Friday, October 31, 2008

Pumpkin Soup From My Pals


Happy Halloween!

What better way to celebrate the kookiest holiday on Earth than with an earthy, healthful recipe for pumpkin soup? For this, I'm deferring to my friends north of the border, Canadian nutritionist and disarmingly charming fellow blogger Meghan Telpner and her dad, a topnotch advertising executive, who crossed paths with Om Gal en France and was duly converted into a dedicated yogi on the spot. However, for the purposes of their Halloween themed video clip, they're "cat burglars." Enjoy, and please share your thoughts if you give the recipe a try. I'd make it myself, but my pumpkin was stolen two nights ago. Dangerous neighborhood for a pumpkin, you know?

Click here for the entertaining clip and uber easy recipe.

[Postscript: If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Rebecca Pacheco's pumpkin, please post a comment or email askomgal@gmail.com].

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Quote: Thoreau


"You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this."

-Henry David Thoreau

Monday, October 27, 2008

Broken Can Be Good


One morning, not long ago, I pulled my sweatshirt over my head, caught my mala bracelet in the sleeve, snapped the elastic, and watched the beads shoot into the air, shower down onto the hardwood floor, and scatter beneath the bed, radiator, and dresser. A mala bracelet, as you may know, is a talisman of sorts. The word "mala" translates to mean prayer, so they're prayer beads, in effect. Similar to a rosary, only, admittedly, more en vogue.

When mine broke, leaving me to crawl under the bed, helplessly collecting all the beads I could find (those suckers caught some serious air!), I immediately wondered whether it was a good sign or a terrible one. Auspicious or ominous? Was it an indication that my prayers had been answered or God was surely smiting me? So, I settled this spiritual quandary in the most practical way that any om gal could fathom. I sent a text message to my pal, Chanel. Given that I purchased the bracelet at last month's Global Mala event, which she organized, I thought she might be able to help.

"Eek, my global mala bracelet broke! Good luck or God smiting me??" I rapid-fire texted, adding multiple question marks to punctuate the seriousness of my situation.

Fortunately, Chanel, being the come-through-in-the-clutch friend that she is (she once broke into my apartment for me, after I locked myself out), promptly responded, "LOL. Good sign. When the mala breaks, it means its medicine has done its job."

Well, thank heavens! I was bracing myself for seven years of bad luck and the need to stock up on lots of sea salt, to throw over my left shoulder (or is it the right?) in any moment that warranted it.

TIME OUT: As I finished typing that sentence a LADY BUG just landed on the floor next to me! Talk about auspicious. People, I can't make this stuff up.

OK, where was I? Oh yes, broken bracelets . . . Here's the crux of what I'm trying to say: sometimes broken things are positive. Granted, our initial reaction is always to scurry around on all fours, trying to recover the pieces, but what if we surveyed and respected the wreckage, instead? Isn't life a constant dance between destruction and creation anyway? And, what better lesson than to understand that when something shatters, like a relationship or the economy, for example, it might not necessarily be a bad thing. In fact, it just might be a sign of positive things to come- the universe's way of assuring us that certain baubles, ideals, or life paths no longer serve us.

However, if you insist on scurrying under the bed, perhaps you'll at least consider grabbing a flashlight when venturing into that dim territory.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Thank You, Yogis!

A huge heartfelt THANK YOU to the yogis who supported Roxbury Prep yesterday! After the workshop, I requested that yogis send along their thoughts on the experience, if they felt inclined. Here's the first piece of feedback I received, last night, following the festivities:

You asked for feedback, so I wanted to share. I thought class was amazing. I've heard so many great things about your teaching but unfortunately I hadn't found the yoga community until after you "retired." So I feel blessed that I was able to take class with you today. I have to say my favorite part was your sense of humor. It made yoga even more fun than usual. My second favorite was your music selections. I've definitely never taken yoga with fun, modern music that I was familiar with. But more importantly, I was able to do poses today that I've never done before and never thought I would be able to do. I'm not sure if it was the motivation of the room and you or if it was just the right moment, but whatever it was, it was perfect. Thank you so much for doing this and supporting the schools in our community. I volunteer for the Big Sister Organization and I can see no better charity than children. I hope you do many many more of these workshops.

-A fellow om gal, via askomgal@gmail.com.

