Old Shala and conference...

This is sort of an addendum to the last post - which is sort of out of order if you are trying to follow what is going on. Because today is your Friday night, so Saturday morning here, (no practice day) and our marathon chanting day was Thursday. Yesterday after the led class, we did some errands and I did some quality skyping with Lucy and then Jen and I went to Sandhya's in Laxmipuram near the old shala for lunch. Some of the photos from below are from Sandhya's place - the food was amazing and it was nice to meet with Fiona and Andrew and also meet Chris from Scotland and a few other really nice people. One woman named Christa from Orlando is six months pregnant with her first child, she is looking amazing, and has a beautiful practice but I recognize all too well that sort of tired-but-managing-look, I think it would be hard to be here and be pregnant, but that is just me - over being pregnant-anywhere.

So anyway we stopped by the old Shala on our way back (pictures above). When Jen was here last it was at the old shala so she was a little sentimental and showed me the famous "stairs" where you would wait for your turn, and she talked about where Guruji would come out and sit for conference - it is all really amazing to see, and to think about how fancy and huge the new shala is - how this one man taught for the majority of his life in this teeny tiny place with a handful of students - and it reminded me of conference last weekend with Sharath that I didn't really write about.

Sharath started off by saying he was going to tell us how his Grandfather made Mysore a famous yoga destination. He briefly told us the story of when Guruji met T.K.V. Krishnamacharya at a yoga demonstration in 1927 and how Ashtanga Yoga came to be what it is today. He talked about how important vinyasa is, breath, and how this practice is so much more than just asana. He talked about practicing the yamas and niyamas and that people think they understand yoga just from taking practice from this or that teacher without really applying themselves for many years to daily practice. He said that dedication is the most important aspect. He said many people think they know what yoga is because they do a teacher training program, and now they teach yoga, but they don't know what yoga is. He quoted a sutra at this point I think, though it might have been from the Pradapika but from my memory it was this:

Practice becomes firmly grounded when it has been cultivated for a long time, uninterruptedly, with earnest devotion. (Sa tu-dirghakala-nairantarya-satkara-adara -asevito-drdhabhumih) Sutra 1.14

This section of the yoga sutras right now is my favorite, because a few sutras later it talks about having faith - or in sanskrit sraddha - which I believe is Sharath's daughters name. In one of my sutra books it says that the faith Patanjali is talking about is "provisional, flexible, undogmatic, open to doubt and reason. True faith is not like a picture frame, a permanently limited area of acceptance. It is like a plant which keeps on throwing forth shoots and growing. All we require, at the beginning, is a seed." (Swami Prabhavananda) And the seed need be nothing more than a feeling of interest in the possibility of living a more meaningful life, a more deeply connected or integrated life, encompassing all aspects of who we are; our physical bodies because we live in this body and our relationships to ourselves and everyone/thing we come in contact with because we do not exist in a vacuum.

He said this with a smile on his face, “without true dedication, it is very difficult to understand yoga.” People like to pick and choose which aspects of yoga they "like" and they have an aversion to really dedicating themselves to one system or one teacher and taking practice daily, making the time for it, and allowing the transformation away from self-limiting, pain inducing patterns - it seems they think they know better. It was in some ways gratifying and reinforcing to listen to Sharath, but for a moment it made me sad that the whole commodifation of yoga thing is such a huge movement. And being a yoga studio owner am I just playing into all of that, and should I even be teaching yoga at all, and I really shouldn't be doing teacher training - ahhhhhhh! But then I remember the old shala, and Sharath's grandfather getting up and teaching everyday for 65 years or more, and that handful of dedicated students who got us to where we are today - got me to be sitting here in Mysore, India taking practice everyday, and I think of all of you back home coming to the shala, as often as you can, taking practice with pure intention and good hearts and the ripple effect of what your practice has done for your bodies, your minds, your relationships with your children, spouces and friends andI know a seed has been planted and in that I have faith and in that I am so grateful for.

Chanting and more...

Lots to tell... yesterday was another marathon day here in Mysore. After a nice practice we ate breakfast at Vivian's which is two doors down from our flat. I sort of have this little "clique" that I'm in. I had heard that it was kind of "cliquey" here so I decided to join one right away - no, just kidding. My theory is that people who arrive around the same time sort of gravitate toward each other because a.) you are lost and alone half the time so you recognize the same in another and naturally gravitate toward each other and b.) once you sort of have your group of friends you don't have that same lost and alone look about you and new-comers are less likely to gravitate your way. So anyway we sort of have this group Jonathon and Susie from Charlotte, NC, Vanya who is Swedish, but lives now in Canada, Michoto who is from Japan, Fiona and Andrew from New Zealand, and of course my flat mate Jen from New York, and Jen from Charlottesville. So also because we arrived at about the same time, we have basically the same start time for our practice, so we see each other every morning and so most of the time when I say "we" that is often who I am referring to because we also often meet for at least one meal per day.

