The Traveling Gypsy

As I alluded to in my Instagram post earlier this week, travel is not always glamorous but in fact can be down right awful. Usually we see the best slice of travel, maybe the sweet hotel room views, the cafe you had 2 mins to enjoy while on the way to the client site, maybe the river or street art captured while you woke up at 6 am just to get in that run or yoga class. I could go on and on especially about the downside of travel - but instead honeybuns let’s keep it upbeat. Here are my top survival tips for how to pack, what to store in your carry on, and how to make the most out of your travels so that you’re taking care of YOU along the way.

The Luggage situation

The Rollie 
I am a new owner of the Away The Carry-On - and LOVE it! The wheels glide so smoothly, I can fit all the things into it, and it’s so light weight. Definitely an upgrade from my ragged old Samsonite rollie. I also carry on always, ALWAYS, #always, even on my two week trips, I avoid checking my bag. I’ve had too many lost luggage incidents to deal with the stress that causes. So I pack light and keep everything close. 

The Pack
I recently upgraded to a new Patagonia Black hole 30L pack and couldn’t be happier. My old bag which was great - just wasn’t cutting it; I had a 25L Hershel. She was good for the last 4 years and was due for retirement after some rips and tears. This new pack can hold it all - definitely makes one or two week trips manageable. Whatever over flow that can’t fit into my Rollie goes into the pack. Complete with several pockets to keep me organized. There’s a pocket for everything. Air travel has become so much easier. May seem silly that I’ve put such an emphasis on luggage but it truly makes a huge difference. 

Next up, how to pack the right things

So it really depends on what kinda trip you’re taking but I practice the “Marie Kondo” method for what makes it way into my rollie. I opt for my favorite dress, jeans, sweater, shoes, and jackets. I do this because travel is stressful enough and if I feel good in what I’m wearing then I’ve at least got a thumbs up in that aspect. Nothing like arriving to your hotel and then realizing WTF did I pack? Why did I bring something that, 1) I am not comfortable in and 2) I don’t feel great in and 3) may not even be functional (yes I’ve packed a skirt without a top to complete the look). So I always pack my favorite staple pieces, I’m also guilty of all black everything with a few splashes of color. This is done for a few reasons. Mostly because I can rewear a majority of those items. Makes for easy mix and match outfits. And let’s be honest, if I spill something it’s usually not noticeable. 

Snacks

This is a KEY piece to any successful trip and I’m not exaggerating, you’ve got to make sure you have your snack bars, mixed nuts, dark chocolate goodies to help you when you’re so hangry you could hurt somebody. You also need to stay . as hydrated as possible, water, WATER, #water. Some of my favorite staples include:

• Justin’s nut butter packets

• Dark chocolate (been loving on Endangered Species)

• Macadamia nuts, Almonds, or any mixed nuts will do

• Purely Elizabeth Granola bars (grain free!)

• Tea bags

• Potato chips (GUILTY! Need this especially being grain free, gluten free)

• Paleo Beaming Granola

The Hotel situation

So, I’ve got about every hotel rewards program you could imagine, Marriott/SPG, IHG, Hilton … the list continues. What I find most critical in booking hotels is the proximity to a yoga, spin, or barre studio. It’s super important to maintain healthy workout habits when traveling. I focus mostly on yoga studios because that is how I survive travel. I need that grounding and centering that I can only achieve in a sacred studio space. I use the MindBody app to help me explore local places when on the road.

The Mantra

As I mentioned last week in my instagram post, a mantra is super important to have while on the go. Some of you may be wondering what a mantra is, so let me explain honeybuns. A Mantra is a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation. In yoga, chanting a mantra focuses concentration on a single thought or stills the mind in meditation. Last week my personal mantra happened to be the Maha mantra (Hare Krishna). When this particular mantra is said out loud it helps to enhance consciousness to the greatest possible degree.

The maha mantra is chanted for the benefits of the energies of the three Hindu deities referred to in the mantra. The name comes from the Sanskrit, maha, meaning “great”; man, meaning “to think”; and tra, meaning an "instrument" or "tool." A mantra, therefore, is an “instrument of thought.” The mantra goes like this:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

I personally enjoy listening to mantras when flying, and Krishna Das is my go to! Peep him here on Spotify for lots of good songs, or view the Hare Krishna video on Youtube.

Your mantra doesn’t have to be the above, it could be as simple as “Love”, “I am okay”, or “Breathe in, breathe out”. Whatever phrase or word resonates with you is a great place to start. some alternative mantras that are very powerful are the below:

• “Aham Prema” (ah-hem-pree-mah) This mantra translates to “I am Divine Love,” a simple mantra to chant 108 times

• “Aum Gum Shreem Maha Lakshmiyei Namaha” (ohm-guum-shreem-mah-ha-lok-shmee-yay-na-mah-ha) ...

• “Om Mani Padme Hum” (ohm-mah-nee-pahd-may-huum)

Now, if this is the ONLY thing you take away from my post then my work here is done. As a society we need more meditation, so fly on little birds and spread your wings, sing your mantras high into the trees.

The Oils

Naturally I have my go-to oils that I always have with me. The list includes:

• Peppermint (aids digestion and sore muscles)

• Lavender (for skin, sleep, frizzy hair)

• Citrus Refresh (pick me up boost!)

