Day 1: Hello Geneva...

NOW it's official. Conference has begun. I'm currently sitting outside having a little lunch break. It's beautiful here. Both the weather and the scenery. The drive over today from the hotel was fun. I'm glad I got to do it in the light of morning rather than the cover of darkness last night. The area is so Midwest. One minute your admiring beautiful expansive newly built homes surrounded by a highly manicured golf course, the next you're watching the geese fly over a corn field divided by a lane that makes it's way to a 100+ year old farm house. I love the Midwest and everytime I'm in Wisconsin it steals a little piece of my heart.

The Grand Geneva resort is just that...GRAND. Beautiful and expansive it's almost like it's own little town out here in the middle of beautifully wooded hills. Apparently this land was once connected to the Playboy fortune. Hmmm...interesting fact. Thus far my favorite sight has been the stable and barn just as you turn onto the property, and the lovely view of a small lake I can see out the window of my first session.

Check-in was uneventful once I found the conference center, though I unexpectedly got a little teary and emotional over the whole thing. I think it was the reality of actually BEING here finally setting it. I'm so fortunate to be in this space at this time with these people doing this work. A fact that will probably not totally sink in all weekend. Here at the start of break I was able to find and introduce myself to my contact at YJ which was fun. She then introduced me to the conference director as "our scholarship blogger." Cool.

My first session has been amazing thus far. We started out the session learning about how this Women's Cancer Survivors program got started 6 years ago and where it's headed in the near future. We then took time to go around the room and briefly introduce ourselves and why where here. I probably took longer than the intended "brief" 2-3 minutes, but it was hard to contain my excitement. The room is full of women of all ages, all sizes, and with varied back grounds. Some work in health care, some are themselves survivors. We all share the desire to help through yoga which is what has brought us all together today.

After intros we did a sample class. Sample in the fact it was a class that Tari, one of the presenters and main teacher in this program at OM, would lead a room full of survivors with varied limitations and abilities through. I'm always amazed and inspired when a whole group of women sit down and share a deep resonating OM together. It's an incredible experience everyone should experience.

Mini's battery is running low so I'll sign off for now. More to come tonight after part two of today's lecture. Hopefully with a few pictures from our group!


namaste