Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Learning to breathe Again

After passing the half way mark of my trip, I realised this trip was quite different then I had expected. Often we expect something to be the same or similar as the previous time we did it, each trip there is more learning’s, each trip easier but also more challenging as I challenge myself more. This time I was learning to slow down, As Alessia gets more independant, I can relax more . she is a pleasure to travel with. We have so much fun; her caring funny nature leads to time of bliss spent with her. 

As for my Yoga, my teacher is incredible. His knowledge and  adjustments are a different level; I’ve learned vocal Adjustments can be more powerful then physical adjustments, which I often give to my students. Letting the student become aware of the exact position rather then putting them
into it.  Every trip I learn more and more. My love for yoga becomes much deeper. As I finish three weeks of classes and have anther two and a bit, I think already of next years trip.  After the first week I made a difficult decision. I changed my morning class, from a Hatha class to an Ashtanga class. It felt the right decision yet felt so hard as the class I was leaving was incredible. 
As my knowledge of yoga increases my reasons for practicing continues to change. My desire to teach and how I want to teach slightly alters. As my teacher said today “the criteria to be a good teacher one of which is giving no power to what others think not acting in a way to be liked but just allowing yourself be and act in a way that is true to you” This I feel is so important, to actually be a good teacher.
When I am in India it gives me a different perspective of life, making life simple again, slowing down, stopping the silly stressing over things that don’t matter. This trip has allowed me to practice pranayama, in a relaxed calm way, as I have much more flexibility with Alessia. Pranayama, is such a fantastic tool, allowing you to learn to live in the moment, often the only other way is constant entertainment. This trip is teaching me to learn to just be learning to relax and teaching me further about my breathe.  Each trip  different also the same but the knowledge I am learning is valueless.  Loving India and all it has to offer. 




Thursday, December 6, 2018

loving the little things

Over the years coming to India I’ve heard other parents who bring their children with them saying things like their children are bored here?????  I Find it very hard to understand, bored of seeing some where new, of spending time with their parents, embracing a different culture, seeing a different way of life. The problem is our children’s lives are as busy as ours. Rushing and racing, bombarded with toys and gifts, activities, Electronics watching our phones, ipads, computer, TV so their concentration is terrible they don’t want to sit still, they need instant gratification. What I see here is children playing on the streets, spending time with their parents, helping their parents, living with very little but they do not appear bored they are not looking to be constantly entertained.



 Whey do we feel like we need to ensure every second of our child’s day is full to the brim. What I love about coming to India is time slow downs it is acceptable to sit in a cafĂ© for the whole day with one cup of coffee and watch the world go by. I love that alessia just takes it all in and plays with her surroundings. We have little toys, a tea set, some dolls, books and jigsaws and there is endless amount of fun. I love how she spends her day doing pretend play, how she is soaking up a different culture, she said to me one of the days we arrived although we all look a little different inside we are all the same. Watching her interact with the children we meet, some of them she plays with, it is so real they play they don’t ask to many questions they have fun and then they go their separate ways. They are living  in the moment. 
 
Each trip for me gets better and better, Alessia is getting older and with that more independent I can go to my classes and relax, there is no stress I can breathe, this year feels like my first time to practice in a relaxed calm mind set, I am not trying to rush home I am present and I can see the effects. I am really embracing the pranayama, as I can sit relax and actually breathe. While I am at class I think how I’ve created a Journey for myself that couldn’t be closer to the true me. 
As I sit and watch people fighting for business, people struggling to fed their children, people living with nothing and still a smile to their faces, still just living still so many people honest and kind. As my first week commences I feel empowered, I feel my knowledge I’ve learned is priceless. My teacher is incredible, he speaks few words but what ever he says is of value. 

I look forward to seeing my students again and teaching them all I’ve learned. And if all I got from these trips is teaching Alessia to be happy in her own skin, to learn to live with little and find true happiness inside then I think will be doing well. 

Loving India