If I’m traveling during a new moon, full moon, or in retrograde, then I usually pack one of the following:

• New Moon

• Full Moon

• Custom blend of Sage, Lavender, + grounding oils

I think that about covers the bases. Of course I always have a great travel hat, my sunnies, my crystals, and a good book to accompany me on the go. I would love to hear how you stay sane and healthy while on the go! Always love to hear about new travel trips and ways to make travel more efficient! Love & Light, xx

Ashtanga Yoga (astau - eight; anga - branch, leg, limb)

The Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a style of yoga codified and popularized by K. Pattabhi Jois during the 20th century which is often promoted as a modern-day form of classical Indian yoga. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras' well-known eight limbs or branches, of which asana or physical yoga posture is merely one branch, breath or pranayama is another. Both Pattabhi Jois and Sharath Jois, his grandson, encourage practice of Ashtanga Yoga - all eight limbs. 

My journey with Ashtanga Yoga has evolved over the years. I first learned Ashtanga yoga and practiced the Primary Series with my first teacher Justin Wolfer in 2012. It was during our 200 hr TT that we would practice, usually during our Saturday morning practice or Sadhana. I really appreciated the practice and found it challenging, but I didn't totally understand the ways in which Ashtanga would forever change my life.

Let's start from the beginning and my introduction to yoga in general. I grew up as a highly active child, playing soccer, ballet, gymnastics, competitive swimming, softball, basketball. As I grew into a young adult I played field hockey and ran track. I was always a GO GO GO child. Constantly on the move, rarely did I ever sit still. One would rationalize a variety of reasons why this was so; divorced parents so activities kept me busy; my own desire and interest to be a part of a team; all of my close friends were involved with sports and so I too wanted to follow along; and I was fairly good a picking up new activities, they generally came with much ease. I found that I thrived when I was moving and so I've always kept in a constant motion of sorts.

Let's fast forward a few years ... I was post undergrad and had returned home that summer to ideally find a job in NYC and to save some money working as a Nanny. I'll never forget my first experience with yoga, which was at a local YMCA, I was so disturbed and turned off that I wasn't sure 'yoga' was for me. I attended the class, which was a 1 hour vinyasa flow. The instructor was noticeably late - 10 minutes past, which OK, that happens. He also arrived and was wearing very little clothing ... let's elaborate for a moment, picture very short shorts, zero shirt, mala beads hung around his neck and drooped down to rest on top of a rather large and hairy belly. I usually try not to judge, at least as I've matured, but I'm sure I was rather repulsed by this first impression, as I was young and often judgmental. I was positioned in the middle of the room, so that I would be able to see others and the teacher during class. As we sat the instructor proceeded to tell us about his very awful day, and complained for another 15 minutes. At this point, my mind was saying fuck, this guy is sitting here and using class as a form of therapy for himself. It was almost half past the hour and where was the yoga? I was so disappointed at this point that I lost interest very quickly. I don't remember the physical asana that took place after the class, all I could think about was this man and all of his negative energy flowing out into the studio.

Needless to say, it was a year and a half later before I wanted to try yoga again. This time I entered a heated studio at Hot Yoga Saratoga (HYS) and took my first ever Bikram class with owner Cindy Lunsford. I should mention that I arrived to class on crutches. Yes, I had broken my femur in a horrific ski accident and a few months had passed and here I was at hot yoga as a form of therapy. Cindy was so wonderful, she was very mindful and kept a close eye on me all throughout class. She offered modifications which allowed me to feel very comfortable and confident in class. For the first time since I broke my leg, I could really move my leg in ways that had not been possible since the accident. I immediately noticed an increase in my range of motion, it felt great to perspire and sweat so much after being cooped up and stationary for so long. The heat was a new challenge, but as the practice teaches you, it becomes a moving meditation. I was hooked. I started to go quite regularly after this. HYS also offered hot vinyasa classes, and this is where Justin enters my yoga world. I started to practice with Justin regularly over the next few years, which inevitably lead me to his very first Teacher Training. I remember having so much doubt in myself that I was "ready" to be a yoga teacher. I thought my leg is still recovering and I can't do all these poses, how can I ever be a yoga teacher if I can't do it all? Justin was very reassuring as I spoke these words to him, he said but of course you are ready. I started my journey into becoming a teacher and it was the best decision I could've ever made. This training was beyond unique, the other students in class are all so dear to me even many years later. I learned the meaning of a yoga family and yoga home. We allowed ourselves to be vulnerable with one another - sharing personal details of our lives. We would openly cry in our afternoon sessions, and Justin fostered such a supportive environment that this was OK. I usually find that people submerse themselves into a yoga training at very pivotal times in their lives. I know that I did. I was entering this practicing while still physically recovering from the ski accident. I recently had my heart broken and earlier in the year my Dad had been diagnosed with Cancer. I would say that this was a very hard time for me, so many moving parts and pieces to deal with. Rolling out my mat was the one time during the day that I was able to shut it all off. I was able to free my mind. The others all too had their battle wounds from life and it was truly the most remarkable experience I had experienced.

