JOURNAL OF A TEACHER TRAINING: BALI
To my dearest readers: Here is a
very modified recap of my profound and life changing experience spent
over the course of four training weeks in the remote mountain village of
Ubud, Bali. In no way could I ever relay the depth of the impact that
was lived through this magical time, but wish to share with you a
select few memories that will always stand out in my mind and
peacefully reside in my heart.
Enjoy xo
- Kristina Antal
- Kristina Antal
* I arrived in Bali to be greeted
by a driver and two of the girls that I will be doing my training with.
We drove from the airport in Denpasar through the humid and lush
streets filled with cars and motorbikes, chaotically weaving in and
out of traffic. Broken streets lined with homes and businesses draped
in terracotta tiles. Stone statues of deities, Buddhas and
Goddesses stood in rows upon rows for sale. Balinese art and food
carts were scattered about accompanied by the locals and their dogs.
The thick greenery was a constant, vibrant companion. Later this
evening I opened the hand carved, wooden double doors to my balcony
looking over the hotel gardens. I heard some beautiful local music
emanating from a venue nearby. I sat down in half lotus falling into
meditation, my palms upward allowing myself to receive from the
universe, with my eyes closed and senses hyper-aware. If any time to
repeat a mantra it would be a heartfelt thank you, thank you, thank
you. I felt completely and utterly at peace. I understand I am
exactly where I m supposed to be, doing exactly as I m meant.
* Today I had my initial meet and greet with the other students and our
teachers. What lovely people. So genuine, open, and warm. We experienced an earthquake off the south coast
today registering a 6.8. The room started to shake gently at first,
gradually building up to the point where we were standing under the
crossbeams and/or moving outside. A perfect opportunity to practice
conscious deep inhales and exhalations. It really puts you in your
place to realise the power Mother Nature possesses. This divine,
feminine, all consuming energy which has been constantly brought to
our attention over the past week (and would continue to be, each and
every day ). I attended a Tibetan Bowl Meditation this evening,
laying down, under the stars, the hour was filled with various
therapeutic waves of sounds in beautiful patterns and frequencies. I
recall seeing flashes of light and a kaleidoscope of shades, merging
behind my closed eyes.
*Our afternoon was spent familiarising
ourselves with the Sanskrit language and Vedic chanting. Very moving. We came to understand the reality of how each letter or symbol in
the Sanskrit alphabet invokes an energetic quality pertaining to a
particular Chakra in the body when properly chanted. I allowed myself
to feel the vibrations of the words, dancing up and down my spine,
affecting these centres during the final solo mantra delivered by my
teacher.
*Attended my first of many Ecstatic dance classes
today. There were probably 50 of us, free spirits of all different
ages, and the only rule was no talking . We moved our bodies to a
diverse mix of music, everyone just flowing to the rhythm, jacked up
on this collective energy of living, expressing themselves however
they possibly wanted. It was so amazing to just let my guard down, be
creative and play.
*I received an Ayurvedic consultation which
nicely ties into our lessons which are spent learning about this
ancient and extremely formidable science and art. I was given insight
on the issues I am having with my body and my emotions and suggested
ways to remedy these things physically, mentally, spiritually and
symbolically. Later I attended an interesting talk on Vedic Astrology
and gained some knowledge on the different planets and what they
represent. Also about how according to the way that the planets were
aligned at exactly the moment of our birth, affects our Karma, our
personal paths and the options that are presented to us during our
lifetimes and the pull that these people have on you is
outstanding. They make you wake up and feel, to step away from your
numb, internal environments. They challenge you, inspire you and
energetically consume you to the point where you fall into a
blissfully safe state of trust. Their gaze, straight through all your
made up stories, right into your core, your authentic self, your
soul. Daring you to just break enough to take off your mask and face
yourself, maybe for the first time.
*Weeeee . Flying (Acro) yoga, full of laughter! Also my second mini lesson on Thai
Massage and bodywork.
* Today was my turn to lead everyone
through meditation. A mindfulness meditation practiced during
Savasana. I focused on each one of the five senses in all their
totality, giving everyone an invitation to experience enough of each,
to only observe without attachment.
* Because of the New Moon
yesterday, another ceremony was held, this time focusing on the
intentions we wish to manifest into our lives. We all sat in a circle
and carved a symbol representing each, into our individual candles
and then consecutively lit them, one by one off of each another, with
the instruction to continue doing this on our own each day, until the
candles were completely burned down. Our intentions melting, melding
into creation.
* Monkey Forest, Wow!! This place is incredible.
Thick green jungle with old, tall trees and giant intertwining root
systems reaching through the earth and up the trunks, cascading into
hundreds of vines hanging down to the forest underneath. Huge stone
steps with carved mystical creatures lining the handrails,
disappearing into the ravine below, opening up to pools of blessed
water at the bottom of waterfalls and gathering spaces for where
traditional ceremonies take place. The masses of people, all in
uniform, with baskets upon baskets of offerings to the Gods, unifying
in these sacred spaces to celebrate Shiva in particular during this
residual time of the new moon.
(This took place at night, although I did come back later, during the daytime to marvel at the hundreds of wild monkeys, that had no shame in climbing all over me, and to feed the greedy little buggers lol)
(This took place at night, although I did come back later, during the daytime to marvel at the hundreds of wild monkeys, that had no shame in climbing all over me, and to feed the greedy little buggers lol)
* I met up with most of the
group this evening to attend a Kirtan session led by Dave Stringer!
Absolutely amazing, the space was completely packed. With him were a
group of other musicians with an array of instruments, each
possessing a unique talent. This was beautiful, everyone so involved,
an amazing quality shared by all the people in the room. I sang my
little heart out, clapping my hands and swaying to the gorgeous music
and mantras.
*The teachings of Tantra have been a fundamental part
of this course. The knowledge, experience, power and authenticity
of my teachers (and also, another healer, with whom I ve spent a
lot of time with ) and this ancient, sacred understanding have had a
fascinating impact on my perception of what Truth really is.
*
Graduation Day brought us all together in one final ceremony. We sat
again, in a large circle, just like on the first day of meeting each
other, but this time with less of a curiosity and more of a
solidarity of our relationships with ourselves and with one another.
We were blessed with holy water and shared some memories and
thoughtful goodbyes before receiving our certificates, opening up the
doors of possibility and closing this chapter of our Bliss found in
Bali and celebrate Shiva in particular during this residual time
of the new moon.
Since having completed her teacher training, Kristina has spread her beauty and energy teaching in Grand Cayman, Costa Rica, and her hometown of Calgary, Alberta.
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