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My Yoga Blog
To throw things away - an act of liberation | When I wake up tomorrow morning I will know that I didn't dawdle the night before. I was busy cleaning my home this evening, which means I ironed , washed clothes, did the dishes, put things at their places. And I was looking for things that I could throw away. I didn't find so much.
So last but not least I brought the garbage down as and symbolic act to let go, to become free.
The coffee that I drank before my activities surely helped me to be so full of energy.
For now it is enough. Tomorrow the party can go on. | | 7/3/2009 1:41:00 PM |
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Ashtanga Jump Back
Developing a Home practice Part 24. DIET | | '....can you write in your blog about your diet in the time of your developing practice? your weight loss could not be entirely attributed to the yoga asanas. you must have moderated your food as well'.
Received the above question in my comment box yesterday, so here goes.
As it happens I've been quite interested in the question of diet lately. I've been wondering what everyone else is eating the evening before the mornings practice. What do people find to be the best thing, you don't want to feel heavy but you want to have enough energy, pasta?
Here's a link to an earlier post this month that has some pictures of me when I first started the practice in March 07, as well as something more recent http://grimmly2007.blogspot.com/2009/06/developing-practice-part-23-then-and.html
I was about 94 kilo then and now seem to have leveled out at around 77 Kilo.
To be honest, I haven't tried that hard to lose weight. I think before I started the practice I'd been eating pretty badly. A couple of slices of toast for breakfast, A large lunch, a bar, possibly two, of chocolate and/or crisps at work, half a bottle of wine or so with a large dinner, plus desert.
Once I started to practice Ashtanga every morning, I found myself feeling heavy and uncomfortable. I cut down on the size of the portions I was eating at dinner and cut the wine down to half a glass or so, I cut out deserts altogether. Lunch ended up being half a mini box of Dorset cereal ( a kind of muesli ) with a banana, for breakfast a slice of toast and half a grapefruit. That plus the hour and a half practice every morning caused the weight to just drop off. I think I leveled out at 85 kilo around Easter 08 and it was about then I decided to become a vegetarian. One reason was a growing disgust with the extent of the meat industry that I really didn't want to buy into anymore and the other reason was to cut back on the protein intake.
I used to be a veggie back in my teens before traveling pretty much forced me to eat anything on offer. I didn't tend to cook meat that much anyway so it was an easy transition. I started to lose some weight again and ended up around 80 kilo and then following a trip to Paris where I walked from one end of the city to the other everyday on top of a morning practice,I lost a couple more Kilo. I must be the only person to Lose weight on vacation in Paris.
So there wasn't really any calorie counting or weird diets, just eating more sensibly and 90 minutes of Ashtanga every morning.
So what do I eat now. Breakfast Half a grapefruit and some Harvest crunch cereal or a slice of toast
Lunch Still eating half a mini box of Dorset cereal with a banana Most days a Waitrose toffee sundea (addicted)
Around 6pm A couple of Tuc crackers with a little cheese if it's in the house (today there wasn't so i had half a tin or rice pudding instead)
Dinner I used to cook a lot more but been very lazy lately, an average week might be...
Roast Vegetable couscous salad Pasta, Arabiata perhaps, or some tag with roast vegetables or pesto Jacket potato with Gruyere or Spanish omelet Pizza Cesar salad
A little wine in a glass topped up with ice cold fizzy water
Every weekend is the same Loads of nice biscuits in bed with the paper Scrambled or poached eggs for lunch
Saturday, Okonomiyaki ( a kind of Japanese cabbage pizza from the great city of Osaka or some Yakisoba
Some Sake
Sunday, Ishiyaki bibimba (Korean rice dish)
some Sake
| | 7/3/2009 10:16:00 AM |
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Globie
Its all in the mind | My 5th full Primary in the last 6 days and probably the best one of the week. Whole of Primary plus lots of extra backbend and dropback experiments all in an hour and three quarters, which just goes to show that for me practice seems to be about actually having my mind in my practice, [...] | | 7/3/2009 12:54:49 AM |
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Yogini's Quest
Two sides… | Two sides every coin, two legs to every pant, two hands come together to hold, two sides to every story…
I had a moment of awakening the other day. It seems most of my lessons are coming from the classroom these days, because when I’m not at school, I’m home alone. No, having a conversation with [...] | | 7/2/2009 9:40:24 PM |
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CRON yogitect
independence mat country | in honor of independence day i'm declaring my independence from peanut butter. there will be a specialty within my calorie restriction practice called peanut butter restriction (PBR). my PBR index today is good.
i have been waking up earlier to get to the yoga mat earlier. that doesn't mean my practices have been good. i used the metronome today to see if i could maintain the pace. i just view that my yoga practice is going through a challenging period.
my intentions this morning are with Hillary Clinton. may she recover soon from her arm accident. and with our President, may he guide the country well. | | 7/2/2009 5:02:00 PM |
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Chai And Yoga
Iced Summer Chai | |
When the weather heats up my regular morning chai suddenly doesn’t seem so appealing anymore. Heating spices and hot milk seem too heavy for a light sunny day. So I decided to experiment with an iced summer version that could be had both with and without milk.
I wanted to keep the ginger in my chai both for [...] | | 7/2/2009 2:45:41 PM |
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Daily Cup of Yoga
30 Day Yoga Challenge ~ Day 5 | “Anyone who practices can obtain success in yoga but not one who is lazy. Constant practice alone is the secret of success.” — Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Okay, so my last blog entry was written not only for everyone else who wants to take on the challenge of a daily yoga asana practice, but also [...] | | 7/2/2009 1:59:53 PM |
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Southern Yogi
Big Belly | So I debated on writing this...but I am going to for several reasons. I know that when we openly share things on the internet we sort of put a bulls eye on ourselves. We are left open for both good and negative comments/feedback. I suppose this is the Yin/Yang, the balance, etc... So...I received 2 anonymous comments regarding the size of my belly. I deleted the first one because I thought it was silly. However, I was sent another friendly reminder this morning. This time I decided to publish it. This person is looking for some type of response...So here is your response. Yep. You are right my anonymous friend. I have a belly and thank you for being inclined to remind me. First, I have to say the comment made me slip back in to my previous patterns for a split second. The thoughts of dieting, loosing weight and all the fear associated with shape and size flooded in. I was soon comforted with my other conscious thoughts and reminders that I am happy. This reminded me that where I am today is a good place. I have come so far emotionally and physically. 4 years ago I was unhealthy, overweight and not taking care of myself. But, once I truly dedicated myself to the practice of yoga I began to loose the unhealthy weight, eat whole/sustainable foods, maintain a pretty regular asana practice and deal with many emotional issues that were hidden deep. Today, I am physically in better shape than I have ever been and I am at a happy healthy weight. I am also at a place where I am emotionally okay. I love my curvy body (and just so you know my husband loves it as well and I am very lucky) I feel amazing, alive, healthy and strong. I no longer strive to be what others perceive as beautiful or perfect. Because I already am...beautiful and perfect today. Belly and all. The size of my belly has no bearing on my happiness. I believe it used to. But not today. I truly believe the size of my belly is not an indication of my willingness to be a good person, a yoga student or fully present in my life. I also feel that God, Buddha or Krishna (or any other being) don't really care about the size of my belly. I think it truly matters about the size of my heart. Granted we all have things we wish to change. But the path I have chosen teaches to accept where I am, love where I am. I also feel that the size of my belly doesn't affect those around me in a negative manner. They seem to love me. I love me. My pup loves me. I really doubt my pup looks at me and thinks twice about my squishy midsection. However, for some reason the size of my belly has prompted you to comment on my post. So thank you my friend. For making me feel strongly enough to respond to your comment. I felt that I should. Because women and men face individuals such as yourself daily. It is important to remind myself of these things that I've shared here. Also, it is important for women and men to know that doing yoga has nothing to do what shape or size you are. Yoga is for everyone! Much Love | | 7/2/2009 6:09:00 AM |
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Renegade Reality
Friday Lunch at The Detroit Zen Center |  The Detroit Zen Center is certainly a place apart. We consider ourselves quite blessed to have landed here. As we settle in, I can't help but feel I've been transported to another time and place. At the same time there is an extreme sense of familiarity, not so much with the people (who are wonderful) but with the space itself, both energetically and physically. We've been busy moving our "stuff" about and adapting to working out of different locations, so I've yet to explore this at depth. But even without intentional exploration, I already know the space as one of deep healing, reflection and, I believe for Angela, Aya and I, there are great opportunities for growth and evolution.
I already hinted at an esoteric familiarity, but the physical familiarity and our resonance with the mission and sustainable lifestyle of the monks is quite real and intensely illuminating and validating. Since opening the Lab, Angela and I have been sharing everything we know about fostering personal sustainability with just about everyone we've met. We took our space in Eastern Market as far as we could take a leased loft. In that space we created and promoted efficient and replicable systems for recycling, composting and energy reduction, but we've now found ourselves in a larger and actively evolving project that embraces and expands upon our individual interests and abilities. From purified domestic water systems to the green roof on the traditional walkway that connects the Center’s Residency and the Temple, we're learning new things daily and are constantly inspired.
Tomorrow, Angela and I will be hosting the first of our weekly Friday Lunches at the Zen Center's Living Zen Café & Coop. Of course, Angela feels right at home in the Temple Kitchen. I'm certain the main reason Detroit Evolution has garnered so much attention is the fact that Angela and I perceive the preparation of food as sacred. For the monks here, preparing food serves as training in working, moving meditation, so there's even more in common. If one is mindful and open, I think the atmosphere created by the monks and their training encourage a heightened sense of awareness and inner peace. Angela and I will embrace this energy and intention as Angela prepares some of your favorite "Lab" entrees and exciting new dishes in the coming months.
We're so honored and grateful to have this opportunity to continue to share Angela's talent with you all. We must express our gratitude to Myungju, the Cafe's chef, the entire Zen Center Community, and everyone who as supported us and helped us to arrive here.
The Café has both traditional cross-legged and comfortable western seating and you're welcome to enjoy a quiet meditative lunch or bring a group to share, relax and reflect with. A three-course lunch is $13, with items available a la carte starting at $6. We always envisioned our dream kitchen as a Temple Kitchen and we're thrilled to invite everyone to join us at the Living Zen Café on Fridays. We will be preparing and serving food from 11am - 4pm, and yes, you can visit and order food to take with you. If you elect to join us or pick up food, please bear in mind that the energy and pace in the Café is much more meditative than the intensity of the street. If you're unable to join us tomorrow for lunch, you can enjoy the Temple Kitchen from 11am-4pm Wednesday through Saturday. Beginning next week the Café will be open until 9pm for dinner Thursday through Saturday beginning next week! Please give yourself the opportunity to breathe, to take a moment, and to take it in. It is certainly a place apart and one we believe you’ll appreciate as much as we do.
