Freinds,

I am happy to be writing from Florianopolis, Brazil where the beach and summer are in full swing. Travel was fairly easy and I arrived to Floripa to meet Clayton from San Francisco and our friend Camila who is my gratious and generous hostess here.

The culture and life here is very laid back and it is taking me a bit to let go of my ‘getting things done’ attitude that I have been focused on in San Francisco. Things here happen at their own pace and even slower in Summer!

This is my 5th time here for Yoga and I have many friends who I have already seen and it is exciting and beautiful to have a global yoga community. They are very curious about yoga around the world and they also have a strong desire to grow themselves.

Friday night, Clayton and I lead a very juicy Kirtan at a friend’s new studio called Centro do Ser (Center of the Self). It was a very special night of reconnecting with old friends and students and the Brazilians LOVE Kirtan. We had several other musicians with us who I have known for a few years and we have a great connection with music. I recorded it with my laptop and will have Youtube clips up soon…stay posted here for details. There was a Swami in the group and it is always very special to me when a teacher with deep training and understanding enjoys the California-ized Kirtan that I sing. He came up to me afterwards and gave me a great complement: “You really raised the vibration here tonight!’ WOW!!! Thanks!!

Last night I was invited to a special music gathering and it was one of those events that makes me sooo thankful to be doing this travel. I arrived with Markus (originally from Germany, but lives in Brazil for the last 15 years) to an octagonal hut in the dunes of the coast and we were greeted by several very open and welcoming friends. The host makes his own instruments and the hut had at least 30 different intstruments including a Harp, various sizes and shapes of guitars and string instruments from S. America and more drums than people! The night started with Markus and Paulo playing esraj (from India) and harp in a mesmorizing meloday. Paulo told us we were to sing and open our voices and throats…and all of us (roughly 15 people) began to sing along with sounds, vibrations and voice…it was great! Then we passed the guitars and instruments around for several hours and I made new friends new musical vibrations. Until I opened my mouth, everyone in the room thought I was Brazilian (I’ve gotten 3 days of sun on the beach and unshaven and wild haired….I look the part!). When I spoke in broken Portuguese they were very curious about me…Argentino? Italiano? No….Californiano! I like when that happens.

It was a late night…which means sleeping in…and a shanti practice this morning. I am excited to teach tomorrow night at Yoga Shala and will have some new posts soon.