Letting Go and Giving In to Trust

What do you ponder as you wait for Yoga Class to begin?  This weekend I took to the hills of Ubud, Bali to take some time out for myself and give my undivided attention to my Practice.  Yet as I sat on my yoga mat,  in this town steeped in Yoga Culture, waiting for the class to begin, I wondered to myself what I would be able to take away from this class to incorporate into my own Teaching style.  Ordinarily I LOVE AcroYoga but on this particular day I was feeling a bit tired and just having got over a touch of the flu earlier in the week I have to admit I hadn't chosen to attend the class purely for my own growth and enjoyment.  I had a new class-concept in mind for my classes and thought I might be able to glean something from this teacher to meld into the mix.

As we sat in a circle, a small group of yogis from all over of the globe, we went from person to person and introduced ourselves and shared what it was we were hoping for in the class.  And though my thoughts had been very directed at "take-home" knowledge while waiting for class to start I found myself saying (and feeling) that I was open to whatever came from the class.  And boy am I glad that I set aside my "Teacher-education" mentality, otherwise I would have missed out on a very valuable lesson that the Practice and my fellow Yogis were waiting to impart.

The instructor, Sarah, broke us up into two groups of three people (don't you love small yoga classes!), demonstrated the first Acro pose we would undertake and our work together began.  Each one of us took a turn being the "Flyer" (the person who gets lifted), the "Base" (the person who does the lifting) and the "Spotter" (the person who keeps everyone safe).  Now you'll remember I said I wasn't feeling particularly strong or vital that day, however I had in my group a lovely couple, the male counterpart Christopher being a good foot taller than me and at least 50 lbs heavier, and the female Maria who had a reoccuring low back injury.  Due to Maria's back injury and despite my initial internal hesitation I was to be the Base to Christophers' Flyer, challenging my physical body and my confidence in doing so (don't worry they both survived!).  The boost to my confidence in my physical strength was just a side effect however of the real outcome of this Practice for me.

My Husband, Dave and I recently learned that despite our initial intentions our time in Bali was coming to an end and we would be returning well ahead of schedule to Canada.  Now for those of you who know me personally you will know that I am a Lady who likes to have a Plan and when something messes with the plan I have in my head of how things should go I become troubled (some might even say Grouchy lol).  I know this is not very Yogic, but it is one of my Samskaras (habits) that I am aware of and trying to work on. The prospect of going Home early excited me, but for all the excitement I couldn't quite let go of my fear of the Unknown.  What would happen?  What would my Life with my Husband look like in 6 months? 2 years? 10 years?  These were and are Big questions!

Working together in this Acroyoga class: communicating, building strength and confidence, and trusting in one another, helped me to realize that by holding onto my fear of the Unknown I am holding myself back from achieving GREAT things!  In order to come into this series of poses building to Star Pose (pictured below) we had to trust that the Base would support our weight and that the Spotter would be there behind us to catch us if we began to fall.  For those of you who have ever done "Trust Falls" at camp, seminars or workshops, you have some concept of what that feels like, that sensation of 'Blind-Trust' and how difficult it can sometimes be to achieve.  Each time I leaped into a Wide-legged Handstand I had to trust that there was someone there in the background to provide adjustment, guidance and support if I needed it.

 Nearing the end of our Acro session I began to see the parallels between my experiences that day on the mat and the Transitional stage I was going through off the mat. Just as I had to trust in my Flying Partners not to let me fall I have to trust that everything in Life happens for a reason, letting go of my fears and embracing the Universes' divine plan for me.  No matter what happens there will always be someone (or something) there to catch you when you fall and we shouldn't let our fears hold us back from reaching our full potential as Human Beings!  We are all destined for some form of Greatness!  You need only to discover yours! ;)

Just a little "Mat-Wisdom" from Me to You, share, like, subscribe or add your own wisdom below in the comments section.

Be Happy, Eat Healthy!

Links:

Radiantly Alive Yoga Studio, Ubud, Bali  http://www.radiantlyalive.com/

My Adventures as a Yoga Tourist Bali-Style!

Have you ever met a fellow Yogi while traveling to a far off destination?  Or found yourself sitting up late at night googling exotic locations to bring your Practice?  Yoga Travel is one of the fastest growing sectors of Tourism - with more Yogis desiring to make their holiday time a more introspective one and a whole host of "Mini Yoga Meccas" to accommodate them for a Retreat, Intensive, or even a Teacher Training in an exotic locale (just type Yoga Tourism into Google and you will be amazed at all that comes up!).  This past weekend I decided to head out (though not too far afield) on my own mini Yoga Vacation to the Heartland of Bali, Ubud!

Ubud (pronounced Oo-Bood) is only a mere 20 kms from my Home in Sanur, but due to narrow one laned roads and congested traffic it takes about one hour to arrive there.  It has a perfect blend of Balinese Culture, Nature and Yoga activities, so there is something for everyone, 'Yoga-Nut' or not.  Ubud is home to at least 3 Large Art Galleries (many more small privately owned ones), Hindu Temples, Balinese cultural dance performances, markets, Yoga studios and salas and a bevvy of delicious restaurants catering to the ever Health-conscious Yoga crowd. 

