Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!
Wow!
It is difficult to keep track of time.
Another Christmas Eve for us in Sunny Koh Samui!
For many of you in Snowy Canada we thought we post a couple Christmas pictures just so you could drool!
Actually, believe it or not, we really do miss having a "White Christmas". There is something about snow falling on Christmas morning, and opening presents from under a tree, cuddled up in some warm PJs, and drinking a hot cup of coffee or chocolate that you just can't beat - even if you do find yourself waking up on a beach in Thailand!

We wanted to wish everyone a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!
You are always close to our hearts and thoughts, especially around this time of year. We send our warmest wishes out to you, and hope that you are enjoying your own Christmas traditions with family, and friends, and all the people you love. Sending you all the good tidings of the season. May you all be blessed!

Meet Mr. Barkley!

Welcome to the Yoga Thailand Family Mr. Barkley!

Since the parting of our puppy Kali, we've been adopted by a new puppy dog... we've named him "Mr. Barkley". He is a gorgeous, huge, bear of a dog! We would have introduced you sooner, but we've been busy teaching a training group here at Yoga Thailand, and so haven't had much time for chit-chats or blog posts. However, we are back on the blog-posting wagon, so look out! You'll be hearing more from us soon!

Kali's Cairn

A Beautiful Memory of our Sweet Little Puppy Kali. It was a real treasure having you in our lives! May you be on your way to a lighter life and a brighter place. We Love You!


On November 8, our beloved Kali was struck and killed by a car. We buried her in the center of the garden and gave her a special funeral to send her spirit on its way. We buried her on the meditation cushion that she would sleep on every morning as we practiced yoga in the shala.

It is sad for us to have to say goodbye, and we will miss her beautiful little puppy personality, but we know she has now moved on, and has been liberated from her little doggy-life.
As Su (our Yoga Thailand cook) said: "Kali was number one!"

What is Death but a reminder to Live. A reminder to pause more often, to breath in each moment, and to appreciate the people and experiences in our lives. It creates a space for us to reflect positively, to love immediately, and to extend to others true compassion in each moment. Death cannot be an excuse to become "the walking dead" incapacitated by our grief. Rather, it is a invitation to live life more fully, and to make the choice to embrace the opportunity of living in each moment of every day.

It teaches us to stop and observe the flowers, and to plant the flowers of our choice in the garden of our lives, and then to arrange them in the most pleasing way. It reminds us to light candles and incense, so that we may see more clearly the beautiful garden that exists all around us, and so that all our actions will carry with them a pleasant smell. It creates a space and a moment of pause, so that we might breath more deeply and take in all of the sweetness of this life.

From our porch we can see Kali's cairn. The cairn is used to show others the way. It is a beautiful reminder to be present, and to not waste a moment of our time. Outside our little bungalow, the birds still sing, the ocean still crashes on the shore, and we will continue to go on rearranging the flowers in the garden of our lives.

Loy Krathong Festival

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
The Loy Krathong Festival is the Rainy-Season Festival of Lights. We are chasing away all the darkness and negative energy and inviting in the Light along with all the positive energy.

The Yoga Thailand staff taught our retreat group how to make their own Krathongs to place on the ocean later that evening.
The Krathong is set out on the ocean as an offering to the Divine. This offering is done to bring good fortune in the year to come, and take away any bad luck from the year that has past.

Here is a picture of Ta making her own beautiful Krathong! The Krathong is made out of the banana tree, and folded banana tree leaves. The center is filled with flowers, three sticks of incense and a candle. When you place the Krathong on the ocean you include a piece of your hair or a little cutting of your clothing, and some baht (money) as a offering to God or Nature or the Cosmic Forces that govern the universe.

Baby May and Little Ni are putting their Krathong out onto the ocean.
Make a Wish and Happy New Year to Everyone!

First Day At The New School!

Getting ready for their first day at a new school, Baby May and Little Ni were looking too cute and super sweet! Thought you'd like to see our little Yoga Thailand Kids all dressed up and ready to start their day!

Welcome Little Aidan!

Well, I know it is a month late... but as the saying goes... "Better late then never!"

We want to give a warm welcome to our NEW little NEPHEW, Aidan Milan Lichty (he's the little one). Born on September 25, he is now just over one month old.

These are some photos of little Aidan with his sleepy Papa, and radiant Mama!

As you might have noticed, he is demonstrating a true "Child's Resting Posture."
Showing us the beautiful simplicity of complete Surrender!

I think this may be an appropriate time to stop and give thanks for your own parents, and the warmth you felt being held in their loving embrace. To be thankful for being able to experience complete trust that all your needs would be looked after.

What happens along the way that we start living our lives in fear that we will not have enough, instead of experiencing the freedom that comes from trusting in Life and its ability to care for all of our needs?
Is it possible to reclaim the peace we once felt upon entering this world, before we forgot our inherent connection to the Source of Creation?

It seems to me that through the practice of yoga we are in a process of relearning this Art of Surrender that once came to us so naturally. In opening our hearts and taking down some of those walls we've built up to close ourselves in, we slowly learn to trust, to connect, and to feel the freedom of truly being held and cared for by something or someone other then our selves.
I'm pretty sure that remembering this lost art is the key to finding peace within.

