I'd like to thank Bill for the last great yogic lesson of these past two weeks, and I invite you to join me in integrating the learnings this loss has offered as we each journeyed through the range of hope, despair, anger, frustration, denial, futility, fear, acceptance, and release. It leaves me filled with gratitude that this extraordinary life touched my own.
    For a long time, I thought of Bill as a yogic drill instructor, sometimes only going through the motions of being a teacher. During his Basic Four period, I hadn't come to the understanding of yoga that allowed me to experience the fullness of the postures with each practice; I'm not sure any of us in the class were ready then. It is only in looking back that I can see the foundation Bill's classes prepared for my journey to grow into the teacher I am becoming.
    Without his encouragement, I would never have taken the step into teaching yoga. For nine and a half years, I enjoyed the back bends and relaxation, but I had no epiphany. I began subbing without a real understanding of what I was giving, and it was only as I ventured out to learn from others that I discovered the yogic wealth already within. So much of it originated in my 12 years with Bill.
    I doubt Bill realized the profound influence he had on my life. We weren't close. My class attendance in the last few years has been sporadic at best. And yet, so much of my approach and style as a teacher can be traced to what I learned from his teachings. Over the last two weeks, as new yogic opportunities have showered on me, I've had the chance to notice.
    My sorrow is that it took this tragedy to articulate my gratitude. In the grand scope of things, I know this doesn't matter, that the universal whole is enhanced as much now as had I expressed my thanks directly to Bill. I take some solace in that, and every time I hear an airplane, I reflect again on destiny, fate, and cosmic purpose. The people on our path are there for a reason, and I will ever be heartened that Bill travelled the same path with me for a while.
    And so, I'd like to help you come to an integration of this grievous experience into the wholeness of your life, too. What is made conscious has a much more powerful influence.

    Begin in Shavasana -- corpse or sponge position -- or assume another position of comfort and allow your body to begin to soften. Close your eyes and begin to breathe from the base of your spine up through your body, filling with energy and tranquility, letting each full and complete exhalation release any tension and negativity.
    As your body begins to relax and connect to the earth center beneath you, open the closed system of your being to the pulses and waves of surrounding energy. Allow the energy to fill you and absorb you until your body begins to merge with the surface beneath you and you become part of the energy around you. Breathing, absorbing, softening, merging, let your physical body disappear from your mind....
    Notice any thoughts that fill your mind and allow them to disappear as well. Open your mind to the universal energy, inviting memories of Bill -- or another teacher / mentor / friend -- to fill you....
    As your consciousness fills with these thoughts and memories, claim them as your own, forming a deeper connection to your being and your life. Open to the connection and allow it to infuse your entire being....
    Open to the connection further, joining with the energy. Feel the warmth softening your being, melting and expanding until you aren't sure where your self ends and the energy begins. Flow with the energy and experience the wholeness.... Be one with life.
    Thanks for being part of this cycle of life.
    Peace, shalom, shanti. Namaste.
                                                   Kae

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