Letters to things July

Things are a bit nutty around here. Tomorrow I teach my yoga practicum, 25 minute class for the first time and Wednesday we sit for our final exam (three hour exam). Thursday we have graduation (assuming I pass) and Friday morning I fly to Colorado. (Excited). Saturday I  am going to pick up my car from Winter Park and Sunday I move into my old/ new house. So ......... I may be a bit quiet on here......

For now I am soaking up my last few days in Costa Rica and Central America while trying to digest the last eleven months..... But for now here are some letters to some special things... as I get ready to go home.

_________________________________________________

To Zip Lining,

I knew climbing in the trees, zipping over huge waterfalls and giant cliffs would be exhilarating but you were more than that. You were awesome. I have not in a long time felt so limitless. It was beautiful, breathtaking, stunning and just a lot of fun. Proof is in the photos... (Ps all nine of us girls did it together, it was a blast, even when it started raining).

Best view of the line below over the waterfall.....

_____________________________________________________________

Dear July 4th Holiday,

Yes I know, last year Munich now this year Costa Rica.....I promise that although I have not celebrated you in the States for now two years in a row.....You have not been forgotten. This fourth I had the joy of driving across Costa Rica towards the Volcano Arenal with nine of my fellow yogis. We laughed, danced, ate junk food, dodged pot holes, climbed hills and drove in the dark and toasted to your honor when we arrived at our hostel that night.

Thanks for reminding me of where I am from and being a wonderful place to return home too
Cheers from this Traveling American
_____________________________________________________________

Dear Yoga Teacher Training,

You are Emotionally, mentally and physically exhausting.... but so good... I know that the end is near, but the exam and practicum that I still must do are the giant elephants in the room. I have to study ( a lot) before I can officially say I graduated and completed Teacher Training. I am looking forward to hopefully teaching in Colorado and getting deeper into my own practice. I can flip backwards now, go straight into headstand and am so close to forearm stand. More than anything though I have learned the value of taking time for yourself, taking deep breaths and living in the moment..... greatest lessons of all.

So glad I did this
From A New Yoga teacher

_________________________________________

Dear Passport,

I did not realize how valuable you were until you were gone. I am so glad that the hotel remembered that they took you from me. I thought I was loosing it. So if all goes as planned I will be reunited with you in two hours time. Remember that you are my only way to go home, so you are VERY IMPORTANT. Your copy I have, US government says is not good enough. 

So here's to having you in my hands soon
Your owner Kristina
_____________________________________________________________

Dear Last 11 months,

Deep Breaths. It is over on Friday and I am in awe. Awe of what I have learned, what I have seen, the stamps in my passports, the laughter, the friendships, my global family, the tears and the deep rooted life changes that have occurred. You have far surpassed my even wildest expectations...... gave me more, stretched me more and for that I am deeply deeply grateful. Thanks for not disappointing, for challenging me and for making me feel more alive than I ever have been before.

love me

_____________________________________________________________

Dear Family,

Thanks for everything. For your words, for your unwavering love no matter what. I cannot wait to see you all soon.

Love Kristina

See previous Letter posts here:

Letters December 

Letters January

Letters March

Letters April

Letters May

Love Letter to My Kids

If I cannot stay then simply take me home

Today during one of our lectures, Amy told me that I had ADD. (I could not sit still). I laughed then smiled and then pouted. I am restless. My mind is racing. I find myself waking up at night making lists of to dos in my brain. At the same time on the other side of my brain I am repeating yoga poses, inhale and exhale.

What has my life come to?

One year ago Friday, July 4, 2012, I was boarding a plane to meet my friends in Munich, Germany to travel for ten days. Just the day before, July 3, 2012 I resigned from my job knowing that I would be moving to Honduras. And now in  10 days I will be moving back to the States. Leaving this beloved region of the world that has captivated my heart and soul.

