Mysore Sojourn : The Practice

Practicing yoga off the mat is challenging. While in Asana (physical posture) or Pranayama (Breathwork) or Dhayana (Meditation), to a certain extent, you are in the driver's seat;  practicing yoga of life, of relationships, of duty is a whole different experience. My yoga training & practice of 10 years is put to test and ... I feel like I am a baby taking her first steps. I'd like to share more on this, but, its a story for  a different day....in a different blog.

In the meantime, I am back in Mysore (after 14 days) and back on the mat! I return to a much warmer Mysore and today's practice was felt on my body.

I first came to Mysore to practice the Ashtanga Vinyasa two years back. I feel in love with the practice and Mysore. Since then, there has been the intention to return and "return" I did. For me, there is something "special" about living and practicing in Mysore. Yoga here is "serious" stuff and majority of the practitioners have been practicing for several years - either as experienced teachers and/or extremely serious practitioners (and of course the occasional yoga newbie).

All types of classes are being offered, with the Ashtanga Vinyasa practice taking the lead. But you can also experience Hatha Yoga, Yoga Therapy, Sanskrit, Yoga Sutra, Ayuveda, Massage, and in a lighter vein, learn Mysore traditional painting, try your hands at Indian cuisine, string mala/beads or even volunteer at an N.G.O. The Mysore Ashtanga Community on Facebook is a abuzz with the "goin-ons" here.

Many assume that practicing any form of yoga is normally done in as ashram-like atmosphere. However, in Mysore, most practices are done in "shalas" (yoga schools/ houses). Practitioners live outside the shala, in service apartments, flats to share or individual rooms like mine. Every morning/ afternoon or evening, we go to the shala to get our daily dose of yoga-fix.

Waiting for the Shala to open ("Breezy" - my ride in Mysore)

Shalas have strict guidelines and we follow it like our lives depended on it. I like the "seriousness" of the approach. We are all here to deepen our practice and practitioner stay laser focused on that.

Shala "Seriousness"

This time around, I have steered a wee bit away from the Ashtanga Vinyasa Style. I am currently practicing  Prana Vasya Yoga ( http://www.pranavashya.com) under Vinay Kumar-ji (as the only Indian, I am the only one that calls him that). There is the Primary Series much like Ashtanga but with a slight difference in Sun Salutations, the asana sequencing and the "vinyasa". Vinay-ji is good with injuries and my SI joint injury from 2 years back feels like its getting better. No donbt, some asanas are difficult with my tightness but I don't stop at those; he gives me adaptations to work around the injury so I continue on the Series.

Prana Vashya Primary Series Chart

I also practice Pranayam with Vinay-ji. In addition he has a special practice in the afternoon (when the body is warmer) on back bending or hip opening. I have not yet dared to include that in my daily routine as 3 hours of morning practice leaves me feeling like "jello".

The body aches, the mind plays it tricks on you to maybe give it a miss BUT....the practice continues - we don't stop!  Here, there is no easy fix-it solution, there are no shortcuts, there is no "I cant do it", there are no "quick results". Just consistent practice.... we chip away at it breath by breath, practice after after, day after day, month after month, year after year and then one day.... voila, it happens !!!

And that's why its's called "PRACTICE"! 

p.s. I love the practice... I love Mysore!