Please visit the Zen Center web site for contact info and a map or call 313.366.7738 | | 7/2/2009 3:49:00 AM |
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Yoga Chickie
Delightful quiet | I miss my kids. But I love my quiet, quiet house. And I love the fact that I no longer follow Ze Rules, whereby I spent my seven weeks of quiet last summer waking at dawn and railroading it into the city where I had my arms yanked halfway out of their sockets and my triceps stretched to the point of feeling that same burning, ripping feeling that I felt when I was giving birth to my first child, unmedicated.
Nay!
This summer, I awaken at Whatever The Fuck Time I Awaken. It's a lovely time to wake up, let me tell you. And I exercise in Whatever The Fuck Way I Wish To, which means running as many as six miles at a time without worrying about the tightness it might bring to my hammies and quads, or taking to the trails at the nearby nature preserve, or taking a Bikram class, or doing whatever portion of the Ashtanga series' that I am able with a broken hand. And at the end of the day, I experience this wonderful thing called "Not Being Ridiculously Tired at a Ridiculously Early Hour", which means that I can do wonderful things like...see friends (for lunch in Bedford, for dinner in the meat packing district)! go to the theater (Hair)! watch a stupidly long movie (Benjamin Button)! stay out til 2 a.m. (after dinner in the meat packing district)! sleep in my friend's townhouse in Manhattan (after staying out til 2 a.m.)! sleep late and meander over to a diner for some scrambled eggs, toast and coffee and the walk five or six miles around the city without worrying about the tightness of my hips or whether the food will make my twists nauseating!
I do admit that abandoning Ze Rules leaves me feeling, at times, a bit adrift. But it's a good kind of adrift. I see friends I hadn't seen in years. I do things I never would have dared to do.
And yet: the world has not cratered.
My jeans still fit, are maybe even a bit looser, perhaps due to more intense cardio and less anaerobic yoga. My heartrate is still in the low 50's. My skin is soft and smooth and clear. My demeanor is calm. I do not feel this intense desire to spend my days strategizing how I will get my toes in Kapotasana and talking about it incessantly.
Sure, I feel a bit like a leper in the Ashtanga world. My former Ashtanga friends no longer call or write. And sometimes I am haunted by then notion of having given so much power to my teachers over my body and my happiness...and by the realization that those who I perceived to have had all of the answers, whose minds I would have paid beaucoup bucks to unlock and understand, were as clueless as I was and as arbitrary and at times capricious as anyone.
But this is what happens when you extricate yourself from a cult.
And it seems worth it to me to be my own master right now.
YC | | 7/1/2009 6:16:00 PM |
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Ashtanga Journal
Heat buzz | | Ohh I am so tired today… it is insane. After coming back from teaching, I had my breakfast and I just could not help it, I lay down on my bed and just passed out… I could sleep the whole day probably, but I had to get up and run some errands. I think the heat is getting me... Moreover I am sore all over. I am sore in places I have not been for so long… such as my hamstrings… and then also something is pulling on the right side of my lower back… I feel it most during Halasana… it is weird. I am also sore in quadriceps since I decided to do Laghu Vajrasana number of times like Rolf used to make me do when I was learning it. I feel like I have been slacking a bit and therefore, my knees come off slightly when I am coming up from it. So, I do it exhale come down, inhale come up for several times and then do the 5 breath down and come up… that works your quads! Oh well, I need more energy tough, and not drinking coffee doesn’t help. I think me will begin drinking coffee soon… sorry homeopathy. | | 6/30/2009 8:41:00 AM |
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Peace Love Yoga
Third Series |
Amazing demonstration of various postures in 3rd series. Fun to watch, as well as inspiring. | | 6/30/2009 5:21:00 AM |
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Donutszenmom
Turmeric, Educating my toes, Acceptance | | Yesterday I started taking some Zyflamend supplements to see if they’d be useful for reducing inflammation & soreness. I didn’t notice much of anything yesterday, aside from a sketchy tummy last night, but today at practice I felt like I was going to burst into flames.
Turmeric, anyone?
As far as soreness goes, I am in [...] | | 6/29/2009 8:52:34 AM |
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Blog Dot Luke Dot Org
Monsoons | | The monsoon season officially starts next Wednesday, but it seems to have hit nice and early this year …. my 21st floor balcony makes for great storm watching, shot these around 5-6pm today.
| | 6/29/2009 7:18:37 AM |
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99 To 1
New Life Lists 01 | | I am starting with simple lists once again to ease into regular writing...
almost all my belongings are out of Loren's house
bike stuff persists in her garage... maybe until summer's end
i've got too much stuff to fit in a condo
i know this because i've got too much stuff to fit into an entire 1950's bungalow
i have been continuously shuffling things around and cleaning since returning from Charlotte
i am a bit sad, and lonely
i'm confidant it was the right thing to do
i have made a small start on writing a book | | 6/29/2009 5:10:55 AM |
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A Lotus Girl
The Giving.... | and so...
the second weekend in June...brought even more gifts...gifts for the children of a shelter an hour away from Karunya Mane..
4 BIG Bags full in fact..as those kids have No toys...
Asha, a girl at Karunya Mane who touched my husband and my soul when we met her earlier this year..she is quite the artist and student..gave 50 rupees she had in her pocket to help buy snacks for them.. 
Asha, Lokesh and Amita came along to help pass out the gifts to the children...
what an Amazing thing...
when the poorest of the poor..give to other poor children...A lesson..Perhaps for ALL of us to take in and maybe one day put into practice ourselves? I can tell you firsthand because I have been there with those kids...and honestly, from the bottom of my heart..there is Nothing in my life that I have ever done or experienced that even comes close to what it was like to go and give shoes and art supplies to those kids at Karunya Mane..
Nothing.
You see, when you go and witness their innocence and Love and Open Hearts and see how much they truly, Truly appreciate even the smallest of things..it changes Who You Are Forever More...
we sometimes think we have so little in our lives, when in fact, if we take a moment to just look around our homes and at our lives..we do in fact have More than we actually need. Myself included.
And if you have never had the chance to give something to someone who has very little in their lives, I don't think I even have to tell you the feeling it gives you and the happiness that resides in your heart for a long time afterwards....
(Please click back two times to read the begining of this story...to "older posts"if you arrive from Ashtangi.net)
| | 6/28/2009 10:48:00 AM |
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Alfia
It's a new day. | | My success in binding dwi pada unexpectedly yielded two new poses - dhanurasana and parsva dhanurasana. I have been doing my last three for no more than 3 seconds, and here we are, new poses. Sometimes I just do not understand the logic behind this business of pose giving. Not that I am complaining! :) | | 6/28/2009 8:05:00 AM |
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Aum Buddhipriya
Mother Teresa Quote | Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. How does a lamp burn? Through the continuous input of small drops of oil... Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies. | | 6/27/2009 10:23:00 PM |
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Facing Inward
Hanakapi'ai Falls | | I got up this morning, packed my suitcase and drove up the road from Lihue, Kauai to Hanalei, Kauai. I've spent the past week, working during the mornings, afternoons at the beach or pool or at least working in the middle of paradise. Hawaii is truly a beautiful place, with beautiful water, with a sense of equanimity. The kids and their dad flew home on the red eye last night. I stayed at the resort hotel and ran into the lady who sat next to me on the plane and her three daughters. It was so nice to see their family interactions and just hang out chit chatting in the warm tropical breeze. Yoga was also nice there... backbending... fun. I didn't do whole practices, also did the starmaster thingy that they had in the gym. I got up this morning though and drove to the North side. Stopped at the health food store, bought a FakNBacon sandwich, a cold water, filled my CamelPak and started the 8 mile round-trip hike to Hanakapi'ai Falls. It was awesome. The last time I had that much fun hiking was last year when I hiked near Hood River. The hike to the beach was mellow. The hike to the falls was amazing. It was hard, strenuous and technical like all the reviews said. I got lost a few times. I was heartened by the friendliness and the teamwork of fellow humans when traversing difficult terrain and rivers. I loved the sound of the bamboo forest. I just stood there, in amazement at the song in the air all around me. I debated simply staying there... could anything be really any better? To be honest, the falls wasn't better than the bamboo forest but the hike to get there, was simply stunning. I sat, on the rocks, watching the water falls... and I thought about Shasta and how awesome the experience of Shasta is. I can't wait for Shasta this year. I feel like I won't be able to breathe then.. .it's kinda like the finish line for me right now. The hike back out was much harder. My knee goes funky with a lot of downhills and this was all very technical downhill. At this point, I can barely move my knee... I think I won't be practicing at Pineapple Yoga tomorrow.. not if it's like this in the morning. Red-eye flight to Seattle tomorrow. Back to reality that has been nicely escaped. Work is so crazy that I feel like I'm flying in unchartered territory again... grounding, breath, in out, repeat.... | | 6/22/2009 11:49:29 PM |
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Malaysian In Mysore
Bing | 
Bing is the name of my mother-in-law's dog. He is one of those small white dogs - small in size but plenty of yaps. That was when he was young. He is now eleven or twelve years old, which I guess in dog years is around 80! He still has plenty of running left in him, but his bark has gone noticeably softer.
I always make a point of greeting him with a pat; partly because everyone else is so used to having him around that they go about their own things first. I do it because if ever I were to be a dog, I would like to be acknowledged when visitors visit. Our routine would be him standing on his hind legs with his front paws on my thigh and me patting his head. We would be there until one of us get bored and leave to do something else. Then I would have this Obsessive Compulsive Disorder of washing my hands before touching anything else. Why I do this, I don't really know. Maybe he is getting old and sometimes he gets a bit smelly. But I just got to wash my hands.
I always have this strange feeling that Bing likes to mock me. Every time he notices me washing my hands, he would come over for a pat and our routine would start again. When it starts to get tiring, I would put off washing my hands but the mutt frustratingly would not come over. I would then wash my hands when he is out of sight and hope I can enjoy being in my in-law's house before my next trip to the basin.
Yesterday evening I was in my in-law's house again. A hot cup of coffee was brought to me and I had the use of the computer. Also, my in-laws have just bought this excellent bottle of peanuts; so everything seemed perfect for a spot of peanuts with coffee. Just as I sat down, I noticed Bing coming towards me. Instinctively, I closed my hands over the peanuts and stared intently at the computer to avoid eye contact. Ha! It worked. He did not come over and lied down nearby. I can then enjoy my peanuts guilt-free. Or so I thought. I found myself, discretely putting some peanuts into my mouth and chewing ever so slowly that Bing would not notice the crunch of the nuts.
