Yoga

As you guys know, we lived in LA for about 8 years, and the only snow we saw while we lived there was either far away on top of the mountains (in the rare days when the air was clear enough you could see them from Topanga), or at the park across from our house. And yes, the one across from our house was human-made snow. It was the cutest thing to see little kids playing in their snow gear while their parents hung out watching them in tank tops… I know what you’re thinking, “only in America,” right?

Needless to say, I missed snow in those 8 years. When we were in Vancouver last December it started snowing and I was beside myself happy. Now the thing is, it’s been snowing in every single city we’ve been in since then! Istanbul, Ankara, Lausanne, Zürich, Paris… So you need to be careful with what you wish for because you might actually get it!

Lausanne was simply amazing. Neither of us had ever been there before, so it was a new experience for both of us. Our hotel was right by Lake Geneva and we could step out to see the beautiful mountains across, as well as all the cities around the lake; including Evian, yes where Evian water comes from. Lausanne is a pretty small city (120-130,000 people), so Chris doesn’t understand why all Turks know so much about it. I had to lecture him on the Lausanne Treaty signed in 1923, which led to the recognition of Turkish Republic as a successor to the Ottoman Empire. So we all know it…

We took a great class with Christine on Friday night and then taught workshops over the weekend at her studio. What an amazing community! They welcomed us with open hearts and Chris made sure they worked their a**es off! With an open heart of course. =) It was great pleasure to see our friend Muriel come all the way from Paris to join the workshop. We will also get to see some of our new friends from Lausanne in Paris this weekend.

On Sunday, we took a two hour train to Zürich, and for the whole week Chris subbed for Olive at Yogalives while she was doing a yoga retreat in Thailand. The community there is also very dedicated and strong. We got to see some of our friends from previous visits and also met lots of new people. Our dear friends Stefanie and Eli from Vancouver just moved back there, so we got to spend some time with them as well. Stefanie’s brother Claus even welcomed us with an evening of fondue and rocklets the night we got there. Yummmm…

While we were in Zürich, we even got to meet an old friend of mine from high school!

We then hopped back on the train for Paris. So far we took classes with Rajeev and Anne (she just got her Anusara Certification this week! YAY!), did a teachers’ practice yesterday, went to Versailles, had fabulous dinners with friends and tried to stay warm the entire time.

We have workshops coming up this weekend, and then we head back out to Istanbul. I now need to figure out how I’m going to fit all the fondue I bought in my suitcase without making it go over the weight limit! :\

By the way, I don’t think I had share this pic with you guys. It is from the window of lululemon Beverly Hills (we miss you!!!!!!):

Yes, we really should update our blog more often. I agree…

Well, let’s get to it then.

We started 2010 with a “Chris Chavez Challenge” at Cihangir Yoga in Istanbul. It was a week-long challenge with 1.5-2 hour classes with Chris everyday. You can imagine Chris made sure it was challenging. I got to practice as well and it was a real treat. With so much time on the road it is difficult to get a practice in regularly, so I loved the challenge. So did 30+ other people…

Then we went to Yoga Darsan in Ankara for a weekend workshop. Özlem and her kula were simply amazing. The studio was beautiful, the host wonderful and the community just lovely. We practiced, went out for lunches and dinners, and planned many trips together for the future. Stay tuned for the details on that one; there will be some cool surprises…

We then went back to Istanbul and spent another week and a half just enjoying the city.

Last couple of days of the month we went to Lausanne for workshops with Christine Jaccoud at her studio. What a treat! We had students coming all the way from Paris to join us in the fun. And Christine is coming to the Paris workshop to see us again in a couple of weeks.

We are now in snow-covered Zurich, teaching Olive’s classes at Yogalives. Going wonderful so far.

I do have lots of photos to share with you from all these workshops and classes, but unfortunately I left the cable to the camera in Istanbul. I will upload them in a couple of weeks.

Until next time… Stay warm.

Entry by Chris

Sitting having breakfast in our balcony in Istanbul… my first free time to write in weeks!  We have been pretty much non-stop since we left LA, what a ride it’s been.  Ozlem wrote about Switzerland, so I will take you through our Paris adventures and bring you into the present.

As always,  the density of Paris is an explosion on the senses …. which are easily stimulated as you carry everything you own up 6 flights of steep narrow stairs! Our legs are still sore.

When I read the description of the apartment, I thought “perfect! top floor, lots of light…” I had no idea that you could build a staircase that climbs a 1,000 feet in a 5 or 6 story building – I say 5 or 6 because the ground floor  starts at 0 – and yes I know, they use meters!

