I left Ubud two days ago but haven’t been able to find words for everything I experienced in Bali’s spiritual hub. I had only planned four full days in Ubud. I knew it was the main hub but in my mind that meant “touristy” and I was reluctant to schedule too much time there. I…
Sidemen, Bali
As I drove away from the northern coast of Bali, I said my goodbyes to the vibrant, crystal waves and couldn’t help but feel a bit melancholy to be going inland. Being by the water is the most settled I feel, complete flow and no resistance. I reminded myself to take with me the lesson…
Circumnavigating the Island – Gili Air, Indonesia
My first and last full day on Gili Air was pure bliss. I woke up with a plan: to walk the entire perimeter of the island. I got up early (island early: 9am) and had a long two hour practice before leaving the bungalow in search of coffee fuel and where my journey would begin. …
Gili Air – Lombok, Indonesia
After four full days in Amed, I was ready to move on. Though I had enjoyed the rhythm of late mornings and long, early lunches spent writing, afternoons scootering around to different beaches and late nights looking for food and listening to the soft ocean ripples meet the beach. My first few days in Amed…
The Temple of Lempuyang Luhur – Amed, Bali
7 temples. Over 2,500 steps for the ascension. 2 legs, 2 feet, 10 toes, and one mindset to get me to the top. The Balinese say one must never complain on the way up; if you do, you will never make it to the top. As I arrived at the entrance, I paid a small…
White Sand Beach – Jasri, Bali
The days here start at 7:30am for morning asana. The sessions begin with core strengtheners before stretching. With our blood flowing we set up for the “Solar Asana”, a sequence designed to heat and prepare the body for inversions and acro. After as hour we eat breakfast, meet about an hour and a half later…
Jasri, Bali
It’s taken more than a day or two to feel settled here but each morning my roots dig a little deeper into the tropical soil. After taking a two hour drive from the airport, I arrived at Shanti Agung and was surprised to see I had the whole place to myself. Not a soul was…
Denpasar, Bali
I’m close to touching down at Denpasar International Airport in Bali, Indonesia. I’ve been travelling for nearly 24 hours and have lost over 15 hours with the time change. I left San Francisco Tuesday night and will find my feet on the ground on Thursday afternoon. The flights have gone surprisingly smooth considering I already…
San Francisco, California
This has been the perfect beginning bookend to my Bali expedition. I was so focused on preparing for this trip; from all the work that needed to be done like covering my classes and planning a month abroad to mentally gearing up for all the work that would be waiting for me when I returned….
Centennial Park – Nashville, Tennessee
The lawn stretches out, backdropped by Nashville’s Parthenon; as soon as we hit the grass our shoes were flung off and we erupted into cartwheels. So much empty green reached out in front of us and we were like little kids let out while the sprinklers were on. We found our butts in the grass…
Hobler Park – Skillman, NJ
Of all my yoga spots, I find myself here the most; it feels like a secret and maybe I’ve been subsciously not getting to this post because I don’t want to burst the bubble. The park is woven with winding grass paths through large fields of wild flowers that stretch in every direction. It is…
City Walls – Lucca, Italy
As soon as I see these walls, my breath is deeper, something settles. I made Lucca my home for a month and, in the best way, fear I never left. There are places I have gone that wrap me up so tightly and so warmly that I need to leave without looking back, forgetting to…
Ever Upward 