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)

The Greatest Gift You Can Give is the Gift of Health

Teacher Training is in full gear.

We are beginning each day at 7 am with a vinyasa yoga practice, so they can experience the poses we work on later in the day in an embodied and flowing way . It seems like every other day the energy shifts. The first day, there was excitement and energy, the second day they were droopy. The third day, bright again; today not so enthusiastic. Of course, I'm 'in it' with them, so I'm working hard to be certain that I'm not projecting my energy level on to them. For my yoga teacher training friends, we've moved into an exploration of the Virasana family, and so today's practice involved Parsvottanasana, Parvrtta Trikonasana, Natarajasana. We don't have a great selection of props: a few zabatons (meditation cushions) and plenty of bath towels, so we've had to improvise the support for virasana and revolved triangle.

Today they practiced teaching Lunging Surya Namaskara(s), too reluctant to give up their scripts. There was plenty of laughter in the room as they split off into 4 groups, and they seemed quite energized by the challenge. Today they also collectively realized HOW HARD it is to teach yoga! Anything done well looks easy. Now they know how high the bar has been set. I have full faith that each one of them can realize this goal, as long as they are willing to work hard.

After work I took a "pranayama (yoga breathing techniques) and meditation" class. The teacher told me he was a Doctor in the South of India, and now is living in Dubai teaching yoga. He said the greatest gift you can give anyone is the gift of health and vitality. I love looking at the 'job' of teaching yoga as that: the opportunity to give health and vitality. I was the only student for this one-hour class, and he seemed really happy that I was there. He said he's been to my website, and I think he may want to come to Wake Up Yoga to give Ayurvedic consultations and workshops on pranayama and meditation. He ended up leading me through about 75 minutes of pranayama, offered in a very different method than I'd ever experienced before, and then a guided savasana (relaxation). He talked me through relaxing different parts of my body, and before we even left the right leg, I was 'gone, daddy, gone.' I drifted to that really sweet place that's not connected to form and enjoyed that journey. Since I am so fired up to be doing what I'm doing here, I'm not really in touch with how much energy it consumes commandeering this training. It was quite refreshing to let go for a short while. Happily, I sneaked back into my body just as he was telling me to wiggle my fingers and toes, and I don't think I snored at all! He wanted to lead me into meditation at this point, but Raju was downstairs waiting for me. I promised the teacher ... whose name is Panda, that I would practice with him again, and I yawned the entire ride home.

I found a camera cable! PHOTOS1

Here's the water fountain 'dance,' or show. This is butterflies suspended from the ceiling at the Dubai Mall. Next are pictures of my apartment. Oh, and a self-portrait with some of the Dubai skyscrapers behind me.