared in the laughter and the tears.

Twenty five years later, Oprah has completed her talk show and launched her own Network. She shared with us in this interview that this is the first time in her life that she has been even a little bit afraid. She is truly taking a leap of faith. She was recently featured in an hour long interview with Facebook that was so inspiring that I was moved to share it with my friends and students. It was fun to watch Oprah trying very hard to allow the interviewer to actually conduct the interview rather than just take over and do the whole thing herself. She is, after all, one of the most famous interviewers in the world!

The first question she asked the audience was "What would you do if you were not afraid?" That is a thought provoking question that could seriously change someone's life. The theme for me over the past year has been "Love is Stronger Than Fear" and this lesson continues to unfold in my life and the lives of many others in all kinds of ways. I recognize it when I feel the knot in my stomach or the tears that well up. My inner guidance system is working to lead me to listen to and follow my heart.

Oprah revealed that everyone at her company is learning to meditate. They call it "Quiet Time" and they have a special moment set aside twice a day. She now has the students at her school for girls in Johannesberg participating in quiet time on a daily basis and especially before exams and sports events. According to Oprah, going into that still space for a moment brings a deeper sense of who you are ----- rather than talking out of the top of your head, habitually repeating unconscious patterns of speech and behavior.

Another of her strong personal messages is that everyone wants to be seen and heard and that it is possible for each and every person in the world to be the highest expression of themselves. In other words, everyone matters and needs to know they matter.

She encourages people to recognize that every single thing that ever happened good or bad is part of who we are now and who we will become. Her own story is very moving, as she came from an meager home, raised by her grandmother in the south and went on to believe in a bigger dream. It is through her own struggles that she developed so much empathy. I was amazed to hear how similar Oprah's beliefs are to our yogic philosophy. She feels that there is something greater than all of us and by remembering that we will know that all will be well. The Bigger Picture is the one we have to keep in mind during the everyday ups and downs of our individual lives.

Thank you Oprah and thank you Facebook for making it possible for this profound message of faith, courage and connection to be heard by millions of people around the world.

Unconditional Love

2011-09-12T19:41:00.000-07:00

Is it Possible to Love Unconditionally?

Is unconditional love between people really possible, or do we all place conditions on our love?

All close relationships begin with loving, open-hearted feelings flowing freely between people. Time passes, events happen, people disappoint each other and the love lessens. In some cases, it just grows a little dimmer, but sometimes it can turn to strong feelings of dislike or disdain.

We have all experienced this hardening of our hearts, shutting down in an effort to protect ourselves. Even though it doesn't necessarily feel good, we find ourselves slipping into this place where we set limits on how much love we will show to another. Sometimes we want to define this closing of our hearts as setting healthy boundaries.

Of course we all need to set appropriate boundaries with a variety of people in our lives. Setting boundaries doesn't have to mean harboring anger, resentment or bitterness towards another being, even if they hurt us directly. Great beings in history have already set this example for us.

We can release hard feelings and enjoy a more neutral relationship even with the most difficult people in our lives. This is the first step on the path to healing. We can hold our hearts open unconditionally in a loving way even with those whom which we choose not to spend time.

What happens to your heart when we shut down a part of it that used to be open to another? Do we suffer from hardening of the heart in a similar way to the pain and dis-ease we experience from hardening of the arteries?

Regardless of our philosophical beliefs, the fact remains that we are born and we die. During the time in between, we get to choose whether or not we want to keep our hearts open fully to all beings, past and present, and enjoy the experience of living joyfully.

We gain nothing by choosing to shut down. Even if we believe that the other person doesn't deserve our kindness or good will, there is a way to release fear and negativity. We think that it gives us a bit of control over the situation to hold back our lovingkindness, when in fact, we have just surrendered our own power to an idea. If we have closed our heart to even one other person, we are the ones who ultimately suffer.

