After a lot of processing, I have decided to keep most of what I learned about myself while doing yoga in Hawaii to myself so as not to “end” the growth by tying it up in a little bow and presenting it in words. What I will say is that I had a fantastic time, learned a lot about myself & about yoga and happily gobbled up the amazing and healthy food they cooked (3 square meals per day, which is something I never have). I did this while listening to the frogs sing loudly and proudly ~ the little dreamers who shout their desires out into the night enthusiastically. While there were several warm rainstorms, there was enough sun to feel like I was actually on a Hawaiian island, although I never made it onto a beach. (This was surprisingly ok with me and I kept busy on land).

I did, however, sit by the pool, where clothing was *optional*. Personally I chose option B: to wear my bikini, while doing my best to act nonchalant whenever anybody who chose option A walked by. (Kirsten, you would have died). And then I would pretend later that I hadn’t seen that person naked when I met them again doing yoga in their clothes. This was a very new experience for me and while I consider myself to be fairly progressive and liberal, I can say for sure that I will never sunbathe in the nude, unless I am deserted on an island by myself and my bikini is lost at sea. It’s not that I am offended by nudity: if you’re up for it, go for it! I was less uncomfortable that these other people were nude and more uncomfortable that I seemed to be in the clothed minority.

On the morning of my departure I rose at 5am to go to the edge of the island where the active volcanic lava pours into the ocean. We woke up early in hopes of catching this awesome sight in the dark, but we unfortunately got lost and didn’t make it there until sunrise. Luckily this was still a once in a lifetime sight. It was impressive to watch the red hot liquid of our earth pouring into the powerful waves of the ocean. I’ve included my photos of the whole trip right here, most of which are from this excursion…

I am so glad I gave myself the gift of this vacation and I hope to get the chance to experience more Forrest yoga in the year to come. I have narrowed it down to two different kinds of yoga training that I am interested in doing: Forrest & Anusara. Both of these styles inspire me in exciting ways and now the choice is which one to do first…I’ve set my goal to be teaching yoga by November 2009!

And I leave you here with this quote that I found at work the other day which seemed to beautifully and simply describe what I learned in Hawaii…

“Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”
~Chinese Proverb

NAMASTE.
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