Being blessed with some free time in a new place there are so many opportunities which open to you. I love the tree lined streets in Pu-xi, it feels and looks very European, the studios i have taught at and visited are contemporary, each one having its own unique character and design. The Yoga community in Shanghai is very connected, there is big competition here but i have not experienced any friction between the owners i have met who all love to eat at Kazu's delicious vegan/ vegetarian cafe called Annamaya, i LOVE the tofu strawberry cheese cake! The labor day weekend was also at the same time as new moon and Beltane, we were invited to go into the mountains for a night of being in nature and having our own energy feast fast, unplugging and sleeping under the stars around a sacred fire and welcoming in the new energy with the elements. Re charging and waking up with a different perspective on life is extremely refreshing especially making this journey with friends (who now feel like family) in a mini bus into the bamboo forests of Moganshan. We camped out by a reservoir, some were brave enough to jump in but for me it was too cold! The night was slightly cloudy but the stars shone through like pin holes in a blanket and our communal fire generate enough heat for everyone. The sun rose around 5am, the mist was low and the birds were singing! After landing back in Shanghai we are on the move again to the Lake! We boarded a fast train to Hangzhou which is about 200km away and found our way to 4 eyes hostel. Hangzhou is a city right on the west lake, the nature is very green and lush. The lake is huge with decorated ornate boats available to take you on a scenic tour, the surroundings are nicely manicured gardens with big tall trees, velvety grass and controlled wooden walk ways so your feet dont come anywhere near the grassy areas. We hired bikes to explore the many temples and pagodas and to enjoy the different views at each arched bridge. The flow of locals and tourists is constant, the lifestyle here feels very health conscious if you venture into Wushan square after sunset you will find groups gathering for their evening of exercise. One group is for the kids on roller blades learning how to skate, balance and maneuver around a complex track and the other two groups are full of the older generation doing what looks like line dancing with a salsa, aerobic twist. The movements are repetitive and simple and everyone seems to know the routine pretty well. Seeing this conscious gathering for some cardiovascular exercise makes me wonder how well this would go down in the west. Hangzhou - the home of Dragon-Well tea, Tiger Springs and so much more.

After a intensely busy weekend my day off was super chilled, full of nourishing food and rest. I felt the sun on my skin again for the first time in days and it even managed to hit 30 degrees which was a blessing and apparently unusual for Shanghai at this time of year. The cold here has really dried out my skin, Indra (my hostess) treated me to a full body Chinese oil massage, WOW!!! Just what i needed! My body soaked up the oil like a dry sponge dropped in a lake, perfect! After the massage i kept the oil on for the rest of the day and by by the time i took a shower my skin had absorbed all the oil taking back what the air had depleted me from. When arriving here it took me a while to really realise how big Shanghai is, apparently it has rapidly expanded in the last 10 years, so 10 years ago the area where i am staying (Pudong) was just rice fields and wet lands with hardly any buildings. Now there are tall tower blocks 30 plus stories high towering above the busy roads and the flow of life in the city, the metro service is very reliable, clean and safe and all the taxis have meters so no haggling for a cheap price! The response to my classes and workshops have been positive from each studio and i learn there is not a lot of variety when it comes to Yoga in this city. They have the Ashtanga, Hatha, Iyengar and hot Yoga but hardly any flow. Life in a city lacks the natural and organic ebb and flow of life which is so easily attained in nature, this is one of the greatest gifts (i feel) Shiva has given to the global community of Yoga. Re connecting to our own inner Pulsing Vinyasa again and again is nurturing, full filling and a great reminder that we are more then just the mind. In China your never alone, there are people everywhere, always! Even leading up to the Labour Day holiday when people can enjoy a long weekend and perhaps venture into the mountains or come together with family the streets still have a constant buzz with buses, cars, motor bikes, electric bikes, 3 wheeler motorised vehicles and anything else with wheels rolls past ignoring the green pedestrian sign and beeping at you to hurry and cross the road. The morning after a meal with Karma Yoga i had time to attend one of Richard's class which was a great fusion of Acro Yoga warm ups, Vinyasa with Anusara influence elements. Once again i find myself in a place connecting with like minded individuals which gives me confirmation i am riding the right wave as we are all part of the global Yoga tribe and living the same dream.   

