3 week check-in

So much happens here everyday. I find it exhausting to write in this blog sometimes and even to talk to friends and family about all the amazing experiences I have been having.
I recently started teaching a couple yoga classes for the volunteers..I am so grateful to have this space to share yoga with friends. It is so incredible how I've only known these people for three weeks now and I feel so comfortable around them. It's like we all have so much in common, but we come from completely different sides of the world.
We have these meetings where we get together with a couple people or sometimes even the whole community of volunteers to practice speaking and listening from the heart. It is truly a skill and is inspiring to the core of my being. To have people speak spontaneously about whatever they feel like and provide space for what they are saying is extremely refreshing and a raw experience. Observing human nature in a safe, confidential place is like watching a flower bloom. Courage. Compassion. Openness. When it was my turn to speak, I nervously stumbled over words of gratitude while others spoke of things that moved me to tears. I am so thankful for those who have opened their hearts and for this experience. Jai- true victory of oneness with the divine.

2 Weeks Notice

Where to start.....
The days turn into nights, and then the nights turn into days...The days feel long, but the time feels short.

It's been almost 2 weeks at Kripalu now. Starting to see the overall schedule to how things go around here. The workshops we get to take during the week repeat themselves...the food repeats every couple of weeks...I've tried all sorts of new things.

I tried Tai Chi the other day and thought it was pretty awesome. We did some partner stuff that no one really leads and you have to just intuit the next movement. I find that just like in life, it can be difficult to find balance between pushing and pulling, leading or following. Trying to allow yourself to stay in this moment and not always looking ahead to plan, or looking behind comparing to the past.

Morgan (the girl who is training me) and I have been having a blast at work. She just got this sweet hula hoop in the mail (the mail room called our office to let us know!), so of course we had to go try it out! We went in the hallway for a quick hoop, when all of the sudden the big cheese on campus walked out of his office we happened to be hooping in front of. We just kind of stared for a moment until he spoke and invited us to hoop for him. We did and then he put down all of his important documents and hooped with us! Love it.

Last night Morgan took me and a couple friends into town to show us the sights. It was a lovely drive through mountains and farms. Even a beautiful barn with horses, Mom! When we arrived in Lennox, she says "don't blink!". There isn't even a traffic light in Lennox. "town"...haha. It should be a nice walk...maybe on my day off I can walk in to get coffee...mmmMM

Speaking of days off....No days off this weekend because I am doing my first intensive workshop with Dharma Mittra! Yay! I saw there was like 70 people signed up though...but it should still be awesome. I'm such a nerd, but I had all of my workshops planned out before I came and am, almost embarrassingly so, excited about them.

Things are getting more comfortable around the dorms. I play ping pong with friends before I go to bed, so that I can beat up on my bros when I get home..then we watch a movie or just chat until one by one we all go to bed to get ready to wake up with the sun.

Where we feel safe, calm, and peaceful is when we come home to our self. Rest in what is so.

Jai!

Dance Party Saturday

Saturday is a long day for us at work. I have to be at the studio at 6am to "Supervise" the yoga classes. aka just make sure the teachers are there and they have everything they need. Then we are in the office or around the center until the 5:15pm supervising.

Morgan and I met and talked to some former volunteers for a bit, got some coffee, and I worked on some Excel spreed sheet stuff for most of the day. At lunch we took a "Journey Dance Yoga Class" with Toni (who is amazing!) and the KYD Drummers. We danced our faces off for two hours or so. It was exhilarating. There were about 60 people in the room (it's a weekend, so there are more guests).

We grubbed on some awesome food, then back to the corridors of "the Mez" (our offices). When I got done with the evening supervising, I found my friend Anna, and we made the trek back to Hill House to shower. Anna just got back from serving in the Peace Corps in West Africa. She is so much fun and we get along really well.

After we had pasta for dinner (Yes!) we met up with the rest of our group to decide on the evenings activity. We had to chose from a "sampler" (a preview for a workshop) on finding your path in life, or a Jivamukti hula hoop dance party.....yup you guessed it...I danced!

So, there was inspiring live music and a DJ from New York. Siddie (Jivamukti instructor) was also doing a hula hooping demo (WOW!). We danced for three hours....ranging from Michael Jackson to music with languages I have never heard. We twists, shaked, flipped, and created weird fun things you have never seen.

We all met up to walk back to Hill House (notice the trend...it's an intense walk in the dark with -11 winds coming at your face). So we played and we weaved in and out of each other, gazing up towards the glowing stars.

A couple of us played ping pong, or journaled, made art, read, wrote, hooped, and talked. We talk of travels, exotic people, places, and experiences. And we talk of the simplicity in which we strive for.

My friend Brodrick jammed on the guitar. His voice is hypnotizing. I hummed along. My friend Sara sat and made windows out of twigs for a project she is doing. She is pretty amazing. A great yogi and artist. We did this til 1:30am (way past quiet hours! 10pm-6am)I have Sunday and Monday off. yesssssss....me time.....ahhhhh...

Now off to silent breakfast (all breakfast at Kripalu is silent). I find this extremely refreshing...I mean who wants to chat in the morning anyways?!

Om Namah Shivaya
“I honor that which I am capable of becoming.”

Quotes

“Thy jurisdiction is in action alone:
Never in its fruits at any time.
Never should the fruits of action be thy motive.
Never let there be attachment in thee to inaction.
Fixed in Yoga, perform actions,
Letting go of attachment,
Having become equal minded to success or failure.
It is said that Equanimity is Yoga.”
Bhagavad Gita II.47-48


The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita
Mahatma Gandhi supposedly read this passage every morning. The Gita’s age old advice is to be whole hearted in your action, clear in your intention and not attached to the outcome. As humans, we cause ourselves so much suffering by trying to control the results that show up in life. The results belong to the Universe, to Nature, call it what you will. The only things we have “jurisdiction” over are the actions we consciously choose, and the reactions we react to. Wisdom comes with subtle self-observation without judgment, being equal minded to all our sensations, thoughts, plans and ideas of who we think we are.




