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.
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