The magic of Malaysia creeps in slowly, hiding behind the smiles from the locals, the fresh watermelon juice and the beads of sweat which are constantly glistening in the sunlight. Living and teaching Yoga here since December has taught me many things... Patience, either traveling through or staying for any length of time in Asia you feel yourself shifting into cruise control. When your out and about in the heat of the day you easily exhaust yourself trying to get a million and one things done, so take it easy lah! Take time to watch the eagles flying high over head or find the highest point around and make an effort to watch the sunset. Life is continuously flowing around us so i urge you to take in the uniqueness and grace with which everything is done by. No matter how at home i felt here i still stuck out like a sore thumb. Each time trying to cross a busy road i swear the row of cars would slow down with the drivers turning their heads to look at the colourful blond woman trying to cross the road which would cause a slight traffic jam at the same time which meant it took me longer to cross. A few times i felt like i was on stage and had to fight the urge to actually give them something to look at! My weeks were full of teaching Yoga and my classes full of locals who had such infectious enthusiastic to learn and to give anything a try, this is what i will miss the most. Its the people who make the experience, the amazing cafes and restaurants who serve such nourishing and wholesome food from Lai Cha to Rotis to the hot buns filled with red beans and so much more, Malaysia definitely knows how to make your taste buds and your belly at home! Leading up to leaving my students took me out to eat several times, i received gifts and was repeatedly asked when will i come back to visit/ teach. This is one of the hardest challenges when you travel, you connect and meet with some many lovely heart felt people who instantly feel like family and when you leave the question remains - when will i see them again... In a ideal world all my nearest and dearest friends would be my neighbours and my community which would grow and expand continously! My last class at the Inner Living studio was at 7:30am on Friday the 15th April, now normally a morning class at this time attracts maximum 6 people but this day was Melaka's historical public holiday which meant no one was working and everyone could come! And they did, they squeezed and we flowed together for the last time. I called it the Shakti Flow express, as the class consisted of a snap shot of some of my favourites and some of theirs, including a free form morvement flow off the mat and into the space, a little suprising for some! So the "normal" 60 minute morning class turned out to be a 2 hour intence flow! We ended with a powerful collective OM and after the spontanously clapping, it was over, job done. The art of practicing non attachment is a fine art, one which takes many many years to concour and even then you may not master it. But as one door closes another opens... And this time the path leads to Shanghai, China. 

Still full of Kerala Shakti on the 19th March i was invited to teach a Sahaja Flow and Yoga Trance Dance at Sunyoga in KL. Having taught at Sunyoga before i was looking forward to sharing this new experience with them. The bus journey from Melaka to KL takes about 2.5 hours depending on traffic, the buses in Malaysia/ Singapore are very comfortable with loads of leg room and a lot of space on the arm rests. It is also the biggest full moon today, meaning the moon is the closest it has been to the earth in 18 years! So energy is high and its easy for our solar plexus to spin out of control. 3 hours seems like a long time but when your in the moment sharing the flow with 12 other Yogis time flies. The Sahaja Flow part of the workshop was to empower the attendees to flow with what ever arose inside of them, being present with this and giving it permission to move them, freely without judgment. After a small break we gathered again to be ignited for our off the mat Yoga Trance Dance flow, its hard to put into words the joy and spark of delight when guiding this practice. To come together with a group of willing movers and shakers wanting to free themselves from the straight edges of a eco, rubbery raft is a very liberating experience! We danced, rejoice, prayed and released our inhibitions back to where they came from. After filling our divine cups we went to one of the many delicious Indian restaurants to fill our bellies and nourished our bodies. This full moon has been one to remember! Namaste to Sunyoga and Erin for hosting me again <3

