Mic check.
Is this thing on?
Welcome to another installment of 'what's new with nicole and ryan' or ryan and nicole or nicole and ryan or ryan and nicole ...though really, I'm writing this damn thing. 'Nicole and ryan' it is. This time gadget, this time. Oh wait. Next time gadget, next time.
Well enough of that nonsense.
Three days (or four sleeps) until we are flying back to Toronto. Am I excited? That's what you're thinking, right? Well oddly enough I am feeling a mixture of anxiety, excitement, sadness, relief and probably a little bit of every other emotion you can think of. True story. Ryan and I have managed to make a home here in Taipei. And though I had my home-sick (for Toronto) moments, it feels a little bit odd going back. Leaving the friends that we've made here. Ending the teacher-student relationships that have been created. People have been so sweet and supportive. All in all, the experience feels tinged with sadness. BUT (there's always a but... or a butt) on the positive side, we'll be back with old friends that know us well, with family, our dog, and the English language. And I will get to eat hint-of-lime nacho chips with asiago and artichoke dip. And grilled tempeh. And pita and hummus. Mmmmmm... delicious.
Preparations are well under way (I would hope so!). Though my sleep has been disturbed my the virgo-mind that is... pondering all the things that still need to be done. Tax forms, flight itinerarys, packing dishes, washing floors, teaching until December 6th, wiring money home, workshops, suitcases, laundry... ooga booga. Phew. The biggest stress being the attainment of our flight itinerary and filing of my taxes. Exciting stuff right there. When you need time, there's none available. And when you can't wait, time is all you have. Funny how that works.
So as sleep remains evasive, I... well I do nothing really. Read a different biography about Gandhi and breathe. Breathing being of vital importance to living. Drink chamomile tea and hope that sleep will occur eventually. Which of course, makes sleep more evasive.
Well, again, enough of that nonsense. On to more important things.
I have now officially met David Life and Sharon Gannon. And it was great. Of course, doing yoga for 6 hours - 2 days in a row was a bit of a challenge. What with no sleep and the stressy virgo-brain that is. But nonetheless, the experience was well worth the sore muscles and dead-brain that resulted. Mmmmm. Just how it should be. AND Ryan came with me. He was congratulated on his yoginess (i.e. amazing ability to stretch and listen) and for not being gay. I too applaud him for his yogi/non-gayness. Every day. Nothing against gay yogis. But I don't think they'd want to be dating (or whatever you would call it) little ol' me. Because I'm a girl. Unless they (being girls themselves) like girls. But that would have nothing to do with Ryan. Which is who I was talking about. Right. Back on track.
DAY I: Focused on asana. Asana being the sanskrit word used for a yoga posture. Literally means seat. We learned (in a simple and articulate way) that asana meant estabilishing a connection to the earth. The earth representing all beings (dirt, plant, animal, humans, entire planet). So therefore asana was working with our relationships (connection to others). Which means... yoga is a way to purify our relationship to others. And by purifying our relationship with others, we thereby purify our relationship with ourselves. Do you follow? Once we understood this, we moved on to actually practicing various asanas. And by various, I think I mean every asana in existence. Or at least that's what it felt like. And that was just the first half. The second half of the day, we worked on inversions. Handstand, headstand, shoulderstand, pincha mayurasana... oi!
DAY II: We focused on chakra purification. Sharon taught us about the chakra system. The channels. About karma. Then we learned the bija mantras and did an asana practice that was split between the two parts of the day. Holding poses that related to the chakras, doing meditation/dedication with breath, and then chanting the bija mantras. We worked our way from muladhara right up to sahasrara. Standing on our two feet to standing on our head. Then we did a guided chakra meditation/relaxation. And a gratitude meditation.
All in all, definately a powerful experience. Not to be missed. It just confirmed my dedication to doing the teacher training. Somehow someway. I will find the money and get the time off of work. *nod*
So that is us. Fully updated. I do believe we are staying with Alison and Simon. At least for a couple nights. Then maybe we'll do a lil' couch surfing. Hopefully it won't take too much time to find an apartment. We still lack in the funds department. And are looking for a ride from the airport. But then again we can get ourselves some damn jobs and walk. Ah ha haaaaa. Or take a shuttle bus and/or taxi. Not really a problem. BUT if you're in the area. *wink wink*
On that note. Love love hugs hugs. See you all at Christmas or sooner (don't expect any xmas gifts, we're po! ...that's short-form for poor).xx. -n.
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