Happy Anniversary, Yoga Thailand! (Part 1)

Paul lights the candle...

Paul and The Sea

Photo of the Day (Dec 2)

Hmmmm.
I am thinking of the caption for this photo. What shall I call you?
a) Name this asana
b) The not-so-subtle anatomy
c) Dancing Neil-taraja

Day 27 (Dec 2)

Oh, my beloved full moon.

Today was unbelievable. It started normal. We started with Pranayama, Day 2 of Bastrika. We had a led session in the morning (practical exam of Group 5) and then had the oral exams. I think did fairly well (the lower I, that is...), almost stumbled over two asanas but I did remember all of them. We practice everyday and I slept with Paul's practice card afterall...

Then the monks came. It's Yoga Thailand's anniversary and they came from the far end of the beach to bless the place. There was chanting and familiar food. I love being Southeast Asian, no matter what anyone says. I took photos and I will post my favorite ones here after this.

I could barely eat lunch from crazy nerves and fatigue but I had a cup of cappuccino, just to sizzle them a bit more. Just for today. God made coffee beans for days like these.

We had another led session (Group 6). Heimo did a great job. Prana powers work! He believes my pranic energy is super strong. Hehe. Well, why not?

We then had our written exam. I think I was able to get more than 50% correct. We will know tomorrow. My asana practice did not end though. Anna did a re-take of the teaching exam from the morning and she asked me to join her. Gladly. My heart broke to see her crying but she took it well. Session 3 of the day. She made it so I am happy.

I finally took a shower after all my jumping around, called A., and stayed in the dining hall with Elea and the gang, just silently drinking in the day and taking solace among ourselves.

Then the dancing began. Dancing, glorious dancing.
Then the pool throwing happened. Of course.

Well hello, my beloved full moon, I missed you.

Day 26 (Dec 1)

It's the first of December, one day before a full moon.

I woke up at 4 am and I am at the open air dining hall listening to the great surround sound of waves and crickets and lizards. They bring me back to my breath because my mind is thinking of the electric bill that needs to be paid and the work mail that I have not opened in over a week. The sounds reassuringly take me back here because this is where I belong right now.

The sky is changing and so am I.

I feel the spaces of my body emptying and opening. The buzzing in my hands and feet have been more intense. I am writing again. I am in a state of love and thankfulness again.

Bewitched, bothered and bewildered is playing in my head but I'm not any of those things. Not anymore. I am just...grateful. Sthira Sukham.

***

I had my teaching assessment today and I got good remarks. All Successful! I think I started on the right foot with the chanting (Why chant? To offer thanks, to open the heart, to focus the mind...for this though, I stick to this reason - To help us realize it is not "me" who does). It's not. It was never.

Steve, my assessor, liked my chanting and the pace. I also was able to move around a lot, adjusting as much as I can, going through the asanas step by step. The hours I locked myself in the bathroom paid off. Still, I almost lost it before Janu A and Shalabasana. Thank goodness for vinyasas. (Why Vinyasa? To clean the slate, improve circulation, create heat...and buy time for nervous teacher trainees to think about the next pose). Asanas complete!

Despite the many butterflies in my stomach, I apparently still had a calm demeanor (maya?) and would like to thank dear Ganesh for allowing correct breaths.

My "students" were also sending such great vibes (Sharon and Robert, wonder couple, were just amazing!)Vince sneezed while we were doing the yoga mudra after I mentioned that we were sealing the energy and so I managed to make a quip about it. We had a bit of laughter yoga there.

I did what I could although I need to do something about these frayed nerves. I ran through the sequence over and over this morning after doing my Mysore assist. Almost dancing it to the music Paul put on. I must remember to ask him about it tomorrow.

After dinner, I studied with Becky and got through half of the manual. I will sleep with Paul's practice card and not with John's edited book tonight. Oral and written exams tomorrow.

It's 11 p.m. here. Time to rest...

Day 25 (Nov 30)

We had three asana sessions today, Mysore practice and two led classes care of my fellow teacher trainees. It's my turn tomorrow and I am nervous and excited at the same time.

I just finished locking myself in the bathroom so I can go over the video again and run through my notes.

It might be best to rest from full practice tomorrow and just go through the teaching postures. I will be assisting in the morning. Then again, I should just practice. :)

Day 24 (Nov 29)

I had my Reiki Level 1 session today with Claudia.

In the midst of the intense studying, I spent my afternoon working on another tool to harness energy. I believe this will help when I begin to teach. I have always been fascinated with natural healing (herbs when I was looking to earth religion, crystals before that...) and I have decided to go for this opportunity while I am here, after a series of fortuitous incidents.

The session was very mellow. Discussion, attunement and self-healing sessions. I need to go deeper into this but maybe not in the next two days. I am happy enough to self-heal as I prepare myself for the exams.

What is Reiki?
The International Center
for Reiki Training
A Brief Overview (http://www.reiki.org/faq/WhatIsReiki.html)

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.

The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words - Rei which means "God's Wisdom or the Higher Power" and Ki which is "life force energy". So Reiki is actually "spiritually guided life force energy."

A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing. Many have reported miraculous results.

Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can use. It has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and malady and always creates a beneficial effect. It also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery.

An amazingly simple technique to learn, the ability to use Reiki is not taught in the usual sense, but is transferred to the student during a Reiki class. This ability is passed on during an "attunement" given by a Reiki master and allows the student to tap into an unlimited supply of "life force energy" to improve one's health and enhance the quality of life.

Its use is not dependent on one's intellectual capacity or spiritual development and therefore is available to everyone. It has been successfully taught to thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds.

While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not. Because Reiki comes from God, many people find that using Reiki puts them more in touch with the experience of their religion rather than having only an intellectual concept of it.

While Reiki is not a religion, it is still important to live and act in a way that promotes harmony with others. Dr. Mikao Usui, the founder of the Reiki system of natural healing, recommended that one practice certain simple ethical ideals to promote peace and harmony, which are nearly universal across all cultures.

During a meditation several years after developing Reiki, Dr. Usui decided to add the Reiki Ideals to the practice of Reiki. The Ideals came in part from the five prinicples of the Meiji emperor of Japan whom Dr. Usui admired. The Ideals were developed to add spiritual balance to Usui Reiki. Their purpose is to help people realize that healing the spirit by consciously deciding to improve oneself is a necessary part of the Reiki healing experience. In order for the Reiki healing energies to have lasting results, the client must accept responsibility for her or his healing and take an active part in it. Therefore, the Usui system of Reiki is more than the use of the Reiki energy. It must also include an active commitment to improve oneself in order for it to be a complete system. The ideals are both guidelines for living a gracious life and virtues worthy of practice for their inherent value.

The secret art of inviting happiness
The miraculous medicine of all diseases
Just for today, do not anger
Do not worry and be filled with gratitude
Devote yourself to your work. Be kind to people.
Every morning and evening, join your hands in prayer.
Pray these words to your heart
and chant these words with your mouth
Usui Reiki Treatment for the improvement of body and mind
The founder , Usui Mikao