Mysore Life

Falling over on Pincha...

2012-01-31T07:01:00.003-05:00

Substitute headstand fro pincha today to work towards one minute hold.

It ain't easy from the get go. It took me forever to balance and stay put, on the third take, I fell over, just pushed up to UD, stood up, and back in the kicking up to pincha game. I never really had much of a fear at the beginning when I first started puncha, cause I just fell over into back bending. Anyway, on my sixth take, I got a longer hold, about 23 seconds. It was much more steady than my 30 second hold last week. For a few breaths, I actually felt the up ward pull sensation, a really good thing. I will try to remember that sensation for my next hold. I have a long way to go to make pincha as comfy as headstand.

Tomorrow, I will do my one minute hold on kapo B again. Since that first one, holding the 15 breaths in kapo B has been easy and a routine now. I really like the fact that I have a short practice, not many postures to work through, thus it gives me the energy to work in depth on one or two poses. Love it.

1st drop back in my home shala....

2012-01-30T04:59:00.003-05:00

It was day one of the practice week, and it was not as smooth as I would like it to be, but good enough considering I have not done it for nearly three weeks. The heels were well behaved, firmly nailed. But the front of the feet were up on the first one. My poor legs were so darn bend as I walked in the hands, so ugly, just hate to watch them.

Plan of the week: hopefully get one assist on kapo A from H. Hold the kapo B for one minute again. Do a few pincha to see if I can hold it one minute. During my hold today on the kapo A, I was telling myself: think Grimmly's 25 breaths hold (more than one minute long!!!!), but it didn't last beyond 10 short breaths. I am quite into the one minute hold now. I think from now on I would pick a couple of poses to hold it for one minute each week.

I have to admit, all these crazy yoga videos really get me on to the mat each day with great desire to work on my poses. Not sure how long it will last, but gonna enjoy it while it lasts. Whatever it is that get me on the mat, that is the way to go. I am after all, just a home practice girl, not a pro.

It was a spa day in the home shala today...

2012-01-29T09:23:00.006-05:00

Yes, Sunanda came. She came with a smile and left with a smile. I melt under her magic fingers... sleeping away as always... and felt light as a feather afterwards. I told her to come back on the next moon day. She is such an angel. All sores from the week's practice are gone!

Mysore life? Indeed.

Shoes in India last....

2012-01-29T01:13:00.017-05:00

Everything is good for repairing in India, like back packs, Jeans,watches, tools... and most of all shoes. I remembered when my kids were here for four months in Mysore, Anthony had his saddles fixed for just 10 rupees. Every 50 steps or so along all the Mysore streets, you would walk by the little shoe repair shed, and I love them. They never mind you watching them and some of them would invite you to sit down to watch.

Often times, during my long walk on my yoga day off, I would stop and take a rest at the shoe stands to watch the repair man. This particular one was just so pretty, such great color and I had a little chat while I was watching him. He completely took all the layers of the shoes apart and rubbed on some glue all between the layers. The shoe will be fixed with a new sole. And after that, it is like new, but with the comfort of the old shoe top. It costs just 600 rupees.

It turned out he was repairing this man's shoe whose shop was just a few shops away, and he repairs watches.

Playing with lotus....

2012-01-28T07:11:00.013-05:00

It's a "Friday" for me today, putting in the sixth practice of the week due to the new moon. Always on the last practice of the week, I spin in the fun stuff on the mat. I worn different color for the filming, and did the lotus on the headstand. During the hold, I thought I had lowered my lotus a lot, I thought I was rounding my back to make room for the lotus. But watching the video, I was no where near it! Seeing is believing. I am far from it! That is why each video always is worthy to do, a teacher's eye. My home shala may just be the most colorful one today. Loved it.

Gee, it has been a low energy week, blame it on the new moon. Tomorrow is a much needed break day. I will go get some caster oil and have Sunanda give me a massage with it, right in my home shala.

And the yoga video feast will continue next week....

Working on Pincha....

2012-01-27T08:56:00.003-05:00

Giving myself a project. A couple times a week, instead of headstand, I will do Pincha and work on 1 minute hold and make it steady and comfy. My first go today was very shaky, and lasted just 30 seconds. Today, I found out, when it got unsteady, I could play with lifting my head a bit up to bring it back to balance. But I think more lifting of the chest will help better. Yep, pincha play time is back.

The last few days, I got myself into getting my youtube channel going: Mysorelife07. I am uploading all yoga in Mysore and some Mysore video on my channel. It's been fun to see how my practice has changed, some for better, some for worse. I am happy with what I have at the moment.

Help was there in the home shala...

2012-01-27T08:13:00.004-05:00

I was able to catch H on his day off classes today. It was the second try on Bhekasana, and I filmed it. Later on I got help also on supta v. Such luxury, I really really enjoyed the supta v assist. When H's classes get less, I will most likely get a bit more of assist. While it is not the pro help, it is better than none.

Tomorrow good old primary, taking Sunday off now.

My favorite pose of the standing poses...

2012-01-26T06:31:00.006-05:00

The UHP. And I always do it the way David Swanson teaches with the trivikrmasana thrown in. Without the mat, I see my toes were not relax,and standing leg was not as straight,and a bit of shaky. I am still doing the whole set of the standing poses even though I am doing 2s. Once I start to add in more poses in a month, I will cut the standing poses to UP where it is supposed to stop.

I love how this pose makes me feel beautiful whether it looks that way or not.
Photo: At Sandhya's for lunch today, the beet was amazingly tasted!

YES!!! The 1 minute hold happened!

2012-01-25T03:30:00.007-05:00

I loved loved loved the experience! What a great way to watch my mind!

First of all, I had no timer. Going into it, I told myself to count 10 at a time instead of counting to 60. After just 3 counts of 10 breath, my mind was going crazy! It kept saying legs were burning, then I took it to the shoulders, then shoulders were hurting, then I took it back to the legs and kept the burns there. And at this point, the count became just five at a time, easier, it felt shorter. And I really lost count of how many fives I did. Then at the final stage, I kept telling myself, 5 more, 5 more, then it went down to two more, two more, then just 1 more, 1 last time. I so fucking pushed it... and when I came up, the feeling of the high utterly blew me away. Everything in me went blank, totally blank! It was beyond the wasabi kick! This bench mark will absolutely make the 5 breaths in Kapo A an easy walk in the park, and the 15 breaths in Kapo B a piece of cake. Reading Grimmly's post about long hold in Kapo really trigger it all, thanks Grimmly!

It's about time this happened!!!

Still holding it... the darn Kapo B

2012-01-24T05:58:00.008-05:00

Man, it was hard! I thought I had held it long, but checking it back on the video it was just 30 seconds long, the goal is 60 seconds. Ya, the kapo B holding deal is still going on in the home shala. This week, may the kapo B hold go up to 40 seconds, at least once, finger crossed. I find this Kapo B business is just as hard as doing the kapo A itself, if not more. I think when the day I can hold the kapo B for 60 secons and then walk the fingers right after that, then I am ready to add on the leg behinds to my 2s. I do so believe every second in this holding deal will pay off down the road, the kapo A road that is.

Well, at least I am at 30 second, half way there....

photo: sky over my balcony after the sun set

My favorite door in Mysore....

2012-01-23T03:19:00.008-05:00

It is a huge wooden door, and it comes with a baby door on the right side where people go in and out.

This is the place to come if you want to ship your stuff back home. It is to the right side of the main post office in the city center. All you need is to bring your stuff here, and they will wrap it and ship it for you. It is cheaper to do it here instead of going to Rashinka's. They will ship pretty much everything for you. It has a sewing machine there for sewing up the fabric that wraps the parcel.

Why were there? Hmmmm..... good question.

Sunday afternoon at JG's ....

2012-01-22T09:40:00.012-05:00

Anyone who's been in Mysore for a while knows JG, the crazy NY guy, words just shoot out his mouth, speaking of his mind is never a problem anywhere to anyone. How I adored his messy place. His art just hangs around his house through out every room randomly, he really is living with his own art. And color, such amazing color, is everywhere, indeed a unique spot in Gokulam.

Thanks to H who took me there....

The Mysore Amaranth....

2012-01-20T22:31:00.007-05:00

Got a few bunches of Amaranth from the sapo woman coming daily, 14 rupees for 5 bunches. Both H and I are crazy for Amaranth. It is the best and tastiest weed on earth! There are many kinds of Amaranth in Mysore, and this kind, a mix of green and red, smaller leaves, is my favorite. I liked it so much that I self photoed it with me... haha. Its roots are so pretty.

