what is dying to be born?

What is dying to be born? I was immediately drawn to this powerful question when I read it months ago. I sensed urgency in this question. I sensed sadness and hope at the very same time. Mostly I sensed the idea of faith and surrender.

This has been quite the year for me. I started the year by kicking off our third 200 hour teacher training here in Lexington, and devoted my time, energy, and heart in guiding these students on the yoga path. A desire to know more about Ayurveda led me to Arizona, Kripalu and ended (or really began) with me enrolling with the California College of Ayurveda. I'm halfway through with becoming an Ayurveda Health Educator.

I witnessed some of my Mondo Beyondo dreams coming true, like traveling with my mom to Tulum (her first flight ever), planning, selling out, and leading my first yoga training in Tulum, and spending nearly six weeks in....yes you guessed it, Tulum. I also took my first business retreat to Philadelphia this year. I started working with my life coach Grace Caitlin in January. Our story of how we met is pretty sweet. One day I'll share more on that, but she has helped me to heal and grow in BIG ways.

And over the past few weeks something new has happened to me. I crashed. Yep, totally. I've felt uninspired. I haven't felt motivated to blog, be creative, or be productive in the ways I've always "expected" myself to be. I keep reassuring myself that after this crazy cool amazing year of manifesting, it's totally to be expected. The wisest part of me knows this to be true.

I haven't felt like myself in weeks. It has felt like some piece of me, some part of me was dying . Sounds dramatic, trust me...I know. The part of me that wants to do everything, right now, right this instant, appears to be taking a break and feeling more comfort and content in letting the days unfold in total ease. The part of me that always wants to push forward is yielding to the present.

The part of me that thought I could do it all is becoming more accepting. I can't do it all. Perhaps I could do it all but not at the level that is important to me. I've been feeling that something was needing to give. I knew that I needed to temporarily give something up in order to rest and find space. I believe that by consciously creating this space, something new will be birthed.

When I connected to all of this, by means of breathing, feeling the sensations in my body, and connecting to my heart, I could no longer deny the call to cancel the yoga teacher training here in Lexington for January. You can imagine this was quite a surprise to me. This revelation was scary and I felt very nervous about it. However, I couldn't deny it.

I know this to be true:
1. Projects we don't feel energized about typically don't do well.
2. My potential training students deserved nothing less than an energized and inspired teacher ready to lead.
3. I deserve to do work that I'm excited about in the moment, regardless of how energized I felt about it last month or last year.

That's the dying part. Tough, no? However (insert exclamation points) there is something so wonderfully BIG that is waiting to be born. I've felt this for a few months now. I've felt it even during this uninspired stage.

I haven't exactly put my finger on it but I have an idea. The universe has been doing its part, showing up and providing me with the most inspiring signs (I like to think of these as "winks" from the universe). Yes the universe is providing me with the space, this opportunity to show up in an even bigger way to my students. I'm sure of it.

I'm surrendering in a way that's very new and very uncomfortable for me. I'm totally trusting that with this space I'm freeing, something amazing will emerge. And of course, you'll be among the first to hear about it!

It is my hope in sharing this story that you ask yourself this important question, what is dying to be born? That you get quiet, check in, listen to the small voice that answers., and one brave step at a time you move in that direction.

{namaste}
sharon

PS - Here is the ebook that prompted "what is dying to be born". Enjoy!

PPS - This is from one of the contributors. It gives me goose bumps reading:

Presence is dying to be born. A universe unknown, right here, in this moment, is dying to be born to me, to you, to all of us.

A letting go, as if in totally restful sleep, yet all the while fully awake - there is nothing to do, no one to be, no effort, senses engaged. A moment is an eternity - it's all there is.

Presence is where the world meets us - where we are. Without pushing, without striving.

Presence is where we can welcome another, with love, present fro whoever they may be, opening us to a journey into new landscapes.

Vigilance has its place. Presence is dying to be born.

notes of thanks & giving

"I kicked off Thanksgiving break by being thankful for my body and how it moves when I ask it to, for her (Lisa) for teaching us, for you for building a lovely yoga business where we can all go, and for the other students who come to class!"

So. Love. That. Note.

