Spring has arrived, and thankfully today's weather feels like the temperature will soon catch up to the season. I'll admit that last Monday's "springflakes" made me want to climb back into bed and hide. Here's hoping that you, too, are being warmed out of hibernation.

Embedded into our cultural language is the expression "Spring Cleaning." This is the time to go through the closets, packing away winter clothing and possibly giving away the things that no longer suit you. It's an excellent time to do some internal cleansing (under the guidance of your health care provider!), perhaps giving up coffee, and/or sugar, alcohol, and possibly even solid food for a few days. This can help your body eliminate stored toxins, give your digestive system a chance to rest, and can even help reset your mood back to something closer to normal. You can even "fast" from things like the news, giving up compulsively listening to NPR, and/or reading gossip magazines. And you can go through your "belief closets," releasing ideas and opinions that no longer suit you. Getting rid of these isn't necessarily as easy as it may sound.

 Another way to 'cleanse' this spring is through the practice of meditation, which has been likened to "fasting the consciousness." When you deliberately refrain from giving every day thoughts to consciousness, it is forced to 'consume' thoughts/experiences that have been supressed, clearing those out of your psyche and soma. This may help with erradicating the beliefs that prevent you from moving forward.

 By getting rid of what is no longer necessary or beneficial, you create space for new growth and possibility. This is the exciting and creative aspect of springtime. Here you get to dream and visualize what you would like to manifest in your life. Tending to the garden of your life, ask yourself what you would like to grow in the space you have created, and then plant those seeds! This is the time to throw off the layers of excuses you may have buried yourself under during the winter and create a plan of action. Connect with the pulse of vitality that animates this time of year. Spring into Action!

St. Valentine's Day!

Here is an article I wrote 17 years ago about St. Valentine's Day. It appreared in The Main Street, a short-lived publication that my friend, Nathan Lerner was involved with. This was written back when going to a library was the primary way to research a subject.  To this day, I believe it is the only thing I've written that has been published in print.

As a moderately bitter woman lacking a sweetheart to celebrate with, I chose to resent the 'holiday' rather than let myself feel lonely or sad. I began researching the evolution of St. Valentine's Day believing that it had been invented by chocolatiers, the greeting card industry and purveyors of diamonds. What I discovered was so much more interesting, compelling, and even horrifying!

I hope you enjoy reading the original, unedited version! Typing this into my computer flashed me back to that time in my life. You may get a kick out of the bio-line at the end of the article; I sure did!

Look at the calendar. It’s Valentine’s Day.

     I find myself drawn into greeting card stores only to leave moments later, empty-handed and somewhat depressed. Oh, sure, I’ve felt almost everything expressed on those cards – cute and clever; sarcastic and caustic; sexy, guileless, lustful, vengeful, and just plain smitten. An arrow-toting, winged cherub evokes no emotion in me at all, and all the expense so lavishly devoted to promoting this amorous festival only indicates how profitable it must be. Another “Hallmark Holiday” helps us mark our passage through time.

In search of deeper meaning beyond the frivolity of prefab sentiment calculatingly scrolled across lacy, heart-shaped cards, and long-stemmed red roses that mysteriously double in price the second week of February, I set out to learn about the alleged Saint Valentine. Just who is this chaste and priestly man who protects over such an overtly sexual celebration?

It turns out there may have been as  many as five Saints Valentine, with history and folklore confusing and substituting priests for bishops, martyrs for mere mortals. The Valentine who seems most closely linked with the tradition of love notes was a Roman priest during the reign of pagan Emperor Claudius the Goth, circa 269 A.D.

This Emperor allegedly grew wary of having his young soldiers complain about war. It seems they were reluctant to leave their wives and families to fight the ever-present battles. So, Claudius did the sensible thing. Putting his imperial authority to use for the good of the people, he banned marriages and nullified engagements.

Enter Valentine. Ever the man of God, working to convert the Pagans to Christianity and extolling the virtues of marriage, he went underground, so to speak, and performed marriage ceremonies against the Emperor’s guidance.

For this, our romantic innocent was arrested, beaten with clubs, stoned, and finally beheaded on, you guessed it, February 14. Now there’s reason for celebration.

Two additional bits of tradition connected to our Patron Saint endear him further to our hearts. While imprisoned, he is said to have cured the jailor’s daughter of blindness, which allegedly infuriated Claudius, perhaps speeding up his execution date. And finally, on the eve of his decapitation, the young priest is said to have sent a love note, however chaste and pure, to the jailor’s daughter. This note he signed, “From your Valentine.” Romance, intrigue, unrequited love, violence: if it were a move, none of us would believe it.

It’s difficult to associate the notion of ‘arrested, beaten with clubs, stoned and finally beheaded’ with our modern tradition of velvet-covered, heart-shaped boxes of chocolates and candle-lit dinners for two. So you may wonder how the sweetheart-love thing evolved out of this tragedy.

It seems the Pagans had a festival on February 15 honoring the god Lupercus for protecting the crops and the town from wolves. As part of this tradition, fertility and the continuity of life were overtly commemorated, while sexuality was part of the joyous subtext. The festivities of Lupercalia included girls’ names being drawn from a hat by boys looking for a sweetheart for the year to come. Sort of the human pairing that imitates turtle doves and love-birds said to mate this week of the year.

           The Christians sought to distract the Pagans from this polytheistic heathen festival by offering up a St. Valentine’s Day celebration. The Saint was traditionally honored the day before Lupercalia, so it was the convenient and logical choice to replace or outshine the Roman holiday. In this St. Valentine’s Day celebration, the priests maintained the tradition of sweethearts for the boys and girls. After all, they didn’t want to take all the fun away from the misguided mortals and thereby make the ‘new’ religion unbearable.  Eventually the priests did try to inspire the boys to draw the names of Saints out of a hat to determine which Saintly life each should try to emulate in the following year. That attempt didn’t make for such a joyous celebration, so the choosing of sweethearts was reinstated, now under the protection of Saint Valentine, and Sainthood, well – that was left to the dedicated few.

This history and folklore blends together nicely for an overview of the evolution of our contemporary celebration, but some issues continued to perplex me.  Take Cupid, for example. How did this mischievous, winged cherub become the idol for the lovelorn; the angel on whom is pinned all romantic expectation; the archer whose power is love, inspiring us mortals to wish our beloved’s hearts pierced by his arrow?

It seems he is Roman mythology’s answer to the Greek God of Love, Eros. A St. Valentine’s Day evolved into a celebration of love and romance, Cupid was prayed to and became inseparable from the festivities. Originally, Cupid was a young man whose image was associated with vitality, passion, virility, sexuality, and implied danger. His sexual energy was seen as threatening by the people of the church, and contrary to what they intended for the celebration. After all, Valentine was a Saint: chaste, pure and, well, Saintly. There ensued Cupid’s regression into the de-sexualized infant creature whose image today graces our greeting cards and decorations for February 14.

