I finally made it to the beach. Over 2 months in Thailand and yesterday was the first time I actually laid by the shore and relaxed thanks to a surprise visitor from Jeju who stayed with me for the last week. And today I stopped at 7-11 and got an ice cream bar, also a first. So what the heck have I been doing?! Studying. We have a 4 hour break during the day and after eating lunch and walking back to my guesthouse, it's just enough time to study and practice for a few hours before heading back to afternoon practicums. You may think I'm nuts, but I can assure you I'm not the only one in the program who uses most spare moments to cram my body and mind with yogic knowledge. Last Tuesday was my second practicum, which went really well, and next Wednesday is my third. In addition to teaching an asana class, we also teach other aspects of yoga. Next week I'm giving a lecture on sauca (purity or cleanliness) which is one of the niyamas of the Yoga Sutras. I'm very passionate about this topic and really look forward to giving the lecture to my peers in the TTC. In addition to preparing an asana class and a lecture for next Wednesday, we have our second test Saturday morning which covers everything we've learned in our second month right up through Friday morning's class. I think I know most of the material, but another review of cardiovascular and respiratory physiology couldn't hurt. On the fun side, I've borrowed a friend's guitar and will be singing a song at the final ceremony Saturday night which always makes me happy.
Besides the mental knowledge, I'm getting heaps of experiential knowledge. Doing this much meditation and hatha yoga is incredible and, for me, leads to a deeper cultivation of calmness and peace, a sense of being closer to the truth of my being on and off the mat. Yoga is a spiritual practice which infuses into every aspect of life. So whether I take the time to go to the beach or not, it's all the same in the big picture.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Another few weeks in Beautiful Thailand
On the one hand I am excited to come back to Seattle in less than 2 months. On the other hand, I love Thailand! I'm sure anyone who has spent some time here - outside of Bangkok - will agree that this beautiful country is an ex-pat's dream. I'm back into Thai food, scarfing my fair share of Tom yum, pad Thai, noodle soups, sticky rice, Thai rice soup, and the occasional spring roll. Unfortunately my belly doesn't love those thick coconut curries or soups, even though my mouth does, so I have to steer clear of that category.
But enough about food, what about the yoga you are surely wondering. The teacher training program continues to be wonderful. We're currently immersed in the subtleties of being a yoga teacher, plus anatomy classes, giving proper corrections, and continuing to learn new asanas and other yogic techniques daily. Last Monday was my first teaching practicum and I so enjoyed it! It is nice to get to teach yoga again after almost 6 months. My second practicum will be next Tuesday. The program here is organized in a very succinct way so that each practicum we get to experience a different aspect of teaching a yoga class but all the classes are complete in themselves. I'm certainly grateful to have taught yoga before, it makes the basics easier but there is still so very much to learn. "Slowly, slowly" as is the common expression around here, we accumulate all this new information.
My 60-day entrance stamp to Thailand is soon to expire so Sunday will be a long trip to the Malaysian border and back for a new stamp on my visa. I'm going with 5 other students in my program and we're going Sunday, our only day off every week, so as not to miss any class. Hopefully that won't mean a tired week since I'll miss my usual day of doing nothing.
On a completely different topic, my hair has suddenly grown out of the boy-phase! It's long enough to look like an intentionally short haircut and thanks to the hair wax I've been lugging around for the past 6 months I can style it. It's a little thing but it makes me smile. So unless I get a wild itch in the next 6 weeks I'll have hair when you see me again.
May this Lunar New Year bring you happiness and peace. Heang-bok-han sol-nal!
But enough about food, what about the yoga you are surely wondering. The teacher training program continues to be wonderful. We're currently immersed in the subtleties of being a yoga teacher, plus anatomy classes, giving proper corrections, and continuing to learn new asanas and other yogic techniques daily. Last Monday was my first teaching practicum and I so enjoyed it! It is nice to get to teach yoga again after almost 6 months. My second practicum will be next Tuesday. The program here is organized in a very succinct way so that each practicum we get to experience a different aspect of teaching a yoga class but all the classes are complete in themselves. I'm certainly grateful to have taught yoga before, it makes the basics easier but there is still so very much to learn. "Slowly, slowly" as is the common expression around here, we accumulate all this new information.
My 60-day entrance stamp to Thailand is soon to expire so Sunday will be a long trip to the Malaysian border and back for a new stamp on my visa. I'm going with 5 other students in my program and we're going Sunday, our only day off every week, so as not to miss any class. Hopefully that won't mean a tired week since I'll miss my usual day of doing nothing.
On a completely different topic, my hair has suddenly grown out of the boy-phase! It's long enough to look like an intentionally short haircut and thanks to the hair wax I've been lugging around for the past 6 months I can style it. It's a little thing but it makes me smile. So unless I get a wild itch in the next 6 weeks I'll have hair when you see me again.
May this Lunar New Year bring you happiness and peace. Heang-bok-han sol-nal!
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