Life is one big adventure

Natalie Thomas Natalie Thomas

REAL LIFE DEVASTATION

Lombok, Indonesia

Visiting Lombok – Real Life Devastation

On Monday, August 13th 2018, I flew to Lombok, Indonesia, a small island that was struck by a giant 7.0 earthquake the week prior.  I am not sure why, but something inside of me told me I absolutely had to fly to this island to see in person what was really happening.

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I will back up.  A week prior, I was out to eat with a friend when the earthquake struck.  When it hit in Lombok, we immediately felt the intense rumbling in Bali.  In fact, it was so strong here that everyone started screaming and running outside into the street.  It was quite chaotic to say the least.

Flash forward to the aftermath.  As each day since the quake passed, more news about the casualties and number of people homeless started to rise at a rapid rate.  On social media, groups began forming to help with the disaster relief aid, and pictures started to go viral from survivors.  During this time, I got connected with two families in particular whom have lost everything.  They shared their stories with me and sent me pictures of the reality of the situation.  Throughout the rest of the week, I felt more and more compelled to visit the victims, and soon made the decision to go.

After I settled on my decision (but was quite nervous to say the least), everything completely fell into place for me to visit Lombok.  I received a free ride to and from the airport, had transportation in Lombok, my flight was covered, and I was not charged for my over-weight luggage, filled completely with donations.  I was also in contact with people whom have donated supplies and money.  I was meant to go.

Upon arrival, a dive instructor, Hifan, and his friend picked me up.  Both men had lost their entire homes.  The two had grown up together in Lombok, and they were a few of the lucky ones not injured when the disaster hit.  Prior to the quake, Hifan was a snorkel instructor on the beautiful Gili islands.  Hifan is the father of two beautiful girls and has a lovely wife, all of whom I had the privilege of meeting.   

I later found out that Hifan drove over two hours to pick me up, and we drove another two back to where his family was currently residing.  The drive was beyond heartbreaking.  As we made our way further and further away from the airport, the destruction and poverty got worse.  Homes, buildings, stores were completely crumbled to the ground.  People were laying under makeshift tarp tents, and dust filled the streets.  It was quite a devastating sight.

Our first stop was to see Hifan’s family.  They were lovely!  And to my amazement, despite losing everything, they were in good spirits.  They even offered me food (which of course I declined).  I was in true amazement of the human spirit during the worst of conditions.

After handing out some supplies to Hifan’s wife, we picked up another westerner (Daniel from the UK) and made a trek into the jungle to see one of the camps.  Now I must say, Daniel is a true angel.  He had been in Lombok for three days, spending time with the families on the camp site.  His spirit and energy were helping heal those around him.

As we drove deeper into the jungle, I was in awe on how beautiful and lush the island of Lombok is.  The water is crystal clear, there are palm trees galore, and the most breathtaking waterfalls filled the land.  It felt quite ironic during such a time of devastation. 

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When we made our way into the villages, I was heartbroken.  Every single home and building had collapsed to the ground.  This included: schools, churches, mosques, hospitals, and stores.  Everything was demolished.  It was a hard (but necessary) sight to see.  People were living in little tents, and there was a group of children in “school” learning under a tarp.  Food and blankets were scarce.  While I provided some donations to the group, I felt so small.  How can I help make more of an impact?  How can I create more awareness?  It really was a tough day.

As I made my way back to the airport, I had so much on my mind. At this moment, a wave of emotion rushed over me, this is when my day in Lombok really hit me.  It was a lot to take it.  I have to do SOMETHING, I just didn’t know what. I decided to start small and do what I know how to do – throw events and bring awareness.

With that being said, I will definitely go back, but I cannot do this alone.  If we all work together, no matter how big or small, we can help make a difference. 

I am selling T-shirts where proceeds go towards the families in Lombok.  I am also accepting donations to buy supplies and food for those in need.  I am working hand in hand with some awesome people here in Bali to create a charity event, which will be posted on my site shortly.

But for now, if you wish to make a small donation, please find the GoFundMe link HERE, as well as a LINK to my shirts.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to learn more about the quake, and/or how you can help in general.

