Bowls for Elephants in Chiang Mai Thailand at Patara Elephant Farm.

First Day of the Bowls for Elephants project in Chiang Mai Thailand at Patara Elephant Farm was spectacular. Met with the owner Pat and chose to do a session with him so he could understand Vibrational Sound Therapy with the set of bowls we brought to him. Pat arranged for this session to take place at his local Thai Massage place so we could make use of the massage table and have a room to do the session. It was perfect.

The area is in the mountains about a 45 minute drive from Chiang Mai, and such a beautiful setting for the elephants. Following the session Pat was game to try a few bowls with the elephants from the driveway into Patara. Quite interesting watching the few elephants who were just hanging out and grazing in the late afternoon. The matriarch was very attentive as was one other elephant, the others we observed were very relaxed and Pat explained they take direction from the matriarch. Her ears were flapping and tail moving which he told us was a sign of being relaxed. She did keep her attention on us as the bowls were singing. Very aware of all around her. At one point one of the elephants came right up close and personal, obviously very curious about the "new" sound coming from the singing bowl. Elephants are huge, and right there all 4 tons of her and that curiosity was quite an experience. We were between her and a parked car. Pat told us she was his first elephant that he acquired 14 years ago.

Earlier in the day when Nancy and I arrived at Patara Elephant Camp Pat greeted us and took us to meet two of the new babies, Tara and Palin both 6 months of age and born at Patara.  That walk was magical meeting these two and their mothers. One of the moments that I will always remember was Palin using her trunk to examine my river shoes. The velcro strap she just pulled and opened the shoe like no big deal at all. Another great moment was watching Nancy walking on this huge tree root, like a balance beam and Palin just got up on it and followed along with amazing grace. That was so cute!

Pat had a group visit in the afternoon and gave a great talk about elephant conservation in Thailand.  Thai New Year just was a week ago and he had us all walk under the elephant to leave the "bad" behind and it was a new beginning, I felt a transition as I made it through!  And he gave us a little inspirational chat relating our lives to how elephants live.  I am grateful to have spent this time yesterday listening to him, I learned so much about elephants and how life has specifically impacted the Thai Elephant.

You can watch one of the day's highlights, Nancy Ruby doing her daily 21 Day Salute to the World her yoga video this day was with the elephants. Pure magic. Her students and fans tune in daily for her session.  You can also enjoy Nancy on yogamotion.com