Tomorrow on Thanksgiving Day I'll be giving thanks to all of you and giving back to the girls at Florence Crittenton Home. Please join in on a yoga celebration tomorrow from 9:15 - 10:30 a.m.. I'm donating my time in the hope that you will donate to Florence Crittenton Home. Hoping to see you on the mat. :)

you make a difference

West of doubt
where you fear your greatness and
embrace it anyway.
We join hands and
listen for the whispers of how we each make a
difference.
~Jennifer Louden

Proposing that for today we lay aside our imperfections. We let go of worry. And cling tightly to hope. Today we don't need to change a single thing about our body, our job, our relationship, or our life.

Instead we join hands, take a deep breath, look others in the eyes, affirm our goodness and celebrate how we each make a difference. Because we all do. I feel this deeply. Know it deeply.

Happy Thanksgiving my friends. May your day be filled with.....thanks and giving.

**a repost of a fave pic of me, my momma, and sis in Tulum (the worlds sweetest spot). So thankful I got to experience this trip with them.**

joyful participation

"All life is sorrowful; there is however an escape from sorrow; the escape is Nirvana – which is a state of mind or consciousness, not a place somewhere, like heaven. It is right here, in the midst of the turmoil of life. It is the state you find when you are no longer driven to live by compelling desires, fears, and social commitments, when you have found your center of freedom and can act by choice out of that. Voluntary action out of this center is the action of the bodhisattvas – joyful participation in the sorrows of the world. "
~Joseph Campbell

Wow. That's big. "Joyful participation in the sorrows of the world."
Lots to think about here.

Wishing all of you a joyful Friday. May you move through the day with grace and ease.

**Pretty pretty joyful joyful Liana in Tulum, Mexico**

"you're not doing enough"

Over the past two days there's been a gremlin in my ear whispering those words...
"You're not doing enough. You need to be doing more."

I'm also thinking about how this translates on the mat, in our yoga practice. When the nagging gremlin voice says, "You're not doing enough in (insert pose name)." I think that in general we are very familiar with pushing ourselves. Perhaps to the point where the asana doesn't even feel good. Hey, I totally admit it.

So tonight I'm flipping my middle finger to the gremlin (nope not my peace fingers) and declaring a whole list of dont's.

As in:

1. You don't have to look perfect in your pose.
2. You don't have to love all the poses. You don't even have to like all of them.
3. You don't have to practice (insert number) minutes for your practice to be considered a "real practice".
4. You don't have to do sun salutations, standing poses, backbends, etc. in every practice. Maybe your practice today will be savasana.
5. You don't have to do what your teachers says. Or what the person next to you does. Or what the book says.
6. You don't have to light incense and candles for every practice.
7. You don't need a yoga mat to practice.
8. You don't need the perfect spot to do yoga.
9. You don't have to enjoy every practice.
10. You don't have to do it the way you did it last year. Last month. Or even last week.

Ahhh, totally feel better now. Alright Love's, have a sweet day (with a dash of mischievousness, just for good measure and balance.;)

PS - Wondering what the gremlins whisper in your ear? And how you tame them?

rumi lovefest

I am your moon and your moonlight too
I am your flower garden and your water too
I have come all this way, eager for you
Without shoes or shawl
I want you to laugh
To kill all your worries
To love you
To nourish you.
~Rumi

Yep the Rumi lovefest continues. As I said on Facebook earlier....
I'm mostly wanting to make soup, read Rumi, and write something.

Still lovin' my beautiful book of poetry I picked up in Asheville. It's serving as such inspiration. Passages like the one above stop me in my tracks. I've been writing faves in my journal then adding my own words.

Also been cooking more these days, which has been a delight. I really enjoy cooking but in the past I haven't made it a priority. Since I've been back from Tulum it's been one of the ways I'm grounding myself. If I didn't know better I'd think I was nesting....whatever that means. :)

We're into week two of new roof at the Big Blue House. The roof is complete and now they are starting on the gutters. And we're getting copper boxed gutters for our pretty pretty porch. Super excited about that.

Between the roofers and the plumber that's been at our house (long disgusting story, ick) for nearly six hours the past two days I'll be one happy yogini to have my house back to myself. As will two doggies....named Bella and Remy.

Sweet dreams dear friends...

PS - Above photo from...you guessed it yoga teacher training in Tulum (which I have dates scheduled for next year!). That's our altar. Beauty.

instructions for living a life

"Instructions for living a life.
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it."
~Mary Oliver

I imagine that I've posted this passage here before.
But I've come back to it this week. I've been packing Andy's lunch for him and I even wrote this on a post-it note and stuck it in his lil lunch bag.