So we had breakfast together and then we all went on our merry way to varied classes and appointments. Jen, Fiona and I shared a rickshaw over to Dr. Jayashree's house. I think I mentioned last week that we had registered for this Yoga Sutra class at the shala, and since we were also doing the Gita class we were maybe not going to also try to fit in with Jayashrees' schedule - wrong! Normally the class is one hour of chanting and one hour of philosophy - but this thursday it was two hours straight of chanting - we did all four chapters of the Yoga Sutra as well as some of the Shantih mantras. There were about 20 students sitting on the floor of her small room that was sort of a living room / office, some of them were already very competent at the chanting, she calls, we respond - and there is a booklet to follow along with. During the class I think both Jen and I silently resolved to convince the other that this was more important than attending the sutra class at the shala and since we were in agreement it was a done deal and we realized we would be eating the 700 ruppees we had to fork over to the shala for the other class. It is just too much of a special opportunity to miss - her teaching style, which is the tradional method of teaching yoga philosophy is called Sruti Parampara, where over time, the ear, tongue, and mind are refined and purified and the Sutras are committed to memory. But it is more than that, it has to do with her voice and just her. So we will be going to her class Monday - Thursday from 11-1pm for the rest of our time here. I feel so incredibly lucky.

So then, hop back in rickshaw and go straight over to James' house which is not in Laxmipuram, but is Saraswathipuram (sorry about that misinformation). No food, no nothing, luckily we still had a little water. This is now my fifth class, and we are about 3/4's of the way through the 2nd chapter. The major themes at this point as I understand them are that Krishna is telling Arjuna that he must know his dharma, and that he is a lucky person because his dharma is the best dharma of all, which is to fight for... dharma. And the one who can see opportunity within adversity is the greatest of men. So the idea of dharma is also talked about as following your path in life - it is the natural order of the universe and that if we follow our path with pure intention and good heart, then there is no such thing as unsuccessful effort, no matter how much we question whether what we are doing is right. So, the "pure intention" piece is what gets broken down next by Krishna, as we begin to get into the section about not being concerned with the fruits of our labor.

One more!

Today ends my first full week of practice here - this week everyday so far has been mysore style, but today is a led class and tomorrow is a rest day. Remember that first day when I said that I touched my heels in urdvha dhanurasana - well I think I must have been touching Sharath's feet or maybe the person next to me - because that is not happening. Yesterday I think my left foot felt the air move a little bit from my left hand flailing around in it's vicinity but I think that is about as close as it is getting. My focus everday is to do all the vinyasas correctly, so breathing. On my first two days Sharath corrected the following things:

• to narrow my stance in trikonasana
• not to spread my fingers (oh by the way I saw him correct a persons closed hand in marichiasna a - told him to open it up)
• and to close my heels in urdvha mukha paschimattonasana - which has opened up a whole new world for me as it applies to a lot of postures
  

But get ready for this: I've not gotten one adjustment this week - what, I travel half way around the world, pay $700 for a month of yoga classes, I mean the least they can be doing is adjusting me - right? In fact pretty much the only interaction between them and me is when they yell "one more!" and I jump up to try to find the spot they are talking about. That is not to say that Sharath and Saraswathi are sitting around drinking latte's, quite the opposite they are pretty much full-on helping what seems closer to maybe 200 people batching through that room each morning. (I asked the coconut guy who brings his cart to the shala how many coconuts he goes through each morning and he said 300!) I think it is Tim Miller who says something like "the practice is the teacher" and that is really how I feel. I feel like I'm getting adjusted, and corrected in every posture practically each day.

The teachers Sharath and Saraswathi are holding the sanctity of the practice and the space for me and they will tell me when I need to work on something else either by adjusting me or otherwise and until then I have plenty to do. It makes me believe even more that this practice works best in the mysore style and that it WORKS. It is also being strongly reinforced in me how important it is to do the postures in their order, not skipping around. There are plenty of people here who are stopping at one of the marichiasana's. My one friend Jonathon who I will tell you about later came here after 6 weeks of Ashtanga, and feeling like he can barely complete 10 surya namaskaras, after one week is is already up to marichiasana a, and I suspect he will stay there for quite some time until he can bind, which I have no doubt he will do. It is inspiring to watch him.

Mysore Adorned

Everywhere you look here things are adorned with color and beauty. Mostly there is symbolism and tradition, or simply aesthetically it is just the way it has been and continues to be. People have their puja, where they pray, and usually there are garlands of flowers which you buy all over the place draping, the sidewalks in front of peoples houses are decorated in mandala's on special occasions and including, you guessed it, the women. The women here dress in fancy, colorful sari's (pronounced see-rie here)to do the laundry - and pretty much every married woman has her nostril pierced, left side means you are married, and it's all gold, and not these little teeny tiny silver specks we see all the time in the US. So of course I had to get mine pierced - what is this my fifth time? We'll see if this one heals, maybe that was the problem all the other times, it's too clean at home, and all the polution, dust and whatever else here is what I need for it to heal - or it could be a few weeks without chubby little hands clawing all over me that will do the trick - (though I can't wait to see those chubby little hands.)

