I have yoga DVD's, and I can;'t believe that I found my name in other websites

I have finally got my yoga DVD's from Brian Kest. These are the best yoga information and classes that I have ever taken. I am shamelessly promoting these DVD's because years ago I was hit by a car while cycling in Vancouver and had severe pain for well over 10 years. Since I was a massage therapist, I had access to many types of therapies and practitioners. All of whom were the best of the best in Vancouver. I tried everthing from accupunture to kineseology, reiki and homeopathics, to no avail. Then a good friend suggested Brian Kest as an option and it worked. I have been pain free for 7 years now, and when I feel that familiar twinge that I used to feel just before a bad episode of muscle and nerve pain, I do my DVD"s. Now that I have them again here I will go back to regular use of the exercises. I can;t wait to do my first morning class (no food in my stomach). I love the feeling of being pain free and moving fluidly with grace and ease.
I just checked the internet to get onto my blog, and I couldn;t believe the other companies that tag your name onto their websites. I had no idea that other websites would do that. So, If you want to tell your friends about my website please give them the correct e-mail or who knows what they will land into. Non of the other sites have my permission to use my name so if any of you out there knows how to stop them let me know and I would be happy to try and stop them from using my name in some stupid way

I have yoga DVD's

If you could do something..... would you?

If you could do something........would you?
Well, this is a very profound question, isn't it. I have always said that if I needed to, I would if I could, but not with money, with my time. In fact, I always have given my time if needed. Sooooo, the proof is in the pudding on helping out here. We were asked by the foundation,"Arte Del Mundo", to help do an art class with kids at the foundation. We decided (Rachelle, Dane and I) that we would do salt dough clay. Low and behold a ton of kids showed up and we had a great time. We had help with Ray from the local restuarant,"Casa Hood". His wife joined in too then another teacher Jessie and then other adults too. Ray started off doing timed challenges of creating figures, and I have never seen so many interpretations of volcanoes, and houses, and other stuffs. It was alot of fun and we were glad that we had made alot of different colors and alot of clay. The kids were so excited they took a bunch home too. I mean really, what were we going to do with all that clay.
When we finished that day we were all tired.
Soooo, the next day, I was talking with our spanish teacher, Mario Aman ( director of a local public school) about our experience at the foundation. Wellllll, within seconds I volunteered us to doing an art class for his class in his school ...... of get this 38- 9 year olds.
So today, we did the class.
We started creating allllll that dough/clay for 38 students in the morning. We created 7 colors. The red food coloring was sad so we created more color, Rachelles suggestion, by grating beets for a fabulous color. We worked like buggers to get it ready. There was flour flying, color all over us and the kitchen. Rachelle felt that she wouldn't have to work out for a week, beating up all that dough. I think we let out alot of frustrations.
Mario asked us to be there at 10:30, so we showed up just in time with heaving all that heavy clay. We met Mario at the gate of the school. He introduced us to several people and then we were given a tour by what seemed like a hundred little people anxious to hold our hands and show their wonderful school. It was like what you see in the movies. You know, when the tourists come to town. It was soooo nice and the kids were sooooo sweet. Dane ended up playing in the woods with the kids. In the woods the kids had made forts and such for play time. Rachelle and I were guided all around. Sometimes there were 5 kids holding on one hand and another 5 on the other.
Fortunately, we were gathered and brought safely to the class for the beginning of the art class. Again, we were glad that we had made lots of clay and played the timed games.
It was like we had brought them gold. Rachelle was overwhelmed with the number of kids and their loud enthusiasm. But Dane and I loved it. (Rachelle had decided that day that she would try to start fasting and was kind of cranky. We have found another way to prepare her if she wants to do this in the future.) We were with the kids for about 2 hours. Again, some of the kids took a bunch of clay home so that they could create more. They certainly had enough left over so they can do a to class on Monday or so. It was great to be offering it for the kids and it was so easy to be generous. But what was more important was that it was the time and the energy that we gave not just the stuff. We really had to work to communicate with the kids and stretch our spanish. The kids were very patient and with a healthy dose of humor we made it through the class. I think that we will go again and help with class. I think that we might also help the school with English lessons too. We will see what the future brings. After this experience, it would be a shame not to help if we were asked.
After, we went for lunch and just sat around with Richaard (our very dear friend) and recapped the event. Dane wants to go back and play with the kids in the woods and play tag. The kids can be so loving and really appreciate the time that you spend. It was a great way to spend the day and although we didn't do school, the experience of being with these kids attempting more language and just plain giving was great.
The other day, Rob ( my partner in life and raising the kids who is now in Canada working of ONE MORE month), told me that one of his fellow workers is sick with cancer. I often think that people in "the first world"countries live to work, and then they die. They usually do it to themselves by having a sole purpose and only that purpose with no diversion of their path of percieve prosperity. I find this very sad as there is sooooo much more to living and prosperity. Giving and receiving and living going hand it hand. But the purpose of life is not just to work but to live and help make the world a better place. We, my family and I believe that this means enjoying life in many ways. I want for my children to realize that there is so much to being a human. How the man combating his sickness and our day out relate is: that life has so much to being. Working is just one aspect of being, it can contribute, but purpose is often not linked with "work", sometimes it is. I love life and I love that there is so much to it. We can help ourselves and then in turn we can help others too. I hope I have explained this concept as clearly as I want to.
I hope that if you have the time to think about the sentence. "If you could do something.... would you? It will make you think twice. And not just about spending money to make someone feel better, but give them the more valuable thing....... time.
Talk with you all later
Robin

