The north island of New Zealand is lesser known island than the south. But the northern island is not to be missed. With its beautiful beaches with the Kaori trees spilling to the water, the stretches of white sand, the turquoise blue of the ocean. There are many beautiful places to see and adventures to be had in the north.

This day, began at Whale Bay, a locals beach. From Whale Bay, there is about a 45 minute hike along the beautiful coastline to Matapouri Bay. It is here,after my hike, I did this yoga practice. The sun was out, the vibe was good, and like all of New Zealand beaches, there were friendly dogs scampering about. I love both islands of New Zealand, and this hike along the northern coast, did not disappoint. 

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I love Venice, Beach, California. I love it for its food, its beauty, and its eclectic nature. Join me for a short yoga class at sunset on the beach. Breathe and move, finding healing in the movement in the moment.

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The experience of yoga in this jungle was powerful. I went from the loud crashing of the sea, the heat of the sun, the power of the ocean, to a jungle dense with silence. From the pounding heat of the sun to the reprieve of the shade. It was so profound to go from so much noise and movement to stillness and quiet.

As I move through my yoga flow here, I wanted to dance into my breath and into my movement. The sun shaded behind the dense foliage, I celebrated the moment.  the ocean, not 10 meters away, was the inspiration for this yoga flow. I have left the sound in the background. 

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I was in pain. My body had suffered during the car accident in Iceland. My spirit even more as I began to receive demanding phone calls from some in my group regarding insurance. I couldn’t sleep. I kept having nightmares. But yoga was my refuge. The moment of peace and calm. Breath, when all else fell away.

I was lucky to be visiting my good friends in Hamburg. The wife was someone I had done my advanced yoga teacher training with. She especially was so kind and understanding while I was in the throes of my post trauma. The whole family supported me. Even their dog would sneak out of their room to comfort me in the night.

But yoga was my peace and my teacher as I moved through my flow. Breathing in and out. Practicing kindness and ahimsa, non harm, to myself and my body.

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Still in pain, being in Hamburg and touring took my mind off things. Again, I return to yoga to get into my body, and my mind, heal my spirit. 

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After my accident in Iceland, I had planned to see some friends in Europe and meet my parents in Spain. At the end of the trip, my parents were home for a brief time before going to visit family in South Africa. I looked at my mom and dad, and began to cry. I did not feel like I could be home alone after the car accident in Iceland. It wasn’t the accident itself, but, the behavior of some of the people following the accident. Still to this day, I will never understand their actions. Yoga, acceptance, breath-work, being with a community who loved and accepted me, it was what began to truly heal me.

It was decided that I would go to South Africa to spend two weeks with my family before my parents came and met me. It was a beautiful and cathartic time. I am so grateful for this journey and my time of travel. It wouldn’t have been the impetus I choose to place myself on the journey, but I’m so grateful I ended up here. 💜🙏

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Botswana is truly the wilds of Africa. It is so removed from the rest of the world. First you take a large plane, then you take a hopper jet, then you drive an open vehicle until you finally arrive at the lodge. African hospitality is beyond anything imaginable. Arriving to candlelit dinners, the sounds of animals, playing a symphony into the night,delicious food, and the amazing views. I have grown up visiting the wild lands of Africa, and it never gets old. This lodge, Moremi, did an outstanding job and I would definitely recommend them.

Botswana is one of my favorite wildlife sanctuary‘s to visit in the world and I am
privileged to have done so multiple times in my life. I love this yoga class at the vervet monkeys chatter and play behind me. 

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Longyearbyen is the heart of the Arctic Circle in Norway. Called an Arctic Metropolis, it boasts 2000 year round residents. Allowing people to work with no visas, people flock there from all over the world to create better lives for themselves. Reindeer roam the streets, dog sled is a prime mode of transport, and there is a polar bear safety zone within the city limits. Half the year it is bathed in continual light, half the year cloaked in darkness. The people of the town must depend on one another in this harsh and changeable climate.

As I taught this class in the middle of the town, one can see the friendliness and connectivity of those walking home from a late night out. (The time is after 10pm! Notice the light.) People stop by, wave, and momentarily join in the class. I loved this town and my travels to the Arctic Circle and hope to return one day in the colder months.

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This spot was my favorite spot in Longyearbyen. It was at the edge of the town where the fjord ran in and the glacier water rushed out. There were rocks, ancient, as the Barnacle Goose and the Arctic Terns made their nests in the loose rubble.

The weather is so changeable here. The sun will shine bright, and then a cloud bank closes around you and the mountains can’t be seen. The temperature drops and the wind picks up.

In this video, you can make out the bright cap of the mountain before the clouds cover it completely and they disappear. It was cold, the wind nipped, and this moment I use to build heat, movement, strength, and stretch to the body. Enjoy this class from the mystical Arctic North.

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