Outside Yoga

I have been taking yoga now for 2 1/2 years here in Abu Dhabi. I tagged along with a friend from school back in January 2011 and quickly found my new exercise obsession!

Our class was led by Debbie at the Hiltonia Beach Club of the Hilton Hotel-one of the oldest hotels in Abu Dhabi. It was a lovely setting and I grew to not only enjoy the yoga, but the fellowship that Debbie fostered in the small class of about 15-18 ladies. Every morning when we entered the room mats would be laid out with towels, blocks and occasionally a frangipani flower graciously placed on every towel! This was Debbie’s signature! The room would be adorned with candles and sometimes we would have chocolates placed on our mats! Our Shala was perfect!

But word spread and Debbie’s class grew more popular and I found myself rushing out the door earlier and earlier in order to get to class and get my favorite place in class. Then parking became an issue due to nearby construction and this created another stressful part of getting to class! But we shouldn’t be stressed getting to yoga right?!!

So imagine our delight when at the end of October Debbie announced that class was moving outside!!! No limit to the number of students and plenty room to spread out! Well I could not have imagined how wonderful this could be! The Hilton had provided a garden area and Debbie somehow recreated the serenity of her inside class outside! Mats, towels and yes even the frangipani! We were surrounded by trees-a rarity in the desert! – and views of the gulf and a waterfall! I even heard birds! I’m never practicing yoga inside again!

Thank you Debbie! A Shala is definitely what you make of it!