Living in Mysore really brings me back to my belief in eating: eat traditionally, seasonally and most importantly, locally. I cut, I cook, I homemade curd, and I chew, no machining. I no longer bring rice with me, I eat the local brown rice. And fruits from either Mysore, or other area of India are so wonderful, and I don't need any more variety. And vegetables are simply a delight here. The cauliflowers are the tastiest, and so are carrots and broccoli from Ooty. And don't even mention all kinds of sprouts here, so cheap and fresh. With all these Mysore goodies, how can one not want to cook?

I am happy cook at home in Mysore....

It's so nice ....

2012-01-19T23:52:00.004-05:00

This Japanese green tea.

I am a big Japanese green tea person, not a day goes by without it. And this particular one is super special. It came here all the way from Japan from Yocky who we shared English conversation together two years ago, so sweet of him to still remember it and asked his friend to bring it to Mysore to me. Not only I have a cup of green tea a day, but H also is doing a cup a day now. So we both really appreciate the tea from Yocky.

Thank you Yocky, so much! And hope you come to Mysore again one day....

1st yoga video of 2012 ....

2012-01-19T03:16:00.009-05:00

It's also my first walk of hands on kapo A of 2012, a first video on my new home shala on the balcony.

I am into my 5th month of learning second series stopping right before leg behind. Since the LH break, the last four practices has been zero pain on the right shoulder. It must be the heat here. What a joy to practice kapo without pain! I think the Venketish long hold on the kapo B has paid off. I have not done kapo A for two weeks, and today was my first walk, and it was so comfortable. I also remembered to relax chest and shoulder as I slowly hanging down before touching floor and tried really hard to hold on to the idea of spreading my toes, especially thinking about touching the floor with the baby toes, even just thinking about this idea helped. So back to kapo A walking hand business for at least twice a week, and the rest of the days still doing the long holds on kapo B.

I am going to keep this routine for another month. At the end of sixth month, I am going to add the leg behind, which will be in the intense heat of Mysore March. I am loving kapo so much at the moment, it is the highlight of my practice everyday, it is the bomb that gets me on the mat, I love its wasabi kick coming out of it.

And the home shala looks gorgeous on video, such vibrant color!

Photo: veg dosa

The prettiest coconut tree ....

2012-01-17T23:38:00.004-05:00

And it is likely the most delicious one too. Only once I had this golden coconut, it is rare to come by. It tastes quite different from the green ones, very much the best!

I am at it again...

2012-01-16T09:10:00.010-05:00

Changing the color on the sitting area, and it turned gold! I love it, very welcoming and cheerful! Our new room mate is moving in tomorrow, and I hope it is to her liking.

Mysore weather is still very pleasant, and we can enjoy quite a bit of balcony time. Today, I am back to practice and it felt great. Super happy with the balcony home shala.

Happy new year...

2012-01-15T10:32:00.012-05:00

When you see the sugar cane on every street at this time of the year, you know it is the new year time. It was quite a chilly morning ride on the bike, but the great sun shine was there. H and I had a lovely Indian breakfast, the Kesari dosa was a winner, very delish, went down well with the two large chais, and we ran into Karen and Adrian.... Mysore made the world so much smaller! You just never have to plan anything to meet friends, it just happens!

A morning walk ...

2012-01-14T10:40:00.009-05:00

Such cool breeze in the morning, very very refreshing, birds sounded so happy, and my eyes fell in love with this tree blooming with pink flowers, the grounds are dusted with its pretty petals ... then my ears caught a strong chanting of om.... and my feet followed the om.... and found its owners: two men were meditating side by side...

A sweet Mysore morning sight...

Making it cozy in the home shala....

2012-01-13T08:25:00.006-05:00

No practice happened in the home shala today, LH here.

Found a piece saree, and made a drape out of it for the wall in the sitting corner. I was in the Westerner's mind set: I want it and I want it now! So no sewing at all, just cut the saree in half. Used four cotton strings to tie up the saree and hung it to the lines. Walla, done! Very effective! And I love it!

It now feels more like a shala ....

It all happens on the terrace...

2012-01-12T08:51:00.005-05:00

My first cup of tea is always on the terrace in the morning, then breakfast follows again on the terrace. When H gets up, we have our chat there. And later before lunch, I have my practice on the home shala. And guess what, today I had my oil massage under Sunanda's magic fingers in the home shala, all aches and sores from the long flight gone! And after the shower, I watch this gorgeous sun set on the terrace, felt very much blessed to have a day like this...

Ah... Mysore life returns.

I made a home shala....

2012-01-11T10:50:00.008-05:00

Day one back to Mysore went by in a blur .... not used to see people on first day... but good the room is rented out through the end of the season. No practice happened.

Day two sort of back to normal, I managed to set up a practice space using old curtains without having to spend anything. H jumped in and did his standing pose, and then went to make lunch while I did my practice. Such a nice pesto pasta, quiet lunch afterwards.

A three-hour-jet lag- nap followed, and I was completely wasted, dead sleep ......

Homeward bound.... Mysore!

2012-01-08T08:37:00.005-05:00

D day.

Up at 6:30, practice done at 8:30. Difficult and heavy practice, but felt so light and great after. It has been a great six weeks in so many ways. So looking forward to start the new year with H, we have come around from our heart breaks. And our life will take on more challenges as more changes are on the way.... And to kick off this, for the first time I am not flying Air France to Mysore, no bus ride from Ottawa to Montreal, yay! This will be my most direct cut to Mysore: Ottawa-Frankfurt-Bangalore.

And better yet, this is a one way ticket to my H....

Just one more night....

2012-01-07T22:16:00.003-05:00

Since this morning, the packing has got under way, and it is still going on this late.

There is always something to forget or to remember. It is always always like this when packing for Mysore, and the only-one-free check in luggage does not make it easy at all.... I am forever trying to haul a huge bag full of stuff to the other side of the globe...

Just one more practice left tomorrow....

The Mysore talk...

2012-01-06T19:16:00.005-05:00

Each January, Mysore is always the talk of the Blog town since it is at the peak of "Sharath" season. Little Gokulam is flooded with Shala students from all over the globe. It seems a whole new generation has arrived.

No matter how many times you have been to Mysore, the very first one always holds the most special spot in your heart, mine especially so since it brought H to me.

Now Gokulam is so loaded with much much better housing and much much more expensive, even comparing to just two or three years ago. I tend not to offer much about Mysore for people who have never been to Mysore.

I remembered I didn't ask my teacher Janice who went during the old shala in Luxmipouram time, and she never offered me much info on my first trip. I was very much grateful for it afterwards. The best way to make your virgin trip to Mysore is to not OVER prepare for it, to let your karma work it out for you.

The less rupees you spend, the more priceless moments you will end up with. Really avoid staying at any B&B places. Do not give yourself of the option of a high budget, do it as low as you can. Even these days, one can still dig out little "hole" in the wall kind of room for just 3000 rupees a month, ya in Gokulam. Not having a room mate (which I didn't) is the best for one's first trip. It gives you the option not to hit the Mysore club scene. Also, not renting a scooter is a bonus. Walking and taking the local bus will fill you with many many precious moments.

It is just my 2 cents for the Mysore virgins, no matter what, high or low budget, you can't go wrong with Mysore, it is special always the first time.

The soreness receded...

2012-01-04T13:18:00.005-05:00

And out came lightness today in my practice. How delish it was! To feel lightness with my over weight body is super sweet. I guess that is what a deep practice can dig out of the body: lightness.

For the last three practices, I have decided not to walk the hands in kapo (not doing kapo A). Instead, I am doing just two kapo B, holding it 10 to 15 breaths each time, focusing on the straight feet and long shin, and relax butt, coming down super slow pointers. I want to build my foundation, back to the basic, sort of Venketish style, long holds in Kapo B. And I would like to slowly build it up to longer than 15 breaths. Maybe the walking hand can happen once a week just to check in with it.

Getting through the tunnel of this cold weather soon....

Just another winter day out there....

2012-01-03T17:09:00.004-05:00

Sun is shining brilliantly outside.
Wind is blasting fiercely with a windchill of -29.
The few people (including me) walking in the snow are a piping out the cigar-like smoke.
Practice happened earlier than yesterday, and the aggressive sore has eased a bit.
Lesson learn: never over practice on the first day of the week.

The morning after.....

2012-01-02T18:21:00.004-05:00

A huge "hung over" today, definitely over practiced yesterday. I am sore all over, especially the calf muscle, front of the thigh, both arms, every inch of the back. Going downstairs is most painful. I must have relaxed the butt right, no sore there at all.

Today, it took me forever to get on the mat, very much reluctantly. The soreness would be worse if I don't practice. I took a walk in the morning, but it didn't help much. And it was 2 pm for me to have to finally face it. As the practice moved on, the soreness became more and more obvious, and it was the worst during closing. I scaled down the practice so the over stretched body can bounce back a bit, tomorrow will be a low key one too.

