Phantom Lessons & Yoga in Indonesia

Back in Ubud, this time to assist Eoin Finn with his Blissology Yoga Teacher Training.  We were so fortunate to stay with Made and his generous and welcoming family.  Our commute to the training was a mere 5 minute walk across these rice fields.  In Made's lush gardens we learned about his efforts to facilitate the training of local village kids in the nearly lost art of Balinese palm leaf writing.  He helped us understand the rituals of the island's Hindu families.  An image that will stay with me is of men and women gathering fallen blossoms for the three times daily offerings.  Made also made sure we knew about the royal cremation ceremony, a very rare event for which the community had been preparing for many months at tremendous cost.  Words can not describe what we witnessed, but the photos below give some idea of the awesome spectacle. 

The training itself was a great opportunity to refine our technique and become more confident as teachers.  All intensives such as these are energetically demanding, but equally rewarding.   We are happy to have made over 30 new and lasting friendships.   

Bali, I'm afraid, is not all meditating in warm breezes and umbrella drinks.   Throughout May I suffered through a very curious string of mishaps, most notably a hurt neck, a head cold, a fall down some stairs bruising my spine, 'Bali belly', and two centipede bites.  The people of Bali believe in light and dark spirits and there was general concern, myself included, that I was being harangued with an indecipherable supernatural lecture.  It wasn't until some ritual cleansing and some mental boundary setting that I began to feel well. Similar to our experience living in Hawaii, Bali is a powerful place, not an easy place.  But it can definitely get your attention and initiate some useful contemplation and self awareness.

The past few days, we have been on Nusa Lembongan for some relaxation and diving.  No streetlights, dirt roads, quiet beaches, seaweed farms, and waters chock full of coral gardens, manta rays, and a host of other creatures.  As we prepare to leave the country, it brought us back to our dream of Indonesia and provided inspiration to return for more.

For now, we are off to Malaysia and the Perhentian islands.  Best wishes for peace and contentment to all of you.

~Micah