Shortly after completing my 200 hr with Justin I left Upstate NY and moved to Washington DC. I had a very hard time finding a new "home studio". It's important to me to find a place where there is a sense of community, where you can feel safe, supported, and challenged. The people you practice with become family to you just like your teacher often does. This was missing for me. I struggled to find a place that fit into my definition of a yoga home. I started teaching at a nearby studio regularly, and also subbed at a few places around where I lived. Again, I was missing that deeper connection that I so longed for. It wasn't until I attended my first yoga retreat in Costa Rica and I came across the term "Rocket Yoga" and "Mysore". Two dear friends; Stephanie and Kat had been chatting about a studio called Little River Yoga (LRY) and wanted to try out a few classes when we got back to the States. Another friend of mine Emily, had also been talking forever about one of her teachers she really enjoyed named Carson, who also taught Rocket at LRY. All signs were pointing to LRY so upon my return home, I attended a class. I instantly loved Rocket Yoga. I took class with Maggie Lively and really enjoyed the playfulness and challenge of the practice. I was inspired by all of the other students in the room, in various arm balances and inversions. I was a fairly strong practitioner but had yet to master a handstand, I couldn't believe some of the postures that I was witnessing. I started a weekly date to LYR for Rocket classes, and very quickly I became addicted. It must've been after a few visits that I finally met the owner of LRY, Stair Calhoun. I chatted with her about Mysore because I was a bit intimidated. Even though I was a "Teacher", I wasn't comfortable for some reason. Stair just said, "You come". There I was the following Monday morning on my mat at 6 AM. This day has become another large milestone in my journey. Stair explained to me the entire Ashtanga Vinyasa system, the breath, the chants, the history. I often refer to her as my Yoga Mom. She proceeded to teach me in all sorts of ways; she gave me my own Ashtanga class to teach at the studio only a few months after starting in the Mysore program, she believed I was ready when I still doubted myself. She sent me to a weekend workshop with David Robson in Georgetown Yoga. We both attended Tim Millers Primary Series TTC in Tulum, Mexico later that year. She introduced me into the world of doTERRA essential oils, and I completed an AromaTouch Therapy training. I had begun assisting her in the Mysore room in the mornings on weekends. She was grooming me to someday have a studio of my own, and I am beyond blessed that she entered into my world when she did. I must also mention another wonderful teacher during my time at LRY, David Ingalls. David was so understanding and nurturing of my physical limitations, but always found a way to work with me. He taught me a lot about softening and I value his teachings so dearly. My physical body grew in leaps and bounds through the support of both my teachers through the Ashtanga practice. My strength and flexibility increased, I really started to listen to my body, and developed an awareness about it that had been missing before. I started to be mindful of the things I ate and what time I was going to sleep. Yoga became a top priority in my life at this time.

After a few years in DC I moved across the country to San Francisco, CA. Here I was again, small fish big pond. Not only was it hard to find a studio to teach at, but there was hardly any Ashtanga! I had just left Ashtanga Mecca in DC to arrive to a small community of Ashtangis. Don't get me wrong there was heaps of yoga, but little Ashtanga. I developed a home practice on and off, I found it hard to stay committed when I wasn't getting that touch point with a teacher to help me in my practices. I did find Asta yoga where I was able to get my weekly fix of Rocket and Led Primary on Sunday's with Renee and Scott, but as for a daily mysore practice, that went out the window a bit. I found I was doing a lot more hot vinyasa and Bhakti yoga, as this is the popular trend in the West.

As things often do, life and my practice have come full circle. I eventually moved back Upstate and I am honored to be teaching Ashtanga classes at Justin's studio, Rise Yoga Arts & Movment. Who would've thought I'd be back where I started with my first teacher and able to teach a practice that I am so passionate about. One that has helped to shape my life the past several years. Not to mention moving back Upstate has fulfilled my desires to be near to family and friends, but the yoga community or family is amazing. I feel blessed and fortunate to be surrounded with so many amazing souls.

Long story short (Ha!), Ashtanga has been such a large part of my spiritual and physical journey over the past several years. I've met amazing people in various shalas, while on retreats, at trainings, at conferences, and workshops all with Ashtanga being the common thread. This community is strong and soft, they live all over the world. My physical practice comes and goes, and I've learned to be OK with that. I can't always have a physical practice because of various reasons and this has allowed me to work on my spiritual development. The past few days here at Purple Valley have been hard for me. Since the Energy healing with Petri I haven't been able to practice. I have been tired and weak, I was feeling very low. I needed to just rest. Which is a hard concept for me to handle. Rest is not something I do well, and I often think I am resting when I'm still allowing busy-ness to invade my life. I've disconnected from all things the past few days, reading, practice, socializing, even eating has been difficult. Mostly I've been sleeping and relaxing by the pool and oh yes the occasional massage. Today was the first day that I felt semi-normal again, and I think I may practice for my last day here at Purple Valley. It's been a mental battle to tell myself that rest is OK, arguably it's necessary and needed. Just because we are not practicing our asana daily, does not make us a bad yogi, or any less dedicated. I often forget there are eight-limbs and asana is just one of them! Those physical pauses in our practice allow us to heal and grow in other ways. I've focused mostly on my breath and pranayama work. Additionally, I've really grown to love meditating more than ever. I got lost for over an hour in my mediation this morning while sitting by the pool. I've taken some time over the last few days to learn more about the energy body and ways to heal. This practice continues to give and I'm excited to see what lies ahead. I feel a shift within me that I can't exactly describe, but I know that all will be revealed soon. That's all for day, as it's the last afternoon here at Purple Valley and I plan to soak up as much sunshine and warmth as possible. 

