Mula Bandha... Down the Drain. *graphic*

It's Friday morning. I am home and showered after led primary. I can't believe I survived to blog about it. What a shit show today. Literally...

Last night I found the famous samosa man. He moved around the corner from where he was last year. Things are always changing here. There are no 'givens' and no consistency. Anyhow, I love his samosas and I didn't know where his new post was until yesterday evening when I was walking Raaji. So, of course, I had two. They are piping hot and extremely spicy. It's like a fire in your hands and mouth but you just can't slow down or wait because it's so fresh and good. He makes them on the spots and fries them up in front of you. Raaji enjoyed bits of the crust while I inhaled the rest! 

Well I don't know if there was some funky bad water that crept into the making of them, or if it was the spices, or the copious amounts of unhealthy oil, but when I woke up at 445am and headed into the bathroom for my morning teeth brush, hot shower and doodoo before practice... Well, doodoo was more like squirtsquirt. If you didn't know me well before, well now you do. It wasn't an emergency or anything, but my body was definitely not impressed with what had gone in it, and it wanted to get it out rather quickly so it seemed. There were a few episodes. I made sure it was over and that I would be able to practice. It seemed so. Seemed. I drank some water and ate a mini banana for some energy.

I am also still battling this chesty cough. I geared up and walked to the shala. I was about middle of the pack to arrive, I'd say. We waited for 10 minutes or so and as soon as we heard the closing chant from the 430am group we stood up and jammed our bodies as close together and as close to the door as imaginable. Shuffle shuffle shuffle. 

I barely got a spot. I sort of had to shimmy someone's mat a little to the side to fit my mat into 2/3 of a spot. The peeps on either side were probably pissed off because they almost got a nice roomy spot. Sorry. I'm small?!

I felt good, more or less, and was ready to have a medium intensity practice. Likely it would be better than yesterday, post cold, but probably next week I will be much more energized and back to normal. I was ready to give er and see how it goes. 

Ekam inhale... as we started to breathe and move together as group, I realized that my throat was worse that I thought. If I breathed with too much intensity or sound, I would surely break out in a mad coughing fit. I felt that tickle. You know the one? You try to suppress it but it's not going away. I clear my throat. Again. And again. And again a little louder and longer. Oh lord. The girl beside me was coughing too. She left her mat during surya B to go to the bathroom and have a major cough. That made me feel better. There was definite coughing and throat clearing coming from all over the room, and some nose blowing too. Damn, we are a mess here in Mysore. I managed not to have a coughing attack by keeping my breathing light. 

Then, I started to feel and hear gurgles and rumbles and funny little noises and sensations coming from my gut. It's ok, slightly uncomfortable but I can get through it. Then I start to wonder. Ardha baddha padmottanasana - standing half lotus. My heel pressed deeply into my abdomen as I folded forward and this created some sort of sacred internal poo release mechanism. Uh oh. I finished both sides of the posture and calmly walked off my mat and out of the room. Luckily I was near the back and near the changeroom so it wasn't too disruptive. 

Again like earlier in the morning, it wasn't an immediate emergency but I knew what was lurking. I went to my mat bag which was on the shelf, zipped open the little pouch and grabbed a few tissues that thank god were stashed there in case of runny nose. Little did I know what I would really need them for. I walked to the bathroom. 

There were four or five people practicing in the changeroom. I hoped they couldn't hear the goodtimes going on in my stall. Oh yes, it was full on diarrhea. It started calmly but then became amazingly explosive. Mula bandha surrendered and everything that was not a part of me, came out of me. Montezuma's revenge! At that moment, I wondered why I bothered taking Dukoral. That gross stuff that promises to eliminate traveler's diarrhea. However, I didn't feel sick or in any pain, so maybe it made the symptoms less awful? Who knows. About 4 or 5 flushes later I was at least 5 pounds lighter. I made sure the volcano was done erupting. It was. 

I considered staying in the changeroom and just sitting and waiting until the end of the practice. But I actually felt ok. I took the walk of shame back to my mat and joined into to ardha baddha padma paschimattanasana (ironically the same pose as when I left, just sitting down). I took the first few jump backs really carefully. Then started to feel ok. I saw Sharath watching me, probably wondering WTF took so long. Or maybe he understood. I seemed to pick up steam and get back into the practice as I went a long. A little weak, yes for sure, but not bad considering what just happened!

