Mumbai to Goa

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Mumbai to Goa

We took the “easy” route! We chose to fly from Mumbai to Goa. One of our hopes in traveling to India with Ethan is to ease him in slowly to the joy and intensity of India. So rather than taking the 12 hour train from Mumbai to Goa which would undoubtedly put us in the heart and pulse of the country right away we flew above the clouds and back down through them into the rain of Goa.

We have chosen to travel to Goa to practice yoga with our teacher Rolf Naujokat and his wife Marci. Some 8 years ago Tam and I were traveling round the world from California toward India via Thailand. First studying Thai massage in Chiang Mai in the North of Thailand and after talking with new friends we mentioned that we were on our way to India to practice Ashtanga Yoga with Sri K Pattabhi Jois in Mysore. Being new to the  Ashtanga yoga method our friend had recommended us to go and practice Ashtanga with an accomplished yogi named Rolf in Kho Phangan a small island in South Thailand. We thought we could extend our trip slightly to visit Rolf and we were accepted warmly to practice with him. We planned on staying 1 week and stayed 3…

Our eyes were blown wide open! We will never forget walking up the hillside on a beaten path through the rainforest to the small bungalow on stilts perched perfectly on the Thai hillside. As we got closer we could hear the resonate sound of the deep breathing inherent to the Ashtanga practice. We could also hear the bass like thumps on the floor resulting from practitioners landing from their jumps and vinyasas. We were a bit nervous. We felt a long way from home and wondered if we were ready for practice on this level. We climbed up the stairs and saw all these advanced students whom have travelled from around the globe practicing postures we never imagined possible. We both looked at each other and without saying anything agreed we had made the right move. At that point Rolf greeted us and allowed us to practice side by side since we were still memorizing the routine of Primary Series. The three weeks that we had with Rolf were life changing. His kindness and patience just really stuck us for which we were always grateful . This was our first experience practicing Mysore method of Ashtanga and we became totally hooked. There is such a beautiful blend of discipline and personal attentiveness inherent in this method that we felt completely drawn to. Leaving Rolf in that idyllic setting was difficult yet it paved the way beautifully for our experience to come in Mysore.

The yoga practice itself engages the physical and yet enables us an opportunity to come into contact with our authentic nature. Sometimes people are curious as to why one would travel so far to practice yoga. There is so much more to the yoga practice and sometimes it requires being in the presence of an accomplished teacher to allow these shifts of awareness to take place.

India is that place…

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Miami to Mumbai

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After about 20 hours of travel we made it to Mumbai via London. Ethan was a trooper and managed to sneak a couple of winks while navigating the airport in Mumbai. We have a 5 hour layover here from 12:00am to 5:45am and then just a 1 hour flight to Goa and then about an hour by car to Candolim Beach. The thought of being able to lay down and sleep sounds so good right now. All our bags made it but one which happened to be my surfboard. They said they would bring it to us in Goa tomorrow. This I will love to see!! The check point opened and we are on our way.

Todd & Tamara McLaughlin www.nativeyogacenter.com

News from Children Walking Tall in India

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Thank you so much to everyone who has donated children’s clothes in the past few weeks.  In about three weeks we will be traveling to Goa, India and we will be able to bring 100lbs of clothing to Children Walking Tall for underprivileged children. You can also donate through our donation page at Virgin Money Giving/ Native Yoga.

We received and email from the director at Children Walking Tall.  Below I have copied her note to help you understand the mission that they are involved in and which we can all participate.

“Hi Todd and Tamara,

We were really thrilled to see that you had decided to fundraise for Children Walking Tall – its really very kind of you. Almost all of our funding comes from Fundraising and Donations so you can be sure that your efforts will make a difference to children’s lives. We’re also poleased to see that you will visit Mango House shortly and so you will see the work on the ground first hand. I’ve copied Savita in to my email – she manages Mango House and I’m sure will look forward to your visit.