Purple Valley

Where do I begin? Upon Arriving to Purple Valley my heart instantly felt at peace. I had been traveling for 12 hours from Gokalum to Goa and I was finally at the promised land. What a contrast this place is in comparison. First of all, PV is beautiful. The dining area is welcoming with hand crafted wicker light fixtures; hand crafted chairs; cushion seating, a bed swing; infinity pool set within a tropical oasis; Auyervedic Hut for wellness, the Shala for practice, and of course Ganesh house, where my net covered king size bed is located. The energy here is so lovely, I feel at ease and very safe. The first night we had a welcome dinner in which we were able to meet and greet the other guests as well as Petri and Wambui. It's such a lovely community I've gotten to know over the past few days so far, I am beyond excited to spend a full two weeks in this amazing place.

Practice time for me is 5:30 AM so, it's early to bed and early to rise. I love waking and starting my practice before the sun comes up. In the shala it's quiet, all you can hear is the sound of the breath around you and the birds starting to chirp. I've been finding my practice has evolved to a full 2 hours. The assistants are some of the best I've ever come across. Mindful, gentle, therapeutic touches; I would describe the assist as a light touch which signals to your muscles what you need to do, and your body just follows suit. It's been a dream to have adjustments throughout my mysore practice, especially as I am practicing full primary, postures such as supta kermasana, drop backs, my twists have already improved from just a few days of mindful assistance. We have a nice break after morning practice to have breakfast, and rest at the pool or get massage treatments at the Auyervedic hut. In the evenings we've had a variety of afternoon classes, from pranayama, finishing sequence techniques, chanting, and open format questions for Petri. 

Now, as you all know I'm a foodie and the food here is AMAZING. I am literally eating the colors of the rainbow. My belly is happy and I've already seen an improvement in my sleep and practice. They're serving fresh and local ingredients and all meals are vegetarian. Brekkie options include fresh fruits, porridge, fresh breads, peanut butters and jams, tea and coffee, coconuts and fresh juices. Lunch options range from green salads, soups, plant lasagna, beetroot salad, lentils, you name it and we've had it! Dinner also has lots of fresh ingredients, but additionally includes some of the local fare, so cashew curry, banana curry, steamed dosas, rice, green salads, soups, and I should mention sweet treats like raw cacao bliss balls, and banana chocolate chip cookies! I couldn't be happier. 

My roommate Georgia and I strolled around the local hood the other day. We're located in a little town called Assagao. We only strolled for about an hour, but the Portugese influence here makes this part of India feel drastically different than the rest of what I've seen.

After morning practice yesterday a few of us gals took a cab to Anjuna town which is bout a 15 min ride away. We explored the famous Manali bookshop where I purchased a few books; we strolled the streets finding all sorts of clothing and trinkets. Really excited for the adventures over the next 10 days in Goa. More to come. XX 

This Yogi Went To The Market

What a bustling place the City of Mysuru is! We started our journey with two rickshaws and 5 yogis. First stop was at a hidden shop where you can buy essential oils and inscense. This shop was tiny and narrow. Immediately upon walking in we saw this older women sitting on a staircase, hand rolling the inscense! She was a gem! The owner lead us to another room in the back of the shop. This space was so unique. Green walls with hand written messages, oil bottles, guitars on the walls and couches on the floor, and stuffed animal tigers. The owner returned with some hot Chai Tea and proceeded to give us some oil 101. It was a bit overwhelming to be honest, all of the scents mixing together, not to mention some of the oils were very powerful. I must admit that the Lotus oil was amazing, and the Sandlewood which is harvested locally was beautiful. The man didn't like that I was a doTERRA rep! Probably because I didnt buy anything, but when you've got 40+ oils, you've got to draw the line somewhere! He was still a good sport and give all of a handful of inscense and a holder so we could enjoy it back at the school. 

Ratha enjoying some juniper essential oils  

Our faithful rickshaw driver awaited and swept us away to one of the best silk garment markets in the area. Naturally we tried on all of the goodies. The silks range from soft to rough and vivid colors line the walls. So I met with the tailor and presto! I've got a real Saree! Weeeee. Totally not a needed item, but I really felt compelled to purchase one, even if I just romp around the house in it.  

Onward to the Devaraja Market! This market formally known as, Devaraj Urs road is about one mile in length. There are many parallel roads to the market and a total of two kilometer square area makes up the downtown of Mysore city. My senses were in awe, such vibrancy in the colors! Dyes, fruits, veggies, silks, jewelry, spices, and heaps of other goodies! There was so much to take in, from each stand, to the people strolling around. I really just basked in the chaos of the market life.

After strolling the market, we had built up quite the appetite. We dined at a little locals joint called Indras Cafe. We snaked on Poori's, Dosas, and Samosas! Onward to the Palace! On Sundays the Mysuru Palace is light up with over 6,000 lights! So we waited for dusk to set in and got over to see the masterpiece! WOW, so many lights, it reminded me of home during the holidays. I can't believe this tradition is done every Sunday and includes free entry into the palace. It was such a magical Sunday and in such great company! 

The First Ten Days in Mysuru (Mysore)

I've adjusted to life in India somewhat. I'm still a bit jet-lagged, so that's not helping, but thank goodness for afternoon Chai Tea to help me through the day! I usually start my day with the rooster wake up at 4:30 AM. Yes friends, the local rooster here is my alarm clock. After he finishes, I snooze for another hour, and get up for 6 AM mysore practice. After practice, I shower, make French press, usually get in a few calls with loved ones, and then head to the studio for training from 9:30 AM - 3 PM. After training sometimes I stroll around town to explore, or head back to the school to rest and relax, until either backbending or dinner. I socliaze for a bit and then it's off to bed, usually before 9 PM. Pretty exciting I know! I'm loving it! So, I've finished my first week of Thai Massage training, and I have to just say, I AM STARVING! It's not because I'm not eating, because, I've found so many wonderful places to eat at, now that I've gotten over my fear of food that may or may not be safe for consuption. I think that it's just between morning Ashtanga, then 6 hours of massage, and every other day backbending with Sirnath, I'm working it, from every angle, physically, mentally, and sprititually.  So, naturally my snack bars and jars of peanut butter are not cutting it, and I've ventured out to explore some of the local cuisine.

