It was lovely to be away with a group of keen yogis from the Spot and to meet up again with my Goa buddy Beate.  The company was fab and it was so great to be able to discuss all our individual experiences as the weekend evolved!

Saturday was a Primary Series Led class with 70 ish peeps in the room, it was a hot energetic class.  Kino challenged us all by counting slowly and encouraging us to stick with her count…..quite a few grunting moments but Kino kept us going with a great sense of humour.  Saturday afternoon was about balance and inversions.  So much to learn, so little time.  This session ended with Handstands which was tough work but something I thoroughly enjoyed.  Lots of new little hints and tips came up which I’m desperately trying to put into practice every time I get on my mat.

Sunday was a Mysore Class and we split  into two groups for this.  One group starting at 9am (including us) the second group starting at 10.15am.  I politely asked if I could work on the Intermediate Series, Kino happily agreed & I was thrilled.  I have such a long way to go with this practice and am so grateful for all the help I can get.  The class was amazing,Kino helped me with so much including the deepest Kapotasana to date.  I felt exhilarated.  Kino’s helper Mark assisted me with drop backs.  He was there but not there and encouraged me so much that I could not help but  work deeper and harder.  I managed all 7 headstands which I was very nervous about as the class was so busy were pretty much mat to mat. No room for error!! I have Nancy Gilgoff to thank for giving me the confidence to see this practice all the way through!   I felt like it took me two hours to came back down to earth afterwards.

After practice we were rewarded by finding a great cafe which did a vegetarian Eggs Benedict………….DELICIOUS!!  Followed by pecan pie and a Chai latte.  MMMMmmmmm!

The afternoon session was all about back bending and we really worked deep inside our bodies to discover how to activate the muscles required to back bend safely and deeply.  I came away from this session with so much new and useful information.  The student in me loved this!!

Today on my mat I worked with the back bending techniques and found the results to be incredible.  It’s still a long journey but for sure I’ve now got the best equipment to make it a more pleasant ride.  I know it will be bumpy in places but I’m in no hurry!

We have already signed up for Kino’s workshop 12-13th march 2011.  Can’t wait!!

Tonight we have a Chanting, Meditation & Ashatnga demo workshop!  Sounds great right!

Hope the bed is a little softer this trip!

I feel content as I sit here and reflect ,I’m  happy with how my body has coped with the last two weeks.  I know that within our group there were many yogis with little aches and pains, which is natural!  The body has to adjust to doing a practice at the same time everyday. I also think it’s fair to say that we all up-ed the pace from what is our usual practice.  Thankfully, I didn’t have this problem, I did feel different things in my body from practicing Intermediate series but I was never sore and uncomfortable. Well actually that’s a lie………the mattress felt like I was sleeping on the kitchen work surface and I woke numerous times each night with pins & needles somewhere in my body!!

Anyway,I have been trying to work out why some people feel it more than others but there doesn’t seem to be any reason for it.  I do however think that all my years of practicing Primary has prepared me well.  When I first began practicing Ashtanga I had to learn not only the postures but the breath and slowly the Bandhas. I also had to build a regular self practice.  Going into Intermediate I now have a good breath & better bandha control which in turn makes the postures less intimidating.  Strength is something I think I need to work on a bit more but I truly believe the words of  Pattabhi Jois ‘practice and all is coming’ .

I chatted with Nancy about further study, she suggested I join her in Berlin in Oct.  I will certainly look into that but of course I had to ask if she might consider visiting the Spot.  This year her schedule is full but if I mail her in Autumn she may be able to work something out depending on her other European commitments.  Fingers crossed! I would love for you all to meet her, I think you would love her easy going, uncomplicated approach.

I have enjoyed the blog it made home feel less far away and has meant I don’t have so much to try and remember my highs & lows of this great trip, not that I will ever forget it. G

I had a consultation with the Ayurvedic Doctor today, very interesting!  Seems I am 60% Vata 40% Kapha, although most of the group here who are interested in Ayurveda disagree and say I’m Vata/Pitta!! What to do!! Anyway she advised me to eat big meals less often rather than small meals often.  She said I was calcium deficient and should eat more protein.  There was lots more interesting stuff but I have packing to do tonight so will share it when I get home.  I found it really intriguing and plan to look into more when I can.

