A perfect way to compliment your day of scuba diving is with a yoga practice. If you are on the island of Santa Maria Azores, contact Yogini Tiff for yoga.. flowingyogini@gmail.com
Category: azores
The Great Transition
Tuesday was moving day. It was a day full of tears, saying goodbye to so many people we love. It was also the beginning of three days of flying. The start of a great transition.
Back to Tuesday, we packed and cleaned and cried all day. Leaving a place you love, and people you love, is never easy. We had a house full of friends who came to say goodbye, and even at the airport, many of our closest friends came to see us off. The day and our situation could be described as the perfect Fado song. Fado is beautiful and mournful Portuguese music with lyrics of longing and sadness..
Back To Tuesday, after all the crying and goodbyes, we took an airplane to the island of Sao Miguel, where we spent the night. We stayed with a dear friend who lives there. Outside the door to her house was a welcome banner my friend’s son made, that read “Bem Viendos.” It was very sweet. We sat around, ate pizza, talked, and laughed, and cried.
We woke Wednesday morning and went to the park, I kept thinking that maybe we should move to Sao Miguel.. it is a big island, with a big modern city.Maybe someday.
Before lunchtime, we were on a plane to Germany. A 1 day layover in Dusseldorf, felt like a mini vacation. We decided to take the train to our hotel. It was a good way to see the city and it was fun. Well, it was fun after we figured out which train to take. A very helpful couple from India, helped us figure out the train schedule and we rode the train with them into the city.
We stayed in a hotel right in the center of the city. Right next to the “Old Town”, the fashion district, the main train station. We walked around for hours. We had a dinner at a restaurant that played Portuguese music (that dinner is quite a story, maybe next post). The night was fun, we wanted to keep exploring, but it was cold, it was late, and we had an early flight to catch the next morning.
We woke early yesterday morning and went to the airport, dreading our 11 hour flight to Miami. 11 hours is a VERY LONG TIME. Especially when traveling with a 22 month old. But we made it. And we made some new friends.
Our friend picked us up at the airport, and we drove up to West Palm Beach. I felt exhausted. I felt culture shock. I needed to sleep. But sleep wasn’t an option. We dropped off our suitcases, and I took my son straight to rehearsal. My son did a video audition to be in a musical, and he was cast, and last night was his first rehearsal.
My daughter and I watched the end of rehearsal. I felt so much joy watching my son onstage. He was shining, back in his element, performing. When he left the stage, smiling from ear to ear, he skipped over to his sister, picked her up and said “that was the funnest rehearsal of my life.”
I am awake early. I miss my sweetheart. But I am strong. I know why we are here. Life is always in transition. And great big transitions can offer beauty, growth, and possibilities.
Have a beautiful day. I am going to the beach. 🙂 ~Tiff
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” ~Maya Angelou
Manta Magic
Yesterday I had an experience many people dream of. I swam with 17 giant Manta Rays.
One of my closest friends on this island is a dive master from the mainland of Portugal. She knew it was a dream of mine to see the Manta Rays, so she invited me to join their dive group and go explore under the sea.
I had no idea what to expect, or where we were going. I knew it was possible we wouldn’t see any Manta Rays at all. But if we didn’t see any, it would be fine. I was along for the ride. Which was beyond beautiful.
We left the harbor at about 9:30am and headed out to our first dive spot, a place called ‘Joao Lopes’. There were 3 of us snorkeling (I took a dive certification course years ago, but because of ear problems, I cannot dive), the rest of the group was diving. This spot, about a mile offshore, was deep but we could still see the bottom. I swam around, looking at fish and trying to stay close to the boat, when I spotted my first Manta Ray. It was really incredible. She was huge! She swam near me, then past me. I swam as fast as I could, trying to follow as the graceful giant flew through the water.
I was smiling, feeling happy and peaceful when we headed to the next spot. A famous dive spot called ‘Ambrosio’. This spot is three miles offshore and in very deep water. Very deep, very blue. At 45 meters deep (about 150 feet) even the divers did not go to the bottom.