We can set our intention to keep our hearts open regardless of the actions of others or the events of our life or our world. We can process fully our negative feelings and then choose love, forgiveness and happiness. We can make it a practice and get better and faster at doing it.

In my travels, I have been fortunate to hear all kinds of stories and what I have learned is that people are the same all over the world. There are definitely cultural differences, but in our hearts, we all feel similar things. Everywhere I go I see that people are waking up to this possibility that a shift of heart is necessary. Grace moves so much more freely through people who have learned how to open the doors of their hearts towards others.

Our spiritual work is learning to live ever more skillfully in a way that helps us to manage negative stress, fear or melodrama more gracefully. I am grateful to have become connected to all of you who read this newsletter. You have touched me, I have grown. I am proud to be associated with you and will continue to support your expansion, unconditionally.

Los Angeles, CA July 2008

2008-07-24T04:43:00.000-07:00

What an amazing weekend I had with the earth angels in Los Angeles. I have been teaching yoga workshops in this city since the year 2000 and it remains one of the most delightful places I ever visit.

From the time my plane touches down at LAX I can feel the vibration of creativity. It seems that almost everyone I meet is either recording a CD or making a DVD or writing a script for a movie or trying to be a star in one. That kind of energy really feeds me and adds to my already endless energy.

We had some crazy fun yoga experiences this weekend. Where else on the planet can you get 35 people out of 70 who can balance in the middle of the room on their hands until you have to ask them to come down? Where can you find women in their mid sixties doing arm balances with such ease?

And thank you Jose for the beautiful red roses that we held in our teeth while we all did a giant group drop back.

I am grateful for the chance to teach and play with these creative and light filled souls that I have met through the Anusara community. It has grown so much here in LA and now these students whom I have known for almost a decade are nurturing and guiding students of their own.

You all honor the method and me and I am very grateful. Thank you Brandon Chiang for taking these fantastic photos and for laughing so loudly at my jokes, right there in the front row. Thanks to all of you for sharing from your heart. I received so many thank you notes and heartfelt sharing of your own experiences.

This workshop was entitled "Mastering the Mind." When yoga students have such strong practices, the next challenge has to be a deeper exploration of the mind and you were all in!

Thank you for your love and support. You lift me up.

Here are some great photos of the event.

Re-birthing Berlin

2008-05-09T22:25:00.000-07:00

The final stop on the whirlwind tour was Berlin, Germany. This was my first visit and definitely not my last. Berlin is a city that has been re-awakening and re-defining itself since 1989 when the wall came down.

Today there is a renewal of energy and creativity that is so vital and free that it becomes more and more difficult to find reminders of this beautiful city's painful history. And at the same time, much care has been taken to build memorials and leave some of the memories behind in honor of the courageous people who believed in freedom for all.

Vilas and Lalle and Lutz, my hosts and the co-owners of City Yoga saw to it that I was well taken care of and educated around the history of Berlin. I appreciated the tour of the city and I think it helped me to connect with the students a little more deeply. City Yoga is only 4 years old and is already recognized as THE place to do yoga in Berlin. I found the students and the teachers eager to learn and very excited about Anusara Yoga. City Yoga's place in the city was carefully chosen. It is right across the street from a synagogue. Their mission is to contribute yogically to the unification of Berlin. From what I can see, the plan is working. They have poured incredible love and devotion into their trainings and classes and have worked endless hours over these past years.

The quality of studentship was very high and the depth of reverence for the practice of yoga was ever present in each class.

Now they are one of only three Anusara studios in Europe. The other two are in Italy, Roma and Bologna.

Bravo my friends! I can't wait to return. After five weeks of constant traveling, I feel great. (Must be the European lifestyle and of course, the FOOD!)

This was truly the trip of a lifetime and I plan to make it an annual experience for years to come.

On my last day, Vilas gave me another tour of Pottsdam and all the spectacular parks and castles. I had never seen anything like this before.