Having the opportunity to spend a long-weekend there allowed me to sample a selection of the studios Ubud has to offer, as well as numerous styles of Yoga.  I attended my very first Iyengar class at The Yoga Barn (http://www.theyogabarn.com/), the largest and most well-known studio in Ubud.  It was a Level 2 class and I spent most of it in supported Inversions, either using blocks, bolsters, blankets and straps or at times even making use of ropes which were secured to the wall.  It was quite fun and offered me some new adaptations for poses which I hadn't thought prior.  My next class was at Radiantly Alive Studio (http://www.radiantlyalive.com/), which seems to be Yoga Barn's direct competitor, offering a wide variety of classes throughout the day as well.  Here I happily spent a 90 minute Yin class sprawled against the wall stretching my hips, knees and legs, eyes closed, enjoying the subtle opening of my joints (word to the wise - bring something other than flip flops when going on vaca, they sure do hurt your feet and legs after a days worth of walking!).  Both of these classes were very enjoyable, but the real gems of my little Yoga-Adventure didn't come until Monday when I attended a Kundalini class at a locally-owned and run sala called Bodyworks Healing Centre (http://www.ubudbodyworkscentre.com/yoga.php).

Our class took place on the third floor of a more traditional Balinese building, with room for only 10 students.  Our teacher Putu lead us through a rigourous class with much leg work and core strengthening ending with a Heavenly (and much deserved!) Savasana with the Roosters crooning from the ground below. I thoroughly enjoyed the Pranayama exercises we practiced throughout this class, breathing fully in through the nose filling our bellies and than swiftly out through the mouth making a 'Shh' sound - it made me feel invigorated and very present on my mat.  And lastly I was lucky enough to have had Ketut, the Hatha Teacher from Taksu Spa (http://www.taksuyoga.com/) all to myself.  He lead me through a delightful (and chuckle-filled) Hatha class which ended with us experimenting and sharing different arm balances we knew.  And all of this taking place in a studio surrounded by lush greenery and the gushing sounds of the river which flowed around it.  Though I only spent 3 days in Ubud, it has definately made an strong impression on me and I know I will be headed back there soon to continue my exploration of the town and all it has to offer both Yogically and Culturally.   

Whether you are a first-time Yoga-traveller or a seasoned 'Retreatee' there is something on offer for everyone and a myriad of ways to find what you are looking for.  In the land of the World Wide Web you can find everything from budget/sustainable Yoga Vacations to the most luxurious of Yoga Retreats at an exotic moutain-top spa!  From the Galapagos to the Berkshires, if you can unroll a Yoga mat there rest assured someone has designed (or is right now) a Yoga Experience to be had there.  Depending on your budget you could find yourself in a small oceanside village in Nicaragua or a lavish (not to mention pricey!) villa at a spa resort in Thailand. Many of these packages include meals, accommodation, airport transfer, yoga classes and may even include other spa/wellness treatments.  My only advice when booking would be that you do a bit of research and ensure that you are headed to a destination and Yoga experience you really want and not just signing up for the first good deal that presents itself.  **See Sources & Links for links to helpful articles and websites on booking yoga vacations. 

So if after reading this you are silently kicking yourself for not having used your holidays this year to book a Yoga Retreat somewhere exotic, let go of those regrets!  You can be a Yoga Tourist, discovering new and exciting studios and further developing your practice from Home! 
Here's how:

• Try a class with a new Teacher/Style of Yoga (we often get into a groove with one teacher or style and don't what we could be missing out on by trying something/someone new)
• Book a Trial Week at a new Studio in your town/city (most studios offer discounted trial weeks for new students allowing you to try unlimited classes for the week!)
• Invite a friend (or a whole gaggle of them) to accompany you on a Yoga Studio Tour where you live and in the surrounding area (be sure to allow a bit more time for this, one month is a good starting point so you have time to experience a few classes at each place)
• Take a weekend (maybe a long weekend) and visit a neighbouring town/city specifically to try out the Yoga Studios they have to offer (book into a quiet hotel, eat lots of fresh & delicious food, make it your own little Yoga Retreat - personalized just for you!)

Anyways I hope my musings on my most recent adventures in Yoga (and travel) have got you excited about where your Practice will take you next, whether it be literally or figuratively!  Has anyone been on a Yoga Trip or Retreat (organized or of your own making) recently?  If so, what are your thoughts on your destination?  Please feel free to comment down below! 

Be Happy, Eat Healthy!

Sources & Links:

http://www.theyogabarn.com/
http://www.radiantlyalive.com/
http://www.ubudbodyworkscentre.com/yoga.php
http://www.taksuyoga.com/
http://thetravelyogi.com/
http://www.sustainabletrip.org/yoga
http://solyogatrips.com/trips
http://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/984679/affordable-yoga-retreats
http://www.coastalliving.com/travel/twenty-three-best-coastal-yoga-retreats-00400000065636/page5.html
http://yogaindiatours.com/yoga-tour.html