Hola Amigos y Familia de Acapulco,

**In tribute to Stace and my traditon of theme songs for summer running training at the track..
Theme Song Week 1:  Wilson Phillips, “Hold On for One More Day” :)
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This is a picture from my balcony, it is starting to rain right now, usually breathtaking at sunset.

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I arrived here last Sunday and it has been a whirlwind ever since. My luggage was lost and that was biggest deal for the first few days.  Then my backpack with money and digital camera was stolen and that was the big deal. Then the classes started and i FINALLY redefined what a big deal is . :) 

I have so much to say that I will do it in categories. Who doesn’t love a good outline?

Bikram:
I am proud of the choosing to go to this training. I know Bikram can be controversial but I think if you actually take this class or interact with him you will see a true yogi. Bikram’s Yoga College of India is actually a lot like a college. There is a stellar faculty with noteworthy dr.’s in many fields, coordinated research with affiliated universities, and an very experienced teaching staff. Yoga is the unity of body, mind and spirit; and Bikram asks how you are going to unite when you have “junkyard body, screw-loose brain and lost soul”. It sounds hilarious when it comes out of his mouth but then you think about it a little bit…..
Rajashree
She is an Earth Mother. Her energy is so supporting and positive. I can’t wait to learn more from her. She briefly went into the body’s stress response and detailed how it effects all systems of the body by way of the nervous system. I was hooked. I would like to study from her. Her classes are my favorite.
The Training:
Saturday at 8:00AM we had our last of 10 classes for the week. Sunday is a day of rest. We wake up at 6AM everyday class, lecture, eat, class, lecture, sleep. Most days we are done by 12ish but it has been after 2 as well. There are a lot of people who were very sick this week, myself included. I would go into that but I think it would be better to be left as folklore….and the stories will be better in person.

The beauty is that this yoga is a great equalizer. There are people of all ages, nationalities, religions and within a few hours we are all family. We are all the same.  I couldn’t walk out of the yoga studio one day and there are two friends who carry me by my elbows. Pass it around. Next day, sweet German woman behind me in class passes out and I give her the last of my liquids. Pass it around. And so it goes. I see it everywhere, everyday. Everyone here is at square one, the most basic station in life.  Survival mode.  It is so encouraging and inspiring to see that this behavior, this support, is innate in all of us.

I have learned so much already. I have studied the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali but depending on your version and translation from Sanskrit, things can be read differently. Asana does not just mean posture. It means posture holding still, breathing is normal. I am learning to observe the patterns of the mind and release those that don’t serve me. I am learning to let the mental drama go. I am learning that my body can’t handle the water after all and that if you like avocados this is the place to be!!!

Please comment to this post and I will update again next week.  Much Love