A few pics below:

Poori plate - Hotel Highway 18 Annex

Idlis with coconut chutney + sambar

Masala Chai + Iron Man Smoothie - Khushi Cafe

Rava Idlies  

I usually have about an hour break for lunch during the day, so I venture to find something new to try! In addition to the above, I've had a Thali plate, Masala and Rava Dosas, Vegan Chocolate and Coconut Lemon Cakes, Juices galore, and lots more Chai Tea prepared in all sorts of various ways. Needless to say, I'm eating all the things and enjoying it! I should mention that I did come to India with two jars of peanut butter and this morning I polished off the second jar ... I've only been here for 10 days. I may have a slight addiction to nut butter. I am addicted to fresh coconuts, I'm going to be spoiled rotten by the time I leave India. Better find a way to get these Upstate.  

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The Thai Massage training has been so wonderful. I'm really enjoying learning all about the body, energy lines, and meridians. It's been fascinating to explore the inner workings of the energy body. I also highly enjoy that after my morning mysore practice, I just have massage to focus on. I like being in a little India bubble here. It allows me to fully concentrate on learning. It's rare to have such an opportunity to do such things, and after this trip, I plan to really dive into all the things that I have been wanting to learn, do, see, and explore. Don't you ever just feel that your attention is pulled in so many ways throughout the day or the week that it takes ages to complete things? I do, and this has been a real experience to open my eyes to the fact that I often do WAY TOO MUCH. I'm that go go go girl and it becomes very exhausting. It's quite lovely to just focus and rest and let myself absorb everything in this moment. Be present and live in the now. I've been lucky enough to find some amazing yogi souls also here at Mystic School. They've allowed me to practice my work on them in the evenings. So I'm getting extra practice in to help refine the art of massage, and to learn the energy lines better. I seem to struggle finding the lines in the legs, so I can use all the practice I can get! 

I recently learned about Gua sha -- this is a Chinese technique that my teacher Raghu has learned, which litterly translates to scraping sha-bruises. Yesterday he performed a bit of Gua Sha work on my face! Yes my face, I feel as if I've had a facelift! The wrinkles are smoothed out and my face is full. He also did a bit of work on my upper back and neck. While it was not painful I've turned completely purple where the capillaries have ruptured under my skin. This morning I woke and felt amazing. Much looser in my neck and shoulder region. In my mysore practice I also felt really open and not nearly as tight as I had been. I tend to harbor tension in my shoulders so this was a wonderful surprise when I rolled out my mat at 6 AM.  Sorry for the graphic picture if this type of thing makes your tummy turn, but it didn't hurt, and trust me, it's purple today and this photo was just the beginning of the treatment. 

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The city of Mysuru or Mysore is considered an enchanting city, famed for it's heritage, markets, and the Mecca of Ashtanga yoga. Gokulam is the suburb in which I'm spending most of my days as this is where the shala is located. This area is considered quite 'posh' by foreigners and locals alike. I didn't get that impression upon arrival, but after seeing a few nearby suburbs, I'd have to agree. The sad part is that while this area is considered to be a wealthy area, it's still littered with trash, stray animals, and has heaps of sanitation issues. That being said, there is something very humbling and beautiful about the area. I have to admit I've got a new respect for India. I also consider this place to be another planet all together. It's been an adventure to walk through the various main roads and side streets around the shala. You can find lots of health food stores, vegetarian cafes, coconut stands, the famed chocolate man, Ayurvedic shops, clothing stores, and even a US Dollar store. However lovely it may sound, it's still heart breaking to see puppies that have been thrown away because they're female. Or trash that fills roads, yards, and parks. The local livestock are very malnourished, and eat scraps. A friend mentioned they saw a cow eating plastic. It's been hard to walk by everyday and not want to cry. To think that this is a 'normal' way of life, is scary. So I've rolled up my sleeves and tried to do my part day by day. Whether it's feeding the animals, or literally picking up trash. I know I am only one person, but I'd like to think that yes one person can make a difference. The other issue here is air quality. Usually the locals burn garbage 2-3 times a day. This causes thick white smoke to billow around my bedroom, into the shala, throughout the streets. I'm constantly walking around with a scarf over my face to avoid inhaling so many toxins. They're burning everything from yard rubbish to plastics, paper, you name it and it's probably going up in smoke. Moments like this make me really appreciate and understand how good we have it. I've got a week left until heading to Goa, which from the sounds of it will be another whole world in comparison. So that's all for now, going to enjoy the last few days in Mysuru. Xx 

A few snippets of daily life here: 

I call this the Buddha Box - Creative mailbox solution! 

The roosters who wake me every morning at 4:30 AM

Rangoli or Alpana - Made with rice flour, flower petals, colored sand, or dry flower. These patterns are created daily to help protect the home and bring good fortune. Folklore, Patterns, and practices are passed down from one generation to the next. 