I saw a guy leave his mat and disappear into the changeroom for a few minutes, likely for the same reason. The worst part is, I could hear the bathroom door and the flush. Damn, that means everyone heard my flush after flush after flush. *blush*

Shit happens. This must be where that saying originated. 

Backbending. Sharath is nearby and I hear him saying 'walk inside' (move your hands closer to your feet). Who the hell knows who he is talking to. I'm sure it's not me. He knows what kind of morning I'm having. He says it a few more times. Second back bend. He steps on my foot and says "walk inside". Oh man! I walk a little. It's all I got. He says it again. Sorry homey, I'm all outta walking. He gets off my foot. 

Headstands. 

He is counting slowly. His young son (I forget his age, 8??) comes into the room and we can hear him talking to his dad. Most likely just trying to get attention and giggles from the yoga students. He seems to like that. Sharath says "fiiiiiivvvvve..." then his son (I forget his name too!) says "6-7-8" really quickly. We all laugh. A few people fall out of their headstand. There is a big pause. After I have taken a few more breaths, Sharath says "siiiiiiixxxxx...". People moan. Hahaha! I felt like my head and arms were set up ok so I didn't mind. I was stable. Sometimes if I am set up and things feel a little off, then too long of a headstand feels like an excruciating eternity, and you don't want to come down to adjust a little because you will get yelled at! But, today I was just fine. I stayed. I smiled at the girl behind me who tumbles out of her headstand. She smiled back. It was just that kind of day. 

By ut plutih I was totally out of steam. Pooped. Shaky. Dehydrated. Delirious. I came down a few times. Whatevs. He gave us a final chant and rest. Literally 2 breaths rest. Then "Go home". We laughed. And went home. 

Somnathpur Temple

Quick blog... As I need to go to sleep to wake up at 445am for led primary.

This morning I woke up less sick than the past two days. All I have left really is a dry hacking cough. I practiced. I felt useless. But I practiced. I rushed too. I knew my energy reserves were very limited so I needed to geterdone before I reached 'empty'! It's funny how I can't help but feel like a bad person when I have a bad practice. I know that's super silly, so I don't let it get to me. It always passes. Hopefully one day I stop equating the quality of my practice with my self worth! Nonsense. I know better.

This afternoon I hired a car to take me to Somnathpur temple. I went last year and I LOVE this place. I forget all of the details but it was built somewhere around 1300AC? BC? LOL I don't know. It's ancient. And sacred. And beautiful. I filmed a short youtube yoga video which I will post upon my return home. I love the drive to and from the temple as well. It's around an hour and we pass through little villages, rice fields, farms, sugar cane plantations, you name it. Natural and stunning. Colourful and lively. Smelly and fascinating. Me and my driver at one point began having a competition about who could make the best animal noises. I had a good monkey noise. He was great at donkey sounds. We both failed at elephant noises.

Here are a few photos I also snapped before leaving. It's sort of not kosher to wear yoga clothing at a temple (although it's not a 'working' temple, it's just a historical site now) but my mini photoshoot sure drew a lot of onlookers!!!

The outside walk way around Somnathpur Temple

The one on the right is the conspirator "Take our photo!"

Chatturanga Dandasana

Somnathpura Temple Proper 

Bakasana 

Guilt, Self-Pity and Drugs

I did not practice today. I felt really sick with a cold yesterday, but luckily it was a moon day so I got to rest. I assumed I was a super healer and would feel better today. I barely slept because I had a scratchy coughy throat and couldn't fall asleep. I kept reaching for the lifesavers, which I had brought to hand out to little kids in villages. Well, sorry kids, my throat was sore. I guess I eventually fell asleep though.

I woke up to my alarm at 6am and as I rolled over to turn it off all I felt was pain. Achy back, stiff neck, sore throat, broken sinuses... OY. I felt my neck and it was full of lumpy painful glands. Shit! I am not better!! No surprise really. Am I a little better? I tried to decipher. Doubtful. It seems like the runny nose had stopped, but then as soon as I sat up it started again. Another 100 tissue day ahead. Sigh. I wanted to practice. I decided to get up, take a hot shower to try to clear out my stuffy head, make some peppermint green tea and just see how it went.

