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?! 

Birds crying, people dying

Yesterday morning I heard the most bizarre bird noises. I looked outside and saw big cranes or herons, flying above, and landing on nearby trees. They weren't really making bird noises though, they were shrieking and screaming in a shrill voice I've never heard from a bird before.

I learned later in the day that the King of Mysore had unexpectedly died that day, from a massive heart attack at the age of 60. He bore no sons, said to be from a curse put upon the family. Their are no proper heirs to the throne. The city is very sad today. A lot of things are closed and it's a little quieter around the streets. His sister has a son, so he will become King, even though this is not the proper/ideal procession.

Today in chanting class, Lakshmish was talking about intuition and omens. Last year there was no rain during the monsoon season and this is a very bad sign. Not only did farmers struggle and food prices rise, but there was political unrest in Karnataka state too. This year also no rain. And then the cage thingy on top of the elephant where a Ganesha statue is carried in a parade, fell off the elephant twice this year, which apparently has never before happened. And then the King died. He also talked about how animals seem to know something bad is going to happen. Dogs not only bark, but cry with some kind of intuitive rage when something bad is about to happen, and he heard this yesterday morning from the local street dogs. I told him about the birds I heard too. He said he remembers the same thing right before Guruji died...

The city shut down in the afternoon to watch the ceremony on TV.
The king was cremated with 250kg of sandalwood and buried in the afternoon.
There was a procession/parade near the palace in Mysore city.
The usually bustling streets were deserted all afternoon, a very eery thing to behold. 

It's a cat-eat-cat world

Today was my second Mysore style practice. I was sent to the very back right, on the tile, until after a few standing poses Sharath moved me smack dab into the middle of the room. Someone different adjusted my supta kurmasana today and did an ok job, but not as good as the guy yesterday. And he stayed there the whole time with my feet hooked onto his ankles which made it impossible to lift up properly and jump back afterwards. Ah well. After setu bandhasana, I hopped onto my feet and started pasasana, like I did yesterday.

Yesterday I did the three 2nd series poses Sharath gave me last year. He watched. Today, after the first side of the first pose, he said "Primary only!". I was confused. I said, "Last year you told me to do up to shalabhasana." He said "First week take easy, only primary." Oops. I didn't know this rule!! There are so many! I immediately sat down and did my backbends. After my first drop back and stand up, he said to me, "Walk in". I must have looked confused. He said, "Go down, walk in, come up." Oh, ok, I think I get it. I have never done that before. So I did two more and walked in and stood up. Weird. I guess it was harder because I didn't have the momentum, but maybe easier in a sense too? I'll keep working on it. The he walked to me for assisted drop backs. I said sorry about the 2nd series. He held my waist and I fell backwards. He's so damn close! I couldn't come all the way up because his chest was right in my face! I went down on the last one and as usual he said "Walk... walk... keep walking... walk more..." Boom, my hands touched my heels. How the hell? "Straighten your arms." They straighten a little. "Walk more!" I knew I was at my max max max so I made fake little walking motions with my fingers, but they stayed where they were. He laughed. Then I stood up and said thank you. He gave me a back squish, which was a little better and longer than last year.

Outside the shala, a new friend Susan said she heard him say "Primary only!" and looked over and saw it was directed at me. LOL. Great. I'm the shala doofus.

I went for lunch at Green Leaf with Michael and Emily and had Thali, which usually I don't like, but it was pretty good. I had the north Indian selection, which is like 7 little dishes of mystery food, a papadum and 2 rotis. Three of them I had no interest in, but the others were really good. And thali is always so cheap! 85 rupees for the whole meal. (Less than $2)

North Indian Thali at Green Leaf Cafe 85rs

After that Emily and I hopped in a rickshaw with a driver who did not leave us with much confidence about knowing where we were going... But we took the chance. He used the meter, which was a mistake in the end since he got lost and we drove around forever! I was sure we would never find the place. What place? PEOPLE FOR ANIMALS. It was my first trip to the shelter. I wanted to visit, check it out and ask personally what they need before I brought stuff to them.

