Sunrise in Santa Barbara...Fierce Jet Lag...Touching the Moon with Boz...!

Well I am back, and I imagine this is where the fun begins...The challenge of integrating such an extra-ordinary experience into life back home. The first transition I notice is moving from a culture motivated from the heart to a culture that seems ruled by the mind. Where in Thailand exchanges were direct, simple, honest, straightforward...here exchanges are more like a dance that both parties (perhaps unknowingly) take part in...many things are being said with body language, breath and a gaze of the eyes...but the words spoken say something else entirely. As if the mind and the heart are saying two different things.

That is going to be hard to get used to.

I got in on Friday night, and have spent the last 5 days wandering around the bozMakes3.com household in a jet lagged haze. I had heard stories of how tough it is to come back in this direction...that the jet lag you experience is far worse than on the way there...well it appears to be true.

The trip itself wasn't so bad. I left in such a state of balance that all the mishaps I encountered (cancelled flights, delayed flights, and the curiosly strong case of halitosis had by the guy sitting next to me (for 12 hours)) didn't phase me at all. I got a little sleep, watched a lot of movies and ate some really aweful food. If you ever are flying China Airlines...pack a sandwich.

This view is from the plane as we approached LAX was my first 'my god, I can't believe I'm back moment'...



Thankfully I have friends here that haved opened their home and given me free reign to do absolutely NOTHING for a few days. I spent the majority of my first couple days hanging out with Boz who does nothing other than keep it totally real.

Here are some shots of us playing music...







Watching rainbows...







Trying to touch the moon...







And just having a good time...



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As for the Thai Massage...I have been working on Joy and Alex the last few nights. It is so different working on regular bodies (ie...non masssage students)...I found there to be so much space for innovation and creativity in the way in which you can open and remove the blocks. Both of them have reacted really well to the treatments and have taught me a lot in regards to the power of this massage technique. I do notice I am still doing too much work...in it's ideal state...this massage should be effortless for the giver...flowing...smooth and effortless. Not there yet.

I have also been steady with my Tai Chi practice...which continues to prove an incredible way to build energy. Although my body still feels really out of balance, the tai chi has provided moments of balance and has been the catalyst to some nice sunrise photos as well.

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I get back to NYC this weekend and start teaching on Sunday. Strange going to teach a yoga class after 3 months of not doing any yoga. It should be invigorated and new. I figure I might as well just keep updating the site as I re-enter the NYC atmosphere. I imagine it will provide a bright contrast to the chill thai life that should make for some nice photos and interesting thoughts as my mind starts to get inundated with the culture, energy and the overstimulation only New York can provide. I will remind myself again at this point to Keep It Simple.

Here are some more photos from Joy and Alex's deck...just thought they were nice...






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See you soon and thanks again for everything!

Kevin

Winding down...

Well this is it...I take off from Chiang Mai airport the day after tomorrow.

I imagined my last week was going to be a slow one, that I would put my studies down, move into cruise control and just soak up the Chiang Mai vibe...I imagined wrong (again).

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Pichest's studio went under construction last week. He is raising the roof (literally) in hopes of keeping the temperature cool. So we moved outside and set up shop in the driveway. Even though it is in the low 90's during the day, working outside in the shade with the warm breeze and some fans was really nice







A very chill atmosphere as everyone seemed to be in a groove after a few weeks together...and of course (work or no work) Pichest manages to fit in a nap...super relaxed.







One of the sweetest moments I witnessed at Pichet's happened when he started in on some 'Thai Massage' on his Grandson...this kid is destined for greatness as he is constantly being infused with energy from Pichest's healing hands...here are some shots of them sharing some time.











One of the more bitter sweet moments came when Pichest stood over me as I was giving a massage and started calling out "Ohhhh Terrible...Terrible...Block in the shoulder...block in the low back...your killing him...too much in your head!" It was true...I was distracted. My nerves were on edge as this was my last week and I could tell I wasn't focused.

He sat down and told me to start working on him. Oh shit..here we go.

There was a part of me that wanted to prove how much I had learned, to show him how 'great' I was at massage. But of course that was just my mind, intellect, ego, pride...whatever you want to call it...doing what it does.

"Your shoulder too tight!" So I relaxed my shoulder...."Now tension in the lower back!" So I relaxed my back...."Tension in the knee! Relax...Relax...Relax!!"

For one, the fact that he can read and follow where I am blocked (while I am the one working on him) is a great lesson in sensing.

Two... all my concern about what 'the teacher' might think just kicked that function of the mind (ego, intellect, etc) into overdrive...which in turn generated more mental static...clouding my ability to clearly discern...which ultimately effected my actions....(in this case)... I gave a crappy massage.

For me right now, this is where the delicacy in Thai Massage exists. Where there is ever evolvoing art, nature, presence, vitality and energy. The balance of maintaining mental focus on what's happening underneath the hands...how does the client feel? Tight? Relaxed? Sensitive?)... receiving that information... deciding what is the best movement to facilitate balance, health, and well being...and then finally converting all of that into a seemless action. Feeling and sensing, not just 'do do do!' as Pichest would say.

Pichest took his time readjusting my alignment, explaining some technical stuff, told me if I wanted to get my thai massage skills up... to meditate by simply watching the breath move in and out ('Watching your self die all the time...breath goes in ....life...breath goes out...death...") and then smiling casually he moved onto to the next student.

I will be going back tomorrow (thursday) to offer thanks and say goodbye. What a gift this teacher is. I will forever be grateful and forever a student.

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Some shots from around town...the market place...the streets...etc...

















I am running short on time as I have a final meeting with a meditation teacher I have been working with (I also had my 5th and last session with Kun Anon today...see last post) ....rather than rush through some conclusion of my trip, I think I will wait to post a final posting once I get back to the states

I am curious to see what happens as I move from Thai life back to the States. How will the transition go? What will I take with me? How will teaching yoga feel after so much time away from my usual practice? Will my teaching change? All things that will be sorted out in time and all things that I hold little expectations for...other than I hope to enjoy myself by keeping it simple!

More from the road soon...

Kevin