Hence, we’ve got fact and fiction, folklore and tradition. There’s the notion of springtime and rebirth arising out of winter and death. Natural cycles of fertility and the continuity of life are symbolized by birds mating, and vulnerability is encouraged as we are coaxed into exposing our hearts. This Saint Valentine’s Day celebration certainly has elements that appeal to a sensitive and romantic spirit.

Then, there’s the Greeting Card Industry. The tradition of sending a card to one’s beloved with the Valentine mantra, “Be Mine” was initially left to artisans and poets and those with the patience of a Saint to cut and paste fabric , paper and lace into invaluable tokens of love. It wasn’t until the late 18^th Century and the invention of lithography that Valentine’s Day cards became accessible to the masses and, consequently, pop-culture.  Initially the cards were sold along with lace and hearts so the sender could personalize what was indeed a very personal message. Eventually, however, the cards evolved into variations of what we buy today: someone else’s words and designs used to illustrate and communicate what we feel, at least at the moment of purchase, under the pressure of love’s obligation to Saint Valentine.

It’s not all bad. If you’re not a poet or an artist but have really strong feelings for someone, along with an urgent need to express them, and if it happens to be during the first half of February AND you have a couple of free hours, you’re likely to find just the right card to express your emotions. If you want to take the creature with whom you are enamored  to a candle-lit, romantic, invitation-only dinner for two on or around February 14^th, I say, “Bon Appetit!” On the outside chance that fresh-cut flowers and boxed-chocolates are your style, there’s no reason to limit yourself from giving these to your beloved simply in protest against consumerism and market-based tradition.

As for me, I can happily resume reading Valentine’s Day cards with a new appreciation for the celebration.  St. Valentine’s history and the story of his tragic death couple with the beauty of nature and the continuity of life to create a western tradition of devoting a day to reveling in the magic of romance and love. What better aspect of life to celebrate in the dead of winter?

Corina Benner is a  Philadelphia-based writer, actor, and creative spirit, perpetually in search of meaning in the chaos and apparent senselessness of the world around her.

 

"Thank you, M'am"

   I love to engage taxi drivers. They almost always seem to be from somewhere else. The young man who driving the cab I eventually got into was from Pakistan, the Swat Valley. I don't really know much about his country, but I've heard that this is a very beautiful place, and quite a tourist destination. I said how ironic it is that he left a tourist destination to work in a tourist destination. He let me know that he couldn't earn enough at home to support his whole family: wife, 1 child, parents, sister. Women don't work where he is from, and his little girl is only 2. He told me that he works 12 hours a day, 7 days a week driving a cab: 5 pm - 5 am. For this, maybe he gets to go home every 1 1/2 or 2 years, and stay for around 40 days. He said, 'this is no life.' I asked him if he thought his family appreciated his efforts to support them, and the sacrifices he made to do it. His answer was that there was no choice. I offered that most people are willing to go to great lengths to help the people we love, but that feeling appreciated makes it easier. We shared a laugh about that, acknowledging that no-one feels 'too appreciated.' I reflected that it must be strange for him to be living in a place of such great wealth, and his answer surprised me. He said that most of the people didn't seem happy. They have more problems, and so many needs. He did acknowledge that they have an easier time getting their basic needs met, which makes their life a little easier. There is no end to human suffering.
     I told him that I am here teaching yoga teachers. He said, "Oh, yoga, I can't do that. It's so hard!" I agreed that it's 'hard,' but that he could do it, just to whatever extent possible. That yoga isn't really about contorting your body into strange shapes, but ultimately about finding happiness in life, just as it is, regardless of your external circumstances. It made me wonder if this would be possible for this young man.
     Confronting reality can be so painful. As an optimistic person, I'm always looking for the bright side. But seeing his plight, and seeing no way out, how on Earth could I genuinely help this person? Maybe asking him about his life and listening to his answer and feeling some of his burden helps to lighten his load. Maybe smiling and being kind and interested and valuing him as a human being helps. When we got to my apartment he said that this was a very nice neighborhood, very expensive place to live. It is a very lovely neighborhood, quite safe and beautiful. It's not ritzy, but to him, it probably looks like heaven. It made my heart break that there is no way he could even aspire to the level of luxury that I take for granted. How must it be for him to see and feel and know that? How could anyone make sense of this? Who is born where and under what circumstances, and why? How can I take credit for anything I've ever done, when I have the privilege of being born in relative affluence? I grew up rather poor by American standards, but by worldly standards, I am among the richest on Earth. How could I ever complain about anything?
     Getting out of his cab, I offered a 30% tip, saying, "I don't know what might be able to change for you in your life, but I hope you can find some happiness. He said, "thank you, m'am."

Bodhisattva in the taxi queue

     Standing in the queue for a taxi last night was an interesting experience. I came from Balance Center with my hair all pulled back in a pony tail, coated in oil from the spa treatment. There were only 3 groups in front of me, and I didn't think I would be waiting too long. Just behind me were two women: one maybe my age, one quite a bit younger, along with two little ones, maybe ages 2 and 4. The littlest one slept most of the time in a slumped upright position in a stroller, while the other looked was standing up, looking around and engaging her mom. At one point, the older woman turned to the group of teenagers standing just behind us in the parking lot and asked them what they wanted, and why they were staring. She threatened to call the police if the boys didn't stop talking about them. I hadn't been aware of the distress, but admired her for addressing them directly.
     The first cab came right away. It was the first night of the weekend, and traffic was at a standstill. The next empty cab didn't arrive for 20 minutes. As the line moved along, I kept thinking about the Bodhisattva vow: to let everyone "go in front of you." I haven't taken the vow, but I think about it all the time. Essentially, it's an aspiration to help all of humanity, and utilizing your life in service of others. I realized that there would be no end to the line for me, if I kept letting everyone go in front of me. This is part of the point, I think, that there is no end to human suffering. I thought about how I'd gotten to work at 8:30 am, and now it was 8:40 pm, and I was really hungry.
     When I was standing in the front, I kept thinking that when the cab came for me, I would step aside and let the women with the small children go in front of me. Just as I made that decision, a cab pulled up. I was about to tell them, when a man wearing the local dress who hadn't been standing in line walked up to the cab before it got to me, opened the passenger door, and got in. There were two security men observing the situation, and tension began to rise. A young, very skinny boy three or four behind me in the queue walked up to the security guy to complain. I couldn't hear the conversation, but saw the security man gesture toward me, indicating that I was next in line anyway, and so it didn't matter about his complaint. The boy stood by the passenger window making his case, and I believe the local man handed some money over to him. After the security man said something, the man got out of the car in a gesture of aggression and violence and walked toward the security guard, threatening him. The boy stood in front of him, trying to calm him down and prevent a fight. Apparently, once the police are called here someone is always fined. Maybe the security guard threatened to call the police, or in some way challenged the local man's authority to take a taxi without queuing up. It occurred to me that, while I was contemplating my small gesture of  generosity, I got to witness profound arrogance, ignorance and indifference. These are certainly the roots of many people's suffering. So, I didn't get this cab.
     Then a cab pulled in, and just as I turned to the young woman behind me to tell her I would let her go in front of me, another cab pulled directly behind it. She said, "Oh no, no, it's ok." I said, "Well, look, there's another cab immediately following." She was looking at the other woman for approval, when the first cab now dimmed his overhead light and drove off without taking on a new passenger.
     Initially I thought that my gesture of letting them go first would seem and feel insignificant, because how easy it is to give up the cab when I know my 'relief' is directly behind it. After the first cab drove away, I still insisted that they take the next cab. Oddly, this made me feel better about it, like I wasn't being stingy or primarily looking out for myself while ostensibly appearing generous. Another woman toward the back of the queue noticed my gesture, and made her own effort to help these women by trying to get the trunk open, so she could put her stroller and bags there. This other woman, maybe 3 or 4 behind me, also had a stroller. I didn't actually see the baby, but I'm guessing the baby was in her husband's arms. I thought about how long it would take for me to keep letting people go in front of me so that this woman could get a cab. By this point I'd been standing in line for 40 minutes. Deciding that I couldn't help that family today, I hopped in the next cab.
  