How pathetic am I?! Or was I being selfish? Maybe I should be thinking about karma and be not so much into myself. Speaking of karma, I have been enjoying my practice; but the progress seemed to have plateau off. I need to kick it into another gear - or should I?
I've been thinking of returning to Mysore for two weeks - the same duration as my first time. My Home Minister has given the go ahead. If I can get past the guilt factor and embrace the selfish one, I could be in Mysore in September! | | 6/17/2009 7:51:00 AM |
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Journeys
an unwanted bath |
My Google homepage has (among other things) a list of photos of cats recently uploaded to Flickr. Just look at this one - I couldn't resist posting it here. Never seen a cat and a rat together like that!
And talking of cats (and cat-owners) - guess who was climbing up a ladder in the middle of the night trying to entice a very naughty pussycat down from a tree! Yes, it was me!! Jedda pussycat (or kittycat as she's not 9 months old yet) only goes outside on the weekends, and never at nights. But I had to go out to visit a website client and then onto yoga at about 2pm yesterday and of course she was nowhere to be seen. And when I got home around 6.45pm, ditto! I kept calling her, to no avail.
Finally at about 10pm when I went onto the back verandah to call her yet again I heard pathetic squeakiing (she's good at that!) in the distance, and eventually after much wandering through the undergrowth with a torch, I realised she was above my head and spotted her! But would she come down? No, of course not! I brought a ladder around and climbed up a bit (only halfway) but it was never going to be high enough and she wasn't going anywhere. I gave up for a while and when I came back again she had of course gotten herself down quite happily and was still 'busy' outside! Very naughty pussycat!!
This post is full of cat-stuff - in case anyone cared, I managed to fix my MySQL issues, upload the CMS website, fix a few email problems and my client is happy! And I have ordered a new Macbook Pro - Yesss!!
(And of course, yoga was wonderful, as always!) | | 6/13/2009 6:26:00 PM |
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Visions of Cody
The Suicide Diaries | The weird thing about the virtual world is just how virtual it really is. You take a hiatus from reading and writing blogs, tweeting and message boarding and after a few days the whole virtual world starts to feel like an illusion. You realize that you could just stop existing and never go back. Virtual suicide is an easy and readily available option.
So that’s what’s been going on. I’ve been contemplating virtual suicide.
Actually, the truth is that I’ve just been really busy with life and work. Another school year is drawing to a close. The Great Recession is taking its toll. The perception is that we’ve all got to give more. We should be grateful to have work, especially work that is mostly creative and enjoyable. And it’s true. I am grateful for what I have and I am giving more. There’s no resentment but it comes at a cost. There’s definitely less time for virtual living.
That’s not entirely true either. I’m having an identity crisis. My real identity and my fake identity are fighting with each other for control of the virtual world. I blame Twitter.
Many years ago, I created this fake online avatar so that I could exist in the virtual world without censoring myself. Well, I still censor myself somewhat, but I liked how the relative anonymity of the ‘Cody Pomeray’ persona allowed me to discuss things – personal, political and other – that I wouldn’t necessarily want connected to my professional life.
Then Twitter came along. I really like the form of Twitter. In my approach, podcasts are designed for rants and interviews that benefit from verbalization. Blogs are designed for essays that require a more deliberate and thoughtful approach. Twitter is perfect for stray ideas and mini-conversations.
After I got sucked into Twitter I found my virtual and real worlds colliding (the exact reason why I don’t Facebook). I started following people that I knew in the real world. It felt disingenuous to Twitter with people without telling them who I was. That was the beginning of the trouble.
I also started to realized that the professional face that I was presenting online was incomplete and disingenuous. I had limited my “official” online presence to an entirely corporate and entirely one-dimensional voice. It didn’t represent the true or whole me.
So, I’m not sure what to do. I’m starting to write and tweet under my real name. But in doing so, I have to censor myself more. So what do I do with the more personal stuff like politics, ‘fat boy remorse’ posts, rants, music reviews, etc. that aren’t necessarily appropriate for work?
I guess I could keep posting that stuff here. But if VoC only represents the 'inappropriate' material, then Cody would come across as a phony and a douchebag. What a headache. I guess I need to figure out how to strike a balance between the appropriate and the inappropriate and between the real and the fake.
Now I really wish that I believed in maya.
### | | 6/12/2009 8:03:00 AM |
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Still The Turning
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back | My husband and I spent a week in the Bahamas with family to celebrate after my last post. We stayed in Grand Bahama at West End, and then Port Lucaya. I am awestruck by the people there. So friendly and happy!
Returned to Austin on June 8th, and started slowly integrating my practice back into my life with sun salutations, random poses, basically whatever I felt like doing at each moment. I discovered something unsettling. Supta Badha Konasana (Reclined Bound Angle) is impossible now. At first I thought it was tightness in the hips, but the left hip has been opening, and the right one is pain, not tightness. I cannot externally rotate it very far without some serious pain deep in the hip. Am worried it could be a labral tear...but don't want to go to the doctor or PT just yet.
Luckily, this pain only comes in external rotation in Supta Badha Konasana, Badha Konasana, and all other poses so far, it is okay. So, I will continue with gentle yoga for the immediate future until I gain strength and stamina. :) | | 6/12/2009 5:54:00 AM |
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Ashtanga Yogini
Happy Birthday Kristopher! | | Want to send a special Birthday wish out to my fourteen year old nephew Kristopher William Shirley! Just had a nice conversation with my sister Kimberly who told me he'd have to call me back once he finished riding his dirt bike! Trying to convince her to let him come down and visit aunt Krista and Mr. Kwang for two weeks this summer. He'd never really been anywhere by himself, and I know he wants to come. Kimberly shocked the heck out of me when I mentioned the idea of two weeks - she was like, "well maybe this first trip we should just do one week, since he's never been anywhere without me before!" I couldn't help but laugh - like Kimberly com'on woman time to cut the cord sis :) I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she'll agree to two weeks b/c that way he and I can do a week of tons of theme parks, and one week of exploring more of Florida's natural landscapes like the beach and some of the gorgeous natural parks and springs around. I'll be able to teach in the mornings and early afternoons and we can spend the rest of each day playing :) I'm so stoked! Never had one of my nephews down here to visit me without their parents before! Will keep you updated :) | | 6/7/2009 12:33:00 PM |
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Living Breathing Yoga
Beloved Guruji - You Reside Forever in Our Hearts. | 
Our Beloved Guruji, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois left his body yesterday, May 18, at 2:30 pm (Indian Standard Time).
Our love and condolences are extended to Sharath, Saraswathi, and the rest of his family.
We were deeply saddened to hear this news, although it was not altogether unexpected.
We feel very blessed to have been given the opportunity to say goodbye to Guruji in person while we were in Mysore last month. We had a very pleasant exchange with him, as he was in good spirits and feeling some strength the day we came to visit. Jeff and I both felt it would be the last time that we would see him in his bodily form, and so we made sure to tell him how grateful we were to him for his teachings and the practice, and how his influence had forever changed our lives for the better. I knew we were expressing the feelings of countless others as we spoke, and it felt good to be able to say these things to him face to face, and to know that he understood the love and appreciation we held for him in the depth of our beings.
Sri K. Pattabhi Jois has touched millions of people both directly and indirectly, and because of his presence and teachings, countless lives have been improved. We feel very close to the global community of Ashtanga Yoga practitioners at this time, as we all share these same feelings of deep gratitude, love, devotion, and reverence for Guruji. We will continue to keep his memory alive through our dedication to the practice, and through our love and support of each other.
Even though my heart is heavy today, I cannot help but smile as I remember him shining so vibrantly in his yoga shala as he would yell "bad lady" from across the room, or adjust me in some posture, or make his 'grunt of approval' as he would walk by, or as he would tilt his head to one side and ask "what news?" when we would come to visit... and I know he continues to shine even more so now.
Guruji's light will forever burn brightly in our hearts and minds, and we will keep his fire and passion alive as we humbly share with others the spark of energy he imprinted upon us.
Many blessings to all those who have been touched by this Mahatma, he truly was a Great Soul, and a Light along our path. If only words could express all the feelings that are flooding my heart at this time...
We love you Guruji.
May your travels be swift and peaceful. | | 5/19/2009 4:38:00 AM |
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Mysore Musings
Guruji | I'm living in a tiny New York apartment in true bohemian style with books and pictures from floor to ceiling and an occasional nic-nack nestled here and there. Over time it becomes part of the landscape and I stop noticing all the little bits that make up the whole. But yesterday as I was leaving the house, I paused for a moment and stared at a picture of Guruji. It was like opening my eyes under water, watching the bubbles go up and a pebble slowly float down. Time kind of stopped and it was me and this image and just thinking about this monumental person.
And then this morning, we've all heard: Guruji has passed away. I'm not sure what there is to say except that this practice has changed my life. I am who I am because of the teachings of this amazing person. The short moments I was lucky enough to spend with him were beautiful and full of joy. Thank you, Guruji. | | 5/18/2009 8:36:00 AM |
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movement
may twelfth | | amazing things happen to day 16 ashtanginis!feel like I'm getting somewhere on headstands,as in I still can't lift up but am starting to find my balance and lose some fear,felt much more comfortable in the forward stretches, and here's the real one- marichi D right sight binded(with Guruji of course).and i got a good!felt more stable on uthita hasta padangusthasana and could stay longer on prasarita padattonasanas.
And to think I was contemplating not going11(not laziness,have exams next week) | | 5/12/2009 2:29:00 PM |
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Gaia
| | It's so interesting how life just continuously becomes more and more challenging.. Or shall I say more and more challenges are put in front of us as life goes on.. Lately, I've been going through a ton of stress, and subsequent stress symptoms. As I am going through this process, I keep thinking about the fact that difficult things are always going to pass in front of me. I am challenged by responding to them in a calm and even matter, so I go into stress mode... I'm working on it and I'd have to say it's a lot better than it used to be. I've had times in my life where I couldn't handle the situation at all and have been in the emergency room with such intense stomach pains, I thought I was going to die...
Today is one of those super stressful days for me two months of high stress is coming to fruition.. The event I have been totally stressing over is here and I really want it over with and I want you all to wish me luck... Sometimes it really sucks to be an adult.