The First 24 Hours in India

I made the mistake of not sleeping on my first flight from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur; which was an 8 hour flight. Instead I gorged on 3 movies; Suicide Squad, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, and Morgan, sat in priority seating with all the leg room a short little lady like myself could want but not really need, and ate the packaged cookies that came my way during our scheduled snack breaks. I flew Malaysian Airlines and have to say, I was very disappointed with the friendliness of the airline staff. They were not very pleasant and had attitude the entire time. It was also the first flight where water wasn't constantly circulating around. Anyways, I landed in Kuala Lumpur and had a 2 hour layover, where I desperately searched for bottled water - Starbucks came through to the rescue. 

I boarded the next leg of my flight at 10 PM and attempted my best to sleep during the 4 hours in route to Bengaluru. I slept OK - but was starting to become a bit delirious given my body was operating on Sydney time for the past month. I arrived at 11:30 PM into Bengaluru and proceeded to make my way through immigration, visa, customs, and a Zika screening. I must admit that the staff at the airport was the furthest from 'friendly' I had encountered in a while. In comparison to the abundance of hellos and genuinely happy people in NZ and Oz, this was a shock. Nobody wanted to point me in the right direction, add the language barrier into the mix, and couple that with a jet lagged American, and the result isn't always pleasant. I did my best to remain calm, probably helped that I was in a zombie like state, so I was mildly subdued. After a million and one questions later, I had my passport stamped, Zika check complete and I was on my way to find my driver to bring me to Mysore. For some reason I was under the impression that the drive from Bengaluru to Mysore wasn't very long, well it took 3 and a half hours. I can't even begin to tell you the state of delirium that I was in upon arrival to the school. I must've looked haggard and white faced, and who knows what other attractive traits one could use to describe a lady who had been traveling for well over 20 hours and had been awake for close to 30. The two gentlemen that checked me into my room were so sweet and accommodating, I am forever grateful for their assistance with my baggage and for getting me to the school safely. I've got to tell ya, when I first got into the cab and we left the airport what catches you off guard is the constant, nonstop honking of horns. Honk, HONK, Hooooonk, Beep beep, Hook ... seriously, I was like WTF is going on, why is everyone so angry and honking while driving. It dawned on me after about 10 minutes that when you pass another person or come to a yielding intersection you honk as a courtesy to let other drivers know you're there. So now it made sense, but I still had another 3 hours of horn honking before getting to Mysore. I also was shocked by the amount of traffic on the roads between the hours of 12:30 AM and 3:30 AM. Everyone was out and about!

We stopped just outside of Mysore so that my driver could get a quick Chai. While waiting he was chatting it up with 20 other men all doing the same thing! Mind you, this was all happening at 3 AM, no big deal just gonna stop and meet my mate for a quick chai was all I was thinking. The best part of the drive was the Indian radio stations, the sounds were beautiful and quickly put my mind at ease. Just imagine your favorite chant, prayer, or savasana song and let the sweet sounds woo you into slumber. That was the one part that felt familiar and soothing after the long day. 

I got settled into my room, boiled some water for drinking, and hit the pillow hard. I don't remember dreaming, but I woke up around 8 AM. I forced myself to get up and start moving so that I could adjust to my new time zone. I made French press, ate some peanut butter, and unpacked my luggage. 

Home for the next two weeks - Mystic School

Meet India aka Indie!  

Mid morning I got into contact with a fellow yogi Peg and her daughter Meghan who are also here in Mysore studying with Sharath this month and headed to their home. They recently adopted two stray puppies - they are adorable! They found a litter of 5 puppies in a heap of rubbage on the side of the road. How sad to think that people just discard puppies like trash. Peg proceeded to tell me the stories of how the children here kick and throw stones at the dogs. If I weren't heading to Goa in two weeks and was flying directly home from here, I'd be brining back a little pup with me too! We strolled down to Santosha Cafe for a lovely breakfast and sat community style with a handful of other Ashtangis also practicing at KPJAYI this month. I enjoyed a lovely espresso, scrabbled eggs and millet toast with ghee and jam! Afterwards Peg and Megan showed me around the hood a bit, we went and hungout at their place and gave suggestions on where to buy goods and where was safe to eat. I headed back to Mystic school mid afternoon to relax for a bit. Some of the sights along the walk below.

Ganesha Temple

Street Vendor shops along the walk

My jet lag and lack of sleep started to kick in, so I decided to get some fresh bananas and oranges from the lady on the corner. Did you know that here in India it is offensive to pay with your left hand? This is because it's commonly considered the hand that wipes your ass ... therefore making it offensive. FYI folks, be sure to pay with your right hand to keep the peace. I walked to Depth N Green after the fruit stand to get a coconut milk chai tea. It was delicious and the perfect little spot to people watch and relax in the shade from the hot afternoon.

Chai from Depth N Green in the afternoon sunlight  

Depth N Green

I'm now back and relaxing and heading to bed soon, I've been listening to the neighborhood and can hear a variety of sounds, ranging from the cow that's my neighbor, a group of children playing, the sounds of a man chanting, and tunes playing from the local rooms within the school. Ah India, thamks for welcoming me. It's about 5 PM here and I cannot wait to get up for an Ashtanga practice in the morning, my body has been craving it. Needless to say that's all for today. 

