Yoga Happens in Thailand

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

2006-03-15T18:05:00.000-08:00

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...

...

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.

...

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...

....

See you soon and thanks again for everything!

Kevin

Winding down...

2006-03-08T00:19:00.000-08:00

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).

...

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.

...

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

More Pichest ...1st Annual Chiang Mai Japanese/Greek Festival...Shaolin Tendon Massage

2006-02-28T04:09:00.000-08:00

My departure date is approaching and I am ready as ever to get home and start integrating this experience into life back home. A feeling has developed over the last week that I have reached a peak and accomplished what I wanted in coming to Thailand. I feel incredibly fortunate and blessed to have been able to have this experience.

So what has been going on the last week?

....

Things are in a state of transition at Pichest's. Jason, who has been Pichest's main assistant the last 5 months or so, had his last week this week. He is headed back to Tennessee to teach and practice Thai Massage at a retreat center in TN.

I feel really fortunate to have been here during Jason's run. His ability to articulate specific instruction in more detail (ie...in English) made it much easier to understand Pichest's vision of Thai Massage. And his massage work is at such a high level of expertise that to get to work with him, well I feel just plain lucky.

We got together at a rooftop bar in Chiang Mai for his going away party...

If you are in TN and want to receive some really special Thai Massage work
Jason's contact info is tamsabai@hotmail.com.

....

In Jason's absence the roll of assistant has been handed to Noji. Noji has been with Pichest for the last few months and has been doing massage in Japan for the last year and a half or so. His style is completely opposite of Jason's but no less extraordinary. What I have learned by watching him is the potential for seemless flow (which I am far from at this point). When Noji is working, you don't even realize he has picked up your leg, stretched it, and set it back down...you just feel ease, lightness and energy flow...

One of the core principles of Pichest's style of Thai Massage is to go straight to the source of the problem, straight to the block, and move it out...Create openings in the energy lines and then move the stale energy out of the body. To do this properly you need to create softness and sensing skills in the palms so that (as the giver of the massage) you are able to find the blocks while encouraging the receiver (by your touch) to release and let go...It requires a state of total relaxation on the givers part (for any tension will immediately be felt by the receiver and interrupt the process)...this delicate balance of softness and strength is something Noji has already got figured out...

....

One of the more powerful moments I experienced during the week was being witness to Pichest working on Yoshi (a Massage Therapist from Japan). I was sitting with Pichest discussing the ability to read people's bodies and assess how deep to work...(how much can the receiver take both physically and emotionally).

Yoshi came up and politely asked if he could interrupt. He explained it was his last day, and that in three weeks he has yet to have Pichest do any work on him. he wanted to know what it felt like to have Pichest work on him. Pichest looked at me as if to say, 'what do you think is the right way to respond?'...I looked at him blankly and waited for him to act.

He instructed Yoshi to practice on him first. After taking a really deep breath and getting centered, Yoshi went in on Pichest back. It appeared that being invited to work on Pichest was incredibly humbling for him and a special moment. Within minutes Pichest was gently barking out to Yoshi to relax his shoulder, to release his thumb and to move from the weight of gravity...'relax the body..too much tension...not like that...too much tension...relax the bodeeeee'

Pichest jumped up and had Yoshi sit in a cross legged seat. It seems that the whole time Pichest was receiving the massage he was mapping out where Yoshi was blocked. What happened next was beautiful. Pichest went right in on him and within 2 or 3 minutes had Yoshi on another planet. I got the feeling he learned more in that three minutes that in three weeks...just look at the look on Pichest's face...it tells so much..notice the focus on his face...notice his awareness is completely in his hands...his mind and his heart are in his hands receiving information and removing the blocks...amazing...

....

Here are some shots from lunch time...just hanging out and enjoying moments with some good friends...

...

At the end of the week the group from Pichest's decide to meet up on Saturday night for what would become the first Annual Chiang Mai Greek Japanese Festival. The Greeks would provide the Ouzo, Feta, Raki and the 'Halara' while the Japanese would bring the Sushi, Sake (actually this didn't happen as the Sake was too expensive) and the 'Domo Domo!'

Things started out slow as our festival consisted of one Greek girl (Thea...sorry for spelling errors..) and one Japanese girl (Miko...again..sorry..)...

