The force is not particularly strong in this one (imaginary arrow pointing at yours truly) but I felt it was time for me go to the Dagobah of Ashtanga and face the Yoda of of my yoga.
For non-geeks and more clairity:
I will travel to Mysore in South India to study under Sharath in his shala for the whole of November.
Difficult to explain why I'm going. But the plain tickets are booked, I got accepted to the shala, managed to secure my visa and found a nice place thanks to yoga friends. Turning back would be like leaving the movie after you have gone through a lot of Slum Dog and are about to get to the Millionaire.
For non-geeks and more clairity:
I will travel to Mysore in South India to study under Sharath in his shala for the whole of November.
Difficult to explain why I'm going. But the plain tickets are booked, I got accepted to the shala, managed to secure my visa and found a nice place thanks to yoga friends. Turning back would be like leaving the movie after you have gone through a lot of Slum Dog and are about to get to the Millionaire.
During teacher's training my main teacher Dylan Bernstein always tried to convey the concept of "stillness in action" in all the lessons he taught. I stumbled over quotes from Sharath which explains this a bit more:
"You should not be practising to have a “good” practice, but instead to keep steadiness within yourself. Whatever happens outside should not affect our internal practice. We should do practice happily regardless of whether it is “good” or not. Sometimes some postures will not be possible, but when you accept the good and bad and everything becomes equal for you, that is how practice should be. [...]
This practice is not just for two hours, this practice must be for the whole day, whole life. Then only there will be meaning for your practice."
The caveat is that this is easier said than done. I can practice asanas, drink all the bitter gourd tea I can, constantly listen to Krishna Das songs yet it might only take one person on the MTR talking on the phone as if emulating a North Korean general or the release of another Transformers movie to turn me into my usual irate and unsteady self. It seems that this, "the steadiness within yourself", will always be the most challenging bit of your practice. At least it's for me. So let's hope that a bit of direct exposure to yoga yoda can help with that.
There are still a few errands to run before my trip. But I already practised the Indian lateral head shake and managed to watch all movies which should help me to prep for India as personal experience is lacking very much:
"You should not be practising to have a “good” practice, but instead to keep steadiness within yourself. Whatever happens outside should not affect our internal practice. We should do practice happily regardless of whether it is “good” or not. Sometimes some postures will not be possible, but when you accept the good and bad and everything becomes equal for you, that is how practice should be. [...]
This practice is not just for two hours, this practice must be for the whole day, whole life. Then only there will be meaning for your practice."
The caveat is that this is easier said than done. I can practice asanas, drink all the bitter gourd tea I can, constantly listen to Krishna Das songs yet it might only take one person on the MTR talking on the phone as if emulating a North Korean general or the release of another Transformers movie to turn me into my usual irate and unsteady self. It seems that this, "the steadiness within yourself", will always be the most challenging bit of your practice. At least it's for me. So let's hope that a bit of direct exposure to yoga yoda can help with that.
There are still a few errands to run before my trip. But I already practised the Indian lateral head shake and managed to watch all movies which should help me to prep for India as personal experience is lacking very much:
 | Outsourced (2006) Plot: Yankee goes to India to make call centre more efficient and kind of goes Dancing-With-The-Wolves. Fav Quote: Purohit: Break my legs? Todd: Expression. It means good luck. Purohit: Thank you, Todd. I hope that both your legs get broken. Todd: I'll never forget you said that. |
 | The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) Plot: Older British People return to the colonies in the hope to cheaply spend their retirement as if on a retreat. They face traffic, questionable fusion food and themselves. Fav Quote: Sonny: Everything will be all right in the end... if it's not all right then it's not yet the end. |
 | The Lunchbox (2013) Plot: Stay-at-hom-mum cooks well. Husband is a bit of a douche. Lunchbox gets accidentally delivered to an starchy accountant who spent some time with a tiger on a boat, so we know he's actually a good guy. Fav Quote: "Sometimes even the wrong train can take you to the right destination." |
Next station - Amazon.com. Downloaded a bunch of books I want to read over November. I always felt that it is important to compile a specific collection of books for your journey. Does not mean that you will read them all but you intend to. Show me the books you intend to read and I'll show you your expectations. While looking at all the books it seems I expect to either have a lot of time to read or I'll develop the gift of speed-reading and speed-comprehending during the next few days.
 | Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers By Robert Sapolsky Sometimes you are very lucky Youtube finally stops suggesting cat videos but instead the lecture of an entertaining and educating professor who can teach a lot about surprising evolutionary aspect of human nature. We are all dancing monkeys! |
 | Oh Myyy! By George Takei I always need something humorous in my travel book collection. Although I consider myself I a bit of trekkie I'm more of Enterprise the next generation kind of girl. So Picard is my captain oh captain. But Sulu will always have a place in my heart. |
 | Ms. Hempel Chronicles By Sarah Shun-lien Bynum Read in GQ: "Bynum seems incapable of writing a sentence that doesn't have something fresh or funny or true going on in it. She gets you laughing and then she whacks you in the heart." Ok Bynum: Hit me. |
 | Intepreter of Maladies By Jhumpa Lahiri Nine tails about peoples lives connected to India. They are affected by India's past while having to navigate through currents of a modern word. For a month my life will be India affected as well or maybe even longer. Just hope it won't be affected by any maladies. But I packed enough Immodium for that. |