Thank you for your support! <3

I just loved these kids!  Where there is darkness, there is always light.

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Natalie Thomas Natalie Thomas

MY 200H YTT EXPERIENCE IN BALI

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Yoga + Inner Transformation

If someone would have told me at the beginning of April what the month of May had in store, I simply would not have believed them.  As fate would have it, I wound up receiving an opportunity to travel to Ubud, Bali to work while earning my 200-hour Yoga Teacher certification through the Shades of Yoga program at Taksu Spa.

Throughout my time in Bali, my experiences on and off the mat are quite hard to put into words.  For one, the idea of participating in a Yoga Teacher Training can be scary, even daunting.  The long hours, new faces, remembering the sequences, and thought of teaching a class is a bit intimidating.  Off the mat, the foreign destination, new home/environment, and strong energy of Bali can create a massive shift in everyday life.  Why are all of these concepts so scary?  Because individually and collectively they all bring about change.

The definition of change means “to make or become different.”  Like I discussed in a previous post, when we are settled in our daily routine, why would we want to incorporate change?  Why would we want to personally be different?  Why change your life and embark on a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in just 21 days?  Simply put: because change can transform us in ways we have never imagined.

During the month of May, Yoga Teacher Training ushered in new energy to help explore aspects of myself I did not know existed.  While I have been practicing yoga for eight years and in-depthly studying philosophy for six years, I felt my personal growth accelerate throughout the entire four weeks, which I credit to the Shades of Yoga program at Taksu.  During the intensive training I was able to challenge my mind through new concepts and meditation techniques, and challenge my body through “correct” postures and alignment.  These new changes to my daily routine soon started to transform my life.

My experience in Ubud, Bali at times felt emotional and uncomfortable, yet cleansing and liberating. From the second I arrived at my guest house (Kunang Kunang) to the moment I boarded the plane back to Chile, my life had gone through a transformation.  Thinking back, I would not have had the opportunity for such growth if it were not for my time at Taksu with Shades of Yoga.

Before embarking on my new spiritual, yoga journey, I had a few days to settle in to the Balinese way of life.  Ubud itself is a magical place.  There is an array of delicious, healthy restaurants, a plethora of yoga studios, and different wellness spas on every corner.  The small city itself radiates with high vibes and spirituality.  The Balinese culture is rich, and the locals greatly value their traditional heritage.  I immediately felt a strong sense of peace and acceptance upon arrival in this magical city.

After a few days of some relaxation from traveling, I was ready to begin my Shades of Yoga 200-hour Teacher Training course at Taksu.  I must say, the venue is absolutely amazing.  When I first walked into Taksu Spa, I was amidst a tranquil, tropical jungle, lush in nature.  From the entrance, a small pathway leads straight to the Shades of Yoga Shala.  The Shala is where my classmates and I spent the majority of our time, whether practicing yoga or engaged in lectures.

Monday through Saturday I made my way to Taksu Spa where the day began with 30 minutes of mediation, 30 minutes of pranayama breathing, and a one-hour asana class.  After breaking for breakfast, the rest of the day was comprised of lectures, self-practices, and/or learning the sequences, always ending with a second one-hour yoga class.

The Shades of Yoga course is more than a teacher training, but a life course guide to living one’s highest potential.  The program is designed to take you out of your comfort zone, providing the chance for all students to look deeper inside of themselves.  In my experience with SOY, the regimented yoga and meditation practices began to release and uncover “blocks” or stuck energy I might have been holding on to, creating changes to how I think and feel.  This process is cleansing, and causes life-lasting effects within your mind, body, and spirit.  While change can be painful in the beginning, the benefits are astounding. I began to feel more “open” and my intuition became stronger.  I even started to have “ah-ha!” moments to questions that have bogged my mind for quite some time. I really felt a strong shift in just four short weeks.

Not only did yoga and meditation accelerate my self-growth, but the lecture classes played an important key to my development of self-awareness and inner knowledge.  The May students and I learned about the Ennegram Personality system, Yamas and Niyamas, Chakras, Spiritual Philosophies, and Anatomy (to name a few).  Our group was also lucky enough to experience an hour long sound healing session.  The Shades of Yoga program is extremely well-rounded, providing the students with the most top-notch teachers in the field. I felt humbled to have found a curriculum that tapped on so many different subjects.  The program was also extremely supportive, providing one on one guidance and personalized attention to each person partaking in the course.

