July 25, 2018 SUMMER BREEZE

Yoga on the beach. There's something about the waves matching the breath that makes it  transformative. It's like HOT YOGA--but outside--with a twist. The sand actually makes you work harder as finding balance--or your center--can be a bit precarious. It takes CONCENTRATION--but finding your Drishti--YOGA GAZE--in this case the New London Ledge Lighthouse--makes it worthwhile.  Being at the beach also makes you feel more connected to the earth. You really need to DIG into the sand-- literally be grounded to it--to be successful. The body and the earth actually work together--a symbiotic relationship of sorts--to hold yoga poses. Did I mention the AURA too?  The breeze--waves--blue sky--scents and sounds REALLY make you forget everything. Worries dissipate--the mind is FREE and CLEAR--for a little while.  It's a wonderful way to connect the mind--body--spirit--environment and I can't think of a better way to start the day. Thanks for including me in your yoga practice. OM. 

All this spiritual talk made me think of a wonderful book I finished last week by Jan-Philipp Sendker called The Art of Hearing Heartbeats. Not sure how I missed this International bestseller from 2002 but so glad I found it. Better late than never right?  Set largely Burma--today Myanmar--this uplifting novel is about the power of love not only for half a century but also a world away. At the start of the novel, Tin Win, father of Julia Win, disappears right after her graduation from law school in New York City leaving the family devastated and confused.  Four years later, an unmailed letter written by  Tin Win several years earlier is found in a desk by his wife.  The letter is addressed to a woman named MiMi from a mountain village in Burma called Kalaw. After reading the letter, Julia sets out on a journey to find out what happened to her father. Shortly after arriving in Kalaw, she is approached by a man named U Ba who claims to know her father. He proceeds to tell Julia a story about her father's life that  she has  never heard.  This is a lovely, touching book that I highly recommend. The characters are real and the descriptions of Burma create a vivid picture of what life is like for the inhabitants of this harsh land. Just found out that there is a sequel. Can't wait to read it and find out what happens next. This book is about 325 pages long--but only a 4 mile run--as the pages melt away like butter. It's that smooth!