[gallery link="file" columns="2"] The word "Yoga" is said to stem from Sanskrit and it can mean union or discipline. Some have interpreted the word to mean a union of the body, mind and soul. I can tell you that I definitely did not have that union yesterday morning. I had my 1st private lesson with Lori in Yoga. Lori owns her own studio called Yatra Yoga. A couple of things: First of all Lori is an awesome instructor and made me feel real comfortable. Her instruction was clear, articulate and filled with passion. The good stuff that I look for in my instructors. I would recommend her for Yoga training if you're in Burnaby, BC area. She also teaches out of the Gold's Gym in the area, but I found the studio more to my liking. She was very "gentle" with me for my first time and I found myself really enjoying the postures and the breathing exercises. Yoga definitely stretched me out and challenged my strength; I even got a fairly good sweat going on. Another thing that I found astounding was her breathing. We take breathing for granted, and quite frankly we do it wrong. I was amazed how deeply she breathed in and out; like I mean the room vibrated with her energy. I felt like I was wheezing in comparison to her. She also moved very well into each posture, matching each inhale and exhale with a positional change. One thing that she said that struck me was "let your breathe move you." I will definitely have to contemplate this. All in all it was a good experience and I will be training with her for the rest of the week. I can also say that by the end of the session I was a little closer to this coveted union :) Namaste Lori Afterwards I chilled out at this 20 year old cafe with these old Italian dudes as I made my way through Sakyong Mipham's Ruling Your World, another great book. I must say I was distracted by the old guys, so I left them to their own devices and made my way to KB1 for training camp. Mehdi was busy, so I busied myself with 9 two minute rounds with 1 min breaks on various heavy bags. Afterwards I did a fight simulation with Mehdi, holding for 5 three minute rounds. The last round was murder! I was feeling it, and at times I was going to call it quits! Afterwards I went back to work a drill on the bag that Mehdi gave me; for 6 three minute rounds with 30 sec breaks :) Mehdi continued to spar a bit. Here is a short video clip of Mehdi finishing a 9 minute round with Semmy Schilt's little brother! [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHjX0Mzd-D4] I got an opportunity to hang around with Perry and watch a bit. Perry is Mehdi's boxing coach. I love hanging around for "story" time with Perry. He is one of those olde school coaches, with a lot of charisma and wisdom that I hope to attain as a coach one day. I finished my workout with a Tabata protocol on a Concept 2 Rower, using my Gym Boss to help me through. The evening was done with Josip and I going off to Brown's for Kobe burgers and yam fries. Need that weight!!! Tomorrow is more hell at the camp. Be good guys-Jd