What a shock. How sad. The news from India about the attacks in Mumbai are horrific, confusing, confounding and horrible. I never turn the TV on in the morning but it was the first thing I did when I woke up. Maybe meditating or journaling would have been a better choice, but I just had to see what was happening. It’s like a prolonged 911. It seems to have no end. And the beginning is so ambiguous. How? Why? 

One of the best interviews I’ve seen so far was Deepak Chopra on Larry King Live last night. He removed his trademark red, sparkly glasses and looked soberly deep into the camera and asked questions that need to be answered such as Who is funding these attacks? What political organizations are responsible? Don’t play the blame game. Use this opportunity to seek a creative solution. See him at http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/11/27/intv.india.attacks.chopra.cnn?iref=videosearch

A country of one billion people. Million of Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, hundreds of thousands of Buddhists and Christians and a few hundred Jews. It’s an amazing amalgam of the world. I don’t know what to say except I’m just so sad. “The urban terror in full fury” I just heard an Indian reporter say. 

It’s Thanksgiving here in the US. As with most of our National Holidays (as opposed to the religious ones?) it’s based on a myth, a made up story. The United States has been so good at creating myths and asking us to buy into it (literally BUY). Just look at Columbus Day. 

Anyway – what comes out of this holiday is rather pleasant. A reason for families to gather. An opportunity to look inside and feel grateful and thankful. For that, I’m thankful for the holiday. A day off to reflect. A day of quiet and peace – for us, for me here in Baltimore. A time to ask – really ask – for world peace. A time to feel unbelievably grateful that our country came together to elect Barack Obama. A time to pray that Obama is able to get a handle on this world and will be able to find those creative solutions that Deepak speaks about. 

May you all have a peaceful Thanksgiving today and every day.

So I’m back from the Chopra Center and the swanky La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, California. This was for the completion of the Ayurvedic course I’ve been studying for the past year. The course was daunting – something like eight books to read by Deepak Chopra and David Simon, eight DVDs to watch and so much Sanskrit! The week was a combination of yoga, meditation and testing – both presentations and a written test. It was so intense. Much more so then I would have expected. There we 26 people in my group – down from 56 who originally signed up and just didn’t make it through for whatever reason. The wonderful group I was with had people from all over the world and from so many walks of life including a number of physicians, mental health people, teachers and those just strongly wanted to share their knowledge of Ayurveda with their world. As I said to one of my new friends I made there, Tanya, while we were cramming for the final exam – “I feel like I’m having an Ayurvedic meltdown!” I was eating too much, (I ate cheese cubes! Haven’t had that for like a year – tasted awful. Cheese is disgusting), I was nervous and stressed, and so singularly focused on the exam  – so attached to the outcome! I was losing sight of the beauty of Ayurveda and my surroundings. It was tough. I missed my store, my cooking, my house. But in the end, of course, it was worth it. We all made it through and come Saturday evening I was watching a gorgeous sunset on Swami Yogananda’s beach in Encinitas. It was stunning. Then we ate Armenian food! The people were amazing. What an experience. So now I’m all certified as a Chopra Instructor! It’s been such a journey. August 25, 2007 I went out to the Chopra Center for the first time to do Panchekarma (Ayurvedic detox and rejuvenation). I walked back into the Chopra Center on Nov. 1, 2008 almost 50 pounds lighter and so much wiser and at the same time humbled by all I’ve learned and will learn. I’m deeply connected in Ayurveda – I feel like layers of knowledge were being un-covered as my body got smaller. Knowledge from past lives of Ayurvedic wisdom – the piece that was missing in my years of yoga and meditation practices. I found it. It found me. And now here we are. The first series of five “Perfect Health Through Ayurveda” classes that I will be teaching begins on Wednesday, January 14 at 7 p.m. I’ll continue to teach classes throughout the year. The cost will be $65 a class ($325 for the series) which includes a workbook and materials. Class size is limited to 20 keep it intimate. What a gift. I can’t wait to share it with you.

It’s been over a month since I’ve written anything here. That’s probably because I’ve been so busy and slightly overwhelmed preparing for the Ayurvedic Certification week at the Chopra Center. I’m in the middle of it now – out here in Carlsbad, California at the Center (located at the La Costa Spa and Resort. It’s very beautiful). I haven’t been a  ”student” for a very long time. Lots of memorization and presenting segments of classes to my study mates. It’s been an interesting process and I’m learning so much about myself in relation to Ayurveda. Our final written exam is on Saturday morning. Send me “smart” vibes please! In Sanskrit and English!Last night (Tuesday, Nov. 4) besides the obvious jubilation for Barack Obama – Deepak Chopra visited with us for about an hour.  (I’ll write more about that later.) Needless to say it was quite a night. Obama blew me away with his acceptance speech – such a elegant, beautiful man. I can say the same for Deepak. So my night was filled with magical, dark men! Who could ask for more. I guess I could ask for a bit more of that! more soon…much love to all