We arrived last night to our friend Alejandro's mother's house in the suburbs of Medellin. This city's nickname is the "city of eternal spring," where the weather is always the beautiful and we're usually told this in the same sentence as- "it's a shame that you arrived during the winter."
For the first time in two weeks we have sun and a huge lawn to play on. I am so grateful for my own room, comfy bed, hot shower, laundry, quiet space, internet. It is definitely a luxury for us as traveling yoga teachers who are hosted by friends of friends, owners of studios, new friends and old friends. It's been an incredible journey so far, meeting wonderful, open hearted souls who have been excited to host us, cook for us, chat with us.
We've been on a futon in a room that was Homer Simpson themed, in a comfy bed on the top floor of a high rise apartment building, with a view of Bogotá and a window screen that makes "black-out." In Medellin we arrived to another stunning high rise, overlooking the fairyland/mayan mountain green luscious jungle valley cityscape, with a blow up mattress and a terrace where we chanted to Lakshmi and did our favorite ab workout "Ab Ripper X." Later an Ecology profesor, Estela, hosted us in her parent's house for a night, and took us out salsa dancing in the center of Medellin. We met up with friends from the local, organic veggie restaurant, Verdeo and Marcelo who owns an oasis of a hostal (Buddha Hostal) and danced salsa all night. A couple, Eva and Alvero, who's house is full of handmade puppets, nude circus-indian dance photos/artwork, tapestries, instruments and creative energy hosted us for a few nights. They have a 4month newborn who they sing and tell stories to. Justin and I arrived one night at 3am de rumba and witnessed Alvero holding his precious morena baby outstretched in front of him, telling her a story about elephants- one black and one white- who fall in love and begin the grey race of elephants. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced.
We've been fortunate to have been invited to attend yoga classes and fly people in the spaces where we are teaching. It's such a blessing to be able to feel out the new and expanding yoga scene and meet the teachers. When we first arrived to Medellin, after an hour long car ride from the airport, lots of pollution, and new to the city, we stepped into Andrea's studio, 108 Yoga. I was hit with the familiar positive vibration and breathed in the ample light and golden floors. I realized the importance and power of holding space for transformation and relaxation in the midst of city life. In a city once known as the most dangerous city in the world it grounded me to feel the pulse of Yoga.
We head to Cali tomorrow morning and feel we'd like to come back to Medellin and share more with the kula here. Our friends from Torrente de Vida, where we taught 9 hours of workshops, have been super sweet and even gifted us massages at the end of our teaching.
Reiki is becoming popular, and Torrente de Vida is a center for healing, massage and yoga. It was beautiful to see many of the students impromptu giving each other bodywork after a rockin acrobatic session. It's inspiring to see communities organically sprouting- sharing the healing power of touch, play and caring for one another.
When I think of Colombia, so far, I think of these beautiful angels who share so openly with us-random yoga classes, taxis (where it's common for the passenger to know more than the driver, or maybe that's just Justin), sushi (our new favorite meal) along with brownies with ice cream, salsa dancing, and rain...
I'm a little tired from switching houses 4 times in a week yet recognize the importance of the storm (aguacero) to help us appreciate the calm that follows. Constantly in the fast moving spanda ebb and flow, surrendering and manifesting what is to come- light, love, calmness, chocolate y cama.
Blessings,
Sam and Justin*