I did all of that and felt a little better after moving around. I dressed in my yoga clothes and took the dog for a walk. After coming up the stairs back to the apartment I felt EXHAUSTED and  my ear holes hurt. Damn. I was still undecided and sent out a tweet asking for advice (haha). I wanted to practice because I am only here for a month and didn't want to waste one day. But I didn't want to practice because what if I physically couldn't? Or it felt really miserable? Or if I made other people at the shala sick? Or if I used all of my getting-better energy on an asana practice? Ok Ok, I listened to reason, over my heart, and stayed home. So frustrating! But for sure it was the right thing to do. I feel like Guruji though, back in the day, would have told me to practice. Well he's not here now, and no one from twitter wrote to me in time to convince me to go.

I went to chanting class at 11am and sat in the back corner. Lakshmish looked at me and laughed. He knew how I felt. My usual place is right up at the front. My voice sounded funny and nasal, so I didn't sing along to all of the chanting, just listened. I went up to the yoga sutras chanting class and also skulked away to the back corner. I chanted. I thought maybe the vibrations would be healing or at least create positive energy.

On my way home I went by the pharmacy and asked for something to decongest me in the day, and something to take away my dry scratchy cough at night so I could sleep. I was handed the mystery drugs, and practically had to just trust the pharmacist. It was 80 rupees. (About $1.50CAD). I think I remember asking for the same thing last year, and taking one of the day time pills and being high as a kite. I didn't care. I had a lunch date at Sandhya's (a local lady who opens her home to yoga students and creates home cooked healthy authentic Mysore meals) and I wanted to breathe, so I could taste her lovely home cooked food.

I downed a pill and lo and behold, 30 minutes later I was feeling great, buzzed, and clear nosed. Lunch was very nice! I came home afterwards and fell asleep. I woke up an hour or so later to a missing Raaji. The damn dog squeezed through the window bars and was playing with the neighbours! Haha... It was also too late to go to Sanskrit class at that point. Ugh. I hung out on the roof for an hour with some peeps with the dog while the sun started to descend and now I'm back in my room feeling guilty for missing a practice (still! why?!) and feeling sorry for myself and now my sniffles return. I guess I was so much of a wet rag today that the dog needed to escape to have some fun. Pretty sad!!

Meeting at the coconut stand before heading to Sandhya's for lunch (can you tell I'm on medication?!)

Some of the food from Sandhya's (there were other dishes, plus lots of chapatis!)

TOMORROW is a new day. I will take those new night time sleepy no cough cough pills and hope that I wake up a slightly recovered person. Enough to at least make it through a Mysore practice. I am 95% sure I will go no matter what anyways, unless somehow I wake up WORSE than today. Send me healing vibes please!!

*achoo*

Moon Day

It's Tuesday around 1030am and so far I have only left my place to walk the dog. It's a full moon so there is no mysore practice today.

The full moon last night on my street as I was walking home

Some beautiful artwork outside of someone's house, seen on my morning dog walk

Little Raaji and his BIG shadow

Thank god it's a MOON DAY! I was actually disappointed a few days ago that I was going to miss a Mysore practice today, but the way I feel right now, I don't even know if I would have made it through a practice. Apparently neti pots and vitamin C don't cure all ills like I thought! Yesterday I had a little bit of a stuffy nose but this morning I woke up feeling like death. LOL. Fully stuffed up, and must have slept with my mouth open to breathe because when I woke up my throat was dry and sore. I woke up at 3am mind you, because someone called my phone! ARGH! I had trouble falling back asleep but managed to stay in bed until about 7am. I took a hot shower and made some peppermint green tea to help clear me up. I feel ok, not really sick or feverish, but I can't go more than a few minutes without a tissue. Blech. I guess when someone in the shala is sick, everyone gets sick! Sharath was and then a bunch of students, and now me. Ah well, I'm making use of my rest day and hoping to feel mostly better by tomorrow. I'm taking a few medicinal grade essential oils given to me by my essential oil "dealer" friend Theresa. One for breathing better and one called "on guard" to boost up my immunity. I'll let you know how it goes! They smell and taste great so I don't mind!