"You always look like like you're expecting something good to happen."

     It's interesting what 3 days off in Dubai can do. 

     The mini-vacation started with a meet-up of some of the students from last year's foundational training. We met up at the Belgian Beer Cafe in Madinat Jumeirah for an outdoor table, good food and some wine. Alcohol is not readily available in Dubai, but restaurants that are connected to hotels can serve it. 

     The training last year was so special to me, and connecting with the students was more heart-warming and affirming than I could express. During that training I felt like I let my guard down, perhaps more than usual, and I believe that was met with plenty of genuine authenticity from the students. Plus, we spent so much concentrated time together, through good and bad moods, meal breaks, in the context of the intensely personal practice of yoga. It was a bit like boot camp or surviving something very challenging in a group setting, which creates a special kind of bond. 

  On Monday, Colette picked me bright and early with a picnic in hand, and we spent the morning and early afternoon at a no-frills beach just off the side of the road. The water was lovely, and the conversation fantastic. She and I hadn't spent a lot of time together during the training, but got on like school girls chatting away. I wasn't sure how the day would go, but couldn't have been more pleased with the outcome. When she had to go pick her children up from school, I came back to the apartment where I'm staying and helped myself to a nap by the pool. There is something about falling asleep in the arms of the sun that is just so satisfying! Later Clarie took me to Zen Yoga for a vinyasa class with a lovely teacher named Laura. During the 'set your intention' opportunity, I decided that I would practice to remember the joy of practicing yoga. When your passion becomes your livelihood, the joy can get veiled by every day concerns. It was so nice to be an anonymous student in the class, simply there to practice yoga. I sweated A LOT, and was positively beaming when I met Noura for dinner down at Wagamama. 

     Tuesday turned out to be less joyful. Colette picked me up early, and we headed out to find a new destination for me. We chose Mirdif City Center, which is a mall not too close to the center of town. Malls are very popular here, but they wipe my energy away. I ended up feeling blue, missing my husband, and lamenting the 'time off.' My feelings were that, if I'm away to work, I'd rather work so I can earn more time off with my family. I was quite homesick, at least for a little while, and a bit disillusioned by the fantasy that is Dubai. It is a spectacular show but, as with everything, there is a shadow side. There can be a strong sense of materialism and greed, and of course, despair. It seems that luxury is often built on the backs of the poor and disempowered, and it's not difficult for me to get swept away by the sadness and cruelty that are tied up with humanity. This is a land of extremes, and this is where things can be most stark. 

     Noura and I were planning a cheese fondue in my apartment in the evening. But the weather was so nice, and I would be indoor-bound for the next training. I asked her if, instead of staying in for dinner, if she'd be interested in going to the Dubai Mall to watch the fountain dance. This is such a wondrous, spectacular and amazing experience, I knew I couldn't stay blue. This is the largest water fountain in the world (Dubai likes to the biggest everything), and each evening on the half-hour, starting at 7 pm, they have a show. It reminds me of fireworks, but with water spray rather than a sulfur smell. 

     Here are two links, in case you'd like to check it out. Of course, video doesn't capture the full experience, but it's still worth seeing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMc5HSCOLoo&feature=related (this is to Michael Jackson's Thriller); http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Yq84oDpIPc&feature=related (and this is to Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You ... they played this one while I was there, and I will admit that I cried. What can I say, it was an emotional day!) 

     I realize that, having peeked a bit behind the veil to see the despair of Dubai, I wanted to connect with the delight and fantasy of this place. It's so funny to me that I'm here teaching a Yin Yoga training, since Yin is about what's hidden. 

   Anyway, Wednesday I got to spend the day at a beach resort to which Nicole has a membership. Sunbeds, a pool winding through palm trees, and waiter service by the sea. That was so relaxing. I have tan lines even after religiously applying the 85 spf sunscreen! 

     The 2nd Yin TT started today, and I believe we are off to a really good start. Once again, as always here, it is a multi-cultural group. Each student was asked to say, among other things, where they are from. One woman said, "I don't know where I'm from. I grew up in South Africa, my children have New Zealand passports, I've lived here for some years, but I don't know where is home." Modern nomads. I'm excited about this second training. There are some long-time students and teachers in the group, and a couple of Zumba teachers who recognize the need to slow down and nourish their bodies. There is a nice energy in the mood, and I couldn't be more excited to report that there is a local woman, and Emirati, in the class. Yoga is indeed spreading, and may be the force that can unify the whole world. 

     I ended the day with a 2-hour "Chakra Balancing" treatment. It started with a body scrub made of rose petals, was followed by an oil massage accompanied by chakra bija mantras and essential oils, finished with a facial and was topped off by a little hot oil drip on the forehead and a scalp massage. The very sweet Ukrainian woman who treated me told me she was very excited that she got to work on me. I've been coming in there for a week, and previously for a month, and she said that I have such positive energy. While sweeping her arms out to the sides and up toward the sky, in her broken English she said, "You always seem like you are expecting something good to happen." This seems like a really nice way to be regarded and remembered. 

Wrapping up Yin TT #1

It's Sunday in Dubai, and today is the last of the first Yin Yoga TT. 