Incredible Italy

2008-05-09T22:16:00.001-07:00

This was my fourth visit to teach in Italy, the country of one half of my heritage (my mother's side). Mama Mia! It is so easy to fall in love with Italy. These people just know how to make food and they know how to enjoy it. They live, love and laugh with great gusto.

Piero Vivarelli, a certified Anusara Yoga teacher in Bologna, has grown a large, enthusiastic and thriving Anusara Yoga community over the last five years and I am very happy to be considered a part of that family. The first time I visited he had a group of about 22 in a gym where he was teaching.

Each year after that, the workshops grew steadily to first a weekend with 30 people and then 45 and this year we had 80!

The most amazing thing is that some of those original 22 are still with us.

This was a place for me to go deep with the teachings. These students are devoted to their yoga practice and very eager to experience the transformation that comes only from steady practice over a long period of time with patience and devotion.

On Monday morning we had an advanced practice and although exhausted and a little bit sore from the weekend, we all managed to come to new awareness and discoveries at an even deeper level.

I am still trying to learn to speak some Italian and every now and then I would suprise them with a phrase that would make everybody laugh. Another interesting fact---Bologna was the European workshop with the most men during my entire tour. Good going Piero! And of course, I love my female friends very dearly. Caterina and I bonded the way only Italian women can bond as we went on our traditional annual shopping spree. I gotta have my new Italian clothes!

I was able to re-connect with some of my very dear Roman friends who came to Bologna for the weekend. Ciao Alba, Claudia and Paula. I always feel so loved and cared for in Italy.

Greatness in Greece

2008-05-08T20:38:00.000-07:00

Every time I teach Anusara Yoga in a new place I learn another new thing about the power of our practice. Athens is a very busy crowded city loaded with all kinds of people living life fully pretty much around the clock. (Except on Sunday mornings when they like to sleep in from partying all night Saturday!)

Everywhere we went in the city we could still see a view of the Acropolis up on the hill. Though the city is crowded and cluttered and decorated with graffiti, I found a unique kind of beauty in the mixture of ancient ruins and old buildings. Some modern structures here and there. I also experienced some very creative driving and parking!!

The most seasoned students and teachers attended the workshop helping to make it very vibrant and powerful. The thing I learned is that yoga, although alive and well all over the world, has been taught so carefully in the past, with so many rules and restrictions, that many students and teachers are afraid of their bodies. There is value in this type of teaching as it protects people, and yet the gift we bring with Anusara alignment principles and philosophy is a welcome release from this fear and it was accepted with open arms.

What could be more delightful than helping others to release themselves from the bondage of fear?

They have a saying in Greece that means "slowly, slowly" and it is evident that life is meant to be enjoyed. It is woven deeply into the culture.

Our last night, my hosts Eraj and Vivi organized a group of people to go Salsa dancing in an area called Psiti, the hip part of town. Outdoor cafes and hanging white lights make this one of the newer more happening areas for cool people like us. We found a great place with live Latin music and danced till the wee hours. This is how I like to experience a new city. Good food, rocking yoga, lots of laughter and great dancing. Yasou! I will be back.

I then flew to Santorini for a little resting holiday. It was fun to explore the caldera and Oia. I can't wait to return next year.

Cool Copenhagen

2008-05-08T20:22:00.000-07:00

How it all began: I met Soham, one of the owners of Hamsa Yoga while I was teaching in Chiang Mai, Thailand as a guest at Jonas Westring's teacher training. He said "Why not stop by Copenhagen while you are in Europe next spring?" I am so glad I took him up on this offer.

First of all, Soham is a magical being. He doesn't spend a lot of time stressing out about anything-- including his yoga practice, which is very beautiful by the way. And everywhere we went in town, people know and love him so much that they tended to give us things for free!

Soham and his business partner Trine have created a very wonderful studio with a hip international vibe. Trine is the perfect balance for Soham. Formerly an executive with a bank, she is totally organized and motherly all at the same time. In the short time I was with them we ate great (and often decadent) food, practiced yoga, went sightseeing and became good friends.

