Not all who wander are lost.
Part Three - My Radical Sabbatical
Day Three
Standing in Warrior II, I relax and become present. Breathing, I rediscover how I might choose love instead of fear at this moment. I am the witness to external happenings. Feeling everything, I let go of what isn’t helping me right now, gathering what I need to move forward.
Exhausted from the hundreds of miles of driving so far, I felt a little unsure. Remembering my version of the Warrior poem, I found myself breathing deeply into my lungs as I moved my body – stretching my left arm into the future and the right into the past. Grounding in the present moment, breathing, I found peace.
Tuesday, October 2
Itinerary:
Walk the grounds https://kripalu.org/stay/healing-arts
Stockbridge / Kripalu: Connections start at 10:00 am ~Jess, Sudah, Missy and Jurian
Leave by 2 pm
~ Photoshoot in Chicopee OTW to Boston (3:30 pm) at Abundant Wellness
with Ilanna Beigel / Amherst, MA
Overnight Fan Pier Park, Boston or the long-term parking lot at Logan International Airport
Shot list: Yoga | Niagara Falls at daybreak | Fall Foliage | Trip Kripalu/Lake
Journal Entry | October 2: Up early and ready to go! I’m very excited! This day is so important. The past couple of meet-ups were to be practice ones, but I will be going to Kripalu cold since they flopped. Angela has been excellent at listening to the plan, asking me questions and even role-playing. I am a little, no, A LOT intimidated by Kripalu, the institute. And, these women on my schedule for today? I am a little nauseous thinking about it.
Peace And Change Are Interdependent
One constant in life is change. As a professed wanderer, I know that I look for new, exciting adventures and am more afraid of staying in situations that are no longer fulfilling.
Wanderers may have an unbelievable amount of self-awareness and belief compared to those who tend to get comfortable by remaining in one place for too long.
I am coming to terms with the fact that I am a wanderer; a butterfly ready to fly!
First Shower
The second night was decent, and we both slept pretty well. Getting up earlier, I caught up with remote work and decided to table anything else, except phone calls till tomorrow. I’d be alone then and had carved out some time just to explore and wander.
One big concern when sleeping in a parking lot is being rousted by security during the night and asked to move. Another is having a passer-by harras me. Since I intended to sleep in parking lots most of the time, I definitely would have to adjust – and quickly.
In my research, as long as the lot didn’t have signs posted to the contrary, and it was a 24-hour business, it should be ok to park overnight. I found Walmarts, hospitals, casinos, truck stops, and rest areas (dependant on the state) to be good options.
Journal Entry | October 2: I am trying to give myself a little grace here, but WTH?? I am getting too anxious about the location of sleeping. Kirstin – It’s easy. Pull off, close the blinds and go to sleep!! Nobody cares you are sleeping in this van but you!
Looking out through the shade, I saw the world hadn’t ended, and we had, in fact, chosen the perfect spot under the street light. Another new experience was next up – a much-needed shower!
An all-inclusive Planet Fitness membership costs about $22 per month. I had been using one for about 18 months while car-camping, and it’s very convenient with 1000’s of locations across the country. The upgrade came in handy now, too, allowing a companion to go in with me.
Journal Entry | October 2: We met the nicest woman today showering at Planet Fitness. Ask her to talk for a minute. You can do this. She’s walking away. I was too afraid to ask her for a moment to discuss how connections are made. Well, links certainly aren’t made by being afraid. Where’s the exit? (sigh) 🙁
We had left-over cookies from the night before, coffee and tea for breakfast, then headed out to our next Yoga Meet-up at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. YAY!! I am so excited about this next stop!!
Kripalu
There is something extraordinary about The Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. I had heard Angela speak about her experiences here, and I fully intended to visit. Then, in 2018, we were able to make a trek together for a workshop led by Stephen Cope. It was a fantastic experience!!
Journal Entry | October 2: Kripalu. Angela and I tease it’s the mother-ship but, maybe it is. I was on top of the world today. The magical feeling as I entered and got checked in. I feet home here!
This trip to Kripalu would be a little different, however. Of course, we would walk the beautiful grounds and eat fabulous food, but we would also meet with four phenomenal women and leaders at the institute. They each had agreed to have some yoga photography playtime and then share their personal stories about staying centered, moving past anger, fear & insecurities and remaining open to their inner strength, power, passion and love.