Outside the gates of PFA

We were greeted at the gates by some friendly dogs and a nice lady. She didn't speak english, but she led us around the grounds on a tour. Out in the open were tons of dogs. A lot of mangy looking beasts, a lot with only three legs, a few puppies. Not one was aggressive. Only aggressive in wanting love and attention! The friendliest beast had only 3 legs and was not satisfied until you gave him plenty of head rubs. He hopped happily ahead of us as if he was giving the tour.

Finally after seeing an injured pelican, lots of tiny puppies in cages, some with their mommy, roaming dogs, happy ponies, some bunnies, monkeys, parrots, a guinea pig and more... We got to the the cat house. There were only a handful in there. And then I looked more closely in a burlap hammock type thing. A cat was eating. What was it eating? Meat? A rabbit? Oh lord, I think it's another cat. Gross! Ripping and pulling chunks of it off. The noise was the worst part. Me and Emily were both slightly traumatized. I really hope that cat was already dead before it started to become Meow Mix. Later in the rickshaw home Emily said, "I know what I'm donating... cat food!"

Back at the main compound, I could see through a door that there was a dog surgery going on, probably a neutering? Or maybe an amputation. there seemed to be a lot of those. 

I went into the office and spoke to someone who seemed to be in charge. I asked what they needed most and he showed me a list and said cat and dog food as well as fresh grass and some other items. He wrote down a few for me and told me a vet who would give a 20% discount if I said it was for PFA. Awesome. I told him I'd return next week with the supplies. He seemed happy and was very friendly with us, asking a few more questions like what we are doing in India, where we are from, etc. 

I will report back next week with all of the things I was able to purchase with the kind donations of my friends, family and yoga students, plus a list of everyone who contributed so generously. Maybe during the holidays, the animals won't have to eat their friends. Instead, they'll get some kibble :) Ho ho ho... 

*If you still want to donate to my PFA project, any amount even small is amazing, I will be buying the animal food in one week. Click below to go to paypal:

Donate to PFA

Thank you! Moo! Neigh! Woof! Meow! Tweet! Munch munch! 

First day of Mysore practice and Conference Notes

So I was here for 2 days before I practiced, then had Friday led class, the Saturday off, then Sunday led class. It still didn't really feel like I was here in Mysore. (Maybe because I have done led classes with Sharath a lot in California). But then, Sunday afternoon was conference, which was really amazing, and this morning was my first Mysore style (self) practice which made it all feel real. I'm here.

My start time Monday through Thursday is 930am, but I'm making myself wake up between 5-6am to make sure I stay adjusted the the early mornings, otherwise my 6am and 430am start times would be terrible on the other days. I diddled around this morning, peed the dog, showered, made tea, internetted (new word - how is this not a word yet!?) etc etc. I headed to the shala around 9am. It was already hot and sunny and the streets were bustling. I waited for a few 915 start times to go, which took around 10 minutes, then I think I was the 2nd or 3rd 930am start time to get through the door. A big Russian guy wearing all red tried to jump ahead but I blocked him. Back up Russia!! I was first! I think he was surprised teehee. Fair is fair. Canada is not a pushover. Wait a minute... Yoga. Not hockey. Back on track...

I got a spot in the front row, second from left, in front of Sharath's office. I checked on my first surya namaskar if my hands would hit the ceiling overhang, and nope, all clear! Great spot. It was much hotter and more humid than the led classes, which I really like. I started perspiring after only a few sun salutations. Me likey. My body felt ok except for a bit of a nag in my back, muscular I think, which is better than bonular (also a new word) so I took each upward facing dog very slowly and put my bandhas to work big time.

I realized that I was rushing a bit, which was the opposite of what I wanted to do. It was in the back of my mind though, that my practice is about 90 minutes long, I started at 930, and chanting was at 11am. how was that going to work??? I tried to slow down a bit but once you are in a rhythm... My heart was beating fast as I took vinyasa after vinyasa. Nobody helped me until I got to supta kurmasana. I think last year my blog was spotted with stories of terrible s.k. assists. So, I was hoping for the best but not expecting much. I actually watched this guy do one or two of these assists while I was waiting, and I was noting his technique so I knew how to match it, if he helped me. He did. He actually did a great job to my surprise. Albeit, my head and neck were super crooked, but he got my feet crossed well behind my head and was able to walk away. I felt secure and lifted up and jumped back no problem. Yay team. I think partly I am better at it than last year, but he definitely gets some credit too. I'll try to find out who he is. He was also there when it was time for me to drop back, and he did well with that too. Of course he wanted me to walk... walk... walk more... just a leetle more... lol.