A good nap happened afterwards....
Photo: my breakfast yesterday the strawberry crepe

1st practice of 2012

2012-01-01T18:33:00.017-05:00

I did it! At Janice's studio, Ashtanga Yoga Ottawa. A day of free yoga classes at the studio.

Utterly, totally, I was out of my comfort zone: using the studio mat (brutal for walking hands in kapo, too slimy), all my "illegal" preps were out of the window, stopped the standing poses at Uhitta Parsvottanasana ( I usually do the whole standing poses at home), no repeating any poses.... straightly 2nd series till right before lbh.

What could I say...? Amazing in so many ways.

Janice never seems to run out of tricks in her bag. As she pointing fingers to different areas of my body, I was becoming more and more gasping for air! Cause she was making it more difficult for me! The kind of movement she asked of me are the kinds that are not visible, one can only feel it in the inside. The area she poked me most is of course the Kapo! What else!!!

The beauty about it is this: I never have to tell her what is going on in my practice (like I am doing second only ... till where...). I never ask her if I can do this or that. And no matter how long I have not seen her, she always always knows where to poke me, in the right spot!!! And she always knows the areas she can just leave me alone. I am so grateful for her, without practicing under her for those few years, I would not have been able to sustain my self practice now. So many of her words constantly come to me during my self practice, all the time. They still work on me. She is the best verbal adjust teacher I know.

And I am going to note down this one she has me working on. It's all about how to work on your butt while in kapo. Earlier last week, I was all sore on my thighs and butts. I was thinking it must be the kapo work I did. I know sore on the thighs are good stuff. Whether the sore butt is wrong or not, I don't know. But Janice gave me something quite different.

First of all, you don't tighten the whole butt. The part to engage is at the end of the butt where it meets the thigh, and at the top of the butt where it meets hip, and relax the rest of the butt in between these two areas. (So it was a funny sight: we were poking each others' butts to understand what she meant). And she straight out my duck feet, and told me to make my shin very very looooooong, and she told me to come down even more slowly ( I WAS already SLOW!). I was just about dead when I came out of it, and had no idea where my hands ended up on my feet, and didn't really care! I was just glad to be out of the kapo zone. I am sure this is a HUGE homework for me for a while. Oh ya, I got adjusted in Supta V nicely, a luxury treat for self practice folks like me. Drop back was very very very smooth, I felt my feet well behaved through out, gee it really is nice when it is done right!

Such a sweet practice and followed by a super nice 2 hour breakfast with C and K (we didn't even plan it!), just us oldies from Janice's basement era. And how awfully nice K was, who drove me all the way back. And even more sweeter when I got back, H stayed for me and we had a nice chat on the phone.

What a wonderful 1st day of 2012, felt blessed and grateful!

Home alone, on New Year's Eve....

2011-12-31T20:11:00.003-05:00

Despite half a dozen invites for parties, my H chose to stay home alone. We have always gone dancing together on New year's Eve in Mysore. But this year, he is in bright sunny Mysore, I am here more than half a globe away in the northern cold spot. But we do feel so close at heart.... we are becoming quite an expert in this long distance deal. Yes, I miss H so much on this New Year's Eve. Happy New Year to you, H!

Tomorrow, my 1st practice of 2012 will happen in Janice's studio. The Ashtanga Yoga Ottawa is having a free yoga day to welcome the new year. Thank You! And you bet I would be there!

Last practice of 2011, done!

2011-12-30T16:44:00.003-05:00

It was a toiled labor through the primary today, so glad it was over, and felt so good afterwards. This cold dark weather is getting to me, hard. My total respect to all home practice people out there in the cold northern country. Don't think I can do it these days. When I used to live here, I practice in a studio, not self practice. Next week, I am going to play it low key, right shoulder is flaring up. It is not smart to push it in such cold weather.

Tomorrow? Walk walk walk to keep my mind of it, best remedy for my shoulder, even if it is in the mall.

Handing in the last drop back of 2011 ....

2011-12-29T13:55:00.013-05:00

And my feet made a mess on my thin mat, the heels are down, but the front half of my feet went up, and the landing loud... oh whatever. I will take it, best I can do on this cold temp. -26 out there, but sun came.

Ok, I caught the review bug on the blogging out there. Here it goes.

What I felt most accomplished in 2011 practice wise has got to be that I healed myself from my back pain to a strong back. It was the biggest back pain ever happened to me, right when I was starting to make progress on kapo in 2nd (with primary attached). Then it happened. I was at the point where I could not do any ud. I had to switch to the basics and cut back the primary to only half, afraid doing too much forward bending without doing much of back bending. I had to do just the bridges with a block between my thighs for months. But slowly I crawled my way back into back bending. The lesson was priceless. And the trick? Never stop practicing, just practice around it or go back to the basics. And take my time, let it heal. I still remember once I heard this Taiwanese doctor said this: the human body always wants to heal. I never give up this faith. Just like any injury, this one washed away lots of my ego along the way. Good stuff.

My biggest breakthrough in 2011 is that I am finally onto 2nd series without the primary, doing 5 2nd series and one primary on Friday. This already completely, after just 3 months, gets rid of my lower back pain that accompany me the past year (even during walking) doing the primary for so long. This also shifted my 4 or maybe 5 year long left shoulder pain to the right shoulder finally. It is a huge change long over due, so glad it finally arrived. I actually enjoyed it on the right shoulder now.

I am very much looking forward to more work on the 2nd series in the coming year....

Having some fun with headstand.....

2011-12-28T16:39:00.008-05:00

The wind has been hauling madly since the day break today, temp plunged down to -20's, and worst of all: zero sun.... all white and grey out there.

What to do? I decided to play with headstand, putting on my bright color sweat pants to add some warmth and color. Without India, the world is colorless. I love color, and never afraid to wear it anywhere. At least once a week, I would tag a lotus to my headstand, simply because it is fun to do. On the days I want to lift it back up, I don't dare to lower it too much, and other days I would lower it as much as I can by rounding the back ( tips from Grimmly) and aim the knees for the armpits (so far not there yet), and of course this is also at the point of no return. I wouldn't dream of getting it back up. Until I can do this, I have no business in Karanda... per Kino. So I am happy camper just doing this headstand version.

Really, sometimes just doing some fun stuff keeps the self practice going, especially in this bloody cold weather....

Walk walk walk.... walk the ugly walk.

2011-12-27T20:23:00.008-05:00

The closer I walk my hands to my feet, the uglier my back bend looks, the more painful it looks, and feels. And I know the walk ain't gonna get pretty anytime soon. Or ever.

Yet, the ugly walk must go on, daily. Ya, I walk it, sometimes big walk on a good day, sometimes tiny walk, sometimes not walking but at least holding it. I find walking hands to the feet, or sometimes feet to hands, the one that gets the back open, and making drop back easy and smooth. I may just do drop back once a week, but I make sure to do the ud and walk the hands each practice.

Photo: I push forward away from my feet to stretch the upper back before walking my hands, it feels good to do it.

My pathetic jump through and back....

2011-12-26T19:35:00.010-05:00

Well the year end yoga video week continues. I did this last year too in Mysore. I hope to keep this tradition of mine. It is a way for me to review my self practice year.

One thing that has made zero progress is my jump back and jump through. It's still the same, maybe even worse. Am I disappointed? Not the slightest. How could I? I have put in zero amount of effort, and that can only lead to zero progress. Somehow it never interests me much to work on the jump back and through thing. I would rather spend my energy in back bending, which is my favorite area to work on. I can never get enough of that back bending stuff. It also remains the most challenging to me to this day. For me, back bending is the last and hardest to come by, and is the first and easiest to abandon you as you age.

Oh ya, my way-over weight-by-Ashtanga-standard-weight does not make the jump easy either. But would I want to lose weight to help? Nope!!! I work with what I have.

Photo: bak choi, I miss this veg in Mysore quite dearly.

The last time I did Pincha was nearly a year ago....

2011-12-25T17:22:00.007-05:00

And at its peak, I was practicing holding pincha for 15 breaths ( Karen told me until I could hold it with ease for 15 breaths, don't bother putting legs in lotus in pincha), I was practicing dropping back from Pincha, and I was able to double leg up pincha.... then my back got injured doing kapo, and I abandoned pincha and the whole idea of 2nd series.

Today I wanted to check it out to see if it is still doable, so I did pincha instead of headstand during my closing. And thank god to Kapo, my shoulders were so open and I felt light as I kicked it up even though I am way over weight by the Ashtanga standard (but just at a normal weight by health standard). It was kind of shaky, but the body didn't resist it, it actually felt familiar and very much comfortable, and I held it for more than five breaths. What a nice feeling that was. It now really makes sense to me why this pose is far behind Kapo, you have to open the shoulders to be ready for pincha. So, I am in no hurry to get to Pincha, it's there waiting for me. Let me just enjoy my kapo while it lasts. Yep, I got the wasabi kick today, very much drained my energy again, dear kapo.

