House of Ashtanga

Saturday, 16 February 2013

Looking out for Whales!

Saturday - yoga day off. Helen hit the sea on her surfboard while Mileva, Meri and Francesca went on a whale watching trip.

What a wonderful experience! We were practically surrounded by whales; mothers and calves and hopeful males. We could even hear them sing with the help of a hydrophone. This time of year is great for seeing whales as they crowd the Maui shores to mate and calve. After this season they make their way to Alaska to feed and the females to bear the calves, only to return the following year.

Someone even proposed to his girlfriend on the boat! She said yes (I guess under the circumstances you couldn't really say no). We thought that was very sweet.

On the way back, we even saw.... A Double Rainbow!

I couldn't manage to take decent photos of the whales on my teeny weeny camera but you can just about make out the fluke of one here!

A rainbow hanging over the volcano.

Lahaina is a home to the biggest banyan tree in the USA. They look magnificent with their entwining roots and branches.

Wednesday, 13 February 2013

Happy Little Yogis!

Francesca whom most of you will remember from Newcastle finally joined us late on Monday. More yoga, surfing, sights and resting on the cards. We are ticking off beaches we've visited along the coast in search of sheltered sun bathing spots, good but not too strong surf and the most delicious coffee. Surfing has proved a bit tricky but coffee is excellent pretty much everywhere.

Taken outside the Buddhist mission in Paia. The little jar on the right is almond butter someone has left as an offering.

Meri, Mileva and Francesca being blown about on the beach.

You see board fences everywhere in Hawaii!

Sunday, 10 February 2013

Waikamoi Nature Trail

A quick drive down the Hana Highway. Winding roads and tight curves - but incredible scenery! And a short walk along the Waikamoi Trail, surrounded by trees, plants, leaves, green..... Pictures cannot capture the beauty of this place!

Friday, 8 February 2013

Very little news...

Days slowly unravel, one following the other. If it wasn't for the yoga, we wouldn't know which day of the week it is. We know when we're expected to do a led practice (Sundays, Tuesdays, sometimes Thursdays), when to do mysore style (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays). We know tomorrow is Saturday, day off (and to celebrate, we went out for breakfast and shared a brownie between the three of us). Everything else is wonderfully irrelevant.

Practice is starting to change for all of us. We are all feeling more free in our bodies. There are no schedules, plans, obligations. There is heat, there is freedom to do just as much or as little as we feel each day. Life couldn't get better than this..

Maui Dharma Center, in Paia, blessed by the Dalai Lama when it opened in 2007.

Ho'okipa Beach Park. There is a lookout point where people can watch and admire the skilled wind, kite and board surfers defy the strong winds and high waves of the north coast.

We eat in most days. Fresh produce, fresh fish and vegetarian food is readily available everywhere (though it's not cheap). This meal is dulse seaweed patties, salad, avocado and cooked vegetables.

Wednesday, 6 February 2013

Another day in Paradise...

This is the view from our little abode. The front door and window are facing north so we can see the sea from the balcony. There is plenty of sunshine every day but also light showers and gusts of wind. Maybe because of the geographical distance or the different way and pace of life we are all feeling quite free and removed from all worries of the reality back home. Just what we needed and came here for!

Today was practice number 4 with Nancy, Casie and Keiko. It's hard to tell what may change for each of us during our time here. We all have something we wish to work on, challenges and blocks that come up from the practice. Right now, we're just taking all the beauty and wonder in and taking it EASY!