Tentative efforts lead to tentative outcomes. Therefore give yourself fully to your endeavors. Decide to construct your character through excellent actions and determine to pay the price of a worthy goal. The trials you encounter will introduce you to your strengths. Remain steadfast…and one day you will build something that endures; something worthy of your potential.
Epictetus 55-135 A.D.




Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? – Mary Oliver



How we spend our days is how we spend our lives. – Annie Dillard

Snow days

Wednesday:
Today I woke up and went to work...I took a "Vigorous" yoga class during lunch with Jaguar Path Ray. Good stuff. Then went back to workin a bit...until the next "Moderate" yoga class at 4:15. Part of my job is learning about the teachers and their yoga classes. Jackpot!

I went back to the dorms where a couple friends and I had a hula hooping dance party in the yoga studio. Laugh, sing, dance, and party!

Thursday:
I woke up before the sun. Went into the yoga room to do some pranayama and meditation until the sun rose to bring in the day. I was walking over to the center with the cold wind on my face when my new friend Carl pulled up and scooped me up in his work truck. Work flew by...lots of new programs to learn, lots of new people to meet.

I took a nap on the couch before dinner, jammin' to some Iron&Wine. At dinner I had an amazing conversation about materialism and the idea of the individual self with my friends Brodrick and Geof. We then went to play ping pong and listen to Buddha Bar in the work room at Hill House. Jay and family- I beat up on my competition and next I'm coming for you! haha. To those of you who don't know the story, my family will not let me play ping pong with them. "I don't try". aka they are scared. ;)

Friday:
Snow, snow, snow.
Busy day of work. Getting schedules done, and lots of new projects. Met about ten more new faces today. Starting to get excited about workshops to come! I applied to attend either the David Swenson (Ashtanga) or Tod Nordian (Anusara).
I got coffee and ginger dark chocolate today...mmmmMM
I've met some other 21 and 22 year old volunteers around. Everyone has such amazing stories..I'm loving just sitting back and listening.
The girl who is training me (Morgan) is awesome! We played all day (while working) and I gave her the yoga name "Morgananada" haha... the image is of a monkey hula hooping!
We also discussed different styles of yoga and our perceptions of them. Ashtanga gets a bad rep sometimes, so it's always interesting to see different view points. We went over one of my favorite Sanskrit phrases, "Jai Shri Satguru Maharaji Ki!" It loosely translates to "honoring my God, my teachers, and myself". Not only is it fun to say, it really resonates with me. God, teachers, self...beautiful.
We went back to Hill House after dinner and hung out for a bit. I got my name up in the office and on our dorm room, so I'm starting to feel more settled.
We watched the movie "Enlighten-Up". I recommend it for anyone with questions/interest in yoga. It's a great start on the life long quest of yoga.
The movie goes to all different styles and teachers of yoga and tries to find concrete facts that link...at last, the man just finds more questions...parallels life, huh?
Something to think about...
I appreciate the students and teachers that don't take themselves too seriously. Life just is not that serious. Take it with a Buddha smile and humility.
Cheers,

Seva

Serving

"The best servant does his work unseen."

-Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809-1984)
Seva is a Sanskrit word which means self-less service. This is serving without condition, without expectation of recognition or reciprocation. This is the most pure form of service. When we give of ourselves, with all of our heart, just for the sake of giving, this is when we do the most good.

-Lissa Coffey


Day 2 @ Kripalu-

Today we finally received our Seva(where we will be working 35 hours a week). I went in with no expectations. If I was a dishwasher or bathroom cleaner, it is all the same. The point is selfless service, self reflection, introspection, and giving back to the yoga community that inspires me in every breath.
It was a quite dramatic build up to when we were told what our Seva work be. Every ones names were called except three of us. We are the office workers. Specifically I get to be on the "yoga team". I'm super excited. Not sure what it entails, but stoked none the less.

I didn't sleep at all last night. Not used to living in a dorm again. You can hear everything, and I can't help but thinking people are up having fun without me. haha. The dorm is a 10 min walk from the center (in the snow, up hill both ways) but I only have two roommates. Not a bad trade off.

I started my day with a 6am shower, followed by my personal yoga practice in our own private studio in the dorm (Hill House) that over looks the snowy mountains and the most beautiful sunrise. Life is good. The went to breakfast where they prepare all organic, vegetarian cu sine. delish. The whole day was then dedicated to orientating us to the building and Kripalu's mission/history. Again, I am so grateful to be a part of this.

On a personal note:
Jay- I don't know how much I'll be updating this blog since I don't have a computer. And without a computer I can't download images to post those....But maybe mom and dad will bring my laptop with them when they come for my birthday. I'm not too worried about it though. Just trust me: It's white, in the most beautiful mountains, very cold, and all things I have been dreading/dreaming about.

Summer: There are hula hoops! :-)


Love love love!

First day at kripalu

Today I landed in kripalu. I've been excited about this trip for a long time now. Everyone has been super nice. I'm in the dorms that you have to walk to the center. It feels almost like college. I'm living with two other girls that have been here for awhile. I'm regretting not bringing my laptop bc it is hard to type on this itouch. It is snowing outside and there is almost four feet of snow on the ground. It's cold. I get my job assignment tomorrow. I feel like I'm coming home. I'm the baby of the program. There are 59 of us and about 30 are returning volunteers. There are some other people just out of college as well. A pretty wide variety. I'm super comfortable here and the people are welcoming. Early morning and long day tomorrow. Good night friends.