The captain of the boat spotted them first, he stopped the boat and said quietly “Tiffany, get in the water right now, nice and slow” and as soon as I did, I was surrounded by Manta Rays. They were swimming in a beautiful spiral formation. I was literally inside their magical circle.
I was quiet on the boat ride back to the harbor. I felt a little seasick, but mostly I was just in awe, speechless. Nature. So much magnificence.
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ” – Albert Einstein
Adventure ~Tiff
Take a Hike
I woke up this morning, slowly stretched my body awake, and realized I had a large twig tangled in my hair. My legs are all scratched up and my feet are sore. But I feel good. Two days of pretty intense hiking, snorkeling, and blackberry picking.
On Saturday, we woke early, headed to the other side of the island, ready to rough it and climb down a very steep mountain, to some old abandoned vineyards, situated right next to the beautiful Azorean sea. It was apparent right away, that we were the first people in a very long time to make the hike. What used to be a small trail was now heavily overgrown with cane and blackberries.. but we continued.
After what felt like a very long time of really rough and steep hiking, we made it to the vineyards, and peaked inside a small and long abandoned home. Part of the roof had collapsed, but there was one room that still had a roof. We went inside and checked it out. It still had some old furnishings, a reminder of how life used to be. Inside a little drawer, I saw a magazine from 1959 perfectly in tact, It was a “dirty” magazine.. so I didn’t take any photos.. HA!
The ocean was rough, wild, and beautiful. We had a relaxing picnic.. but I kept looking up at the top of the mountain and DREADING our return hike. It was steep, it was exhausting, it was hot. But it was fun. ADVENTURE! I found a lot of wild oregano.. and of course we stuffed ourselves with blackberries.
Yesterday we headed to a different side of the island, hiked down to some deep and beautiful tide pools and enjoyed some really good snorkeling.
There were so many blackberries on the hike, so on the way back up the mountain, we filled up my daughters beach bucket with berries. I also picked some wild mint.. And last night we enjoyed blackberry cobbler, drank mint tea, and put aloe vera all over our scratched up legs..
Take a Hike, and I mean that in a good way! HA! ~Tiff
A Heartprint
“Love and compassion and a sense of Universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness.” -Dalai Lama
Cheers, For All Of It
Lately my feelings about life here, have been changing as quickly as the Azorean Weather. The Azores are known to have unpredictable, changeable weather, often experiencing all four seasons in one day.. Dress accordingly.
A couple of weeks ago, I told my partner, I needed someone to knock on the door and offer me a part-time job. Late that same evening, we had a knock on the door. It was an older man, offering me a job… It was the first time in my life I accepted a job with an avocado mask all over my face. Talk about the power of manifestation. Weird.
The job is at a local dance club, I am bartending. And while I would much rather be serving shots of wheatgrass than vodka, I am grateful for the job. Unemployment is very high on this island of 5000. One of the reasons we are planning to move. Opportunities, there are few here.
But it is such a beautiful place. How do you leave an island so beautiful, so peaceful, so different from anywhere else?? Well, the truth is, it is hard to focus on the beauty when you can’t afford basic things. My family and I are facing a problem many people all over the world know too well. Living in a country with a seriously struggling economy (Think about the current situation in Greece).
But I am grateful, for all of it. This experience, this time. These friendships. The stories. BUT, I also understand the need to say goodbye to one life, take a chance, and adventure into the unknown…
We can either come from a place of fear, or trust. Or both! Haha..
Though my feelings about life here are constantly changing, one thing has been constant lately. I want the beach!!! The element of water. So soothing. So perfect. I have been spending hours everyday with my kids in the ocean. Snorkeling, swimming, yoga, tide pools, staring out at the horizon…
Last week, I had some beautiful people fly to the island and practice yoga with me. From Norway, Italy, and Greece. It was so lovely to connect with like-minded people. Playing the Tibetan Singing Bowls. exploring the island, exploring the breath, sharing delicious food.