Our days are from 9 am -6 pm, so I haven't done a whole lot more than teach, eat and sleep. Sadly, the night before last I didn't do enough sleeping, finding myself unalterably awake at 2:30 am.  That's a tough hour to start the day. On top of the sleep deprivation, my tummy felt queasy, I felt a uneasy with a bit of a throaty rasp, none of which contributed to feeling "on" while teaching. Apparently a stomach bug has been going around, with a few of the students just getting over the yuck.  Nicole gave me a tincture from Singapore that one dabs on the soles of the feet and the back of the neck to recover more quickly from sickness. Ava gave me some Ashwaganda herbs. Elise gave me a lovely packet of ginger 'tea' from Thailand, all of which made my soul feel better. During the lunch break I was able to schedule a Shirodhara treatment, which is just about the best thing in the world! It's an Ayurvedic treatment in which you are first rubbed down with oil, and then a continuous stream of warm sesame oil is streamed across your forehead for 45 minutes or so. This soothes the frontal lobe of the brain and induces deep relaxation. I am a bit embarrassed to admit that I woke myself up a few times snoring! The hot oil then drips across your face and into your hair, which is very conditioning. The treatment is followed by some time in the steam room so that your pores open and the oil is absorbed into your skin. It's heaven, and definitely helped prepare me to make it through the rest of the day. 


36-hours of training in 4 days is pretty intense. I think the students are coming away with a solid base of understanding that they will be able to integrate, share and then build on. They're very receptive, and seem to be really enjoying the experience. 


Tonight, after the training, there is a small group of last year's Foundational TT meeting at the Belgian Beer Cafe at Madinot Jumeriah for some festivities. I'm excited to see the ones who haven't enrolled in the Yin training, and looking forward to a little socializing. 


As for Dubai itself, the weather that I've been 'outside' for has been lovely. Not too hot, not too dry. Strangely, though, while Ynske drove me home yesterday evening at around 6:30, the sun looked like a full moon. It was really bizarre to see the bright orange sun look like a pearl. Ysnke said it was 'dust,' Noura says it's sand. I'll try to take a photo, but I'm sure a more sophisticated camera would be needed to really do it justice. 


After today I have 3 days off IN A ROW! This rarely happens Stateside, so I'm just so looking forward to it. One of the students has offered me a guest pass to the beach hotel where she has a membership, which includes a pool, maybe some restaurants and a bar? I'm hoping to make it over to the Dubai mall to see the dancing fountain, and also possibly the Dubai aquarium, with a walk through tunnel through the water displaying stingrays and sharks above. The Atlantis Resort is close by, and they do have a day rate which Noura says it's way overpriced for what they offer. I think this is the place with an aquarium so large that hotel rooms are positioned so that the window looks into the aquarium ... for something like $3,000 a night. Um, yeah, obviously, I won't be staying there! 

"Let's Get This Training Started!"

     Day 2 in Dubai was day 1 for the first Yin Yoga Training. The class is full with 20 students, hailing from all over the world. I even learned of a 'new' place ... "Seychelles," apparently near Maldives, which is where one of the students is from. We've also got representatives from Malaysia, Jordan, Beirut, France, Ireland, Sweden, Germany, the UK, Australia ... I am perpetually awed and inspired by the power of Yoga to cross cultural barriers and unite people in the heart. 
     Most of the participants have only a minor relationship with Yin Yoga, so teaching them is also introducing them. A few have already experienced profound releases of stored emotions, and most of them were absolutely beaming after our first group practice together. I continue to be grateful for the hard work Paul Grilley has done spreading the good Yin Yoga word, as I meet more and more acceptance of the validity of yin yoga and the reality of anatomical difference. For years Paul was like a little salmon swimming upstream, with his ideas continuously rejected by 'conventional wisdom.' In the short 8 years that I've been teaching Yin Yoga, I personally feel so much more acceptance about the practice, that I no longer feel like I need to make each class a 90-minute info-mercial extolling the benefits of passive postures sustained for 5 minute intervals. 
     One of the students is a long-time Iyengar yoga student, and so the 'lazy' approach is very challenging for her to sink into. I admire her willingness to maintain an open and curious mind as she validates her own experience through the laboratory of her own practice. I suspect that, as a mother of two small children, she will find deep respite and replenishment in the practice of yin yoga, which has the power to build energy and smooth out its pathway. 
     Training is from 9-6, so it is literally the entire day. We only take an hour lunch break, with another 15 min break in the afternoon, so it is full on. Noura and I got dinner in the Dubai Marina Mall, sitting out on the deck to enjoy our salads on mini-couches at the table. I was slumped over by the end, with very little to say. She was extremely perceptive and accommodating, getting me home straight away. 
     This morning I'm up at 5 am, sipping on French press coffee after my hot lemon water. My yoga mat is right next to the computer, so after this post I will sink into some Yin Yoga, followed by some vinyasa and meditation. 

     Four of the students from last year's foundational training are in this yin training, and we are trying to gather the rest of the group for a meal and a few beverages, perhaps Sunday night. There is definitely a feeling of cOMing hOMe being here, which brings me such joy. Dubai for me is not about nightlife or shopping, but instead about working hard and sharing yoga which, I must admit, are so fulfilling and rewarding to me. If I'm to be honest, however, I do need to admit that on this trip I do hope to do at least a little shopping, too! 

Dubai in April

     Time is such a funny thing. I left Dubai in December and so much has happened since then, yet it seems like I never left. Or at least like it was just yesterday. 
     The time it takes to get here isn't all that funny. Paul dropped me off at the airport hours early, mostly because the place we were going to get some dinner was closed, and we didn't want to risk getting there too late. I've decided that early is good, as I could take my time moving items from carry on to checked baggage (which was surprisingly underweight!), and didn't have to wait at all to get through security. I was randomly stopped to have my bags searched, which didn't bother me at all. The woman who checked me said there's no such thing as too early at the airport. Being 'alone' at an airport bar is much easier (for me) than being alone at a neighborhood bar; it's easy to strike up conversation, and I'm always so curious about other people's lives, their jobs, etc. Politics, not so much. 
    The flight was drastically undersold, so I got my own little aisle heading to Heathrow, and a window seat next to an empty seat to Dubai. I slept a lot, and am now a huge fan of the 2 1/2 hours to walk around and browse in the shops, rather than direct from Atlanta. 
     It took 40 minutes to get through passport control; they're now digitally photographing everyone. We waited so long that by the time I got to baggage claim, my suitcase was upright and waiting for me. Passing through the duty-free on the way out I picked up a few somethings to sip on in the evening. There are no liquor stores here, so I picked up a bottle of Noura's favorite (Amaretto), and some liquors to enjoy (Cointreau, Ricard, and Patron Coffee). I suspect the bulk of these beverages will be staying in Claire's apartment, which should be a nice parting gift. 
     I'm staying in the neighborhood called The Greens, as before, but in a different apartment. There is a pool and a little gym, and I have a small balcony overlooking a palm-tree lined road. The grocery store is a 10 minute walk, as is a Caribou Coffee, and a Starbucks, among other 'chains.' 
     After lunch with Noura, I practiced Yin Yoga on my little balcony, and then sat for 30 minutes. Not a bad start, although I am seriously 'lagged.' A good night's sleep tonight will top it all off, and the first training begins tomorrow at 9 am. Both Yin Yoga trainings are sold out at 20 students, with at least 3 on a waiting list. I'm very much looking forward to the experience. 
     Heading off for some dinner with Claire and Noura - sushi, ordered in. I'm thankful that they will keep me up for at least another 2 hours, and then hopefully, I'll be on local time. 
     That's it for now. Hopefully I'll have more insightful and informative musings to share as the weeks progress. 
     Shine On!

