Sunday, March 27, 2005

Born-Again Yogis

Hi Everyone!  Wow, it feels like it has been ages since I last wrote, but in reality it's really only been a week!  What a week though.

 

I was picked-up in Takaka, Golden Bay and driven up a winding, 4x4 dirt road to the top of a mountain overlooking Farewell Spit and Abel Tasman National Park.  The yoga retreat place wasn't what I expected it to be..... I experienced a lot of contradictions, and it wasn't a supportive place as I had thought it would be.  Most of the residents were what I have come to call "Born-again yogis", similar to born again Christians, in that all had had rough life experiences (mental issues, substance abuse etc.), and had "found" yoga.  Very dogmatic and not much open-mindedness.  Quite unaware as well, which I found to be very surprising.  After my Donna Farhi retreat in January, I expected a similar experience, but this was quite different. 

 

The daily schedule went as follows:

up at 4:30am for 5am chanting, then yoga and breakfast, and cleaning (karma yoga to elevate one's karma).  Then yoga nidra (relaxation) at 12:30, lunch, and then free time.  Dinner at 6pm, and then kirtan or more chanting.  Food was cooked according to a roster, mostly consisting of light watery soups and vegetables (mostly kale..... I think I don't want to see anymore for a few weeks!).  Don't get me wrong... I love good fresh organic vegetarian food and yoga and meditation, but I need to have one foot firmly planted in the real world as well.  Perhaps had Swami Muktidharma been there it might have been different, but he was away so I didn't manage to meet him.

 

It wasn't terrible though.  I gained a lot of perspective on small, intentional communities, and on spiritual seekers in general, while strengthening my own personal yoga practice.  The downside was that I developed an abcess in my dental implant and am now trying to get treatment over Easter Weekend.  Also, everyone up there was sick with a flu/cold and I have now managed to get that as well.  I'm very thankful for Meryl, an American girl who also found the whole experience surreal and strange.  We managed to keep each other sane until we got back to Nelson yesterday. 

 

I'm trying to do some research here today and then depending on what I learn may head on to Wellington tomorrow and see what I can get done there.

 

Hope you are all well and happy!  I love getting your emails and can't wait to see you all soon!

 

Love,

Kristi

Sunday, March 20, 2005

Golden Bay Sand and Sun Salutations!

Hi everyone,

 

Firstly I'd like to thank all of you who sent me congratulations on my acceptance to UBC Grad Studies.  It's so nice to know that I have so much support at home, especially being so far away!  Sometimes it feels like I'm all alone on this little blue and green ball of ours, but your messages remind that I am anything but!  Thanks!

 

I spent a wonderful three weeks in Marahau working on Manuka Farm, and what an experience.  It was difficult to leave there, but I'm on to more adventures.  From the farm, I did another 2 day kayak trip into the Abel Tasman National Park..... much less eventful than the Doubtful Sound trip, but beautiful all the same.  The Abel Tasman is a stretch of coastline with golden sand beaches and calm turquoise waters.  Seals and seabirds.  A nice easy two days of paddling and sunshine have me nice and mellow.  Photo uploading is proving to be more difficult than I thought, but I'll get as many up as I can while traveling, and if not then when I return!

 

This evening I'm heading to the Anahata Yoga Retreat in Golden Bay, way up on a mountain overlooking the Abel Tasman, Farewell spit, and panoramic ocean views.  They're off the grid and have composting toilets and strawbale buildings, and their own organic garden, so also sounds like a neat place to be.  As it stands now I'll be there for a week.... but could possibly stay longer if it works out that way.  I don't know if I'll have email or phone access during that time, but feel free to send me messages anyways and I'll respond when I get a chance.

 

Just wanted to let everyone know what was up with me..... here's hoping you are all well and happy!

 

Love,

Kristi

News from the Home Front

Hi all!

 

Just a quick update.  I was sick this past week so had to postpone my yoga retreat and am still on the farm, which continues to be wonderful.  A fun couple of Czech girls are also woofing with me now and we're having a great time. 

 

I'm planning to kayak for a few days and then head to the yoga retreat before making for the North Island.

 

My big news..... I have been accepted into the Master's program in both Planning and Landscape Architecture at UBC and have decided to accept the offer from Planning, so will be starting my studies at UBC again in September!  I wasn't sure a couple of months ago if I'd be ready to go back so soon, but the more I travel, the more I want to explore some ideas that I've been enountering in an academic context.  I'm enjoying myself immensely here, but realizing how nice Penticton and Vancouver are as places to live. 

 

Must run... more later!  Hope you are all well and happy.

 

Love,

Kristi

Sunday, March 06, 2005

WWOOFing is Wonderful!

Hi everyone!

 

I'm in Marahau at the moment, at the start of the Abel Tasman track, where I've been working on an organic beef farm for the past week.  What a place!  70 acres of regenerating bush, a "healthy house," horse, dog, two cats, scottish red-poll cattle, an orchard and two large veggie gardens.  The family (Anthony, Rhonnie and Tim) have been amazing and we have had some really good conversations about organics, permaculture, vegetarianism, healing, energy work, enlightenment etc.  We eat amazing 100% organic food, most of which is from the farm itself.  I'm staying in a great trailer outside, with a wonderful outdoor solar shower.  I work four and a half hours a day, and the rest of the time go swimming at the beach, read, do yoga, or am engaged in stumulating conversation. 

 

Yesterday I went to the Riverside Peace Festival at the Riverside intentional community in Motueka.  New Zealand's oldest community, it was started by conscientious objectors before the second world war, and is still functioning.  Interesting. 

 

Staying here has given me a lot of perspective on permaculture, agriculutre, organics, and sustainability.  I'm grateful for the change of pace and the chance to have an authentic experience and meet such amazing people.  I'll stay for the rest of the week, and then I'm off to Golden Bay for another week long yoga retreat.

 

Hope you are all doing well!  I'm thinking of you happily!

 

Cheers,

Kristi