Yoga Retreat Day 1 & 2

The retreat consist of daily practice of yoga, pranayama (breathing practice) and meditation along with only Kitchari as meals.
My goal: reconnecting with myself and find clarity.

Our place for the morning

• Day 1

1st day Kitchary

It feels really good to spend a morning in Yoga. I feel a little rusted although I practice yoga at home. I am more stiff. I feel my psoas in the posture (triangle, warrior, etc), not sure if it's good or not but I trust the process.
Kitchari morning, afternoon and night.
Afternoon with my horse.
Evening self Abhyanga (massage with oil).

The opportunity of doing the cleanse brings awareness of how the body and the mind works. For example I am not hungry but I crave for my "cote d'Or" chocolate:). It's more the habit of having seeds, chocolate, cheese at specific time of the day that I miss. Almost more a behavior problem then really the food itself.
End of the day, I feel very calm and light inside. My psoas and my lower back don't hurt. I don't feel anything. Yeah:)

• Day 2

I was very happy to go to the retreat this morning. Today the focus was on the kidney and the theme of the day was kindness and gentleness toward ourselves. Danielle asked us to treat ourselves today like we do with the person we care the most and we are the nicest. Very good practice for me as I tend to put everybody's need before mine. We did a very gentle yoga practice. The pranayama was very powerful.
Things are getting clearer for me. Being immersed into the yoga/ayurveda world reminds me how much I love it, how much this is me. Also as I detoxify my body, my mind, I start to see what is toxic in my life and where I should and shouldn't put my energy.

 

Our backyard where we take a digestive walk.

Fall is a difficult time of the year for me, even in Hawaii. Because of my constitution (body nature or type. I am a Vata) I am easily out of balance in the fall season (it's the season when the Vata dosha predominates). I can feel it in every aspect of myself: my joints, my digestion, my emotions, my skin. This retreat is so welcome to help me balance.

Mini Yoga Retreat

Tomorrow I will start my 5 days mini yoga retreat and I am SO excited about it because I so need it!

I hurt my psoas a few weeks ago and my lower back is still not very happy. My body is very tired from work. Believe it or not but it's been more than a year now that I didn't have more then two days in row off. I worked all the holidays, every week with some weekends too. So as we can expect, I am tired physically but also mentally.

I see this cleansing as an opportunity to take care of my body, to give it a break and to give it love and attention. I eat well and always on Triphala. I don't feel the urge of a physiological cleanse but I know it will have an impact on the mental too. I feel I need to dust my mind to see my path again. I need to connect with myself. I need fresh prana.

So for a week I won't work also! It's my vacation:) Ok I am still planning to go to the ranch to see my horse but I want it to be only quality time with her. I am thinking of the beach too but I really have to be organized! I am also planning of receiving a massage.

Can't wait!

Cross Country, last race

Today was the last race of the Cross Country season for Molly.
Last Saturday getting up at 6:30am to get ready to run a mile.
For the last run we had some rain. The girls were happy after running last week under the heat (92 deg Fahrenheit)!

Giggle Hill under the rain

The last race took place at Giggle Hill in Haiku.

Molly at the finishing line

Molly did really good with a time around 7min55.

Proud dad!

It was a great season and she is keeping getting better. I am going to have a hard time to keep up with her now!
More photos of the season will come soon. Check this post again in a few days for a link!

Our goal is to run together (Molly, Olivier and I) for the 5K to come.

Back on writing

It's been too long since I didn't do something I love: blogging!
I've decided to write again, share photos and thoughts, being a little creative, giving some life to a part of me that has been sleeping for too long.

This is tonight's sunset from the lanai. I often come back home late (too late) to be able to enjoy it from home. But I love to be able to sit on my terrace with a tea and enjoy this peaceful moment.

Kai the horse

Since the beginning of May we are leasing this beautiful 25 years old boy.

His name his Kai (it means Ocean in Hawaiian) and he is part Quarter Horse and part Arabian. He is a sweet guy with a lot of personality!!! A lot!!
He did some dressage when he was young and won ribbons. Later he also played polo. Kai loves parade too.
His owner is working a lot and doesn't have much time to see him. So at the end I am going almost everyday and take care of him; grooming, feeding, riding, working, massaging. He is part of the family now:)

Kai is staying at No Ka'Oi with other horses. He is part of a little herd:)

But he also likes his lonely time, grazing in beautiful Kula...

One of Kai's characteristic is that he's got a blue eye. Very pretty.

One of his favorite thing is having his alfalfa soup ;) hmmm yummy...

Sometimes we just go for a walk and I let him graze some more .

He is friend with the chicken too:)

Sweet Kai

Little trip to Lahaina

When you live upcountry you usually don't go very often to the west side of the island, at least we don't.
But sometimes ... like when we need to meet a guy with the same boat as ours ... we go the the west side and enjoy being a tourist for a couple of hours:)

On the way to Lahaina, the beautiful West Maui Mountain.

 I love this cute little church on Front street.

Kamehameha Iki Park.

Ocean front.

Relaxing at the beach...

One month

Let me introduce you Barnaby the dog, Barny for close friend:)

Barnaby is a little bite more than a year and as you already know he is a rescue dog. We don't know much about his past but what we can see is that he is very shy, sensitive, didn't have a proper socialization but he is eager to learn and please his new mum:)

After a week he started to feel more comfortable and was able to sleep in a way more relaxed way.

He came with us at the beach when Olivier was kiting so we can have a big walk. He enjoys it but sweet Barnaby is car sick because he so so scared:( So I try now not to take him for long trip and do a car training with 2min drive at a time.

Let's see what Ayurveda has for him :)

Two-three weeks and he is getting used to our little routine like brushing the teeth:)

And finally he picked up his toy to play. He was so happy to run for it and play little tug of war, always with lots of gentleness of course.

Proud and happy Barnaby!

He even started Yoga! But not very sure about what to do on the mat;)

We now go for a long walks near our house (Makawao Recreation Park) and last weekend he even walked unleashed for a part of the walk. He stayed close to us and respond to commands. Amazing Barnaby!
Three weeks and he walks with a wagging tail up:)

Best buddies:)

So much love for each other...

After trying different toys he has his favorite one: a fluffy toy. He is crazy about it and takes it everywhere. He goes to bed with it and sleep with it. So sweet.

One month with us already and everyday is a blessing.