Black Sheep Yoga

Four hours on a bumpy dusty road, flying cliffside at the mercy of our driver, we traveled to the Black Sheep Inn in Cochilan, Ecuador. Amanda and I packed a rather creative picnic feast that included a hot corn soup, rice and meat and a plump mango for dessert. The whole back seat of the bus had been open so we relished the adventure of school days past and set up our lunch on top of a trekking pack laid on its side, a plastic bag served as a table cloth. As the dust flew and we bounced we slurped down hot soup and quick bites of meat. We added the rice and meat to the soup to increase efficiency and accuracy and proceeded to fly off our seats laughing uncontrolably as the locals glanced perplexed.

Two hours into the trip, we, of course, needed a small snack so Amanda produced the mango and knife and inbetween potholes and tight corner turns, carefully procured the most tasty treat I could have imagined. Mind you that at this point we were already covered in dust...my hair practically turned to dreads and now were glistening with the sweet mango sap. We were the dusted and juiced equivalent to being tarred and feathered.

Bedraggled but by no means beaten down we arrived at The Black Sheep Inn feeling most akin to the name. In less than two minutes I fell in love with the gorgeous eco-lodge set into a mountain side with nothing but mountains and a fast moving clouds at eye level. The air was thin but refreshing and immediately reinvigorating. But wait, it gets better. Enter into the bathroom to find a composting toilet that smells like wood chips and while adding to the fertilization process yourself, you enjoy the most fabulous view of the mountain range. Incredible! Showering I can´t even get into but combined with the fact of just how sticky, sweaty, and sweet the ride out had left me the shower was basically pure heaven.

And the yoga! Incredible...warrior poses overlooking a teal blue laguna and dancer pose into the setting sun behind the mountains.. Elation, some tears of joy, kind of like coming home.