I stayed in bed till after 9 am, finished breakfast at 10 am, walked outside and it was all snowing beautifully on a quiet Xmas morning. Had a lovely chat with H. All that done, and it was 2 pm when I got on the mat, and at 4 pm, I was cooking myself a yummy fish stew with tomato, green bell pepper, ginger, and black fermented beans, and a spoonful of crushed hot pepper to spice it up for this cold weather. Well, at least the color of the dish has that xmas spirit even though it is not a traditional xmas meal....

Merry Xmas everyone!

I walked five hours ....

2011-12-24T18:58:00.007-05:00

Not out in the woods, ya in the mall, shopping, and one hour on the bus. That pretty much finished the day off. Four days of solitude ahead (kids are off to Grandma's), and I quite look forward to it. Yep, bring it on, the feast of practice, with kapo being the main dish. I am quite sure some long practice will happen, and maybe a few last videos of 2011 will be there.

Photo: my all time fav veg: rappini

I can't believe I am saying it....

2011-12-23T20:34:00.006-05:00

I am loving Kapo!

It came to my mind as I was doing primary today. I really miss doing Kapo now. It makes doing primary tasteless. How could I feel dreading it in the past?! Love the build up to it. Love how it psych me up. Love how drained I felt after coming out of it. No any other pose gives me this high. It feels like after having a mouthful of wasabi! Kapo is such an honest pose. There is no way around it, no cheating around, no short cut to it. You just do it, even if it is just hanging or doing just B. Kapo does not care if you are skinny or heavy ( so many other difficult poses become easier if you lose some weight). Either way does not make it easy or gives you an advantage. I consider kapo my most difficult pose ever. Kapo is getting me settled in 2nd series. My shoulders have never felt this good (And to think of it, kapo was the one that injured my shoulder in the past, and the reason I kept dropping it! What a double blade knife it is!). My back bends never felt so comfy. And lower back pain? What is that?!

Why on earth have I not switched to 2nd much earlier! But I am glad I am here now at it, better late than never!

Photo: Snow on the frozen pond, brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Checking in with the drop back....

2011-12-22T15:15:00.007-05:00

It's till there, and much better then when I just got back to Ottawa nearly 4 weeks ago.

I usually just do drop back once a week, most of the time on the 3rd or 4th day of the week. Today, I took my time in the hanging before the hands down, and ya, tucking in the tailbone. The truth is my back is just not bendy or open enough for me to land with control. I have to just let it do a free fall to let go all the control to land, in order to keep the heels nailing on the floor. I mean i can only do a control landing by lifting my heels. Have to just live with that for who knows how long.

I like that my feet behave not so badly in this one.

A new sensation came ...

2011-12-21T17:27:00.011-05:00

Today, the practice happened in the kitchen.

The combo trick continued to work its wonder in today's Kapo, what delighted me was a new sensation that I never felt before. As I was breathing in Kapo B, I felt it. It was in my mid back on the back, not the front of the chest, the back. I felt the ribs pushing up, felt the breath got in there a bit, and I felt it even more so as I came up slowly, it felt like something cracked it open. I loved it, never before I felt it. And the rest of the day, I am feeling it still, very loose and wide in the back.

I am over the moon for this invisible change.

I found a good trick....

2011-12-20T18:17:00.006-05:00

First day back on the mat after LH, a good trick happened.

As I was walking my fingers in kapo, somehow a thought came (so much for focus): I recalled reading somewhere among the blogs ( I have been reading a lot of them since I am off Face book for now) that this teacher told this student to bend the arms when walking hands in back bend. And right away I grabbed the idea and put it to action. I bend my right arm and lean towards my left arm to let it walk (the keno trick), amazingly it made it much much easier to walk the hand, I was right away at mid foot. Then I kept the arm bend and lean to the other side and walk the right hand. But the important part is to lift up through the quads and push hip forward first before straight the arms as much as I can. These two trick combo is a keeper for now! It really relief lots of tension in the shoulders while walking the hands.

Off the mat, a special day yesterday, not really because of my bday (don't care much these days), but H finally got his US immigration visa. To many, it's nothing special. But to us it is super special, just like each single immigrant, it is special. It gave my mom a second chance in her life. It gave me a new life. It is a twist of the fate, and I am most interested to see how it is going to play in H's life. We both are very grateful for this date, best gift to me.

Photo: tofu and green bean stir fry with fermented black beans, it reminds me of my Mysore cooking, except I use paneer instead of tofu in Mysore.

Three years ago around this time in Mysore ....

2011-12-18T20:51:00.009-05:00

A decision had to come.

I had to make a choice between practicing yoga in the Shala ( any shala rather) and living a Mysore life with H. I had no money to do both. I chose to live in Mysore with H. It started my self practice, literately in THE CAPITAL CITY of the Ashtanga yoga world, and it is still going strong to this day.

I had thought my practice would help me to live through the Mysore days. It was the other way around. The Mysore life with H is the one that cements the practice finally in me: it has become anywhere anytime for me. What Mysore life teaches me is beyond words. Thank God there is India on this earth! I used to miss Mysore when I am away from it. Now I don't have that feeling anymore. Mysore is so in me. How could it not be?! After 4 years of spending rupees there....

The 3 years self practice has been priceless. It really starts my yoga off the mat, the real deal, finding balance on and off the mat, especially the later one. I was questioned recently: which series you do at home? Without even blinking, I said: it depends where the pain is. I have become so shamelessly thick skin on my face (a Chinese saying). Things like doing less or not doing a certain pose as good as one year ago, no longer bother me. It's all about how to practice so that a practice will happen daily, and after the practice life is enjoyed normally. It really is all about the balance in life.

But, self practice is not all good. Nothing in life is all good. I do need to get out of my comfort zone, and do a practice in a shala once a while. Not really just to get deeper in a pose (for sure with assist), but just to feel uncomfortable, to do not as I wish, to do as told.

If there is one new thing to add to my practice for the coming new year, it's to practice once or twice a month in a shala in Mysore, and it really doesn't matter that much which shala, just as long as I get uncomfortable.

A sunny day ....

2011-12-17T17:05:00.004-05:00

Woke up at 4 am by my LH, but managed to crawl back and fell asleep back to bed.

It was sunny all day long, but with a windchill at -12, some real sharp wind out there. A few small walks happened through out the day, no long walk. Just still not ready to embrace this cold temp. As soon as the LH came, all the nasty tension in the neck and shoulders gone just like that!!!

I made some extra ginger chai, and pour two huge mugs of it into my tummy... love it all!

Dec 16th, 2007

2011-12-16T20:57:00.008-05:00

Four years ago this date, H came to the Corner House in Gokulam for ice cream, and I was there. It was during my first trip to Mysore to practice in the Shala, and I had just one week left when we met.

That date has completely changed both H and my life. I am forever grateful for this special day.

Primary has become a desert now...

2011-12-16T19:19:00.009-05:00

Since I now only get to do it once a week, each "bite" into this sweet treat is delicious.

Today, I was curious to see how my front split doing. I stopped doing it after last summer when I returned to Mysore. I went straight into it after Baddha Konasana. Amazingly, it is still in me, and much easier (it seems doing just the primary still builds up your split.), the body seemed to miss it quite a bit and enjoyed doing it. When I do my Baddha K, I usually add a variation of extending my arms out on the floor, same thing when I do my front split, just to give it an extra stretch, but always keeping the shoulder square though.

So there, I will insert it right after Baddha K each primary day, just to make me feel good, haha!

Just hanging ....

2011-12-15T08:06:00.003-05:00

No Kapo B or A, just hanging three times, in today's brrrrrrr practice. I might move to the bathroom tomorrow, it is slightly warmer since it's got no windows.

LH is due in two days, and this is the most easily injured days in my own experience. Discomfort is in the right shoulder and neck today, forecasting the pain coming if I force it. Meanwhile the left shoulder feels so great and open, now it's the right shoulder's turn to go through the pain. But somehow it felt very comfortable in the hanging, cause I make sure the shoulder and neck relax during the hang, which is resting mostly in the quads. And as long as I can hang, it is just as good. All backbends still go on as normal. This is as good as it gets in this cold temp.

I added apple to the banana kiwi yogurt for the breakfast....

It was harder than I expected....