By the time I got to closing, the room was 1/3 empty so I didn't have to go to the changerooms for closing, I just moved to the back of the room. I rested for about 2 minutes after I finished, looked at the clock and it was 10:40. Oops. My practice should take longer than 70 minutes! On a good note though, I could rush home and shower and be back for chanting. I did that and was a few minutes late, but no biggie. Next time I'll practice slower and just stay there for chanting, and not go home.

Conference notes: (I ran into LA James there and chatted a bit, which was nice too!)
Sunday December 7th, 2013.

Sharath recited a few lines from the Hatha Yoga Pradipika then explained that we should not waste the sweat that we create in our yoga practice. You should rub it back into your skin with opens the pores and lets the toxins out. (I laugh, thinking off all of the drippy men in my classes who towel themselves off every 2 poses). This makes you light and strong.

He then bashes hot yoga. He says when you walk into a pre-heated room you sweat right away and this is not good. the shastras say that your sweat must come from the inside, from effort.

He talks about the importance of effort, in building strength and stamina. Everyone should get tired when you do more than you are used to. Flexibility is not enough. The primary series of ashtanga is important for that reason. This is why beginners just do surya namaskar, and then add one pose at a time, letting their body adjust and get stronger. Vinyasa helps with this.

Sharath said when he started practicing with Guruji at 330am in Lakshmipuram, he would go home and need to take a nap in the afternoon, and then couldn't get up he was so tired. His body needed time to change. It's important to practice patience. Asana first, then comes knowledge and clarity.

He says this is not a gym or a workout or bending bodies. We are here to do a practice which brings us peace.

Your name and your external self is temporary. Who you are inside is what matters. You are both everything and capable of anything, and also nothing. Everyone is capable of realizing their true self. We all have that potential. When you are doing yoga asana, you should be thinking of this. Yoga is not just doing asana, drinking coconuts and going home.

Socializing is good, but too much is bad. He made a joke that yoga students are always updating their facebook status. Busted!

He says students always ask him how much to practice, how much to eat, how much to sleep...

There should be limits to all of these.

If you practice too much you are hurting your body, overexercising.

 If you eat too much food you will be dull and depressed. He recently went to a wedding and HAD to eat everything that was put in front of him so not to insult anyone and afterwards when people were talking to him he just wanted to sleep. He went outside and slept in the car.

If you sleep too long you will be very dull. We need 6.5-7 hours. Younger than 20 years needs 8-9 hours, and older people even less. He said a recent newspaper survey agreed with this.

He talked again about how important vinaysa is, and how it circulates heat throughout the body to all parts, and creates sweat, keeping prana circulating inside.

Breathing should be DEEP. "Free breathing" means it goes smoothly all the way inside. Not panting like a dog. His example is breathing through a straw, it goes smoothly. But if you pinch the straw the air is forced. When you pinch it - that is like ujjayi breathing, which is incorrect during asana, it's a special pranayama technique. 20 years ago some student asked Guruji if ujjayi breathing was correct, and he brushed him off and said "yeah yeah". Since then this common mistake/misunderstanding has been floating around.

When you breathe with sound you can hear the rhythm of your own breath, but it should not be like a mic! You should not squeeze your throat or force the air.

Q: Are the inhales and exhales even?
A: Yes.

Q: Is the sound from the throat?
A: No. No squeezing the throat, that is ujjayi, and then you are not relaxing. You must relax in the posture, your body and your breath. When you relax and do the posture again and again you get better at it.

Q: How do bandhas tie in with breathing?
A: Uddiyana and Mula bandha all the time. Jalandhara bandha only in specific pranayama techniques, usually.