Party in our Barrio

Hi there all:
Well, the good news is we were invited and partook in the celebrations that happen in Banos in October. It is the month to celebrate the Santa Maria de Agua. She is the resident Saint who has performed many miracles here in Banos. Remember this is a catholic society and we are new to the barrio and therefore we joined in to give thanks. Each barrio (neighbourhood) celebrates on a different day, for this whole month. We started off by contributing to the party finacially. Then yesterday, we were delivered a plastic bag of cloudy yellow stuff from a back of a truck with other bags. It looked questionable, let me tell you. I didn't quite get all they were saying because of the language and enthusiasm, so I asked the workers here. It turned out to be the traditional juice drunk in the house in celebration. It is Naranjilla, Pinapple, and I think Guanabana (say that a bunch of times) fresh fruit grown here with out alcohol. It was quite good and refreshing.
Our neighbors were enthusiasticly wanting our participation in the celebration and were constantly reminding us in the streets to come and join them.
They were having games in the street starting at 2. So we went over at 3 knowing that that was the true time it started. We were only a little late. There were egg tosses, egg walks, dancing with a partner with oranges between you heads and also musical chairs and a small soccer game. Dane and I participated in the dancing (I will never look at an orange the same way.) Dane did the egg games and I did the musical chairs and Dane did the soccer.
Here is the interesting thing, the whole time this is going on in the streets, there is a live band playing music right in the middle of it all. The band consisted of drums, cymbals, key board, trumpets, guitars etc. No kidding. They just dodge or jump if something comes their way, not even missing a note. It reminded me of those carnival game of hitting the teacher with a wet sponge. I wonder if they get combat pay? When Dane was playing soccer, he fell into the cymbals and hurt himself. End of fun for Dane. There were no prizes for winning games except the shared laughing and smiling making it all so much better.
There was lots of laughing with the kids and families. They were all together, everyone was included. Dane and Rachelle were just surrounded with kids. It was alot of fun. Since Rachelle is volunteering in the foundation, Arte Del Mundo, teaching children to speak English, some of her students were there and were attaching themselves to her and Dane like velcro.
Later, we had to go home to get the dogs organized, food wise, but went out again, asap, to join in a parade. Mission: pick up the statue of the virgin and baby at the church and bring her back to our barrio. We were all armed with roses (her symbol) and walked, with the still playing yet slightly damaged band, to the church.
Rachelle, Dane and I were waving to the people in the streets. The locals were quite shocked that the Extranjeros were participating. After a moment of shock, they realized they liked that we were participating and happily and enthusiasticly waved back.
We walked about 5 blocks to the church, around the park, to its entrance and into the church we went. There was a short sermon in the cathedral. Which is quite beautiful by the way. There are huge paintings of her miracles of saving people of Banos. The decor and energy put into this church is wonderful, especially when you remember they don't have alot of money and the community built the church. Then, we joined the parade back to our barrio's community center. Our neighbours carrying the statue on their shoulders, men and women alike. A padre came and gave a sermon yet again. I think to bless the barrio and give kind words of wisdom.
We zipped out the door shortly thereafter, as our stomaches were growling louder than the padre was talking and went for supper. When we were on our way back we found our neighbors were bringing back the Virgin on their shoulders at the church. I guess she is only allowed to make short appearances and can't stay out late.
We traveled back to the barrio where we had more juice and more fun.
They had a fire works effegy of the Virgen. We met with the man that creates them and he lives in the neighboring town of Pelileo. He makes them small like ours: 2 meter or up to 12 meters for places like Quito, Ambato, Puyo and Cuenca. She was made like a hollow cone with fireworks surrounding her whole person. Then what happens, with the ever present band playing, she is popped over the top of his grandson (of the fireworks maker) and he walks around to the music, ablaze with spinning sparks and shooting comets. One of the shooting comets shot within 2 feet of us and zipped under one of the spectators bottom where he started jumping, as you can well imagine. I am amazed that no one gets hurt in these events.
They also had a bit of a fire ,in the and on the, street as tradition. There is no way in heck in Canada you could have a fire directly on the pavement.
Fire works explosions happen periodily throughout the day now, and are to be expected for the entire month. We will be able to hear the other barrios each in turn on their alloted day, celebrating over the next month, afternoon and night. We will also see the virgin being taken out for her evening stroll, to and from the church.
So all said and done it was a great time. Of course our dog doesn't like the fireworks and has expressed her oppinon of the noise by peeeeing everywhere. I am hoping by the time the fireworks stop, our dog might be used to it because shortly after this celebration is over, the celebrating for Christmas starts, the beginning of Dec, for the whole month. And if she doesn't do okey dokey, she might need medication to survive the celebrating.
Talk with you all later
Robin