Ultimate Professional Satisfaction

This is a group after my own heart. We were scheduled to have a 2 hour break in the morning after practice, and an hour break in the afternoon. Before the training began, Noura and I decided to shorten the morning break to 1.5 hours. The students said, "Can we shorten the morning break to 1 hour, and do we really need a whole hour off in the afternoon?" Ok, to be fair, many of them are stealing time away from their children and husbands/responsibilities, and so ending early is on their mind. But they are completely and totally engaged in the topic at hand. It's been 3 days. We've spent the better part of 30 hours together, and I couldn't have imagined it going better. I think that, because we have less cumulative time together, they need to crack and pop sooner. Three students have already had realizations or experiences profound enough that they shed some tears. We're already one day ahead of the syllabus, which truthfully was just a guess anyway, since I've never taught my training program in a condensed, intense format. I'm seeing precious little of Dubai, but feel so totally content and satisfied with the professional aspect, it's almost irrelevant where I am.

After 'work' today, one of the students drove me to Dubai Mall. It's the largest mall in the world, next to the largest tower in the world. He drove me around a few areas to see the 'downtown area,' and the skyline view from different vantage points. There is a huge fountain around the mall, almost a lake, which offers a show set to music every half hour after sunset. The first show I didn't get to see, but was choreographed to some throbbing Arabian music. The one I witnessed was set to some operatic aria ... the fountain streams would rise up, shimmy to the side, slowly trickle down. It was truly like a ballet. I took some photos, but I'm not sure they communicate so much.

In my next post I'll start to write about interesting things about this country. In the meantime, it is way past my bed time. Over!

Less Lag ...

So this morning I slept until 3:30 am! I tried to go back to sleep, but it was futile. Seized the opportunity to give feedback to hOMework submitted by my lovely TTs in Philadelphia.

Noura, the woman who arranged the training here in Dubai, decided that she is unable to participate in the training. She's super, uber busy with setting up her business here; this woman is a powerhouse! So she hired a driver for me, named Raju. This morning I came downstairs early to wait for him. The sun was just beginning to peek out from under its sheets, and I saw a man standing a bit in the distance. I had met Raju the night before, but didn't expect to know the man off in the distance, so I didn't look too closely. After about 10 minutes my phone rang, with Raju hearing the bell as he called to tell me he was here. I've never had a driver before (and it's not the limo I requested!).

TT is really going well. I can't believe it's only been 2 days. We're like old comrades by now. It's a great group, and they're willing to really dive in, confront resistance and absorb all they can. They were being so specific and precise about language choices for their Lunging Surya Namaskara scripts, that I need to re-evaluate some word choices that I thought were sound. Nothing like sharing my 'tried and true' method with new students only to learn that they interpreted my instructions totally differently. It's good to see the things I take for granted, and see what I can polish.

Hoped to take a pranayama class at 5 pm, but my nose is still too stuffy to breathe. Hopefully by Wednesday's class I'll be able to inhale and exhale through both nostrils! I did sit in the steam room for a good half hour or so, which was sublime.

I haven't really had a day off yet, so haven't been able to get out and explore. Hoping to do some of that later this week. In the meantime, I'm just trying to stay awake until at least 8:30 pm tonight so that I can sleep through the night. Wish me luck. I am so tired of being consumed by tiredness! Need to break the cycle ...

Sunset on the beach

TT Day One

Balance Well Being Spa is where the Teacher Training is being held.

http://www.balance-wellness-centre.com/spa/about.html It's on the top floor of a mall called the Oasis Center. Malls are big deals here, almost like tourist attractions. This venue is just amazing. It smells divine. Our room is named "air," and it's next to Earth and Water. The women's locker room has a steam room and a sauna, with crushed ice falling from the sky gathering in a bowl so you can rub your skin to close the pores after steaming them open. There is a water wall edging along the hallway, and tucked inside each locker is a bathrobe and towel. It's sublime! They have 21 treatment rooms and offer ayurvedic massages, consultations ... even shirodhara! One of the treatments is called "Chakra Balance" involving essential oils, massage, crystals and a facial, plus shirodhara. Haven't booked it yet ... but they're offering a 15% discount ...

Our first day of Teacher Training was a spectacular success! The students seem to be integrating the information and making connections right away. Perhaps the condensed format requires their synapses to fire more quickly. There are 13 students, with just one man. Funny, this is the exact number/configuration of the training that's going on right now at Wake Up Yoga! This is quite an International group, with representatives from the Netherlands, India, Pakistan, France, England, Ireland, USA, Tanzania, South Africa, Brazil, and Jordan. If I'm forgetting anyone I'll include them later. We started today with a very basic vinyasa yoga class, which they all seemed to enjoy. We learned 4 poses, 3 Teaching Methodologies, and identified the contents of the Opening Vinyasa. Whew! Of course, they are feeling overwhelmed, but also quite inspired. It's really a wonderful, receptive group.

Noura took me to see the beach today at sunset, which was quite spectacular. A handstand shifted my energy for at least an hour, and I got to dip my toes in the water. We ate rice, tahini, grilled eggplant, a green bean hummous-like spread and a salad at an Egyptian restaurant, and then she drove me home. I was practically losing consciousness in the car. Waking up for the day at 12:30 am makes for difficult small talk!

Hopefully this is the end of my jet lag and tomorrow I'll be back in fine form. Sweet Dreams!