Your Own Sweet Abode

This week in my classes I've been focusing on Svadhisthana Chakra, the second chakra. The word "Svadhisthana" means 'one's own sweet abode,' your home, where you live. Located between the navel and the pubic bone, this chakra is said to be associated with the color orange, the element water, and the sensory perception taste. According to my teacher, Anodea Judith, this is our biological program for emotions, desire/pleasure and sexuality, all of which can be difficult to understand, confront and/or express. In the context of the path of yoga, these aspects of being human are often suppressed or ignored. This only seems to strengthen the power of these energies, and they find unconscious and often egregious means of expressing themselves. Pretending they don't exist doesn't make them go away.

Water needs to flow. When it gets dammed up, the power becomes unpredictable; when it doesn't move, it becomes stagnant. This is such a lovely metaphor for our emotions: they need to flow. We often welcome 'good' emotions, but deny 'bad' ones. This means that we 'let ourselves feel' generous, happy, kind, but not so much things like jealous, greedy or angry. Since emotions can have a watery feel to them, I've definitely felt like I could drown in that sea and so have pushed down and denied emotions that have felt too dangerous. Thanks to Irene Bojczuk, I've learned a method called "The Sedona Method" which very simply teaches the skill of acknowledging and inviting emotions as they arise. You don't need to express every emotion, and certainly there are times and situations where doing so would be totally inappropriate. But you allow yourself to feel what you feel, which is incredibly liberating. Emotions give meaning and color to life, and often they make you feel alive.

As for pleasure and desire, these terms in our culture often take on a very sexual nature. Pleasure is registered through the senses, but it doesn't have to always be lustful. Taking a walk along the river, preparing and enjoying a good meal, and, for me, watching my new doggie play with other dogs at the dog park, are incredibly pleasurable experiences. Consider if you allow yourself to actually enjoy your food, or if you mostly stuff something in your mouth while driving or sitting at your computer; if you allow yourself to enjoy the beautiful weather we've been experiencing, or if you move robotically through your day, accomplishing your tasks with the efficiency and joy of a machine. The senses are said to awaken consciousness in the body. We live in a vivid, magical, sensational world. Not fully appreciating that is surely a crime.

Desire points you in a direction. Once you know what you want, you then can create a plan of action to manifest that. Wanting to feel happy and healthy, to practice yoga, to fully awaken in this lifetime: these are desires. Can you get clear about what it is you want, allow yourself to want what you want, and then move toward realizing that, without feeling guilty? Guilt, again according to Anodea Judith, is what she calls the 'demon' of the 2nd chakra. We have built into our language the notion of 'guilty pleasures.' I admitted in class this week that months ago, on a weekday afternoon, I went to the Ritz movie theatre in the middle of the day to watch a French movie by myself. When admitting this to my husband, I felt guilty, as though I should have been at work earning or somehow contributing to our life together. Perhaps it's no surprise to you to consider that 'workaholic-ism' is a symptom of a 2nd chakra imbalance.

Of course it's true we can't 'indulge our desires' all the time; what we're looking for here is balance.

As for sexuality, between you and yourself, get clear about how you relate to your own sexuality. Do you regard this as sacred or profane? Do you have any traumas to address? Anyone you need to forgive, including, perhaps, yourself? There is clearly so much sexual abuse in our culture ... maybe all cultures. Clearly seeing what you have to deal with will liberate all the energy you've invested in containing or suppressing it so you can heal. To heal means to make whole. Here you work to remove all of the internal barriers you have erected that create the feeling of separation so you can discover the wholeness that always already is.

Characteristics of a balanced second chakra include the ability to nurture self and others, emotional intelligence, appropriate boundaries and the ability to experience joy. This is certainly worth working toward!

Holy "MA" Phase!

In the continuous, colliding cycle of OM, beginnings, middles and ends are always occurring. As my teacher, Cyndi Lee expressed, life is a series of 'things' arising, abiding and dissolving. There are big beginnings, like weddings, birth, the start of a new school year or the opening of a new business venture. Beginnings often feel exciting and hopeful, ripe with possibility. The 'middle' or 'abiding' part is often where the real energy and effort is invested; it's where we realize success and confront disappointment, and where our mettle is tested and many lessons are learned. The 'middle' can feel tedious or boring, but it's also where we can savor the satisfaction of applying ourselves and making a meaningful contribution to the community and/or the world at large. And, of course, we realize that any 'thing' that has a beginning will eventually have an end. Endings are often sad, and are sometimes quite painful. There might be bitterness, resentment, and even a tendency to look for someone to blame. It has occurred to me, however, that the manner with which we navigate the "MA" phase of the OM cycle, the dissolving/end part, gives us the raw material with which we create the next new beginning. When we attend to the ending with tenderness, compassion and clarity we create the conditions for an inspired, energized and creative new beginning.

Of course, I've been sitting with these thoughts lately following the decision to close Wake Up Yoga West. Many factors have contributed to this ending, and, truthfully, it feels less like a decision and more like the only choice. Even so, those of us who have loved that space and the cOMmUNITY that has been nurtured and growing there for nearly 6 years, feel quite sad that this is the case.

In our efforts to attend to the ending with grace and compassion, we intend to offer classes through the 6 pm class on Tuesday, April 17th. We recognize that many students have invested in class cards specifically because the West studio fit naturally with their daily flow, and that the other Wake Up Yoga studios may be less convenient. If students keep coming, we will keep teaching. If, however, class size drops off dramatically, we may have to close our doors sooner. We hope to go out on a high note, and recognize that any sadness and disappointment that result from this decision only exist because the space has been so special for so many people. Our March schedule is slightly modified, and a few classes toward the end of the month will have to be canceled. I am so grateful to and inspired by the teachers who are committed to continuing to tend to their classes as we ride out this ending. Of course, students who have remaining classes on their class cards are invited to use them at our other two studios. Both Rebecca Hooper and Victoria Ladd will teach a final workshop at Wake Up Yoga West in March and April, which will be beautiful and inspired ways to maximize the positive, life-affirming resource this studio has been.