Did you attend Put Your Money Where Your Mat Is? Feel free to post your own comments here.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Raffle Winners at Today's Workshop

Winner 1: 2031055

Winner 2: 2031080

Winner 3: 2031014

Winner 4: 2031085

Email me @ askomgal@gmail.com

Friday, October 24, 2008

It Takes A Village!

Thank you in advance to the people and organizations that helped orchestrate and support tomorrow’s workshop (and talked me down from the ledge when I wasn’t sure we could pull it off).

I am thrilled to teach a creative and uplifting class for such a great cause and among so many big-hearted yogis. If you’re planning to attend, be sure to bring your own mat and block. Parking is available onsite. The uber-easy directions are available on Roxbury Prep’s website. Walk ins are welcome, but only those who have signed up in advance can be guaranteed spots.

Before we do any yoga, I need to bow down and say “Namaste” to the following om pals:

Reece Pacheco, Overtime Media
Julie Joyal Mowschenson
Jami Therrien & Will Austin, Roxbury Prep.
Cynthia Pham Gordon
Elena Taurasi
Lauren Morgado
Lauren Clark
Coeli Marsh, Inner Strength
Roman Szpond, Inner Strength
Emily Phillips
Chanel Luck, YogaThree
Abby Erdmann
Jenn Welch
Kirsten Watson, One More
David Pearlstein, New England Patriots
J. Alain Ferry, Unlose.It
Robin Hauck, Misstropolis.com
Marlo Fogelman, Marlo Marketing & Communications
Julie Parker, Mosaica Bead Co.
The Loft
The Movement Center of Boston
Fireside Catering
Lululemon
Equinox Fitness
Boston magazine

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Tips for Teachers: Part II

At the grand opening party of the Life in Synergy Studio in Boston this week, I ran into an aspiring yoga teacher and OmGal.com reader who mentioned that she enjoyed an August post called Tips for Teachers. Turns out, there's more where that came from. Here are a few additional rules of the road that have come to mind. You'll notice that they're more ideological than technical, this time, because I think both types of feedback are useful. Please feel free to add your own insight by posting a comment.

Practice What You Preach: Of course, this is easier said than done, but I firmly believe that how you conduct your life off the mat is just as significant, if not more so, than whether you can develop a sweet sequence of poses or recite the Bhagavad Gita during class. Sadly, there are lots of yoga teachers who fail to "walk the walk." They might laud compassion in one breath and speak hateful words with the next or chastise students for the same very behaviors in which they engage when no one is looking. Yet, yoga teachers are human too, so none of this should be surprising. Nevertheless, if you want to teach yoga, your aim should be to live it- with your words, thoughts, and deeds.

Speaking of deeds, engage in spiritual politeness and spiritual activism: Two esteemed teachers shared those terms with me recently; Patricia Walden coined the first, while Lama Surya Das introduced the second in his keynote address at this year's Global Mala event. Neither needs a definition as their meanings are intuitive. Get a jump start on your spiritual activism by attending this weekend's workshop, Put Your Money Where Your Mat Is, at the Roxbury Preparatory Charter School (near the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston).

Honor the Tradition: Yoga is several thousands of years old. It originated in India. Its purpose is not solely to chisel your butt cheeks (my apologies if this comes as a shock). If you want to teach yoga, you simply have to pay homage to the yogis, luminaries, seekers, and sages that came before you. You don't have to agree with them. You don't have to make your poses look like theirs, but you need to acknowledge their teachings and acquaint yourself with the origins of this sacred art. Think of yourself as an artist, chef, or scientist. Before you re-write the rules, you need to study the classics, learn the fundamentals, and understand the work of your predecessors.

Set Healthy Boundaries: Yoga can be pretty touchy-feely; [meaning, closeness is fostered among strangers quickly; either because there can be a mere postage stamp-width separation between your mat and someone else's or the personal nature of themes and feelings often discussed in a studio setting- thank you, Juan, for the prompt to clarify], which is fine. However, the openness of the environment should never be misused or abused. You, as a yoga teacher, set the tone for the class and studio. If you're giving some chicky in the front row googly eyes (again), you better believe you're generating a certain, ahem, undercurrent. If teaching yoga is going to be your profession, treat it as such. Act professional.

Support Your Peeps: It's a shame when yoga teachers go all "downward dogfight" on each other. Instead of undermining one another, talk up your colleagues, trade ideas, and help each other grow- not just within your own studio but across studios, styles, and state lines. You don't benefit from discouraging students from studying with other teachers; instead, you appear territorial and insecure, and you dilute the path of your students' study.

