I am blogging more than ever on this trip. Don’t know why. Just feel like it. Writing for me is like a natural occurrence when the words build up so much the have to spill out like a fountain. It’s also like chocolate. The more you blog the more you seem to want to do it. This is also one of the most exciting times of my life going into a transformational phase of life that is going to change the course of my life forever.
It’s 7AM. I have wandered up the road in my sarong and jandels to find wifi. I have my laptop, which seems like a dinosaur in today’s travel culture. Everyone else has Ipads, I like my laptop, but it’s a drag to lug around – I need it for music. Can’t be without music, and of course, handy for skypeing.
Just as well because the bank froze all my cards, so I’ve been without cashflow for 2 days. Funny how the animal instinct in me goes into hustle mode weaving around what would usually cost to either delay spending or borrow some money. You’ll be pleased to know I didn’t die and the world kept turning, and lucky for me I pre-paid a bunch of yoga sessions at The Yoga Barn. I have linked up with a pair of beautiful kiwi gals who have been my posse for the last 24 hours, and Nikki graciously lent me some cash. Nikki from Wanaka and Kathleen from Wellington, both on the 500 hour teacher training which is happening the same time as our 200 hour TT with Power Living. We met at the Yoga Barn where all mindful yoga aspirants seem to gather, making that our base. So much incredible stuff going on there, it’s over-whelming.
So I wanted to tell you about my day yesterday to paint a picture on this incredible location.
I arrived at 8.10am and unfortunately missed the morning flow class, but that was ok, because I manged to slip into Tai Chi with an English man named Dave West. He promptly said when we entered the room, forget everything you want your body to feel if you practice yoga and RELAX. Wow. I went to a new dimension in relaxation. I learned about how to harness the chi flow and gently move with intuitive motion. The great thing is (with my martial arts background) is that each move ie; ‘Parting the horses mane’ and ‘White crane spreads wings’ is actually a radical self defense move in slow motion. I want more of this! So great. If anyone is coming to Bali you can check him out here http://taichibali.com/ Dave West.
Then I bumped into my kiwi girls and spend a few hours catching up on line, having an admin session on bank admin which failed to succeed, then found some accommodation which has a pool and is like a temple on the inside. My room has a view of the pool out the front, and the rice paddies behind, all for approx $30 NZD per night.
Ubud is incredible, every second place is built like a temple. The culture up here is mostly Hindu and everywhere you go is the smell of insense, the roar of scooters, the crowing of roosters, and tiny bamboo plates of ‘offerings’. Ubud is haven for artistic talent. there are galleries on every corner offering vibrant paintings, carving and crafts. The people are so friendly and helpful too.
Ok, so the yoga. Yes – Went to a vinyasa flow class with ‘Bex’ last night at 4PM. A shiny smiley Scottish girl who took us through a dynamic 90 mins of expression, opening, grounding and uplifting flow. I was trying things I had never done before and was presently surprised to feel my body awaken, soften and hold the space in new postures. I loved her energy, she smiled and danced through the class and gave some cool talks about alignment, not only in our bodies, but in our lives and what happens on the mat transfers into our worlds.
She started the class with the call to ‘turn to the person beside you and have a chat’ this was a cool way to break the ice and put everyone in a bubbly mood. She also did something else that was cool. She played the most beautiful emotive music during savasa that made your heart melt, then after it finished she read this poem. ❤
THE INVITATION
by Oriah Mountain Dreamer
It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing. It doesn’t interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life’s betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain! I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it or fade it, or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself; if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul; if you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see beauty even when it’s not pretty, every day, and if you can source your own life from its presence. I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand on the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, “Yes!”
It doesn’t interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up, after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done to feed the children. It doesn’t interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.
It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you, from the inside, when all else falls away. I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.
the-yoga-barn-studio, I grabbed this image off the internet to show you what an incredible studio that blows your mind looks like.
I now have a whole day of UBud and Can’t wait to indulge in more love at the Yoga Barn. Might have to also check out the Monkey Forest!
Cool blog here about what to do in Ubud – the Yogi’s mecca.
http://www.liquidoactive.com/blog/bessy_yogas_guide_to_ubud/
All sorted with the bank – Time to FLY!
RIA
Tags: adventuere, bali, Bex yoga barn, Oriah Mountain Dreamer, RIA, Rire Norman, The Inviation, travel, Ubud, Vinyasa Flow, Yoga, Yogabarn
R.I.A 