Manorama, and the Gods & Goddesses, or: what you will be doing February 25 & 26

Greetings, Sweet Yoga Friend,

When I was in Yoga Teacher School, 13 years ago, at OM Yoga Center in NYC, one of our weekends was devoted to the study of Sanskrit. We trudged down to the Lower East Side for a workshop with Manorama ji, who, I believe, was still in graduate school at Columbia at the time. Manorama sat at the front of the class on a cloud of pillows with a shawl wrapped elegantly around her shoulders, and spoke lovingly about her Guru ji, sharing a passion for the language of Sanskrit which sticks with me today. When I chant the Vowel Sounds of Sanskrit, I am drawing directly from the memory of that first workshop; when I chant the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, it is her voice I hear in my head and try to emulate.

Of course, at the time, I thought "Gerji"(spelled how I thought it sounded) was the name of her teacher. Only later did I learn that 'ji' at the end of the name is a term of endearment, and so this was her affectionate and reverent name for her teacher.

Since then I have learned a great deal about devotion and reverence from Manorama ji. Through her way of being she conveys the realization that all of yoga is a teaching, passed down from teacher to student, reinforcing the importance of sending gratitude back toward our teachers, and adopting an attitude of humility as we advance the teaching forward. I have learned to stay open and curious, to not 'stick the landing,' as in, not hold on too tightly to my current perceptions in an effort to solidify the truth. She eloquently described what she refers to as "the OM cycle," and I have pages and pages filled with pearls of wisdom she shares about this quest for truth called yoga.

I am so excited to be hosting Ma for a weekend workshop entitled, "Gods and Goddesses," scheduled for the last weekend of February. In this workshop, Manorama ji will be sharing stories and myths about many of the deities in the Hindu pantheon from the perspective of the Western student. Rather than regarding these icons as literal manifestations of the Divine (as some do, but we are not necessarily required to), this workshop will inspire teachers and devoted students to see them as archetypes representing aspects of our own intrinsic nature. You will learn about your own ability to remove perceived obstacles in your path, understand the power of devotion which makes the impossible possible, recognize the true source of your strength and fortitude, and begin to see yourself as embodying all these qualities yourself. This weekend will affirm your goodness, shine light on areas you may need to bring into harmony, and leave you feeling connected to yourself and your source. Together we'll chant, listen to stories, and begin to see all of life as an opportunity for growth, connection and joy.

If you are interested in enrolling in this program, please call the studio a 215.235.1228, or email Alane. I know many of us like to make decisions at the last minute to keep options open, but we need to ensure we have adequate enrollment by next week. By cOMmitting by Monday, January 23rd, you will help ensure that this workshop happens. To sweeten the deal, we are extending the early registration date to 1/23/12.

Manorama is a magical teacher who spins a web of sweetness, laughter and luminosity. Her voice will echo in your head for years to come.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, Sweet Yoga Friend!

The crisp coldness of Pennsylvania's January inspires a cozy, introspective, get-down-to-business feeling that is ripe with possibility and ebullient with excitement. With so many delightful obligations fulfilled, it seems only fair and appropriate to inquire into the nature of what it is that YOU want. What will make you happy? How will you feel fulfilled, actualized and expressed? This, I believe, is the root of our New Year's Resolutions: a personal inquiry into what will bring genuine, authentic happiness.

Yoga practice is teaching so many valuable lessons in the pursuit of living a fulfilling life. The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali advises two complementary disciplines for achieving the goal of yoga; we could even see them as two sides of the same coin. The ultimate goal of yoga is the realization of truth, discovering who you really are. Even if that is not one of your conscious goals right now, Patanjali's advice could be applied to the pursuit of any goal.

The two disciplines, according to Yoga Sutra 1.12 are Practice and Non-Attachment. Practice is defined as the pursuit of the goal: whatever it is you are doing to achieve that. He goes on to say that practice becomes firmly grounded when it is attended to for a long time, without interruption, with reverence.

What is 'a long time?' To a young child, summer is a long time; to an elderly person, 60 years may seem like a long time. Waiting for the kettle to boil, or the bus to come, or the 5-minutes to pass in a deep hip-opening yin yoga pose each may seem like a long time. In the context of reincarnation, 7 lifetimes may be a long time. The point here is that meaningful results could take a while. This seems to indicate that it's important that you actually enjoy the steps on the path that may take you to the goal. If your goal is to complete a marathon, you better enjoy running! Many people profess to want to achieve one thing or another but discover they loathe every step of the way. Choose a goal with a pathway that you will relish traversing.

'Without interruption' requires a steadfast commitment to your goal. This means that you can't pursue one goal today, a different one tomorrow, and change gears again next week. If you want to learn a foreign language, for example, you can't get the Rosetta Stone for Italian and then sign up for a class at the Alliance Francaise, and look for a Spanish tutor, only to enroll in a sculpture class, and then get a personal trainer. In fact, the opportunity cost of pursuing any single goal is all of the things you cannot do as a result. If your goal is to visit China, for example, then all of your vacation time and savings has to be allocated toward realizing that trip. If you are pursuing a Yoga Teacher Training Certificate, 'without interruption' means that you have to forgo all of the other things you might have done with your time and money, at least for the duration of the course. 'Without interruption' requires you to not change your mind, to have no exit strategy.

'With reverence' indicates a recognition that you are not ultimately in control, and so all of your alleged achievements are in some way connected to grace, or at least to something you cannot take credit for. "With reverence' invites humility, wonder and awe. It means that you are not in pursuit of your goals solely for your own benefit. You pursue your dreams and visions because that is what you were born to you, and you see how your own happiness can benefit the whole world. When you are happy and fulfilled, you are probably a lot kinder, more patient, and more willing to extend a hand. When you are happy, you become a source of happiness and inspiration to others. Pursuing your goal 'with reverence' acknowledges that other people are involved in your achievements; there is precious little you could actually 'do' by yourself alone. It invites gratitude and generosity.

Non-Attachment, the other required discipline, is defined as not being pulled away by objects seen or heard about. You don't get distracted. It's also what is required in order to remain committed when challenges arise, or things are not going as hoped. Non-attachment means that you devote yourself fully to the task at hand, but you let go of the need to measure where you are and assess how you are doing. We can all get discouraged by setbacks; Non-Attachment is not giving in to the discouragement.

Fortified by this sage advice from Patanjali, what do you feel inspired to pursue in 2012? What will bring you genuine happiness? How better could you 'spend your life?'

Santa Comes to Dubai!