Yesterday was the first Mysore practice where I was allowed to do second series. So after I completed the primary series I did the first three postures that Sharath gave me last year. (Oh yeah, I had to start on the STAGE... oy. I got to go to the carpet around janu shirshasana, thank goodness. I can't help but feel on show up there) Then when I finished I went to my regular three backbends, and stood up to start my drop backs. Then Sharath yelled over to me from the other side of the room "Which ones you did?" I said up to shalabhasana. He said "Do bhekasana, danurasana and parsva danurasana, 3 more." I said "Right now?!" probably sounding like an idiot, but sometimes he tells you to do new poses starting next practice. He said "Yes." Ok so I took a vinyasa to get back down to the ground and did those three additional poses. I was kind of surprised. I guess it means he thinks I am ready for them, which is good, or maybe he was just feeling some full moon madness and giving out poses like candy?! LOL This sort of ruins my plan, of getting a new pose or two a week, and going home right before he gives me kapotasana. I really dislike that pose because of how painful my back feels afterwards. For a long time. I know I know, more bandhas, more leg strength, more chest and shoulders and less low back. But, that's easier to say than to do. I think my main problem is butt clenching. I start to go back and mentally coach myself, "strong legs! bandhas! soft glutes! don't squeeze! relax! good! breathe!" and then always as I get close to catching *BUTT SQUEEZE*! I can't not do it. Yet. Anyways, maybe I'll get to work on that here. Or maybe not. Maybe those three poses were my quota for the next 3 weeks. You never know what you're gonna get.

My neighbour Olivier and I were talking about that and he said Sharath won't give you kapotasana if you can't come up from laghu vajrasana so I immediately got the evil idea of just flopping around on the floor pretending I can't come up from that pose. LOL Don't worry, I won't actually do that!

Then of course I had to repeat my three backbends again. The girl assistant helped me with my assisted dropbacks again. Walking in to touch my heels doesn't feel like a big deal any more. I'm not quite sure what the next step is though. I think I'll ask her next time. A friend here, Susan, and I were talking about how good the assistants are right now. We really lucked in. We like them a lot.

I finished my closing postures at the back of the room and had a few minutes to lie down before chanting class began. I felt really teary eyed while I rested. At first I thought I was being happy and egotistical about getting three new poses, which would be stupid, but that wasn't it. Was my back sore? No not really. I think I just got cracked myself open a little bit by doing urdhva danurasana twice (6 times total) plus the three additional 2nd series backbends and all of the drop backs. Ah, the things that come up when the body opens up. I guess it was just tension or stuffed away emotions that needed releasing. A few little tears wiggled out. No biggie. It felt good actually. But it does make me feel self conscious a little bit, not that anyone else noticed. After a few minutes I got up and crawled to the changeroom, physically and emotionally spent, cleaned myself up, drank some water, ate a snack and came out ready for chanting class.

Later I also had Sanskrit class. While I was there Raaji decided to go into my luggage for the first time and eat some of my clothes. Not the t-shirts or pjs, but a silk scarf, a new dress and the sleeve of my only sweatshirt. DANGIT! I took the scarf and the dress to the tailor to see what they could do. Sigh. Doglife. I guess I will have to zip the suitcase from now on. Every day he learns something new!! We walked to the vet at 630pm to get his first round of shots, and it was a zoo there! A big queue of dogs and owners! It was only 5 or 10 minutes until I could see the Dr, who gave Raaji two shots, an immunization passport, and he asked a few questions about his health and habits. I asked if it was too soon to (and then I made a scissor snipping motion with my hand and a little double whistle 'woo woo'). He said "trim his nails?" and I laughed and said "No, neuter him" We both laughed. He said yes we could do it. I am undecided yet. He needs to have it done and I assume it is cheaper here than at home. Yes that's right, I am probably bringing Raaji home to Canada. I am looking into the details to see if it's feasible (shots, crate, flights, etc). Then I will make my final decision. He is a really really good dog and I don't want to see him get poor care or have to keep changing owners. If it is too difficult to bring him, then I will do my best to find him a happy permanent home here. The poor little muffin has two big lumps today where get got his shots yesterday. It doesn't seem to be bothering him though.

That's it for now. Tomorrow it's back to mysore style practice and hopefully my head and sinuses are a little more cleared up than today. Staying on the DL today. Soup and rest for me.

