One of my all time favorite places on Maui is Hana.  Nestled at the East side of the island it is truly one of the last untouched authentic Hawaiian towns.  It's only about 30 miles from my house but takes a good two hours to get there as the road is one lane and you can't drive any faster than 5-10 miles per hour.  The locals say that Hana is the Heart of Maui.  I believe that to be true.  There is a pulse here that is soft and sweet.  The air is pure, the jungle is rich with life and magic swirls around those that are able to sense it.  PRANA is evident everywhere here.

There's nothing like a 3 week yoga intensive followed by a hike in the jungle to inspire one to try a pose just about anywhere.  You traveling yogi's know exactly what I'm talking about.  Taking yoga off the mat is just as important as the work you do on the mat and so much fun.  My friend Andrea and I could not walk 5 steps without finding another pose to do on the way to our waterfall destination.  Enjoy the pictures!

Double Dikasana

Standing Back Arch.  That's a cover!

Virabradasana A










Urdva Danurasana

Urdva Muka Svanasana








Nataranjasana

Trichonasana








Chatarunga Dandasana 

Vrksasana








It's all about the journey.  The destination is pretty sweet too.

Yoga, like many things in life, is a reflection of our true self.  The more Yoga you do, the more you seeeeeeee....  I've been doing lots of yoga.  It's been really amazing and the experience, very special, magical and perfect for me.  After over 150 hours of yoga in the past two and a half weeks, it's actually gotten a little raw.  Vritti, Vritti, Vritti, those !#%&*?!!! Vrittis!!! Mind fluctuations as the Yoga Sutras have defined them....


Without going into any detail, the Vritti's have passed and a state of YOGA has settled me.  My body feels strong, flexible and aligned.  My heart is open and lifted, my spirit is nourished and I am ready to take on the world again.  


I can't wait to get back in the studio.  I miss all my friends, yogis and students and I have tons of great yoga to share.  I'll be back the first week of September.  Until then...


Namaste'


Marie

No sooner could I get my camera, snap a couple of shots and then it was gone.  

 “Off the Grid”

Soooo, I think I had a couple Mai Tai’s when I wrote that last post… J Adding on.  Since I have arrived here in Huelo, Maui at the Tea House Cottage for my yoga teacher training with Nicki Doane and Eddie Modestini, I’ve been submersed in a sustainable community both on purpose and by default.  Huelo, is a beautiful North Shore community that exists “off the grid”; no water, sewer or electricity.  Every house and property is its own little permaculture system.  This is where the Maya Yoga Studio is located and why I am here in the first place.

Upon arriving, my little Tea House felt rustic and cozy.  It still feels that way and I can savor the feeling of open windows, gentle breezes and the ocean as far as the eye can see.  The lights and electrical system are powered off solar, the hot water is also heated with solar piping on the roof, and the water is a catchment of rainwater.  Waste is on a cesspool system, similar to a septic but no tank, just a big hole in the ground that leaches its way out.  Septic is a very interesting process actually. 

As I walk daily to class (no car necessary) I enjoy the morning air and drink that little bit of day in as soon….  Nicki and Eddie will own me.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays we start at 6:00am for morning meditation, pranayama, mantras and yoga nidra (OMG this is awesome!).  Then asana class from 8-11, short break, then lecture, lunch and more lecture with alignment and all sorts of other stuff.

But getting back to lunch.  Lunch has been provided to us completely vegan and all grown on the property.  The most delicious lettuces, tomatoes, veggies of all sorts, tahini dressing to die for, brown rice or quinoa and all sorts of yummy veggie options.  A vegetarians DREAM!!  So, I am going with the program and going veggie.  It’s so easy and delicious and I feel fantastic.  Submersed.

Living “Off The Grid” feels really good.  Feels like you can take care of yourself and the planet and have all your needs taken care of.  You can live lightly and in tune with nature.  Now granted this is Maui and the climate is perfect.  The potential is ripe and it works.  In other areas of the country and the world sunlight is a factor, but where it’s not, it works. 

So here’s to living “Off The Grid” (in Maui)!

Peace

Marie

Sunrise at the Stuppa.  Probably the last sunrise shot as I am now waking up at a more reasonable hour.


OK, first things first.  Class attendance has been a little light this week...  Where is everyone??  It does not matter who is teaching, you, the students are our teachers.  You teach us like children teach parents.  We think we know it all but really, you show us the way.  Drop your expectations at the door, come in and let yoga be your guide.  Any one of us can walk into any class anywhere in the world and make the most of it.  If your favorite teacher is out or there is a sub, don't let that be an excuse for not practicing.  Yoga, the postures, the breath, your body, those are the real guides.  Practice is the real teacher.  We just happened to take some silly course somewhere and received some meaningless piece of paper that says we can confidently call ourselves yoga instructors.  It really means nothing.  To me, the more you practice and the longer you have practiced, that means something.  That says a lot.  Who cares who is teaching.  Step back on your mat, support your friends, teachers, studio, community and most importantly, yourself.  Don't let another excuse get in the way of the best part of your day.  Do YOGA!