We use different kinds of pranayama to gain higher consciousness. This directs prana to the anahata (heart region). There are different sounds in the heart. After proper pranayama only divine sound is in the heart. Dhyana and Dharana start in the heart. This only occurs when the fundamentals are there, like proper breathing in asana. He made an analogy of a university - how you have to go through the levels, one step at a time, you can't jump to a PhD right away. Bandhas must be perfected before practicing pranayama. That is what asana develops. You can't know how long it will take to develop bandhas, they do not 'mature in 2 years' etc, like a life insurance policy ;)

If mula bandha is correct, the mind is in control.

Q: The yamas and niyamas are hard to follow. What do you suggest doing, if you do something wrong? How do you right it?
A: Depends on culture. Sharath makes a crack at the church, how you go in and ask father to forgive you and say a few prayers. People chuckle. More seriously he says though, you right your wrongs, by your actions. Be a good person. Do some good work. Sin happens, everywhere in the world. The past is the past. Be a better person in the future. Be nice to people. Do some social work. It's not as simple as just dipping into the ganges and washing away your sins. Yoga is a good tool for this. It's not just for making a bendy body or trying to prove something. It's for becoming a better person.

Sharath says you can be doing yoga for 30 years, but you have to realize WHY you are doing it.

He analogizes again: You can sail the sea for years and years but until you dive INTO the ocean, you only know it from the surface. It's just water. Don't stay on the surface. Go deeper. "I want you to do that. Go deeper." He says to all of us.

He says you must have the THIRST to know yoga. Another analogy: A swami stuffed his students head in the bathwater until he was fighting to come up deseperately for a breath. He released him and said you must want knowledge THAT badly.

Why go to a teacher if you think you know everything? You must want to learn what you don't know. Admitting "I don't know" is learning. "I know" is the end. Sharath says he is still a student. He knows more than 15 years ago but he doesn't know everything. He sometimes thinks he should stop teaching and just be a student to advance his own practice.

Q: Can you please address doubts?
A: Many will come along when you are on the spiritual path. Once you are totally immersed in it, the answers to your doubts will come. A guru takes you from ajnana (ignorance) to jnana (wisdom) and makes you realize. Sharath tells us a prayer he says "I pray to that guru who opens my eyes and takes me from ajnana to jnana".

Q: Do you plug your ears in garbha pindasana?
A: Yes. (he shows his hands over his ears)

Q: What are your thoughts on music during asana?
A: Music is a distraction. During asana we are trying to focus. Music is for another time. It is possible to hurt your body, lose your breath, because your attention is elsewhere.

Q: Tips on how to get motivated for self practice when you are away from your teacher?
A: It must come from within. Put a picture of Guruji on the wall. When Sharath travels, he does his practice daily. His mat is with him. It is his life and his breath.

Plain soup and vet bills

Yesterday was our day off, so I went to the pool with Emily at the Regaalis hotel for a couple of hours, slathered in sunscreen, since I'm fresh out of snowtown. After that we walked down to the devaraja market with another girl for a look see. I've been many times, but it's a must for a Mysore newbie so I showed them the chaos that is the market. I bought a few cloth shopping bags, some malas (knotted ones, which weren't there last year, which are lovely) and a ton of fruits and veggies. Their eyes were wide and they were a little too nice to the touts. I guess I am just broken in and don't mind ignoring the questions "Where you from?" and "You seen incense making?" or giving a humorous answer or a sharp NO when it gets to be too much.

Oh yeah. Funny story about my mad bargaining skills. (I actually do think I am pretty decent at it, except for this one time!) I was looking at ankle bracelets, and here, it is the custom to wear two, one on each leg. So they were packaged as two in one packet. I asked "How much" for the one I liked. The guy said 90 rupees. I asked "For each?" He said yes. This is still a great deal, 180 rupees, which is around $3. I know though, that they always tell you way more, usually 2 x the real price. Already thinking it was a good deal I just tried to talk him down a little bit. "How about 150 rupees for both?". Then he said, "No, they are 90 for both." Hahaaa... I tried to pay MORE! Oopsie. He totally just should have gone with it. But he was honest. And must have had a good laugh at the white lady once I left the store.

