From Bad to Good

A bird shit on me and that was the best part of my day!  The wise say that having a bird poop on you is good luck. I need that good luck to kick in. So, maybe this is the low point… maybe it’s only going to get better from here… 

 I’m having a rough day. I’m in Europe; I’m grateful, yes – I know… But it’s still been a tough day. I received some bad news. That’s life. We all have good and bad days. I keep thinking all I want to do is go home. But, where is home? I’ve put everything I own in storage to move to Europe… I sigh –I take a deep breath. 

 I’m a yoga teacher who is part Zen and part panic attack! I’m sitting on a bus crying in Croatia. One of my pet peeves is people who cry in public! And today, I am that person. No longer afraid of emotions – I embrace what life hands me… the good, the bad, and everything in between… 

So on this bus ride to the island I’ve decided to clear my head. Humbling asking for peace within. I sit. I wait. Peace arrives. I’m realizing that home is within. Finding peace on the inside. Once on the island what appeared to be a horrible day started to shift. My perception changed and I started to once again see the good. View my situation from a different angle. I am in awe of how when letting go of fear, space is created for good things to happen. 

Yogi friends met me, with an apartment on the beach. We had an amazing evening. I had arrived on the night known as “Rain of meteors”… stars were set to fall from the sky. Late at night, we walked out on the pier, ate a tub of ice cream, and drank a bottle of wine (yes, even yoga teachers eat terrible sometimes). The sky was clear as we laid on our backs. Each making 3 wishes. Each watching the stars fall from the sky. It was one of the most memorable evenings I’ve had in a long time. 

I am grateful that the bad shifted to good. I am at home; I’ve found peace within…

9 hours to Croatia

I am on a bus heading towards Croatia. 9 hours!
Can someone please remind me again why I love traveling?!?
On a positive note, I have 2 books to read and time to relax. Hoping the journey to the coast will go by fast... as fast as 9 hours on a bus can go.
When I arrive my yoga friend Ana will be waiting for me. Ana and Eva are sisters who were my roommates while doing yoga teacher training in Spain. They are Croatian - strong Mediterranean women... they smoke, they cuss like sailors, they teach yoga, and they have a passion for olive oil! During our time together in Spain we became good friends. Ana recently visited me in Laguna Beach. Now I am on my was to see her on the beautiful island of Krk.
Looking forward to some yoga and girl time.
After a week in Croatia I head back to Austria to settle in and start a new season in my life. What lies ahead?... maybe I'll daydream about the future - I have time.
I'm on a bus heading towards Croatia.
9 hours!

Laughing through the Language Barrier

A smile goes a long way.
A smile is universal.
Laughter is contagious...

While traveling Eastern Europe - the language is rough, and that is putting it lightly. Trying to speak Serbian, Greek, Slovakian, Croatian... Ahh! Agg! I find myself wanting to revert to Spanish. It's the only language other than English that I can semi speak.

However, I'm learning that communication is really not that hard if you can laugh at yourself. While I've been staying with a family in Serbia I know enough to say hi and thank you. We point at the rest to communicate. We also laugh a lot. I've uploaded pics of Rajko's mom (Bozana) and his grandma (Baba Jela). They are the wonderful, fun-spirited women that made me Turkish coffee every morning. Bozana also gave me a going away gift of spices and under-ware. I laughed so hard! A combination present that I've never been given before... pretty panties of all colors (really cool) and spices. Maybe she knows just want I need for my journey ahead... oy vey :-)! All I know is that my time with these women was fun, even with a language barrier.

A smile goes a long way.
A smile is universal.
Laughter is contagious...

Tree Pose - Vrikshasana

I was reading how trees grow up through their branches and down through their roots into the earth. It reminded me that being grounded and rooted is important. It reminded me of my favorite yoga pose.
As I teach yoga, students often wonder what I enjoy the most. The answer is Vrikshasana, Tree Pose. I love this balancing pose. For some reason my mind clears and I can stand holding the posture for a long time. There is something about balancing on one leg that steady's the mind. One of my yoga mentors, Dolly from India, told me to do a yoga pose I loved once a day. Tree pose is that posture.
If you're interested in trying this pose, here are the steps...
Tree Pose (Vrikshaasana) Instruction:
1 - Stand with the feet together and the arms by your sides.
2 - Bend the right leg at the knee, raise the right leg and bring the sole of the right foot as high up the inside of the left thigh as possible.
3 - Balancing on the left foot, raise both arms over the head keeping the elbows unbent and joining the palms together. The arms can open wide, palms facing forward like a tree, or the arms can come behind your back clasping fingers together rolling shoulders back and down. Have liberty to do whatever arm position feels best.
4 - Hold the posture while breathing gently through the nostrils for 10 complete breaths or hold the pose as long as you can. Try for 1 minute or even more.
5 - Lower the arms and right leg and return to the Tadasana (Mountain Pose), standing position with feet together and arms at the sides. Pause for a few moments and repeat on the opposite leg.