In the initial planning phase, the Yoga Warriors book idea snowballed (and that’s how I knew it was something I would need to do). However, I was still getting the schedule together, even up to the day before leaving.
Journal Entry | October 2: OMG! I got to hang out with Sudha today!
My Ask - September 23
Me: Hi Sudha, this is Kirsti, Angela Rokusek Stewart’s friend. She let me know you would be interested in connecting with me on my Yoga Warrior and Radical Sabbatical Sojourn in October. Thank you for agreeing to participate on October 2 at Kripalu.
I am looking forward to meeting you and further the creation of connections. Grateful, Kirsti
Her Response: September 24
Sudha: Hi, Kirstin. Anything, in particular, I should prepare for or wear?
Me: Good morning, Sudha. Thank you for asking/checking in.
I will be photographing you in Warrior II and other poses that are meaningful to you, so please be comfortable in what you have on. I would only ask it to be a reflection of your daily life. For example, I am asking people who wear suits during the day to be open to having their Warrior II photo in that form of dress.
The Warrior Poses are born out of the mythological story of Virabhadra. When practiced, I believe they help us gather inner strength and let go of fear. When we move through the various poses in the Warrior series, we connect to the part of us that is durable, compassionate, determined and confident – our inner warrior. It’s from this place of groundedness we get to rise, focused in our mind, centered in our heart.
The purpose of this book – to shine a light on Yoga Warriors across the country. I want to learn how this pose brings courage, focus, and determination and how others find their way to live from a place of love. I would like to know how you shine your light?
Love encourages us to follow our hearts despite what others say. I would like to know how you go after your dreams and overcome limiting beliefs.
Warrior II teaches us how to work through life’s challenging moments. I would like to know how your stay centered – how you move past anger, fear, and insecurities and stay open to your inner strength, power, passion, and love.
I am really looking forward to meeting you.
With love, Kirsti
Sudha: Awesome response K. Will be a treat to meet you. It sounds like a very rich dialogue is being culled.
Me: ❤
Journal Entry | October 2: I met with four of the most thoughtful, inspiring, loving, fun women today! I feel so wonderful – nothing, not anything, will stop me now!!
Jess, Sudah, Missy and Jurian
It was my honor over the next four hours that Angela and I would grow to know these four very different women better. With the following quote in mind, each shared their stories
As we stand in Warrior II, we relax and become present. Breathing into this pose, we discover how we might choose love instead of fear in our life. We witness external happenings in our life while fully feeling what is happening internally – letting go of what isn’t serving us, collecting what we need to move forward off of our mat and into our lives.
Journal Entry | October 2: I am curious by nature. As I sat down to ask questions from leaders in mind/body/spirit was so far outside of my comfort zone. But, I was optimistic about this whole idea; this entire journey had started for a purpose. And sure, I may not know what the reasons are, but I did it. I showed up, and I accomplished what I came to do and then some. In a million years, I didn’t think that I would leave with four new friends today. 4 more people advocating for the world’s well-being and mine. I feel so much love just being in their presence. No matter how the rest of this trip plays out, something special was created today.
Journal Entry | October 2: Craziest thing – as we were finishing with Jurian, it started to rain. Very cozy to be in the Berkshires in the fall! Last time Angela and I were here; we manifested a snowstorm that would keep us here two extra days ❤
Foreshadow
The four hours we spent at Kripalu were some of the best I would experience during the Radical Sabbatical. The thought of scrapping the plan, just staying here for the remainder of my Radical Sabbatical, occurred. I definitely could fill the Yoga Warriors book with people I met here, right?
At 2 pm, as we finished our time with Jurian, it started to rain. (And, the rain would follow me for the next 20 days)
Let's Try This Again
The rain worsened as we drove toward our next stop at Abundant Wellness near Chicopee, MA. A yoga photoshoot was scheduled with the studio owner and Ilanna Beigel, a Kripalu yogi who reached out through Angela.
We were running late due to the rain. Ilanna asked if we could meet at her work, using the philosophy of flexibility, choosing to cancel the meet-up at the studio and driving on to Amherst, MA.
Journal Entry | October 2: Another cancellation. Driving along I90 in the rain, we were running late – again!! I am embarrassed and sad to have made the call.
