For anyone interested in a new career path, Varkala is home to the Brilliance University. Yesterday I was in town and stumbled upon the college campus. It was located off the main road and down a small alley. The entrance was very humble and the only signs marking the college was a simple sign in red block letters above the door. I am sure that they will happily accept foreign students. Watch out Ivy league schools, this small and rather remote school is pumping out some of the most forward thinking, creative, and intelligent people around.
So, my time here in Varkala is coming to a close. I have finished the Thai massage course and will be heading back to Sri Lanka in a few days. I will return to the yoga center and continue to teach partner yoga and help out around the place until March. I'll also practice Thai massage on lots of people. It's been great being here in India and I look forward to returning in the future.
I am off to go teach a partner flying yoga class with a bunch of the massage students now. They are all curious and excited. During the course we've done several partner yoga gatherings and everyone has loved it. It's so wonderful to see how excited and happy people become when they get to work with another person in this way.
Many blessings from the southern tip of Inida. Jacob
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Varkala, India
Hello Friends,
I am writing to you from Varkala. This tourist beach town is on the very southwest coast of India just north of Trivandrum. It was a very short 40 minute flight over here from Colombo, Sri Lanka and then a 2 hour ride on a local bus. The bus must have been 50 years old at least, had no windows thankfully, and it's amazing that the 30,000 pounds of steel moved at all. From a standstill the gears rattled themselves into alignment as the bus shook. Once moving the breeze and sights were lovely. The brakes worked and although there were not any shocks on the bus the trip was delightful.
I must say that the more time I spend here in Asia the more I like it. It feels very familiar to me and I can easily see myself returning here for many years to come. I came here a week ago to attend an 11 day Thai Massage course. The class is going really well and I am learning lots of new things......which I'll share with all of you when I return.
So, India is definitely quite busier than Sri Lanka. Obviously there are many more people here and the sights, sounds, and scents are extremely stimulating. Where I am, however, is a tourist area and it's kind of wierd to be around so many white folks again. Beach umbrellas, people trying to sell you stuff constantly, coffeshops, pizza places, etc. Where I've been in Sri Lanka is the complete opposite. So, I'll be in India until the 27th and then I will head back to Rocky Point for the rest of the season to continue practicing, teaching partner yoga, and giving lots of Thai Massage to people. On future trips to India I will set off and explore more of the country for sure....this time it's just a little taste.
The sounds here are so beautiful.......a screaming horn, followed by gentle chanting that drifts across the breeze, then a sudden explosion of fireworks for some various festival that's happening nearby. Dogs barking, a mother yelling for her kids, another horn, and oh, it's prayer time for the Muslim population. At 5AM everyday I hear the prayer call coming from the local mosque, just as I do at Rocky Point. It is very calming and soothing to listen to. I hear it each morning as I wake. Then it's broken by a bus slamming on it's brakes to avoid an old man on a bicycle. The horn is used very differently in this country.....it's just applied at all times. The roads have few rules..the only one is to not be hit.
The scent of burning trash and especially plastic is always unfortunate and all too common. Then the breeze shifts and the smell of plastic is replaced by fresh sea air........followed by the very familiar scent of incense.
Many blessings and love from South India in the state of Kerala. I'll send some photos soon. Jacob
I am writing to you from Varkala. This tourist beach town is on the very southwest coast of India just north of Trivandrum. It was a very short 40 minute flight over here from Colombo, Sri Lanka and then a 2 hour ride on a local bus. The bus must have been 50 years old at least, had no windows thankfully, and it's amazing that the 30,000 pounds of steel moved at all. From a standstill the gears rattled themselves into alignment as the bus shook. Once moving the breeze and sights were lovely. The brakes worked and although there were not any shocks on the bus the trip was delightful.
I must say that the more time I spend here in Asia the more I like it. It feels very familiar to me and I can easily see myself returning here for many years to come. I came here a week ago to attend an 11 day Thai Massage course. The class is going really well and I am learning lots of new things......which I'll share with all of you when I return.
