Yogataveller, Gozo, Malta - 21st March 2009 - By: Aubrey Lampkin

With: Fleur Carter, Andree Blouin, Liliane Blouin, Ginette, Teresa MacIntosh, Lindsey Ferries, Marie-Claire O'Brien and Geraldine O'Brien.



I think everyone would agree... this was one of those Yogatraveller weeks where the energy was just inexplicably ON. Totally illuminated from day one. I couldn't have asked for a kula of such open hearts and minds. When everyone in the room is a 'YES!' person, the opportunities are endless.

Our yoga studio, our playground.



Gozo is still flirting with summer season, so our week was sunny but breezy and cool. Because of this we were able to be really active between yoga classes, doing activities that will be a bit more exhausting when the temperatures begin to sky rocket. The island is still blessed with its springtime carpet of luscious green grass and flowers, so we took advantage!

Fleur in tree pose atop WWII watch tower on Comino Island.

Lindsey... blissed out.



Between morning and evening yoga classes we were busy bees... we rented bikes and rode them all around the island and into the center of town, went on a breath-taking hike along a cliff's edge to a 3,000 year-old temple, took a trip to the famous Ta' Pinu Shrine, had lunch in the seaside town of Xlendi, went on an idyllic boat trip and walk all around stunning Comino Island, practiced sunset yoga over-looking Azure's Window (famous rock formation), had a group dinner at Jeffrey's restaurant, etc. The list goes on and on!

Boat trip to Comino!

Rock window (great cave diving!).

I've seen more beautiful things, just can't remember where ...

Group in front of Comino Island church.



Our abundance of adventurous activities aside, the real magic (for me, at least) took place in our yoga classroom where I was able to absorb and reflect the magnetic energy of each of my students. I was so moved by this particular group, I was inspired to teach an impromptu invocation, the 'Om Namah Shivaya Gurave' passage. Before our mediation session each evening we gathered together and recited this entire passage together until it started to roll off of our tongues. Not only were we chanting one of the most beautiful and auspicious Sanskrit invocations together in unison, but we were doing so in five different accents of the English language... One of my students pointed out to me that within our group of 9 (including myself) we had a melody of accents from America (me), Australia (Fleur), Scottish (Lindsey and Teresa), Irish (Marie-Claire and Geraldine) and French-Canadian (Andree, Lily and Ginette). Beautiful.



Ginette and Andree striking a Warrior 2.



Aubrey being silly upside-down.



We spotted this wild bird perched on a cactus plant! (National Geographic moment.)

I hope to see you all again in another gorgeous corner of the earth - maybe even back here in Gozo. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

www.yogatraveller.com