WEEK FIFTY ONE - WHAT WE PRACTICE GROWS STRONGER

Where has the time gone?  It seems impossible to me that I've already been here a year.
Yet, I feel I've experienced 10 or more years of life in the span of one year.

This week has been filled with teaching yoga classes, wonderful programs and learning from master level teachers, as part of the Teacher's Reunion Course to advance our teaching skills.

These master teachers are dedicated practitioners, and I have such gratitude for having had the opportunity to study with them.

In addition this week, I worked with our off-site consultants, who were visiting the Ashram for some strategic team planning and collaboration.  Good meetings were held, that yielded lots of productivity.
 
A non-stop week, as it seems most of them are here - and it's all good!

I continue daily with my herbs and supplements, under KP Khalsa's guidance, as the final weeks of the study are now here.  April 30 is the final day.  I started last year on May 1.

Yoga, breathing, relaxation, healthy-vegetarian diet, positive thinking and meditation, supplemented with medicinal herbs for healing - all of these are practiced here daily, and I do feel stronger and more balanced, based on practice.  

Next for me, is a trip home in May to visit family and to undergo a complete battery of tests - physical, eye and dental exams for comparative lab results.  I started the study with a complete set of exams, for a baseline.  

I'm in the process of planning for the next phase of this project - writing the book about the experience.  In a similar, unexpected manner to my landing at the Ashram in the Bahamas, I will soon journey to Thailand.

The thought surfaced in a marketing meeting with a presenter, where the idea of going to Thailand, was suggested in passing, as an ideal place for me to be inspired and write, at a very inexpensive cost. 
Specifically, Chiang Mai was the recommendation.

I didn't think much of the idea initially.  I was still trying to figure out how to do karma yoga here part time and write part time.  I knew I could not afford to be here as a full paying guest, without income, and in doing karma yoga, the writing would take 2-3 times longer or more. 

I was at an impasse.  I trusted that a path would open up.

Within the next few days, Thailand references kept popping up - not in reference to the book writing, as I hadn't discussed Thailand with anyone.  

I wasn't even considering it.  

Yet, the mention of Thailand, over and over, appeared out of nowhere, it seemed.  A presenter showed a slide of a food dish that he noted was from Thailand.  He had shown other food dishes, and yet only identified the country with this particular dish.

A karma yogi at dinner a couple nights after that marketing meeting, shared a story about her trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand.  She'd not spoken of the trip during the past few months that I'd known her.

Another interesting example - A student I taught in yoga came up to me after class to chat, and she mentioned previously working for the government.  Since I worked in government, we continued the conversation for sometime, when she shared she had been deployed to Afghanistan and then spent her transition week in Thailand.  She loved it and returned to do yoga teacher training there.  Again, Thailand.

Richard Miller, creator of iRest, that I spoke about in another blog posting, also shared that he and his son had just gotten back from a trip to Thailand - and Chiang Mai was one of his destinations.  Plus, he has connected me to someone who started a yoga community in Tak.  More Thailand......

KP Khalsa and I are collaborating on the book project, and I am grateful for the wonderful opportunity to continue working him.  KP has quite a list of excellent books that I'd encourage you to check out.

Curiously, KP has also had some unsolicited comments from colleagues recently, regarding Chiang Mai. 
KP has not been there.

It's still early in the planning phase, but I've decided that I will do my writing in Thailand. I'm leaping again,
and it feels right and good and exciting!

I'll be there throughout the rainy season, but as KP reminded me, it will be great for writing and focus.  I pray that my words flow freely, and I know that joy and love will be my constant guides.

Passing the baton to others, as I prepare to leave the Ashram is also on my agenda. 
I know I will be back though, so I am not planning to say good bye.

Namaste,
Sending You Love from the Bahamas.

Thank you for taking this journey with me! 

(FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO NOTICED THE NUMBERING CHANGE, I FORGOT TO ACCOUNT FOR TAKING THE TWO WEEKS OFF OF BLOG POSTS AT CHRISTMAS, AND SO THE COUNT WAS NOT CORRECT. SORRY ABOUT THAT)

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