Today I sit in the crispy cool mountain air of the mountains of Costa Rica feeling tired, sore and finished. Ready for that next thing to come. Time as I am aware should never be wished away........ but if I cannot stay then simply take me home.

My parents are sending pictures of their newly built home. My sister at this moment is probably rearranging the shelves in her and her husbands very first home. A dear friend in Colorado is nearly eight months pregnant with a precious baby girl.

So yes today I am ready to be there.

I am closing the chapter on one of the greatest adventures I have ever embarked on. Stories to tell for the rest of my life. Travels, that now feel as though they did not even happen. A new pair of eyes that look at the world with wonder and amazement. And ears that are quicker to listen and a mouth that is slower to speak. A heart that trusts God more today than it ever has before. A mind that is restless. And a me that is a bit nervous, anxious and still a bit heartbroken......

"The best stories share common elements, weaving a tale with rich metaphor, mounting tension, character growth, plot momentum and slowing, sweet resolve. Any story you’ve ever loved is good simply because the storyteller paid attention to these elements and put immense work into drawing them out." (source)

I can only hope that I pay attention to the story that God is writing for me.

More truth about yoga school

I am almost two weeks into my yoga teacher training. I am getting in the routine more and have given more thought about the fact that I will be moving back to Denver in two and half weeks. (excited!) (As well the Rockies season is in full swing and the Broncos are just behind that).

My thoughts on my time here are a bit mixed. I love it one second, I hate it the next. It is hard...... but overall it has been really fun. I must admit this has taught me more in the last two weeks then I think I learned in many of my months at University....... Below are a few of more truths about yoga school. Enjoy:

• Your sweaty.... like all the time. I now shower twice a day. (I am going to try to minimize it to just once but it is nearly impossible.) Sweat dripping from your forehead onto your mat, the floor around you, on the person next to you. Its really wonderful experience. (kidding kind of gross).
• You change clothes all the time... I go from yoga clothes to more yoga clothes to then maybe a sweatshirt over my yoga clothes till I have nothing left to wear.
• Sleep is incredible.... I can assure you that if you are in class nearly from 6 to 9 every day with breaks for meals.....all while practicing four hours of yoga ..... you sleep like a baby. So might I recommend, that if you have trouble sleeping... give yoga a try, I promise you will sleep real good.
• It is a bit like summer camp.... Put 22 women at a resort for 28 days straight. We eat, do yoga sleep and study together.  It is every bit of late night sneaking in junk food, to sharing clothes, to sleepovers..... no matter what the age some things will never change.
• Chocolate is hard to come by........ The only complaint about our resort food.... Where is all the chocolate?????..... It was non-existent until we find out that Milka (German chocolate) is sold just down the street at the local grocery store and we all stocked up. All of us seemed to crave chocolate after doing two hours of yoga. Some of the girls as well bought bags of chips and cookies... to satisfy cravings after eating all natural, fresh food and a practically all vegetarian diet for now almost two weeks straight.
• I am not flexible.... before I came here I considered myself a flexible person. Someone who was capable of putting my head between my legs easily. I could place my hands around my feet in a forward fold. While those things are still true.... I have learned that I have such a limited range of motion in my hips. I am working on opening up my hips more.... and working every day but there are some ladies (no matter what the age) and my goodness they are bendy. I was asked today if I was a biker, and I said yes. She then explained that because my legs are used to going in the forward motion and not turning out this is why I do not have the fleibility in my hips....So hip openers are on my new agenda.
• An ego is not welcome here..... getting competitive in this only makes your practice worse. The very best yogis flow in and out of posture and recognize their own limitations and flexibility. The goal is not to compromise the integrity of the pose by folding in on your muscles or dipping in your back. But rather extending long and stretching  So while I would love to do many things... Rome was not built in a day so I have a ways to go. 
• Anatomy...... anatomy anatomy anatomy.. While I am very much enjoying learning about what all of the funky bones and muscles are in my body and being able to identify exactly what hurts, this stuff is really complex and very difficult. I have a new appreciation for the doctor now. For example when I want then to just tell me what is wrong, I now understand why..... There is a lot going on in there.
• 6 Pack is far away....... So yes this was news to me. Did you know that your six pack sits under two layers of abdominal muscles...??? Me either. So now I am using that as my excuse for why you cannot see mine and why they are so hard to get to show... They are far under there. I rest my case.