With the powerful full moon, and the beginning of July, lets manifest joy, abundance, trust, prosperity, fun, shots of wheatgrass, and lots of time at the beach.
Remember, we are exactly where we need to be.
With a grateful heart, CHEERS!!! -Tiff
That Glorious Solar Return
Saturday morning, I woke up early, to a kiss on the cheek and fragrant wild flowers on top of my chest. Saturday was my 38th birthday. My solar return. And by 7am, the solar rays were already beaming, offering us the warmest day of the year.
We woke early, because we had to go up into the mountains and meet a friend of my sweetheart, a farmer, who was harvesting potatoes. He gifted us with 40 pounds of potatoes!!! That is a lot of potatoes. So fresh. So good. So nourishing. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!
Since we were already on the other side of the island, we went to my favorite spot to collect water. Fonta Clara in Santo Espirito.This artesian well water is the most delicious tasting water I have ever had. It is a bit of a hike, and much harder on the way back up, with full water jugs. But it is so peaceful and beautiful there. And that water, mmm refreshing. Well worth the effort.
After a nice lunch, we decided to go to the beach, and we went swimming. It was the first time this year that I was brave enough to go in the slightly FREEZING water. (I got spoiled living in South Florida and Hawaii). The water was refreshing, early afternoon, the sun was still getting warmer.
In the late afternoon, I taught a very special yoga class. The first of 6 special “Yoga At The Natural Park” yoga classes I will be teaching this summer. The classes are in partnership with the Azores Geoparque. Not only was this an outdoor yoga class in a beautiful, remote, peaceful location, but we also had a very knowledgable scientist from the Geoparque give a talk about the formation of the area and the history. We did some exploring, and then we did some more exploring, through YOGA.. It was so awesome. Beautiful. Wonderful. HOT! (My slightly sunburned nose is proof).
As if all that birthday magic wasnt enough, I came home surprised to find a house full of flowers, friends, and family. A sweet little birthday party, a really good ginger and cinnamon cake,and some ukulele playing.
With rays of LOVE, beams of GRATITUDE, and lots of potatoes. -Tiff
Worlds Within Worlds
Last night I drove to teach a yoga class and the only traffic I encountered, was a man with a horse-drawn wagon. This was not a fancy Central Park Tourist dream wagon. No, it was an old, beat up wagon, driven by an old man with weathered skin, who was working the fields.
I have these moments, these flashes, several times a day, where it hits me, and I realize, “I don’t think we are in Kansas anymore.” In fact, just as I was finishing this sentence, a large herd of cows walked right in front of the house.
Santa Maria is a strange, beautiful, and unique place. It is bizarre mix of old world and modern world. Some people ride horses into the village to drink a beer,while others drive Mini Coopers on their way to get a manicure. Everyone has internet and satellite tv. The stores sell soy milk, oat milk, chia seeds, and tofu dogs. There are homes here as large and majestic as the ones in Palm Beach, but there are other homes that are so old, so run down, from another time, another world. . There is a dance club here, where people dance to modern American music until 7am. But there are also festivals here and folklore dances that make you feel you have gone back in time, several hundred years. There are people who live here, who have travelled the world. And there are others, who rarely leave their village, or some who have never left this island. Different worlds within the same world.
Last weekend was the Festival of Santo Christ. A festival that celebrates the miracles and magic of Jesus Christ. The streets and churches are decorated with flowers, it is beautiful, but still strange.
Last weekend there was also an Imperio here. I guess the easiest way to explain it, is that during an Imperio, nobody goes hungry. It is a religious ritual and celebration, held at a chapel, and honoring a promise made to God. During an Imperio, people cook enough soup for everyone on the island. They cook in giant black cauldrons over fire. All weekend long, people can come and eat the soups, the bread, and drink wine. They light firecrackers several times a day, as a way to let the islanders know, there is an Imperio, come eat food. They also deliver giant pots of soup to the homes in the nearby villages. Someone delivered soup to our home, and although the soup is not vegetarian (I didnt eat it), the act was greatly appreciated. It is so special and strange. And so different from the world I grew up in.
