Autumn is here

The leaves have turned slightly yellow. Some of them are even orange or red! The other day it was rainy and the temperature was about 10°C. This means it is already autumn, no? It feels so early though.

In Japan, the autumn comes gradually, step by step, in a gentle way to prepare us. In Sweden it comes more abruptly. All of a sudden it is dark and cold and we find ourselves using a jacket, wrapped in a scarf and wearing boots saying  "Hey, what happened to the summer?".

Momiji-tree near my village in Japan, last year.

There is something calming about this season though. It makes me relaxed and gives me inspiration to learn something new and at the same time it gives me power to deepen my interests.

If you have a tendency to run out of energy during this time of the year, it can be truly life-saving to have small projects to focus on. In my case that would be my yogapractice, which is actually not just a small project but a Life-long focus : ), and my ayurvedic studies. Well, that is a practice to keep up for a life-time as well, but anyway you know what I mean!

The autumn gives time and space to naturally withdraw a little. Withdraw from all that outgoing summerish energy, being so externally focused, blooming and fiery. This time coming now is more slow and introspective. I believe we need some of that as well.

Feeling so much love and appreciation for the nature and for the earth also gives me a slightly different experience of the weather and it's seasons. That makes it easier to accept the dark and the cold (at least now I can say that when it is just in the very beginning of that looooong period without any Light!). We'll see in a couple of months! In the meanwhile, I will do my best to welcome this time that gives space for more quietness, creativity and stability.

Dinner at Lao Wai

The other day I finally got the chance to pay a visit at the Lao Wai restaurant in central Stockholm. Since I have heard that it is always crowded I made sure to make a reservation. Entering this small restaurant with a typical east-asian setting, minimalistic and clean, made me travel to Japan in a second. How about being in the present? : )

Anyway, the friendly staff welcomed us and brought us the menu. Wow! So much wonderful food to choose from! Finally!

Being a vegetarian in Stockholm is usually extremely boring when it comes to going out for food. The usual choices that you have are curries or soups, some roasted vegetables, sallad or vegetarian lasagna or pasta. I mean in the long run, how stimulating is that? I definitely prefer cooking the food myself rather than going out.

But that was until the other day.

Lao wai definitely won my heart!

http://laowai.se

It was just like the place I am dreaming of in here. Only using fresh vegetables, fresh spicies, lots of Soy-meat and tofu. All vegan. All gluten free. And the best of all NO MSG!!!!! 

The taste was real authentic chinese and taiwanese taste and I just couldn't stop eating! This is the place where a non-vegetarian person wouldn't even notice that the food is all vegan! That is an excellent grade for a Vegetarian Restaurant. After spending more than five years in Asia, eating asian food is what I call "real" food. It is tasty, healthy, makes you full, looks beautiful and has an idea behind.  Lao wai showed a perfect example of that.

We stayed for more than two hours and absorbed the asian atmosphere.  After a delicious dinner, we stepped out in the rain, full, satisfied and smiling. Suddenly we were back in Stockholm again...

The restaurant Lao wai has existed for 18 years now. Same place. Same owner. I hope to see that place continue to bloom for a loooooong time in future! Big thanks to the friendly staff for such great food!

Xie xie.

September moon with the yogateacher Ganesh Mohan

I just realized that more than two weeks have passed since I last posted something! Five days ago was another Fullmoon. Oh, time really flies! In Japan they say that the most beautiful moon in a year is the september moon. It is is called "chu-shu no meigetsu". It is said to be in the middle of the autumn and it is the harvest time of the year so it is an important moon.

Some part of me really wanted to celebrate this special moon from my sacred place in the japanese mountains but instead I was in Sweden joining a wonderful Yogaworkshop for the great teacher Ganesh Mohan. Of course, I don't regret that at all.

Most of the lectures were based on discussions and philosophy covering some parts of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. It made me  feel certain of that we need to have a core in the practice- something to hold on to. We need be clear about why we are practicing yoga. Sometimes yogaclasses in the west can be really "fluffy and flowery" without any  real direction or just far away from the source.  There is nothing wrong with that, it might still benefit many people,  but for me I need to stay in touch with the basic concept of Yoga and stay to the teachings that are firmly rooted and have been supported and paved out by the people that have walked the path before me.

Three days filled with yogaphilosophy and therapeutic yoga leaves me with more confidence to what is true to me. I am so happy for having received this chance. Namaste.