Dilemmas of a Nature-Loving Yogi…
By John Dunbar 18 August 2008 10:20:00
Dilemmas of a Nature-Loving Yogi...
The first time I entered a yoga studio in a downtown New York City my initial reaction was to turn tail and run all the way back to my sailboat in the Bahamas. Not because of the yoga but because of the incredibly cramped setting. The yoga mats were laid out in a space-saving pattern that only Escher himself could have come up with. There was just enough room for each yogi to practice, assuming you were not taller than say 5 ½ feet!
Unfortunately, this agoraphobic reaction occurred in most situations I encountered in the city - especially as I searched aimlessly for a non-crowded, comfortable studio. I eventually realized that the only way for me to continue my yoga practice, was to do it in Central Park. Given NYC weather, that was limited at best.
Well the antithesis of this experience occurred recently when the amiable general manager of Anantara Golden Triangle, Mark Heather, was touring me around the stunning grounds of the resort. The primary objective of the tour was to show me some of his favorite locations where he thought I might want to hold yoga classes.
The more we toured, the more impressed I became with the serenity of the setting. There were a myriad of locations suitable for a yoga class - and that led me to a yogi's dilemma - which setting to choose!
The Rice Paddy: A rustic, open-framed wooden platform set on the edge of a rice paddy and bordered by a spectacular lotus garden - where the only disturbance was the baby elephant's ritual, afternoon bath.
The Hill Top: A spectacular grassy knoll located above the East wing of the resort with a large worship area that overlooked not only the splendid Mekong River but gave an impressive view of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. As it gets closer to dusk the hills of all three countries turn a soft golden brown.
The Island: Located in the extensive lower gardens of Anantara and surrounded by cascading ponds, palms and large shade trees. The only distraction would be the elephants as they lazily saunter by on their way to their morning bath in the Ruak River.
The lower Deck: If the sounds of the cascading waterfall coming down from the infinity pool didn't hook me, it was certainly the amazing view of the Mekong Valley and the lush bamboo forest that surrounds the area.
I have always been a firm believer that the closer you can bring your yoga practice to nature the more peace you ultimately receive. Well, at Anantara's Golden Triangle property this comes to you in spades. If the spectacular views are not enough then the sounds of the various species of birds perched in the abundant trees or the cries of elephants from their adjacent camp will take you to places you may have never approached in your yoga practice before.
In the end, I settled on all of the mentioned locations and added a few as we went on. Both the students and guests seemed to really appreciate these beautiful, natural locations and I trust that it aided all of our practices and brought us ultimately closer to whatever it is we are searching for. I encourage each of you to ‘take it outside' and enjoy all of the space and tranquility any chance you get...
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