Well I must get going.. my breakfast break is finished. But I had a breakthrough this morning... I can now go from headstand into the half fold. (Victory). More yoga move breakthroughs later... Happy Hump day (Wednesday).

Yoga Q&A 101

Long overdue post about me going to yoga teacher training and my yoga love......

A little background, about two years ago I bought a groupon with a friend for a hot yoga studio in Denver that gave me 30 days unlimited at the studio for $45.00. If you take hot yoga regularly you know it is expensive so this was a steal. I had taken regular yoga classes at the 24 hr gym in Denver but never tried hot.

Welp long story short, I went to a class and then went the next day and then the next day and the next..... I was hooked. So I signed up for the full price and continued it until I moved to Hondy. I love the benefits of yoga, using my body as a weight, constantly being challenged, the relaxation, and a good sweat session (sorry tmi). So this now lead me to spread my yogi love to my roommates here, my family and friends. My mom and I took a class over Christmas in Louisville at Betsys Hot Yoga and took a class in Cabo on the beach..... I take full advantage anywhere I go with a chance to do yoga and look forward to teaching soon.

Some of you may have some questions so I thought I would answer them this way about Costa Rica....

• When is it?
• Starts June 15, 2013 ends on July 11, 2013
• Where is it?
• It is held at the Pura Vida Spa. This is a eight acre mountainside estate in the Alajuela province of Costa Rica. It is about 45 minutes from San Jose.
• Where do you sleep?
• I will share a bungalow/ tent room with another person who is as well in the training. They have two queen size beds, they are luxury sort of looking huts.... Shall see when I get there.
• Do you know anyone?
• Nope :) And that is ok. Excited to meet others from all over the world participating.
• What do you learn?
• Ashtanga Vinyasa method. A series of  70+ asana (poses). I will learn all the names,  opening/closing chants, principles of synchronization of breath corresponding to each posture. This type of practice is about the flow of the movements and can often be thought as more high intense than meditative. Although I believe yoga has incredible benefits for meditation. Hot Yoga will be taught s well as  Vinyasa Flow, Yin, Gentle and Restorative Yoga will be learned, and some prenatal yoga as well.
• What will you be able to do after you are complete?
• I will be 200 HR Yoga Alliance certified. My hope is to get connected in a studio to start teaching Vinyasa Flow classes and or Hot yoga classes. I am open to a lot of things, would love to teach kids, maybe at schools, and or in the corporate world in workshops. Who knows? One on one personal classes, options are endless, but really just start teaching.
• What does you training include?
• All classes, lodging and a three meal a day vegetarian diet. This is set up as well to be a retreat/ detox for the time I am there. (So excited for this part!)
• How many people are there?
• Not sure, in the past they have had around 16 people or so and then two teachers. SO it is very small and intimate to learn a whole bunch.
• How long is it?
• 28 days....6 days practice and training, 1 day rest. 
• How will you get there?
• I am going to take a bus from San Pedro Sula, Honduras to Managua, Nicaragua. I will stay overnight or maybe a few days in Nicaragua to then catch another bus to San Jose, Costa Rica. 
• When are you flying back to the States?
• The mystery question. At this time I do not have a flight booked. Scary? :) I don't think so. I looked at flights and lucky for me it is much much much cheaper to fly from San Jose, Costa Rica to Denver than from San Pedro Sula, Honduras to Denver. It is not that surprising seeing that so many people are going to Costa Rica and nobody seems all that enthused with Honduras. (disclaimer Costa Ricas economic stability and tourism boom is to blame, Honduras just has lots of work to do). 