Poo in the air

This morning I had my second 430am led primary. It was awful! Last week I guess I was still jet lagged so didn't mind getting up at all. Today was so difficult! I pressed snooze once and even considered not going. But that is silly, I'm here for the yoga so I am going to yoga! I had a bad sleep. Raaji decided to chew his grody stinky bone loudly in my ear, until I woke up and hid it in the drawer. Then he decided to chew his ball loudly. I put it in the drawer. Poor boy, no toys. Sleep dammit! Then I woke up with itchy feet from all of the mosquito bites I've accumulated. It was around 1130pm and I decided to pop an antihistamine which would relieve the itching and also make me drowsy and hopefully keep me asleep.  It did, but I think this was a mistake, because I'm sure while I was practicing this morning, I was still drowsy from the antihistamines. I was totally only half there in class today. Literally I was trying to keep the proper drishti but my eyes would droop and fall lower than my drishti. Haha, that has definitely never happened to me before. In paschimattanasana, as I snuggled my face into my shins, I actually had the thought, "I wonder if anyone has ever fallen asleep before in led class?" I thought I might be the first. I made it through, though. Sharath gave us no rest at the end again, just "Go home" at 5:50am so I did. I lied down on top of my bed in my sweaty yoga clothes and bulky warm over clothes and fell asleep for an hour. LOL! Super savasana! I woke up to a sunny room around 715am. Poor Raaji was nearly dying for a pee by the time I finally got up. He was last outside at 5pm. He held it in though until I was ready, like a good boy. I swear he peed for 2 minutes when we got outside. Oh yeah, by the way dog owners, he doesn't lift his leg to pee, he just takes a funny stance like a forward lunge and goes. Is this normal? Bad? OK?? What's up with this? People laugh when they see him going.

After I showered for the second time (needed a quick hot shower at 330am to wake up) and got dressed I took the Raj for a looooong walk. We ended up at Santosha cafe, where I had a chai with Emily and a few other people. The chat was about the differences between Sharath and Guruji, and how your experience of your relationship with Sharath is not pre-determined, but rather it is what you make it and will be the way you decide to think of it as. People seemed to have very personal and intimate relationships with Guruji, and not as much so with Sharath, but maybe you CAN have that relationship with him, if you want to. For sure there are more students now, but many are just passing through. If you want Sharath to become your Guru, you need to start building a relationship.

Then we went by Silver Nest to see Meena and I picked up a few nice silver pendants and earrings, some OMs and whatnot. She told us a story of a stray dog who used to visit her, named whiny, but one day it dove out of her window and impaled itself on her fence, and it's insides came outside. And she didn't know what to do. And was very sad. Obvi. Hmm... The people here love to tell stories! I was not sure how to respond to that one!? I also noticed a photo of me and her on her famous table of photos!

Then we walked up the road and I checked out Emily's new place. It's a nice big space, BUT, there are GIANT cockroaches who like to visit her house. There was a dustpan of like 10 of them half dead near the doorway. She is looking for a new place. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!

Then we headed off to Silent Shores for the afternoon, to spend some time at the pool. She is feeling sick and has a cough and a stuffy nose, just like I did when I came here last time. There is SO MUCH dust in the air, and car exhaust, and POO, that nearly everyone gets some kind of respiratory thing. There is so much shit everywhere here, cow poo, dog poo, cat poo, pony poo, goat poo, even... human... poo... And then it gets so hot and dry outside, and cars run over it, and it all turns to dust... and then, we breathe it. Am I turning you on to coming to India yet?! LOL I just make sure to use my neti pot every day to clean out my nose and sinuses and I blow my nose all the time, to get to poo particles out. No one likes poo in their nose, right?

A big poo maker walking down the street

Anyways... The pool was lovely, 350 rupees to use it for the day, which is around $6, actually kind of expensive for India, but well worth it obviously! This includes towel service, lawn chairs, lockers, changerooms and showers, a bathroom etc. It was a huge place with a few yogis lounging and a few other people too. It was pretty far out of town and a huge property set back from the road, which is what made it "silent" I guess, but the long rickshaw ride there was quite interesting actually. Getting away from the constant chaotic noise of the city was kind of amazing! We ordered some food and smoothies by the pool. I decided to go for a samosa, and maybe pizza, but that seemed like a weird combo, so I just ordered 2 samosas. The waiter confirmed, 2 orders of samosa? I said yes. Later he arrives with two PLATES of samosas, 5 on each plate. Haha... not little appetizer samosas, big first size samosas! Oopsie. Luckily Emily was up for eating one plate and I ate the other. They were really good, stuffed with potatoes and peas and carrots and just the right amount of spice. We finished them all off after about an hour.We will definitely be going back there! They also have a spa so I might tack on a massage next time too. It's a tough life. The afternoon made up for my crappy morning and even Emily started to feel better after some sun and rest and food.