I finally feel like I can breath and see the light and that is good. I've scheduled acupuncture for tomorrow morning and am going to start preparing for my 3 week journey to the Middle East, I leave on Sunday!!! | | 5/5/2009 8:21:56 AM |
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Lymphoma Journey
Drinking wine is good for NHL!! | http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem_print.aspx?name=53145815
".. This study was the first to examine the link among patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Han and her colleagues analyzed data about 546 women with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
They found that those who drank wine had a 76 percent five-year survival compared with 68 percent for non-wine drinkers. Further research found five-year, disease-free survival was 70 percent among those who drank wine compared with 65 percent among non-wine drinkers ..."
Couldn't resist posting this when I read about it on one of the NHL boards! I've drunk wine for more years than I care to remember, so it's all good news!! I did stop when I was going through chemo, but started drinking wine again a few months later ... in moderation of course!
Everything seems to be going well health-wise. I've been on antibiotics for 3 weeks now - am trying to get rid of the cough which comes back everytime I stop a course. So I'm taking 3 lots - 30 days worth in all, and then we shall see. If it comes back again I think I'll have to go back to the chest physician again.
Lately I've been going to have my monthly IV-IG infusions without seeing Dr Bentley. He said just to come and see him if I had a problem. I'll be having a CT scan in the next couple of months so will be seeing him about that, but otherwise life is just flowing on happily normally! | | 4/21/2009 10:52:00 PM |
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Yogi One Can I Be
A Month Later | I wrote last time about trying to summarize an entire year in a blog. Well March reminded me that a month can be just as difficult. Here’s how it went: Drishti’s spitting up and not pooping so the doctor sends us to an ultrasound. Cheerfully the ultrasound technician walks us through the routine she starts [...] | | 4/10/2009 2:33:39 PM |
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Cherry Blossom
all is coming | i love that phrase! especially now, in the early weeks of spring. spring is a funny thing in chicago. march 20th- the first day. probably in the 30’s or 40’s – very wintery. a week later… hoping, hoping- ahh finally above 45 on a consistent basis. then… a few 30+ degree days and a surprise [...] | | 4/10/2009 8:47:11 AM |
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Bhakti Collective
Book Review: The Journey Home - Autobiography of an American Swami | |
Every now and then a book is released which becomes a spiritual classic–a book that brings people in touch with a distant world, opens minds to new possibilities and becomes standard reading for spiritual seekers. Autobiography of a Yogi and Be Here Now come to mind. With the release of The Journey Home – Autobiography [...] | | 4/9/2009 4:59:04 PM |
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On The Ashtanga Path
Taking a break | 
The job is hard these days, no time for writing.
Last week was very good concerning Yoga: I had a consistent 6-days-practice-week, managed to get up at 6 a.m. every day, had good, solid practices every day and the soreness from travelling started to disappear. This week: Bad! No practice on sunday because of a family visit that lasted all day long, mini-practice on monday because I got up much too late, good practice on tuesday but I noticed that the right hamstring is hurting somethings which is bad, no practice today because I got up much too late and tomorrow? I don't know.
As I noticed that the hamstring moaning again I had the idea of taking a total break from forward bends for some weeks. Practically that means taking a break from Ashtanga. Of course this is a frightening thought but what are some weeks in relation to a lifetime? And I really would be glad if this hamstring problem could be solved forever. If the price would be a break from Ashtanga for some weeks I would pay it immediatly. But even if I do it I don't have the guarantee that it is solved forever. But I could try it ... The other option is to continue the same way as until now and probably having a constant on and off regarding hamstring pain. I don't know ... I made friends with the thought that I will never gain a certain hamstring flexibility in fact it doesn't really matter.
Besides there is progress in Bujapidasana: it is possible to get the feet through the arms and lower down a little bit. The exit via Tittibhasana is far away.
Just got the book from Gregor Maehle about Ashtanga Yoga, it looks good from the first view. The only bad thing is that I also don't have the time for reading it. | | 4/8/2009 1:34:00 PM |
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Between Ease And Effort
Taking a break | I've not posted an update for a while. Main;y because I'm taking a self imposed break from Ashtanga right now. Before I go into detail on this, I was in Singapore recently and went to see J. Had a decent primary series practice with him considering I've cut down my practice to maybe once a week. He told me my current lack of motivation was common, and that just like a relationship, once the first bloom is over, we got to work on it. He was extremely encouraging and wasn't a all surprised about my condition.
Anyway I didn't go into detail with him about why I was demotivated, but I'll come clean here. This might sound controversial but I believe all the daily practice has been aging me..and fast. I lost quite a fair bit of body fat the last 2 years, and being in my early thirties, I believe the body no longer loses fat where I want it to lose. I noticed that unlike in my youth, when the fat would go from the hips and butt and jawline, now I lose my bust, my cheeks and under the eyes.
The past few weeks after cutting down a lot on my practice, I look a little more healthy and less skin and bones, but I also notice the weight distribution is coming back a little differently than before...mostly going directly to the hips..and not much to other places.
So...because I have always been vain about my looks..I need to back off and see what I can do to restore myself. It might sound silly to other people..but this weight loss and aging is really getting to me..and before I can come back to the practice..I need to deal with it. | | 3/21/2009 9:37:00 PM |
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YogaVita
A Break | I’m thinking of officially retiring this blog, or at least taking a long break. I started it a couple years ago when I was settling into my new life after school, travel, and a really awesome yoga teacher training. This was a period of great growth and exploration for me, and I felt like I [...] | | 3/13/2009 9:50:18 AM |
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Yoga Gumbo
Taking a Break | I think it’s time for me to admit that I can’t keep all the balls in the air. I just have too much going on these days with work and family commitments and can’t keep up with writing here. So I’m going to take a break and regroup. I will keep reading blogs; many [...] | | 3/12/2009 2:55:22 PM |
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8 Days A Week
Running and Yoga |  A while ago, I posted about how yoga practitioners often avoid running for fear that it'll kill all the progress they make in elongating their muscles.
When I took up Ashtanga yoga a few years back , I did my daily 2 hour practice and nothing else except some walking and swimming. Yet, in spite of the vigorous nature of Ashtanga, I had trouble losing weight. As well, I seemed to make only minimal progress in the postures.
Now, I realize that yoga isn't about postures only, but I still did wish to refine my practice. It just wasn't happening. While other students were putting their legs behind their head, I couldn't even get my butt off the ground in Upward Bow Pose, literally.
Well, now after running again, and losing some weight, I can actually lift up into Urdhva Dhanurasana, as the picture can attest. Now, I admit that this is a horrible representation of Urdhva Dhanurasana. My alignment is out of whack with my feet turned outward, and my arms are far, faaar from straight. Yet, I have terribly tight shoulders, always have, and probably my upper body isn't very strong right now.
Anyhow, I have a tendency to question, to question everything, including this unwritten rule about not letting running ruin your yoga practice. I imagine that yogis so advanced in their Ashtanga practice, they get so much cardiovascular benefit in their daily yoga, and it is enough. And, many yogis love nothing other, and that's cool too. But, for someone who loves running, it seems clear to me now that it doesn't intrude on yoga.
In spite of having a fairly sporadic yoga practice these days, with my running I'm finding that my body is overall more limber. In addition to Urdhva Dhanurasana, there are a number of other postures that I had great difficulty with before, but can start to do now. So, we'll see where this all takes me. | | 3/9/2009 10:09:00 AM |
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A2Ashtangi
Dinner Dialogue | Principessa: "I got a 32 out of 32 on my history test."
Dad: "That's great"
(Dad gives girl a high five)
The Boy: "Did I tell you what I got on my math test?"
Dad: "No, what?"
The Boy: "53 out of 50."
Dad; "Good thing it didn't cover addition."
(scene fades out with The Wife's chuckles in the background) | | 3/2/2009 6:05:00 PM |
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Rew's Blog
trapeze! | Hi everyone,
I will be performing in Ruby Streak Trapeze Studio's Springtime Showcase at The Bushwick Starr Theater (directions here) ** February 7, 2009 ** Showtimes: 7pm, 9pm ** Tickets available at the door for just $15. Please come and share this special night with me! A work-in-progress video of my piece is below:
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Only Ashtangi In The Village
108 sun slautations for Charideeeeee | On the 21st of March the Spring Solstice, I will be doing the whole 108 sun salutations thang and will be doing so for charity, specifically autism research which as most of you will know is pretty close to my heart. The ladies in my class will be joining me some through the whole thing others as part of a tag team. The aim is to get through as many as we can as a group and be sponsored per sun sal.
If you fancy joining us, OH GO ON GO ON GO ON GO ON GO ON you know you want to. Send me an email and will send you a sponsorship form and we can yoga all over the world (must be sung to dire straits in your head)
Otherwise sponsor those who are doing it purleeesssssseeeeee xxx | | 12/28/2008 3:38:00 AM |
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Julie's Lotus Garden
It’s been a very long time! | I’m tired and going to bed soon, but I thought I should drop a line to say that I’m alive and well. Things have picked up since my last post… I should write about it later!
But for now, I’ll just post a few pictures of Baby A., who’s growing more and more beautifully each day.
[...] | | 12/17/2008 7:34:46 PM |
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The Big Squish
Wandering around in a fog | After consulting with the physician and nurses, the family decided to discontinue meds and mechanical life support of Dad. He wasn't making any improvement since being admitted, and as time passed, his chances of getting better were diminishing. My main concern was that he be in as little pain as possible and that we should not prolong his suffering needlessly. We all took our turns to say our goodbyes. I was feeling so many different emotions, but mostly, I was numb with shock.
Sometime before 4:30 pm, the nurses started "the process" of giving him morphine and taking him off the IVs and ventilator. His heart continued beating faintly and irregularly for about an hour, then his breathing completely stopped.
I think he was ready to go. His friends noticed that he was a little down during the last couple of weeks. His angiogram did not have great news and it was clear that he needed to have bypass surgery. He was likely thinking about how much he could tolerate the surgery itself and whether he was going to be really out of the danger zone afterwards. Little things he said lately made me think that he was preparing us for what might happen.
It's been good for the family to distract ourselves from the grief and focus the arrangements for the funeral service. I'm going to say a few things and get some help from a friend to work up a segment in formal Chinese (similar to what I did for my mom two and a half years ago).
It's going to be challenging to summarize this remarkable man's life. He was a hardworking entrepreneur who lived and pursued his dreams with intensity. | | 10/31/2008 12:00:00 PM |
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Eat, Pray, Love... the Kim Smith Version
Bangalore Airport - October 30, 2008 | 
I’ve left Mysore. It hasn’t really hit me yet, or maybe I’m just so tired. I haven’t gotten a lot of sleep over the last two nights with the fireworks and over-stimulation from getting ready to leave.