When I arrived in Dubai, after a 14 hour flight with little sleep, I marveled at the Christmas decorations in the airport. I have a fuzzy memory of thinking how amusing it was to see that. If Dubai is about shopping, than of course a secular version of Christmas would fit right in.

Today the Oasis Center's central area was completely filled in with Christmas trees, 'snow'men, reindeer, and even wolves and enormous stuffed squirrels. The Mall Manager greeted my photo op with a laugh and told me that Santa is coming to Oasis Center tomorrow, with elves, too. He appeared to be from India, and he told me that in Dubai, Christmas decorations are allowed, but no advertisements or billboards displaying Christmas 'propaganda.' He is also forbidden to have Christmas Carols in the center. He was required to remove the 'santa hats' from models in an advertisement.

In keeping with the Christmas and snow theme, the other day I made it the Mall of Emirates, which has the Ski Slope hotel attached to it. This photo is from the window in the mall. Some people living here have told me that they learned to ski here before going on a ski vacation, so I suppose it has a deeper purpose than simply novelty. There weren't tons of people there while I peeped in, but it was the day after a long, holiday weekend. Noura says it's often busy, and that she's been a few times. You can even rent Parkas and ski pants ... everything but gloves.

Turkish Coffee with a Hint of Cardamom

This is what fills my French Press these mornings; it's quite tasty. They don't seem to have half & half, as such. It's a bit of a challenge to find cream for my coffee, and what I've found comes in plastic containers that resemble ones that contain yogurt, sort of.

The alarm wakes me at 5:20 am. Coffee has been prepared the night before. In this apartment there is an electric kettle, which is total genius. A glass of hot lemon water goes done while the hot water steeps some flavor out of those coarse little granules, and I scurry to prepare myself. Teeth brushed, tongue scraped, and at least a little color on my face. Then, it's a mad dash to Skype my honey, check email, and peruse Facebook.

Raju picks me up at around 6:15 am, and I get to Oasis Center by 6:40 ish. The employees at the Center lay the mats out, and I often rearrange them just so. The ipod plugs directly into the wall, and their sound system speakers are hidden in the ceiling, I guess. We don't have lots of yoga props, but many of the students have brought some blocks and blankets.

Class goes essentially from 7 am to 4:30 pm, with a few breaks. I get 'home' by around 5:15 pm, or so, which is a pretty full day.

The training is almost complete, in that we conclude on Saturday. What's still difficult to wrap my mind around is that we still have about 40 hours together! The students have traveled quite a distance on their yoga path, and I'm feeling quite good about the foundation we have established together. They have teaching practice on Friday, in which half of them are teaching a full class while the other half practices; after the break, the roles switch for a different sequence.

They have all grown as yoga practitioners and are budding teachers, but what has also grown has been a community of tremendous support, respect and love. Yoga truly is for everyBODY, and may be the force that can indeed unite the world.

That Which is Ever New

In Yoga Philosophy, "OM" is said to be comprised of 4 parts: A - U - M (pronounced the Ahhh, the OOOh, and the Maaa) followed by the silence which 'carries the vibration.' These 4 parts of OM are said to correspond to such things as past, present, future and timeless-ness; Creation, Sustenance, Dissolution and that which is eternal ... also described as Beginnings, Middles and Ends and the formless reality which had no beginning and so can have no end. Manorama refers to this as the 'OM Cycle', which is continuously shaping and reshaping itself in each arising mOMent.

Today officially marks the end of the 2nd week of the Teacher Training Program I'm currently teaching in Dubai, U.A.E. In "OM Speak," we have just ended the middle part of the training, and have just begun the end phase. The end phase will have a beginning, a middle and an end. This, of course, as you in the States are in the 'middle' of your weekend, but here, the weekend is officially over, and tomorrow a new work week begins. We are still in the beginning of December, but it's toward the end of the year. As I write this now (9 hours ahead of the East Coast), it's the end of the day, and yet it's the beginning of the middle of the day in Philadelphia. Continuously colliding cycles create our experience of reality.

Another word for OM, according to the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali, is Pranava. Some have said this word means, "sustains life and runs on prana, or the breath." Others have said the word means 'a humming sound.' Manorama has defined it as "That which is ever new."

To tune into Pranava, is to recognize that, even though things seem the same, this moment has never happened before. It is a trick of the mind to think, "been there, done that." Tapping into the power of OM is to remain vibrantly connected to the continuous unfolding of your life. By being attentive to how you conclude whatever is 'ending,' you have the power to create new beginnings. In fact, there is a new beginning tucked into every single breath.

As we slide through the middle of the holiday season and toward the end of 2011, rather than wishing it was over, see how attentive you can become to the entire cycle. As we approach the Winter Solstice, which is a great metaphor for the 'dissolution' phase of the cycle, ask yourself if there is anything you are finally ready to let go of in order to create the space for a new beginning. Can you release a grudge? Forgive someone a perceived wrong, even if that someone is yourself? Relinquish anger or resentment or blame? Forsake jealousy or pride or the indignation of having been hurt by life? Buried within the frozen hardness of winter are the seeds which will sprout springtime. Manage your endings skillfully, to create the space and the conditions for the next wave of OM.

Is it Tuesday?

Teacher Training is going great. I am definitely here to work. Waking at 5 am each day has been great, but after 'holding space' for the group, keeping everything on track, adapting as appropriate, and working to keep all of the students' energy 'up,' I am exhausted at the end of the day! I think tonight I will end with a steam at the spa ... it really is the loveliest place to hold a training. The on-site staff couldn't be more accommodating, and the showers and towels ... not to mention treatments are totally sublime.

The spa is also associated with Balance Cafe, which is an ayurvedic cafe just down the hall. I've only been there so far for breakfast, which has been ok. Yesterday, however, I looked at their afternoon menu, which looks amazing. We get a 15% discount there, so I think I'll be having dinner there tonight.

Extolling the Virtues of a DAY OFF

Saturday is like Sunday here. Tomorrow is the Islamic New Year, so some offices will be closed. The city seemed a little quiet-ish, I guess, but Noura and I headed toward what I think is called "Old Dubai." We walked through the textile markets, and took a water taxi across to visit the Spice Souk and the Gold Souk, marveling at how the water actually looks gold in front of the one bank. Each of the merchants tried to entice us into their stores by wrapping a scarf around my head, or placing a spice in my hand and asking, "what do you think this is?" It's always good to travel with a local, because once Noura started speaking Arabic with them, they knew they couldn't rip us off. I only picked up a few things ... some 'thank you gifts' for the teachers who agreed to cover my classes in my absence. Haven't yet found THE PERFECT Dubai t-shirt for my dad, the man who never asks for anything but requested this. I almost bought a kid's book called "Humpy Grumpy" about camel, along with a camel hand puppet for my nephew, but Noura convinced me their asking price was double the value. Alas.