Definitely feeling this resonating in a big way in how I relate to writing/blogging. For such a long time, I was a very shielded gal. Being so selective about the parts of me that I would share.

Over the years I've really worked to change this (on being more open).
Why? Because I think that we heal and grow when we share our stories. When we share ourselves. There are a variety of ways to share our stories (that don't include sharing them on the web).

On most days what I share comes from me paying attention, being astonished on some level, and telling about it.

Now I'm thinking of this Mary Oliver passage and how it relates to asana, to the yoga poses that we practice. Over and over.

I'm working to pay even more attention to my body. And choosing to feel astonished by how it works in such a crazy cool magical way.

In the way that it creates me
supports me
holds me
and how it allows me to walk, talk, love, work, play, rest, dance, skip, drive, hike and so on. And on.

If I choose to feel astonished in more moments, how might this transform how I speak to myself and others about my body, my poses, my work, etc.

What if I didn't focus on what I can't do, but what I can do? Not in some sort of egotistical way. But in a way that simply demonstrates who I am and the gifts that I have to share with others. Sharing in a way that feels aligned with body, mind, and heart.

If the nature of spirit is all about the sweetness of life, how can my thoughts, words, and actions lend themselves to the goodness that's available in each and every moment?

How can I pay attention, be atonished, and tell about it more often than not?

And of course my friends I flip those questions back to you.

Happy Saturday.
May it be good.
May you pay attention.
May you be astonished.
May you tell about it.

PS - Photo during gradation ceremony for yoga teacher training in Tulum. Photo taken by the talented Martin Husch.

words of ayurveda

Some words/quotes to share:

"The goal of Ayurveda is to keep humanity healthy so that one can fully pursue the four goals of life. This is the highest purpose of Ayurveda. Without health, the journey is compromised and the goals are more difficult though not impossible to achieve." ~Marc Halpern

The four goals of life are:
1. Kama (pleasure)
2. Artha (prosperity)
3. Dharma (purpose)
4. Moksha (liberation

"A person of normal mental faculty, intelligence, strength and energy, desirous of his well being pertaining to this world and the world beyond, has to seek (the) three basic desires (instincts). ~Caraka Samhita (to Ayurveda what Yoga Sutras are to yoga)

The three basic instincts of life are:
1. The desire to live.
2. The desire to earn.
3. The desire to perform virtuous acts.

This quote is pertaining to the desire to earn:
"One must have a desire for wealth for there in nothing so miserable as a long life without wealth. One can adopt any means of livelihood that is not despised by man." ~Caraka Samhita

Huh, something that is "not despised by man". I'm sure that could be debated a few different ways. As with all things yoga related. ;)

Yep, I've been studying this morning.
Enjoy the sunshine......

PS - Studio was hoppin' last night with all sorts of lovely yogis. It was quite delight-full. So nice to be back at the treehouse for yoga goodness.

PPS - That's a new yoga amiga I met at our retreat in NC. Mist over the mountains and a peaceful warrior. Pretty. Pretty.

body and soul

Yesterday was Monday.
I love Mondays.
It has officially became my "I'm gonna do whatever I feel like doin' day."

Last week I had a private session and when we went to schedule a session for this week I said, "I don't work on Monday, but any other day we can work with."

Even when I said it a light bulb went off. This is the first time I've actually voiced this to a student/client. And took a firm stand for me. And my day of self care.

Andy had PTA and didn't get home till later last night. So I had a full time to myself. I was so happy about my day that when he came home I recited to him what I spent the day doing (and even gave him times, as in from 6:30 to 8:00.....)

Body and soul were fed in the following ways....

*study ayurveda upon waking
*eat the last of the de-lish granola I brought back from Maya Tulum
*walk to main and maple. spend three hours blogging, writing and reading old journal entries from Mexico (a way I'm celebrating/receiving all the Mexico goodness)
*eat vegetarian chili I made previous night. This is THE best chili I've ever made
*take the dogs for a long walk (for dogs)
*take myself for a long walk (this is more for me than the dogs)
*spend an hour in my yoga room doing yoga (asana mostly). I did read a passage by Rumi that became my inspiration for the practice. Following the practice I spent a few minutes writing in my sketch journal.
*listen to Lucinda Williams station on Pandora. Swirl around the house and tidy things up.
*see what ingredients I have at the house and come up with a chickpea dish for dinner (garlic, tomatoes, evoo, cayenne, red pepper flakes, cumin, red wine vinegar, chickpeas, spinach, lemon juice, salt and pepper). Very tasty. And feel empowered that I could in fact improvise and make something.
*pull out old magazines and do a couple collages in my sketch journal (see above photo)
*read People magazine that BF brought to me (we recycle this way :)
*go to bed early.

