Visit Yoga Friends

The yoga scene in Florida is really growing. Quite a few people were initiated into Ashtanga when Guruji opened the Shala here in Islamorada last year. And it seems like yogis all over the state from Tampa to Jacksonville, Orlando to Miami are getting hooked. We've met a lot of new yoga friends and have enjoyed hearing about traditional shalas and practice groups carving a path. The weather is certainly helpful. It reminds one of South India down here below the Coconut Line.

We have especially enjoyed visits with old yoga friends such as the crew from Miami Life Center and a day at the beach with Ashtanga Yoga Miami. I am very impressed to see the community that has grown and flourished around these teachers and shalas.

Due to the surge in popularity of yoga over the last 15 or so years of yoga in this country, it has allowed teachers and studios to "specialize" with different styles. It shows the maturity of yoga in Florida that studios dedicated to a traditional practice like Ashtanga can offer students an experience beyond a generic yoga class.

Road Trip

Road Trip!

Admittedly, one of my apprehensions in (temporarily) relocating to the Keys would be The Road. The “Road” refers to the Overseas Highway (Hwy 1.) that connects the Islands from Key West up to the mainland. Most of the Islands that make up the Keys are quite small. You could pet an iguana on the Gulf Side of our Island then walk the maybe two miles over to the Atlantic side and bathe your feet without breaking a sweat. (Well, you would break a sweat because it is Summer time and the temperature is rising. Luckily I'm native to this part of the world and feel a little iguana-like myself. My dear wife on the other hand is from Northern Europe where the only sun they see is on "holiday" in Greece.)

Landmarks here are determined by the nearest Mile Marker. Key West begins at 0 and goes up from there. When folks ask where we live, we say, "just off 88." That's 88 miles north of Key West. The Yoga Studio is at 82.3, less then 6 miles from the house. Luckily the nearest beach is at 86, so we could even walk or ride a bike.

We’ve gotten used to The Road. There is not much land here and one road is enough. Most people are traveling by water craft anyway. Occasionally the traffic backs up, usually when the Draw Bridge at (MM 84.5) is letting the big boats through. But that is the thing about the Keys, the speed limit is 45MPH and life is slow. When out for walks, we've had people stop and chat with us, real friendly like. We like that.

And who cares that the land mass is limited. People are here for the warm blue water anyway!

Overseas Highway from the air

Islamorada by beach

Vacation Home

I'll have to get back to my post on the "Florida Keys Top 10" as we have journeyed home to the Golden State this past week. The temperature has been 7o on the coast and 78 inland, no humidity....not bad!

We are only here for a week, though. We have been so graciously welcomed by friends here in the Bay Area and Monterey where we spent the weekend. I had the opportunity to teach a workshop in Salinas, always lovely there.

The only real negative is putting Baby through the travel. Our pediatrician told us he is in the "no-fly-zone" age of 1.5-2.5 years, no kidding...The up side is the he is universally adored by everyone he is in contact with, with the exception of fellow economy class air travelers...

With many social visits, yoga practices, and new baby meetings all coming to a close, we get ready to climb aboard the Great Bird for our Summer in Florida! I'll post my Top Ten very soon. We are officially online!

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Online (not quite)

Did you know that we have not had an Internet connection in our home for the past 3 months? This is unheard of for residents of Silicon Valley. Well, we are almost there. Since we are staying through the Summer here in Florida, we've put in our order with Comcast. Soon the equipment will arrive and we will officially connect with the outside world again. I can see it now. Buying those needful things from Amazon, little Huggie checking his email, Heleen updating her status on facebook and me posting blogs from time to time. In fact my next post will begin our Top Ten Things to Do in the Florida Keys

Stay tuned!