AYP/BPYI - Day 2

We headed towards Amboseli National Park where we would be staying for the night. On the way we stopped at a town about 30 minutes from Olgulului where we were going to haul some rocks for the foundation of a new school.

The town was a little scary, but we found a bar/club/eatery to stop for a bathroom break. This was my first time squatting over a hole in the floor. Utkatasana didn't do much for me, because I peed on my Crocs and got the bottoms of my pants wet.

When we arrived at the Masai village, the women, men and girls lined up to shake each of our hands and the boys bowed their heads so we could pat them. Once we made introductions, we handed out toys and school supplies to the kid's and women. AYP pays for the construction of the schools, but the kids need plenty of supplies. Pens are more valuable than money to the women for their kids.

Then, we headed out to a steel building, the school, with no floor yet. We walked with the Masai men and women to carry rocks. Because of the many scorpions hiding under the rocks, the adults would pick up and brush off the rocks for us to carry back to the floor of the school.

Baron and Wade did some hammering to help finish the roof construction.

After working, we shared some chai tea and then hoped into the trucks and headed towards Amboseli.

AYP/BPYI - Day 1

Nairobi is Kenya's most cosmopolitan city, the former capital of British East Africa. At 8am we headed for Sarakasi Trust, Africa Yoga Project's home base in the City Center.

Baron presented a morning yoga session with 54 Kenyans in chairs and then on the mat. We had lunch watching an acrobatic and dance show with Paige's boyfriend as the DJ.

After lunch, the group split up to shadow the outreach teachers in the slums. My group was with the "Ghetto Girls" and we headed to the slum area where they live and teach. When we arrived at the hall, a meeting was taking place so we started walking through the slums towards some drumming. Wade was in my group and wanted to join in with the drumming and singing. We gathered up around a couple of kids singing, dancing and drumming. Wade joined the musicians and we all took turns with the Ghetto Girls teaching about 70 small children yoga in the dirt. We had our hands and bodies buried in the dirt - high, low, up dog, down dog...

The kid's are always so polite, screaming "How are you" and they run right up to hold your hand. You can't walk anywhere without kid's following you, grabbing your hand or waving with the biggest smiles!

For the second half of the afternoon we walked to another area of the slums and met with Baron's group. We assisted about 100 kids in the dirt.



It was getting dark, but before we left we visited one of the Ghetto Girls mom in her home. It was small with one bed, a bench and couple of chairs and a burner for cooking. Her house held 9 people, including 3 babies. Her mother was 30.

For our safety we needed to get out of the slums before dark. We left just after sunset and took vans back to the Ngong House for dinner and a meeting. (We never made it to bed prior to midnight on any night during our stay.)

AYP/BPYI - Arrival

Arrived in Nairobi with Baron, Dillon, Jessica, Dina, Lisa, Nick and Kinndli. Paige was waiting with our vans to take us to Ngong House, a resort owned by Paige's friends.

Met up with more of the team, Philip, Lisa, Lauren, Siddiqi, Dina, Stacy, Arjay, Diana, etc.

This was an unbelievable treat. I thought we were staying in budget hotels (bugs, dirt) a step up from camping. It was a beautiful oasis in the middle of Nairobi and we had a chef preparing our meals.









I roomed with Kinndli, Lisa, Stacy and Paige in our own log home. I slept in the loft in the main room and used the pool table as my dresser. We stayed here for our first two nights. Our hosts provided us gracious hospitality and cared for our every need.

AYP/BPYI - Prep and Flights

The planning for this trip began with a preview of the Africa Yoga Project video at the BPYI Bootcamp October 2008. Originally, the trip was scheduled for Dec/Jan 2009. Baron booked an event in London mid April and it worked nicely to piggy back the trip to Africa, since Baron was going to be half way the decision was to go now.

Following the Hawaii BPYI Teacher Training end in March, I made the commitment to go to Africa. I had 2 weeks to get shots, prepare, and rearrange my schedule.

I began with the numerous shots: hepatitas, typhoid, tetanus, flu, polio, meningitis, and picked up a prescription of mefloquine for malaria. Passport updated and Visa documents were ready three days prior. I had purchased a backpack, new Keens, plastic bags for my clothes and various medical supplies. All I needed to pack was my old yoga clothes and clogs that I could leave behind.

I also brought a large suitcase of 57 BePresent pants and 5 Be Present tanks for participants, 3 tins of Gatorade, 60 Nike yoga straps, 80 waivers, and 2 nerf footballs.

Today I leave Milwaukee to Chicago to London, to Nairobi, 23 hours of flying arriving 8:55pm at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. I watched 3 movies (Yes Man, Wallander, Bolt) and various tv shows.

Deborah Williamson Presenting at Yoga Journal Conference in Lake Geneva, WI - March 26-29, 2009

Building Community (During Business of Yoga Workshop)
Thursday, March 26
3:00pm—4:00pm

Join us as we discuss the ups and downs of creating a community and client base in your own town. Learn what works and what doesn't, and how to "get out of your own way" to create prosperity.

Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga: Discover Your Strength, Awaken Your Spirit

Instructor: Deborah Williamson

Friday, March 279:00am-4:30pm:

All-Day IntensiveCode: AFWILL all levels

Get ready for a sweaty, inspiring yoga adventure! Based on the popular and dynamic style created by Baron Baptiste, this class includes creative modifications and some advanced variations. Leave old fears and limitations behind, and prepare to challenge your physical and mental edges! Mostly asana.

Morning Meditation
Saturday, March 28
7:00am-7:45am
Instructor: Deborah Williamson

Open to all.

The new DVD's are here! Kid's and All Levels Power Yoga!

Wade Morissette at MPY Appleton