the yoga sutras of travel: side note by Chris Loebsack

Good morning from Budapest! For those of you that have been keeping up you are used to reading the Sutra line and then hearing my ramblings and thoughts on the matter as I travel. For those just tuning in, that will start again so you know what you will be getting. Today I have to take a bit of a detour from the format to bring it back on track.

I have done a pretty horrific job of blogging on this particular journey. Each day I sit down to write and I do. Pages and pages of thoughts. The problem is I have been in a particularly tender emotional space that is both raw and beautiful. I am swirling about in the sea of vast internal growth and riding the magnificent waves of emotional exploration. I am not shy about sharing publicly when I belive that sharing will be of use of that the story is unique. In the last two weeks I have decided to sit with my thoughts rather than exercise my mental gymnastics publically. It has been good to keep my attentions more internal and is stiring some wildly wonderful parts of the creative process. More to come soon....

What I can share at the moment is some updates and highlights from the last few weeks. This trip began with some tight turnaround with our New studio space getting ready to open, the sale of 2 rental properties and the death of Brian's Brother Derek (My brother-in-law). Getting on a plane to head to New Zealand I was feeling nervous with so much work left behind unfinished. From the very start of this trip it has been an exercise in trust and letting go. I am filled with grattitude beyond belief for all those tht stepped forward to make this continued journey possible for me. It is because of family, friends, community and a very loving husband that I can do all of the things her now and ahead of me. I am learning to lean into the support around me and get comfortable with the scary word in my life, VULNERABILIY. I will admit it outloud that I can not do it all alone. I am no superhero that can withstan the pressures of the everyday and what looks like all glam and glitz in the momentary shots of a facebook page are possible because of the beautiful people I am surrounded with who so deeply believe in me and help me at every turn to step into my personal drive and feminine power. 

Stop #1: Auckland, New Zealand
May 7th-May14th

I arrived in the land of the Kiwis on my 43rd Birthday. Greated by my sweet friend Tash, she wisked me off to a little spa date. There is no better way to exit 18 hours of flight time that to get a fabulous hot stone massage.  I stayed with Tash and her husband Sam at her mother's little farm on the outsirts of Auckland. Due to the time difference I was often up before the rooster and got a kick out of surprising him in the mornings. 
The event here was a 5 day AcroYoga Lunar Immersion (therapeutic flights and thia massage) held at Raw Yoga run by fellow AY teachers Carolyn Russel and Nicole Moyes. If you have never experienced an immersion all I can say about this one is that the nature of the work done in such closeness in time duration and physical proximity leads to close bonds and cultivates and instant container for compassionate exploration. Through the art of sacred touch and deep support of one another you cannot help but feel moved and crack open any guarded heart space. We laughed and shared joy with love and respect for everyone there. Truly an amazing group of humans to be present with. 
















Stop # 2: Sydney, Australia
May 14th-May 23rd

Oh OZ, you are a special place. This was my second time here. I am always amazed by the wildlife. Especially the birds and there prehistoric cackels and calls. The nature of Australia and the people here is much more edgy and at the same time very sensitive and delicate under the tough and tumble first glance at its exterior. 

The event here was a 5 day AcroYoga Solar Immersion. Full on acrobatic training for 6 hours a day. One of the beautiful parts of this event for me was coming into it having just experienced the Lunar side and having eight students at the solar that were also at the Lunar. This translated into so much softness, trust and full on excellent communication that it allowed the whole group to sink into eachother right away in ways that genrally take groups a few additional days to begin the process of trusting and learning to ask for what they need in compassionate ways. Teaching with my friend Kadri Kurgan made it extra special as he is both a strong Acrobat and a full on open hearted kind man. When you have such a balance of the strong and the soft anything is possible.  (Photos Below)

Travel Time: Bangkok (9 hours from Sydney with a 7.5 hour layover)
May 23/24

Didn't get to explore any of Thailand. I spent the time in the heat of the airport catching up on Business and answering emails before crashing on a set of chairs for a few hours of sleep before the next flight out to Vienna (8.5hrs)

Stop # 3 Vienna
May 24-25

One night in Vienna since it was much cheaper than flying into Budapest. Brian and I had a delightful reunion. A simple walk, a good meal and a full nights sleep. We had every intention of big plans here, but jet lag had laid out a different path for us.  Don't be jealous of our party on nature.

Stop #4 Budapest
May-25 and still going

It is lovely to be in a space of my heritage. My great grandmother came over from Hungry when she was 16 and I only had her influence and stories to off of until now. I never really thought much about having a strong cultural identity since I had so many different spheres of influence growing up. Apparently being Hungarian has sat with me deeper that I could've imagined and being here in many ways feels like I have come home. The architecture and the instant feel of old history is somehow very comforting. Brian and I will be exploring over the next few days. 

---