This morning I had my second led primary series class. I woke up before my 315am alarm, at around 3am, which was nice, and I just took my time getting showered, dressed, teeth brushed, neti potted and fed the dog and took him out for a quick pee. I got Raaji a rawhide bone, a stuffed elephant, a ball and fed him his favourite wet food right before I left, so I didn't hear him cry when I shut the door, for the first time ever. I guess I distracted him enough. He may have whined later when he realized I was gone, I don't know. Yesterday I left him for a few hours, and he ate a piece of my manduka yoga mat, ripped my mat carrying strap into 3 pieces, ate the new leash I bought him, tore the curtains and ripped off the window screen. Oops. My bad. I am learning!

I got to the shala before the gates opened and snuggled into the bundled up crowd waiting for the creak of the gate to signal us in to the shala. I shuffled in with the rest of the pack and I found a decent spot for my mat, although there were some mild lumps under the carpet. No biggie. Sharath came out after a few minutes with a bundle of tissues in his hand and a scarf around his neck. He is still sick. I would not want to teach if I felt like that. The chant sounded a little scratchy but he mustered through. He didn't miss any poses this time. But, I apparently totally forgot which was my left and which was my right. TWICE I jumped through and started the wrong leg. I noticed because my knee hit my neighbour's knee and I was like... wait a minute, this shouldn't be happening in janu shirshasana! Doh! (quick switch, chuckle, head smack) Practice was fine all in all, nothing to write home (or blog) about. I had to shove my clammy sticky arms through my padmasana for garbha pindasana since Sharath ignored my plea for a squirt of water today and walked right by me. I got myself 95% into the pose. Good enough. Also my back muscles are gross and tight so my backbends don't feel great. I will explore those more slowly and carefully tomorrow in my Mysore practice.

After the last pose, when we usually jump to standing, do the closing chant, then lay down and rest for a few minutes, Sharath just said, when we were in downward facing dog, "sapta, go home". Uh... really!? Ok?! So we just stood up, rolled up our mats and staggered off. It felt so weird! I saw a few people lay down, and I so wanted to, just to catch my breath after 57 Shareen breaths / 10 Sharath breaths in Ut pluthih, but, I did as I was told. I went home and layed right on the bed and took my rest. A few minutes later I showered and got ready for my day.

Looking at Raaji, I noticed a white gunky thing on his tail. It looked like a booger. I cleaned it off with a tissue and looked closely at it. Indistinct. However, I immediately recalled many years ago when my cat had a tapeworm. I looked at his bed. Little white rice like / broken tiny noodle like things. Yup. Disgusting. He totally has a tape worm just like Beeker did. I collected the pieces and put them in a ziploc bag. I threw his blankets outside for cleaning. Then I looked online at the vet hours. 530am-130pm, 4pm-9pm. Whoa, unheard of in India. Usually things open whenever they want to, but surely not before 9 or 10am. I was to meet friends at 830am for brekky at Santosha cafe (my old stomping ground where I lived last year) so I walked him to the vet at 815am (very nearby). Closed. Of course it was!! The sign was not in english, it was in Kannada (the local language) BUT I could see that the hours were 11am-130pm and 4-530pm. That's more like it! Oh well, I took him back later after breakfast.

The vet saw him within 5 minutes, no appointment, checked his skin, inspected my bag of dried up worm segments and explained what I needed to do. 1 pill for the next 10 days for the skin, plus ointment and special shampoo baths every 2 days. 1/2 a pill for 2 days for the tapeworm. I went to the counter to get the medications and pay. 35 rupees. That is LESS than $1.00 canadian. More like $0.50 cents. Can you EVEN believe it?!??! At home that would have been way over $100. He said to come back in 3-5 days to check. Very nice man. Oh, and I only had either a 500 rupee bill or 15 rupees. She didn't have change so she said to pay the rest next time I come. THAT would never happen at home either!!! Some things about India are just great. Next time my cats or weasels need treatment I might fly to India to get it done, it will still be cheaper. My cat cost over $1600 a few months ago, to have 2 teeth out.

With all that out of the way I came home and made soup. Plain boring slightly but not really tasty soup. Garlic, ginger, salt, potatoes, carrots and peas. Not the most creative dish ever, but after all of the spicy crazy things I've been shoving down my pie hole lately, I think my digestive system will appreciate this meal. I made enough for 2 servings. It tasted.... just fine.