I discovered this poem in an old issue of Whole Living. You can see it in the pic above. Enjoy.....

Body and Soul
by Sharon Bryan

They grow up together
but they aren't even fraternal

twins, they quarrel a lot
about where to go and what

to do, the body complains
about having to carry

the soul everywhere as if
it were some helpless cripple,

and the soul snipes that it can go
places the body never dreamed of,

then they quarrel over which one of them
does the dreaming, but the truth is,

they can't live without each other and
they both know it...

Happy Tuesday my friends. I hope to see you on the mat later today. Break is over for me, back to ayurveda studies.

grounded

I'm thinking about this. And what it means for me (in this moment, and that could totally change).

I just looked the definition of grounded up. Here is what I found that resonated most with me:
1. Mentally and emotionally stable
2. To place on or to touch the ground..

I've been traveling a whole lot recently. In fact, this was the first weekend I've spent at home since the end of September. Home is usually a place for us to feel mentally and emotionally stable. At least that's the hope. This rangs true for me. Upon leaving Mexico I kept having the thought, "I can't wait to get home and be grounded in my big old house."

The rational part of me knows that I need to stay put. I need to ground myself after this period of intense work and travel. But the part of me that needs and wants to experience more wants to keep me on the go.

Being in North Carolina for the weekend retreat was really good for me. Being with the group of girls was wonderful, the food was great, and the sessions went really well. For me being nestled in the mountains was pretty perfect. When I'm in the mountains I feel a sense of being protected, of being held, almost like a cocoon in some sort. And I even took an hour long nap outside, lying in the grass on my belly. Truly the most "grounding" thing I'd done in a while.

While I was in NC, I didn't make any plans. I originally had this intention of some quiet time, deep listening for what I need/want to do next.

Grounding it was. I didn't need to plan. Plan. Plan some more.

I needed to stay put. And celebrate what I'd done, what I have recently accomplished. In one of my calls with Grace (awesome life coach Grace) we were having a conversation about my need to be doing more. She says to me, "Wow Sharon I feel so inspired by you and how you have this way of making stuff happen in your life. But I also feel sadness because you can have a hard time letting yourself feel settled, receive, and celebrate what you do." These were not her exact words as I didn't write them down and the call was a while ago. But you get the gist. They keep coming back to me.

Sooooo, that's what I've been doing....grounding. My yoga practice (which I'm in another period of so loving asana) has been grounded in that I've been doing tons of standing poses, for longer holds. Less flow. More emphasis of grounding through the feet, drawing the muscles onto the bones, creating stability, and enjoying slow deep breaths.

Ideas have been swirling around about some "nexts". I'm keeping a list. But not acting on any of it yet. I know that logistically, projects need to come forth from a grounded place. Not the dreaming part so much. But when we start to move forward with dreams, it needs to come from a grounded, stable place.

I don't only do this with work stuff, but this is what I most bring voice to here on this blog. For instance in the week that I've been back I've:
1. Tried to convince Andy that we reallllly should go to the Michael Franti concert in Cleveland this Saturday. He's not as convinced as I.
2. Planned a short little trip to Asheville with Andy after Thanksgiving.
3. Firmed up plans for a June trip with BF, her husband, and Andy for a trip to the Outer Banks.

Yep, for a Kapha gal (grounded, stable, and earthy) I sure like to be on the go. :)

PS - Yes I'm sure that I used the word "grounded" here tons o' times. Perhaps I'll count and see.

PPS - But today is Monday. Monday how I love you! I will not drive today. I will not make myself do anything. I will only do the things that bring me joy. I will not judge myself in the process.

dance

Dance, when you’re broken open.
Dance, if you’ve torn the bandage off.
Dance in the middle of the fighting.
Dance in your blood.
Dance, when you’re perfectly free.
Rumi

**Last dance party on the beach of Tulum**

on taking care of yourself

When you take good care of yourself you help everyone. You stop being a source of suffering to the world. You become a reservoir of joy and happiness. Here and there are people who know how to take care of themselves. They are our strongest support. ~Thich Naht Hanh

*Student taking a break during yoga techer training in Tulum. Takin' good care of himself. :) *

**Thanks for sharing the quote Anita**

house of joy

"Maybe you should move into the house of joy,
and shine into every crevice." ~Rumi

I bought THE most beautiful book of Rumi poetry last weekend in Asheville. Really, each page is a feast for the eyes. The words are a feast for the heart.