My sweeheart celebrated his birthday this weekend too. We of course enjoyed some healthy cake, a little party at our house, the festivals, and we hiked to an old lighthouse in Maia.
There are things about this place I have grown to love so much. There are people here so dear to my heart.
People dream of moving to another country, to experience a different world, reality, culture. And although it hasnt been entirely easy, I am in awe that my path has sent me on this magical adventure. ”
There are thousands of lives, within a single life.” -Tiff
By the way, The man that delivered the soup to our house, is someone i share a strange connection with. I wrote part of our story, in a blog post a few years ago. It is still strong and very weird. Check it out http://flowingyogini.org/2012/10/08/love-at-first-sight-or-something-even-weirder/
Listen
“There is a voice, that doesn´t use words, LISTEN.”~Rumi
XX-Tiff
Catching My Breath
When I was about 10 years old, my aunt, uncle and three cousins came and stayed with us in the tiny house I grew up in, in Olympia Washington. The 6 of us kids all slept together on the living room floor, there were ten of us in total, in a two bedroom house.
My youngest cousin had severe asthma, It was the first time, I had ever been around anyone with asthma. As a kid, i remember thinking it was very annoying. My cousin wasnt allowed to run around with us, My aunt was always going on and on, “You are wheezing. ” “Slow down, your asthma!” “Dont run!!” You need your inhaler!” ” It is time for your nebulizer.”
The machine Two times a day, my cousin had to sit at the kitchen table hooked up to what i thought was the weirdest machine in the world. The nebulizer. He sounded slightly like Darth Vader, and during treatment, although curious, I was more afraid and I stayed away.
A few months ago, I experienced my first asthma attack. I am 37. I don’t smoke (anything), I do yoga everyday, I juice, I eat healthy, I take herbs and vitamins :). And one night, I woke up, completely unable to breathe. I mean, seriously, would have died had we not rushed to the hospital. I wasnt sick, I had no congestion, no fever, but no oxygen. At the hospital, they checked my oxygen levels, and right away, I was hooked up to the machine. The fear and anxiety I felt was intense, gasping for air, thinking of my two kids, I seriously thought I could die.
I stayed in the hospital until morning. I did three treatments, and was prescribed a strong medicine that is illegal in the United States. When I was released from the hospital, I was instructed to come back three times a day for treatment. They wanted to monitor me closely. I asked the Dr. why I couldn’t breathe, and she responded, “You have severe asthma.”
I responded, “WHAT!! How?” The nurse who was in the room said, “It is actually quite common for people to develop asthma here, it is the climate, the humidity, the mold.”
So, anyways, For the last few months, I have been dealing with asthma. It is scary. As a yoga teacher, I am well aware of the importance and the magic of the breath. I used to take breathing for granted, now it is with deep gratitude.
My instincts, kept telling me it was some sort of mold in our house that was triggering my attacks. We tried to look for another house to rent. Everything was too expensive. I stopped sleeping in the bedroom, and started sleeping in the living room, right next to the window, which i kept open, even when it was freezing.
Most physical illnesses, ailments, and diseases have an emotional connection too. From Louise Hay,” Asthma is connected to Smother love. Inability to breathe for one’s self. Feeling stifled. Suppressed crying.”
A couple of days ago, I had another severe asthma attack. Frustrated and scared, I called out to my spirit guides to help me.. And by an act of serendipity or magic, when we were at the airport with my son, we ran into my sweethearts cousins. They told us they had a house for rent, if we knew anyone looking. We told them we were interested, and went to check it out. They offered us the house at a great discount, and on the full moon, we moved in. The house is very nice. And I already feel an improvement with my breathing.
From the living room, we see the mountains, from the kitchen we see the ocean. This house is in the country. Our neighbors are sheep, goats, cows, horses, chickens, pigs, and ducks.
We still are planning on moving back to the USA at the end of summer,but this is a beautiful place, I love it. The wind is howling, the windows are open, and I am grateful to breathe fresh air.
-Tiff
Flowing Yogini 