Infuse Poses With Purpose: Make sure each pose that you choose has a purpose, and infuse the flow of your sequence with a sense of purpose as well. Don't worry about waxing poetic or providing the perfect assist. Have a plan for your class, and enjoy the way you build it before the eyes of your students. Your job is to give them an enlightening experience from start to finish. To that end, you need to be mindful of how the class is developing at all times. Avoid languishing in an asana too long for little to no reason; skip flourishes that aren't built upon the fundamentals, and, above all, communicate consciously. Explain the purpose of a pose, and occasionally tie that purpose to a larger theme. It's the best way to help students unite their minds, bodies, and souls, which is, coincidentally, the objective of yoga.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Jason Varitek Wants You To Go To My Workshop on Saturday



OK, so that headline is hugely misleading. In fact, it's an outright lie- at least, to my knowledge. (But, you never know; Tek might be a huge OmGal follower, who really does think you should attend my workshop this weekend). Truth be told, I thought I'd share this photo, which I snapped of the Red Sox captain, tonight, at a charity event for Kevin Youkilis Hits for Kids, as a means of piquing your attention on behalf of another great cause, the Roxbury Preparatory Charter School, the beneficiary of this weekend's workshop.

In addition to a challenging and uplifting yoga class to support local inner city youth, this workshop, Put Your Money Where Your Mat Is, will also feature a few additional perks that I'd like to mention:

Jason Varitek will be there! OK, sorry, I'm fibbing again . . . But my brother will be. That's gotta count for something, right?

Each yogi receives a gift bag containing fabulous, little treats.

Raffle prizes, include:
-An Equinox spa package and complimentary 1-month membership.
-Gift certificates to some of the best local restaurants.
-A beauty package from award-winning Newbury Street salon, The Loft.

Signing up via Pay Pal is the best way to ensure your spot in the class; however, walk-ins are welcome (first-come; first-served). Please bring your own mat, towel, and block. Directions are available on the Rox Prep website. The school is about 1-mile away from the Museum of Fine Arts. Shoot me a line if you have any questions.

See you there!

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Om Gal Inquires: What Brings You Clarity?



When seeking answers to life's big questions, we all have our preferred approaches. Some venture into the woods- others, the watering hole. Many retreat into solitude; some conduct running polls of their friends, family members, and, even, the trusted bartender at said watering hole. Different individuals and situations prompt different needs for adequate reflection and evaluation. What are yours? Where do you go for an infusion of clarity- the mountains, a beach-front sanctuary, a local park or garden, church? Whom or what do you bring along- a book, a journal, a straight-shooting pal, your loyal canine companion?

I tend to retreat inward. Usually my yoga mat comes along, and most often, I have my most profound moments of "Ah-ha" (the sound of an epiphany, not the 80s band) when I'm surrounded by nature. The fresh air makes me breathe deeper, listen more carefully, and think through the issues rattling around in my brain with fewer obstructions.

What do you do? Where do you go?

Om Gal On The Farm


I just finished teaching a 2-hour session to some treasured om galpals in this "yoga studio," formerly the dairy on this farm, at which we are staying and creating a retreat. Our playlist included the Jackson 5, Matisyahu, Jack Johnson, Madonna, and many more. The uplifting and invigorating sequence featured anuloma pranayama, lots of fabulous flow, arm balances, and happy hips, including gomukasana or "cow face pose," which is quite fitting on a farm, in a converted dairy, no?

Friday, October 17, 2008

Om Gal Positively Giddy: Go Sox!



Last night's historic Fenway celebration (no team within the last 79 years had overcome a 7-run deficit to win a playoff game) as it erupted. Some fans missed the revelry since they filed out of the ballpark in the 7th inning, with dashed hopes.

Lesson learned: No matter how grim it gets; never give up. And, never leave Fenway in the 7th inning in October . . .

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Economic Crisis: This is Your Time To Be A Yogi

My first yoga teacher was fond of saying something to the following affect, "Anyone can meditate in a quiet room with scented candles; the question is whether you can meditate in the midst of chaos, when it all really hits the fan."