Nice last day. Very long, leisurely breakfast at Alias. Several people turned up to see me off.
Then a day of pampering (manicure, pedicure, etc) before a few last minute errands, lunch at Tinas (palak rotis...mmmmm) and a 4:30 car to the airport. It took 4 hours to drive here and I absorbed the last of India. The chaotic traffic, the families of 4 on scooters. That distinctive smell of burning something and the ever present pollution (worse as we neared Bangalore.) Then the airport. I feel like I’ve entered another world. It’s brand new and very, very modern. It’s clean with great western toilets with toilet paper and no bin...do you actually flush the paper? What a concept! I’m not the only westerner here. Not by a long shot.
It’s funny, in Mysore the only westerners tend to be yoga students. If you go into the city you may not see a westerner during the entire trip, depending on where you are. I’ve gotten used to standing out in a crowd. I’ve also, apparently gotten used to seeing nothing but beautiful people in terms of westerners (mostly young with great yoga bodies). Here westerners come in all sizes and it’s kind of freaking me out. I feel very disoriented actually. My mind is starting to go crazy as well with a lot of fear as I get ready to enter the real world and to pick up my life. My very disjointed life at the moment with a new country, new job, no permanent place to live at the moment and new friends to make. It will all be fine, but in my current state I am focusing on the negative. I’m very grateful that I have the tools though to calm the chitta vrittis and to realise that that’s just where I am right now...this too shall pass.
My practice today was absolutely awesome. The best ever and that’s no exaggeration. I was not at all stiff. I really flowed. I worked so deeply into my hips during the sitting poses. I bound fully and deeply in Supta Kurmasana and crossed my ankles over my head and then I got back up and balanced on my hands without having to come out of it. I touched the floor with my palms facing out during Prasarita C. But the best news is that I dropped back by myself. Only once and with a lot of coaching from Sharath but I did it! I was waiting to be dropped back. Sharath was dropping Jen back who was right next to me so I didn’t even think I’d have the chance to practice, but he was taking awhile so I started to go back. He started saying, “more back bending, bend your neck” over and over again. Then he went to the person in back of me. I had come up and decided to go back down. He said the same and then I got to the critical point he said, “now straight arms”. I did and bump! I hit the floor...with my hands and not my head. In the end it seemed effortless. It was amazing. Then he tried to get me to come up. That wasn’t happening. Neither was the second drop back. I was shaking and crying in relief and disbelief and completely oblivious when Saraswati actually did drop me back. She smiled though and said, “good day!”. I said, “It’s a Mysore miracle.” I cried through the finishing poses. Bawled actually. It was so bitter sweet. I love this practice!
This practice changes you. It just does. You can’t practice this regularly and this intensely and continue to define yourself in the same way. I’ve realised very intensely over the last few months how I’ve defined myself as a weak person. Not physically, mentally or emotionally strong. But you can’t do this practice if you’re weak. That adjective just doesn’t describe me anymore. In any way.
If you’re lucky, not only with the practice in Mysore redefine you, so will the people. I’ve been lucky. I’ve made several soul connections. Some I know I’ll stay in touch with the rest of my life. Some were only meant to be fleeting connections. Brief in duration but not less important. I’ve changed lives and mine has certainly been changed.
I know over the coming days, weeks and months I’ll start to define and redefine this experience. I know I’ll parse it over in my mind and categorise it. I know I’ll lose some of what I’m feeling now and that I’ll carry much of it with me forever.
I know for sure that Mysore has changed me. The place, the practice and the people and for that I’ll be eternally grateful. | | 10/31/2008 3:12:00 AM |
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Yoga Mama
Trip update | So things are going great. We have been so busy it seems that we leave the house early in the morning and get back in the later afternoon and we are all exhausted. I have walked more here than I have at any time in my life – and that is saying a lot since [...] | | 10/24/2008 7:18:32 PM |
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Colorado Ashtanga
Ashtanga in the Springs!! | Good news! There is a small Mysore-style practice group in Colorado Springs that meets most Tuesdays and Fridays. Times vary so email Lecia Wood — lecia (atsign) windhorseandwood.com for current information.
 | | 9/2/2008 3:26:33 PM |
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but I was alive
Of various and sundry things | I feel like it’s time to dust off the cobwebs over here and get back to it. As for exactly what “it” is, I’m not entirely sure. There have been a lot of changes, but not so much a lot of yoga.
Let’s see, well, what used to be the hypothetical house is now a real [...] | | 8/20/2008 1:19:11 PM |
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Yoga Spell
I am the Sun |
You are The Sun
Happiness, Content, Joy.
The meanings for the Sun are fairly simple and consistent.
Young, healthy, new, fresh. The brain is working, things that were muddled come clear, everything falls into place, and everything seems to go your way.
The Sun is ruled by the Sun, of course. This is the light that comes after the [...] | | 8/11/2008 3:53:10 PM |
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Yoga Maiden
I love Iron Maiden! | Yes, it’s true I love, love, LOVE IRONMAIDEN. How do you think I came up with the name Yogamaiden. Surprised?!
Iron Maiden is an English Heavy Metal band from Leyton in the East End of London. The band was formed on Christmas day in 1975 by Bassist Steve Harris. Iron Maiden is still one of the [...] | | 7/20/2008 9:28:29 AM |
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The Elephant's Belly
Slipping | Sliding. Greasing the rails for purpose. For rescue. Rescue back the the things I love. Rescue back the best parts of what and who I am. Rescue the sinking dream. Without pushing, without laboring, without forcing it. Without pain. Slowly, slowly, slowly go. Slowly yet back the narrowest toll. Slowly now and slowly again. Slowly [...] | | 7/10/2008 10:27:52 PM |
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Of Yoga And Hummus
The Embrace- 2008 Edition | Amma will be visiting NYC and North America again this summer, I am going with friends to the Devi Bhava on Thursday July 10th at 7 PM. This is a really fun event with music, a wonderful dinner and of course, a hug from Amma- come with us! For more information go to our Facebook Event or if you cant make it then go another day, you will never regret this....
With great gratitude to Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, Amma, the Mother… | | 7/2/2008 9:00:00 AM |
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De Di In Diem
Mother Pain & God Trust | | Today is a day for dealing with family stuff (mentally, I mean). I went to my homeopath* and somehow ended up on the topic of my mom. So much pain there.
Over the past couple of years, I had come to the conclusion that endlessly analyzing my family situation and all the problems it brought, and [...] | | 6/10/2008 4:35:14 PM |
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Ashtangis Cook
The oddly delicious zucchini crumble | | It isn't that I don't like zucchini, it is just that I find them uninspiring. They are okay to look at, I don't mind eating them, but thought of cooking them is not thrilling. This was until I found a strangely appealing "'zapple' crisp" recipe in the Jan/Feb 2006 issue of Yoga Journal. I love apples. I love apple crumble. Maybe I can trick myself into loving zucchini? And with that, I was off to the market for some zucc.
6 cups zucchini, quartered lengthwise and sliced 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about three lemons) 3/4 dry sweetener 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cup rolled oats 1/2 cup butter (I used olive oil, but the top will be crumblier with butter)
Preheat oven 375 F. Simmer zucchini in the lemon juice for 15 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the sweetener, cinnamon, and ginger. Cook for 5 minutes. Add cornstarch and stir. Pour zucc mixture into pie pan. Mix oats with remaining sugar, salt, and butter until crumbly. Spread oat mix over zucc. Bake for 20 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream.
I'm sold. | | 6/5/2008 10:28:00 AM |
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Ashtanga Santa Barbara
Yogamind | | Take your non-dominant hand and try to press the index finger and middle finger together and separate them from the ring finger and pinky which are pressed together, a V shape with two fingers on each line of the V. Spock used to do this. Make it flat. Not too hard? Now press the ring finger and middle [...] | | 5/20/2008 2:53:54 PM |
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Same Same Only Different
Peter Sanson workshops rule! | | Peter Sanson was here for 4 days, doing a workshop. I had heard great things about him, and was interested to see what he was like. Well for once, everyone is right. He's wonderful. If you ever get a chance, go study with him. His Mysore classes were good, great adjustments, not too strong, just insightful. He would not let anyone away with sloppiness in practice, so would berate you in good humour. But it was the talk that he gave yesterday that really blew me away. I'll try and remember the gist of what he said, but this is just my recollection, so don't take it as gospel. He started off by telling us how he first experienced ashtanga in Mysore. Guruji took a look at him and told him that he would teach him privately, upsatirs above the old shala. There was just Peter and one other Indian woman. Guruji taught him very slowly. First week was surya a. second week, surya b. Then slowly the standing postures. Only when Guruji thought that Peter could get a good grasp on a posture was he moved on to the next posture. And that is how he learnt the forst 4 series. Slowly, one posture at a time, from Guruji. Amazing. Peter was saying he now believes that it was a blessing to have learnt ashtanga this way, as it is a safe way for the body to open up. He believes that people are now racing through the series, grasping at postures. That is why so many people are injured, or exhausted. This is what really connected with me. He described the practice as a prana building exercise. The whole time during your practice, you need to be aware of your prana/energy levels. As soon as you feel your prana dipping, you need to stop. Otherwise you won't be able to sustain this practice for life, you'll have to stop, as you can't do the rest of your life and an exhausting practice. If you feel your prana building, than you know that you're on the right track. He believes that 7 years per series is a good average. Feel steady and at ease in each posture before moving to the next. It really struck a cord with me. So today in practice, I made that my focus. Steady, deep breath. Staying connected to my energy. And you know, it worked. Usually by the time that I get to bakasana b I'm ready to collapse in a heap, find it hard to breathe. Not today. Sure kapotasana could hardly be described as peaceful, but overall my energy was great. It felt like a very different practice. I felt fantastic after. Sometimes after doing practice, particularly once I started 2nd, I can feel almost jittery high. All that nerve cleansing I guess. But today was just prana flowing through. Clear nadis. Fantastic. Another point he made was that every day he's excited to start his practice. Excited to see how his first sun salute will be. And that is how to approach your practice. Don't be mentally racing ahead, thinking of what's coming. Start at the beginning. Stay in the present, with the breath. And also he reminded us that the sun salutes are about paying repect, a humbling practice. So thank you Peter. You've given me back the beauty of my practice | | 5/5/2008 9:51:00 AM |
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Ashtanga Diaries
Widening horizons or selling out? | 
Its pretty well known that Sri Krisna Pattabhi Jois, the guruji of ashtanga yoga believes that asana practice is fundamental to the 'higher' practices of yoga - pranayama, pratyahara etc and that as a result of that he doesn't teach his students anything beyond asana until they have achieved proficiency in yoga chikitsa (the primary series) , nadi shodana (the intermediate series) and some of sthira bhaga (the four advanced series). He believes that the asana practice is necessary for the body to withstand the influx of prana that comes with pranayama.