All of this to say. I am beyond excited and nervous. I have no idea what to expect, and I already made a joke to my roommates who goes to yoga teacher training without being able to master a Pincha Mayurasana????  Welp that would be me.

I am a bit intimidated by other yogis who seem to be able to do all sorts of inversions and things that I cannot.  I am working on it, still practicing a bunch but it is certainly a work in progress. As well if you have ever taken a class  you know that a lot of poses have complicated names too...... yikes! Cheers to trying to pronounce them all.

Here is a Pincha Mayurasana in case you were wondering :

So to all of you who have never done yoga, think its weird, hard and or are indifferent. I can assure you will not be disappointed if you give it a try.

You may have noticed as well that I am flying to Denver.... That is because my things are locked up in a storage box and my car in a house in the mountains... Remember me unhooking my battery before I left here. I am going to hang out with friends, visit my very favorite places, hopefully play in the mountains and then get my things together to move.......... (yikes)

Alright cheers to friday yall. Enjoy your weekend. I have lots of posting. I have not forgotten to post about my kiddos either. Just waiting to organize the pictures of them :)

Warmest
Kristina

Home Again. Yoga School Pura Vida Costa Rica!?!

I am home. Honduras home again. The next time I board a plane I will be heading to the States for good. In many ways I look forward to that day in July but in so many more ways, it feels really good to be home in Honduras. After waiting a few moments for my taxi at the airport this afternoon, I heard my name called from across the airport.  After confirming that the voice was in fact trying to get my attention, I recognized friends of mine. (they were dropping someone off at the airport). 

It is so nice to call this place home and even more special to have someone call my name just as I landed.

Today Colorado is a blanket of white snowy goodness.... snow that makes it impossible to leave your house and as my friends used to say, it is "hunker down" weather. Where you hunker down in the house, with good food, wine, lots of movies and good company. My old house in Washington Park was a place that holds so many memories of these kind of days. Days when we would have snowball fights that proceeded through our front door, walking to Starbucks up the road through feet of snow, or walking to see if the bar up the road was still open. I miss this more than you know. I have envy at every picture someone posts of the inches that have accumulated on porches, posts about flights cancelled, and the ski slopes that are filled with fresh powder. I received an email from a friend, that said, "I am in Beaver Creek and its dumping!" What this girl would give to snap my fingers and be there right now. 

But tonight I am back in my bed in Pena Blanca... and my kids will be waiting for me tomorrow. I spent the afternoon doing yoga with my roommates in the every increasing temperate of our room, unpacked my things and bought fruit and vegetables for the week. Looking back on the previous week with my family in Cabo San Lucas I have decided it will most certainly be one of the most treasured trips we have ever taken. Not to bore you with a giant recap, just know that lots of sun, lots of coffee, lots of bloody Marys, beach yoga, yummy dinners, euchre, whale watching for the pacific life commercial, massages, facials including dad, our own pool, margaritas ..... but best of all seven days with my parents, my sister and her husband. (even extended when Josh and Britt got to stay till Sunday in Houston).

As for other news, I am beyond excited to announce that I am attending yoga teacher training in Costa Rica following the end of the school year. For 28 days I will be attending an intensive teacher training to be certified to teach Ashtanga Vinyasa and Hot Yoga. More details I will share later but after lots of research I found this to be a perfect fit for the type of yoga I want to teach and what better location than Costa Rica..... So from June 15- July 11 I will be in yoga school (Sounds funny).

Hello Textbooks.... more on there way. more fun doctor school i think :)

Night yall..... staying up later than planned. My roommate came running in to give me a hug at my bed. Feels good to be here, inspite of all the other places I wish could be too.....

I like this quote below..... Charles Spurgeon is good for that....

"There are no measures which can set forth the immeasurable greatness of Jehovah, who is goodness itself... Notes of exclamation suit us when words of explanation are of no avail. If we cannot measure we can marvel; and though we may not calculate with accuracy, we can adore with fervency." Charles Spurgeon

DAY 30!