Hibiscus by the pool

Silent Shores Hotel/Resort/Pool, in Mysore, India

  

Old soul

I've just finished my second Friday led primary series. I'll admit, I felt a little lazy today. I "only" slept for 8 hours last night, haha, and Raaji decided to bark ferociously in the middle of the night, scaring the shiznit out of me. He also decided he didn't want to sleep in his own bed, like he has done every night up to now, but rather, he wanted to share my TWIN bed. It was very cozy! He pressed up against me all night, which was cute, but it pinned me down, so I couldn't do my flip - flop - right side - left side - pillow change maneuvers that I usually do. He's also a farter. I guess this is sort of like having a husband?! P.U.

I woke up a few times before my alarm and checked my phone for the time, as I do, paranoid I will miss class (happened to a friend last week). When my alarm went off at 445am, I hit SNOOZE. Only once. But I still didn't really want to get up. I guess I have been waking up this early all week, but didn't really HAVE to get out of bed the other days. I slowly got up and got ready. Today I had to get out of the house in 45 minutes (luxurious at home, feels rushed here!). I took my hot shower, brushed my teeth, ate one of those small weird bananas (my tummy was growling, sue me) and had some water. I got dressed and put my hair into two braids. I checked my emails. I had to leave in 5 minutes (530am real time, 545am shala time, 5 minutes walk, I would get to the shala 10 minutes before class, which is actually pushing it), just enough time to take Raaji out for a peepee.

I got my mat bag ready with a yoga towel and my kpjayi pass and went to grab my keys. Hmmm... Not on the night table. I maybe didn't put them there because Raaji likes the Ganesha ornament on my keychain and already ate one of his elephant ears off. Where did I put it? In the drawer? No. In the mat bag in preparation? No. In the door? No. In the cupboard? No. In the FRIDGE!? (I actually looked there). No. In my pants pockets from last night? No. In my hoodie? WHAT THE HELL! Where are they! I re-looked in all of those places more carefully. I felt the bed covers to see if it was under the covers. I looked under the bed. Oh dear oh dear. I now HAVE to go to class or I'll be late. I consider what will happen if I can't find them. I could go to the 730 class, but likely get in trouble from Sharath. I could email my landlord, but likely won't get a response for a long time. I could leave the door open, but no I can't because it's not just my stuff I'm worried about, the dog will get out. I could lock him in the bathroom? That's awful. I emptied both of my suitcases and opened pockets and rooted through everything. Sigh.

I thought, if I was Raaji, where would I put them?! (LOL) Last ditch I lifted up my pillows. Boom. Keys buried under the pillows. I definitely did not put them there. The darn dog realized that every time I grab the keys, it means I am leaving him. So he hid them. So damn smart! Maybe more devious than my weasels at home!!! Argh. I grabbed them. Gave him a pat on the head and told him to hold his pee cuz I had to RUN! I locked the door and heard a few whimpers but not too much.

Off I went to class, in a frizzle. Whatever that is. I got to the shala and there were so many people there already, full up the stairs and driveway, and spilling out of the gates. I went up to the gate to assess how far back I was. I think I was last to arrive. I decided to sneak across everyone to the other side, not really budding in, just getting a place to put my shoes and sit for a minute. I'm sure a few people were not impressed with my strategy. We heard the final chant from the 430am class, and then he told them to lie down (which means YAY we get to rest today!). 60 seconds later we heard, thank you go home. Ok, a short rest, but a rest nonetheless.

We all stood up and wiggled up the stairs like rabid sheep. Baabaa... Baabaa... I was way ahead of where I should be, but, that's the way it goes peeps! I didn't get an elbow in the ribs or anything, so I guess no one really minded. I found a spot in the front row, second from the wall on the right. Not bad. The window right in front of my spot was open and blowing lots of cool air in. I also spotted the little water bottle nearby which made me happy. I didn't have to produce enough sweat for garbha pindasana, I could just grab the bottle! I try not to notice, but the guy beside me was really bouncy and floaty. Every time we jumped back, he nearly didn't land. I think he had helium for breakfast. My practice was a little sluggish and maybe sort of lazy, but I practiced. I barely broke a sweat, maybe just along my hairline. We finished and had a micro-rest.

I got home to pup, and he didn't yowl and bark like he sometimes does when I get home. I leashed him and we went out for our walk. He found a patch of grass and did his bizniss. Good boy. He's only 3 months old how is he trained so well? Nothing was chewed or eaten or broken either. I did find a floor mat and his shampoo bottle in his bed though. He was collecting. I think he must be an old soul.