Most authorities on yoga agree that asana is a precursor to pranayama and that it is the foundation of preparing the body for 'real' yoga, however they don't tend to be as dogmatic as Guruji. In most forms of hatha yoga, for instance, pranayama and meditation are taught alongside asana. In India, the majority of yoga practitioners don't do asana at all after they reach adulthood. Their yoga practice is pranayama, karma yoga, bhakti and so on....
OK.
Enough rambling.... time to get to the point.
By sticking to ashtanga and the precept of "practice, practice and all is coming", am I missing out on some of the other stuff that's so integral to yoga?
If, for example, I were to take a jivamukti class alongside my ashtanga practice would I be selling out? I'd get to study yoga philosophy, do kirtan and other forms of bhakti, pranayama, meditation, go to satsang.....
Tempting isn't it.... | | 4/15/2008 1:33:00 PM |
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Ashtanga Yoga In My Days
Oh, February is gone | I must have had an overdose of blogging in January. Luckily not of yoga...!
I have more or less managed to keep up my minimum daily practice of at least sun salutations. If I am right, I have counted 4 or 5 missed days: busy Saturdays, one funeral, one sick leave.
There was almost a two-week break from the full practice due to influenza, but I did one Bodyflow class and praticed a little at home almost every day (see above). That seems to be sufficient to keep up the flexibility and the physical condition. Now I feel ok with the practice: almost zen, learning little by little NOT to have bad conscience of not practicing when tired/overloaded, and on the other hand, NOT to exhaust myself either.
I wonder if I am overdoing it the other way, me and my lazy ass... | | 3/4/2008 7:19:00 AM |
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Hanuman Tat Sat
The dust of my Satguru's lotus feet | 
Valentine's day arose with a half-moon in the eastern sky. An auspicious beginning to the day. Pranayam lite at the shala and then very loving singing to Hanuman. The darshan talk before practice was about love and manifesting it. The Improv practice with the satguru was full of love. One of the sweetest loving practices I have ever had at the shala. And at the end we sang again - Jaaya seeya Ramaa. I knew it was a day of destiny for me.
I had been thinking that I would touch the Satguru's feet soon. Perhaps next week near his birthday and the full moon eclipse, but Valentine's day practice was so sweet and so loving that how could it be any other time to do it? So I told him I was ready to do it and he said go ahead.
In the center of the shala, in front of anyone who noticed, I bowed down, I touched the dust of my Satguru's lotus feet, and then I rubbed the dust on my eyes and ears. He put his hand on my back and the shakti pat was complete.
I found my way over to my spot near Hanuman to chant the Aditya Hrdayam. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. Tears of love for the moment. The moment that many have described to me. It is as told a humbling moment. A moment in time where time stands still and God's love is so overpowering that only tears can express the meaning. It is as if Surya is alive in your heart and your heart is Surya.
I bow down to my teacher and his teachers before him in the tradition of Ashtanga yoga. I am privileged to live a life such as this. Privileged to wake up every morning and do pranayam, yoga, and bodywork. I am humbled before God and in God. Tears fall now and fall short of being able to express the feeling of love.
Hari Om, tat sat.
Namaste, love, light, and shanti. | | 2/16/2008 3:09:00 PM |
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A Tamago Gohan Lover
WoYoPracMo Day 8:I have a prize! I have a prize! | 
-Mont Blanc
This is NOT macrobiotics. It contain a lot of suger and cream, but simply the taste is great. I have been taking a sweet class at a cooking school. This is my recent work. Baking cakes is my favorite thing to do beside doing yoga. I am obviously addicted sweets. As I am getting interested in macrobiotics, I decide to take a macrobiotics sweet class at the academy from April.
I had a good practice this morning I had had a terrible low back pain two days ago. Today, it was much better, I was able to do all primary series. It was a joy! I also did backbends. I normally do backbends 6 times but today I did 8 times. When I finished 6, Matt asked me to do 2 more. Oh, no... I did somehow. As a result, my legs were shaking. Apparently, I need more strength of my lower body. After that, I did dropbacks with Matt. I hardly stood by myself, so Matt had all my weight. I felt sorry for him.
I have been trying to walk my hands or legs in backbends. But I am worndering if I should walk in legs or hands or both? And my prior goal for backbends is standing up without any support. To do that, how should I practice? But for now, I need to straighten my arms more and more. There are tons of questions.
I thought it would be rash to say focsing on backbeds since I am a "low table" backbender. But now I realize it's really good. I found some struggled backbenders. I am not the only one person who is suffering from backbends! I was encouraged during the practice.
I have just checked the forum. I got a prize! Yay!
| | 2/8/2008 8:41:00 AM |
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Road To Mysore
LA Bound | | I'm currently at the Bangkok Airport waiting to board my plane back to LA. I can't believe this is the end of another amazing chapter of my journey. I'm not ready for it to end. My life in LA is boring compared to my life in India/Thailand...Thailand have become my second favorite city and will be flying through Bangkok whenever I head to Mysore.
I left Mysore last Sunday. I hate leaving Mysore. I was having such a blast. I was suppose to leave last Thursday but begged my travel agent to book me in for Sunday instead. I was waited until Thursday morning which meant I still had to pack as if I was leaving on Thursday. I didn't know until 11AM that I was confirmed for Sunday. The extra 3 days helped me calm down a bit and got me ready to leave.
This trip started slow and a bit boring but in the middle, it picked up some steam and in the last 4 weeks went 150 mph. It was crazy busy in a very good way. I really loved Narasima's meditation class and philosophy class. It put a lot of things in perspective. I appreciate more what I'm going through. It gave me the courage to tell my boss in my own words, "to fuck off". Which means I'm currently unemployed. I was a little worried about that in the beginning but I know that life has it's way of working things out by itself. I love Narasima's explanation of "detachment". i wish I wrote it down. i can't explain it but i understand the essence of it. It help me decide to make changes with my life. I wasn't planning on changing jobs this year but I knew that it would have to happen sooner or later. I guess it happened much sooner than I expected.
The next few days is going to be spent getting my LA life back together...finding an apartment, going on interviews, pulling stuff out of storage, renewing my license...and shit, I'm short 2 or 3 hours of CPE and getting ready mentally and physically for work...that's assuming I'll find something. In other words...life is good...it's going to be fun.
I said goodbye to Luke today. I told him I would see him in October, maybe even earlier. I haven't left Bangkok and I've decided to return already. | | 1/25/2008 3:30:55 AM |
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The Looking Bird
Mysore | | It's been almost a year since I last blogged. I can't believe it but I leave for Mysore in 3 days. So, at the urging of those in my life who are worried about me traveling so far, those in my family that are scared I'm joining a cult and never coming back, and the ashtangis I practice with daily who can't make the trek yet themselves, I've decided to resurrect my blog and share my experiences. I don't know what to expect but I am thrilled to be making this journey. Of course none of this would be possible without the support of my husband and 3 children who have given me the gift of allowing me to step away from my life and responsibilities and travel to India to follow my passion. I am a lucky lady! It should be an interesting ride. Stay tuned . . . | | 1/14/2008 1:53:00 PM |
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Coming Home
Back to the mat | Most of the time between Thanksgiving and the holidays was deliberate rest period for me. My knee had become painful again and I thought rest would be a good experience, though I did breakdown and practice a few times during that period. I am now practicing sporadically again and have practiced 3 days in [...] | | 12/30/2007 9:49:22 AM |
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Indian In America
Am I a star now ? | I'm thrilled that people read my blog and even posted comments. Its fun to interact with people this way. In the blog world , the blogger is like a celebrity, a star :).
Anyways life is very busy now. Boss thinks I need to do more and more to have a strong footing in the company. I kind of agree with him. In this IT industry or perhaps even in other industries in America the corporate philosophy in broad terms is "Perform or perish". Nobody is spared. It does not matter how many years experience you have or how much good work you did in the past. Its always the "NOW" factor. No living in past glory ..Sorry.
I havent been able to practice Yoga for the past couple of days.Lethargy for sure.
Okay folks , keep the comments coming.I really enjoy them. | | 12/2/2007 5:58:00 PM |
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Mind Tides
over the edge | I was on the mat but feeling a bit like a bird with a broken wing this morning. No flying for this bird today… Just slow and steady and very very gentle… soft. Pain in a few moments, and an immediate backing off – was nervous of going too far too soon and living to regret [...] | | 11/21/2007 11:22:37 PM |
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Liz In Question
Feel like writing | 
Hi, I feel like I should introduce myself. Hi, I'm Liz. It has been a very long while since I've written. Sorry blogosphere- life just got hectic and crazy.
Brief update, got married to my wonderful Husband(turned out perfect- so much fun), went to Bali (good and bad times both), hurt my knee practicing yoga in bali and still can't do lotus, got back in August, found out I was preggers, got a job... now getting big (already at 27 weeks), and so stoked to have our kid. She is a busy little girl, she has been kicking non stop since yesterday morning and kept me up all night. I guess this is good practice for the upcoming sleepless nights.
I am having an easy pregnancy. I am so lucky. Due date is Feb. 4. Crazy lucky to be having a baby, I have so many friends struggling to get pregnant. Not at all pleasant for them.
My ribs are being pushed out by this little spud, it hurts!
Here's some honeymoon photos for your viewing pleasure | | 11/8/2007 3:30:00 PM |
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Vegan Ashtangi
My first yoga class | I taught my first yoga class ever last Saturday morning. I wasn’t sure if it was right for me to do it and was quite nervous before starting. I felt a great sense of responsibility for being the person who’ll provide a bunch of people with their first contact with yoga. Let me say that [...] | | 10/22/2007 2:40:46 AM |
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Ashtanga Traveler
The week before... | | ... the workshop weekend is all coming together.... Peter Sanson is coming across to my little island to give a 4 day Mysore Style workshop.... I am just so excited. It is spring and I am looking forward to 4 days of class in a row (I have done about 4 classes in the past 6 months so I am ready for my teachcer to be there). But it is a little daunting to have a big list of names in front of me, some I know some who I do not know, people flying in from other parts of NZ to attend..... the island will cater to all I know that...it is a wee paradise.... I just hope I am able to keep on top of the lttle things I need to without stressing too much.... I tend to do that.
I also just got booking for two privates in less than 20 minutes.... what is going on? And they were unrelated as well... so that will be fun. Plus my own yoga for the past 2 days has been well, really great.