...but by 9pm all had arrived and it was on. The First Annual Greek Japanese Festival was a huge success. Midway through the night we moved to a local Reggae bar for Mojitos and a mellow mood...I look forward to next years festival...

....

Last, and so far from least, Kun Anon and the painful Art of Shaolin Tendon Massage. What is Shaolin Tendon Massage? Born from the Shaolin tradition of Kung Fu, it is a deeply intense massage of the tendons, structural realignment of the bones, and unhumanely strong pressure on the accupressure points (based on Chinese Medicine energy lines) to promote health.

What it is really is an exorcism for any deeply held tension and all I can recommend is that if you ever receive it...breath as deeply and often as you possibly can. I have my 5th session next week.

Today Kun Anon was on the rooftop of my building (his office is there) and I was able to get a picture with him... and he did some imprompt due work on my hands... (he is almost 60 years old by the way)...

He then let me sit in on a session to observe and learn some technique. It was the first time I saw the massage from this vantage point, and I am just glad that I didn't see this first or I might have never gone in for a session myself...I will say...it is the most efficient and effective bodywork I have ever received...it is just painful as all hell...

The thing is, the massage is directly on the tendon, so he has to move in on the tendon before the muscles have a chance to react and tense up...so the movements have to be percise, extremely fast and incredibly strong...he has been training in Shaolin Kung Fu for 35 years...he is friggin fast...and I have never actually witnessed this kind of strength in person. At one point I was asking him about muscle strength versus energetic (chi) strenghth...he held out his arm, filled the arm with energy (chi) and invited me to hit it as hard as I could...which I did...and I think I caught him laughing at me...it was like hitting steal...crazy...

....

So I leave next Friday. I can't believe it... I will check in again as I get to California for my decompression (or maybe once more next week)...should be an interesting transition back to the states...I can't wait.

Much much love and many blessings...

Kevin

Meditation exercise...

2006-02-16T01:29:00.000-08:00

I have recently received a couple of emails about these meditation drawings I posted in the past. "What are they supposed to be drawings of? What do they mean?"

So I will explain it and hopefully ease the mind of my friend who is concerned I have gone over the deep end. Now that I think about it, this might just completely convince him I have...ah well ; )... if you meditate or have any interest in the practice...I hope you find some inspiration or benefit in the following...if not, just skip it!

...

There are endless forms of meditation. This is just one. In fact this could be described better as part visualization...part contemplation...with the potential to enter the experience of meditation. Consider it a tool to help focus the mind, bring vitality to the systems of the body, and to awaken the more subtle bodies of energy (prana, chi, kundalini (which are in essence the same thing...vital energetic life force).

This particular exercise also includes superimposing concepts in the mind such as 'joy', 'truth' or 'love' into the practice (much the same as the Buddhist meditation technique which focuses on Loving Kindness).

The idea being that you can willfully increase your sense of these virtues by focusing your attention on them for a few moments a day.

So for example...while your attention is at the root of the spine, you focus on a connection to the earth, you draw up energy from the floor and enliven the hips and pelvis. Moving upward through the body, in the lower belly you contemplate a sense of Joy, as you reach the solar plexus you contemplate Vitality, the heart...Unconditional Love, the throat...Truth/Honesty...etc...

The practice also includes visualization of "Chakras"...Chakra simply means "wheel". This philosophy being that there are energetic centers in the body that spiral at various rates and assist in the movement of the more subtle energy in the body. An imbalance in these energy centers can lead to poor health, emotional and mental disturbances, and a general sense of imbalance in the body.

With focus and attention you can increase their vibratory rate, create balance and symetry and expand them to infinite proportions. In this example each one has a color and their individual size isn't specific...it is just what I was feeling at the time.

Again, this is just ONE form of meditation, and for the sake of time, I am being extremely brief in the explaination.

So where do the drawings come in? Well I have been using this technique for about 2 and a half years now. The drawings first started out as a way to pass the time. But what I found, was the act of drawing the energy centers led to a deeper sense of connection to them. In the beginning (for me anyway) it took a lot of imagination to create the experience of spiraling loops of energy in the body, but over time I was able to drop the mental effort and simply experience the sensations in the body.

What resulted was access to an incredible resource of energy and vitality, clarity, stability, a sense of connection and a dramaticly increased ability to focus.

(Not a bad place to add a note that when one does start to experience these sensations and feels the increase of energy, non-attachment and humility are absolutely crucial if one hopes to continue their progression. Nothing will kill a practice faster than too much pride or arrogance in ones accomplishments or the fear of losing what has been attained.)