I have enjoyed studying with Nancy.  I didn’t know what to expect but she is a very special and gifted teacher.  I do hope I get the chance to be her pupil again.  In a soft and gentle way she has encouraged me to embrace the Intermediate  Series and all the benefits it will bring to my body and my life.  I think I’m ready now to fly solo.  When Nancy adjusted me this morning in Down Dog I could feel heat from her hands across my sacrum…….Amazing!!  Thanks Nancy.

I have had a ball here as I guess you can tell from this blog!  I’m ready to come home.  While I have enjoyed being ‘Gill’, I can honestly say I’m not quite complete without Al, Jess & Connor.  Perhaps I need them more than they need me, I’m not sure.  For the last couple of days I have found myself eagerly looking forward to sitting at the kitchen table and sharing all my great experiences.  I so miss the ‘Spot’ and the great pleasure I get  from teaching yoga!  Hold on to your mats…… I’m on my way!!

After luch 4 of us took a trip to the beach, it’s was a fabulous day and there was lots of chat about what going home will bring.  One of the girls Matleena was lying back gazing at the sea, when she remarked how lucky we were to have this experience, we all agreed.  She then said ‘thanks to life for bringing us here’ , I just couldn’t help myself and replied ‘well actually it was BA that brought me!’   I guess I was still feeling a bit cheeky from the morning!  We all laughed but I did feel a bit of a bad yogi.  In fact I’m so sad that I’m still laughing about it as I type!  HHmmm! I think it’s time I was coming home.

I set myself some rules before coming on this trip.  No coffee, no chocolate, no meat, no alchol and no texting.  I guess it’s time to admit how well I did?  the first four I have sucessfully survived without and feel pretty good about that.  The last one ‘texting’ I’m afraid I have failed miserably…………… I have secretly from my balcony (hanging over the edge is the only way to get a signal) been texted Al most nights.  I am not disappointed with myself, in fact I haved loved every minute.  I dread the bill but, it was worth every letter.  Thanks Al!!

The markets in Goa have been amazing and I just hope I can fit all my goodies & gifts into my wee suitcase.  Last practice tomorrow hope it’s just a happy as today’s

I am having such a great time and learning so much but today I have to admit I feel ready  for home!  I miss touch!  That may sound like an odd thing to say especially as Ashtanga yoga has lots of hands on adjustments.  My family are very tactile and I spend most of my day touching people, here, I have no need to touch anyone and  it feels strange!

The group here are lovely and we all get on really well and feel relaxed in one and others company, I do hope I can return.  I can imagine there will be  few tears on Saturday as we say our goodbyes.

Thanks for all your comments keep them coming, I love them!

We had a great conference with Nancy tonight lots of group discussion on the practice and how to maintain working on this energetic level when we all return to our busy lifes!  She had some great stories and tips and I’ve taken lots of notes. I look foward to sharing!

Just to finish have I mentioned the food here?  It’s fantastic fresh vegan fayre and we all love it.  I do however have a couple of issues with the food, let me just explain.  We get porridge for breakfast and every evening a different soup as well as lots of other yummy stuff.  I can hear you say ’what’sthe problem’.  Well it’s that this tends to be my (our) winter diet right?  It’s 30 degrees here most days and I’m sorry but in this climate porridge and soup just don’t seem to fit.  Last night it was Tattie soup, this really threw me, perhaps the chefs are of Scottish descent!!

I am so enjoying being a student and have learnt so much.  I was never much of a scholar of academics but Yoga I could study for hours on end very happily.  We have been doing some afternoon meditation sessions.  These  have been great but for me tougher that the daily yoga practice.  We sit on cushions for about an hour and work on quietening the mind……that is a tough job on the mind and the back!!  I can’t say that I’ve had any amazing experiences whilst sitting and meditating but I have found it rather comforting.

At today’s practice I found  Nancy to be a bit harder on me.  Not a problem as I am here for her guidance.  I got the feeling that last week she gave me space and time to get to know all new postures & this week it’s time to fine tune.  There are 7 headstands at the end of Intermediate Series and today I feel out of one of the free hand ones!  The floor of the shala is concrete so naturally I came down with quite a clatter but nothing hurt and, as it was only no.3 I just had to pick myself up and get on with the rest.  Thankfully I was able to settle down and managed just fine!  Yoga eh!  I did cause a few giggles though which is good, nice not to get too serious about it all.  PS managed to get a comb at the night market Phew!