Biggest snail I have ever seen.  Love that shell!!


Next on my consciousness...  Permaculture.  This was a topic that we discussed today in the second half of our training.  How to live sustainably and make it a permanent culture.  Who has a garden??  Who can grow herbs in their window sill?  Who recycles?  Who has solar panels on their roof?  Who does yoga?  Who would like their children or their grandchildren to live in a beautiful peaceful world?  Who likes the taste of a raindrop on their tongue?  If you answered yes to any of these questions you can contribute to your own personal, sustainable life and you can share it with everyone you know and love.  Make a difference to the world by starting with you, with what you can control.  Your garbage, your energy expenditures, the food you eat.  Just think about it.  If it feels good, don't change a thing.  If it is slightly off, make a change.  If it's wrong, don't do it and don't buy it.  When the opportunity arises and you have a choice, be present and make the choice that is best for your mother, MOTHER EARTH.  Without her, none of us exist...   

Aaahhh.  It’s good to be home.  Maui has a special place in my heart.  I arrived yesterday to a rainy afternoon.  I checked into my little “Tea House Cottage” just a short walk from the studio.  I was really tired so just settled in to bed with the rain on the tin roof and palms blowing gently outside. 

Opened my eyes at about 5:00 am (still on East Coast Time) and rested until glimpses of the sunrise started to appear.  Ever so gently did the sun rise.  I got up out of bed, made some coffee and savored the moment.  It’s nice to get up with the sunrise once in a while. 

Second cup of coffee, 6:00 am.  Ready to do something.  Yoga…  Eddie & Nicki are just finishing up a 3 week intensive.  Surely I could “Drop In”, I “knnooww” Nicki.  7:30, I walk from my little teahouse cottage down to the studio and settle in.  I see some familiar faces and smiles.  Nicki comes in with a special smile and warm welcome to me.  "I’m in, no problem…"  Eddie comes cruising in, he’s the one you have to look out for, he gives me a warm welcoming smile and says “your brave”.

Sure enough, we start out with the usual, seated meditation, two mantras (my favorite), and gentle marma point releases.  Then, Nicki may have well said drop and give me 1000 but instead brings us to downdog for 5 minutes x 3.  Sirsasana, 5 min x 3.  Ashtanga vinyasa for about an hour.  Deep lounges for about ½ hour.  Headstand again to crow then back to headstand dropping down into wheel!!  3 more wheels from the floor then slowly coming to a close with about 5 more poses of I can’t remember because I can’t feel my arms anymore. 

Aaahhhh, it’s good to be home…

 

Hello All.  Well, I’m on the first part of this travel leg visiting a dear friend in Santa Barbara whose husband recently died.  My goal is to help her anyway I can with kids, house, work and life.  I arrived and we talked at length.  She is crazed in dealing with family, estate issues and her late husbands many businesses leaving little time to process this whole event and no time for her SELF.  So, first on my wellness agenda was groceries, meals, margaritas and yoga in that order.  We had some great meals with her children, drank some stiff margaritas, laughed, cried and just reconnected.

Next on our list is yoga every morning at the Santa Barbara Yoga Center.  This morning was our first class.  A level 1 with an instructor I had never taken before.  It did not matter who was going to be in front of us.  What mattered was that we made it there.  My goal is to get her grounded, centered and breathing.  Mission accomplished!  The teacher was a little weird but did his job and by doing so we were both able to “drop in”.  I appreciated just being able to stretch out and she for the first time felt a true rush of emotions.  I walked out feeling great.  She walked out feeling sad.  A feeling she had not given herself much time to deal with. 

As our week continued, yoga was our first morning priority.  After every class I again felt invigorated, appreciating the time to practice with some of my favorite instructors.  My girlfriend continued to go through a whirlwind of emotions.  As we walked out of each class on opposite ends of the yoga bliss spectrum I realized just how powerful a healing tool this practice is and how personal it is for each person.  For someone suffering a huge loss and busily pushing away her sorrow through endless tasks, meetings and lists of “to do’s”, yoga was the only thing that could bring her down, settle her mind and let her heart express its pain. 

By the end of the week my friend seemed to be feeling a little better.  All of her “to do’s” were getting done, her appetite was back, she was looking forward to yoga everyday and had much more energy despite the continued emotional rollercoaster during and after each class. 

It was time for me to go and now my emotions were going awry.  Was she going to be ok?  Would she keep doing her yoga?  Who is going to make them breakfast every morning?  I still worry and keep her and her family in my thoughts and prayers.  Life throws us a curveball every so often.  Since life is short and we never really know when our ticket comes up, take a few precious moments each day and appreciate yourself, your life and always tell the people you care about that you love them. 

Namaste’