Presumably, we can count the current economic crisis as an example of the aforementioned you-know-what hitting the fan. People losing their homes, banks collapsing, the stock market crumbling, the value of the U.S. dollar vanishing before our eyes, stable jobs transforming into the contents of a cubicle or corner office emptied into a cardboard box overnight- suffice to say it's getting a little wacky out there. It's enough to make any guy or gal anxious. Compound all this economic ageda with the idea-nay, the fact- that we are still at war, and it's downright panic-inducing.

However, you simply cannot put panic in the driver's seat. What good is any spiritual practice- be it yoga or meditation or playoff baseball- if it doesn't provide a source of steadiness during times of uncertainty? I don't know about you, but my spirit is relatively low-maintenance while traipsing through life on a gloriously sunny day, after having just finished a dish of gelato and crouching down to pet a puppy.

I agree. Panicking is justified- natural, even. But, it's not the only way, and frankly, it's not the most effective way. This is not to say that you should bury your head in the sand and convince yourself that everything is groovy. That's disingenuous and, if left unchecked, dangerous.

The best approach to chaos is to see it clearly. Take it all in. Assess the situation for yourself and your family. By all means, inform yourself, but don't let the economic climate taint your entire world-view. Countless people before us have weathered worse. You, in your lifetime, have probably weathered worse. Being a force of positivity and light in the world doesn't mean that you ignore difficult situations. Rather, take them and transform them into moments of opportunity. Delve deeper into your spiritual practice, encourage the people around you who feel defeated, get more savvy with your own goals and intentions, be creative with the resources you already have, teach the next generation how to be resilient and resolution-focused.

An Hopi elder once said,"We are the ones we've been waiting for," which, to me, is the ultimate statement of power, positivity, and, yes, pragmatism.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Om Gal Gets You to Yoga This Week


People talk to me about yoga . . . a lot. Over dinner, at birthday parties, at the gym, in the doctor's office, on airplanes, at Red Sox games, etc. They ask for pointers on poses, inquire about whether I can put my leg around my head, and ask if I can do Pose A that they saw in Movie B. Next, they might request that I teach them to do Pose X that they saw in Magazine Y. They coo that they loooove their yoga teachers or gripe that they can't stand them and, therefore, stopped going to class. I'm questioned, confided in, and entrusted with precious, personal information. Yes, it's perfectly okay to cry during class. Perhaps you should lay off the chili?

Most often, my confidantes- friends and strangers, alike- lament that they simply don't have time to get to a yoga class. They have children and jobs and commutes. Some need to save money; others are intimidated by other challenges and obstacles real or imagined.

Believe me when I say, I hear you. I'll save you the details of how I've recently questioned whether it's possible that I left my brain at the baggage claim in France. I've double and triple-booked myself so many times of late that I'm beginning to wonder if I have multiple personality disorder- except, of all the intriguing things a few alter egos could do, they decide to overlap meetings? C'mon, I'd like to think they'd be more creative than that . . .

For over-programmed, multi-tasking, hereandthereandeverywhere yogis, I often suggest starting small by weaving a few poses, per day, into their lives. Yet, even this can be daunting, if you're not sure where to start. I recommend starting with what you know: child's pose, downward dog, 1/2 pigeon, then, call it a day. Don't get tripped up by fancy sequencing. Just practice a few asanas that feel good.

Here's a quick sequence (about 20-30 minutes) that I created in France, which you might try this week, when getting to yoga class seems unlikely. It's particularly nice if you've been swimming upstream, chasing your tail, or running on fumes lately. It also happens to be an effective post-workout/run/bike stretch, since it focuses primarily on the hips.

Anuloma pranayama

Upavista/Parsva/Pavivrtta Konasana: Essentially, this is a seated straddle-leg stretch with feet flexed. Reach to one side, the center, and then the other side. To access a wonderful stretch along the side of your body, reach overhead, toward one foot).

Prasarita (twisting is optional).

Pivot to your left and lunge deeply. Do your favorite lunging variation, back knee is resting on the floor; hips sink down (hold 5-10 breaths).

Pivot to your right and lunge.

Return to center (prasarita) but interlace your fingers behind your back this time.

Standing 1/2 pigeon.

1 sun salutation A, lowering from chattarunga to lie down, on your belly.

Danurasana (3 repetitions).

Downward dog.

Lie down on your back.

Abdominal sequence of your choice.

Supta baddha konasana.

Reclining half pigeon.

Supine twist.

Sivasana.

