Teaching Yoga in Afghanistan with Raven Rae & The MLK

Hi guys! I wanted to share a bit about my recent experience teaching Yoga and living in Afghanistan during March 2018. The most frequent questions I got about this trip were "WHY?" and "HOW?" did you go to Afghanistan? Like most things in my life, I just followed the connections. So the way it happened was I led a 200YTT course in Dubai in October 2017. One of my students from the course was an ex-pat living and working in Kabul for a long time. After the course she and her partner liked my lessons and invited me to come and stay with them in their compound/business Raven Rae and continue her education as well as offer lessons to those interested.

​During my stay they brought me out to a few places to see and I must say Afghanistan is beautiful. It's high and surrounded by snow peaked mountains and the transition from Winter from Spring coincided with my arrival. While I was in the compound most of the time we had a small a garden where we did the Yoga lessons. As the weather slowly warmed 3 turtles came out of hibernation and roamed in the sun and fragrant apple trees flowered. It's a pity terrorists regimes have destroyed their own lands' cultures continue to make it dangerous for everyone. Because of this we only went out under guard and with preparatory security sweeps of the travel routes and destination. Raven Rae runs armed security operations so I felt as safe as one could be given the circumstances. ​

​While I was there I also got to teach the girls of The Miraculous Love Kids, a charity organization project headed by Lanny Cordola, that supports young Afghan's to grow up educated and inspired to improve their living circumstances and be role models to others through love and respect. Lanny is a prolific artist and musician inspired by spiritual teachings of all cultures. Many days over breakfast he was a fountain of spiritual teachings and acknowledging the hurts of the world and looking for ways to do something to heal them. He teaches many young Afghan girls "Girl with a Guitar" to play and sing songs that are part of their way of learning English and connecting with others through positive messages in famous music. Lanny has been dedicated to this for several years now and is like a father figure to many of the girls whose families have been torn apart by war, terrorism, poverty, and domestic abuse. You can help him get more kids off the streets, a guitar in hand, a song and hope in their heart, and necessities and better places to live by making a donation at his website www.miraculouslovekids.org

I also had a lot of personal time in Afghanistan to practice my passions and develop some business projects. I made this new website. I started some affiliate programs you can see on the COOL STUFF page which is filling with great wellness supporting products. I put together a video about Lanny & The Miraculous Love Kids to spread awareness and rally some support for them. I did quite a bit of cooking and sharing some favorite recipes like beetroot salad, hummus, and my pickled herbal tonic. The Raven, as it's called(the place I stayed) even has a new gym, a downstairs bar(spent some nights hanging out with the interesting people coming in and playing the drumkit). I worked out a lot, did ice baths a few times with David, the head Raven,  and lots of classes with Junping, my student.

See you in the next post! 
​- George

P.S. Check out the video I made for supporting the Miraculous Love Kids! They are really sweet and it's because of positive people doing positive work! Be a part of it with us please! Namaste.