Notice I always put the food part first? This entire trip was really about eating!

It was rainy and cold the entire time I was there, but that didn't stop Soham from giving me the grand tour of Copenhagen on a bike! Anyone who knows me well knows that you would have to be pretty persuasive to get me to ride a bike in traffic, in the cold rain! But I did it and he was patient and I learned that it really is a biking culture, unlike anything I have ever seen in the states. Cars actually wait for bikes. Imagine that!

We saw the Little Mermaid and had a great vegetarian lunch in the hippie town of Christiania. And of course we ate traditional Danish cakes and drank hot chocolate with real whipped cream. Again---for those who know me----see how persuasive Soham is? I don't eat cake!!!

Trine took me to a place where we could use the steam and sauna and rub rosemary oil with salt all over our bodies. That wonderful ritual was the perfect preparation for our lively afternoon teacher's practice. (see photo) These lively fun loving teachers are all genuinely interested in studying Anusara and it was pure joy to share it with them and all of their students. I look forward to returning to visit these strong and fun people again next year.

Celebrating Zurich

2008-05-08T06:16:00.000-07:00

The hearts and homes of the yogis in Zurich kept me warm in the cold winter becoming spring weather. This was my first time in Switzerland and I am happy to say that Anusara Yoga is alive and well there. Jeff Fisher moved there from Los Angeles a couple of years ago and his efforts, along with many other fine teachers, have created a strong and growing community of people who are sincerely interested in transformation on both personal and global levels.

I had great discussions over beautiful meals with students on every subject, from politics to relationships to yoga and the "green revolution".

The city of Zurich reminds me of Disneyland in some ways. It is very neat and clean and there are some famous and colorful clock towers. One afternoon Jeff and I went to a private club where people can use the sauna, steam and jacuzzi. We sat in the jacuzzi outside the deck watching the swans go by in the lake. Does it get more idillyc than that?

I look forward to returning to Zurich in March. I think they are going to be hungry for more intermediate poses. They love a good challenge. I reminded them that Anusara makes the easy poses harder so the hard poses will eventually become easier.

Europe 2008

2008-05-07T20:49:00.000-07:00

Marvelous Madrid

Madrid is a vibrant, busy, youthful city with beautiful old art and architecture. This was my first stop on my whirlwind tour and I had a week to do some sightseeing and get used to being in Europe.

My hostess, Gisela, generously took me into her home and into her life for the entire week. I played games with her nine year old son Ismael, we practiced yoga and we walked all over the city together.

On the weekend,about 30 students gathered for the first Anusara workshop Gisela had ever hosted in her studio, Arati. We all laughed and played and worked hard and became friends in 48 hours. We may have worked a little too hard because we made plans to go out Salsa dancing on Sunday night and everyone cancelled because they were exhausted. Gisela and I had a great time though! We danced with all kinds of characters and this was only one of the many times during the week that I gave thanks to my high school Spanish teachers. It all comes back, like riding a bicycle. The students were very whenever I taught any part of the class in Spanish.

Other highlights were a typical Sunday lunch at the home of Gisela's parents. Being one half Italian, I am very accustomed to being fed with passion and enthusiasm. It was a lively and delicious feast of love, fantastic food and raucous laughter. (Language is never a barrier when it comes to food and laughter).

The next day we took a tour of Amore de Dios, the most famous Flamenco Dance School in Madrid, where Gisela's mother is the well-loved receptionist. People come from all over the world to train there. We admired and understood their hard work and dedication to their art form. Que Maravilloso!

We spent one morning at the Prado museum and enjoyed meals at almost every one of the unique and delightful vegetarian restaurants in Madrid. There are many!

I was absolutely in food heaven on this trip. Muchas Gracias a todos por una semana encantada! I want to see more of Spain and hope to return in 2010.