The website Santosha.com describes the following about Tree Pose:
"The challenge of the vrikshaasana is maintaining balance on one leg. Poor balance is often the result of a restless mind or distracted attention. Regular practice of this posture will help focus the mind and cultivate concentration.
When practicing vrikshaasana it may help to imagine or picture a tree in the mind and apply the following technique: Imagine that the foot you are balanced on is the root of the tree and the leg is the trunk. Continue by imagining the head and outstretched arms as the branches and leaves of the tree. You may be unsteady for a while and find the body swaying back and forth, but don't break the concentration. Like a tree bending in the wind and yet remaining upright, the body can maintain balance.
Aim to achieve the "rootedness" and firmness of a tree. Regular practice of the vrikshaasana improves concentration, balance and coordination. Because the weight of the entire body is balanced on one foot, the muscles of that leg are strengthened and toned as well." - www.santosha.com

Go ahead, give Tree Pose a try. I hope you enjoy it :-)

Athens/Athina Top 10

Zeus, Apollo, Poseidon, Aphrodite, Athena are legends in Greek mythology. Athena, daughter of Zeus, is known as the god of wisdom, philosophy, and weaving. She is the patron of Athens and where the city bears her name.

Homer, Plato, Aristotle, Socrates are among the better known philosophers and writers from Athens. And did you know that the Greeks not only invented the Olympics games, but they are also responsible for: Democracy, Theater, the Hippocratic Oath (the father of medicine, Hippocrates invented this oath that doctors still swear by today). The Greeks also invented the Catapult, even the Pap Smear. They were cutting edge for their time. The city has so much culture and history. Visiting this beautiful place is like going on a journey into the past.

Athens has more Archaeological sites than any city I've visited before. The most famous is the Acropolis. It's located at the top of a hill with The Parthenon (a tribute to the god Athena). If you are in Athens for only one day this is what needs to be seen. The Agora is another famous site known as the former heart and soul of the city where philosophers and city dwellers use to reside.

Churches, museums, and the National Gardens fill the city. Shopping is a big deal with the famous Plaka district where you can buy jewelry to Greek sandals to high-end items. There is also the famous Athens' Flea Market.

I loved being in the city and found it offered so much. The old and the new colliding. A taste of the East, West, and the Mediterranean...

Here is my take on the top 10 things I remember of this ancient city -
Athens Top 10:
10 - Acropolis/The Parthenon
9 - Shopping in the Plaka
8 - Dogs, known as the stray dog capital
7 - Greeks are shorter than most people
6 - Ancient Ruins
5 - Hot, humid weather over 100/F, 37/C!
4 - Greek olives, feta, and gyros = yummy!
3 - Graffiti - city graffiti everywhere
2 - Greek Sandals
1 - Do not anger a Greek by doing a yoga pose, they have tempers! I'm speaking from experience... ☺

man-kinis and donkeys :)

GREECE… The man-kini is back! There is something about old men in Speedos that I find amusing. If you want to rock a man-kini, come to Europe.

As I took a walk this morning on the beach before the venture to Athens, I reflected back on my first time in Greece. I laughed. I laughed until I cried. It was 4 summers ago with my best friend Christine. We decided to take a Mediterranean cruise. Two of our stops were on the islands of Santorini and Corfu. The memories on Santorini go a little something like this:
- Two So Cal girls
- Donkey rides up a hill…
- White shorts and mini-skirt
- Crazy donkeys with serious attitudes
- Christine’s donkey was angry and kept running into everyone
- I made a horrible dismount, fell under the donkey, and almost off the hill
- Christine wore the mini on a donkey… hot pink… need I say more!
- We were not prepared for the 30-minute ass ride up the hill.
- To this day it I laugh soooo hard thinking about it.

So this time in Greece, I vow to not get on a donkey!

My funniest travel experiences have been with my best friend. I reflect on our ventures and always smile. The beauty of traveling is the journey; from donkeys to mani-kinis there is always something to smile about. Laughter is good medicine. I encourage you to take a daily dose... A little laughter a day keeps the doctor away. ☺

Half-way to Athens

We have made it into Greece. 10 hours, but who's counting!
Tomorrow we are finishing the drive to Athens.

Words to describe the journey: Hot, Hot, did I mention HOT!

Left Serbia at 4am to rain but the cool weather did not last. The drive through Southern Serbia was pretty with green hills. Once the car entered Macedonia, I saw beauty. The drive was amazing. The pictures that show mountains are from the road in Macedonia. The country is small and does not have much tourism, but it is beautiful.

The sun came out as we neared Greece. Once in Greece a new level of heat took over. HOT is allll I can say. Hot for 3 hours. So hot. I am serious. 100 degrees with humidity. We stopped on the northern coast of Greece. There are 3 peninsulas branching out in to the Aegean Sea. Our location is Chalkidiki, the first peninsula. It's beautiful here. The other pictures you see are of Greece. Love this place. I forgot how much I really like this country. The water is warm, not like the cool Pacific Ocean I just left. This beach girl is so happy to see water. As soon as we got here, I got out of the car and went straight to the sea. Bags were not even in the hotel. I didn't care. I feel asleep on the beach and have enjoyed the 24 hours I've been by the beautiful blue.

In the morning, we leave for the last part of our drive...
6 hours to Athens.
:-) :-) :-)