Finally having time to sit down and write, talk about NOT balancing my time out.
The Koh Samui retreat, needless to say, was fantastic (even though the trip is nothing but a distant memory now) and I've learnt the very basics of the Ashtanga self practice, which is basically meditation/ pranayamas, Surya Namaskara (sun salutation) A and B of the Primary Series. This is a surprisingly effective routine to warm up the body and gets me sweating within minutes. However, to progress further down the Series really requires a lot of hard work and pushes the physical body (and mind) to the limit.
So, upon my return, I decided to clear out a corner of my room (who would have imagined I'd accumulated so much rubbish over the years, including an Easter Egg from a friend, like, five years ago) and made it my own practice space ... have to say I haven't yet used it (though I have already set up the mat space, incense and stereo), not even for meditation yet. This weekend, for instance, I will have to work on both days (luckily I can squeeze in a power class on Sunday morning). Have so far been only using the space for doing handstands :o)