I've been thinking about the above words over the last two days. A lot.

I've shared these words on Facebook. And in class too.

I'm thinking about how our body is the ultimate house. It is our house. Our temple. Our vehicle. So much more.

Wondering what it would be like to view and feel that my body was but a house of joy.
I'm familiar with a house of judgement.
And shame.
And hurt.

Let us not forget that our mind is housed here too.
I'm familiar with a house of doubt.
And fear.
Anxiety too.
More shame.
And hurt.

But joy. I've come to know you much better over the past years.
I am getting closer to you.

I'm also thinking of asana (yoga poses) and how my practice (and teachings) can be a demonstration of a celebration.

Of joy.

Thinking of how we can use the breath, thoughts, and intentions to shine light into every crevice in the body.

Into the parts that ache.
The parts that are tight.
The parts we think aren't good enough.
The parts we're ashamed of.

I would love for you to join me in this house of joy.
And together we can shine like stars.

notes from my journal

July 22, 2008

I was just thinking for a moment about teaching yoga in Appalachia. Teaching yoga in Mexico. Teaching yoga in Lexington. Could I really do it all? Could I plant and share these seeds of yoga at all the places I hold so dearly?

{photo taken during tulum yoga teacher training by martin husch. martin is both a talented yoga teacher and photographer, clearly.}

wherever you stand....

"Wherever you stand be the soul of that place." ~Rumi

{walking meditation at tulum yoga teacher training. breathtaking}

yoga retreat to the mountains

I'm off on a yoga retreat adventure tomorrow with some lovely yoginis (two of em' in the photo from retreat two years ago). For two days we'll do yoga close to nature, in the mountains. It will be good. Really good.

Am using the time to teach and lead.
To also be open to dwell in a space and ask....
"What wants to come next."

Because that's just what I do.
And who I am. :)

Our inspiration for the weekend is....
"When you do things from the soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy." ~Rumi
Hope those wise words resonate with you on some level.

Peace.
Mountains.
Yoga.....

Adios....

on re-entry

It's been nearly three days since I've returned from our amazing yoga teacher training in Tulum. So, so bittersweet.

There is the part of me that is so flippin' happy to be back in Kentucky. So wonderful to see and be with Andy (and Bella and Remy too). So grounding for me to back at the Big Blue House. So comforting to be able to talk to family and friends whenever I want. So good for me to be back at the studio and see the students that I adore so much. Walking into the studio for the first time yesterday and being met with such a loving force, and a clean sparkly studio/treehouse (thanks Lisa!).

Good.
Good.
Good.

But it's a challenge at the same time. I find that everytime I come back from Tulum, I am such a sensitive soul. Even more so this time. I think mostly because the intensity and the nature of what I was doing. Plus all the students (who are now teachers) were even more special than I dreamed they would be. This experience was such a dream come true. A mondo beyondo dream come true.

I'm taking extra care of my Self this week. Attempting to anyway, particularly in these ways::

1. Grounding myself at home. Sunday night when Andy is driving me home he asks what I'm doing tomorrow (Monday). I tell him I need to go to the studio and do some things. He asks if that's a good idea. His simple question of this made me realize that no, it's probably not a good idea. So Monday was spent at home. Near my home. My old old house has enough to hold me and all my sensitve and tender parts. I feel safe here. The Big Blue Abode is very good for me. I gave myself the gift of her for a full day. Thank you Andy for being my teacher and knowing better than me what I needed.

2. Connecting to nature. On Monday and Tuesday I spent about an hour walking in the cemetery next to my home. Monday I enjoyed the walk with my dogs. Yesterday I went alone and whirled around the cemetery several times and listened to inspiring and uplifting tunes and words. After living so close to nature for over two weeks I find this is a must. I walk and say the words of e.e. cummings....I Thank You. And feel connected. To nature in general. To all in the universe. Walks in nature too are very good for me.

3. Grounding practices, such as yoga, meditation, and self massage (abhyanga). On Monday I spent two full hours in my yoga room. I got to add a few extra things to my sacred space and altar. Good luck beads gifted to me from a student in Peru, a big seedlike thing from our Tulum altar, and a card from a student. My practice was sllloooowww and grouding. No sun salutations. I just let my body move in the ways it wished. Intuitive at first. Then longer holds of yin poses. I let my breath do it's own thing. I finished with some singing/chanting/kirtan and meditation. I'm also taking time for daily self massage.

