Norway Archives - Move With Grace Yoga Therapy & Yoga

Falling for Norway

Here’s a little story of my time in Norway in June 2019 with photos at the end. Enjoy.

After final preparations to be away for three months I checked my emails at 10.30 on the morning of my departure to discover Emirates had rescheduled my flight to the next day due to maintenance issues. Needless to say this was a little annoying but best to travel safely in the sky. This delay also gave me one more day at home with loved ones – yippee!

The departure from Brisbane airport was a particularly strong heartfelt one; as I stood on the escalator and descended to the lower level an intense and nearly overwhelming sense of pain infused my heart – what was I doing going away for three months and leaving my new found loved one behind. Tears trickled down my cheeks but I continued to follow the golden thread forward of my trip to Norway.

Albeit very long and tiring the flights and stopover in Dubai went smoothly. For those of you who attended some of my final classes before I left you’ll laugh with me when you hear that while sitting on the plane in Dubai waiting for take-off the local radio station played Norah Jones’s song ‘Come away with Me’.

Some thirty hours after leaving Gympie I arrived safely in Oslo. My body was feeling strong and aligned but in need of some good rest to recuperate after the travelling, I was jetlagged.

After arriving in Oslo and settling into my friend’s home I had a nourishing evening meal, a good freshen up and a replenishing nights sleep. The next morning I fell down some stairs of the spiral staircase in the house. I was surprised by the number of expletives came out of my mouth in response to the excruciating pain….. my right foot and ankle twisted and then there was a very loud pop and immediate intense pain at the front of my left ankle, then I fell hardly onto my left hand and gave myself whiplash protecting my head from hitting the ceramic tiled floor. Eventually I made it back up the stairs and immediately focussed on taking care of the injuries. I was in shock, what on earth just happened? I had just arrived in Norway and now I had fallen down some stairs!

My personal self-care yoga practice adapted to meet the needs of my shocked and injured body – working to maintain integrity and balance of core strength to ensure my gait was minimally affected from the injuries, incorporating mudras to replenish energy and activate my innate healing powers to soothe my soul, nervous system and heal my body. Over the next few days I began to go for small meanders around the direct vicinity of the home.

The architecture and design of the homes and buildings were a feast for the eyes. It was also delicious to walk by the gardens and trees, there are plenty of green areas nearby where I was staying. Being out in nature was healing and therapeutic but my ankles were very sore and still in need of rest.

So my first week did not go according to plan. With gentle determination I managed to carry out my yoga therapy work plans during the second week. The work was demanding but very rewarding and I look forward to working with Donna again in the future.

After work one day I went for a swim in Lake Songsnvann, a beautiful picturesque lake nearby the work venue. My being needed an immersion in nature, a fluid experience for the water to hold me, for me to be held. Oh golly gosh the water was cold but it was oh so good to be immersed in water and feel weightless and free.

After the week of work I visited the public accident hospital in Oslo to confirm I had no broken bones and my neck was okay. I had sustained a lot of soft tissue damage to my ankles so the prescription was more rest and to take it steady. Oh dear, I had planned to go walking and adventuring in Norway for the next ten weeks – what an emotional roller coaster.

A trip to The Pulpit Rock – Priekestolen

After some good rest and healing to feel a bit better, with courage and determination I managed one of my planned adventures with Hege, a most amazing woman who exudes joy and vibrancy. This adventure entailed a one hour bus trip and an eight hour train trip to Stavanger (unfortunately I became travel sick after the first hour so I spent seven hours with my eyes closed meditating on the train). Once we arrived in Stavanger we walked to the motel, I had a good rest and then Hege and I went to dinner at a café called Eg en Du which translates as Me & You. The ambience, food and service was divine, nutritious and welcoming.

After a good night’s sleep we took a ferry trip to the base of The Pulpit Rock ‘Priekestolen’. After our arrival we set off at a steady pace to walk to the top of The Pulpit Rock. Part of the way entailed steps right at the edge of the cliff and a step over a gap – oh my goodness. I’ll let the pictures speak the rest of the words. This challenging walk took four hours in total but the stupendous views of the fjords from the top were worth taking one step at a time. Here’s a link to a video of the Lotus Mudra Sequence at the lake at the base of the climb.

Thank You Oslo & Coming Home

After four weeks in Oslo my heart and soul guided me back to Australia. The time in Oslo was an intimate journey with myself, one that really tested me and one where I learned so much about myself, others and the world.

The physical injuries knocked me around on top of being jetlagged right from the start of my trip, but I still managed to have some wonderful times. It was such a splendid time exploring Oslo, The Pulpit Rock and spending time with friends and I am especially grateful to Hege, Ingrid, Liv, Donna, Annette, Marit, AK and Julia for their kindness, care and hospitality.

Since coming home I have been spending quiet time resting, healing and replenishing by embellishing the glorious winter days in the sunshine by the ocean.

Perhaps I will return to Norway again…..