2011-12-14T09:26:00.006-05:00

I thought I could hold the kapo B for 15 breaths today, but had to stop at 10 and started walking fingers. As soon as it passed my usual 5 breaths, my mind was going crazy, I had to bend to elbows to barely hang on to 10 breaths. And the walking were ugly and super uncomfortable although I did nearly get to mid foot.

I don't think I will do it again cause I can see it will build up my mental block again, not feeling to do it thinking I have to do 15 breaths and get so exhausted, and still have to walk the fingers. Nope. Not ready yet. Gonna stick to 5 breaths B 5 breaths A - 5 breath B routine. Maybe by the time I am back to India where it is much warmer, I will do it like once a week and slowly build up.

One thing I learn about doing this 2nd series is: keep it simple and short, less is more totally. Stopping before the leg behind is a good spot for me. I am able to have energy to do some poses twice and stay longer. And knowing that there is not a long string of poses waiting after helps. It is my way of going deep. The poses beyond leg behind can wait. No hurry. So glad I can keep the primary and second series apart now.

Enjoyed my breakfast of kiwi, banana and yogurt after my practice...

Such a grey day outside....

2011-12-13T16:06:00.008-05:00

It looked like, and felt like 6 am in the morning all day long. It gave me no desire to even go for a small walk. Made some chive dumpling for lunch, so yummy. I love Chinese chives, especially in dumplings.

Spent some time youtubing kapo, mostly are advanced people's kapo out there. Gonna try one tip from the browsing, holding the kapo B for long time before walking hands. Easier said than done most likely. Will start holding for 15 breaths to start with tomorrow and see how it feels. I am most impressed by Grimmly's kapo for sure (went through his kapo posts on his blog), completely home grown, amazing how much work he puts into it. Doing the kapo day in and day out on your own versus doing it in a studio with assist are totally different games, much much much harder on your own. I've pretty much decided to get help on my second series practice once I am back to India, hopefully on a once a week basis.

On a different note, just bought my ticket for India today for next month, it was a good sale deal.

My favorite thing to do after morning practice ....

2011-12-12T20:17:00.009-05:00

Nothing, but just simply watch Lucas eat his breakfast. I adored how focused he was eating this chocolate croissant, and how much he really enjoyed it. The focus and love are way above mine during my practice! And I have watched the video many times, every time it never failed to bring big smile to my face! And every time I watch him eat breakfast, I tell him I am the only person in the world love watching you eat....

Each day here with the boys alone continues to be such simple joy...

My kapo since the 3 months split...

2011-12-11T18:13:00.015-05:00

It's been 3 months since I started the 5 day 2nd and 1 day primary practice routine, and I am slowly, super slowly digging my kapo back up.

I remembered 1st day of this routine, I had to stop before Kapo. It took me one week to add in the kapo. And when I did do the kapo, I could not even touched the floor, not to mention walking the fingers, or touching the toes. Another week later, I started walking fingers just barely. Some days neck pain would threat to come, and I had to stop walking the fingers or touching the floors, just hanging once. But I stuck to the hanging or doing just the kapo B. When the neck pain goes away, back to walking fingers again. During this time, I reminded myself many many many times: it took me so many years to work the primary, why I expect it to work in a few weeks in the 2nd series!!!

This three months experience is a treasure. It really made me let go all that ego or attachment of the primary, which I did so easily and felt so good about. Most importantly, I have proved to myself that I indeed can do second series without the primary. I love how it makes me practice in a complete new comer's body and mindset, started from the very beginning. Very refreshing feeling.

I have never ever felt so comfortable in kapo! There is no mental block going into it. I think keeping the practice short really helps me. I have figured out a way for me to go about it.

My Kapo routine : Do Kapo B first, then Kapo A, then Kapo B again before coming up.

No longer go for landing as close to the feet as possible anymore.
More interested in relaxing my shoulder as I land.
Never hurry to walk the finger right away.
Breath a few breathes in Kapo B.
Push the hip more forward, then I walk.
Keno's tips help: I lean slightly to the walking hand side as I walk my one hand closer, then lean to the other side to walk the other hand. It does not show in the video, but it so works! Thanks Keno for this one!

Ya, I shocked myself today when my finger missed the toes completely, they walked passed them and got to the mid feet! For the first time on my own! And without the primary! And of course, I so wish someone could keep those horrible elbows down for me! But I am still delighted for this tiny step forward. Ya ya, the elbows need to floor, the arms need to be straight in Kapo B.... a long list ahead. Am so grateful I have come to this point without injury. Kapo always always always gives me neck pain(that's why I gave it up so many times!). This is the longest time I have done Kapo 5 times a week, and can still go on without an injury, it's got to be my biggest progress so far.

And how nice the Sun was shining on me for the kapo....

The forecast delivered....

2011-12-10T07:58:00.005-05:00

And I found the sun from behind the building, it was a beauty! The sleep in didn't happen, but it was nice not have to practice. It's gonna be a chai morning ....

TGIF ...

2011-12-09T17:50:00.006-05:00

Survived two weeks practice, and made myself a yummy lunch of Chinese greens with tofu. I had expected the worst practice, but so far not too bad, totally ok despite the cold temp. Thanks to Anthony,who is like a clock in the morning, always is up at 6 am, and thus gets me up. Although now since the jet lag, I need a cup of strong green tea before I step on the mat. So glad for the sleep in tomorrow, and better yet, sunshine is in the forecast, looking forward to a long walk.

Each day's highlight has been cooking up a good din din for the boys....

The Sun stayed through out the day....

2011-12-08T16:37:00.007-05:00

After breakfast before napping, I actually sat on the door way, out of the wind, in short sleeve and rolled up my pants, and felt the warmth of the Sun for 20 minutes, how I missed it, my sun tanning on my Mysore terrace.... A very nice short walk happened in the afternoon, and I was able to catch the sun set on the pond.

I love how gentle the sun set and how still the water are...

It's 17 celsius room temp ....

2011-12-07T16:04:00.012-05:00

And my drop back looked like this.....

I am just not one of those people who can pull out a drop back just like that whether they are in a studio or at home, whether they are in hot or cold place. It took me a week and a half to dig a drop back out of me since leaving Mysore. Yep, it's cold here and I am stiff. While the heels stay down, the toes cheated pointing out briefly to help coming back up. Until my back open up more, legs straighten up more (will they ever?!!), it is going to stay this way, but I am ok with it. No knee pain, or back pain so far, finger crossed on this old wagon of mine.

Notice the pj pants, no yoga wear needed, anything goes when you practice at home.

It's hitting -7 tonight, brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr......

2011-12-06T18:44:00.006-05:00

For Canadians, -7 is warm. For me who live in Mysore for the last four years during winter time, it feels like -27!!!! I am slowly getting used to the cold here.

Since the jet lag is gone, a new routine comes out of it nicely. Practice now has shifted to 6:30 am to 8 am, sandwiched between Anthony and Lucas's breakfast time, simply perfect. This is my 3rd month of doing 5 day 2nd series and 1 day primary, and I completely am in the beginner stage, many poses I used do better with the primary attached before it, now is not even half as close. But I enjoy it, so fresh, so new, and I decided not to add more poses, stopping before the leg behind. Really, there is no hurry. I have stayed in half primary for a year when I first started Ashtanga. Then 2 months is nothing. My body is enjoying it, why fix it when it ain't broken.

Back here, I am liking all the Chinese stuff, one of which is best for this cold weather, the Soup Ball. It is made of black sticky rice powder with black sesame inside, a very traditional Chinese dessert, super yummy, and warms the tummy!

I like everything about it....

2011-12-05T18:40:00.013-05:00

This Kale has the most beautiful color and shape to it, and no matter how you look at it, it is pretty from inside out, all around, as pretty as any flower. And yes, I love its taste and texture too even thought it loses its color after I cook it.

The early winter morning sky lit up my face .....

2011-12-04T16:35:00.013-05:00

The quietness at this hour, the empty streets at this hour on a Sunday morning made the Sun rise even more spectacular, as if it were my very private sun rise. A wonderful conversation with H happened before I came out and saw the sky, how timely. Oh ya, a wonderful practice happened after I took the photos.

The sun only came back briefly, and rain will come the next few days.

The love birds are sun tanning on the pond...

2011-12-03T12:11:00.007-05:00

The whole pond just the two of them. Their nice white feather suits the reflection of the blue sky on the pond. I patiently took many many shots of them, for a long time. In the end, they decided I was too annoying and they took off. It was when the last one took off, I got a shot of its elegant beautiful wings.

Oh my poor fingers froze again ... need gloves... brrrrrrrrrr!

Twilight on the pond...

2011-12-03T09:16:00.013-05:00

The pond has become my practice spot for the Lumix, which I am slowly figuring out how to play with. Dummy like me so appreciate all the touch screen, and buttons to use, two of the most used buttons so far are the food and sun buttons.

