Karma Kids Teacher Training

What an amazing weekend!  Over the Remembrance Day long weekend I took part in a kid's yoga teacher training hosted by Lotus Soul, and put on by Karma Kids Yoga Studio.  Karma Kids is based out of New York City and is completely dedicated to teaching kids yoga.  This was their first time doing their teacher training in Canada too!

The 30 hour training was over three vigorous days, filled with running around the studio, jumping like frogs from mat to mat, and playing forgotten childhood games that I haven't thought about in like 15 years.  Kelly, our instructor had an AMAZING presence to her and had us adults giggling and moving around like children all day.  

Me riding the human conveyer belt

The 30 hour training was over three vigorous days, filled with running around the studio, jumping like frogs from mat to mat, and playing forgotten childhood games that I haven't thought about in like 15 years.  Kelly, our instructor had an AMAZING presence to her and had us adults giggling and moving around like children all day.

Partner Yoga - peaceful warriors

We played games, read stories, practiced breathing techniques, stood on our head, arm balances, and practiced our flows all in a kid friendly, exciting environment.  I highly recommend anyone who is interested in teaching children yoga to take this course.  I can't wait to start teaching little kidlets!

Anyone that's interested... the album from this training can be found here.

30 before 30!

Sooooo since leaving Costa Rica I have not updated this blog… so why not restart it with some goals/things I’d like to accomplish.  I saw this on another blog and it inspired me to create my own.  I love to make lists (...and lists and lists) of everything so this was a lot of fun to make!  I turn 30 in just over 2.5 years (HOLY CRAP) so now I have documented lot of fun stuff to look forward to in the next little while :o)  I’d love to see your lists or comments on items you can help me with or join in on! 

30 things to do before I'm 30

Cooking/Baking:

1. Host a big dinner party for friends and prepare the meal myself
2. Make my own wine
3. Learn how to bbq steaks without overcooking
4. Take a cooking class
5. Make recipes out of all the cookbooks I’ve never cooked out of

Health/Fitness:

6. Run a 10K
7. Complete a ½ marathon
8. Certified YTT 200 hrs completed
9. Get yoga photos taken of me somewhere tropical
10. Get my rock hard abs back ;)

Travel:

11. Visit at least 3 new cities
12. Go to at least one new country
13. See at least 2 NHL hockey games in 2 different cities I have not seen games in (so far I’ve only seen games in Vancouver and Edmonton)
14. Take a trip with just my girlfriends
15. Go on a hiking trip that lasts longer than a day
16. Go zip lining
17. Ride in a hot air balloon
18. Go on a completely spontaneous road trip
19. Appreciate and travel to local spots that people from all over the world travel to however we locals take advantage of (glaciers, Kananaskis, Drumheller, etc)

Education:

20. Complete my CGA designation
21. Re-learn Spanish
22. Take a photography class

Other:

23. Complete my “starry night” puzzle
24. Get my nose pierced
25. Get another tattoo
26. Sponsor a child
27. Be in love with someone who is worthy or be happy being single – not settled with the wrong person like I had been
28. Decorate my house with photography of my travels and photographs that I took myself
29. Learn how to ride a scooter/motorcycle without crashing into a fence
30. Make my corkboard out of wine corks from bottles I’ve drank/enjoyed with friends

Monkeys, chocolate, and waterfalls

Had a really great day today! Took a tour to the jaguar rescue center which was amazing. The center takes in and rehabilitates animals to help them get back into the wild. Howler monkeys, sloths and many other animals surround the place. We were actually able to go into the monkey cage and play with these amazing little animals! They are so cute and cuddly! Then we saw the sloths (they have both 2 and three toed sloths. Some were sleeping but a few were moving around the little area. I'd never seen a sloth move before so this was crazy interesting to see! Heres a photo of a three toed sloth sleeping!


After the sanctuary we learned a little bit if the indigenous culture. We learned how they make chocolate and cocoa butter. As we watched their demo they let us taste the cocoa seed,which is covered in a white edible goo that you suck off. (ok everyone get your heads out of the gutter!) The seed is used for the chocolate and butter so you don't want to eat it. I picked up some vanilla and coconut chocolate to share with my new roommates this week! Sorry court, not you... I think it would melt by the time I get home.
They also explained a little bit of their Bri Bri culture and taught us some of their language. This was all translated terribly poorly by an Italian volunteer named Fabio. Hah.

We had a great lunch with freshly blended pineapple juice... Soo yummy!!

Then went on a wee little hike to a beautiful waterfall. When we got back our driver had fresh pineapple and coconut.. Mm!

The tour was great and now I'm relaxing and getting ready to check out of here tomorrow and head to Samasati and meet my yoga teacher training group. I am not going to lie, I'm so nervous. No matter how many books and articles I've read, and how many times I've practiced yoga, I still don't feel ready. I am excited to learn and absorb as much as I can get out of this training.

What I DO know is that these next two weeks are going to be filled with growth, reflection and a new direction and for that I cannot wait.

Pura vida.

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So much traveling!

Was able to sleep through pretty much the entire flight to Phoenix, which was amazing. Woke up to the captain explaining that we were over the grand canal. So beautiful.




So after my layover in phoenix alongside a 5 hour plan eride beside a 4 year old boy I arrived. After you go through customs it is pure chaos, looking for the driver with your name on his sign. Finally found him and he had some other guy drive me to my hotel. Sketchy to say the least.

The hotel was buzzing with hippies, as they were flying out early morning to a conference best explained as "Using nature to inspire everyday/normal uses".

An early 7am, 5 hour shuttle took me to puerto viejo alongside two older couples from the states, and a fellow from London. Bill, the man from London, is a videographer who has come down to do up a documentary on sloths. The last documentary he made was in regards to pirate fishing off the coast of Africa...sounds like not too shabby of a life.

Now I have arrived in puerto viejo and am anticipating my chocolate facial (the chocolate is locally made) and massage.

Tomorrow I will be doing to an animal sanctuary, a chocolate factory, and a hike to a waterfall. Saturday I will continue on my journey to Samasati, where I will meet up with the rest of my group for yoga training the next day.

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Starbucks doesnt open till 5 am

After two hours of sleep this is going to be the longest 15 minutes ever...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Edmonton. Airport

Packed!

Luon, check
circle mesh, check
silveressence, check
yoga mat, check

packed, and ready to go! 

See you all in a month :)

It's happening

So early tomorrow morning I will be starting an adventure that has been in my mind for years... Yoga teacher training and an opportunity to surf in Costa Rica.  I've been thinking about doing a blog for a little while, to share my insights and my experiences for anyone interested in reading... So might as well start today!

I have only just begun packing, flight leaves in less than 24 hours and still so much to do!  Cripes!  So rather than doing a huge giant blog now, I will let it be, and begin while I'm on the beaches of Costa Rica, anticipating my training and soaking in my new life :)

See you soon