I have been trying lots of new restaurants with new friends lately, that I never went to last time I was here, like Anokhi Garden, Green Hotel, Hotel Bhavan (or something like that) - all good! It's funny how we stick to our own little comfortable perimeter and miss out on what's just outside the lines. I'm expanding my perimeter this year!

I hoped to include the notes from Sharath's conference in this blog, but it is at 4pm later today. I could swear last time I was here they were in the morning at 10 or 11. So, that will have to wait for the next blog. 

That bites

I arrived here on Wednesday and now it's Friday afternoon. A lot has happened already. I moved out of the hotel and into my apartment, which is small and simple but just fine. It has a private bathroom with a hot shower - I always wonder why we don't have those amazing hot water switches at home in Canada. It just makes more sense on every level. Mine works great here. Flip the switch and within a few minutes, piping hot water. I share a basic kitchen with one other girl who has an apartment right beside mine. It's in the back, in an open air area, where we hang our laundry as well.

Of course, getting in here was an ordeal. All of the arrangements were word or mouth, third party sort of thing. I showed up at the place yesterday, and asked for Mahesh (the owner). I was told, he's not here, he doesn't live here. I said where can I leave a note. The guy laughed and said it didn't work like that. He was nice enough to call him for me but there was no answer. I took down the phone number and tried a few times (major $$$ on my Toronto phone) but worth it I guess.  I left all of my luggage outside of the door, hoping for the best, as I went off shopping with Emily. It's a third floor rooftop apartment, not visible from the street so I took my chances. Finally in late afternoon he answered. I said I was here for the apartment and need a key, can he come now? He sighed and said he'd send his daughter. She came eventually, was very nice, gave me the keys and explained a few things, and said she liked my 'glass' (sunglasses). A maid happened to show up right then also and offered a full cleaning for 100 rupees ($2!) so I said ok. She cleaned out all of the debris and dog hair from the past tenants who fell in love with a street dog and ended up taking it home with them to Miami.

I went out to EasyDay after that, which is the Indian Walmart (actually owned by Walmart) and bought new pillows and blankets and few things to get me by for the month. Now I'm all set.

Emily and I registered at the shala and Sharath was clearly sick with a cold and not in a great mood. There were tons of registrants that day so I'm sure he was not too pleased! We were there early so only waited an hour in total. He hardly said anything to me. "First time here?" - No, second. He looked through my papers and said "28,600 rupees" I handed over the fees. He threw them into the money machine for counting. Then he looked at my passport photo which I had to bring and said "I recognize you in this photo". I guess it was because now I have bangs, and in the photo I don't, and I do look quite different with the new hairdo. He gave me my student pass with my start times: 930am for Mysore practice, 6am for Friday led primary and 430am for Sunday led primary. OK, big variance but works for me! (Not that I have a choice). I was sort of surprised at the lack of other questions, what pose am I on, etc... I left the office and Emily registered on her own - she was nervous before going in, not sure how it would go or what to say. After she came out she felt bad. Sharath asked her who her teacher is, and she doesn't really have one, she has learned just from workshops and classes here and there - BUT with reputable teachers. He told her she should have done beginners classes with Saraswati. But he still let her register with him. I told her not to worry, once she started practicing he would see she knew what she was doing and wouldn't be a burden, which maybe is what he was thinking. Her led times are later than mine, so we don't get to go to and from those ones together.

Later that day, a girl named Mafe came by, with my temporary India dog!!! She posted in a facebook Mysore Ashtanga group a while ago that she found a young street pup who couldn't survive on it's own and took it in. She was caring for it and taking it to the vet for shots, etc, but she couldn't take it with her home to Peru. I said I would care for it while I was here and then find it a permanent home or at least another temporary one when I left. Raaji is a sweet tiny, well behaved pup. So she gave me some medicine for his itchy skin condition and some special shampoo and instructions. He is going back to the vet next week to get a check up. It's super cheap here in comparison to back home. He is a lovely little beast and loves human company and going on walks. He is only 3 months old but very good. He always waits to go outside for peepee and poopoo. The only problem is when I have to leave him here alone to go to practice. I take him most places with me, but he can't go everywhere. As soon as the door shuts, he starts crying. Screaming, nearly. I feel awful - for him and for the neighbours!! I guess he just needs to learn that when I leave I will always come back. Is this separation anxiety? I have never owned a dog so I don't know. Also, in the middle of the night if there are street dogs close by, he joins in and starts barking too. With a strong "NO" and pressing him down to laying down position he stops. He grunts and puffs air a few times, then settles. But this happens multiple times in the night. Any suggestions for either issue??? He is a very good leash walker, and eater!!