So here are a few photos that show the process (at least in a rudementary sense)...

Perhaps words and explanations just get in the way...take a look...if the images raise any questions, or elicit any response in your body well than great...if not well than great. I would be more than happy to discuss any of this stuff at length, just email me. (Although you might have noticed my email correspondance is suffering, I am about a month behind in responding).

Here is the drawing raw...

And then the slow build up of energy...

Then things start to really get cooking...the energy builds and starts to expand and move a bit...

Here it is in Technicolor...

So that is the deal on the meditation drawings...If you want to see some really beautiful stuff and this concept taken beyond hobby and to a divine level...visit cosm.org. Alex Grey will change your idea of the energetic body.

Much love and if I haven't emailed you back I am sorry!!! Time is limited here as you can imagine...

love love love.

Kevin

Life in Pai...Organic Gardens...Monks on Mopeds

2006-02-14T03:32:00.000-08:00

I had no idea how stressed out I was until I got to Pai. It's a small town about 3 and a half hours northeast of Chiang Mai. People that have been there for years complain that it isn't like it used to be (where there was once 2 Internet cafes...there are now 12), but compared to life in Chiang Mai, Pai is all about the mellow.

The ride up was beautiful.

About a half hour into the trip there was a definitive drop in temperature (into the 60's) and the pollution disolved down to almost nothing (barring getting stuck behind some old trucks spitting out black exhaust). The road is a curvey one with incredible views, tucked away temples, waterfalls and the occasional meandering cow.

I have a 125cc motorbike which proved to be enough to get me up the steeper grades, but the lack of suspension took its tole on my recently opened lower back (the hotsprings would later reverse that). I stopped a couple times along the way to take in the view...have some coffee and rest the ars. Yes Mom, I was wearing a helmet...well...most of the time.

click to enlarge...

It was dark when I arrived and that first night I landed at a guest house that was more hut than house. I dumped my stuff off and went back into town to grab some food. Synchronicities being seemingly unending in Thailand, as I was stopped at a stoplight (one of the two in town) I heard someone calling my name. It was Billy, a friend from Pichest's (and yoga instructor in Iceland), he was up in Pai on a yoga retreat and was on his way to meet a group (more friends from Pichest's) for dinner. Within moments I was sitting down to eat with them feeling warm and at home. It was great to reconnect and we all ended up having a couple really nice nights out in town.

When I woke up in the morning I had a much better sense of my surroundings...when I said hut, I meant hut...

On the advice of James (pictured above with the goatee...by the way that is Ice Cream in those martini glasses...the french shop owner has been making it homemade for 13 years and it tastes like it) I decided to move guesthouses. His advice was spot on as the move was the turning point in my week...it was when I transitioned from relaxed to super-restoritive-ultra-hyper-relaxed. Rather than any big description of the place I will just let the pictures offer up their story...

border="0" alt="" />

I will say this about the place... aside from having hammocks, an outdoor library, running fountains, a firepit (Run (the owner) lights fires every morning and evening), really comfortable rooms, and lush surroundings...Run and his wife also grow organic fruit and vegetables which they use to prepare the meals. The food was incredible...

I took several trips out to the hotspings over the course of the next few days. They are located about 7km out of town and the drive alone was incredible. Unfortunately I never got any pictures of the hotsprings. I guess some things are better left to memory alone. But I won't soon forget sitting in the shadows of the full moon soaking in 120 degree water in the cool moist Pai mountain air. I did get some nice shots on my rides back and forth....hence the Monk (well Monk in training anyway) on a Motorbike...

Back at Pichest's this week...It has already been a great couple of days there...the work is continuining to feel more integrated and easeful. Much much love to everyone and thanks again for all the support. I can't wait to get back but I could stay here forever. ; )

Kevin

Burma and Back...more thai massage...a moment of clarity

2006-02-06T21:29:00.000-08:00

I spent the day in the car yesterday. My visa expired on the 5th of Feb. so I headed to the border to get stamped. Boarder runs are pretty common place here. From Chiang Mai, one of the closest crossing points is Mae Sae, the boarder town just across the bridge in Myanmar (Burma). It is about a 3 and a half hour drive and costs about 600 bhat (around 14 dollars) round trip. To cross the boarder costs 5$.