In any case here is the deal if you want to get your nostril pierced while you are in Mysore (by the way Lars did not give me this information). First you go buy the jewlery, which means going to a gold shop, and there happens to be a small reputable one right around the corner from the ATM machine that is closest to the Shala. Then you take it to the hospital which is a short walk, like 100 meters up from the Coconut Stand. You go in and ask for a consultation with the doctor, they bring you to this room, and the next thing you know you've got a nose ring! $108 ruppees for the doctor, the nurse and someone else all involved. I was feeling a little wierd about that part and hoping there was not someone with a more urgent medical need who was waiting while I got my nose pierced - but obviously that didn't stop me. A photo will be forthcoming as well as other news for the day. But it is looking like the power is now out.

Scarves, chai and more...

Jennifer arrived today - safely and soundly! I went over to Randy's house after practice this morning and there she was. We didn't have any other classes today so we decided to go back to town. I needed to find a copy of the Bhagavad Gita and David had asked me to buy a scarf for him at a specific place. Wow - this place turned out to be amazing and I was able to find the two most important gifts I'd been asked to get which were a scarf for Lucy and a scarf for Grace. Here are some photos from the day.

Also here are a few more words on utplitihi sent in as a supplement to my blog:

This is not a correction of your commentary on UthPluthi, just a supplement.
According to Guruji via 'Yoga Mala', UthPluthi strengthens the waist and perfects uddiyana and mula bandha; over time it will gradually open the three granthis.

Gregor Maehle adds that it "is one of the best postures for restoring energy. It eliminates fatigue at the end of the practice."

David Swenson has commented that it is put at the end of the practice to get the prana flowing strongly before entering deep relaxation enabling the prana to course through every part of the body doing it's healing work. The 'pranic wash' you've noted.

Yoga Mala

A bunch of you have asked what posture "utplitihi" is - and it's true it is difficult to find information on the internet about it - the following is from memory, I believe from Yoga Mala, if anyone knows more or better feel free to correct me. Just as samasthiti is the first form we begin our practice in, utplitihi is the form we end in - the significance of the names of these postures is that unlike all the other postures their names do not end in "asana" but in "tihi". I believe this is part of the garland or mala of completeness allegorized by the ashtanga series. Utplitihi, I think is considered to me a "mudra" rather than a "posture" but I've heard this of sirsasana also and sirsasana ends in "asana"... so the other thing I know is that utplitihi, is also referred to as "uprooting", it is the deliberate practice of reversing the downward flow of apana which can potentially stimulate the awakening of kundalini. So it is done at the end of the practice I think as the final, if you will, "pranic wash", stimulating the entire body. But it is also sitting in padmasana (lotus) and lifting your body off the floor between your arms while you wait for the teacher to count to usually 10 - but Guruji and Sharath are famous for keeping students up in this posture for long periods of time - to build moola bandha, and stamina.

Today I arrived at the Shala promptly at 6:50, and it was backed up outside so I waited for at least 30 minutes if not longer before I started. I had a nice practice, since I've been here I've finally been able to get my second leg behind my head in order to get into supta koormasana from the dwi pada position - (sans drama) I thought he wasn't letting people do it that way, but everyone who can, does - so that has been nice because I can keep my rhythm much nicer that way. I was finished by 9am - and that was when Sharath left - he had been adjusting since 4am, which was after he did his own practice. That is intense work - don't you think? Tomorrow I am starting at 6:45 - and also tomorrow Jennifer arrives! Thank you all for your comments - it is nice to feel connected. xxoo

Huckleberry's Mysore

Yesterday was a non-stop day. Sunday is always a led practice and usually there is a led primary and then a led intermediate afterward, but yesterday there were two led primary's. I was in the second group, which started at 6am, and as I said the other day is about 75 people. Since there is another group of likely the same amount in the Shala already we have to wait outside in the dark exchanging pleasantries but also jockeying for position - even though we are all going to fit in there (somehow) it seems important to get in there quickly and before everyone else (?). I don't understand it... I have to say that it bothers me - why not just wait and get the spot you get? But anyhow, just like last Thursday I had to forge a spot for myself between two people (which I don't mind doing because I'm quite comfortable with moving people's mats around (as some of you know)Here are some hightlights from yesterday:

• I learned the lesson of not getting behind a big tall man - who's feet were just inches from my face throughout the practice - and being tall myself I didn't have much room behind me to give Sasquatch more room - especially be careful in chakrasana if you ever find yourself in this dilemma.
  
• My practice was much much nicer than the led class the other day - and this time I made it to "three" in uttplitihi without panic setting in.
  
• I mainly did errands which included going to the market which is where the photos above are from, and then I visited with a friend for an hour or so before going back to the Shala for Sharath's conference which was at 4:30pm.
• Today is going to be busy too - Mysore this morning which I'm excited for and then I am hoping to start Sanskrit class with Jayashree today which is at 11, and then the Gita class I'm doing is at 1:30

You all back home are just finishing up your Sunday - or maybe you are getting ready to go to Karen's 4:15pm class :) xxoo