So, India is definitely quite busier than Sri Lanka. Obviously there are many more people here and the sights, sounds, and scents are extremely stimulating. Where I am, however, is a tourist area and it's kind of wierd to be around so many white folks again. Beach umbrellas, people trying to sell you stuff constantly, coffeshops, pizza places, etc. Where I've been in Sri Lanka is the complete opposite. So, I'll be in India until the 27th and then I will head back to Rocky Point for the rest of the season to continue practicing, teaching partner yoga, and giving lots of Thai Massage to people. On future trips to India I will set off and explore more of the country for sure....this time it's just a little taste.
The sounds here are so beautiful.......a screaming horn, followed by gentle chanting that drifts across the breeze, then a sudden explosion of fireworks for some various festival that's happening nearby. Dogs barking, a mother yelling for her kids, another horn, and oh, it's prayer time for the Muslim population. At 5AM everyday I hear the prayer call coming from the local mosque, just as I do at Rocky Point. It is very calming and soothing to listen to. I hear it each morning as I wake. Then it's broken by a bus slamming on it's brakes to avoid an old man on a bicycle. The horn is used very differently in this country.....it's just applied at all times. The roads have few rules..the only one is to not be hit.
The scent of burning trash and especially plastic is always unfortunate and all too common. Then the breeze shifts and the smell of plastic is replaced by fresh sea air........followed by the very familiar scent of incense.
Many blessings and love from South India in the state of Kerala. I'll send some photos soon. Jacob
Friday, January 9, 2009
AshtangaLanka
Hi Friends,
This season at AshtangaLanka we have a new Ashtanga teacher and we are in a rebuilding year. We've had guests coming but we are trying to get the word out to attract even more folks. It has come to our attention that the more links and discussion there is about our website the higher Google ranks our site when people do a Google search. Therefore I am writing about AshtangaLanka in my blog.
If anyone wants to see the website it is www.ashtangalanka.com. Also please spread the word to anyone you know who may be interested and please come visit us in Sri Lanka if you can. You'll love it. I hope that you are all happy and healthy.
Namaste. Jacob
This season at AshtangaLanka we have a new Ashtanga teacher and we are in a rebuilding year. We've had guests coming but we are trying to get the word out to attract even more folks. It has come to our attention that the more links and discussion there is about our website the higher Google ranks our site when people do a Google search. Therefore I am writing about AshtangaLanka in my blog.
If anyone wants to see the website it is www.ashtangalanka.com. Also please spread the word to anyone you know who may be interested and please come visit us in Sri Lanka if you can. You'll love it. I hope that you are all happy and healthy.
Namaste. Jacob
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Learning to Juggle
Hi,
This fall I took a CircusYoga Teacher Training and one of the things I learned was how to juggle. It's very addicting and since then I have shared my new passion with lots of people. The other day I had a delicious rice and curry meal with the family that I befriended last year and taught the kids how to juggle. First you start with scarves and then move onto balls. Kids and adults love it.
I have also been teaching lots of guests at Rocky Point. There is a woman at the center who is traveling with a hula hoop so we've all been having fun perfecting our skills. We've also made new hoops from materials in town and now the hula and juggling addiction is spreading across the Southern coast. Ah, I love the circus!
It's great sharing these things with people. The laughs, smiles, and playful child within all of us immediately comes to the surface.
Love and Light from humid Sri Lanka. Jacob
Monday, January 5, 2009
Coconut Harvest
Greetings,
Happy New Year! Down in these parts our new year was marked by a coconut harvest. The area where we live is covered with coconut trees and about every 10 weeks or so they need to be harvested. If they are left on the trees they turn into very deadly rocks falling from the sky. The coconut is used in just about everything we eat here. From drinking the coconut water to using the meat, and making coconut milk, it is such a versitile food. In these photos you can see the man (and his tools) who climbs up and cuts out the mature coconuts. He makes it look so easy and can climb a tree in 10 seconds flat. Several of us tried it out but barely got off the ground.
Things here at Rocky Point continue in the same routine otherwise. We've had a full house the past few weeks and it's been nice to have 15 people around the table for meals. I hope that you're all happy and healthy. Lots of love and light from 6 degrees north of the equator and on the opposite side of the planet.
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