Sunday I posted after I got home from our girls weekend in Copan and I promised a recap soon but I think this may have to wait yet again.... I promise soon.

Yesterday I accepted the reality that my kids are going to break my heart. Break my heart as in leaving them may quite possibly be the hardest thing I have ever done. I stood next to one of the boys today and he seemed as though he had grown a foot this year. They are getting bigger, smarter, sweeter, more of pain and I love them more every day...... Hoping this Tuesday they choose the latter.

As well tomorrow we are heading to the USA Honduras World Cup Qualifying match in San Pedro. So excited. Although for safety reasons I think I will try and downplay my USA excitement. Seeing as San Pedro has one of the worst homicide rates in the world, I figured I better play it safe.

In regards to this posts title, today is.... DAY 30. I am sorry if I have been quite annoying with my yoga postings but I can say after today I did it. I really did 30 days of straight yoga. For questions on which pod casts I have been using, you may send me an email and I am happy to share. I required that in order for yoga to count for the day I had to practice for at least 20 minutes. This has been on my list of things to do this year... See this old post here. And I did.

Cheers to the last 30 days, to one 4:30 am yoga session before school, to my room being filled with six of us doing it together, to practicing by myself, to practicing at Copan overlooking the valley, to it being the last thing I could have possibly wanted to do that day, to practicing at the D and D Brewery, to Kylie who as also joined me in the 30 day challenge, to feeling stronger, to feeling more relaxed, to feeling healthier and to making it habit I look forward too... Here's to you the past 30 days! Yay! Yay!

I am going to finish up with a bang, Kylie, Matt, Me and perhaps Faye and Lotte will be joining as well for an hour final session today. (although I am not sure this is it. I am not sure if I will be taking a break or not?)

Here are a few pictures that have been taken over the last few days. Enjoy.

Happy tuesday yall.
Warmest Kristina

Shavasana Sunday

Run/Walk with Alison at 7am. Fruit and Vegetable shopping after. Breakfast with roasted cabbage (yes I eat vegetables for breakfast sometimes). Skype with my parents for an hour. Bike ride to the D and D. Hire a tuk tuk to place the Kayak on top of the Tuk Tuk to get it to the canal. Kayak down the canal out into the lake. Marvel at the beauty of the lake on our very sunny day. Mention that it is like we live in Jurassic Park it is so beautiful. Float in the Kayak. Row back up the canal. Hire a tuk tuk again to place the Kayak on top to get us back to the D and D. Eat lunch. Talk with friends. Do yoga outside for an hour with Lotte in the jungle. Enjoy final shavasana with the sound of birds above. Watch Matt Check mate. Ride back home on our bikes.

Sunday Funday at its best. My legs are beat.

****Side note it is exam week at school. We only work until 12. Woohoo! As well we leave Friday for Guatemala. and Saturday is my Birthday!

loving this verse today. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matt 11:29)

Rainy Wednesday

My kids. My boys. Let me first talk about a few boys in my class. They push, shove, fight and I feel helpless. I do not know if they are just playing or if they are truly fighting. I yell. I get upset and they look a me with droopy eyes and I feel bad. I am supposed to love well. I supposed to teach them joy and patience. And let me tell you I feel that it is often in short supply.

It has rained for two days straight. I wonder how there is still water to fall. One of those questions I think I will ask when I get to heaven. :)

As well this morning confirmed that when I set the automatic timer on our coffee pot the night before we will not have electricity come morning. Which in turn means no coffee. ( My roommates have now asked me to not do that again). Needless to say we are slow to start this morning. I so need some coffee to pick me up.

Side Note: Matt just took a picture with a student in second grade because he is wearing a Notre Dame hoody. Children here get clothes second hand and from stands around town that sell recycled clothes. Clothes that someone brought down from the US most likely or from groups of people that have traveled. I am not sure the boy could quite understand why Matt was so excited, but he may have just made Matt's morning.