I had about two hours in Burma to walk around, shop, eat...do whatever. As boarder towns go it is pretty typical. The moment you cross the bridge you are bombarded with locals trying to sell you all kinds of stuff...from cigarrettes, jewelery and fruit to knives, porn DVDs and guided jungle tours.

To offer any thorough observation of the country with such limited exposure is a bit rediculous, but I can say I did feel a tangible difference as I crossed the bridge. Signs of poverty seemed more abundant, the roads degrade immediately, there where many children and women in the streets (holding their hands in prayer) begging for money and the sales people seemed more assertive in pushing their product.

I ended up having a conversation with a very articulate Burmese guy who was a young 'freelancer'. He spent his days fishing for tourist 'willing to invest' in transportation, hotels, or jungle tours. As soon as he realized I wouldn't be buying anything, he dropped his schtick. We got to talking about his feelings about his life in Burma and what struck me most was his abundant sense of contentment and peace. He was bright and full of life and he didn't have a thing by 'western' standards. Again just a great reminder that we don't need much to have true happiness.

The drive home took a bit longer with afternoon traffic, but I had many moments of pure enjoyment as I realized again and again how lucky I am just to be driving through the countryside of thailand taking it all in...

...

Meanwhile...back at Pichest's...

So with each week at Pichet's comes a new group of practioners arriving from all over the world. With each group comes new group dynamic, new energy and a seemingly new methodology of teaching from Pichest. Watching how and what he chooses to teach based on who is in the room has been one of the greatest teachings. His teachings are like mercury, they shift and move looking for the path of least resistance that will prove to be the most effective and helpful.

This past week had a particularly strong vibe to it. Pichest method seems to be in line with the great master teachers. He looks right past the ego, right past any reason and intellect, and assesses a student based on their connection to their heart/spirit/body. His level of frustration seems to correlate with the strength of the students ego. I use the term frustration loosely as even when one is being chastised for being too much in their ego, it is done with a pure heart and divine truth...all be it as blunt as him shouting out..."Ohhh terrible!" (while pretending to whack you on the head with an old cane)

The group was ready to work and we got right to it. One of the great things about studying with Pichest is the hands on nature of the work...here is what I mean...it is like a feeding frenzy on Costas's legs...As Pichest describes how to read the leg, how to find and move blocks...everyone pokes around until they gain a sense of it. If you have any issues with human contact this is not the place for you (or it is exactly where you need to be)...

On Tuesday he spent the entire day talking about how to work on people that are too tight to recieve Thai Massage. Wether it be emotional tension or physical tension he talks a lot about being very descriminitive in giving the massage..."If too much emotion...too much tension...too much fighting in the mind...massage no good...make person feel worse...maybe need just talking...then massage later.' And he is always talking about not being concerned with completing the sequence from A to Z...he says, "Sense on the body...feel...feel where blocked...where tension...work there...most important to be sensitive...not just do do do!' A very valuable teaching...

Pichest then spent the next hour just sitting against the wall playing with his grandson while the rest of us practiced...the two of them playing and laughing like babies...

....

As for me and my massage practice...well something happened this week, something clicked. For the first time I was able to let go of my ego (my intellectual/ judgemental mind...my concern for right or wrong...good or bad)and I entered into a flow with the receiver. My hands moved to the next place on the body without the help of my mind telling it where to go. I followed the blocks, followed the tension, and slowly worked them out of the receiver's body. We worked for 3 hours and I didn't break a sweat. It was effortless, pure and crystal clear. I was left with a sense of total rejuvenation and absolute clarity...much the same 'high' as I get from a good yoga class.

It proved to me how powerful this practice is. All is well and good in theory and philosophy, but experiencing the practical application of such things and having a visceral frame of reference is both inspiring and utterly humbling. My mistake would be to expect or anticipate this to happen every time, so for now I just take it for what it was, a great moment of clarity.

....

A final note...unfortunately as great people come into the studio, they also go...It was Tali's last day on Friday, she lives and practices in Connecticut...she has a very nurturing and healing touch to her massage...If you are in Connecticut look her up (http://taliserota.com). The photo is taken at the entrance to Pichest's studio...

Here are some more shots from around Pichest's studio...