Thailand and Australia

2008-05-07T20:39:00.000-07:00

Nifty New Zealand

2008-05-07T07:10:00.000-07:00

Nifty New Zealand

In December 2007 I taught a workshop in Christchurch, New Zealand. When my sponsor, Katie Lane, set this up, she warned me that it might be only twelve people as yoga was still growing in NZ. But with Anusara Yoga being the magnet that it is combined with Katie's excellent marketing skills, the group grew to fifty people in no time! They came from all over NZ and other countries as well.

I feel they are off to a great start and Katie is doing a marvelous job all by herself as an American yogini living in a foreign country.

After the workshop, Andrew and I rented a car and spent the next 12 days touring the entire South Island. We took in an overdose of Shri! There was scene after scene of incredible breathtaking beauty at every turn.

We hiked in Abel Tasman Park and kayaked in Golden Bay. We lived like gypsies staying in a different hotel room each night. The hotels ranged from average motels to beautiful straw bale creations with composting toilets to first class apartments with all the best amenities.

The weather was early summer with plenty of sunshine and occasional sprinkles. We soaked up the sun and spent as much time outside as possible. The landscape of NZ is an ever changing palette of green with splashes of every color in the rainbow. Imagine the best of Tuscany, Maui, Colorado, Switzerland and Alaska all rolled into one wild and free continuous painting.

We had picnics and hikes and took a magical boat tour of Milford Sound. A driving vacation may not sound great but when you are surrounded by such magnificence, the time goes by effortlessly.

We skipped the bunjy jumping. Gotta leave something for next time. We did try the "white bait" which is a seafood delicacy. And I enjoyed the "flat white"---a version of cappucino or a latte with a thick layer of frothed milk.

Thank you to the yogis of New Zealand for enthusiastically supporting the growth of Anusara. You are all wild and free and beautiful, just like your country!

2007-12-04T16:20:00.000-08:00

Marvelous Malaysia

In Kuala Lumpur we were welcomed by 70 very enthusiastic students for a five day Anusara immersion. Clare Rafferty, a certified Anusara teacher from Tasmania, flew in to assist me along with Andrew and two of the local Anusara-Inspired teachers, Alice and Vincent, our host.

Students gathered from all parts of Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia and Hong Kong for this special event. We spent time over the next five days playfully and earnestly studying the technique and philosophy of Anusara. The students ranged from very new to fairly experienced and it was very heartwarming to watch the group grow together towards a deepened understanding of Yoga.

Each evening was a feast of Malaysian delights. We replayed the amazing Taiwanese dumpling experience one night. The next night our entire group met for a delectable Chinese dinner where we celebrated Andrew's 48th birthday. He was given three birthday cakes over three days! And no trip to KL would ever be complete without traditional Malaysian food. Be sure to try the Sago, a "tapioca" like pudding in coconut milk.

This enthusiastic group took endless photos of us and brought us gifts and cards from a place of open hearted gratitude and love. Even the students who could barely understand English were participating wholeheartedly with the assistance of a few well placed translators.

We are very excited about the growth of Anusara in all of Asia and look forward to returning to offer more trainings to this group next year.

Scintillating Sydney

Next stop after a red eye 7 hour flight----The Land Down Under. We rested on our own in the Central Business District for a couple of days taking in the tourist sights such as Darling Harbour, Hyde Park, the Rocks and the ferry to Manly. The city is full of old world charm and we thoroughly enjoyed the small things like the historic architecture and people watching around the fountain in the park. Each evening we watched a little Australian TV. We learned that the country was just celebrating the election of Rudd, the new Prime Minister. (This would be the equivalent of a democratic victory in our country). We are hoping that a little of their victory will rub off onto us this fall. There is a whole new wave of excitement around that long awaited victory.

In our spare time, we tried to figure out the phonetics of the Aussie accent. Andrew's favorite new expression is "No wuckin' furries mate!"