Ozlem in chocolate heaven!

Days were filled traversing the city by foot just checking things out and finding great places to have lunch, coffee, or just hot chocolate. Our nights were generally spent having dinners with friends, drinking a “little” wine (as one must do when one is in Paris), and watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night – yes, I finally made a tourist trip to the Eiffel Tower.

A night time visit

The highlight of the trip was BY FAR the workshops that we had at Rasa Yoga – THEY ROCKED!

Day 1 was packed out! Day 2 was PACKED OUT!!! We were wall to wall and mat to mat – literally – and we still had students coming in… we opened the studio doors to the lobby, cleared the furniture, and had students practicing in the lobby all the way to the entrance door – it was AMAZING!

A well deserved savasana

The energy of so many people coming together just for the experience of it was truly heart filling, the light that filled the room was unbelievable. There was such a wide range of studentship present, from teachers to casual practitioners to students that had never stepped foot in a yoga studio before – the energy was so contagious and we all moved in harmony with one another and we all left feeling happy and full just for having had the opportunity to experience such a magical moment.

The next day we left for Istanbul, an even denser city and with even more explosive explosions on the senses – if that is even possible.

We caught a taxi right outside the airport. A taxi ride in Istanbul is always an exciting adventure… since you don’t understand what the taxi driver is yelling at all the cars… it kind of feels like you are just sitting back watching it all on TV, this gives you a false sense of security which allows you to just sit back and enjoy the views of the Bosphorus.

Day 2, practice on the edge of the water – it was good news and bad news! The good news was that my phone was dry and well.. as you can imagine, the bad news was that nothing else was. It’s never doing a handstand on the cement ledge over looking the water that gets you…. it’s the wind that blows your mat into the water while you are tying your shoes that does it!

As I satisfyingly finished my practice on my favorite two and half foot ledge, I heard my phone fall and hit the cement… but something was wrong with this picture… the mat my phone was sitting on was gone!!! It was just here… where did it go?! No… it couldn’t have…. yes, there was my mat floating on the current… pulsating in the mossy green water – very yogic actually – I had to laugh!

It’s weird how your first instinct is always to just reach out 15 feet and grab it with your hand our toes… it’s also weird how 18 + years of practicing and teaching yoga doesn’t prepare you for this – retrieving your mat without getting wet.

Yes, I thought about just leaving it out there… as I weighed the environmental impacts vs the me getting wet impact … I realized that my mat was drifting out… so in I go! Surprisingly warm… I laughed all the way home.

Last night was the first night of our Advanced Anatomy Teacher Training, it ROCKED!!! The practice was intense and the level of studentship is through the roof… it’s going to be a GREAT couple of weeks!!!!

Ok.. I am a little wired on coffee… I have tried to take a drink every time I hit “return”… I’m feeling the juice, I should probably walk it off!!! Actually, I think I will head down to my favorite ledge for a rematch!!!!

Love!

Wow, what a week!

We are still in Vancouver, going through the 3rd immersion. It is a blast! We have Leon from NY and Leanne from White Rock joining us today and it’s great to have them with us.

Workshop at YYoga Neoalpine in Whistler

Here is what our schedule is/has been like in Vancouver so far:

August 13: Workshop at Neoalpine in Whistler

August 14: Workshop at Flow in Vancouver

August 14: Anusara week kick-off party at Robyn‘s house in West Vancouver

August 15 & 16: Workshop with John Friend in Vancouver

August 17-19: Therapy Training with John Friend in Vancouver

August 19: Workshop at Yaletown Yoga in Vancouver

August 20-23: Immersion III at Highgate YYoga

August 20: Workshop at Highgate YYoga

August 21: Workshop at Richmond YYoga

August 22: Workshop at Northshore Elements YYoga

Phew! It’s busy here.

We are having a lot of fun, connecting with new people everyday. We just love Vancouver.! =)

We head out to Seattle on Monday night, and then Zurich on Tuesday morning.

Workshop at YYoga Flow Wellness

By Chris
Perfect start to an awesome day!

After only sleeping two hours Tuesday night, last night we slept 10 hours and woke this morning to a rainy day – so relaxing!

I went downstairs (29 floors) to buy groceries and when I got outside I realized that, yes… when you see rain through the windows, it is in fact raining outside!

So up I go 29 floors for an umbrella.

With umbrella in hand, I headed out for our breakfast .. half way to the store I realize that i have nothing to actually pay with … so up 29 more floors I go!

With food and coffee well situated in our bellies, we are on the road to Whistler for a workshop… AMAZING scenery!

First stop, a massage at Solarice!!!