Have a fail-proof pose or sequence of your own? Post it here.

Quote: The Soul

"The soul is not a physical entity, but instead refers to everything about us that is not physical- our values, memories, identity, sense of humor. Since the soul represents the parts of the human being that are not physical, it cannot get sick; it cannot die; it cannot disappear. In short, the soul is immortal."

-Harold Kushner

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Marky Mark, Make Us Laugh!



Within the canon of sacred yogic texts, this SNL sketch has no relevance. It won't usher you to the doorstep of enlightenment or improve your asanas in any discernible way. However, it will make you laugh, which is something we should never overlook. Enjoy!

It's a Beautiful Day to Blog!



I thought you might enjoy this snapshot of blogging in action. It was taken in France last week, just prior to our final yoga class of the trip. Thank you, om pal R., for catching this "yogi at work."

Friday, October 10, 2008

Quote: Being Love

"Remember, we are all affecting the world every moment, whether we mean to or not. Our actions and states of mind matter, because we're so deeply interconnected with one another. Working on our own consciousness is the most important thing that we are doing at any moment, and being love is the supreme creative act."

-Ram Dass

Thursday, October 9, 2008

A Letter to My Friend, Fear

Dear Fear:

I want to thank you for accompanying me on my recent bike trip through the south of France. While I didn’t anticipate the opportunities available to us for such meaningful bonding, I’m happy you decided to tag along. Seriously, nothing like high-octane anxiety coursing through one’s veins to enhance time spent abroad. I might have guessed that you were dropping by if I’d scrutinized the details of the week more thoroughly. For example, it’s possible I could have deduced that teaching yoga on a bike tour requires . . . wait for it . . . riding a bike! An activity on par with clowns and Sarah Palin in terms of scariness, in my opinion.

Among the readers of OmGal.com, I suspect there are gaggles of skilled cyclists, uber-athletes on wheels, and eco-chic commuters who troll the streets en bicyclette, I am not one of them. With the exception of sporadic spinning classes and the occasional desire to ride the recumbent bike at the gym when I prefer to read a magazine or watch Grey’s Anatomy rather than actually, say, sweat, I hadn’t been on a bike in roughly 15 years—until last week. There are those for whom gracefully weaving through traffic, pedaling up hills and coasting back down, and, generally, manipulating a bike that moves is second nature (you laugh, but this was new to me). To you, the world looks better, breezier, and brighter from a bike. To me, it looks downright terrifying.

Yet, the quivering did stop, eventually; the visions of white lights at the end of a tunnel subsided, and the deafening sirens of the inevitable ambulance that would haul my rubble imbedded body off to the hospital faded.

Soon, I too loved the way the world looked from a bike . . . I just didn’t like when the bike went too fast downhill. Blame it on my overly cautious nature; call me a control freak; I’m cool with that. I’ll catch you on the next uphill, dude, and then we’ll see who has speed on their side.

Okay, excuse the bravado; here's the truth: I worried about my inability to shake you, Fear. I even asked one of the guides for his input. At the rate I was going, I was afraid I’d hold up the group from arriving at their next location (before Christmas). Sheep in nearby fields were passing me on the downhills. His response: “On each hill, go a little bit faster than you are comfortable,” which I think is sage advice and applicable to life's greater journey, on wheels or otherwise.

So, I did, and you should have seen me! I coasted. I glided. I positively sailed. I looked back to get your attention, Fear. I wanted to show you how far I’d come—that I was smiling and having a grand old time, but you were nowhere in sight. In any case, thanks for spending time with me; the trip wouldn't have been the same without you.

Your friend,
Om Gal

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Quote: Lao Tzu

"A man with outward courage dares to die. A man with inward courage dares to live."

-Lao Tzu

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Veggie Daydreams & Transatlantic Sweet Potato Soup


Upon returning home from France yesterday, my cupboards were bare, but my legs were craving a jog, having been confined to an airplane seat all day. Thus, I bypassed grocery shopping in favor of a run. South Boston put on her finest last night with a sunset over Castle Island to give the sunrise I experienced along the Seine that morning a run for its money- in its own spectacular (albeit slightly less sophisticated), orange and violet hued way. After which, I returned home longing for a home-cooked meal.

