Each AcroYoga immersion you enter has a similar feel. There is a wonderful anticipation and welcoming of new people, places and spaces. Each Immersion with its very unique blend of individuals also seems to take on its distinctive community signature or vibe that is unlike the pulse of any other immersion you have participated in. It is a co-created adventure between students and teachers, individuals and small groups. 

During the final day (5) of the Nelson Elemental Immersion, we had collectively discovered that the topic of consciously choosing your path had surfaced repeatedly among the various groups. Several of the participants were moving toward powerful life shifts just before, during, or immediately after this event. Changing jobs, schools, moving, having children, and many other life altering situations were bringing about a level of excitement coupled with the perfectly normal amount of uncertainty. We continues to work throughout the week to find personal clarity in all that we were doing while actively trying to let go. 

According to Ayurveda (the sister science of yoga, or life science) the constituents of nature (the gunas) are either Sattva (Pure) or leaning toward one of the extremes;   Tamas (heavy, dull, lethargic) or Rajas (stimulating, action, mutation). it is human nature to dip towards the sides, but the aim is to ease ourselves towards the middle where we are light in thought, word and deed. This middle state brings us closer to finding our True Self. 

The true self is always there, but like Waldo, it can be difficult to locate. We distract ourselves by assuming we are the temporary thought or action rather than understanding that we are the constant that is simply experiencing the thought or the action. When we take ourselves to be these impermanent cloaks when can settle into a path that might be the most skillful way to illuminate our path. Many of us will create our own roadblocks and barriers to our own happiness by never really looking at who we really are or what we are wanting from this life. It is scary to ask such questions when we know that often it will lead us in a potentially different direction from where we are and change is often a frightening concept. In reality it is usually our massive personally created mental  dance around our excuses not to step towards our ultimate happiness that causes more pain than the actual shift itself. We must be willing to release all to gain even more. 

I have currently transitioned to Sydney, AU where I am having a heartfelt reunion with my acro-sisters Stefanie Glasenapp and Julia Weis. It has been several years since our last reunion. We are so grateful for this opportunity to reconnect.

On our way to Wellington, just before B heads back to the states and I head to Sydney, our ferry was canceled so we had a joyful little ride in a very tiny plane. The cows wished us well on our journey.

Brian will be almost home after almost 36 hours of constant travel (Picton to Nelson to Wellington to Auckland to LA to NYC, bus to Delaware Water Gap and a cab ride home) by the time I get this posted. 

Welcome to Middle Earth. That is the sign that greets you at the Wellington Airport. Hobbits and all things, lord of the rings, have been embraced in this part of the South Island. The larger than life representations of the characters were really quite impressive, but nothing captivates you like the views of the pristine scenery where you walk out side. The further South you roam, the higher and more rolling the mountains get; the more expansive the water appears; and more entranced you become with the natural state of beauty that exists almost untouched. 

Each new view or small town has me somewhat distracted. I try to settle my eyes on one section when another whips into my line of sight and pulls me completely in another direction. I think I have given Brian quite a few laughs with my short attention span.  I work to steady my mind and find a little bit of one pointed focus so the experience can become more of a moving meditation. I have moments that are really solid and then my inner child takes over and my mind and attention act like they are rolling down one of those crazy high mountains.  It calls for all of my consistent attention to stay steady in my intake process. 

The last two days have been pure travel mode. I don't think I have ever transferred to so many modes of transport one after another. We left Devon port by Ferry and Caught a bus in Auckland to the Airport where the plane took us as far as Wellington before catching a bus to the next three hour Ferry to Picton. We have to stay the night in Picton because there is only one bus a day from Picton to Nelson so we are stuck until the next morning. At each phase I was told there would be internet. This was only partly true, many places ha signs for internet, but the signals were so weak I could not connect. This was actually fine. I had a moment of panic about getting behind on some work, including the blog, but I realized quickly it was a blessing to stop and really allow myself to slow down and once again become the observer.  The last leg of the journey I had finally settled in to a spot where I was able to appreciate each section of view and spend a bit more time with it before passing onto the next point. 

B and I are now at The Life Centre in Nelson. The space used to be an old church that was turned into a school and has now been converted into a Yoga Centre run by Brian Brown. The space is very large and you can see all of the personal touches that Brian has put into the space. The owner has done most of the work himself, so you can really see the love that has been built into this place. 

Tonight all of our colleagues have arrived and we are preparing for round two of AcroYoga goodness. AY JAmbassadors Trevor Gribble and Amanda Farrell have been helping to build community here and I am super excited to spend the week with them. I met Trevor back in 2012 in NYC. It is another story for another time, but I am always fascinated by the people we meet in seemingly random ways that cross over in your life again and again. Happy that Amanda and Trevor are some of those people. 

Now that I am stationed for the next 5 days at The Life Centre. I will have full access again to my computer and will keep you up to date with the next Sutra and AY Immersion photos and celebrations. 

I certainly will be working towards finding a steady place in my wild mind. It is a continued practice and the most important part of my yoga.