My Real Job

Today I am back to my real job. I almost forgot what I do! Usually after my track off time I do wonder what I really do for a living. This track off was a week longer and was filled with MANY adventures. I was especially feeling a little like I was starting a new job on Monday. I did not have much turn over time. I got home Friday night, had company at the house (they left Monday morning) and starting working on Monday morning. I almost dreaded my first day back. I was going to have to stand all day long and teach kids how to read. I think I had forgotten how to do that! I feel blessed for the experiences that I have had over the past month. I know this is something that will bring me great joy in my life. I am thankful to be back with my school kids.

Coming Home

I got to the airport in plenty of time to sit back and really reflect on all that has happened. The flight was uneventful. Paulie met me at the baggage. I had too many bags to get them all by myself. It was sooo good to see Paul again. It was almost a feeling of when we first started dating. It was great to be in his arms again. Our Friends from Arizona flew in the night before and Paul had told me that they were going to stay in a hotel. (This was the first step of the surprise) So because he had already prepped me, when he told me that we were going to stop by the hotel on the way home, I went right along asking no question. We get to the hotel, I was thinking "why would they stay in such a nice hotel with two kids?" but I was still not making the connections. So we went thru the side entrance and again, "wondering why Paul had a key to John and Allison’s hotel." He’s always one step ahead of me so he had already informed me that they let him use the key to come in so that they would not have to come and get us. Don't worry I am still going with the flow. When we get to the hotel door and he’s got the key to get in, my only response was "its late, don't be so loud the kids are probably asleep (obviously still clueless!). He opened the door to a real treat. Paul booked a hotel for the night so we could spend that evening together. What a sweetheart. As tradition, it was him birthday in the morning, so he left me gifts on the hotel bed. I got a new pair of PJ and I will leave the rest up for you to guess :) He had sparkling Cider for us to enjoy. What a perfect way to come home. It was such a great surprise. I use to pride my self in trying to figure out Paul's surprises (and he gets so mad). I must say he is getting better at hiding the evidence. Paul is a keeper. Words cannot express how perfect he is for me. He is amazing, he has so much love!
Good Bye its's yoga--I will miss you!
(this is a picture out front of the studio)

Final Circle

Going into the studio today, I had many mixed feelings. It takes a while for it all to sink in. I am a yoga teacher :) Accomplishing feels so good. I wore normal clothes to the studio today! Today we had our "final circle" we spend about 2 hours together in the circle. Our circle started out the same with chanting 3 om's. The om's today were magical. No one was feeling weird about oming so it sounded so good. A month ago chanting was for weirdo's :) I have had many transformational feelings and thoughts. In the circle we shared our philosophies. This was not the first time I have had to make a philosophy of teaching. Katie, Marie and Larry said so many good things about each one of us. I will never forget what Larry said about me. He said, "You are the best. You are so strong. Your dedication to yoga and yourself and that's amazing." It's Yoga, is truly a part of my life. I will never be able to come to San Fran and not stop for a little Rocket with Larry! During the circle time Larry invited an acupuncturist to the circle. We all had acupuncture in our third eye; this energy field helps to calm the mind. That was just a wonderful gift. They passed out our certificates, took pictures and said our goodbyes. All of the students went out to eat together on Friday night. My flight left around dinnertime. I was excited to come home. This whole experience has just been wonderful. I am thankful for this time.

Final Practical Exam

The title sounds scary. On Thursday at 1pm I taught a one-on-one yoga class for my final exam. A lot of the other students were really nervous. For once in my life, I was the calm one. (Yoga works!) I felt a lot of peace and knew that all would be well. I did really well. We all had a few things that we can work on but in all did great. Marie said that we are the best group. I am sure they say that to all of the groups, but we did do really great. She said that our group seemed organic or natural. After teaching we congratulated each other on being a certified yoga teacher. It sounds so great. James and Kristi (Paul's brother and wife) came to the studio and checked it all out. We then went to the local mall and walked to Union Square. I packed up all my stuff, said my goodbyes to my family away from home. I will be forever thankful for letting me stay with them. It was a great time to get to know the kids better. I was not in San Bruno a lot but I enjoyed the spirit in their home. Thursday night I drove to Benicia.

Happy Brithday Larry!