While the Shades of Yoga program is amazing in itself, the cherry on top was the serene, peaceful venue known as Tasku Spa.  Taksu is not only home to SOY, but is both an exquisite restaurant and state of the art wellness center.  Taksu offers an organic breakfast, lunch, and dinner made only with the finest, freshest ingredients.  For Shades students, breakfast is included in the training, and I must say, this was one of my favorite parts of the program!  After morning meditation and asana practice, we were given a one-hour break to indulge in the breakfast buffet.  The Taksu breakfast included fresh, tropical fruit (my favorites were the papaya and dragon fruit!), granola, oatmeal, yogurt, spring rolls, sushi, coffee/tea, and an array of hot food (I definitely got hooked on the coconut yogurt).  It was such a great perk to the teacher training.

Not only does Taksu Spa offer healthy, delicious meals, but top-quality spa services as well.  During my time in Ubud I was lucky enough to experience the amenities and relaxing treatments Taksu Spa has to offer.  For example, during lunch after a particularly physically challenging day, I was able to squeeze in a reflexology foot massage. Immediately after booking my appointment, I was lead down a cobblestone pathway to a tranquil spa house – all located right next to the Shala.  Not only was the foot massage exactly what my body needed in that moment, but the session was conveniently located.  During my two-hour lunch break I was able to decompress for a full hour, with time to spare to eat a healthy lunch outside at Taksu.

Aside from my reflexology treatment, I had the chance to decompress for two hours deep in the jungle for another rejuvenating spa service called The Royal Mandi Lulur.   The Royal Mandi Lulur is a (highly) recommended treatment consisting of: aromatherapy Balinese massage, full body scrub, and soothing bath filled with fresh flowers.  When I checked into Taksu Spa for my Royal Mandi Lulur appointment, I had the option to choose which aromatherapy scent and scrub I wanted for my treatment.  From there, my masseuse lead me through the lush forest to my room – surrounded by the vibrant energy and the soft whispers of nature.  Taksu is uniquely designed and sits on a small hill in the jungle.  The walk to the spa is also quite beautiful.  Throughout my treatment I truly felt like a queen! The staff was beyond friendly, attentive, and extremely professional, and the atmosphere gave me a sense of relaxation, peace, and ease.

With all of the changes my mind and body were experiencing, I felt extremely thankful that Taksu Spa is home to the Yoga Teacher Training venue.  The space proved to be healing and nurturing, a great outlet for both myself and the other students.

As the Shades of Yoga Teacher Training came to an end, I realized how much I experienced in such a short amount of time.  Life is comprised of one change after another, some external or internal, some changes we facilitate, some out of our control.  Moving forward, how do we deal with these shifts when they arise?  How can we release fear?  How can we use change to our advantage? We must "let go" and learn to trust ourselves and know timing is always perfect.  Change is the catalyst to growth, which facilitates positive transformation, which pushes us to living our divine potential.  Without change, how would we reach our goals?  Our dreams?  How would we ever fulfill our heart’s (authentic) desires?  We must believe in ourselves as we shift out of our mundane routine into a space that is foreign and new.  I know for a fact that positive, yet uncomfortable, situations can lead to new friendships, better ways of living, and experiences not even imaginable.  Opportunities we never thought possible all of a sudden come into fruition once we embrace change. 

I am so thankful for the opportunity to deepen my insight and gather tools to use during day to day life.  What a month of self transformation!  Thanks to my time in Bali, I am a different person for the better.  

Whether or not teacher training is YOUR calling, I hope that everyone reading this can welcome change with open arms.  Buy the plane ticket, embark on that adventure, start a new project, or sign up for a 200-hour Y  Your life is not in the past or future, but this exact moment.  Now is always the perfect time, embrace it.

“IN THE END… We only regret the chances we didn’t take, the relationships we were afraid to have, and the decisions we waited too long to make.” – Lewis Carroll

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Officially 200-hour certified!

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