Noura and I got on like childhood friends, and she even felt like a tourist in her own city visiting places she rarely goes to. The weather was absolutely perfect. Stellar day off.

T.A.I.T.

Weekends here are Friday and Saturday. Rather than saying "T.G.I.F" I'm told they say, "T.A.I.T." (Thank Allah it's Thursday!). As the group trickled in on Friday, slowly, and without a tremendous amount of vim and vigor, Hitesh said, "It's been a long time since any of us has had to 'work' on a Friday." In an effort to be sensitive to their plight, we continued past the typical afternoon break so that we could cover the necessary information, and we could end a little early. Each one of them taught half of a Lunging Surya Namaskara to 3 of the students, while the rest of the class observed. They applauded each other and felt very proud of what they had learned in our short time together. Ok, maybe not that short ... (6) 9 1/2 hour days in a row, but integrating this even while going home to care for children and families is no small thing. For many of them, it's like learning a foreign language (Yoga/Sanskrit) in a foreign language (English). They're working so earnestly it's inspiring. I'd love to audio-record them so when I'm back home in the states I can listen to them teaching.

After we ended on Friday, I got an ayurvedic treatment called "Shirodhara." It's my absolute favorite indulgence. The woman gave me a light, relaxing oil massage, and then proceeded to stream warm sesame oil back and forth over my forehead (3rd eye) for around 45 minutes. The warm oil drips off of the head and through the hair, and she would massage my head periodically. I've heard it called the "mind eraser" because your thoughts come in and out but can't be followed, and your awareness drifts to the far outer reaches of the cosmos ... or you fall asleep. I woke myself up a few times with a little snore. It is A-MAZ-ING. After, she wrapped my hair up in a towel and directed me into a very hot steam room, where I sat for about 10 minutes, so that the oil could be absorbed into my skin. After a shower, I was toast.

Had hoped to go out and experience some of this legendary Dubai nightlife, but could barely muster a quiet, local dinner with Noura before sleepwalking home. I slept 14 hours. In a row. Without waking even once. A cab driver in New York City once told me that a good night's sleep is a gift from God. I felt quite devout in the morning!

Thanksgiving in Dubai

Gratitude can be celebrated in every moment!

The lovely fellow who works at Starbucks in the Oasis Center asked me if I was missing my holiday. I answered that I can feel grateful any time and any where, and that I don't eat turkey anyway!

Today was day 5 of the program. The students are doing great. It's thrilling to watch their faces during their 'a-ha' mOMents, when they make associations/connections and really GET IT.

During the breaks, many of the students share meals together, and get to know each other in a more personal way. Its so affirming to me that yoga can benefit everyone. I've never taught yoga to a large percentage of Muslim students, so it's really enlightening to learn how they respond to my understanding of the path and practice of yoga. Yoga itself is not a religion, but inspires great reverence and humility and leads one toward an experience of the infinite. How each student relates to that is perhaps unique, and the words we use to describe it may be different. But until each one of experiences that state of being, all of the beliefs we have about it are just that: beliefs. Until we know that by which all is known, everything we think we know is just a thought.

When I spoke with Paul (my husband) last night, he asked what I did after work. When he learned that I pretty much work all day, then walked to the grocery store to buy food and finally made some dinner (which was just heating up pre-packaged Indian food ... does it count as Thanksgiving if the 'Indian' component is from India rather than Native America?) ... he said, 'wow, it's a pretty austere life.' I'm definitely here to work, and 9 1/2 hour days, now 6 days in a row take a lot of energy, focus, and clarity. I don't have much left at the end of the day. But this work is so satisfying to me that I don't feel like I'm missing anything at all. As Manorama's teacher Sri Brahmananda Saraswati has said, "Yoga is the state in which you are missing nothing." I feel pretty complete. Ok, maybe a little tired!

Less Yoga, More Dubai

If you're not a total yoga geek, and you don't find explorations of the intricacies of Teacher Training to be that interesting, and you couldn't care less about pranayama techniques taught by a man who said he was a doctor 20 years ago but looks as if he's 35, you might be reading this blog thinking, "But what is Dubai like????"

So here's my perception so far.

There is one long road that seems to connect everything. Alongside of the road are big showrooms, glass and mirror covered, that look almost like car dealerships do when they are not near other businesses. The ocean is next to this road, or at least near this road, but is not visible because of villas and high rises. There are lots of round-abouts, and the green lights start flashing before they turn yellow. It's definitely not a walk-able city, although there is a metro I'd love to test out.

The architecture is quite something, with really polished and futuristic-looking high-rises. Being from the States, tall building aren't so 'amazing' to me, but here in the Middle East, they are definitely an accomplishment. The tallest tower in the world, formerly the Burg Dubai, now called Burg Khalifa is definitely a tall drink of water. It costs something like $100 to visit near the top, however, and I don't see myself doing that. Apparently a new Tom Cruise movie was just filmed here (a Mission Impossible?) in which he is dangling near the top of the tower.

Shopping malls are big attractions. In the summer, it gets soooo hot, that people can't tolerate being outside. Malls arose to meet this challenge. The Dubai Mall, for example, has a grocery store (at least one), an aquarium, an ice skating rink, a hospital (or at least a health clinic), along with shops and restaurants and cafes. I've been driven past the hotel that has a ski slope in it, and the exterior looks like a very large hamster habit trail.

The people are very nice. I don't sense any attitude at all. I haven't experienced any of the opulence that Dubai seems to be famous for, and Noura debunked the myth that there exists a street paved in gold. In fact, to me it seems pretty laid back. I really appreciate the multi-culturism here. Women in varying states of head scarfs and veils walk next to women in short skirts by women in saris. Some men are wearing traditional garb with headdresses and scarfs, others are in shorts. I don't sense any animosity, and there seems to be at least some level of ease. People smile easily, and are willing to give directions, for example, or volunteer to take a photo.

When Paul and I were in India, he found this really lovely 'clove' toothpaste. So he set me up with a travel size 'crest,' thinking I could find something local and interesting. After visiting maybe 5 pharmacies and grocery stores, I finally found something that wasn't made in the US or Germany, the UK or France. I picked up a tube of paste made with 'miswak' which they dub the 'famous toothbrush tree used for centuries.' It smells like licorice. I'm kinda psyched.

That's all I got for now. On Saturday (my first day off!), Noura is going to take me to the old Souks, which are markets that you reach by hailing a small ferry. Next week, we're planning to do a 'desert safari,' which includes a 4x4 ride in the desert, a half-an-hour camel ride to the destination, and then 'sand boards' to surf the dunes. Now THAT sounds pretty bad ass.

That's all I got for now. Stay tuned. Stay in touch. Drop me a line, or a facebook post.

Benner OUT (tee hee)