It is all just a little bit wierd. Of course if I was to suddenly be able to lift up from karandavasana...well I would pinch myself... not in this life.... well I guess I should not say that....
and I am not drinking coffee... and no headache ... okay it has only been a day but still.
| | 10/8/2007 9:05:58 PM |
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Sounds of Clouds
is that egg on my face? | 
nope, it's just slobber.
she has mastered savasana, and of course down dog (doggie style). her twisting skills are solid. admittedly, it's hard for her to breathe with her mouth closed...
next on the list? learning that it's never a good idea to put chicken bones from the street in your mouth. she quickly learned that licking broken glass never comes to a good end... and that eating bicycle seats (though chewy) and cell phones (though crunchy) and books (though they smell so good) does not lead to a happy mom. so i think she'll catch on quickly. | | 8/29/2007 5:49:00 PM |
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A Slow Moving Deep Stream
A Crisis of Faith | It is important to recognize that everyday experience, or being-in-the-world, is the primary object of human experience. Spirituality can be and is often used as a means of escape from facing everyday life, and the challenges it presents.
Genuine spirituality, as I conceive of it, simply has to to be relevant to daily life. All talk or speculation over matters of the spirit has a tendency to draw us away from real life and into the world of our heads, where we speculate about the nature of God, rules of moral conduct, or the ultimate aim of human life. And really, what is spirituality if if has nothing to do with reality? Just more words and concepts. Take two people: one has a genuine spiritual or mystical experience, and the other argues or speculates regarding spiritual experiences. Necessarily, the experiences of the two each refer to two different objects: the latter, a concept, and the former, an experience. Even if someone relates their experience to another, they can at best help the listener create a new concept or thought in the mind of the listener, never an experience. Or, at least, rarely can this occur. Concepts cannot manufacture experience. Only Grace can do this.
Life is replete with contradictions and replete with paradox. This is the reality of living in a world of relativities, and a world of duality. With this in mind, all talk about "Ultimate" realities, or the realm of the "Absolute" is essentially meaningless, because it represents a contradiction. As soon as we try to conceive of an "Absolute" reality, which is non-dual and non-relative, we have again entered the world of relativity. Sometimes, this world speaks in metaphors and allegories, sometimes, it doesn’t at all. This is a world where God exists if you believe he does, and a world where God disappears if you ignore Him. And moreover, ours is a world which is magical and full of revelation if you allow it to be, and it is also a world which can be empty and mundane if you decide it is. Real meaning exists only in the experience of the individual, and what is true for them. To speak of “Ultimate” meaning or any “Absolute truth” at all, makes no sense.
So what's the upshot of this? Well, an entirely pragmatic approach to life is a necessity. If you need to believe in say, the Law of Karma, in order to make sense of your life, you need to be prepared to accept that the belief that there is no such thing as Karma, rebirth, or whatever, is equally true at the same time, and that this reresents no contradictions. We believe what we need to believe, and we all see reality through the veil which we need but at the end of the day, it's just another story we decide to tell ourselves. Does this mean that I think that all truth is relative? No, it means that there is no such thing as truth- there is only what you conceive the truth to be. "Truth," in the world of duality, the world where everything is relative, is something we create, and ipso facto cannot be non-relative or ultimate in any way.
Of course not, the last time I checked, apples still grew on trees and the sky is blue when there are no clouds in it, and murder is still wrong most of the time. But I'm not too concerned with the epistemological imlications of the pragmatism I am advocating. I am concerned rather, with the spiritual, and therewith, the practical concerns. So what can connect us with something we can 'know' absolutely nothing about? What is the only way to move outside the relative world, to the world of the Absolute, without being in some way 'contradictory' That is Faith, or as the indians like to say "Shraddha." Faith is a state of being, and a way of relating to everyday life. I think it's obvious that faith does not need to have an object, the way "I have faith that my sister will show up on time" has an object. | | 8/3/2007 9:07:00 PM |
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1 Percent Productions
Too experienced? | Ok so I am really pissed off today! Not only did I gain back that 10 pounds I lost on the Master Cleanse (whoever said sperm has no calories was WRONG WRONG WRONG) AND I've been fired from my teaching job! Yes, apparently some old bag complained to managment that I wasn't 'experienced enough' as a teacher for her. She told management she wanted someone with more 'life experience; and possibly kids. Like she would know an experienced yoga teacher if one jumped up and did Kappalabhati breathing all over her! Bitch!
I mean come on! I've been practising yoga for nearly a year now, how much more experience could you want? Some of these other so-called yoga teacher ho's have taken one or two classes, max. So it's a career choice for yummy mummies who haven't got anything better to do? I'm so NOT going to be a yoga teacher... I mean I love getting up there all buff and toned and tanned and telling everyone what to do and shit, but once everyone starts in on the gig. FORGET IT!
Mind you, people do hit on you, men, women, old guys, you name it, they all love a hottie in Prana...
So maybe I won't give up just yet.
My ticket is booked to Mysore. I fly out of here 1st class on 1st May. I didn't write a letter. Fuck that shit. I'm going to walk in there and just say "do you know who I am?"
Kidding. I wrote the letter and am hoping to stay in some dive called The Southern Star. If anyone has stayed there recently, let me know, I'm not going to end up in some godforsaken flea pit in downtown Gokulum... I want hot water, I want fluffy towels, I want vintage Beavis and Butthead on cable...
BL | | 4/23/2007 1:45:00 PM |
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The Body Electric
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle! | | Stoked. The Teach added Kurmasana and Supta Kurm. Been having up and down practices with some hip pain moving around. Got the accupuncture and It seems to be fading away, leading to the rockin practice today. Floating, flowing.
Went to my frind Thomas' class on Sunday with my friend Lady Kat M. It was great to see Thom. We used to study together at the Monkey Shala, and He has been teaching at Yoga Mandala for 3+ years. His class was definately his own. He has been studying Tantra, and definately infused it in the class. He even talked about noticing the subtle energies of the body electric.
Well Class this morn was definately a flow of energy. I didn't actually eat that much yesterday, which really helped this morn. My clasp has come back for Mari D on the right, and the left was a few inches away. The teach added the tortise, and I am no where near. I gotta start using a strap.
Went to Santa Cruz with Lady Cat after practice. Ate some Brazilian Food and laid on the beach for a few hours. It was a beautiful sunny day and a great pleasure to lay around with a beautiful lady, bare feet in the sand.
Taught a private lesson last night in the city. That was a cool experience. Brought me back to the beginners body. Student T was tall, skinny, and very unflexibe. Updog was a challenge. As was the lunge forward to Warrior 1. Long legs made for new geometry challenges. Really Enjoyed it. | | 2/20/2007 12:10:51 PM |
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Saysasana
| Nothing but good news! Seriously, I am so waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Practice has been great. Grabbing heels in kapo, still landing Bakasana B but I'm still a little afraid and dragging my tail bcs of it. My students have been gifting me with kick ass CD's to play in class, Prana yoga pants, electronic japanese buddha thingys... Classes have been big and I have a workshop coming up and I'm going to Shiva Rea on Sat. w/ some of my girls. One of my teachers even added a 9am ashtanga improv on Mondays. I get to sleep in on Mondays! Om namah Shivayah!
Tom and I even had the best "date day" on Sunday. After my classes we ate Vietnamese food, got lit, walked around the Spectrum, got caramel apples, rode the ferris wheel, had a cocktail, watched a dumb movie, and did it. I mean really, isn't that AWESOME???It was so fun.
The rest of my life is rolling along. I mean I still have to get insurance and file for bankruptcy as I will never pay off my past hospital bills. {Grand Total exceeds $100,000} But I look forward to a clean slate, especially since I feel more in sync with my health. The second series and my wierd doctor are really bringing things together on the inside. It's quite amazing.
AND I have TOOL tickets!!!
So, I'm sure a fish will die soon, or I'll get really bad pms, or something to restore the energetic balance in my life. But until then....
rock on lil' pirates! | | 2/12/2007 12:26:00 PM |
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Tartan Yogi
Idling | | I have just received my copy of How to be Free by Tom Hodgkinson, the man who also wrote How to be Idle. The idea being that you can spend your time doing things you actually want to do rather than toiling away at the 9 to 5 of work. Thus forming in my mind a great plan where I only work three days a week and do yoga or assist yoga classes the rest of the time, with time off for the drinking of wine and lying around on the floor.
It is good to have dreams.
As a small start of my plan to be able to afford to work part time I think I am going to get rid of my mobile phone. It will save me £50 a month and won't go off in relaxation noisily when I have fogotten to turn it off (rare, but it has happened on particularly stressful days).
Maybe I am turning into a hippie. I blame my parents.
In other news had a good practice yesterday, although my headstands are still rubbish. Well balancing is OK, but getting up with straight legs is challenging on a wood floor. When I do them at home I am fine so it must be the carpet and mat combo cushioning my head that makes it easier.
I am going to do some more observation next week too, hopefully some more assisting too, we will see how it goes. Am also excited because the centre has just introduced an intro to second series which I am going to at the weekend.
Tonight I shall practice and then fashion myself an idler's corner near the window where I can read. The husband thinks I have gone mad as I have decided I want to get rid of the TV. He doesn't agree so it will stay. But once I have my idlers corner all will be well as it will be TV free.
There is a temp sitting across from me at work today. She has spent all day practically pummelling her keyboard, hitting her desk and talking to herself. This was after announcing to the whole room that she had just landed a plum job with her own office (insinuating obviously that really all this temping malarkey was way beneath her and that we are all plebs). If I ever temp anywhere I will remember her performance and try to be a bit less mad. Maybe temping drives you insane?
On the up-side I bought a bag of dried cranberries at lunchtime, mmmmm cranberries. | | 2/8/2007 9:57:41 AM |
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Crash Test Ashtangi
The story of a crash test ashtangi | I’m a 28 year old nursing student who has been doing ashtanga periodically since 2003. In between these great periods of doing ashtanga, I’ve also been practicing the fine arts of drinking heaps of red wine and smoking cigarettes. Closing in on the venerable age of thirty, I decided it was time to kick the [...] | | 1/24/2007 1:45:54 PM |
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Mysore Bum
Some advice from the Mysore yogis | 
Today J and I left Mysore for Bangalore. Last night we had a very yummy dosa party at Anu's, her's are the best in town. She made my favorite deserts as well so I was totally spoilt once again! I went to kirtan with a few people to hear Ganesh play tabla one last time and L sing. Then to the Metropole for drinks and chats. We all said goodbye this morning at the coconut stand over chai. I had a few quiet little tears to myself there, it was hard to leave Anu, Ganesh, and my little gang of special people, you know who you are, love you all. We will all see each other again though. I'll see AJ next tuesday for a start.
