Having just left Amsterdam en route to Cologne, I am left with a deep connection to the city and my friends / students here.  On my way to the station this morning, I almost felt like a local and had some sadness about leaving.
My workshops over the weekend at Svaha Yoga were very successful on many levels and the studio owners, the students and me were all excited about how it went and have plans for a return in the fall.
Last Thursday, I was a guest leader of the weekly Kirtan at Svaha and it was great fun.  Clayton and I used to have weekly Kirtans at Greenpath in SF and I miss that weekly dose of Bhakti.  Getting to step into a weekly event like this was very special for me and great for the regular chanters and those who came to sing with me.  There was one student who was new to Kirtan and was curious about if we were going to do ‘Yoga’ on this night.  It reminded me to continue to step back with all that I do take a beginners mind…especially with chanting!  It is such a primal and ancient yogic practice and setting some context and framework can make the experience more potent for everyone.  We had a great night of Bhakti and were left vibrating pretty high!  I was invited to a ‘fancy’ restaurant that night by a retreat student and just after the Kirtan rode my bike across town and was served an outstanding meal!  It’s not so often that I get to indulge in meals with several courses and nicely dressed people around….and I do enjoy it, so it was a delight.  Thanks Geert Jan!!
Friday began my Asana programs with an evening flow class that was very smooth and fun. Saturday was a full house for Building to Backbends and then Sunday afternoon a group of 16 students hopped on board the Shanti Town Express for a Live Music Restorative Experience.  Wow, this last class was very deep and I am loving teaching these restorative classes as much as the active classes.  It is a big reminder for me to find balance between my ‘human doing’ and my ‘human being.’  Especially on the road where I every day is really a new adventure of life, I find myself rushing from event to event, planning and making more plans and getting from point A to point B….I will still do all this stuff as it helps keep the momentum of progress in my life, but I am elevating my level of awareness with all actions.
I’ve integrated a 5 senses check every time I look at a clock / watch and that is helping me to really be present.  It made  a nice difference in Amsterdam as there are lots of distractions that would take my mind out of my body….the senses brought me back and I could then act accordingly to what was ‘going on.’

I also had several really wonderful experiences with new friends and being a solo traveler gives me a great sense of liberty to do that, to walk up to strangers and start a conversation, and take time for deepening friendships with others.  I met some people in the park, some in yoga class, some at a park bench with my guitar and all seemed to be right in time with the flow of life to meet, share experiences and connect and move on. As I am teaching about these days; Observe, Acknowledge, Transform, Go Deeper….this practice is allowing me to be really connected to NOW and I am finding great joy in that.

The observation is getting easier with practice.  Both of body and mind.  I am having a different level of alone-ness and time for myself here then when I was in Brazil.  I am finding more depth in my aloneness and also a deeper comfort.  However, I am also spending more time with friends, students and strange people I meet here.  In the acknowledgment, I am working a lot with recognizing without judgment.  OK, well, let’s say I recognize my judgment and do the best I can to let them go to get a more grounded sense of what’s happening!  Then I can really transform.  My body continues to transform with my dedicated practice and I see my mind growing more and more towards ‘Yoga.’  Towards union as I am learning the subtle art of letting go to specific results while still having faith in my intentions and actions.  Then I keep looking….where are the dork spots hiding and how can I go get them!

Since New Year’s, I have begun the ‘year of the left (hand)’ and am finding a great level of skill with simple things….brushing teeth, eating with chopsticks and using the keys to open doors….coming soon, I will switch my mouse to the left as well.  How are you with your non-dominant hand?!?!

A few highlights from Amsterdam:  Yoga! Riding my bike with iPod soundtrack and seeing ALL flavors of humans in the streets, 2 hours of yoga in the Vondelpark a day, new friends from CouchSurfing.com, Brazilian Music Show at Bimhous, Amsterdam Coffee Shops, Time at Ineke’s place exploring our lives, the beach at den Haag, dinner at Walem with people from the park, getting lost through the streets / canals, surrendering to the divine timing of life when I ‘want’ it to be somehow different.