This morning was my first practice. Led primary series. I hardly slept last night, I think because it was very loud (car horns, dogs barking, men shouting, movies playing next door... sigh) and also I am still all jet-lagged and upside down inside out. I decided to take it very easy in practice and I did that. I felt a little light headed and low energy, but not too bad. I secured a decent mat spot (no lumps!) and some extra space behind me. Sharath nearly skipped right from ardha baddha padma paschimattanasana to janu shirshasana - we all paused... Then he said "Oh, triang mukha ekapada paschimattanasana" followed by slight chuckles throughout the shala. It's good to know that the big guy sometimes makes mistakes! Brain fart!

In good news, I think I held ut plutih for the longest I ever have today. I was shaking like I had rabies or something. Sharath was standing right beside me and sheer willpower held me up so not to get yelled at. I thought I might die. Or cry. But luckily "10" came before either happened. It wasn't too hot in there for me today either, so I was just slightly clammy and sticky which made sliding my arms through for garbha pindasana impossible. I held up my arms for his squirt bottle assistance. He looked at me with disdain, like "you don't need it" - which he has actually said to me before! I wasn't sweaty and slippery enough! Bah. What else - in headstand I don't know if someone fell or wobbled, but he said "No chakrasana in this one" (backwards roll) which made me laugh out loud. Haha!

After practice I had breakfast at Anokhi cafe, with Raaji, who dug a giant hole in their garden and I said hello and good bye to an internet/twitter friend who I only just met here, named Chris. He was lovely in person. And flying out today so it was short and sweet. I had lemon cinnamon crepes and 2 chais!

At 1045am came chanting practice with Lakshmish back at the shala. I went up to the front and got my new chanting handouts. Some of the usuals which I know off by heart, but a few brand new ones to me. I listened carefully and tried to follow the melody, but it was pretty messy!! Hopefully after a few sessions I'll pick it up. I was also told there was a secret chanting after chanting, which he doesn't tell everyone about. I asked him about it and he said in a hushed voice "just go upstairs now!". I went up, and 15 minutes later about 15 of us got to chant the yoga sutras. YAY! I weaseled myself into an invite only chanting session 3 times a week :) I have just studied chanting the yoga sutras at AYCT in Toronto so this was a perfect follow up. The difference is that Ram (Toronto) speaks it, in monotone, and really focuses on the meter and pronunciation. Lakshmish adds a melody, which I really like.

Later today is Sanskrit class. I am heading into the level 3 class, which I did last time. Maybe I even did level 4, but a refresher will be good.

Tonight I am having dinner at Green Hotel with a few new friends. I didn't make it there last time I was here so that will be nice.

Tomorrow is Saturday so no practice. I think I'm heading to the pool for some R & R and a spot of colour. I feel very white compared to a lot of people here!!

I also feel a *little* bit ill as of this afternoon. I don't think I'm actually sick sick, just tired, jet lagged, and probably my tummy is overly sensitive to this new food. I don't feel like I have to run to the bathroom or anything, just a little queasy. Let's hope it clears soon. I'm being extra vigilant about handwashing and drinking tons of bottled water now.

I have one thought though - I am washing my hands often, with soap, BUT, isn't the water from the tap, the thing that has bacteria?! I'm not sure of the logic of that...

AND - damn mosquitoes. There aren't that many here right now. BUT in the shala, right at a balancing posture, the buggers show up. I know they were thinking - let's wait till she binds her hand to her foot and uses the other hand to balance while on one leg... So she can't swat... and then... CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP! Three bites in the span of five breaths. ARGH!

That bites.