There are certain moments in my life where I *feel* deep within my body that I am divinely placed in the perfect place at the perfect time. It is not an idea or affirmation, but this shimmering sensation that almost gives me shivers and makes all my senses a bit more alert. This has been one of those weekends!

I am in San Jose studying with a dance hero of mine, Beto Perez, the founder of Zumba, getting certified as a Zumba instructor. As part of the process, I am mastering several forms of dance which I can't wait to integrate into my hooping! Salsa, Cumbia, Merengue, Regaeton and more. I first became aware of Beto's work while at IDEA and was totally inspired in every way. His personal story of devotion to his dance is so inspiring, with his humble beginnings making $1 per class in his native country of Columbia. He tried to come to America four times to teach dance and it took 4 years to even do that and be accepted here. His story of lugging his videotape demos back and forth on the plane to show gyms was so moving, and when he finally got a one month teaching engagement, he had to go back home and sell all his worldly possessions to have enough money to pay for expenses while teaching in Miami. To be in such close proximity to someone so completely driven by passion to follow his dream, who is such an epic teacher, playful, sexy, insightful, yet also so humble and empowering, is amazing.

As usual, while taking this training I am also learning lots about how my own program can be made more useful to my licensed instructors. I know this is a great program because I am hooked! Honestly if I didn't have a whole hoop project going on in my life, I would probably jump on the Zumba bandwagon. Just like I wanted to jump on the Nia and Laughter Yoga bandwagons as well! So many opportunities in life! I will keep these all as inspiring hobbies, but feel so enriched from reaching out of my busy shedule to expose myself to things which really move me.

I honestly feel so flooded with thankfulness to be here. Not only is this an outstanding program with sincerely inspirational leadership, but it is a solid fitness program which is also fueled by the same energy which motivates my hoop classes -- JOY! Classes are full of party energy, hot sexy dance moves and exotic Latin music which really gets my blood moving. Those who have attended this training are also completely great. You know, the world of fitness is not what it used to be. Over the past year all my preconcieved notions have been blown out of the water and I feel honored to be a part of this industry. I really admire a lot of things about the "new" mainstream fitness world, especially those visionaries who are pushing the envelope to expand. There are strong empowered, beautiful women here of all body sizes and backgrounds, with great stories and lives. From flight attendants, retirees, a super pregnant housewife and massage therapist to dozens of people actually working in the fitness industry as teachers who already teach classics but also things like cardio striptease and more! (Another class I want to check out soon!). I love the energy, sweat, smiles, yells of enthusiasm, the enthusiastic and talented Latin fly girls who sometimes come up to demonstrate on each side of Beto, the Brazillian vibe of celebration, (even if it superficial) the hot sexy Brazillian clothes and all the detailed instruction which I feel is going to help my own teaching of hoopdance to improve as well.

Yesterday morning, before I made the 1 hour drive here from SF, I took 5 minutes to find a hotel on hotels.com. I thought I would benefit from staying overnigt to integrate all that has been presented before day 2, and just have a nice evening to myself. I quickly chose a hotel which was more boutique-y and cheaper than their recommended one. It was a 10 minute drive away, in a place called Mountain View (home of google). I had never been here, but it sounded and looked way nicer than what they suggested. So I came here after class last night, it was super hip and modern which I like, got a recommendation of sushi joint and ended up in the center of a fun main drag here. I quickly forgot all about the sushi place as I walked up and down the street and was caught up with people watching. I felt like I was walking down the street surrounded by the quirky, well to do, madly multicultural mix of who works right at google! Almost like on a posh google shopping campus. It was like an upscale, yet funky, San Francisco out here in the middle of Silicon Valley. Fascinating! I ate at Temptations, an IndianChinese Fusion hipster resturant with dim colored lights and sleek modern wood and metal fixtures that loooked right out of Dwell magazine, packed with well dressed multigenerational Indian families. I loved watching the really old grandmothers with braided grey hair down their backs in beautiful saris chatting with their urban chic progressive families, with babies in town in those super dailed-out baby strollers I see all around the city. It was just a whole window of culture I have never even seen... and... the food was out of control delicious with rich aromatic herbs and delicate flavors. I sat in a window seat and was torn between watching all the amazing people walking by outside and all the interesting families inside, my Zumba reading lay forgotten by my side the whole meal.

Afterwards, I walked up the street and found the singlemost AMAZING book/gift store I have seen since moving to Northern California. I feel like I will be making the drive from Sf to come here in the future when I just want to "get away" from the city and immerse in inspiration once in a while as a day trip. It is called East-West Bookstore and it was packed with amazing, inspiring books, art, gems, statues, etc. There was an entire wall devoted to "The Secret" which had all the books all the visionaries featured in the movie had written! Being a Secret junkie, I was immediatly captivated. I went from section to section, picking up random books and reading for a while, then moving on to a new section. My hand would just reach out and grab a random book and the words inside seemed to really relate to what I am up to right now. So much fun! I talked to an employee for a while about the new book I am reading, Pronoia, and we discussed that bookstores really need a whole separate section on gratitude! It is such a powerful force. To truely shift your mind to percieve the world and everyone in it are always plotting for your greater good is a total shift of mind which brings so much happiness!

So here I am back at my hotel, up early and revving up for day 2 with Beto. It has been a delightful mini vacation full of unexpected surprises and I am sure today will unfold beautifully and with lots more sweat and dance learning. I was completely worked after yesterday and I am sure by the time today is done I will be ready for some sweet rest at home. And to think I was having second thoughts yesterday morning in SF about doing this at all!

Thank you! Life is fantastic! I am so blessed in so many ways. I am continually in awe at the gifts which pour into my life. I trust my intuition to lead me in the perfect direction at all times towards positive expansion and growth. This feels so good!