Neighborhood cow  

Last week in Australia

I arrived back into Sydney with Coreen and we spend the day wandering around Surry Hills, ate some gelato and then dined at The Winery on a delicious feast of roasted cauliflower, cucumber salad, and mozzarella bruchetta! The following day Coreen took off to head back to the States and I ubered back over to Manly to spend my last week in Oz exploring and living it up in Manly.

Mozzarella Bruchetta

We hit the ground running with a 26 mile bike ride. We started in Manly and made our way along the North beaches, stopping for a dip in Narrabeem, and to our final destination The Newport. This little gem is actually quite large and overlooks Newport Harbor. We enjoyed fresh Margaritas, tuna poke, and ceviche. 

Narrebeem Beach  

Watermelon Margarita  

Tuna Poke bowl

On Sunday we woke up early and went to the beach to spend some time cleanning up on Manly beach. It was such a terrific way to kick off the Sunday. Afterwards we headed to Allies Sup class in the Harbour followed by a fantastic late afternoon filled with Lawn Bowling! I had a blast, it was so much fun! Essentially I'd describe this game as a combo of bowling and bocce ball and you do it all barefoot! Woohoo! 

Bowling balls

Learning the game from seasoned professional Svante! 

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The rest of the week was spent hitting up lots of yoga at Powerliving. I also ate at Bare Naked Bowls about 4x and and confirm they are in fact the most delicious Acai Bowls I've ever had! Clearly if I ate there 4x in one week, that is saying something. 

Paleo Acai Bowl

I've also decided that if I ever decied to move to Australia, I'd probably set up shop right here in Manly, NSW. It's so beautiful this little beach town. Everything is walkable and reminds me so much of Saratoga. Defintely helped to have such amazing friends and hosts this past week to show me a fantastic time around Manly! We did so much the past few days including Australia Day; had my first lamington (think of twinkies), played Finksa which is a type of lawn bowling game. We enjoyed Sydneys Chinese New Year celebrations in the Harbor at the Opera Bar and naturally dined on some amazing Chinese food!

Finksa - Australian Lawn Games!  

Chinese New Year Celebrations at the Opera Bar in Sydney Harbor

Dragon installation for the Chinese New Year on the Wharf  

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I'll be back again soon Oz! India get ready, I'm coming for ya!  

How's It Going?

If you walk into any shop or store here in Oz you'll be greeted with "How's it going?" -- which I adore! So here is how it's been going. 

Manly is a fantastic beach town with everything you could want and more. I took the first few days to unplug and get into my groove with yoga and the beach. On day 3 I ventured into Sydney to meet up with fellow Saratogians; Garth and Jenny and Burnt Hill-ian by association Jason. We had a glass of bubbly at the Langham Hotel bar which was beautiful. Picture super swanky hotel with lots of pink and gold, accompanied with a ginger rose essence that wafted through the hotel bar. 

Onward we strolled to Darling Harbor and dined at Nick's. The salmon and dill dip was awesome. After dinner we headed to Hotel Palisade Rooftop bar. We ordered some more bubbly and took in the evening views of the bridge and opera house before calling it a night. It was so lovely to catch up and see familiar faces after 3 days of solo time. I must've drank a bit too much as I fell asleep on the Ferry ride back to Manly ... Whoops.

The next day I woke and headed for the Spit Bridge. There is a beautiful costal walk that takes you from Spit Bridge into Manly, so I packed a bag, threw on my sunnies and suit and headed into the hot sun. Along the walk there are numerous beaches to hop in and out of, and I did just that. The walk weaves you through a mix of lush bushland complete with lots of backyard garden spiders - eep, and scenic views of the harbor and ocean. I forget exactly where I snapped some of the pictures below, but I think my captions are roughly I accurate! 

Sandy Bay

Views along the Manly Scenic Walkway

Took a swim here in Castle Rock

Sydney Harbor National Park at Crater Cove Lookout 

Sydney Harbor National Park  

Reef Beach  

Forty Baskets Beach  

North Harbor Reserve  

The walk took about 3 hours to complete before I got back into the harbor and headed back to the apartment to meet up with Allie & Sam. We grabbed dinner at a great little Mexican joint called Havana Beach -- the plantain chips and house mojitos are a must have!! To finish the night we went to North Head to watch the sun set over Sydney. Just another reason to fall in LOVE with Manly. 

Sunset! 

We woke the next day did a soft sand run in Manly beach, hit up a yoga class at Power Living, and hit the road in Sams sweet '69 VW bug bound for Dee Why Beach. We ate at a cute little cafe named Girdlers and consumed what I consider the best brekky ever. IT WAS AMAZING. Everything from the ambiance to the seating. Homemade kombucha on tap and avo toast to die for. I am getting hungry just thinking about it. 

Sweet little buggie!  

The Holy Avo and Goodness Bowl

Post brekky we ventured to Bluefish Point. This was another interesting walk through the bush and trails which snaked along the coast. You'll see an old WWII lookout and radar tower. The views were stunning. We climbed down to see the Rock Pools just below the Bluefish look out. This was a bit terrifying -- the only way down is to hold onto a old rusty chain rope and climb down the cliff. We conjured up some courage and climbed to get down to the pools. As terrifying as this was, it was totally worth it.  

View from Blue Fish Heavy Lookout

The rusty chain (probably from WWII ... I kid, but probably for real) rock route

Rock pools at high tide  

View of the sand and wind blasted cliffs from the pools  

Rock pools with some spray

Pit stop on the walk to dinner with Allie! I adored this church door and insisted on a picture. 