Faye, Matt and I standing outside during recreo.(reces).. Usually this is filled with students, running. The fog in the background is what was the soccer field. (hard to see)

Yesterday may go down as one of the most lazy after school days. I was not feeling well at all, so I laid in bed. With the rain carrying on into the evening, the motivation to do or go anywhere was not there. I got up to have something to eat, made some tea.. Matt came over and we watched teh documentary , Happy. If you have never seen this documentary I highly recommend. The movie is about the study of overall happiness in life. This movie is an attempt to try and conceptualize and measure the happiness of individuals across the world. You can get this on itunes right now....

What makes you Happy? Here below are a few of mine that make my list...

Yoga in my room, and some of the children of the hair dresser next door decided to join in.

Matthew and Photobooth on Bonfire night.

Knowing that this is what I get to see at Christmas. Hard to believe Rudy was so small one year ago.

My best friend since 1st grade. Getting to travel Europe this summer together. Cannot wait till Christmas!

College Friend and old roommate and now she is a Wife. Grateful she takes the time to send long emails to me, catching up, sharing life and that this photo was captured during our famous Mizzou Colorado tailagte.

Denver Snow. Missing it.

Grateful for tradition and the gingerbread tradition will carry on. I cannot wait.

Warmest to you on this Tuesday. Prayers are appreciated for some more patience. Going to be a long day.

Monday a Bit Late

*** Disclaimer this post is coming a bit late because we have been without internet. This was my Monday.

Spanish. My spanish needs some help. Slowly I am learning but I realize that if I want to leave this country and be able to articulate and understand I need more practice. Sunday after a good long run by myself (yes I ran alone for the first time, now that I am familiar with where I am, I took a gravel road through farms in the sun, it was one of my favorite runs since I have been here). On my way home I stopped by the souvenir shop in town, that sells mass produced Honduran gifts, the usual shot glasses, coffee mugs, picture frames etc. The lady in the store I recognized because her sister lives next to the boys house. (Matt and I needed directions to church one time and we asked them.) I bought a headband that I had had my eye on. While looking in her shop the lady in the shop said that she needs to practice her English and I said I need to practice my Spanish. I told her I would come back in the afternoons and sit out front of her shop with her and we could practice together. Today I was done at school at noon and I ran home from school. The girls took my backpack for me and I just took my phone, my keys and some money. I ran straight to her store. I sat out front of her shop with her for an hour. It is so helpful to be able to exchange vocabulary and talk. I am going to be visiting her each day after school. When I told her I could not come tomorrow because i have swimming, she said, “aahhhh ok!” (disappointed look) and then said  “I really like you”. I think this will really help my Spanish

Today was a good day, we got some new furniture today delivered (the teacher that came and went, the older lady from the States had a house by the boys that they moved things into and we got the things from her house). I mopped our floor while the girls were still at school. (therapy for me)

Our trash bin lid had fallen over the side of our balcony. Over the side of the balcony is really gross, filled with trash and we live on the second floor. I had no clue how we could get around to retrieve it. But today I saw a woman down below, burning her trash. I saw her only after I went outside to see where all the smoke was coming from. In my broken spanish I got her to grab it and throw it up to me. First attempt was a fail but then I made a motion of a frisbee and she gave it a try, it successfully made it up! 

As well Matt and I carved my pumpkin that Stephanie brought me from Guatemala. We decided to pay tribute to our favorite college football teams who are still both 8-0 this year. (notre Dame and Louisville of course). We are pretty proud. 

I did a load of wash, and decided I needed to take a picture, of the ridiculouslness that is my room. (will post later). As well we all just hung out, drank coffee, Matt was being a goof as per usual. We made cards for Philips birthday tommorow and I later did an hour of yoga. (addicting). 

Check out what I have now successfully mastered :) Matt is clearly so proud of me and I am so excited! It is now a nightly ritual to practice more.