Bali

Just arrived back in Dublin, where my blog has decided to work again, so here is an update on all things yoga in Bali.

The ashram did not prove a success.  It felt a lot more like a homestay where meal times were fixed at unpleasant hours and activity started at 4am.  Maybe it was because there was only one other guest staying, but we were not encouraged to participate in the prayer ceremonies.  The one that I did attend, evening prayer, felt a little bit like sitting in on an Irish catholic family as they were saying the rosary before bed.  Yoga, of any sort was not a big feature of ashram life and the one class I attended was really a very basic guided practice.  So I took my jet lagged, sleep deprived self off to a hotel and sat by the pool for a few days while I made a new - far more expensive and therefore shortened plan.

So after a few days jet-lag recovery (and a spectacular scuba dive) in Candidasa, I arrived in Ubud.  It's yoga central and it could have been designed just for me.  The main street is filled with shops selling lovely yoga clothes, Buddhas, crystals and other spiritual paraphernalia; Ayurvedic centres, reflexology centres; and organic, vegan, environmentally friendly restaurants. Heaven!  I had to repeat to myself that the prayer beads, figurines of Hindu deities, spiritual art, wooden handcrafts and closely clothes will not look so attractive back in Dublin.  (Well a few souvenirs are allowed!)

By far the best thing about ubud is the Yoga Barn, a huge compound with 2 yoga studios, organic cafe, Ayurvedic healing rooms, and workshops on everything from Kirtan to the intriguingly named hula hoop jam. I have just four days in ubud so I intend to make the most of them and take as many and as varied classes as possible.  I went to a level 2 vinyasa the first afternoon, and I think it must be one of the strongest classes I've ever attended.  Exhausting but invigorating.  All of the teachers proved extraordinary and it was truly humbling to view the strength and elegance of their practice, especially from where I was standing, beet-red and sweat-soaked on a slippery mat.  Lovely!  

I've made notes on all the classes that I attended which I'll post over the next few days.  Hope they will be of interest to fellow teachers and in your own practices. 

Namaste

The last module

Yesterday was the last day of the last module of my teacher training.   A beautiful end to an extraordinary experience, I could never have imagined as I started this course that it would bring such wonderful people into my life and that a group of people who spent a mere 200 hours together would become so important to each other.  I guess it must have been all the time spent doing manual adjustments on each other, standing on each other's backs and practicing 'basketball bum'!

I can't help thinking back to my first attempts at teaching and all the friends who bravely allowed me to use them as my guinea pigs.  Notably, testing out my first teaching assignment on an unfortunate friend ("ok, you can practice on me but can I leave the West Wing on?"  "No!!").  Even when I've been frustrated at using up my annual leave to do this course, especially at 7am on a bank holiday Monday, I've enjoyed every minute of teaching and practicing with friends, and all the cups of tea, baked goods and gossip that accompanied it.

I've promised to keep in touch with everyone so my next post will be from Ashram Gandhi in Candidasa, Bali.  I'll make sure to post photos of terrifying bugs and me washing floors so you don't think I'm having too good a time : D

The end of one leg and the beginning of another

The last week in this particular leg of my yoga journey.  I’m approaching the final module with a mixture of excitement, relief and nerves – there are exams to pass after all!  Chatting with three fellow trainees after after Tony’s 7pm class, I think we are all experiencing mixed emotions.  A helpful alumnus of the training course offered us some tips and reassurance.  Now I am mostly happy to be spending the upcoming weekend with a lovely group of people with whom I have shared an extraordinary seven months, practising, living and talking yoga.  After five weeks of leave from work, I am also craving the structure and routine.

And then there is Bali … Flights are booked, accommodation sorted and airport transfers arranged.  I’m departing just 8 days after the module finishes.  Again, I feel oddly relaxed about the whole adventure.  I have no idea what I’m getting myself into, but it just feels right.  Asia, sunshine and a more yoga lifestyle has been calling for some time.  After months of emotional strain: an unsettling (but fortunately groundless) health scare, a minor car accident, losing my home, enforced time off work and, worst of all, losing my closest, dearest friend an ashram seems the perfect place to heal and think about how I can repair and rebuild. 

The aforementioned enforced time off work has given me a lot more time to study yoga.  Although yoga is already a significant part of my life, I still have a lot to learn about how to integrate yoga principles into how I approach and live my life.  I am dedicating this time in Bali to learning balance and rediscovering joy.     

A new class and plane tickets

Brilliant level 2 class with Michael started this morning in the Yoga Room at 9.45am.  

• ·       Started with several repetitions of SNA and SNB. 
• ·       Vira II to Parsvakanasana to Vira II (right and left), then Vira II to Trikonasana to Ardha Chandrasana, clasping raised foot (right and left)
• ·       Padmottanasana
• ·       Variation on Utthita Hasta Padagusthasana
• ·       Balance with one leg engaged and crossed at a right angle above standing knee, leaning forward to place hands on floor, tuck food and shin into armpits and attempt to raise standing leg.  Can’t seem to find a name for this pose
• ·       Squat to Bakasana and squat to Parsva Bakasana
• 
  
• ·       Vasisthasana (Side Plank Pose) to Camatkarasana (Wild Thing)
• Sivasana!

Oh, and the best start to the day: my tickets to Bali arrived in the post!

Finally discovering the sutras

With the final module coming up fast I’ve been spending more time on reading and writing up essays on the kleshas and gunas and on the first two yamas.  Now that I have the time to devote proper attention to the sutras, I’m finding them fascinating.  As revision time is getting tight, I’m focussing my attention on the exam but I feel I will continue studying yoga. 

My next move should facilitate further study, as today I booked a stay in an ashram in Bali.  Leaving 8 November. Can NOT wait!

Changes, future plans and Sam

Moved apartment and got a new puppy recently so I'm afraid the blog has been sadly neglected.  However, I have been busy cramming for my final yoga module, securing a studio for my first course of classes, organising a trip to an ashram in Bali (of more anon) and, of course, wrestling my yoga mat from mischievous young men named Sam.

Sthira and Sukha

Monday, 1 October

October already and just 30 days until this leg of my yoga training is complete.  Organised to see a space on Wednesday for my first proper classes.

This evening's class was on the theme of giving a receiving - bringing the whole beautiful notion of sthira and sukha to your practice.   In deference to the theme, I didn't force myself into a greater sense of ease but remained conscious of softening in the postures.

I can't imagine feeling inspired to dedicate a practice to a particular theme, much less competent enough to guide people into that theme.  Again not the day to worry about it, but given that I do need to start working on my final coursework essays I am going to start thinking about it.