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.

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

I had no idea what I was missing, but now I do. Vitamin B12. Check out these informative references for other essential nutrients you may be missing in your animal-product-free diet:

http://vitamins-minerals.suite101.com/article.cfm/vitamins_that_vegans_need

http://www.goveg.com/optimal_vegan_nutrition.asp

Despite great performances in 2004, Raj Bhavsar was passed over to compete in Athens. He did some soul searching and found a pathway to a new sense of purpose through yoga. He also helped USA Men’s gymnastics win Bronze yesterday.

Check it out:

Mine is pretty sloppy here. I will try better tonight. Check out Frankie’s determined facial expression. Cool picture.

These pictures were taken during the posture clinic with Jason Wynn from a ways back–I have never had such a good back stretch! I hope you can view–pictures are pretty blurry.

I might have to rethink my plans to go out of town next weekend! This would be a great time to check out a new studio or style of yoga for $5 bucks or for FREE! Also, Sunday 4/13 there will be yoga event on the National Mall. Yoga nerds everywhere put this in your planner!

 I read this quote and thought I would share.

There is no way to happiness-happiness is the way
–Buddha

And her name is Stacey!

We went to a cool yoga “Synergy” workshop run by our friend Francisco. We put each other on as backpacks and more fun partner stretching and Thai massage. Very cool. Check out the rest of the pics on Stacey’s shutterfly site.
The lessons of body literacy were overshadowed by lessons in the practical application of communication and loving kindness. And you know that kink….way back there..that you just can’t reach?

I signed up for electronic newsletters from one of my favorite magazines, Real Simple. I just read today’s newsletter and there was an article that struck a chord with me. I know a few people (ahem..Stephanie Lamb) that have the same problem as me: trouble saying no, over-analyzing small things. So here’s Real Simple’s article, Stop Feeling Bad About Guilty Habits.

 Ayurveda-Knowledge of Life or Knowledge of Longevity

Your score is very interesting! The three doshas are just a description of what Earth element you are dominated by. As a Vata you are dominated by Air and Ether (Space) –so you will need to do things to bring your vata back into balance with the two other elements.   

More on Vata below and how I think it pertains to you: panic attacks, night terrors, shingles..

“Vata is a force conceptually made up of elements ether and air. The proportions of ether and air determine how active Vata is. The amount of ether (space) affects the ability of the air to gain momentum. If unrestricted, as in ocean, air can gain momentum and become forceful such as a hurricane.
Vata means “wind, to move, flow, direct the processes of, or command.” Vata enables the other two doshas to be expressive. The actions of Vata are drying, cooling, light, agitating, and moving.
Vata governs breathing, blinking of the eyelids, movements in the muscles and tissues, pulsations in the heart, all expansion and contraction, the movements of cytoplasm and the cell membranes, and the movement of the single impulses in nerve cells. Vata also governs such feelings and emotions as freshness, nervousness, fear, anxiety, pain, tremors, and spasms. The primary seat or location of the Vata in the body is the colon. It also resides in the hips, thighs, ears, bones, large intestine, pelvic cavity, and skin. It  is related to the touch sensation. If the body develops an excess of vata, it will accumulate in these areas”

Here is some more background information that may be helpful. 

History of Ayurveda: Just a quick background

Concept of the Doshas: If you take a look at this page there will be several links under Vata that are interesting, signs that you are have a Vata imbalance and remedies/food plan.

Let me know if you think this resonates with you..it definitely did for me. This could be a cool holistic experiment us to try simultaneously and then regroup on.

Ayurveda Marketplace: I haven’t had a chance to really root through this site–but I know that essential oils are a part of ayurveda remedies and once I have thoroughly perused I might make a purchase or two to experiment bringing my own balance back.

P.S There are also Ayurveda practioners (reputable, nationally associated) that you can make an appt with.. it was a Christmas present idea but wasn’t able to bring it all together.

I answered honestly..which means where I wanted to say that I am a calm, patient person, I told the truth that I get excited easily when I’m stressed. What does this mean?

Hello Loyal Reader (s), I mean.. Hi Stace What’s Up! Ayurveda is one of the sister science’s to Yoga and also thousands of years old (around 5,000 I think). Here is a little bit on the science and a link to a quiz on what your predominant dosha is. A dosha is a physical and mental constitution. There are three doshas: vata, pitta and kapha (associated with Earth elements air, water and fire) and we all have different degrees of each in our body and mind. In essence it is like a fingerprint. Once you evaluate what your dosha situation looks like there are guidelines for diet and exercise. What is consistent across the board is that we all need a routine–morning and evening. This science also takes into account the “calendar and clock” and can help us alleviate imbalances by changing how we use them and what we fuel them with. Dosha Quiz– Take Me

My dosha is predominantly Pitta with a strong Kapha –very close to a dual-dosha.. very interesting. I wonder what you are?

This weekend I saw a Tui Na practicioner named Dr. Bob. He will be coming to the Comfort Zone Yoga Center every other Sunday. Here is wikipedia entry on Tui Na. The experience is incredibly hard to describe but definitely something I recommend and will be doing again on a regular. Friends and family, plan your next visit here when Dr. Bob is in town and see for yourself.