. . . you will be in the very capable hands of Lois (who anchors our practice on most Wednesday and Friday mornings) and Ellen (fitness guru extraordinaire, what *can't* she do?). I'm confident that Lois will give you classes that are familiar and, at the same time, challenging. Ellen has been teaching a variety of formats--yoga, Pilates, PiYo, and cycle--for many, many years. Each is inspiring and nuturing, with their own personal brand of humor and perceptivity.
While I am gone, there's always my trusty yoga mat in the suitcase and plenty of music for relaxation. After trekking mile after mile on cobblestones, there's nothing like heading back for some time with "feet up the wall" pose. Yoga can adapt to a variety of needs: meditation, restoration, relaxation, awakening the senses, and vigorous exercise.
I will be back in the practice room on Monday, November 8th, ready to rock and roll. Until then, I'll be playing a bit of "Where's Waldo" throughout Paris and Turkey. I've been warned that the food in Turkey is excellent, so this is an opportunity to load up my suitcase with even more spices and mixtures to attempt (usually with mixed results) to re-create the taste sensations I discover while traveling.
So, let's talk about the joys of yoga--a completely portable exercise format that can be done in almost any hotel room--and the delights of seeing new scenery, meeting new cultures head-on, and new taste experiences.
Our first stop in Paris will be close to a bakery (just a few steps from our hotel, I wonder how that happened?) that is famous for its cookies called
fauchon. I've tried making them at home, but not too successfully. I understand that they will wrap these up for transport, but truthfully, I know that I don't have four weeks of willpower to keep them intact until I return home. Nevertheless, aren't they beauties?
For me, Istanbul has one of the most beautiful mosques in the world. I love blue, and the Blue Mosque is like a jewelbox of mosiac, inlay, calligraphy, and soaring architecture. We hope to spend the better part of a day exploring, listening, photographing the grounds, and soaking up the local culture. The Spice Market in Istanbul is almost as famous as the Grand Bazaar and the Topaki Palace. That's my next destination, after the Blue Mosque. Spices are as portable as my yoga mat and, like Aladdin's magic carpet, both the mat and spices transport me to exotic and refreshing places.
I had a real "Homer Simpson moment" (Doh!) a few months ago, when I realized that the word "turquoise" was actually a French word meaning Turkish. When describing the water along the coastline, the French called it "turquoise" and the color of the water became synonymous with the beautiful blue color. We'll be spending a few days on the water and will see for ourselves if the story is true, or just a romantic piece of tourism.
Despite the gloomy travel advisories and unrest in the world, it's wonderful to branch out a bit, meet other cultures, make new friends, and gain new perspectives. After all, isn't yoga about being flexible?
Until next month, namaste,
Nancy
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