Toronto Yoga Conference 2019

Last week I taught for the second consecutive year at the Toronto Yoga Conference.  A pivotal moment of the week could have gone something like this:"Excuse me, sir. Where's the CN Tower?"Awkward silence.I knew I was close to the Canadian landmark but with my late arrival the first night then my early-morning walk to my first session in the rain the next day, I didn't realize how close.  It's not like I had the chance to look around.  Thank god I didn't ask for directions.In a brief break in the rain on my second night in Toronto, the sunset shone on her as if to beckon me to turn around and look up.  I did and there she stood in all her glory.  I didn't have to ask for directions.  I suddenly went into tourist mode taking pictures and smiling from ear to ear. Yes, I'm Canadian. Yes, I've seen the tower before.  Don't judge me.---

The lesson: stop and look around.

---As soon as you do, you might find exactly what you're looking for.My other travel tips:

Pick the window seat.

Be ok with getting lost. 

You can't be mindful with your nose in a phone.  It's bad for your posture anyways.  Look up. 

Ask for restaurant recommendations. Then when you decide they don't know what they're talking about, pick a restaurant close by with a good vibe, good reviews, and teal retro bar chairs.

Travel alone.

Pack for the weather. Include cute rainboots.

Give up control over the things you can't control. Flight departure times. The length of the line at the coffee shop.  The weather.  The weather.

Plan, but then leave room for spontaneity and for the unexpected.  For example, an impromptu chat with a student on a train.

Don't be a jerk. That's not only a travel tip, that's an everyday tip.

And, my roadmap for life also includes the following pieces of advice:

Ask for what you want, you might get it.

Focus on your work, not the result.

Patience, Grasshopper.  It took years of applying to teach at the Conference before I got my chance.  When I did, the opportunity tasted that much sweeter. (Damn it!  That reminds me: I forgot to snag one of the Conference cookies.)

---And finally...---

Be yourself.

 And that's my roadmap for life. Hope it helps.x KM