Reflections

It’s been far too long since I reached out to you with a blog.  I hope your summer has been full of fun, adventure and appreciation for life.

As you may know, I spent a little extra time in Japan this year touring around and spending “down-time” with several of the Master Trainers there.  The people and the places there continue to touch my heart.  Each time I return home, while always thankful to be home, I have a bit of wistfulness about my experiences in Japan.

Can you believe I have been going there for nine years?  This year was actually my 20th trip to Japan.  Through the years, I have written home to family and friends about my adventures there.  My emails home keep me grounded, but also document the personal growth I have undergone as a result of my travels there. 

For quite some time, my friends have encouraged me to compile my emails into a memoir of sorts.  This year was such a powerful experience, I finally decided to start on that book. 

I am still searching for some missing emails but I would like to share with you a few photos and the beginning draft of my new book.

 Read on ....

Chapter 1

The winter of 2007 had been shattering. A cluster of bad decisions birthed from an insidious love affair had left me: Homeless, Jobless, Car-less – Impoverished, along with a dash of terror from a crazed stalker for good measure.

Fortune had smiled on me. 

I had to turn my life around. I was willing to take any legal money-making opportunity that made sense. When going through a crisis, one rarely considers there might be some greater good to be experienced.  I found myself suffering from insecurity and anxiety at every turn.

Once, headed to a job assignment in California, I was sitting unusually calmly on an airplane, reading “Feelings Buried Alive Never Die” by Karol Truman.  In the back of my head, I heard the announcement, “Aft doors locked and secure”.  Hurled into a full-blown panic attack, I leaped out of my seat and dashed to the back of the plane.  My heart was racing. I couldn’t breathe.  It was all I could do to resist clutching the poor flight attendant as I begged for oxygen. I thought I was going to die.

And that’s how many days and weeks passed, when I received an email from Phil, a man I had never met, who said I had been referred to him by a colleague.  He asked if I might be interested in teaching in Japan.

That email changed my life. 

Chapter 1

Rising Sun beckons

My winter soul awakens

Yearning to emerge 

Wed, Nov 26, 2008 at 8:06 AM

From: “Me"

Hello! 

Hope you’re doing well and getting ready for a fabulous Thanksgiving feast!

I am happy to report another day of new experiences in Tokyo.  

Today I was teaching at the Olympic Center which was 3 train rides from my hotel. 

People are everywhere! It’s so fascinating to see how efficiently such masses of people move around this city.  AND it is very clean AND no Crime! (and I haven't noticed any pigeons either...can't figure that out..)

Also - the toilets all have a built in bidet but they also have a button you push to make a flushing sound so that if your body needs to make a sound.....no one can hear - electronic toilet privacy....WOW!

Finally -  I wanted to mention that my first day here I was teaching at the Fitness Summit. A magazine photographer came in and took a few shots - so I may end up in a Japanese Fitness Magazine.

Wouldn’t that be a hoot?

I’m sure there was more that I wanted to share but I’ve forgotten because a funny thing just happened to me on the elevator:

I’m on a secure ladies’ only floor so you have to swipe your room key in order for the elevator to go to my floor.  There’s also a men's only floor.

So there I was - claustrophobic little me, happily on the elevator ALL by myself! Just as the doors began to close, a group of Japanese businessmen tried to get on.

Quickly I had to decide – do I push the "doors close" button and remain safe, alone in my spacious elevator, or do I hit the "door open" button and let them in?  

Well, I am in Japan and my Buddha nature suggested that I choose "door open" so I did. Five Japanese businessmen got on.  They couldn’t figure out the elevator.  Of all the people in the world - the “gringa” from Nuevo Mexico- had to teach them how to use their key card to get to their floor!

How ironic is THAT?

Now if I could just learn a few key phrases I’ve noticed that Que? doesn't work here..

love you!

On Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 4:26 AM,

From “Me”

Ohyoo!

I’ve been in Japan now for 4 days.

My first day here was one with no work.  One of my clients suggested I contact her friend, Chester, who is a professor of urban development at the University of New Mexico on assignment at the University of Tokyo.  Chester kindly took me to Sensoji Temple. Founded in 628 A.D., Senoji is swarmed with tourists and locals alike. It’s famous for its five-story pagoda and giant red Kaminarimon ("Thunder and Lightning Gate").

Next, we took a train to see the country side...

It’s February - cold, gray, wet here.  Not a lot to see in the country side. However, Chester did point out the high-rise prison in the NE part of Tokyo.  No high-rise prison in New Mexico, so that was interesting.  Apparently, the NE has some bad Juju - hookers, and cast of people that families don't talk about, live here.

I also learned about a "practical biking" culture called "mamachare” (pronounced “mama char ay”). People bicycle everywhere so there’s bike parking at all the stores and train stations – everywhere.
Imagine the savings to the environment, health care costs and space! What a concept!

Can we do this in Albuquerque?

For the past 3 days I’ve been teaching a pre/postnatal Pilates course that I created.  I have 21 students - one of whom is 6 months pregnant and 2 of whom are one month and two months post-partum (they left their babies at home to come to my class - this is a very big honor!)  With all of these women - many of whom are mothers and grandmothers, I’ve learned a bit about the culture of women, pregnancy and childbirth here.  Very natural/normal - very....good.

However, there is one thing I have learned about that I really think we need to consider in Albuquerque...maybe even the entire southwest...
UMBRELLAS

WHAT A CONCEPT!!!!!

Everyone here owns at least one Umbrella. And on top of that - they actually USE them! I’ve discovered that by keeping you dry - they also help you to stay warm.  IMAGINE!  No cold wet hair, clothes, even your shoes/feet stay a bit dryer (ergo warmer)!

So my proposal to all Nuevo Mexicanos is....Try an Umbrella. It’s like sunshine in the rain!

Wow am I learning a lot here!!!

Best to you and Love!

 

Date:	Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:50:03 -0600
From:	“Me”

Let me just preface this email by saying - OK - I know I am probably less patient than "normal"
BUT
I started my period today while I was teaching my workshop....

Now - I am perimenopausal - for me that means I carry tampons around ALL the time because WHO KNOWS WHEN I will have a period.  In this particular case for example, I had one just about two weeks ago...  ;-(

However, I bought a new computer bag to bring on this trip and in my rush to put all my essentials in the bag (you know - like a pen, chapstick, etc. ) I forgot to include a tampon.

So it’s lunchtime and I realize I can’t make it to the end of the day without a tampon.

In order for you to really appreciate this story - you need to know that I am in a country that sells prunes in individual packets.....

I am not kidding.

Here I was today  at the Olympic Center, where people come from all over the world and guess what?
no  *#$@! tampon machines – anywhere. ANYWHERE.

OK granted - I am willing to go to a restaurant and try to communicate about dinner.

But I really didn't want to ask my translator about feminine hygiene products.

NOT to worry - I found a “konbini” store on campus and searched all the boxes until I found one that had an "illustration” indicating I was buying the right thing.

I was saved.

Anyway - just wanted to share with those of you (e.g. women) who can appreciate the situation.

PRUNES for Godsake

Until next time,

Be Well

 

P.S.  A lot of people are talking about the documentary “What the Health?”  My next blog will be discussing some of the points the film puts forward. Stay tuned!  And stay in touch!