4. Being aware of my own energy. Drawing in when and where I need to. Giving and sharing when I need to. Knowing that I'm super sensitive right now. And not dwelling on all my thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Giving myself permission to experience all and let them move on through. Easier said than done. I apologize in advance family and friends. :)

What about you?
Have you been to such a place,
done such a thing,
that is resonated so much for you,
that it blows your heart apart,
and leaves you putting the fragile pieces back together?

final day of tulum yoga teacher - closing + celebrating

"I am not a teacher, but an awakener." ~ Robert Frost

It's hard to believe that our time is coming to an end. We've all been so focused, so present, so dedicated to this process.

And now the time comes to bring it to a closing. Just like that.

We meet at 5:30 at our usual spot by the pool, under what has become our yoga palapa. Everyone is radiant and dressed in white. It pretty much takes my breath away just seeing them.

We've created a beautiful circle and sit atop festive, colorful, large cushions. Copal incense wafts through the air. As does a soft breeze. We hear the sounds of the sea so close by. It's a sound we've all come to love, a sound that lulls us to sleep, a sound that fills our hearts with joy.

We check in. I share with them the emails and messages I've received from students at home. Cheering them on. Supporting them from afar. Connecting to them and this process even if they haven't met. This is so much of what yoga is really about. Union. Without restrictions. Without definitions.

Then I guide them to find a comfortable seated meditation position. Truly the last time here in Tulum.

I take out the manifesto of encouragement that I'd written upon getting to Tulum over two weeks ago. I read it slowly. So that I can fully receive the power of this moment. So that they can receive the power of the moment.

I feel my emotions. I feel the emotions of the group. It' so strong. It's palpable.

Upon finishing we all sit in meditation for a few moments. I then guide them through our two weeks together. Meeting as strangers and students of yoga two weeks earlier. Now lasting friendships have been forged, and these students became yoga teachers. Inspiring and wonderful yoga teachers. They are awakeners.

I speak of the process honestly. The process was not without challenges.
There were tears.
There were frustrations.
There was confusion.
Anger too.
We missed our family and friends.
We were nervous and anxious.
We were exhausted.
We questioned ourselves.
This process.
And this path too.

But my oh me.
There was goodness.
There was greatness.
We paid homage to scoochasana (some thought "scooch" was either a word I made up for a KY word. ;)
There were poolside dance parties.
There were communal meals.
There were walks, talks, and practices of reverence.
There was giving and receiving.
More giving. More receiving.
We were heard in a way that's rare.
We were seen for our greatness.
We were humbled by how others witnessed us.
We got out of our head and into our body.
We got our of head and body, and into our heart.
We overcame doubts and fears.
There was powerful and transformative energy.
There was passion.
There was magic.
More magic that I could have dreamed up.

The depth and the breadth of this rare and wonderful experience....wow.

This process of yoga teacher training was pure bliss for me. All of it. Nothing was wasted, I kept telling the group. Every bit of it was needed for our particular growth. For the healing of our heart, for the development of our teaching.

I guide the students to think about what they are now ready and willing to let go of. And what do you want to take away from this experience?

We go over to the altar we've been creating as a group over the two weeks. Each person takes two gifts from nature. One represents what they want to let go of. One represents what they want to take home and remember.

We walk to the sea and send back what we want to let go of. To see these students tossing their item to the sea was so powerful.

The lighting on the beach at this time. On this particular day is breath taking. We take photos. Lots and lots of photos. We hug. Laugh. And celebrate. We joke that we look like some type of weird wedding party donning our white and taking tons of photos.

We go back and finish our closing with receiving certificates and love from the group. One by one teachers received their certificate then they got to sit and receive love from the group. People went around the circle and expressed something from the heart.

We did this. One by one. So very touching.

Pure bliss watching students become teachers.
Pure bliss witnessing stangers become friends.

They come to learn to teach yoga.
They leave with so much more.

For they're not only teachers.
They are awakeners.

**photo taken by Martin Husch**

day 14 yoga teacher training - tulum mexico

This is the day the tears came for me. Our final, full day as a group.

We start with our last group asana practice. At 7:00. We get an extra 30 minutes to sleep with the intensity of Friday + temalzcal, which people usually experience deep sleep afterwards.