Everything Happens For A Reason
We may not always get to know why; I do believe this theory is solid. In this instance, looking back, I see now that had we stopped at the studio too, we would not have gotten to Boston until well after dark – and that would have been awful.
Journal Entry | October 2: Craving comfort food, all I wanted tonight was to eat at Whole Foods. But the traffic into and through Boston was like nothing I have ever experienced. People driving so fast, cutting me off lane to lane – OMG! I am not staying in this city longer than I have to. BREATHE!!
Rain & Big City Traffic
I have been in gridlock before in Chicago, Atlanta, Denver and LA but NEVER have I experienced traffic like this!
Raining harder, it was about 5:30 pm by the time we arrived on the outskirts of Boston. Crossing over I94 entering city limits on I90, we were sucker-punched with more traffic congestion. When we were moving, everyone seemed to pass us right by (I was driving faster than the speed limit too. Really!)
Journal Entry | October 2: OMG – Boston traffic was the worst! I kept trying to remember I had only been driving this ‘house’ for three weeks. I really needed a hug going tonight. Adding to the madness – it was quickly getting dark!
You Want Me To Go Where?
Once I adjusted (slightly) to the speed, the cut-offs, rain, and nights’ approach, it seemed to get better. We thought about trying to stop for something to eat, but it was still almost an hour to Logan International Airport where a parking lot reserved for longterm parking would be our last overnight spot together. And, every off-ramp was packed – I couldn’t even imagine trying to maneuver the city streets.
Descending into the tunnel (the only way to Logan) was a little terrifying (go figure). I’d kind of forgotten about it. Over the next 30 minutes, in stop and go traffic, I would come to learn that the tunnel is 8,448 feet long, of which approximately 3,960 feet are underwater…(Breathe!!)
Journal Entry | October 2: The tunnel to Logan was fantastic. Not only did we get to slow down a little, but I was driving under the water!! So! Flipping! Awesome!
No Place To Sleep
Angela’s plane left at 7 am, and because she would need to be there at least 90 minutes before, I thought it made sense to stay at the airport.
So, here we were again. It was getting late as we popped out of the other side of the tunnel. In about 45 mins till it would be dark, and we didn’t have a spot to park for the night. The long-term parking lot was full, and all of the other parking spots on site were located in a parking ramp-my rig was NOT going to fit there.
We googled and drove to another lot only to find out the van was too tall for admittance. Stopping to ask most of the hotels around the airport to please park in their lot – I would even pay, we were repeatedly told no.
Up and down the road we went until finally, cruising one hotel lot, we back into a spot and exclaimed we would risk it!!
Then security came-we had to go.
Journal Entry | October 2: I shouldn’t even have been shocked tonight as we tried to find a place to park, without luck. The upside – I went inside some pretty fancy hotels (begging to park on their lot)
Angela took pity on me at that moment, I think, saying she would go in and ask if we could pay to stay in their lot. When she returned, the answer was again no.
Seriously depleted, I started brainstorming other options. We would just have to drive out of the city a little way. We’d undoubtedly find a place there, right?!?
Then, she showed me what was in her hand with a big smile – a key card. She treated us to a hotel room for the night and would take the shuttle to Logan in the morning. (I almost started to cry)
Journal Entry | October 2: Angela-my guardian angel. Thank you, my friend. I will miss you for the rest of this trip.
Exhausted!
Angela and I are really good at manifesting trips; after falling into bed, we talked about the journey so far, both agreeing Kripalu was our favorite part. We would absolutely make a trip together there again.
The next day, Angela told me as her plane was taking off, she wondered how I would manage driving, coordinating, photographing, documenting, traversing, working, eating and sleeping, all while trying to have a sabbatical.
Journal Entry | October 2: This song from my childhood is going through my head tonight. (I think I learned it as a Brownie)
Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lake, from the hills, from the sky. All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.
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I am an influencer of optimism, positivity & love. My mantra is, “Be where my feet are,” nothing more, nothing less. It means living in the moment with curiosity, creativity, courage & compassion. You’ll find resources and stories primarily about subjects like travel, van living, exploring, yoga, and photography on these pages. By acting on my dreams and sharing my experiences, I hope you’ll be inspired to say YES, and live your happiest, best life. |
Follow along! Kirsti Out Wandering aspires to illustrate well-being in mind, body & spirit, giving unconditional love to self and others, and pursuing all of the wild possibilities life serves up while living full-time from a sprinter van.
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