Just as Vinyasa flows in cycles or waves so does life... after landing back in Malaysia life continued as if i never left, I still had remnants of Bangkok in my throat but i had my visa for India! My flight to Trivandrum (India) was from Singapore so after my 7am class i made my way to the bus station and began my journey. 4-5 hours later we arrived in Singapore, greeted by a huge down pour of rain and a blanket of humidity. The best thing about Asia is when it rains, it rains a lot but not for long. I was in need of a camera upgrade and had a few hours before needing to be at the airport so i ventured to Sim Lim square and purchased a very cute, compact point and shoot Canon IXUS 300. Extremely pleased with the price so it was a easy decision to know it will make a perfect companion during my travels starting today. Singapore is a great city, so many vegetarian places on offer, fresh juice/ smoothie shops to quench the thirst after shopping and of course the variety of cultures/ religions all living, breathing, praying and being together, peacefully. My flight to India was a very short and easy 4 hours, by the time i reached Kovalum beach it was around 1am and i was so ecstatic to be there again it took me a few hours to calm down and for sleep to come. I woke early to the sounds of the puja from the local Shiva temple and took myself to the beach for a day of arriving, chill-axing and re connecting to India! Kovalum beach is a small bay with one main strip of shops, cafes, restaurants etc with the waves lapping on the sand just beyond the shaded sun beds. Cheap shopping, beautiful sunsets and of course the local ladies wanting to sell you fruit salad which is tenderly made right before your eyes with a squeeze of lime and a sprinkle of fresh coconut. After 2 nights at Kovalum beach is was time to assist the Tribe at the beautiful Ayurveda Beach Village, Manaltheeram/ Somatheeram. The following 10 days were full of so much Kerala Shakti fused with the ancient practice/ martial art form of Kalari and of course Prana Flow goodness with Shiva. Being lead assistant i felt extremely blessed to have the support of Genevieve, Elitza, Melanie and Nele who were also assisting during this time. Amongst the daily Yoga and Kalari practices we threw coconuts at the Ganesha temple, received blessings at the Shiva temple, made offerings at the Durga temple, ate off banana leaves, wore saris to a local festival, rode Mohan the elephant and witnessed stunning sunsets every evening. About half way through there had been a huge shift in the group, everyone had mastered the head wobble and were shining with a sense of calmness which cultivates within during retreat. Yoga Trance Dance is one of the highlights for me while being in India (the last 2 years have been insane!) a big speaker is taken to the beach connected with extensions cords from the resort plus a laptop with music - Dimitri as the dj and Shiva on the mic to guide us during the free form movement practice. This year was completely different, the energy of the group was so grounded and internal, there were not as many locals standing around to witness a group of westerners letting lose on their beach and the whole vibe was so still. It was just under 2 weeks until full moon but still the energy was very quiet. We danced our prayers and ignited our dreams as much as we could but the energy retreated just as quickly as it came. The following day news had spread about the Tsunami in Japan and this made sense as to why everyone was so internal even the energy of our surroundings. As a collective we sent off our blessings to Japan and hoped for the best, I was given the honor of teaching the last class as Shiva had a flight to catch, the open air Yoga Shala was one of the nicest Yoga platforms i have ever taught on, surrounded by coconut palms, over looking the beach with a constant cool breeze. Keeping the practice similar to what we had been doing and preparing everyone for their onward travels it was time to begin the journey back to Malaysia. My flight was not until the following day so i enjoyed one more night back at Kovalum beach, borded my flight and was back in Singapore in no time, the bus to Malaysia was very comfortable and i managed to sleep most of the way. 

So my adventures continue as i prepare to travel to India to assist Shiva and the Prana Flow tribe. With Malaysia being my current base i begin to make preparations to travel, booking my flight, finding cover for my classes and of course obtaining a visa. Not wanting to take more time out from teaching i located a travel agency who said they could help me with the process so i did not have to travel to KL, bingo! Just what i was looking for. 2 days after filling in forms, paying money and thanking the gods for this process being so easy i receive a phone call too say they embassy do not issue Indian tourist visas for non Malaysians and more - a new law for 2011. So i receive my passport, money and forms back feeling a little rejected as Malaysia feels like home now but in reality it does not see me as a local. I try to apply through a different travel agency who were 110% sure they could help me but once again 2 days later (a Friday) i receive the same information from them. So what too do.... Someone i met recently (also a traveler) she made the journey to Bangkok for the visa and this was looking more and more to be my reality. So Saturday morning i found a cheap flight to Bangkok, flying on the Sunday to ensure i was there, passport, photos, forms and money in hand for early Monday morning. Sure enough i landed, arrived and with a fast beating heart i submitted my application crossing my fingers and toes and praying it will be ready for Friday. Now 4 days is a long time to spend in a city with no intention of being there and no real plans. The idea of venturing out of the city to find a beach was appealing but my heart was not in it to actually go for it so my week went a little like this.. Day 1: 9am India visa application submitted, time to practice patience and humility all the way through to Friday in amongst the whirlwind of Bangkok. Its valentines day, today i received 2 red roses and a Thai Massage, bliss! I actually forgot it was Valentines day but the streets were full of flower stalls and people buying them for loved ones etc Day 2: Time for some sight seeing Wat Pho and the grand palace a feast for the eyes! The yoga of khao San rd ~ practicing non attachment by cruising past the many stalls and landing in the oasis of Ethos a vegan/ vegetarian cafe a feast for my taste buds and belly! Day 3: Welcoming in the abundance of my surrounding, nourishing myself with fresh papaya, enjoying spontaneous conversation and chai with a local Indian Taylor and of course shopping at Khao San rd because I am worth it! Day 4: I find myself back at the oasis of Ethos and ordering mango shake, dhal and rice... India is calling... Day 5: JAI JAI JAI!!!! Mission completed, feeling blessed to be flying into the arms of the mother once again with the tribe. at 5pm i collected my passport proudly stamped with a visa, its full moon and Shakti is smiling down on me.