In general, French cuisine, while a gastronomic delight, often fell short in the produce department (in my humble, veggie-loving opinion). After several evenings featuring looooong dinners that languished into the late-night hours, retiring us to bed with bellies full of wine, bread, "amuse bouche," soup, elaborate entrees, cheese, more bread, "pre-dessert," dessert, tea, and coffee, I found myself daydreaming about un-fussed food sans all the expert tinkering. Once, while preparing a midday picnic along our daily biking route (see produce-packed photo above), I caught myself chopping and popping cucumbers into my mouth as if they were bon bons. I don't think these cucumbers were any more extraordinary than cukes from the States, but my foray into uber-fancy eating on a nightly basis made me relish the fresh, uncomplicated crunch of what might be considered a typically ho-hum vegetable anywhere else.

Therefore, well before touching down on the tarmac at Logan, I was mentally concocting my first state-side meal. The aforementioned evening jog limited my options, as I didn't have my standard fridge full of produce with which to work. Yet, with scarcity being the mother of invention and all (particularly in the kitchen), I whipped up an easy soup that I think you might enjoy this season. It made for the perfect post-run, welcome home, veggie-friendly, oh-so-simple meal.

Bon appetite!

Transatlantic Sweet Potato Soup:

Start with the stock of your choice (i.e. vegetable or chicken). Given the state of my paltry pantry, I opted for the canned version last night, to which I also added water.

Add 2 peeled and halved (large) sweet potatoes. [Option: adding chicken or turkey chourico, here, adds protein and an added kick of flavor but is, of course, optional]. Bring to boil.

Once the potatoes are fully cooked (to the point of softness), remove and place in a large bowl. [Remove the poultry as well, if applicable].

Add 1 can of black beans to simmering broth.

Mash potatoes and puree if desired. Add mixture to broth, along with cumin, chili powder, fleur de sel (salt), and black pepper. (I used about a 1 tsp. cumin, a few dashes of chili powder, and salt and pepper to taste).

Slice poultry and replace in soup.

Voila! Serve with a side of short-grain brown rice, and you have a perfect, fall meal, chock full of vitamins and seasoned with a little spicy zing. For an added dose of crunch, I served peeled and sliced cucumbers with olive oil and balsamic vinegar as an appetizer, and they were, put simply, magnifique.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Overheard "En France"


Sadly, the 7 years of French that I studied from junior high school through freshman year of college were of little avail while in France this week. Seriously, where does all that lost information go? Thankfully, by the third day, I figured out how to communicate this om gal’s key phrase for survival, “Puis avoir du thé,” meaning, “May I please have some tea.” For me, a morning in any time zone without it is a dark, groggy, decaffeinated place. Nevertheless, there were plenty of perplexing yet entertaining pieces of conversation overheard in my own native tongue. Below, 5 intriguing (and, yes, ironic) phrases uttered in Provence during the bike trip on which I was teaching yoga all week:

1.) Me to a guest inquiring about the program for the afternoon: “Yes, you’ll have plenty of time to do both the afternoon wine tasting and the 4:30 p.m. yoga class.”
2.) Me to the class while demonstrating a standing split: “You may recognize this version of hanumanasana as the pose Ron did earlier today en bicyclette.” Indeed, the bike was moving . . . down a one-lane country road. You know the kind, a quintessentially European, winding route prone to gravel, mopeds, speeding cars, and the like? Perhaps it's worth mentioning that Ron is 56. (He calls this daredevil move the "chien chaud;" that's English for the "hot dog").
3.) Our oh-so-lovely bicycle tour guide to the chef prior to dinner: [en Francais] “In terms of dietary restrictions, we have one guest [referring to me] who does not eat red meat.”
The Chef: “Pas de probleme [no problem]- we’re serving veal!” Regardless of its classification, I wouldn't partake, but it made for a funny situation nonetheless.
4.) Me to the class after a request to feature poses that reflect elements of the trip, whose mantra is Bike. Eat. Drink. Sleep. “This is half-pigeon pose- which is the closest I can get to duck- like the one you had for dinner last night.”
5.) A guide, upon being asked about incidents involving poorly behaved guests: “We had a guest throw a temper tantrum once. At the top of a big hill, she threw her bike at a guide . . . She was a yoga teacher.

[Photo: Two cyclists test-drive a partner stretch that we practiced earlier that day. I was so proud; I had to snap a photo].

Om Gal Coming Home!



Prepare for a blogging "tour de force" upon arrival in the States. I miss my om pals!

Abeintot!
Rebecca