Although its the long school holidays in Goa Mango house has been really busy. As soon as school breaks up Savita is straight on with measuring up for 100s of uniforms and organising bags, stationery, shoes, rain gear etc etc. Its a really big undertaking. In a few weeks the new school year will be starting and we’re happy to report that many of the Morning School children will be going to full time school for the first time. We’re always really pleased to see them join – being able to start school is a tremendous achievement for the children. Its difficult enough for them to learn to concentrate etc but imagine going to school and being taught in a language you can’t understand. The start they get from having attended Morning School means they are well prepared to succeed and hopefully over the years will gain education and skills which will help them out of the poverty cycle.

Do let us know if you need anything from us. So that you are aware we do get a report every week (sometimes two weeks) that summarises all donations in the previous week. As people donate they get an automatic thank you from us via the Virgin site but we also send an individual thank you when we get the report from Virgin.

Thanks again
Jane”

All of your support is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Todd and Tamara

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Native Yoga TT Observations

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Native Yoga Teacher Training Observations

During the Native Yoga Teacher Training Program, a part of the program process is to complete observation forms. The observations are written after taking a class at NYC and can include any insights that the practitioner is having regarding their own practice and or around the subject of yoga. This process forms an integral part of learning to share yoga with others. One of the greatest skills of a yogi or yogini is the ability to observe clearly and process the information observed so as to be able to make decisions regarding the teaching of others. Below are some of these observations. Each submission is kept anonymous so as to keep it universal. This is not so much about glorifying the individual so much as a look at what yoga can be for those that chose to gaze into this vast arena.

“After an inspiring first weekend of the yoga teacher program I went into my practice with another understanding, or willingness to understand, an even deeper layer of what I am actually doing. I tried to consciously think about what my body was doing, how it was feeling, and where I was feeling it. I also tried to think about the meditative perspectives of the practice and the flow of the breath versus the movement. I had a great practice, and this newfound extra layer of awareness is something that I will try to incorporate in my practice and daily from now on. It certainly gives a new perspective of things.” ~Anonymous

“Really, these last couple of weeks have been so life transforming. It is funny how the pieces of the puzzle just all fall into place as they are supposed to. I think that is a little of what Tim Miller was talking about. Somehow life just happens the way it is supposed, for better or for worse. Not that you shouldn’t push for the better, as that is probably a part of the plan, but when things happen for the worse, that is probably a part of the plan also. Those things(for better or worse) aren’t what define you. They are just things that happen in your life. Maybe they make you happy, maybe sad, and you should not attach yourself to them. The real “enlightened” you is what you are looking for. I think I am search of my real internal peace!!” ~Anonymous

The next Native Yoga Teacher Training begins February 3rd, 2012. Visit

www.nativeyogacenter.com for more details about the training.

Interview with Greg Nardi and Native Yoga part 2

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NY: You had the opportunity to study with Shri K Pattabhi Jois(Guruji) in Mysore, India over several years.  Can you describe what it was like to practice in that environment and within the presence of a true yoga master such as Guruji?

GN:

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I started practicing with Guruji in 1999, and so I had the good fortune of practicing in the old shala in Laxmipuran where a maximum of 12 students could fit in the room at one time.  Sharath assisted him each morning, so there was much more attention given.  On my first trip, there were only 30 students at the shala.  We also used to have conference, or question and answer period with guruji, every day at 4 pm.  Things have changed a bit as the community has grown and now there are hundreds of students at once so they’ve had to move to a much bigger shala.  What always surprised me most was guruji’s authenticity and approachability.  His primary concern was for the yoga.  Despite a pretty large language barrier, he was always able to communicate what techniques and aspects of the system were indispensible, and exactly how we were to conduct ourselves.  He kept a very clear and focused classroom.  The effects were palpable because when you walked in the yoga room in mysore, you were walking into a meditative sacred space.  You could feel the effort, focus, and intention and it just carried you through your practice.  Achievements that seemed far off became accessible, doubts and procrastination melted away,  and you just became part of the energy that he created.