There are no words to express what an amazing, powerful experience it has been to receive from Sherifka’s teachings while attending this kalari workshop. His wisdom in various facets of the human experience leaves me awed and inspired.
I feel very blessed to be receiving kalari massage treatments from Sherifka while here. The treatments are to continue the healing process in my sacrum. They are done with specific oils in specific places; for me they have consisted of both hand massage and manipulation techniques. Through a few snaps, crackles, and pops, my body feels like it has returned to a more balanced state. It amazes me how Sherifka knows the exact points to be adjusted before he touches my body.
Today I began wearing a kacha (long fabric) tied around my hip area to keep everything more tight and supported while practicing. It made a world of difference. Though having this slightly restricts my range of motion, the feeling of being strong and stable in this area is amazing.
I am very grateful for my teachers, providing me the opportunity to grow in my practice, heal my body, and continually open my eyes to the depths of the kalari practice.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Riga (Latvia)
Well, it's official, we're training like Latvians in India. Let me explain: The latvians have a reputation in the kalari for being like machines, no matter what they're given, they do it and more and more and more. Aubri and I were a bit worried about this, but we figured that Sherifka would slow them down, and yesterday's 25 minute practice gave us hope...but then today.
All I can say is, in the words of the great Axel Rose (Guns n Roses) "Welcome to the Jungle". Those of you who practice Kalari might appreciate this. After warm-ups & kicks we did two salutation forms, 1st Shiva form twice, Shiva 2 form once, 1st Shakti form twice, THEN, we moved on to long stick before finishing. For those of you who haven't practiced Kalari, it's like a freakin' triathalon! Needless to say, I could barely make it to the shower & breakfast, but since we're on Indian training schedule, there is no rest until after lunch (although I may have cheated just a little...Aubri too).
A wonderful walk in the forest really evoked the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. It is so lush and beatiful! Berries and mushrooms, frogs, birds and all manner of bug & creature there. After the morning, it all felt like a dream.
For the 4pm practice, we were told it would be easier, but I remembered from India that this was a load of crap fed to us so we actually show up for practice, and I was right. Our 'easy' practice constsisted of more warm-ups, salutation form, 1st shiva, Shakti forms 1-4 (thats right 1,2,3 &4 done straight through), Southern salutation, then, Merry Christmas... more long stick! HOLY COW!
After dinner, Sherifka gave a lecture in the form of question and answer, and once again, I was humbled and so grateful to have stumbled on to this path. I was moved to tears. Everything so big, and so simple.
If this is the 1st day, I am truly afraid for what happens tomorrow & the next day. But you wanna know what? I LOVE IT!!!!
All I can say is, in the words of the great Axel Rose (Guns n Roses) "Welcome to the Jungle". Those of you who practice Kalari might appreciate this. After warm-ups & kicks we did two salutation forms, 1st Shiva form twice, Shiva 2 form once, 1st Shakti form twice, THEN, we moved on to long stick before finishing. For those of you who haven't practiced Kalari, it's like a freakin' triathalon! Needless to say, I could barely make it to the shower & breakfast, but since we're on Indian training schedule, there is no rest until after lunch (although I may have cheated just a little...Aubri too).
A wonderful walk in the forest really evoked the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. It is so lush and beatiful! Berries and mushrooms, frogs, birds and all manner of bug & creature there. After the morning, it all felt like a dream.
For the 4pm practice, we were told it would be easier, but I remembered from India that this was a load of crap fed to us so we actually show up for practice, and I was right. Our 'easy' practice constsisted of more warm-ups, salutation form, 1st shiva, Shakti forms 1-4 (thats right 1,2,3 &4 done straight through), Southern salutation, then, Merry Christmas... more long stick! HOLY COW!
After dinner, Sherifka gave a lecture in the form of question and answer, and once again, I was humbled and so grateful to have stumbled on to this path. I was moved to tears. Everything so big, and so simple.
If this is the 1st day, I am truly afraid for what happens tomorrow & the next day. But you wanna know what? I LOVE IT!!!!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Hamburg
Aubri & met in the airport in Boston & with that, we were off! A quick stop in Paris, and finally arriving in Hamburg at 9am. Sleepy, but glad to have finally arrived, we were met by Gerhard, who took us for a bite to eat, gave us some blankets & pillows & dropped us at his beautiful studio, Sutra to rest until later.
After a long nap, we walked to the harbor & checked out this totally amazing elevator system for cars to travel from one side of the river to another. It was originally constructed fr horses and buggies, but has been adapted over the years to accomodate cars as well. I have to admit, my fear of heights was in full swing looking down, but what an amazing thing to behold!
Today, the "In the Flow" thing happened. Aubri and I have had a hard time finding places that have soy milk for tea, so when we saw a Starbucks, we stopped for hot tea with soy. Well, we sat down & instantly, Aubri locked eyes with the person sitting directly across from her. I wasn't really payng attention, but she started hitting me, totally speechless. It was SHERIFKA! Our Indian Gurukkal, and the whole purpose of this trip! I abolutely could not believe it, as he has been staying about 2 hours north of the city & we are meeting up with him early tomorrow morning.
It just goes to show, when you are truly in the flow, your family travels with you wherever you are.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Boston
Because of the last-minute trip to Quebec, I had to do a bit of shuffling of flights for my long-planned trip to Riga, Latvia, where I will be attending a great gathering of most of the teachers in the lineage of Kalari to which I belong. Our Indian Gurukal, Sherifka will be leading workshops and teaching the teachers, and I am so looking forward to being there.