Today was a great day. Wednesday is already the best days at It's Yoga—It’s the Rocket day. Larry for his birthday wanted to practice yoga with us. So we all joined Larry during his personal practice time. All of the TT's were at the studio at 8am. This was one of the best days. I know I keep saying this but it just keeps getting better and better. The thought of going back to work just scares me. I am so calm and so peaceful; I don't want a crazy busy life. Larry is always telling us "you will never be the same after this training." This morning was the first time I got to see Larry doing yoga. He turned 57 today. He is a fountain of youth. This morning was magical. At 4pm before the Rocket, Marie (Larry's wife--she’s only 27) made a slideshow and got cake, drinks and balloons to celebrate. We all sang happy birthday. Before he blew the candles out he wanted to share his dream. "I had a dream this morning, my dream was that I did yoga with 14 beautiful women this morning!" He did do yoga with 14 beautiful yoginis. It was a dream. Our morning lecture was from It's Yoga Kids. We talked about teaching children yoga. I know this is something I can't wait to explore more. A lot of the other TT's want to teach children (because it sounds easy!) Kate kept telling us that it’s not that easy. 90% of teaching kids yoga is classroom management! I might actually be good at this one. I am starting to have a lot of mixed feelings. How can I go back to a real job? How am I going to take all that I have learned back to Colorado? What do I do next? How am I going to live without Whole Foods right down the street? What am I going to do with out the Rocket? But at the same time I am excited to be at home with Paul and Daizee. I can't wait to start teaching yoga. It will be nice to wear regular clothes again, it seems like a dream to wear yoga clothes everyday all day but you kinda get sick of it. I only have 2 days left. In the morning is the big test. I will be teaching a one-hour yoga class to my Russian friend. I will be assisting the 12:00 pm class and taking the 4:30 class. Friday will be our last "final circle." Our afternoon lecture we worked on our flight! This is what makes the Rocket so fun. I can't promise that I can do all --but I will continue to work on it! I know my practice has become a lot stronger but still needs a lot of help. In yoga you are always changing. My knees will be thankful, no more sitting in a full or 1/2 lotus for 4 hours a day. Today I did a little B-day shopping! Paul's B-day is on Saturday. I am in the shopping capital (or so it seems) and I am shopping for the world’s hardest person to shop for! I am boycotting Alpine Stars, Dickies, Snap On and Sportsmens (do I have to continue?)! Can you believe that I have been in San Francisco with all of the Ghirardelli chocolate, and wonderful pastries and I still have self-control? I have spent a lot of time in the yoga studio but I have also tried to get to know the area. I know all the hot spots. If you want a fun vacation to San Fran, I can help! I have two great reasons to always come back. It’s Yoga, and this is Paul's hood! In a around about way, I have lived in Paul's hometown and I have got to know his culture better. Claudia told Paul that I am fun to hang out with. I guess I will be missed. I think she is just going to miss the free yoga in her own home! Am I really ready for the freezing weather??

Flying Lessons

Today we had flying lessons! Marie worked with us on all of the "fun" poses. Handstands, headstands, side crow, and much more. These are the hard postures that are in the Rocket Class. These are the postures that make yoga fun and challenging. This morning our lecture was on pregnancy and yoga that was great. I assisted the noon class. We have to assist 2 classes as a requirement. It was fun to feel like a teacher, but I want the real thing. Today Larry talked to us more about living our vision. We talk a lot about the inner-critic and the inner-teacher. Our 28-day training is about letting go of our inner-critic and knowing when it is trying to talk and listening to our inter-teacher (intuition) -- Larry is a living example of listening to his inner-teacher. He will even remind us when we are not listening to our inter-teacher. The other day during the Rocket class, he knew when I went into my handstand that I lost my inter-teacher and started listening to my inner-critic. It's a battle everyday. Our inter-teacher shows love compassion and forgiveness and our inter-critic teaches fear, judgment and criticism. Another great ah-ha moment for me was when we talked about how in life we need to learn to respond and not react. I think I might be guilty of this, wait that's the inner-critic talking! Too many of us live in fear and listen to our inter-critic. I can't wait to go home and share all of my new learning’s. Paul might regret this all; he might be doing a little yoga. He’s going to be getting private lessons everyday. I know he will love having me to teach him. Flight lessons were great. My wrists don’t think it’s so great—but they are getting stronger. Namate.

Dream Boxes

Friday was a great day we talked about building yoga as a business in the morning. I took the noon class. For our 3-hour afternoon we worked with a life coach. She was great. Everything about It's Yoga is great. We did a visualization activity so that we could see our dreams more clear. That was great. We made dream boxes with paper, magazines and stickers. We really enjoyed the change of doing an art project. I guess, November is art month. Our life coach has been doing a different type of art each day. That was fun to hear about. Art is found in so many different things. Yoga is an art. In our dream box we wrote down want we saw during our visualization activity. That was very interesting. We also wrote strengths that we have and put those strengths on paper inside our dream boxes. Larry is always talking about this story of becoming a successful business owner. He had a lavender pillow and he would write his dreams down and put them under the pillow. He would then look at the dreams ever so often and see his dreams manifest in his life. It's amazing to work with someone like Larry. Working with our life coach we then worked thru an action plan to put our dreams to action. This was a great activity. Friday was a great day of yoga. Friday ended our 3rd week. Wow, that went fast. Friday night I went to see Krishna Das. He has a wonderful voice. We joined in with chanting in Sanskrit. This was a great night of chanting. So peaceful! I drove to Benicia and then Saturday morning at 9am I taught another yoga class. It gets better each time. After a shower and breakfast, Claudia and I left for San Jose. We went the Body Worlds exhibit. Our bodies are so complex. I just telling Claudia how I would love to donate my body and they could call me "Yoga Girl", well they have already thought of that idea. It was yoga woman. She was in he position to take a back bend (Urdhva Dhanurasana or wheel). Third week has gone so fast. I officially have only 6 days left. I will miss this fun adventure but will be excided to be with Paulie again. I will be testing out with my Russian friend on Thurs. at 1pm. On Wed. It' Yoga Kids is coming to do a presentation about teaching yoga to kids. I can't wait. I would love to teach yoga to children. I will hopefully come back to San Fran for a week and get certified to teach kids. One of my dreams is to have children and be a mother. May all your dreams come true! Talk to you soon!