Rewind...yesterday... A new person assisted me in practice. A girl. She helped my in supta kurmasana and only got me in a little bit, and then she assisted me in drop backs. Sharath was right beside us dropping someone else back and I saw him watching me, I assume to make sure I walked in just as far with her as I did with him. I did. I was pretty happy not to have to do that today! My back needs a rest. After practice, the girl came up to me in the change room and asked me if I usually cross my ankles all the way behind my head. I said yes. She said ok, next time she'll remember me and get me in all the way. She wasn't sure. I thought that was pretty awesome that she followed up and asked me about it. I told her it's hard work for her to do it, she needs to lift up my right heel which gets caught on my left foot, but once it's over I can squeeze my legs and lock my ankles then I'm good to go. That is the first time here anyone has actually asked me about a pose or an assist. Very nice.

Sharath announced that on Sunday there is an event, "Run for Unity" in front of the palace starting at 7am. Therefore there will only be 2 led primary classes (430am and 6am) then he's going to the run and he wants us all to participate (I nearly HA'd out loud) and then led intermediate class will be at 330pm. There will be no conference this week. I will certainly NOT be running. Gross. Do people run here?! I might go and watch though. So, tomorrow is a rest day and I guess I will sadly have no conference notes to report until next week. Are people actually going to run a marathon then do a led intermediate at the hottest time of the day!? Good god! Jai Hanuman!

I'm off to chanting class now. 

'...vakratunda mahakaya koti surya samapraba avignam kuru me deva... '

Sleeping like a happy baby

In reference to the conference that Sharath gave on Sunday, regarding how much a yogi should sleep. He said 6.5-7 hours for people in 20s, 30s, 40s... More sleep for younger and less sleep for older.

I don't know about this theory.

Here, I have been sleeping 9-10 hours a night and I feel GREAT! He said if you sleep too much you will feel very dull.

At home I sleep between 6-8 hours depending on my work schedule, teaching and practicing yoga (ok, and sometimes depending on if it's the finale of the Bachelor or Hell's Kitchen LOL!). I can happily survive on 8 hours. But if I get 6 or 7, I feel like total crap. I have trouble getting out of bed, I feel tired all day long, I need to take a nap, by bedtime I am nearly dying.

Here, I am waking up before my alarm, bouncing around all day, walking everywhere, practicing yoga, and I don't feel tired at all or any need to nap. And I'm pretty sure I'm not 'dull'. I know there are other factors too, like lots of sunshine and warmth. For sure this affects me (and most people) because of the vitamin D which enhances our mood and the warmth just makes me feel good. But still, I am sleeping around 10 hours and I feel fantastic. I think the extra sleep really energizes me.

So, am I the exception to the rule? Is there something wrong with me? Maybe I just need more than other people? Is Sharath wrong to generalize? I don't know. But I know that if I only slept 6.5-7 hours here in Mysore on my trip, it would not be as good an experience for me.

One cute note about me not being dull... Lakshmish, who is the chanting/sanskrit/yoga sutras/philosophy teacher said to me yesterday, in front of the class (15-20 students), "Shareen, can I ask you a personal question?" I was thinking, Oh my god, what is he going to ask!??! I said ok and he said I must answer truthfully... Then he said "I have been observing you last year and this year, before asana practice, during your yoga practice, and after. Most people look tired, or want to go home and eat or have water or shower or nap, but you, you always just look happy. You always have a natural happy smile. What is your secret?!" Haha, I was relieved and also surprised, because I was unaware that I was often smiling or looking happy. That's awesome! Uh... the first thing (actually) that came to my mind was potato chips. I just had a bag on my way to class and that made me pretty damn happy! (Bad lady!) But what I said, genuinely, was that I was just really happy to be here, and to be able to learn and practice at KPJAYI. I feel like, isn't everyone here feeling that way!? Maybe mine just shines through my face a little more. I am not sure why he noticed this about me and not other people!

In retrospect now, though, I'm thinking maybe it's because I sleep a lot more than everyone else?! Who knows!!

My alarm settings during my stay here in Mysore

Well, that's it for now. Happy sleeping! Comments/knowledge about this sleeping theory are welcomed and encouraged...

*PS - my puppy sleeps silently beside me all night too. 10 hours straight without stirring. I also find this strange. Is that normal?!