It was so nice this morning, the air absolutely deliciously crispy and the geese sleep through the night on the pond. They watched me photo the pond. The pond was quietly still, looking reluctant to wake up, letting the pink light gently touch its soft frozen surface.

The Canadian winter twilight is amazing...

The Sun came finally ....

2011-12-03T07:53:00.005-05:00

After one week I was back. And my jet lag is over thanks to a fight lasted into late night, a fight with H of course.

I slept so well and woke up at 6, out of bed at 6:30, took the shot of the first glimpse of the the Sun rise before I started to make my breakfast. Wow, how I miss the sunshine!

I'm taking my Lumix to a long long walk to soak in the sun...

The snow sugar dusted the pond....

2011-12-02T17:35:00.008-05:00

It was such gentle snow, first one I saw in two years. All is not white, but all is peaceful. And that was the pond before I went napping. When I woke up later, the snow stopped, and the geese came ...

TGIF! What am I to do tomorrow morning at 4 am? No practice. But the forecast says sun is coming... finger crossed!

I forgot how fingers could get freezing cold!

2011-12-01T18:54:00.008-05:00

Those beautiful geese made it look so nice out there, I decided to take some photos of them, without gloves. And every 5 minutes or so, I had to stop and got my fingers in the pockets. I need those finger-tip-less-mittens. It's been two years since I had a taste of Canadian winter... and this is totally mild weather. The cold has not really arrived yet. I simply forget how to live in cold country all together! Spoiled by the Mysore weather.

But I adore those geese, such gorgeous warm feather they wear.... all line up for the photo shoot.

The camera makes it so easy to...

2011-11-30T16:16:00.006-05:00

Do macro shoot, and fast. I was practicing with this bread, my favorite bread, trying to do it without flash light. One of the reasons I get this camera is to make my food photo shooting easier. And so far it does.

The jet lag continues, so is the early practice and today finally broke a bit of sweat, and the body started to open a bit too. It's amazing how jet lag can make me so awake in the early hours, no tea needed, makes the practice so easy. It's super nice to finish my practice half an hour before Anthony gets up at 6 am....

Hopefully the practice stays this early when the jet lag leaves.

Taking a long break from my book....

2011-11-29T16:26:00.008-05:00

Which I've been reading too much... I mean my Face Book. It's kind of nice off it so far.

I bought myself an early Bday gift: a new camera Lumix. It's a good camera for dummy like me who want to do better photo without having to learn much about camera. It's a great toy for me, for sure it's gonna keep me busy while I am here. I have been shooting lots of it at these Canadian geese that are landing like troops on the pond in the backyard daily. I managed to catch one goose showing off its beautiful wings.

My favorite is the solo goose in the pond ....

It was during my savasana....

2011-11-28T17:05:00.006-05:00

This morning at 5:30 am that the image of my Sun tanning on the terrace came into my mind, and it did give me some warmth.

The practice now becomes sweatless. I had expected it to be stiff, and no surprise. The good part was that the second day was easier than the first day, just like often the case the second Surya is easier than the first one. The jet lag goes on, and the early morning practice hangs on to it. So far so good.

The weather here is not as cold I expected, but the morning does not look any different from the afternoon: grey grey grey.

For the 1st time, I am enjoying Jet Lag....

2011-11-27T12:03:00.016-05:00

Woke up at 3 am, stayed in bed till 3:30 am, up and on the mat at 4am for my 1st practice after two days off, done at 5:30 am. Very nice to have a nap early at 8 am. Like it, really like it this way. And let the jet lag be.

Survived the 36 hours trip. Loved the new swing for the North American flight in Paris airport, no more bus rides. Loved all the space and color of the terminal E.

Most of all, love the French croissant, even at the airport.

Pulling it up ....

2011-11-24T00:00:00.006-05:00

One rock at a time. Yep, the Indian way. Does it matter it will take forever? Nope. It keeps somebody working, that is all it matters!

When the party got going....

2011-11-22T22:41:00.019-05:00

These old ladies turned into little silly girls and played the cutest games! It was completely not what I expected, and they took it very serious. And I won one of the games, and you can see the excitement on my face! There were not really much of sitting around and chatting at all, no gossiping, nothing like that. Some of them I already met before when I went to their yoga class. These ladies only speak English among them, and all very well spoken English.

Finally, the food was so good that I had second plate!

When the night fell.....

2011-11-21T22:12:00.009-05:00

The light came out.

I lighted each single oil light all around the terrace and it was my first time ever in India. It was amazing how such simple light could turn the night terrace into a wonderful spot. I did this before the ladies came up. And I was able to sit down, turned the lights off, and watched the terrace for a few minutes.

And for a few seconds, it felt as if the terrace was floating in the night air... magic!

Setting it up for the party...

2011-11-20T22:32:00.016-05:00

It was loads of fun setting it up. I took my time, and I took photos. What joy! After all was done, the Indian music was playing, and I sat on the day bed for half an hour, all by myself enjoying it.

Loved it.

First, came the kolam....

2011-11-19T23:57:00.007-05:00

When I came back from breakfast at GTR, they were there already. Wish I didn't miss it when the servant was doing it.

How I loved them on my terrace, and I sort of like it better that they are all just simple white color patterns. For the first time, my terrace has kolams. Gorgeous!

If you think only on the bus men and women sit in different area...

2011-11-19T01:10:00.014-05:00

Think again.

In this 60 year old restaurant, there is a room for women, and for men who come with a lady, sort of like a family room. And outside in the big area, it's man only. We are at GTR, locating in an area of Chamundipouram, which I am not familiar at all. And I like that. I asked 4 rickshaw drivers, all didn't know what I was talking about, then the last one I asked knew and he agreed to use meter, double yays.

GTR is famous for its Masala dosa, and it is as popular as the other 60 year old restaurant Mylari Hotel among locals. GTR's Masala dosa fillings are hands down the best, but I will give the dosa texture to Mylari Hotel dosa, which is super unique. GTR dosa is on the crunchy side, very good too. But I do love the uppama here, absolutely the very best! The idly is so so. The whole thing cost us just 58 rupees!

It was a wonderful Saturday early morning breakfast in an old area of Mysore, especially when I could eat and chat in Chinese with my fw V!!! Triple yays!

It's been more than six months...

2011-11-18T09:22:00.010-05:00

Since we last ate at Sandhya's. And it's been way too long.

She missed us and us more! H felt bad for not coming so long. I fell in love with a new dish she made today. The ridge gourd, it was out of this world. Her house has been packed daily with yogis. I managed to steal a quick chat with her in the kitchen, about all these crazy increase of price on carrots and tomato and beans and.... but she said it would come down in Dec. And like always, when we all were happily fed, Sandhya would sit on her day bed and took her break, or sometimes out in the front yard. And it was her chatting time with H. They seemed to just have things to chat forever. Meanwhile, I was thrilled to run into the Ottawa gang who came to Mysore for the first time. It was loads of fun to catch up with them. How about that?! It just happened without arranging it. Good food did it!

Tomorrow, a big potluck party by my owner Ama, us and the roommate were invited. Some 20 60's and 70's ladies in the neighborhood would hang out for a ladies night party here. More home made Indian food is coming....

I survived it again!

2011-11-17T10:11:00.003-05:00

Thanks to a very very skillful dentist, the third time was definitely the charm! Another filling was done on me without anesthesia, yay yay yay!

It really is the best the way to do it, and I am getting the hang of it!

What the heck are they doing?

2011-11-16T05:47:00.007-05:00

A bunch of people were just standing in the middle of the road, as we were driving closer to them. Then they slowly moved away to let cars and bikes came through. I would never have guessed! They were drying their hay on the road!!! How smart!

Anything goes, and anything works in India! Love it!

It's been nearly 6 months since the last yoga video...

2011-11-14T22:33:00.011-05:00

Or since I last blogged about my practice, and I do miss it a bit.

First of all, my practice survived the summer, meaning I did it. And that was about it. It has not been easy the last nearly 6 months. Any progress there? Not really. It is just about now I am getting back to where I was 6 months ago. I have gained lots of weight during the past 6 months, and working with a new body. Some heavy stuff. It makes me stronger to practice with a heavy body. It makes me more aware of my body with each pose, feeling how different it is now. It forces me to work differently. And I like that.

And different indeed. For the last two months, I have split my practice. And so far so good. At the beginning, it was very short practice. And I have completely lost my kapo, which was not much to lose anyway. It is the first time I detach myself from primary. It's a new practice all over. Doing it without primary was unthinkable in the past for me. It was a mental block for me: I need the primary warm up to do the second! Or: I would lose my primary if I don't do it.

