Just got home today from a 10 day retreat with Gelek Rimpoche in Michigan.  It snowed almost every day.  I am sleep deprived and deeply moved by the entire retreat.  Rimpoche was so inspiring.  His stamina is incredible — way beyond any of his younger, more fit, students….like me.  I am looking forward to sleeping some this week because my dreams have been filled with mantras lately.  Which isn’t a bad thing…

My precious guru.

Going home.  Saying, See you soon.  Saying, Can I sit in the front seat of the van?  Because the 2.5 trip to the airport is half on very bumpy, very dusty roads.  urp.  

Sometimes we had to share the road with cows.

And cowboys.

Now we are back in the concrete jungle and we say Muchas Gracias to Costa Rica for sharing with us the beauty of Pura Vida.

Our last class was co-taught by all three of us teachers.  First Edward led us in a restorative pose and a warm-up vinyasa.  Then since we were all totally in love with each other at this point in the retreat, it seemed like the right thing for me to lead a partner class.  What fun!  I structured it in a way that everybody had a chance to partner with everyone else.

Melanie, the smallest, with Edward, the largest. So cute.

OM yoga warriors -- fearless and gentle.

Sometimes it takes two to triangle.

Cherie and Liza -- so beautiful.

Liz and Edward -- so happy.

David finished our last class together by ringing the bell and leading us in shamata. Then he talked a bit about re-entry, to balance our beginning talk about what it means to retreat.

That night there was a concert -- here is Liz, Melanie, Suzy and Irene -- cuddling on the couch and loving the music. Later all the OMmies got up and took over the dance floor!

Here are some pictures from our last day of the retreat.  Don’t be jealous — it was such a great success that we will definitely have an OM yoga at Blue Spirit retreat again in winter 2011.

After a stretch class with Edward from 7-7:30 and another totally delicious breakfast, Dave gave a dharma talk from 9-10:30.

Enraptured yogis/dharma students.

MIndfully meditating Edward.

Then right into yoga from 10:30-12ish. Palms were up today, in the position of both giving and receiving.

I taught a warm-up vinyasa that included side bending on both sides, and twists -- both open and closed. Do you know the difference and what they prepare you for?

There's always something to work on in Downward Dog, isn't there?

Baby cobra and lion had a baby.

The reminder of a light touch.

More coming but now I have to go to Lululemon and teach a free class 10-11.  Come on down!

My class played a joke on me yesterday.

They set up their mats at all angles! Messing with my head - whoa...

With the mats nicely organized, we had our class.

Distributing weight and effort, like a tea bag in hot water.

Wednesday was the “day off.”  The yogis went on the canopy zip line, kayaking, birdwatching, horseback riding and to their surfing lessons.  I did teach a one hour yoga class at sunset which was lovely.  Then we all got dressed up and went to LaLuna which is a restaurant/bar/disco club on the beach.  Kinda crazy.  There is a film playing on a sheet that shows the ocean….hmmmm…very meta.  We hit the bar as if we were really thirsty and boy, did those mojitos and margaritas taste good.  We waited a long time for the food but it was yummy, too.  Then we danced!  We also bought some really nice jewelry handmade by a Tico woman.  It breaks my heart how inexpensive it was since I know it takes a long time to make these things.  She was very sweet and we were happy to buy her stuff.

Sunset.

I wish the pictures in this blog were bigger. The dots on the trees are monkeys. They were watching the sunset, too.

Guacamole? Yes! Ceviche? Maybe. Calamari? Maybe? Hummus? Yes!

Judy and Wyna are having so much fun!!!!

Antonietta and Bradley, the cutest and coolest couple!

Sun-kissed blondies: Grace, Steve and Jen.

They are ready for dinner -- Nudgie, Liz and Edward.

Here is Stephen with Salma (in the big hat) from our program and some other nice ladies from Blue Spirit.

it’s already nearly 100 degrees in the shade.

OM yoga TT grad, Liza, hanging out at the pool. Doesn't she have good posture?

Nudgie doing mudras in the pool.

Can you see the baby in the middle and the two parents on either side?

The view from our window this morning at 6.

We had another lovely day.  I taught an afternoon class that went sort of like this:

sitting in virasana, kapalabhati, alternative nostril kapalabhati, alternate nostril breathing with retentions, apply jalandhara bandha and draw the pubic bone and tailbone toward each other (mulabandha)

down dog, knees chest chin — did that a couple times, didn’t need much warm-up since we already had two yoga classes that day and swimming, etc.

forearms down — downward puppy — and into forearm side plank, both sides, second time with tree legs

at the wall:  find your diamond belly (sternum, pubic bone, bottom side ribs on each side) and rub it, try to keep that area contained as you prepare, find the relationship between pubic bone and tailbone as in retentions

Then, with a partner, sit in vajrasana and lift your arms as if you were doing forearm stand.   Let your partner tell you if your front ribs pop out and your diamond belly goes forward.  If so, that means that there is some tightness in your triceps and side ribs and so you need to bring your arms forward in pinca mayurasana.  Use a blanket like this:

Roll up the end of the blanket once. Place the rolled up part away the way and place your elbows on it with your hands on the mat.  When you go up, you will find that you can lengthen and straighten out your spine.  No ribs popping out.  No banana body.  A nice engaged diamond and integrated tailbone situation.

People’s quads were tight from climbing stairs and beach activities, so we did anjaneyasana at the wall, AKA ninja death pose.  I don’t feel like describing that so if you really want to know, let me know and I’ll show a picture.

Then we came back to the mats.  Hands on blocks and practiced jumping through with straight legs.  Then cross legs and swing back through.  Repeat 5 times, or until you get the “swing” (no pun intended) of it!

Lie down.  Supta eka pada hasta padangustasana with little hand towels because there are no belts here.

Back to D Dog, step forward and Hanumanasana.  We were all amazed at Bradley who only took 5 yoga classes before this retreat but he can do hanumanasana.

Lying on backs, windshield wipers.

As requested, supta virasana with lots of nice propage.

Supine twist.  Savasana.

Then we sat up and saw this:

Costa Rican sunset.