People come to Hawaii to get away or “escape” as they say. Most come looking for a vacation but many come to escape stress such as career pressures. Some come to escape their lives all together, and you will meet many expats who make their home here. People say it is the weather or being near the sea, still others enjoy the exotic nature of Hawaii, but perhaps nature calls from the island to those in need.
 
There is something artificial about the modern world, which in many ways makes modern humans a living paradox for being alive yet existing mostly outside the natural world from which we came. For all the many modern conveniences, we often find ourselves machine-like answering texts, moving through life’s daily work processes, and worse yet, isolated by these routines. The most natural thing in the world is to desire escape to a remote beach, seeking freedom. If you have experienced this desire to escape, then you glimpsed a great truth about yourself as a natural being.

When people speak of connecting with nature or getting back to nature, but I am unsure if they fully appreciate the depth of these words. Connecting with nature is not just sitting on a beach but becoming part of that nature. The modern world for all its conveniences and wonders, tends to disconnect us from nature (ourselves). To connect or to know nature is to know yourself. This is an important aspect of mindfulness.
 
Hawaii teaches us this important lesson of mindfulness, one we already sense when desiring to escape, exemplified by millions of visitors, flocking to the shores to find that escape. They came, whether they know it or not, to rediscover nature to find that part of themselves stifled by modernity. Oddly enough, many of the people who find their way to the beach of Waikiki and practice yoga are tourists. These individuals come from all over the world only to find themselves taking an hour yoga class in the morning or at sunset. When asked why, they often say they thought the class seemed interesting but always they complete their reasons, saying things like, “I feel so much better,” or “I feel cleansed,” and “I feel rejuvenated.”

You feel so much better than what?
You feel cleansed of what?
What are you rejuvenated from?

They have been rejuvenated, cleansed, and healed from the modern world's artificialness that steals our sense of well-being by denying our place in nature. Mindfulness is an awareness of feeling and body achieved when one actively meditates, and practicing yoga on the beach beneath Hawaii’s clear skies and rolling ocean bridges us with nature (our nature). The ocean, billowing clouds, and rush of the tide make Hawaii a great teacher and if you come and listen, you will learn an even more profound lesson.

You can find and balance yourself.

Taking from Hawaii this knowledge, you can go home and reinvent yourself (hopefully through yoga!) But no matter how you seek mindfulness, you will learn you’re not really escaping but balancing and centering yourself. So, when you come to Hawaii, come with the desire to learn, for you’re being taught something very beautiful and powerful about yourself.

The Jungle Yoga Hike connects us to nature and find ourselves. Some trips take us to the waterfalls near the Pali areas on the east side near Kailua. Sometimes people request Waimea or Manoa Falls, which we try to dissuade, preferring to explore the more-secluded places the locals favor.  We enjoy the less commercialized areas where you can get into the water and climb trees. You don't have to climb or swim but the option is there, but more importantly, the remote areas allow us to become part of the fauna surrounding us in a state of mindfulness. That is the purpose we remain true to achieving.

Most hikes enjoy a morning yoga session on the beach to get the day started and prepare for the journey. Beach yoga focuses us and provides a good warm-up for the coming hike into the jungle. The morning yoga session is included but and we recommend this option but some groups opt to have their beach session on a different day. This is fine also.

Most yoga hikes are semi private, usually 3-14 people, which allows for an intimate, peaceful feel, contrasting the big tours that cater to 50 or more people and only stop for mere minutes for passengers to snap photos at each destinations. That's not the Hawaii you want see or escape from hustle and bustle you seek. The commercialization of Hawaii in this way is a major issue for locals and yoga hikes reduce this problem by providing Eco-friendly alternatives to the normal tourist paths.

We shape our jungle yoga hikes for large groups, like our corporate wellness retreats but the best yoga hikes are intimate, exclusive groups, usually yoga seekers, nature enthusiast, and people looking for the offbeat vacation or outing. The yoga jungle hike's focus always centers on mindfulness, even when exploring waterfalls and landscapes. Always nature is the backdrop for our mindfulness endeavor, whether climbing, exploring, or resting beside a rolling brook or in the spray of the secluded waterfall. Always we are practicing mindfulness.

While mindfulness is our goal, the yoga jungle hike always fun and entertaining. There is a little bit of everything for everyone. Those who enjoy physical exertion will find themselves hiking slopes, swimming, and climbing trees. 

 The curious explorer armed with her camera will take pictures of the sacred ruins for her blog. Between the physical activities and photo taking, you will meditate and find yourself in place of unparalleled beauty.  There's something for everyone, whether new to yoga or a veteran practitioner. We hope to see you soon!

Beach Sunset Yoga Hawaii's founder, Karen Lei believed so strongly in the rare benefits derived from traditional yoga teaching that she traveled the Himalayas' foothills in India to live and learn yoga where the current Dalai Lama lives in exile. This time honored tradition of learning ensures as the gurus say, "Authentic teachings are passed down."  From this study, we offer India trained Ashtanga (8 limb original intent practice) based vinyasa flow and mindful meditation training as well as MBSR (mindfulness based stress reduction) techniques taught in universities across the world. Our Waikiki beach classes endeavor to provide yoga as originally intended: a practice of moving meditation, disciplined overall wellness, and control of body senses and mind, not just fitness.

Ashtanga Based Mindful Integrated Flows
Ashtanga, being the foundation of all Vinyasas, is a favorite style of athletes as well as those wanting an authentic yoga practice or being dynamic yet mindful, a perfect balance of strength and ease, working the entire body in proper chronology with every practice. Ashtanga synchronizes movement with breath in a moving meditation, akin to the martial arts goals.

