Our long, lovely summer holiday has come to an end. We travelled to the other side of the world and had quite an adventure with family and friends in Panama and the Bahamas. While in Panama City, I had the great fortune to discover
Yoga Akila, a small studio in the Paitilla District of the city, just across from the Hard Rock Hotel, for those of you who are familiar with Panama. Mijael, one of the main instructors in the studio, had such a unique way of teaching and encouraged us to connect with the sacred within each of us. He leans away from traditional Sun Salutations and works more on individual postures that work on strengthening the core. After each of his classes I felt as if I had exercised from the inside out. During Shavasana (corpse pose) and after a period of silence, Mijael played beautiful chants and encouraged the students not only to sing along but to hear and believe the words they sung. What a unique and divine way to end our yoga sessions!
At the end of July after a lovely, relaxing day out with my husband, I took a taxi to Yoga Akila for another of Mijael's classes. It was another great class and the yoga combined with the wonderful day I'd had left me feeling absolutely blissful. I believe in the Yin/Yang balance in life and sometimes I come face to face full force with this belief. That evening was one such time.
As I floated out of the studio, I hailed a taxi to take me back to my cousin's home. Joyfully riding home, I thought about how I was going to share what I had just experienced with my family, friends and students. Suddenly I was awoken out of my daydream to find that the passenger riding in the front seat of the taxi was climbing in the back seat to attack me. What's worse was that the taxi driver and this man were working together. It took some time before I realized that they wanted my money and mobile phone. However, even after I gave them what they wanted, they wouldn't let me out of the car. My mind raced and I continued to shout, scream and fight to get out of the car. When the attacker placed his hands around my neck and began to choke me, something within me told me to stay calm. My voice and body became quiet and still. I was very frightened but something else within me took over. Somehow I knew that if I was calm, they would also be calm. Sure enough he released his grip from my neck and after a few more scary miles, they stopped and let me out of the car. The overwhelming feeling I had was gratitude. I was thankful to be alive, thankful to be released from that nightmarish ordeal, and thankful that I wasn't physically injured in the process. Emotionally the experience has left a mark on me but with each day that passes, the mark becomes fainter.
The rest of our holiday was lovely and I was happy to heal surrounded by the love and warmth of my family. We had the opportunity to travel to the province of Chiriqui (my father's birthplace) to an area called
Boquete. What a stunning place to visit! Coffee plantations, horse farms, fresh produce and lush green mountains surround you in this Panamanian jewel.
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| Flash yoga at a thoroughbred horse farm in Chiriqui, Panama |
We also went to the small town of Las Tablas where the annual Festival of the Polleras takes place.
The Pollera is the traditional Panamanian dress, hand made with intricately stitched details. Women also wear elaborate bead work in their hair and loads of delicate gold chains around their necks. What a treat to see them dance and display this traditional artwork.
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| Ladies wearing the Pollera, the traditional dress of Panama |
Our Panamanian trip ended in the company of my son and his friend. They travelled from Seattle, Washington, USA to spend a few weeks with us. While there the three of us visited the Pozos Termales in El Valle de Anton where for a couple of dollars, one can smear warm volcanic mud all over the body, wait for it to dry then bathe in the hot springs. What a treat that was! If Mijael's classes worked my body from the inside out, the mud cleansed me from the outside in. We left there feeling relaxed and silky smooth!
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| Mud covered warriors! |
After saying good-bye to my son and my Panamanian family, we travelled to the Bahamas to spend our last few days of summer with our Bahamian family. My brother- and sister-in-law took us out on their boat to Rose Island for a relaxing day on the beach. As I sat on the beach, listening to my husband and his brother chat and watching my sisters-in-law swimming in the sea I longed to move closer to 'home.' Even though I am originally from California, home to me is where my family is. Home is also that peaceful place within me that I go to when I've settled into a posture, especially a particularly difficult one. It is a place of love, peace, surrender and acceptance.
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| Relaxing and thinking about 'home.' |
So, here I am back in Dubai, safe and sound and in one piece, thank God. Fields of Yoga classes will resume shortly and I've included the class schedule below. I hope you will find a bit of 'home' in one of my classes.
Days, Timings & Location:
MONDAYS
HATHA FLOW at 8:15 PM (@ Home Studio in Umm Sequiem 1)
TUESDAYS
HATHA FLOW at 6:30 PM (@ Fraser Suites, SZR, Media City, 7th Floor, pool-side terrace)
WEDNESDAYS
HATHA FLOW at 7:30 PM (@ Home Studio in Umm Sequiem 1)
SATURDAYS
15 Sept - 15 Dec 2012
7:00 AM Sunrise Yoga on Saturdays (Jumeirah Beach, end of 23A Street in Jumeirah 2 – this class is FREE)
Pre-booking essential:
Email fieldsofyoga@gmail.com to reserve your spot and for exact location of home studio
Rates:
70Dhs per class (pay-as-you-go)
or
500Dhs for 10 session package (3-Month validity period). You save 200 Dhs!!
Sessions are non-refundable once purchased
What to bring:
a yoga mat, small towel and water bottle.
Private classes can also be booked to suit your schedule & specific needs. For rates and availability please contact Julie at fieldsofyoga@gmail.com.