The funniest example of this accent difference happened innocently enough during the weekend when I gave the instruction to drag the heels back isometrically. The Aussies hear that word as "Asymmetrically", so you can imagine the hilarious confusion when we discovered how absolutely impossible that action would be in setu bhanda!

We met our hostess, Cassandra, from the Art of Yoga on Friday and she took us to the studio to practice with all of the teachers.

We became very fast friends and were absolutely spoiled rotten by these people for the next four days. 50 eager students from all over Australia came together, along with Clare from Tasmania, who assisted us again, for a beautiful weekend of learning and sharing.

On Monday, Craig Sharpe, the owner of Art of Yoga, organized a beach picnic complete with hiking in the Royal National Park, body surfing and prawns on the barbie. We celebrated the pure and abundant Shri of Australian spring and early summer frolicking in the water and enjoying the succulent barbequed fish with the ripest mangoes I have ever seen.

We spent the next three days at Bondi Beach generously hosted by Kate Clere (sister of Saraswati, from Berkeley) and family. We were thoroughly entertained by the adorable antics of their two children ages 7 and 4.

Our Asian Tour

2007-11-19T18:50:00.000-08:00

Terrific Taiwan November 9-11, 2007

Our first stop on this whirlwind adventure was Taipei where we stayed in the home of my good friends, Matthew and Wendy Allison, the owners of Space Yoga Studio. This was my third visit to Space and it was extremely heartwarming to see the tremendous growth of Anusara there.
My thanks to Bruce Bowditch and Chris Arcucci who spent many months building the kula there. And now they have left it in the excellent hands of Naichin, Felina, Sharline and Chi.

Over 50 students attended each session with devoted enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. The translators were sharp and engaging which supported my teaching tremendously.

We were hosted in the most gracious way and ate delicious food at several fine restaurants including a Dumpling House. Andrew claims that this was the best and most memorable meal of his life! If you know how much he loves to eat, you know that this is quite a statement!

Stunning Singapore Nov. 13-14, 2007

Singapore has got to be one of the cleanest and most organized cities in the world. The streets are decorated colorfully and every place you go is absolutely spotless. We were hosted in first class fashion by Pure Yoga and guided by onw of their teachers, smiling William Wong. He emanates the radiance of Anusara every time you see him. 40 enthusiastic students, some of which were new to Anusara, sweated through 12 hours of training with us in 2 full days!

These people were very dedicated and humble. We enjoyed teaching and practicing with them and did almost all of the advanced poses in that short time!

Tantalizing Thailand Nov. 16-18, 200

We spent 4 nights in Bangkok and had 3 fabulous Thai massages and 3 delicious Green Curry dinners. Why mess around when you know what you like? We were lovingly guided by a student from Yoga Elements on a tour of the Grand Palace (including the Emerald Buddha) and What Pho where we had massages at the official Thai Massage School. We took the sky train, the subway and river boats. On our last afternoon, we went to the Chauctuchuk weekend market and saw many different and wonderful Thai treasures including every color of lotus flower, a 4 year old boy playing music and a young man feeding popsicles to two tiny chihuahuas.

Bangkok is a bustling city with great food and shopping and pink taxis and Tuk Tuks. Thai massage is strong and healing and only about ten bucks an hour. A haircut and a pedicure cost about $3.50 each. You can't beat a deal like that!

We met yoga students from all over the world and had a great time sharing the joy of
Anusara Yoga with them for the weekend. Anusara is just beginning to grow here and we are seeing the sprouts of the seeds that have been planted by other teachers who have been here before us. The flexibility and studentship of all Asian students is unsurpassed, but we were really blown away on Saturday afternoon when every student in the class went right up into headstand without the wall.

Thai people are very friendly, positive and generous. Our needs were met at every turn in magical ways and we felt guided every step of the way.

Thailand may have to be one of our r and r stops every year as we now feel completely rested, well-groomed and well-fed.