Jet Lag ... always worse the second day

I'm writing this as I wait for the water heater to kick in (it needs to be turned on before showering, as does the heater for the dishwasher, and even the stove), while drinking hot lemon water waiting on my French Press to brew up some strong coffee. I went to bed at 9:30, and slept restlessly until 12:30 am. I've pretty much been awake since then, resting in bed. Today is the first official day of Teacher Training, and we meet from 7 am - 5 pm, with a few breaks in between. I'm still struggling with this cold, and may take some Advil Cold & Sinus to help me manage. That stuff leaves me feeling strung out and wired, but at least awake. We'll see.

Dinner last night was great. Many of the students gathered, along with Sabrina, the woman who manages the venue where the training will take place, along with the boyfriend's of Noura and Sabrina. Two men in a group of women often look a little scared, but they handled it well.

We ate at a restaurant that overlooked a marina. Lovely food, nice company, and a great view. I forgot my camera, which I'm hoping is the last time I do that.

This group of students is really wonderful, and from all around the world. Nicole is from South Africa, Ynske is from the Netherlands (but came to Dubai after living in Houston, TX), Kristy lives in Abu Dhabi and comes from Northern California (originally from Central Jersey!), Claire is from France, Zhara is from Pakistan and Luciana is from Brazil. I just love it! Yoga clearly is for EVERY BODY.

First Day in a New Land

Sleeping in today meant that my eyes opened at around 7:30 local time. Not bad for getting over jet lag. Dubai is 9 hours ahead of the East Coast, USA.

Practicing Yin Yoga really does help re-set an internal clock. Sarah Powers suggested this in the first yin class I ever took. Maybe it's simply the power of suggestion, but my energy feels pretty even. I'm not bursting at the seams, or anything, but my eyes are open and I seem to be functioning pretty well.

Noura collected me at around 2 pm for a walk around the Greens so I could acquaint myself with the neighborhood and pick up some groceries. I just love grocery stores in foreign countries. Some of the fruits looked AMAZING ... I can't wait to try them. She convinced me to pick up a tiny French Press coffee maker and a pound of freshly ground coffee. I was grateful for the instant coffee that was here in the apartment today, but tomorrow begins Yoga Teacher Training at 7 am, so something more robust will come in handy.

Tonight many of the students enrolled in the program are meeting at a casual Lebanese restaurant to get acquainted. I'm looking forward to expanding out a bit to see more of this city. I haven't caught a glimpse of the ocean yet, but there is a vast expanse of sand and dunes right across from my apartment.

It's just amazing that this little pocket of liberal attitudes exists in the Middle East. Women are wearing shorts and short skirts, plenty of skin revealed. I did laugh that the cab we took from the airport last night was among the women drivers ... they wore pink head scarves, and the cabs were pink!

I hope to find the necessary cable to hook my camera up to the computer so I can post photographs. Until then, I'll just have to use my words.

Traveling to Dubai

Whew! I made it. Flight from Philadelphia to Atlanta was a breeze, except it was too full for my roller-bag carry on. Had to check that all the way through to Dubai. I wasn't thrilled about this, but it meant that my journey through the Atlanta airport was less cumbersome. And since I volunteered to check my extra bag (somewhat begrudgingly but trying to honor Asteya and not be stingy) one of the Delta Representatives handed me a small stack of Delta drink tickets. They may come in handy on my return flight.

‎Noura El-Imam had asked me to pick up a bottle of Amaretto, but the duty-free shop in Atlanta didn't carry it. Because I didn't want to be empty-handed for my host, I picked up a bottle of Cointreau and a bottle of Patron's Coffee Liquor, figuring she could have whichever she preferred, and I would sip on the other one over the course of the next 3 weeks.

While sitting at an airport cafe in Atlanta waiting for my connecting flight and sipping on a Blue Moon draft, the woman at the table next to me easily struck up a conversation. Within 20 minutes I knew the names of her children, children-in-law, and grandchildren. We discussed how her long-time boyfriend begrudges her leaving him to spend time with her family, and she told me that I looked like I belong in Paris (which is just about the best compliment anyone can give me). We hugged when we left and I thought, "I just love the South! People are so friendly!"

I had a middle seat for the direct flight from Atlanta to Dubai, seated between 2 lovely gentlemen who had both been to Dubai before. The one to my right works as an Army contractor, and has to stealthily travel throughout the Middle East as a mechanic for surveillance equipment (yes, he has a full security clearance). The guy to my left was born in Dubai ... or maybe it was the larger United Arab Emirates, and now lives in a small town in Kansas. The contrast between the two places seems surreal. We all shared some laughs, which makes a 14 hour flight less awkward.

Thanks to Stephanie M. Rodigas' stellar advice, I had called Delta early in the am to request a vegetarian meal, which they promptly served as soon as the fasten seatbelts sign was off. I fell asleep immediately. Sadly, that was just a short nap. Fourteen hours (well, we made good time, so it was just 13 1/2) is no joke. Seriously. There's nothing funny about it. The entertainment was good, and flying at night helps. Listening to ambient music was at least soothing, but sheeeeesh! (said in loving memory of Dear Old Jay Pratt).

After we finally landed, I learned that there is a duty-free shop as you exit the airport. This is the only place (I think) that you can buy alcohol for home consumption ... or at least it's a whole lot cheaper. So I picked up the requested bottle of Amaretto, thinking that I would probably sip on some of the Cointreau and Coffee Liquor, and leave behind whatever I didn't finish. However, it turns out that Noura's boyfriend Dominic LOVES Cointreau, and she almost asked me to pick that up, too. Of all the choices I could have made, seriously. Kizmet. We are off to a very good start!