No longer is the mental block. I now practice 5 days of second, and only one primary. Amazingly, my lower right back pain is gone. My should felt so open and relax. I am feeling a bit more of my upper back, which was dead area before. Back bending is way more comfortable now even though it does not look any deeper than before. The invisible progress, I like. And I do 10 to 15 breaths in a back bend, rather than 5 and up and down. I do more of walking hands in, than drop back. To me, walking the hands or feet in is the real deal. It is hard, it is boring, but it pays off in the long run.

I have been doing primary daily since 2005. It's about time to move on. And it feels just so right. I am taking my time in my second. And I want to give it as much a chance as the primary. so I am not expecting much. I am just enjoying how my shoulder and back feel at the moment. I am stopping right before the leg behinds. Maybe in another month, the leg behinds will kick in.

More and more, I feel the need of teacher's adjustment for the second series. Starting next year, I will do some drop in, like once or twice a week will be great.

Oh ya, I am sharing the space with my two blue chairs....

The 700 rupees make over...

2011-11-13T22:24:00.018-05:00

The two blue chairs inspired me to do a make over for the balcony sitting area. Poor H had to haul all the junk to the master bedroom balcony.

We moved the day bed to the new area, hung two curtains which were the old living room curtains on the wall behind the daybed. The new darlings, my two blue chairs, moved right in where the day bed used to be. I did out all my old shawl, and sure, I found a perfect one to match the chairs, and an orange one to match the floor. Found a torn shirt of H, and cut a square out of it, and used it to cover the stool, a perfect place for my chai set!

Both H and me couldn't believe how it turned out. We love it to death! It was amazing to sit and chat on the daybed at night, and it would not interfere the room mate's sleep at all. And this morning, I ate my fruit salad there, it was delicious in every way. Our room mate loves it too, and you can sit there with your laptop, and asking yourself: where am I? India? Really?

All this because of the two 700 rupees chairs. Only in Mysore!

Laughing all the way....

2011-11-12T22:04:00.007-05:00

Gosh, I haven't laugh like this for a long time!

H and I went to this roadside furniture shop that has both new and used stuff. We've been here many times over the years. The owner and H had a thing about each other, he sort of scare and love H at the same time. I spotted two chairs with my favorite color, and I wanted them, I told H. The owner said 650 rupees. I said, for both? He said one. And that was all I said. From that point on, it was all between H and the owner. And all I could do was covering my mouth with my shawl. I was hiding my laugh.
Each time the bargain between them was funny. This time it was ridiculously funny. It was half English half Kananda. There were hugs, and hand waving.

At the end, I got my two blue chairs, for 700 rupees. And that was when the fun began. I worn the two chairs on my arms and sat behind H on the Enfield! HA! If this was not the Indian way, I don't know what else is!!!!!!

I literally laughed all the way home... such Mysore moment!

Getting there....

2011-11-11T22:29:00.006-05:00

No matter how well you plan out your route, you will get confused on the road at least if not lost. That is road trip in India. H just knew his way pass the Leela Palace hotel, and that is it. From that point on, we do what we always do, asking for directions. Sometimes there is sight on the road that might help. But we managed to get there without getting lost at all.

There is bus service between Mysore and Kesava temple. Some people hire just a rickshaw to get there. Most foreigners hire a car of course. It is really nice to pack your picnic and spend the day there. There is very nice sitting area outside the entrance to eat lunch and rest. This way you can take your time at the temple and take a walk in the village. Do not go on the weekend, it will be packed.

The entrance fee is 100 rupees for foreigners and just 5 rupees for locals. H just talked his Kananda and we got in for 5 rupees. I don't feel guilty about it at all. Why and why should foreigners pay so much more? In China, they do this too. I mean, not all foreigners are rich, and some Indians are super rich here. Rich or poor, foreigners travel so far to come to India, and to me that is enough. But on another note, I would just think of it as a donation towards the temple if I have to pay the foreigner fee next time.

Yes, next time. I want to go back, when all reconstruction is done.

Stepping my feet inside the Kesava...

2011-11-10T22:27:00.011-05:00

And with the touch of of my first foot on the old stone, for the first time, after all this time in India, I began to understand why you enter an Indian temple bare feet. It gave me such closeness to nature. I could feel the heaviness of these aged stone, I felt such lightness of my body in contrast to it. It was quite a feeling, the kind of feeling one can only experience but not put into words.

With its darkness and heaviness, I felt like I was in an ancient cave, alone. Yes, I was alone with Kesava, sitting on its huge cool slate of stone, so many feet have been on it for so many years, and I was just one of them. I felt Kesava reduced me to nothing. Even though it was such a small, dark space I felt nothing of me. I had this same feeling when I was sitting at the edge of Canyonlands National Park. I think nature and old temples and places do that to you.

It was meant to be. I am so glad I did not come to Kesava till now. I was one of the few, if not the only one, who came to Mysore to do yoga, and never gone on any moon day or Saturday day trips. Day trip slowly came into my life when my self practice started and living in Mysore with H. I would have never appreciated Kesava if I had came on my first Mysore trip. Living here has given me a feel of the way of life here in Mysore.

Kesava temple... part one

2011-11-10T08:51:00.009-05:00

Yep, we were on the road again, this time to the Kesava temple. Simply perfect weather for a road trip. And we took our time, didn't leave till 11:30 am. How we miss our Indian road trip, best way to travel in India.

I have always always always wanted to see this temple, and I loved it, everything about it, inside out! I love the fact that it's not a functioning temple. I love it is just stone, old and huge stone. I love its carving. I love that it is colorless, just the aged natural stone color. I love the fact hardly anyone was there. And I love that H took so many photos of me, patiently. I also loved it that H waited for me outside, so I could took my time inside the temple to sit as there were no tourist at one point.

Most of all, I loved its inside... which is the next post.

Now the living room got a small face lift....

2011-11-09T06:45:00.006-05:00

But most of all to welcome the second flower pot to my house.

How I adore these pots and wonder why I haven't done it much earlier. I love this new arrangement in the living room. It is simply so nice to sit on the daybed and look straight out to the gorgeous balcony. More spacious now in the living room, as you walk in, you feel like dancing, so much room is there now...

All the locks...

2011-11-07T21:24:00.009-05:00

Indians love locks.

In a house, there might not be much, but each door will have more than one lock, on the inside and the outside. And of course, there are the key makers who still hand made them. And most keys are still huge and heavy. Why? So you don't lose it easily...

The metal street is really like a living museums, one can see old tools of all kinds and how they are still working in India.

I thought the bronze shop keepers are men only ....

2011-11-06T20:51:00.019-05:00

I was wrong! I couldn't believe it when I walked by one with women! Yay!

The reason I come here to the bronze street is to find my tea pot. I asked the shop keeper. He said no one would take it, so no tea pot. I said, you make one and I will take.

This is where people come to buy all the puja gears, everything you need is here. I also want to find bronze bowls, no luck yet, maybe next time.

One interesting fact is the price of the bronze ware is not by size, but by weight. It ain't cheap. I did see a water jug with bronze inside and stainless steel outside priced for only 400 rupees, cheaper than the one I saw in a stainless steel shop. I might buy it next time.

Ayurvedic medical practitioner in India,claimed that bronze kitchen ware is the only source of tin to human body, not sure its truth. The shop keeper tells me it is good for your body. I love the color of it, the hand work of it, and its unfinished look to it.

H had fun checking out lots of tool shops, and we both enjoy watching the work men banging stuff....

If you think, woks are for stir fry only....

2011-11-05T22:09:00.014-04:00

Think again.

In Mysore, you may stir fry your vegetables in your wok, but most of the woks are for the construction workers. They use it to mix and carry cement up to the building over there heads.

I might be the only woman who is interested in all the metal shops in the city. I took H with me today, and of course he loved me. We were there for hours, exploring. I simply love watching man working things manually like in the old days. Did we buy anything? Nope. Just spent 20 rupees eating water melon on the street.

I am afraid I am going to bore you to death with these, next post to come: the bronze shops.

The wall painting on the way to the city...

2011-11-05T05:40:00.006-04:00

This wall paintings are lovely, and they seemed to appear out of nowhere overnight... so like it!

The sari became the living room curtain...

2011-11-04T09:44:00.013-04:00

My week long sari project came to an happy ending.

It was supposed to be the wall cover for the sitting area. But it ended up in the living room. How nicely bright now the living room. I so adore it all. The living room now looks like a living room in India finally, lots and lots of bright color! I really like that I can see through the fabric and see the trees out there, yet one can not see the inside from the balcony. A simple 250 rupees sari has brought so much joy to me, every second of it was sweet.

I am sure more sari curtain project are on the way, slowly, one at a time.

Working on my Sari project....