So in order to catch my regularly scheduled flight without traveling all the way back to SLC, I drove with Michael's Uncle Guntram & Aunt Edie, their daughter, Ari & her wife Tina- to their home in Boston, where I will meet up with Aubri on the plane to Paris, Hamburg and ultimately, Riga.
I remembered that one of my favorite friends, Roberto (who also travels with and assists my yoga teacher, Shiva Rea) lives in Boston, too. So a quick text & lo and behold, he was taching a class last night. With a quick tutorial on the workings of the Boston Ungerground from Edie, I was on my way.
Roberto was delightful as always, and his class was just what the Dr. ordered, after all the traveling, the buzz of the family gathering and a long car ride. The yoga class was such an affirmation, to realize that each time I step into practice, no matter where I am on the earth, I am home. After class, we shared some snacks & chat, then a luxury: Roberto drove me back to Guntram & Edies,another long and satisfying day complete.
This morning has been an affirmation in a different way. More along the lines of yoga 'off the mat'. Guntram is German Catholic & Edie is American Jewish. They are both activists & powerful advocates of humanity & the earth. Guntram is working on a ballot initiative to end the production of Nuclear weapons & get rid of the ones we have, Edie is a poet (among many other things) who is preparing for her reading this evening.
To watch their life rhythm, and hear Edie's poetry has been a lesson in living to the fullest, following passion and ideals, and loving. Although neither practices 'yoga', they live the principles of authenticity, expansion, seeing the divine in all, and service every day-although to ask them, they just do what they do. Inspiring.
So in order to catch my regularly scheduled flight without traveling all the way back to SLC, I drove with Michael's Uncle Guntram & Aunt Edie, their daughter, Ari & her wife Tina- to their home in Boston, where I will meet up with Aubri on the plane to Paris, Hamburg and ultimately, Riga.
I remembered that one of my favorite friends, Roberto (who also travels with and assists my yoga teacher, Shiva Rea) lives in Boston, too. So a quick text & lo and behold, he was taching a class last night. With a quick tutorial on the workings of the Boston Ungerground from Edie, I was on my way.
Roberto was delightful as always, and his class was just what the Dr. ordered, after all the traveling, the buzz of the family gathering and a long car ride. The yoga class was such an affirmation, to realize that each time I step into practice, no matter where I am on the earth, I am home. After class, we shared some snacks & chat, then a luxury: Roberto drove me back to Guntram & Edies,another long and satisfying day complete.
This morning has been an affirmation in a different way. More along the lines of yoga 'off the mat'. Guntram is German Catholic & Edie is American Jewish. They are both activists & powerful advocates of humanity & the earth. Guntram is working on a ballot initiative to end the production of Nuclear weapons & get rid of the ones we have, Edie is a poet (among many other things) who is preparing for her reading this evening.
To watch their life rhythm, and hear Edie's poetry has been a lesson in living to the fullest, following passion and ideals, and loving. Although neither practices 'yoga', they live the principles of authenticity, expansion, seeing the divine in all, and service every day-although to ask them, they just do what they do. Inspiring.
Prayer
by Edie Aronowitz Mueller
The Sinai sun
white-washes the sky,
bleaches the sand,
wraps you in such heat
you can finally breathe.
Eyes scrunched against the light
you learn to smell rain
days before a cloud
nuzzles the horizon.
Every bush burns
a name for God.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
On the Road Again
Labor Day Weekend.
I flew to Burlington, Vermont on Friday, where my (newly employed!) husband, Michael, and his father had driven across the border from Canada to pick me up for the annual Mueller family reuion at Sutton, Quebec. It was around midnight and I was tired, but very glad to see Michael, especially since his new job is in Toronto & we'll have a long-distance marriage for a while.
It is a great thing to be in these rolling lush mountains & feel the crisp air as the season begins to change. I can't help but take deep breaths and begin to integrate all the firey-ness of the summer. What a lesson in transformation it has been. From death, to illness, to shifts in my marriage, the studio and my home, the summer never let up its metaphorical heat. But with fall comes a sense of internal groundedness. I am beginning to feel the peace of that grounding , and for that, I am grateful.
As I begin the fall season, I am looking forward to assisting and hosting some fantastic workshops (in the U.S. and abroad...more on that later), to traveling and coming home. To meeting new students, teachers and friends and deepening connections with my current sangha.
For now, as we honor our working lives and take a break this Labor Day, I am drinking the air, feeling my feet in the grass, reading reading reading, and thinking of how lucky I am to be awake and alive.
The pond, Danielle, Andrew and the mountains.
I flew to Burlington, Vermont on Friday, where my (newly employed!) husband, Michael, and his father had driven across the border from Canada to pick me up for the annual Mueller family reuion at Sutton, Quebec. It was around midnight and I was tired, but very glad to see Michael, especially since his new job is in Toronto & we'll have a long-distance marriage for a while.
It is a great thing to be in these rolling lush mountains & feel the crisp air as the season begins to change. I can't help but take deep breaths and begin to integrate all the firey-ness of the summer. What a lesson in transformation it has been. From death, to illness, to shifts in my marriage, the studio and my home, the summer never let up its metaphorical heat. But with fall comes a sense of internal groundedness. I am beginning to feel the peace of that grounding , and for that, I am grateful.
As I begin the fall season, I am looking forward to assisting and hosting some fantastic workshops (in the U.S. and abroad...more on that later), to traveling and coming home. To meeting new students, teachers and friends and deepening connections with my current sangha.
For now, as we honor our working lives and take a break this Labor Day, I am drinking the air, feeling my feet in the grass, reading reading reading, and thinking of how lucky I am to be awake and alive.
The pond, Danielle, Andrew and the mountains.
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