Thanks again to everyone for their correspondance and encouragement, it really helps. I have a month left to drink all of this in. I am taking this week off from my studies and will be heading up to Pai. I hear it is a town filled with hot springs, yoga, meditation, good food and good people...I will report back when I get return to chiang mai.

Much love,

Kevin

Wan Kru...more Thai Massage...and a physical mutiny...

2006-01-24T22:52:00.000-08:00

About a week and a half ago (Jan 16th) was "Teachers Day" or (Wan Kru) in Thailand. It is a day to honor and worship the spirit of the teacher. I was lucky enough to make it out to Pichest's for a couple of hours to witness the festivities.

Things got started at about 9am and went through the day and into the night.

I missed this, but apparently in the morning a ceremony took place where those taking part prepare by 'leaving the body' to make room for the spirit of the teacher. There are prayers, chants, songs and dances aimed at clearing the mind and body in order for the spirit to come in. So in a sense, Pichest was not Pichest that day, he was an embodiement of the spirit of the teacher.

By the time I arrived things were in full effect. There was a 10 peice band playing traditional songs, tables of food and drink, Thais dressed in ceremonial wardrobe singing and dancing, and a number of students just sitting around taking it all in.

As I walked in was a bit hesitant. I felt that I was invading in a sense, but immediately I was greated with warmth and invited to have some food and drink. Pichest was sitting in the front of the studio with another teacher....I offered him some flowers, payed my respects and quickly moved of to the side to hang out with some of the other students.

At one point Pichest (or the spirit of the teacher) was offering some students blessings for protection. These blessings are meant to protect not only the receiver of the Thai Massage, but the giver as well. A nice part of the ceremony that I was quick to take part in.

...

The next week I was back at Pichest's for more Thai Massage training. A group on retreat from New York/Seattle(including an Icelandian) arrived to study for two weeks. It was really nice to connect with them and talking about New York after all this time away reminded me I want to go back. ; )

We also started over from the beginning of the massage sequence so I was able to brush over some of what I had already done the previous weeks (which I have yet to commit to memory).

Again I am struck by Pichest's strength and keen ability to notice where problem areas are. Within the first hour, before anyone had even moved from their seated position, he pointed around the room at peoples body parts..."Problem with sacruum... you problem with shoulder...you problem with ankle...you problem with emotion." Of course I wasn't safe..."You..very stiff..oh terrible!" But soon enough we got into a rythm of exchanging massages and finding our way around the sequence. It is amazing how receptive we can become to the more subtle workings of the body once we stop long enough to pay attention. As we worked, every so often Pichest would jump in and take over...the difference was incredible.

As I have said before, I came to Thailand not so much to aquire a certification in Thai Massage as much I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of my own body.

Since I have been here I've had many experiences that have done just that. Between working at Pichest's, receiving Shaolin Tendon Massage from a Kung Fu master of 35 years, and practicing Thai Chi, my body has completely shifted. And with these openings I had only really experienced positive effects (such as more mobility, increased energy, greater focus and clarity).

That Thursday at Pichest's I was used as an example for the Side Position sequence. As I was being worked on, my body started to open (again) to its deepest levels. It felt amazing...I had a totally free range of motion in my hips I hadn't experienced before (again).

When Jason was done, I sat up and moved comfortably into a lotus position (for the first time ever) without padding, blocks or blankets. I laughed again at the fact the I was accessing poses never before possible and I hadn't practiced yoga in almost 6 weeks.

What happened next was interesting.

As all of these teaching talk about nature and its way, they point out the existence of opposition. At that moment I was experiencing my highest height of openess...what was to come would be one of the darkest times of sickness and fever I have had to date.

Over the next few days my body went into revolt. I was coughing, lost my voice, I couldn't hold any food and was running a fever that at one point had me considering going to the emergency room. By Saturday my fever had reached its peak, and right when it was at its worst, it broke and I began to come back down to earth.

Fortunately as life in Chiang Mai will repeatedly prove, if you are open to the flow of grace and maintain an open heart, what you need will be presented as you need it. In my sickness I was surrounded by some incredible beings who took their time to bring me back to health and to whom I will be forever grateful. Grateful not only for their help, but for my fortune of crossing their paths in the first place (magic is out there).

By Monday I was able to move around again and by Wed (today) I am feeling almost up to full strength.