In Bangalore J and I went for lunch at the palace, and lazed around there chatting about our trip and our favorite Mysore moments. Tomorrow we leave India. As always I expect going back to be more of a culture shock than going, and it's going to be cooooold! I will come back to Mysore I'm quite sure, as you know from my blog I've had a great time there.
For this last post I wanted to put together all of the advice and tips that I gathered from Mysore yogis in the hope that it might help some of you who intend to come here for a while and are new to the experience as I was.
- Don't worry about coming alone, you will make friends easily as long as you are friendly
- The food is very good, you won't go back emaciated, and you are unlikely to get dysentry or something like that as long as you stick to the good eating stops.
- Don't bring loads of stuff, you can find pretty much everything in Mysore.
- Tell someone if you have a problem, Ganesh can take you to a docs or sort out most things for you, and other students usually have a lot of good advice.
- If this is your first time abroad you may well feel a little rattled by the experience at first, it takes a few days sometimes to get over the culture shock. You might feel unsettled for a few days but this is quite normal. It's not a mystical "Mysore thing", it would happen anywhere.
- Don't recreate the busy schedule you left behind at home by filling your days with classes. Leave yourself some time to chill out and do nothing. It's ok to do nothing, you're not at work or having to deal with the responsabilities you have at home.
- There is no such thing as "being ready for Mysore". You go and bring your practice to the shala wherever and however it is whether you have been practising 20 years or 2 weeks. Beginners are warmly welcomed, what a great place to begin.
- Don't even start to think about where you will be stopped or if you will be stopped. You came to learn and they will take care of it, at the end of the day you pay the institute to teach you so you don't need to worry about it, let them do that for you.
- Don't even begin to try to understand why some people get stopped at different places. If you can't bind in Mari D and get stopped there and someone else can't either and can go on...that's just the way it is. They have their reasons.
- You don't need to be able to do everything perfectly.
- Don't come to Mysore as a "Yoga tourist", come with a deep respect of the shala and the teaching which you recieve there.
- It can be hard if you're not used to practising 6 days a week but it gets easier. The early start also becomes a habit, you might even start to enjoy it.
- Ladies cover your shoulders and legs or you'll get some unwanted attention.
- It's good to respect ladies holiday (Guruji advocates it and you're in his shala after all, so even if you don't usually respect it maybe give it a chance). It's also good to miss practice if you are injured or unwell.
- It's ok to stop your practice early if you need to for whatever reason, just let Sharath, Saraswathi ot Guruji know. It's not a crime!
- Take the time to chat to the locals, like your rickshaw driver for example, they are very friendly people. Guru who owns the coconut stand is one of my favorite people for example, and Lokesh my rickshaw man.
- It can be hard but the best thing is to come with no expectations.
- Smile. If you can't laugh at yourself you're taking your practice too seriously. It's meant to enrich your life.
- Don't obsess about the yoga.
There are many more but those are the main ones that were often repeated during my stay.
My personal advice would be to come with a love for the practice and enjoy it. With the right attitude you can have a very good time indeed. So... go and write your letter to Guruji.
The Mysore Anthem has been voted "Respect" by Aretha Franklin, because there's a lot of that in Mysore, and you need a lot of it too (suggested by Rew).
| | 12/2/2006 7:09:00 AM |
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Peacock Feather
Moon Days | What to do on a moon day? Go to the beach of course. I was a bit hesitant to do asana on a moon day, but could not resist. The Fire Island waves were big, choppy and erratic, no doubt due to the high energy. So the question is, should one practice on a moon day or [...] | | 11/10/2006 12:36:47 PM |
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Gypsy Sister
Aloha! | | Greetings from Maui! I have returned to this magical isle where my troubles just seem to melt away! Of course some have been replaced by others but in general I'm relaxing and taking a much needed rest from teaching. I'm practicing with my teacher, and ironically it's not as intense as it is in Taipei. Maybe I'm not working as hard, maybe it just feels easier, I'm not sure but I'm still enjoying myself. The thing about having one of the originals as your teacher you hear a lot of the bull shit that goes on in and around the world of ashtanga. As Guruji ages there is a distinct line being drawn between "new school" and "old school" ashtanga, who's teaching the "correct" method, Guruji vs Sharath. It is very unsettling for, as my friend Stephen calls us "young pups" and very confusing! I'm being taught one thing in Taipei and another thing here. I guess it's down to respecting the teacher in the room and doing what they ask you to do, seeing if it works for you, and then incorporating what does into your personal practice and getting rid of the rest. It amazes me though the ego that gets involved and the things that these senior teachers are saying about eachother.....can you imagine what they would be like if they didn't practice yoga? Or are they still practicing "yoga" or only "asana"? Something to ponder....I'm off to practice.
12:00
Back from practice. It was a good one! Really trying to work moola bandha throughout the whole practice and it's getting easier to do. Still not maintained throughout the whole thing but I am using it more. Got my toes to my head in vrishikasana (which Nancy keeps in intermediate) but I'm still not moving my hands in the jump out of pincha. Mayurasana is a nightmare! But it's slowly, slowly coming. I can bounce both feet off the floor but I can't stay up yet. Nacrasana I can do 5 bounces - gonna try to add one a week to get up to the required 10. Should be interesting. The rest is fine until I get to supta urdhva pada vajrasana where I cannot bind and roll without feeling like I will break my back! One day maybe....Not taking my ankles here yet in kapot or backbends. Hopefully by Wednesday they will feel comfortable enough to take me there. Merritt took me there last week but I'm not allowed to practice with him anymore ( we got into trouble!) so here's hoping the girls will do it! I think I will just tell them to be more forceful with me. Or I'll just relax and enjoy the break from intense practice! But I did work up some heat today which was good, and balance is pincha was good. I gotta get some body work done here on my shoulder and lower back so I'm off to make an appointment. Hope all is well. Until next time...
| | 10/30/2006 3:02:02 PM |
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Self Practice
Vinyasa is so much fun! | | How does Yoga work without vinyasa? Its so much fun anyways, I don't think I could dispense with it. The temp of the room I practiced in this afternoon was 64, but I still worked up a pretty good sweat by navasana. Progressing into handstand with navasana is slow going still, but seems like I am unlocking some secrets. It IS a strength thing, partially, but a lot of it has to do with how you use the breath and pivoting forward, etc.
Well, jumpthroughs are progressing along, too. I have started pausing during some jumpthroughs for fun and to work a little strength. On the jumpbacks, I've started pausing and really extending the exhale once I land the feet, in chataranga. I feel like that really builds good strength and good form, too (it becomes obvious when you hold something that you must have good form).
I have lost sight of mula bandha as hardcore as I had a hold of it a few weeks ago. I don't know why this has left. Perhaps I need to more consciously engage it, although it doesn't really affect my practice as far as I can tell.
I also think its time to start working on dwi pada, but I am pretty comfortable with my practice as it is now. Perhaps thats all the more reason to add on some mayhem. | | 10/20/2006 1:18:51 PM |
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Note To Self
Um Yeah… | Dear Purusha,
I have a bug up my ass and it’s from this comment we got the other day:
“Who told you that “There is only here and now”…
“I am” sense ? The sense of presence ?
It is just sound.. bzzzzzz, nothing else.”
There is no here and there is no now.
There is no prakriti and there is no purusha.
There [...] | | 10/5/2006 8:00:03 AM |
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Ashtanga OZ
Assisted Dropbacks | I was introduced to dropbacks this morning and "Oh my God! How amazing are they!!!!". Up to today I was doing 3 or 4 rounds of 5-8 breaths each of standard Urdhva Dhanurasana. My teacher asked when was I going to try dropbacks, so I said how bout now, so we did. When going back for the first time I got all of these memories from when I was learning backflips at gymnastics when I was younger, it was unreal! I felt like my heart was opening to the universe and all of this loving energy was pulsating through every cell in my body, making me feel so alive and relaxed and uplifted. It makes sense that backbends are so intense because of the spinal cord and nerve roots. I kind of get a similar feeling in the Marichasanas but with back bending I get the extra rush of being inverted too. The thrill of dropping back and coming back up is so addictive. The rest of my practice went well despite struggling to get out of bed and feeling tired when I hit the mat. I've really been struggling to get up in the mornings of late. My energy levels have been lower than normal first thing in the morning. Funny though because I had a lot more energy for practice than I thought. Can't think of what else to write as I'm still riding this euphoric wave of dropback bliss. Happy bending people! | | 6/29/2006 11:17:00 AM |
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Chatvari
DO we ever learn? | |
WASHINGTON - A Republican gubernatorial candidate's call for creation of a forced labor camp for illegal immigrants drew rebukes Friday from two GOP lawmakers, who labeled it a low point in the immigration debate.
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Don Goldwater, nephew of the late Sen. Barry Goldwater, caused an international stir this week when EFE, a national news agency of Spain, quoted him as saying he wanted to hold undocumented immigrants in camps to use them "as labor in the construction of a wall and to clean the areas of the Arizona desert that they're polluting."
The article described Goldwater's plan as a "concentration camp" for migrants.
Goldwater, a candidate for governor in Arizona, said in a statement Friday that his comments were taken out of context. He said he was calling for a work program for convicted nonviolent felons, similar to "tried and tested, effective and accepted practices" used by state and local jails.
But two Republicans, Arizona Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) and Rep. Jim Kolbe (news, bio, voting record), called Goldwater's comments "deeply offensive" and asked state Republicans to reject his candidacy in the Sept. 12 primary.
"That Mr. Goldwater is either unaware of or indifferent to the loaded symbolism, injustice and un-Americanism of his 'plan' to address the many serious issues caused by illegal immigration reveals his flaws as a candidate and a stunning lack of respect for the basic values of a generous and decent society," McCain said in a statement.
Kolbe said that if the comments are true, Goldwater "has demonstrated his complete unworthiness for public office, and I am confident he will be soundly rejected by Republicans from the party of Barry Goldwater, who consistently demonstrated his compassion and respect for all people. This is a sad day in the national debate on immigration policy."
McCain and Kolbe favor a guest-worker program for illegal immigrants.
Goldwater made a similar comment at an April anti-immigration rally.
"Build us that wall — now!" Goldwater said, referring to a proposal to add 700 miles of fences along the U.S.-Mexico border. He promised then that if elected, he would put illegal immigrants in a tent city on the border and use their labor to build the wall.
Barry Goldwater, the former Arizona senator, was the Republican presidential nominee in 1964. | | 6/24/2006 3:28:14 PM |
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