Thank you little Aidan for reminding us to remember!

This ia a picture of our little puppy "Kali". So sweet! Puppies and Babies - enough to make anyone smile.

By the way... if you're a woman over the age of 30 who would like a little "inspiration" - you'll probably enjoy our new: "JUST FOR THE LADIES" Link!

Check it out!

Ode To Pete

For the Rock we call Earth - It's the only home we have.

Thanks for the visit, the great times, and good company! Thanks for the yerba mate too! We miss ya buddy, and hope you're enjoying the rest of your journey! You're probably off somewhere saving the planet, or at least trying to make it a better place, while we sit here on our porch and enjoy a coffee while looking out onto the beautiful garden that surrounds our little bungalow.

This thought reminds me that though we all approach life in our different ways, we really are all striving towards the same goal: To experience something deeper and more meaningful from the time we have here on this suspended rock floating in space. On some level we all want to feel true peace, to taste true love, and to enjoy true harmony within ourselves, in our relationships, and with the environment.
For some, this search becomes an external journey into unknown frontiers, and for others it becomes a discovery of mysterious internal states. For most, I suspect it is a mixture of both. Regardless of our "travel preferences" the lesson is the same, and somewhere along the way we eventually realize that we need not go much further then our own backyard to discover that what we really have been looking for has been with us all along. We have the opportunity to experience what we are after in each and every moment of the day - if only we would practice being truly Present.

Why wait until tomorrow when Now is all we ever have?

The Magic of New Life

Lovely little Lek, one of our friends on staff here at Yoga Thailand, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl yesterday, September 29. Everyone went down to see the little one - she was only 4 hours old.
Twelve of us all crowded into Lek's hospital room to look at, to hold and touch, and admire the new little spirit who had just entered this world in human form. Beautiful. Both mother and child were so at peace.

It made me think of how for the most part, people in Asia are much more connected to birth and death. The presence of birth and death is acutely felt here. You see it on the streets, walking hand in hand. Life here is often simultaneously fresh and foul, and it is celebrated for being so. The mystery and magic of it all is still bundled together, and no one is interested in trying to pull the thread to unravel life's cosmic secrets. How refreshing it is to live in simplicity with people who are happy to be enchanted by the beauty and mystery of life on a daily basis. Welcome to the world New Little Spirit! May you always walk towards the Light!

Gratitude for Your Inspiration

Some people you meet in life you will never "get over." They come into your life and make a permanent home in your heart. You can try to release them, set them free, and let them go, but as soon as you turn around and walk away, there they are all over again. Even if you move to the other side of the planet... they travel with you, inside your heart. Even after years have past, you wake up some mornings and still feel their lingering presence.

I believe these are the people we know we've truly loved: Those individuals who have become a part of us. Those who have touched our heart so deeply, or inspired such passion, that you never find yourself alone again. The connection made, even if very long ago, remains unbroken despite all space and time, or even death. It cannot be unmade. Its steadfast nature supercedes anything created or imagined. To love is to surrender yourself to this life-long connection, and if you have ever truly loved someone, lost and found yourself in another, then you know exactly what I mean.

Looking back, there have been some meetings, friendships, unions and partings that have given me back to myself, and it has been through these individuals that I have come to search out the meaning of Who I Am. To these people I am ever thankful, and I want to say, "I love you." Not with a kind of love that fades with time, but with the only kind of love that is worthy to write about - the kind that deepens with age. Despite our distance, you are always in my heart, because you are a part of who I am. My life is a testament to you, and for your contribution and inspiration I am truly grateful.

That is Love: The sweet taste of memories, and a promise for the future. Knowing that we are but a small part of something much bigger than anything we could possibly conceive. Knowing that we are in this together, that we are One, despite our apparent separation.

True Love does last forever - It can be no other way.

Om
Harmony

Who's That Girl?

Just a quick update on what we're up to here at Yoga Thailand. First, as you may have notice - my hair has been chopped! I'm back to my sassy, no fuss, no hairbrush required style and lov'n it!
(For the record - Jeff loves it too!)

So, we're getting ready for our Retreat starting Sept.16-23. It is going to be a fabulous week of yoga, fun, sun, relaxation and transformation. Don't you wish you could be here to join in all the fun?-!!
Well, if you really want to - you can!

We have three more retreats coming up before the end of the year - so book your flight, and get over here to hang with us!

Good Times & Much Thanks

I've been updating our links all afternoon, and my beautiful girlfriend Sati's been showing me the ropes of how to become an expert "blogger"! Check out her bolg Satiyoga - it's Awesome!

It's been a great afternoon of chilling with our Macs, drinking coffee, laughing and hanging on the beach at Yoga Thailand.

Oh, if only every day could be so sweet!
Let's aim to make it that way. Why not?-!!

By the way... "Sati - You're the Queen! Thanks so much!"

Our First Post

Well, here is our first Blog post. This is a photo from our wedding in Calgary, June 3, 2006. Currently we are in Thailand, on the island of Koh Samui, teaching at Yoga Thailand. Our fabulous friend Sati has introduced us to blogger.com, and we are looking forward to keeping everyone up to date on all the news and events in our lives from around the world!

Be Blessed!
Om