So what was it? Why did my body revolt? Well that is where we could debate for hours. Some would say in my opening, I released long held toxic energy that has been latent deep in the joints and muscles for years. That as we experience life we store those experiences in the body and after time they build up. If they are not released...they turn into sickness and disease. Some would say I just got sick from food or a flu. My intuition is with the former. This was no flu.

...

After being so sick, I feel as if I am coming out of a cocoon and again my body has a sense of rebirth and newness. No doubt these are powerful practices I am tinkering around with. Again I am humbled and again I feel this is just the beginning. I will be taking easy for the rest of the week and starting back again after I feel fully recuperated. There could be nothing more foolish than not respecting the wisdom and voice of the body...and right now I am all ears!

Here are a few more photos to finish up with...I have been drawing this meditation that illustrates (maybe?) some of the energetic experiences of the meditation. Hope you enjoy... ; )

Also there are a couple shots from around town...

I hope you all are well and look forward to seeing you soon.

Much love, peace and easfulness.

Kevin

On the Nature tip...

2006-01-15T04:17:00.000-08:00

In the wake of the Thai Chi course (and my brief look into Taoist philosophy), my attention has been hijacked by nature. I thought this tree leaf had something going on ... hope you enjoy...

anyway...

Schedule wise...after having the last few days off, I start back up at Pichest's tomorrow for more Thai Massage study. I am anxious and excited to get back into the mix with this master. And as some of you know I have extended my stay for another month. Even with this extra month, I feel I am just scratching the surface of what these teachers (and this place) have to offer. But, I am running out of money, so I gotta come home!

Much love.

Ringing in the new year Thai Chi Chuan style...

2006-01-10T21:35:00.000-08:00

The first few lines of the Tao Te Ching read:

'The tao that can be described
is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be spoken
is not the eternal Name.'

So I guess the fact that I am finding it hard to find any words to describe the last ten days makes perfect sense. But for the sake of telling some stories here it goes..

I just finished a Thai Chi and Meditation 60 hour course. Starting an intensive like this on the first day of the year just seemed like the right thing to do. The days began with morning meditation and Qi Gongs (Energy Skills) followed by the study of a basic set of Thai Chi postures that built up (to about a 45 minute sequence) over the 10 days. The afternoons were spent polishing the movements, meditating, and studying Taoist Philosophy (including the I Ching, the Tao Te Ching and other texts).

I had taken one or two Thai Chi courses in the past and kind of expected this course to be a relaxing break from the intensity of my Thai Massage study. I couldn't have been more wrong. Although in the end, practicing Thai Chi is really relaxing, being introduced to this much (this fast) proved incredibly demanding.

Keith Good was our instructor and his presentation and devotion to the topic was so heartfelt and well rounded it made the tough times bearable and inspiring. He has been studying Thai Chi for roughly 12 years but has spent the last 30 some odd years studying eastern philosophy, yoga, etc... He is extremely forthcoming with his own personal experiences and does well by using them to bring the teachings of the Tao Te Ching to life. If you are in Chiang Mai and interested in the course go to http://www.taichithailand.com/ to get more info.

We all worked together over the 10 days developing our skill, deepening our connection to spirit (or Shen), and all in all just had a great time. Here are some pics to give you an idea of the beautiful space we were in.

Click to enlarge:

Again, I feel the most valuable thing I am taking away from this experience is my time spent getting to know some of the incredible people met in the course. From human rights activists to Chinese Medicine healers...Yoga teachers to Shiatsu practitioners...it was an inspiring group. And in the end the hard work paid off as I leave with a 45 minute Thai Chi sequence I can practice daily, a better understanding of 'The Tao', an entirely new understanding of energy and how it relates to the flucuating states of nature and the human body, and eight great new friends.

We capped the 10 day experience off with a wonderful dinner on the roof. It was a fitting end and great to decompress with some food and wine after the hours of meditation and rigorous practice. As the Taoist philosophy goes...everything in moderation.

I also had the fortune (again on the advice of Chris Ray) of working with one of the most sensitive and thorough thai massage practitioners in Chaing Mai. Her name is Jang, and if anyone is ever in Chiang Mai (or headed that way) just shoot me an email and I will send you Jang's contact info. She is sincere, thoughtful and here massage will leave you feeling balanced, energized and at peace. It took some convincing, but I got her to take a photo with me:

Some random photos...

Much love and thanks to everyone who has sent emails and made posts. Every one I receive reconnects me to home and keeps my heart at ease.