After surviving the climb back up, we headed to Collins Beach for a quick swim and few rounds of frisbee. Post swim we picked up some wine and went to Manly Beach for Happy Hour. Mix some wine and sun and presto, a bit buzzed we strolled towards town and stopped off for a few other pre-dinner cocktails and finally dinner at Cured Manly; we feasted on cheese, meats, bread, olives, and more wine! What a fantastic night we had! The morning was a little rough, but nothing a little SUP yoga session at flow mOcean taught by Allie couldn't cure in Shelly Beach.

After class we grabbed lunch at a cafe called Pure Wholefoods -- I was craving an Acai Bowl which did not disappoint. In my haste I didn't snap a pic, but trust me when I tell you it was fantastic! Walter is the owner of this cafe and was so lovely, greeting all the ladies with "Hello Darling". The shop has a slew of fresh cold salads, smoothies, and other hippie granola eats. The muffins were even made of almond flour. Let's just say that I was in heaven, and I wanted to order every damn thing I saw. I'll be back again at the end of the month to sample more eats!  

The Space Between Breaths

I've officially been traveling for 34 days. It may all seem wonderful, but travel is tough. Don't get me wrong, I chose this path of adventure and of being away from everything familiar for 90 days, but it's not all sunshine and puppy dogs. As exhilarating as travel is, it's also exhausting.

Well, yesterday I hit my wall. I was flying from Christchurch to Sydney, flight time wasn't bad, less than 4 hours, then I had to catch a ferry to Manly, and then I walked (20 mins) to my friends apartment by the beach. Total time between returning the rental car in Chch and arriving in Manly it was a full 12 hour day. Let's rewind for a moment though, as 12 hours of travel is NADA, when I think about the 18 hour flight from Houston to Auckland I survived a month ago. However, let's think about it in the following terms: one month on the road, zero routine, zero familiarity, small comforts few and far between, missing two large holidays, introduce another time zone, and oh yea ... missing loved ones dearly. So needless to say I spent a good portion of the day in tears. I've highly enjoyed my journey abroad thus far, but it also has taken it's toll. I feel disconnected from all those dear to me. The lack of routine is OK, but when it's everyday, it's hard for your mind and body to really react in a manner you'd like it to. I haven't been physically practicing as much as I would like to on my mat either, thank goodness my meditation game is strong. And when I can't commit to a daily asana practice that always makes me feel guilty. I have been very active with hiking, biking, running, and dance parties with Katy but quality time with my mat has been suffering. And yes, I did practice a good deal in Chch at a heated studio, but I needed some real mat time. You know, the kind of practice where you are so in the zone that you completely forget about everything and anything. Letting your breath be your true guide, as nothing else in that moment matters. All the stress, fatigue, and worries, drip away in the same way a bead of sweat falls from your brow. So that's exactly what I did. Since I have the apartment to myself for the next few days I have some quality alone time. So, I rolled out my mat, got some jams going on Spotify, and lost myself for over two hours working every inch of my body, as I moved to my breath, and worked though all the things that have been eating away at me since I left. Pratice felt great, I was convinced this was what I needed to set things straight. 

I slept shitty. Yep, about 4 hours of sleep I'd say? I woke early around 6:30 AEDT and rolled out my mat. A few sun A's and B's and then it was time for my morning espresso. As I sat on my friends couch I closed my eyes, and just started to breathe. I remembered what one of my teachers once told me from the book 'Leap Before you Look':

"Become aware of the movement of the breath. Without trying to change it in any way. Watch the breath come in. Just before the in-breath turns into the out-breath, notice the small gap. Then watch the breath go all the way out ... Pay attention to these gaps. Be present in the gaps. And present as the gap."

One breath to the next, one heartbeat to another. If you quiet your mind, you can find that space. I found the space today, and in that space I discovered my stress, insecurities, worries, and sadness that had been plaguing me for the past several days and decades. But, I also found love, courage, and strength. It's funny this time of year people make 'Resolutions' for the year to come. I gave that practice up a long time ago, I prefer to set intentions, which arguably could be considered one in the same. As I thought more about this, it's not about the resolutions we make, but becoming resolute - more determined and focused on those goals or intentions -- call them what you'd like. I know for me I want to let go of fear, but a lot of this trip has to do with fear. I posted on facebook on New Years Day the following:

Last night we wrote down what we wanted to let go of from 2016. When I sat down to think about it I realized that fear had been a huge theme woven throughout the past year. Fear of surgery; fear of traveling abroad for 90 days; fear of falling in love and loving in return; fear of failure; I choose to let that all go. Because when I reflect back yes - I was scared, but I also triumphed all of those fears. FEAR has two meanings, 'Forget Everything And Run' or 'Face Everything And Rise'. Let's Rise!

To state the obvious, we are constantly working to improve ourselves, we can't expect miracles overnight. While, I have made progress in my fears this past year, I still have a road ahead of me. Do I expect those fears to be over at the end of my 90 day journey? I think not, but I hope to have a jump start on letting them go.

After finding the gaps, I made a few calls back home, and set out on my day. I ran a 5k around Manly Beach, went to a fantastic yoga class at Power Living yoga, strolled through the shops, stuck my toes in the sand, and let the ocean breeze caress my face. Oh yea, and I also drank a pint of Lager from a local Microbrewery in town called 4 Pines - who knew Lager was food for the soul? The spaces between breaths can often reveal so much to us.  

4 Pines Brewing - Lager

Sydney Opera House from the Ferry