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Beautiful Places Beautiful Rituals Healthy Living Yoga

I & The Village by Marc Chagall

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Just wanted to thank you for caring for yourself enough by choosing to show up to my class this year – I know that sometimes you don’t always get that Ahhhhh-moment throughout due to my penchant for trying out new music or changing or not changing something, or maybe not enough props or volume not being quite right or being too cold or hot (let me know) … any hosts of reasons BUT please know that consistent practice in a group setting complements all other styles of yoga and exercise to enhance our mind-body wellness. With that faith, allowing me to be your guide this year – it’s been an honor. Any loyal student who has come to my class more than just few times – thank you for going with the flow of perfect imperfections – a true teachings of Zen, I say with sense of humor intact – Arigato:)

Oh, by the way,I want to appeal to you that my classes are weekly “regular” classes; NOT a workshop. Thus, please do not compare my classes to a special 2-3 hours long workshops. Still hoping it serves as a mini-retreat and a respite. While some things are permanent and stays the same, more “regular” students may prefer an occasional change in the playlist offering or the sequence reflecting the season or the natural cycles. Otherwise, let’s be honest, it can get boring or stale and more unconscious auto-pilot. True, in Bikram or in Ashtanga, there’s no sounds/music and it’s the same blueprint repeatedly – but YOU are different each time you are on the mat – you are the unique one, noticing your own differences relative to the sameness of the practice – So if you come once then come again, the first class may seem a little different the second time or it may be virtually identical – so kindly keep those things in mind. Again – It’s not a workshop and … I am trying to work with the Feng Shui of the particular place (including the speaker system).
Irritations may come up; annoyance and anxieties may come up:

breath in – ” …you…”:
Breath out – “…decide… ”

to have an

Open-mind,
Open-heart,
Open – expansive – spacious … serenity does not come because there’s no noise – because it’s so quiet. Inner calm is not derived because there’s no distractions or disturbances. In fact, there may be toxins brewing and chaos erupting in the most silent monastic retreat – if your innermost is not at peace. On the contrary, a real sense of serenity and peace may overtake you even if you were in the noisiest, loudest, even a scariest place – You are empowered to change your internal landscape – that’s the practice. That’s the intention.

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Anything Cute Beautiful People Beautiful Places

Dogs = Quality of Life @ Google:)

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A Cafe at Googleplex named after their excecutive, Urs Hölzle’s dog, “Yoshka”, Google’s “first dog”. I thought it was “Yoshika” which would be a Japanese name and thus a Japanese restaurant – how wrong I was! Not much better than the Q&A session that followed:

Q. So who founded Google?

Many hands shoot up in enthusiasm. Bright eyed, they begged to be called on since, of course, they’ve got the right answer.

A. Steve Jobs!

Shouted a 12 year old with exuberant confidence of a …twelve-year old.

Q. Another try? Anyone?

Now Fewer hands go up.

A. Bill Gates !

NO ~ C’mon ! A crowd of middle school students bursts into laughter …some rolling on the lawn picnic style as we watch google employees on bicycles and pedal motored cycles with several aboard where apparently they hold staff meetings (as they pedal:)… it does resemble campuses of higher learning as the founders envisioned their corporate headquarter to look and feel like. Indeed, its a “campus”!

Q. Anyone?

Still fewer hands go up…

Okay so, Larry Page and Sergey Brin are the founders of Google. Urs Holzle was their 8th employee. Fascinating history of a very young company that changed the world. Interesting how we use google everyday but little do we know about this company. At least I didn’t until this visit.

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An escalator where a rainbow colored staircase keeps moving with names and words… representing the MOST SEARCHED words and names on google the last month…
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Embarrassed to admit I was most impressed with the fact that they have 35 cafes on their “campus” to service the 35,000 Silicon Valley employees out of 50,000 worldwide employees. Woof, woof !

Categories
Beautiful Places Healthy Living

To the Beach…

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sm_IMG_9987_01A dog running with an “I captured it!” expression. Owners running after him to get the red frisbee but he would not let go of it. Tugs and pulls but no matter what, this doggie is not about to give up the frisbee. Jaws in tight grips so intent on not letting go. Fun awaits if you let go, dear doggie – you can fetch again like this other cousin of yours – this dog fetches the stick floating in the waves and brings it right back to the owner, drops the stick by their foot, looks up with that longing look – begging – please, oh, please throw it again!!! He seems to be saying. Then the game starts again – fetching over and over and over …again and again. A fun game to play over and over …and … over if you let go of the grips on the red frisbee. Let the frisbee fly through the ocean breeze kissed air! Go after it again – it’s more fun that way! Let the red frisbee fly – you can get it back again. It won’t be lost; you can regain it – Release your tight jaws – Trust me on this. Let it go.

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Danger? Still… I want to come on this pilgrimage every week. It’s beautiful here.