All the best,

Kevin

Motorbike ride up to Doi Suthep...

2005-12-29T02:03:00.000-08:00

So I am taking a couple days off from my studies to tour outside of Chiang Mai. My first (and only) stop was just outside of the city, a mountian called Doi Suthep....A holy temple called Wat Prathat Doi Suthep sits atop. I was planning on making a day of traveling around from place to place but once I got up to the temple I spent the next 4 hours just wondering about and soaking it in. It really was an incredible site. The entrance was covered with vendors selling various goods so I quickly got the feeling I had landed in a bit of a tourist trap but nonetheless, the temple was beyond words, and well worth a visit (and the climb up the stairs).

Hope you enjoy the photos...(click to enlarge)

A True Teacher...

2005-12-27T23:14:00.000-08:00

As most of you know, I came to Thailand on the advice of a teacher/healer/all around cool dude ~ by the name of Chris Ray. After one Thai Massage session with Chris this past summer, my body felt stronger and more balanced than ever before. No joke. Chris had spent several years studying in Thailand with a master teacher named Pichest Boonthumme and recommended I head to the hills and spend some time with him. Well I found him.

I had some fears as I headed down the road to his house. During my fist week in Chiang Mai I had heard so many different things about him. People said he is 'so advanced' and 'a real teacher's teacher." Some people even tried to persuade me not to study with him as I did not have the experience necessary. I kept thinking back to my experience with Chris and just forced myself to cross the threshold to Pichest's studio. I don't think any amount of preparation could have prepared me anyway.

My first hour was spent preparing an offering of Lotus flowers, candles, incense and fruit (I just followed the lead of students that obviously had been there before). We continued through many innvocations and chants for protection and guidance. Any fears I had disintegrated immediately as Pichest began talking.

'Just do do do, no good. We want to learn, want to know, want want want. Too much want make heavy backpack...heavy emotion. Cannot feel, cannot sense. Too much do do do, cannot sense, cannot feel.' He went on to talk about (in so many words) that it is necessary to gain sensation and receptivity so we can know what the receiver needs. That giving massage is not about going through the sequencing just to get to the end...it is about finding the blocks and moving them out of the body. I knew I was in the right place.

After taking one swipe of his hand across my hamstring he exclaimed again and again, "Terrible! Ohhh terrible! You do massage ...they feel better... you feel worse. To tight! Do massage feel worse. No good. Ohhh terrible" So there you have it, he would not let me practice on anyone because my body was too tight. So for the next two days I was lying on my stomach while students took turns sitting on my hamstrings in an effort to open them up. I tell you, my body has never felt so open.

On the third day I finally got to practice. Often we are working in pairs, taking turns practicing different techniques and refining stance, hand positions, etc. As we work Pichest makes his way around the room pointing out what people are doing right or wrong while exlaining method, philosophy and spirituality. He is crass and blunt, but there is a warmth and gentleness to his being beyond compare.

The last day of the week we did an ancient practice that few teachers in thailand still use. The practitioner (the giver) dips their foot in a bowl of oil (combined with herbs and alcohol)and sweeps the foot over hot coals to heat up the oil. The receiver than enjoys a hot oil massage. The photos will help explain. but it was something I won't soon forget.

We were also joined that day by Jonas Westring (who some of you may know from the states, or elswhere in the world). He demonstrated some 'flying' techniques and spent the day hanging out and talking massage/yoga. He is a great teacher.

One of the most ironic and profound of situations has come up in studying with Pichest. I have agreed (on Pichest's advice) to halt all physical yoga practice. He explained (again in so many words) that I need to open the tight and blocked areas first, then I can safely practice yoga. 'No yoga two months!' he said over and over again. Perfect. The yoga teacher that is not allowed to practice yoga. I couldn't help but do a couple forward bends went I got home from class as my body has really never experienced this level of openess.

Hope you are all well, more soon...

Kevin

Some photos...

2005-12-27T22:40:00.000-08:00

Just a few more pics... Click to enlarge.

Christmas Day...Chaing Mai

2005-12-24T23:57:00.000-08:00

Well its Christmas Day and I have spent the last couple weeks acclamating to life in Chiang Mai. Pictured above is one of the 1,253 temples in Chiang Mai called Wat Chedi Luang. You can't walk more than a few paces in this city without coming upon an extraordinary temple. Most are open to the public all day and you can even spend the night if you are in need of a place to stay (but you can't have any bags with you). The temples are elaborately decorated and teaming with practicing monks and golden Buddhas. An incredible site.