Enhancing the physical aspects of Ashtanga, Beach Sunset Yoga Hawaii classes are taught outdoors to integrate the mindful connection to nature, awareness of the present moment, and to practice peace with all which we cannot control.  All classes taught in accordance with the speed and energy levels of the groups that attend; were trained and highly experienced in mixed level classes so that all can feel engaged, from first timer to advance.

KEEPING YOGA REAL
India trained Ashtanga based vinyasa flow is an authentic mindful practice for comprehensive wellness of mind and body. We adhere to modern medicines support to achieve optimum physical health. We honor ancient techniques and philosophies for achieving equanimity and inner peace. We believe that if we authentically follow and teach yoga's traditions, vast control of physical, emotional and mental reactions through breath will come second nature.

Studying yoga was a serious undertaking as it should be for anyone since it is a life long practice entrenched in a long history. Proper yoga study keeps with the tradition of teachers from the practice's origin (India), handing down the teachings to their students in a lineage of students and teachers that protect yoga from becoming diluted or inaccurate.

Honoring this tradition, Karen ventured to the foothills of the Himalayas where she received her RYT 200 Ashtanga and Hatha teaching certification from the Aryan Yoga & Reiki Centre in McLeod Ganj, India, home to the current exiled Dalai Lama and Tibetan government. In this auspicious, precious town, she stepped back to a time free of commercialism that focused on daily spirituality. Experiencing individualized training in small sessions honed Karen's ability to provide proper adjustments. Learning proper adjustments is a rare component of trainings found in the West due to crowded classes that concentrate on the physical aspects of yoga.  Her intensive training stressed Ashtanga’s evidence-based practices for health and alignment, postures maximizing blood circulation flow, and breath coordination over just flexibility. This authentic training ensures her ability to teach the long term physical health, strength, and effective internal focus yoga students need to learn, especially for giving private lessons. 

Continuing training, Karen completed Advanced Ashtanga training with David Swenson, the leading modern authority in Ashtanga, who trained for decades under Pahtabi Jois, founder of Ashtanga yoga, which is the original codified yoga posture system as we know today. This is the 8 limb yoga system based on Patanjalis Ygoa Sutras, wherein the postures are only one of the 8 components in yoga goals and benefits.

Equally important to the physical components of yoga, Karen received meditation training in Zen Mindfulness from Tibetan monks in the Himalayas.  While studying meditation in the Tibetan region of India, she began exploring deeply the Buddhist traditions of mindfulness, insight, and analytical meditation: a linage of practices now being adopted by the West in all areas from modern psychology, to medicine, to training in government.  She underwent a vow of silence for weeks to practice patience and gain insight into recognizing ones true core. Blessed also during this time in the Himalayas, Karen volunteered to teach English to Tibetan monks and their community as well as to attend several teachings from the Dalai Lama.

Undergoing an intense internal shift, Karen's trajectory took aim at spreading mindfulness and dharma.  In adherence to her background in law and community development, she became interested in the integration of yoga and meditation with public health initiatives and education programs meant to raise social consciousness for children and the public at large. Her life's missions with law and community development now clarified and aligned with yoga's bridging of people with more practices of philosophic substance.

Seeing Yoga as the bridge into mediation and Dharma (life philosophy of higher consciousness), Karen focuses on teaching mediation and dharma from a secular perspective, allowing individuals to embrace and explore their spirituality. In keeping with this focus, she returned to the US and expanded her education, obtaining a Mindfulness Mediation (MBSR) certification from the University of California San Diego to better align her personal meditation and sanga (group) practices with science. MBSR is the most highly regarded evidence based meditation program and is integrated in medicine now along with children's mindfulness curriculum with Mission Be, a non-profit organization. Karen's life's dream and mission is to bring this evidence-based meditation curriculum (derived from a secular Buddhism) to schools, hospitals, and companies.  To this end, she accomplishes her mission using beach yoga, yoga in the wild, corporate retreats, and mindfulness courses she teaches at schools, hospitals and companies.

Karen also received training in Indian and Tibetan Ayurvedic healing, which concentrates on seeing the food you eat as medicine. This alternative practice has many components with documented positive results and has been in use 4000 years longer than western medicine.  

Western research in mindfulness has been ongoing for the last 30 years, and much excitement abounds as new evidence indicates just how interdependent our minds are with our bodies; and just how much we still do not understand.  Ironically, science is "catching up" by embracing thousands of years of Buddhist traditions and practices.

Today, Karen teaches Ashtanga based Vinyasa Flow, which can be more dynamic or more relaxing according to the needs of the students.  She loves Ashtanga's ability to mindfully control and raise physicality through focus, alignment, and balance, similar to martial arts practices this practice focuses on stillness and simplicity of cues for learning and meditation benefits.  As a jazz and Polynesian dancer growing up, Karen naturally engaged the Vinyasa flow style, where rhythmic music and continuity immerse you in feeling of energized clarity while developing your flexibility, strength and control of energy.  Due to the influence of her background in dance, she incorporates a subtle dimension of fortified grace to the postures. 

~A Note On Karma From Karen~
By incorporating these philosophies and practices, you begin to recognize that your choice of surroundings, your perceptions of occurrences, and what you put into your body are all inter-dependent, manifesting in your mental and physical health. These elements all work to create your future environment and life's occurrences. I continue studies of Buddhism's philosophies, finding them profoundly useful for living well and meaningfully, whether or not one subscribes to Buddhism spiritually. ~Karen Kei