Weekly Update

Hello from Edinburgh :)

Gosh so much has happened this week I don't even know where to begin.....How about with classes - they ROCK! I'm pretty full on in my teaching now and I couldn't be happier with my classes and students in general. This week, in addition to the 6 classes a week at St. Mary's I've been teaching and the two classes at Virgin, I added a private client, a class at Dance Base and 8 classes at Bristo Place. Just to translate all this for you: St. Mary's - these are classes Karen has built up - she rents the beautiful hall inside St. Mary's Cathedral twice per week on Tuesday and Wednesdays - I teach a beginner class both days, a led class both days, and a Mysore class both days - its a longggggg five hours in the evening but so enjoyable. I teach quite a large student base there and the space is GORGEOUS! Virgin as in Virgin gym - quite possibly the most beautiful 'gym' I've ever had the pleasure to work in and work out in. I teach two ashtanga classes per week there, and take full advantage of the facilities ;) Dance Base is a renowned national dance center where I teach one yoga class per week - but a rockin perk is that I get to take one class there for free - I'm gonna start the West African Dance class tomorrow and I can't wait ;) And then there is Bristo Place....this is my lil baby. These are all brand new classes, a brand new program that I'm starting, primarily for students at the University of Edinburgh but anyone can attend. I'm teaching three beginner courses and offering Ashtanga led classes Monday through Friday during lunch. This will evolve over the next month and a half - so by end of October beginning of November the led classes will become Mysore classes, once students have gotten a taste of the ashtanga practice and understanding of many of the basics of this system. Next week I will start teaching two classes at the Pleasance, which are also Ashtanga led classes for University students. As you can tell I've got a very busy teaching schedule here in Edinburgh - and I'm loving EVERY SECOND!

Here's the Scoop on Housing: I'm currently living in Morningside, a really beautiful area of Edinburgh in a two bedroom flat with a sweet guy named Peter. I'm actually just learning that he's super cool because he was out of town the first two weeks I was here. But I'm moving on Sunday...Morningside is beautiful but I want to be much closer to the city center - not that it takes more than an hour to walk to where I need to be, or thirty minutes by bike, or 20 by bus, but I'd like to be in the center of it all - and while morningside is beautiful so is the rest of Edinburgh. So I made this decision to find other housing about a week after I arrived....I was super happy to have someplace to 'land' but quickly realized I would be happier living elsewhere...Many of the free bits of time I've had in the afternoons and evenings the last few weeks have been consumed with finding and viewing flats. It's actually been great fun. I've me some really really interesting people in the process, a few of whom have become friends of mine; I've gotten a little 'peek' into the different types and qualities of housing that exist here in Edinburgh; I've learned SO much about the layout of the city and how to get around; and most importantly I've found the perfect place to live ;)

My new flat is located right on the Royal mile, which is super duper close to all my teaching venues. It is a clean and cozy flat on the top floor - nothing extravagant or luxurious, but everything I want in a place to live here in Edinburgh. And to top it off my flat mate seems really lovely. She works full time too and enjoys a quiet evening in or an occasional night out - and she said she is always down for a nice glass of wine - I was sold there but she proceeded to tell me she LOVES decorating the flat at Christmas.....OMG! She and I are gonna deck this place out with Christmas decorations and we are both excited to do it around Thanksgiving - which is something my mama used to do. I really didn't think I'd get to enjoy any kind of taste of Christmas this year, let alone get to decorate - so it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside when she told me. I have to admit I actually haven't even decorated my house for Christmas in a good number of years because of my transient life and also knowing I'd go see my family in South Carolina who always do it up for Christmas - my mama will be so proud!

During the transitional time when Peters new flat mate moves in, i.e. this Sunday, and when my future flat mates roommate moves out, i.e. October 19th, I had to find a place to live. At first I thought it would be quite difficult - but I actually have two lovely options to choose from ;) So all is good on the housing front!

The weather is not bad right now at all - I'm really getting used to the chilly/cold and it's been raining less this week, which has been quite wonderful. Actually, days when its not raining I feel like this is perfect weather - nice and cold to keep you on your toes but the sun shines and the scenery is out of this world. The colder climate has really changed the way I approach my practice, but that is also a good thing - I'm having to be even more mindful of my physical body. Some days the body gets in the way of quieting my mind, but I'm realizing those days are good too b/c they really help me to focus on and understand the moment....everything about the practice here is quite interesting - taking one day at a time and finding gratitude in whatever I find on my mat!