2011-11-03T01:53:00.003-04:00

And I enjoyed each needle threading through the sari material, and it calms the mind in such a gentle way.
And my mom would choke blood if she sees my very rough and untidy stroke on the sari fabric. And do I care about how the whole project would turn out? Not the slightest....

Love the simple Mysore days....

A face lift for the guest bedroom...

2011-11-01T22:39:00.008-04:00

I gave the second bedroom a face lift, to welcome the arrival of the first flower pot. It totally brings the room alive like magic, love it!

The flower pot came to my house...

2011-10-31T22:37:00.011-04:00

I have always love the way India people display their flower, letting them floating on the water in the pot. Now I finally have one of my own.

These poor folks live in the tart hut, and they make clay pots of all sorts. Among all those painted ones, I spotted my pot. And It is the one, simply gorgeous. And I am happy to buy it from these people rather than getting it in a store.

Such joy in the whole process. You bought the flowers, just 10 ruppees, you fill up the pot, and the final part is my favorite. I took my time to place each single flower on to the water, totally a meditative part.

And I could gaze at its simple beauty on and on... Mysore moment.

My "sari" project...

2011-10-31T00:21:00.006-04:00

I bought a sari yesterday, to be exact, sari material. There is no such thing as ready made sari, there is always just sari material for one to have it made into sari for you.

But I am not going to make sari out of it for myself. Sari material is the best way to buy fabric to make things such as curtain, table cover, bed sheets or bed covers. Sari is usually 6.3 meters long and a bit more than one meter wide. For this much fabric, all I paid is just 250 rupees.

I am making wall covers out of this sari material. I want to cover the wall in the daybed sitting area on the balcony, the part that is under the roof. I want it to be nice to sit against the wall.

I am going to sew it all with my hands, no machine. It will take a while, it will be my meditation, it is in no hurry at all, taking my Mysore time....

Desperately seeking the ...

2011-10-30T01:14:00.011-04:00

Southern Star tea pot.

One of my favorite things to do here is to browse in all the stainless steel kitchen ware shops, especially those small shops along kalidasa road and those in the city near the market. Yesterday, I found a nicely made water or juice jar made with bronze on the inside and stainless steel on the outside with a nice lid. In the big More in the city, it is 900 rupees. In the small shop just 500 rupees and bigger in size.

I am on a mission to find the nice tea pot in Southern Star. So far, no luck. And there is no hurry either.

What to do with the newspaper?

2011-10-29T06:08:00.010-04:00

These happen usually...

Somebody will collect them from your door.

Then someone will fold them nicely and tie them up.

Then someone will take them to a paper recycle shop.

The shop person will weigh it on a scale.

Some rupees is made.

Someone will then make nice paper shopping bag out of the papers.

Then some rupees is made again.

It goes around and around....

A charming old house in Luxmipouram...

2011-10-28T07:27:00.014-04:00

It sits in a nice quiet neighborhood.

It is within 5 minutes walking to all the yoga shalas in Luxmipouram like AJ's, Sheshadri's, yoga mandala, and to the Mysore store (the original Nilgrie). To the Big Barzar and Fab India, just 15 minutes walk.

It has three bedrooms in the house itself, and three attached bungalow rooms in the back. All have to share on big bathroom and one kitchen. It has a nice living room in the front with gorgeous windows, and a large family lounging room in the back and a large dinning room with a big dinner table to hang around. The house is old and charming with a nice tall tall ceiling that keeps it cool during the months.

It is a house full of cheer full people from all corners of the world, and each room ranges from 3000 rupees to 6000 rupees depending how long and when you are renting. Luxmipourum is a very down to earth and old area of Mysore, it is where you can have a much better feel of India than in Gokulam. And if you want Gokulam, it is just a 15-20 minutes scooter away....

For details email at Ashyoga2000@ymail.com

Diwali is in the air....

2011-10-27T06:53:00.005-04:00

Our owner Ama came up all the way and brought us Diwali sweets she made herself, so sweet indeed. They are super yummy.

And our helper Ama for the last two days has been receiving saris, and today I gave her one also, just an ordinary, don't want to build up her expectation, you know.

Had a great practice, thanks to the moon day rest yesterday.

Tonight, the boom boom continues....

Golden nest, silver nest, nothing is as good as ...

2011-10-25T07:02:00.004-04:00

Your own dog nest! Chinese saying, basically means home sweet home.

Woke up in the taxi to the lush greenness of the Mysore rice field on the way back to Mysore.

It poured and poured and poured in Mysore.

Managed to get all my veges in Easy Day before it poured like hell.

Cooked my simple lunch: ridge gourd with scramble egg over brown rice, my own cooking is always my comfort food. My tummy is super happy.

So glad to be home.... so blessed to have such a great place to come back to.

What I know about Abu Dhabi in 5 days....

2011-10-24T03:56:00.014-04:00

A woman can not just go into any mosque, there is man's, woman's and mix.

The Philippines were the earliest foreigners to come to work here, before the high rise. And I love their restaurants here, cheap and good.

The Indians and Iranians here almost all have their own business here.

The taxi drivers are mostly from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Srilanka. And the speed is monitored on the taxi. And if you work night shift, you are not allowed to work morning shift. The taxi drivers are so friendly and don't cheat on us at all. Taxi are not expensive here. The driver works 15 hours each day.

Most workers are foreigners here. The locals don't seem to work and you hardly see them on bus. It seems all they do is mall shopping and eat.

This is the land of big luxury cars. It costs just 120 dh a day to rent a BMW or Benze. I saw a veil woman drive a big hummer. It costs just 80 dh to fill up a tan of gas. Cars are cheap here.

The best bargain shopping spot is the Green house, so cheap that even me, the rupee guru, could not resist.

Drivers on the streets are the best I have ever seen in any country, no reckless driving at all.

Our favorite hotel is the one we stay: the Mercue center, best location.

The most expensive hotel is the Emerite Palace Hotel, 7 star pure luxury, and you need a reservation to get in.

You could eat cheaply in this city.

It has some of the best, if not the best, upscale malls here.

Not all women completely cover their faces. Most just cover their hair, some leave the eyes uncovered. I only see about 5 or 6 that fully covered, these women seemed more rich or something. I don't like the fact that they can see all from behind the veil, and I am not supposed to look at them... not fair.

The bus is so nice and clean and only cost 1 dh to ride anywhere, lady in the front, man in the back.

The American embassy in Abu Dhabi is the best embassy I have ever been, we are treated nicely and with respect.

You can hardly get any info on sightseeing here. All the foreign workers here including the hotel front desk people, they don't do sight seeing.

The beachfront area are the best area in the city, and this is where you see so many westerners running and work out.

It's a life living in the ac.

A walk along the Abu Dhabi beach front...

2011-10-24T03:17:00.011-04:00

The beach front of Abu Dhabi is my favorite area of all in the whole city. It has some of the best walk way in the world, wide and clean. We walked all the way and back to our hotel, nearly three hours!

The beach has several areas, man's, woman's, family's, paid private one, and public free ones, and then the most expensive one, the Hilton's club. And the sand is not natural sand, and the water has hardly and waves, easy and friendly for kids to play, the beach clean and not crowdy at all.

I do love how clean this city is....

The big white mosque in the middle of nowhere...

2011-10-23T03:18:00.003-04:00

This is the biggest mosque I have ever seen, all white and in the middle of no where.

I told the taxi driver to stop for me to take some pix. It was so white under the bright sun that I could hardly look at it. My small camera was utterly confused as to where to shoot, way too massive.

H just wanted to wait for me in the car (his country has the oldest and best mosque on earth most likely). And I actually asked a lady to take a photo of me near the pool in front of the mosque. And she also took photo of a western woman and a kid before she helped me. And right after she took one of me, a man working for the mosque came over and told me to delete the photo. He said I was not dressed properly for the mosque. One has to wear the black monto for the mosque. I really did not want to delete my photo. And as we were arguing, H came over and started talking to him, and I took my quick escape to the taxi. And at this point, I lost all my interest in going inside the mosque. All I was doing was admiring its beauty, nothing wrong. Should it had said no non-Muslim allowed, I wouldn't have gotten even close to it.

So did I delete the photo? Nope.

Stumbled into a mosque ...

2011-10-22T03:58:00.009-04:00

And it was a mosque for man's only.

How AM I supposed to know? Really, I can not tell. Some allow women, and some don't.

I was enjoying myself taking photos, and was about to walk inside the mosque. Then came a little boy and asked me: what are you doing here? I said, taking photos. The boy said, then you better hurry, take some photos and go. This is a man's mosque. I said, oh, thanks for telling me, very nice of you. Such sweet boy you are! He smiled, me too.

Nice moments of traveling in a foreign country...