Like most people on the planet when a new year rolls in we feel its time to evaluate our lifestyle, we make decisions to make improvements and set ourselves new goals for the coming year. So instead of the usual dedications for the year of trying to be more healthy, wanting to lose weight and get fit i have decided for 2011 its all about Empowerment. Empowerment is also connected to the Solar Plexus or the Manipura Chakra, our City of Gems. The ability to sparkle from the inside out and embrace the flow of life with reckless abandonment, falling in love over and over again with each moment. So how do we do this? I believe, if you want to master something you must teach it, beginning with sharing what you already know and being a channel of inspiration and light to guide others along their own path towards Empowerment. Each Monday evening 7:30pm Inner Living offer a free Karma Yoga class, this hour is open to the teacher to create a space and offer something different perhaps to a 'normal' Yoga class. On the 17th January i introduced the Yogis in Melaka to Yoga Trance Dance! I had no idea what the response would be like and they had no idea what to expect! As it was a first for all who came i thought it would be best to start off on our mats before stepping off into the mat-less universe to explore the space. So far so good... The music changed and the vibe shifted, i was super conscious of everyone's silent and shy enthusiasm. My intention for this Karma Yoga Trance Dance was too guide everyone to a safe place inside and set them free to explore the edges of their movement while being Empowered. It didnt take long until everyone was sweating, moving and grooving along their own breath wave, connecting, spiraling and flowing with each expansion and contraction. I was very amazed at how deep everyone let themselves go and in such a short amount of time! After the Madonna chorus had melted into the back ground and the soothing Indian flute music took over it was time to re locate back to the safety of our raft and dive even deeper under the wavering breath wave and surrender to the ride and fall of our breath and give permission for Shavasana to take over. It was a very magical experience, one which i hope to share again in 2011. Take a moment to write down what makes you shine, how do you feel Empowered and if your not doing this already in your everyday life, why not?

In less then 10 hours it will be 2011, another year passed, more experiences had and it feels like its time to start again but taking with us the lessons learned and time to put into practice what we now know. My new manduka mat arrived, yay! It was a fast delivery from America to Malaysia it only took 3 days! So with my trusty new mat i know i will be supported in my practice during 2011. 2010 has taken me to many beautiful places across the planet which i am very grateful for including India to Ibiza to New Zealand to Malaysia where i will be until March time. Along with being welcomed into the community here, meeting the morning market stall holders where we buy our fresh food from every second day and witnessing the Portuguese settlement here in Melaka lit up like fairy land over Christmas this place is already feeling like home. The view from the balcony looking over the communal pool surrounded by palm trees and the different shaped buildings which sprawl out to the coast line is all becoming familiar. I have 3 days off from teaching and during this time i hope to complete some creative projects and be rejuvenated, refreshed and ready to flow through 2011 with as much grace and power that is needed to connect with you all and share some laughter along the way. Namaskaram xxx

So the teaching has began! 11 classes a week to mainly the locals of Melaka. I have felt a warm welcome from them into their community and seeing their smiling faces walk through the door each day makes me more and more thankful to be here with them. The first thing i noticed about theses students is they have very open hips and can easily sit in half or full lotus for 10 - 15 minutes during the beginning meditation, perhaps its from sitting or squatting on the floor as a child also many of the women look about 20 years younger then their actual age, its good to see people taking care of themselves and valuing their health. So up until now i have been traveling with my own mat, in the beginning i was torn between taking my beloved Manduka mat or a cheap £7 mat i originally bought for my boyfriend (its beige with the word "Breathe" written at the top) but as it was going into storage anyway and lighter then my Manduak i decided to take it with me plus it folded up perfectly into my suitcase. Having your own mat is like having your own surf board, you know where its been and as you step onto it you instantly connect to the texture and support under your feet and of course its familiar natural/ rubbery smell. I have only used this "Breathe" mat a handful of times, its a little creased from travel but this gives it character. But after teaching my first sweaty morning class at the very modern and classy Inner Living Yoga studio i notice specks of gray mat sticking to me and my clothes, i thought nothing of it and just brushed the specks away. But after the evening class the specks of gray mat were slightly bigger and were scattered around me like confetti, my trusty "Breathe" mat was wearing thin fast and it was only the first day of teaching, plus my boyfriend wasnt too impressed with what i had done to his once trusty raft to practice on..Now i was missing my Manduka! Over the following days it went from bad to worse, instead of confetti sized bits of mat skank sticking to me and scattered all around they turned into bite size bits of confetti the size of chocolate buttons! Accepting i had fallen into the trap of purchasing a cheap mat to travel with i felt the need to encourage Yogis young and old to look beyond the price tag when buying a mat and spend a little more as the mat will give you a little more back then just mat skank and a few days worth of Yoga! So after making a humble apology to my partner and purchasing a travel lite Manduka mat on line i am waiting patiently for my new arrival and gracefully rolling over my toes to ensure i dont vandalise and dig holes into the studios mats... Happy Solstice, Merry Christmas and Blessing to all for 2011...