One. Last. Practice.
It was a practice that was all about the joy. All about the bliss.

I shared a quotes that inspires me on the path of teaching by Albert Einstein,
"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge."

We inhaled and received joy for ourselves and this journey.
We exhaled and shared this joy with our new friends/yoga teachers surrounding us and future students.

Of course there was a joyful playlist for the occasion with the likes of Bob and Ziggy Marley, Michael Franti, Michael Jackson, and so on.

There were songs of leaning on me, creating change, three little birds, one love, you and me, imagine, being there for me, and so on.

There was an impromptu dance party in the middle of asana.

It was totally inspiring and beautiful.

At the end of class I shared my most fave poem of all, The Journey by Mary Oliver. Stated that this was the end of this particular journey, but just the beginning for all of us.

We closed with an Om...
One last time to open our eyes and connect with every one else with brand new radiant eyes and heart.
Silent namastes.
Full hearts.

A few tears for me. I'm giving myself full permission to allow myself to feel the full range of my emotions. In this moment my heart is flooded with love.

Again....
we dance.
One more time around the pool, with each other, in small circles, a large circle where we each danced through and celebrated whomever was in the circle.

We eat. Then chat business up until lunch. A few hours are reserved for celebrating, receiving, and experiencing what ever we are needing.

Pictures are taken on the beach. Like the one above taken by the very talented photographer enthusiast and yoga teacher Martin Husch.

We come back together at 5:30 for our closing celebration.
Which deserves a whole post dedicated to itself.

More to come....

day 13 yoga teacher training - tulum mexico

The day we've all been preparing for....

Testing day! I break the students into two groups of five. Yesterday they signed up for their 40 minute teaching slot. We begin at 6:30 a.m. and finish up with all of them around lunch time.

I observed five students and Sarah observed five students. I was completely floored at how great this group taught class. I sat, observed, listened, made notes on their evaluations. Each of the students brought a lil tear to my eyes at some point in their teaching. Oyyy, this is gonna get emotional for me.

All the stuents shared a reading of some sort at the end of class. One student/teacher shared a reading from her journal. Oh. My. Gosh. It was the sweetest, most beautiful, most poetic words. I listened with such joy, such pride, and such gratitude. It was such a tender moment for me. And all of her students.

There were four more teachers after her. They were all different and unique, yet similar in some ways. I felt like a proud parent observing them. They all took the information and made it their own. One of my hopes for this training.

Sarah had a group on the other side of the property, near the beach. In perfect form, the first teacher had his students turn towards the beach and watch the sun rise at the end of his class.

All of them did wonderfully. I wasn't sure how to base my expectations with this. Since it's my first time conducting the training in this intensive format. Lets just say it's working even better than I imagined.

But we've got more testing for the day. Right after lunch we start the written and oral tests. Sarah gets the group going with the written test and I go the Villa to conduct the oral portion. Students have assigned slots to come and do this portion.

It takes about two more hours to complete the oral tests and by this point everyone has also completed the written test. Sarah and I immeditely start grading the tests so that we can let everyone know their results.

In about two more hours we've completed this task. Wow, this is an intense day for all.

But so worth it, cause you know what we did as a group for the evening....

We did temalzcal! Sweat lodge! At Maya Tulum! With our fave shaman Fabian....

Nine of the ten students were able to participate. Plus Sarah and myself. We walked with jubilation down the beach. Leaving the anxieties of the test behind and ready to embrace this transformative group experience.

This is truly what it is. Transformative. Special. So very special. There was some hesitancy from some students. But all pulled through beautifully.

After this three hour experience we as a group are so much stronger. So much closer. I can't even begin to describe this temalzcal. And now students get it. They too say, "Now I get it. It's impossible to describe."

We also have the most perfect night for this. A full moon. I lie in the sand and gaze up at the night sky. The stars. They are so sparkly. Like all of us. Sarah lies next to me. We bask in giddy giddy joy.

After sweat lodge I'm wrapped in a large towel and sheet. They feel warm and comforting to my wet skin and hair. I get a glimpse of the full moon and the shimmery affect on the sea. I walk over, stand there in awe, taking everything in. All of it. It's a moment I'll never forget.

We take the 15 minute walk back to Cabanas La Luna on the beach. The flashlights aren't needed. The full moon guides us along perfectly.

A most perfect ending.
For a most perfect day.
For a most perfect group of people.