Caribbean YTT Week 2 Learning, Laughing and Loving!

May 16

We finish our 2nd week of the Yoga Teacher Training Course. What a time that was! Yoga, yoga, yoga and more yoga, and after that yoga again! I have never done so much Yoga in one day, 4 hours of asanas on Thursday , as each group gave their first class as teachers, while the others had to do the class! oof! If I wasn't in shape before, I sure am now! I can really see and feel the difference in my body and my mind. I am 53 now, and these last months was starting to feel a little stiff, as if my body wasn't reacting as quickly as it should to what my mind was telling it to do. It saddened me, but I thought I had to accept it with grace, as part of life. Well, now, after 2 weeks of pretty intense yoga , I feel more supple and agile than ever before, I am amazed and if I wasn't convinced before that I wanted to become a true Yogi and a teacher, I totally am now! It is truly an amazing and enlightening experience, both physically, mentally and spiritualy.

I also must add that I have had sleeping difficulties since my early 20's, and though I stayed away from perscription drugs, I did try everything else, from homeopathy, herbal teas, exercizes, tapping, and even some Benedryl and Dramamine (which gave me awful bags under my eyes!) As part of our lecture I was reading "The Art and Science of Raja Yoga" by Swami Kriyananda, whre he suggests different Yoga asanas before bedtime, I added to this my relaxation meditation lying in bed and then went on to repeat mentally in my head over and over the Mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" This mantra kept any unwanted thoughts and brain noise out of my head, and I was asleep! Woke up a few times at night, and where this used to be a major problem for me, a few "Om Mani Padme Hum's and I was back on my way to dream land! My new perfect sleeping pill, who would have thought.

Enough of me and more on the enchanting group of women that joined us in this YTT retreat. These girls are truly amazing, their progress, their enthusiasm, discipline, laughter and participation as they support eachother and grow together, is a joy to wittness. They make me feel younger and brighter every day. Also a big thank you to our never tireing , forever smiling, patient and knowledgeable teacher Corinne Aulakh! I know next week, Corinne,you are not going to be easy on us, but the pain and effort is well worth it!

Without anymore words, here are some photos to show you the experience, the fun, the sharing and selfless love we have been enjoying these past days.

Monday