Dear Blog Readers!
I’m in Santa Barbara, California since July 29 and having an incredible time at Acro Yoga teacher training. The Kula we have created is full of highly trained and skilled acrobats, massage therapists and yogis…mostly from the US but with one Mexicana and 4 Australians. There are 3 of us who are nomadic in our yogic life and together we bring a HUGE wealth of insight, knowledge, experience and playfulness.
We have a very seriously regimented and organized schedule that is really well desinged by Jason and Jenny and the teaching staff. Morning practice at 6:30, breakfast at 9. Thai Massage and Flying at 10. Lunch and break 1 – 3….partner yoga, acrobatic training, strength conditioning 3 – 6…dinner and then evening program. Full days, high energy and extremely supportive community. As usual with teacher trainings, we started out as mostly strangers to each other and are now holding space for each other to explore our boundaries, churn up emotions, cry, laugh, play and cultivate community together.
In my personal practices, I am finding edges and personal growth in terms of accepting where my yoga practice is in relation to people more flexible and stronger then me. Something I experience frequently, which I’m sure, almost every student does. So what I have learned in my yogic path is to have a good relationship with myself when these things come up. We have created a personal commitment for ourselves here of RADICAL SELF ACCEPTANCE…. which has carried me a lot in the last few days of being in the space these incredible people. Thank God emotions shift! So I’m getting into a nice place of accepting when I compare myself, breathing deeply and coming back to my center, my truth and my intentions for being here.
Also, I am coming up against some edges around being part of a group voice. Our conversations and group sessions are very juicy and full of great content that I really want to share what I know, my experiences and my perspective…and we are a group of 30. So I am finding new ways to just rest in the comfort of what I already know and to truly be in the realm of student and learn from the experiences and insights of others. There’s a lot of deep breathing and holding my tongue with topics I am passionate about and I feel there is some growth for me in humility 
And with those aspects of growth happening….I am having an incredibly FUN time as well. We are learning great new Acro Yoga tricks, sequences and ideas. I have an acrobatic trio with another ‘base’ and a ‘flier’ and are practicing daily to work on some very fun sequences. I am giving and receiving Thai massage and getting some pretty incredible skills with the technique. Together, we wrote a ‘mission statement’ and I was invited to write a song for it….together with a few others, we came up with a catchy melody that everyone is singing everyt day! I will record it and post it soon. My roomate is a friend from SF and we are getting along very well and we are here at Laurel Springs retreat center and being fed sooooo well, bathing in the local pond and hot tub and finding millions of new star formations at night!
I find myself taking about 30 minutes a day to take care of necessary business things and putting everything else off until training is over. From here, I will go straight to Mallorca to begin my residency and I already have Acro Yoga workshops planned. I am also in self inquiry about how to integrate this new partner and acrobatic work with my already established practice and teaching….it will be a nice place of growth and development.
Much more personal stuff going on as far as my physical body. Handstands, strength training, long active days…. Mentally….honing my skllls as a Jedi and resting in my deep connection to spirit. I am honored and thrilled to be part of this Kula and training….
Oh, my camera broke ;(….I’ll get some photos from others to post.
With Love,
D