I had a nice Christmas Eve dinner last night with a wonderful group of folks (travelers mostly) at a guest house here in Chiang Mai. Holland, Italy, Germany, France, Minnesota, Arizona and New York where all represented at the table. Most (in fact all of them) are here studying some type of bodywork or healing art. It was really humbling to be with so many knowlegable (and kind) healers ... and just to talk with them about their experiences illuminated the massive potential there is to use the body as a tool for healing. Exciting stuff.

I have completed my first course in Thai Massage at the Loi Kroh Massage School in Chiang Mai. It was a very brief introduction to the basic sequencing and philosophy behind Thai massage. I worked one on one with an incredibly strong little thai woman named Napa (Naw-Paw). Her patience was extraordinary while I was fumbling my way around her limbs trying to figure out what was what. As I was pressing my palms on her legs, attempting to find the energy lines, she just kept exclaiming, "Walk heavy and slow like elephant toward banana! Don't think about banana, just walk to banana! Right now you like monkey, CRAZY for banana!"

By the end of the course I did get a small taste of letting the body weight, gravity and chi do the work while not forcing it so much (kind of). Oh and on a random note: I met a yoga teacher from LA named Peter Barnett who just happened to be studying at Loi Kroh at the same time...turns out my sister Kathleen is a student of his in LA. Small universe.

I hope everyone is doing well and the transition into the new year is an easeful one.

Much love,

Kevin

One night in Bangkok...(literally)

2005-12-12T20:47:00.000-08:00

Barely a handshake with the city, my one day in Bangkok wasn't wasted, although by the end of the night, I was.

I spent the morning in one of the temples close to my hotel. It was an incredible space to sit and ground myself before experiencing the madness of Bangkok. On the advice of a student monk I had met, I was off to see some of the sites. I hopped in a TukTuk (a little 3 wheeler taxi moped thingy) and rode around Bangkok for about 3 hours. I saw a 45m tall Buddha, a reclining Buddha, a smiling Buddha, a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday Buddha (seriously, you worship the one that corresponds with the day of your birth).

The architecture is incredible and there are pictures of the King everywhere. The Thai people are serious about their king, really serious. I had arrived one day after his birthday celebration and everyone I ran into mentioned it.

The final stop was on the advice of the TukTuk driver, a fine thread suit store where I was persuaded to buy nothing (not for lack of effort on the salesman's part). This is a typical scam that some of the drivers will try and pull. The ride cost about $1.50 (or 60 Baht). If only NYC was down with the TukTuks.

(Click to enlarge photos)

I met some experienced travelers on the plane who had some friends living in Bangkok. That night they took me to an outdoor 'do it yourself' Korean style BBQ near the Grand Palace. The place sat about 200 with twice as many little grills for BBQing. I ate a pounds worth of food (I think)...they just kept bringing beer and I just kept drinking it, so I can't really remember.

There was a Thai version of KD Lang on stage performing during dinner...then she was joined by a guy in drag who proceeded to shave some guys beard off on stage. What? Yup. Not sure I understand it myself and I was there. Everyone seemed to love it though and it was a really beautiful night out so that was nice. The rest of the night was spent wandering the streets of Bangkok trying to get some sense of what the city has to offer.

I am excited to get to Chiang Mai and get into a rythm of yoga and bodywork. Bangkok was great, but not a city I need to spend too much time in. On the dark side... Hardcore pollution, many prostitutes, lots of traffic...on the light side...incredible temples, amazing food, overabundance of culture, such nice people...and it is Thailand for goodness sake. In all fairness, to form an opinion in one day is a joke.

A few more pics...

Now off to Chiang Mai, I will touch base from there. Much love and I hope all is well,

Kevin

First Stop...Santa Bozbara

2005-11-20T23:20:00.000-08:00

Boz is the shit (pictured below). Believe it. Enter a 10 day decompression from New York City living. A yoga deck (pictured above), coffee in the morning, surf in the afternoon, and wine in the evening. Joy ... Alex ... & Boz. Love. Love. Love. Thank you guys to no end. These few moments caught are the very least I can offer to show some sense of gratitude for this time with you. No better way to start a journey than some time with family and friends.

Click to enlarge