Blue Lotus Ashtanga

2011-11-01T03:15:00.000-07:00

Hello yogis,
I thought some might like to read of the joys and challenges of a Mysore first timer.
Well.......mmm........psychologically challenging rising at 4.15 on a supposed holiday,
but wonderful to finish before 6.30am in the early morning Mysore balminess. I've been walking home from the shalla, a ball of sweat, as the doti-wearing elderly men exercise their dogs.
Their is significant injustice (or perhaps it's been some time coming ) in the fact that Karyn starts her practice 1.5 hours after me.
It's quite challenging the practice, rather more intense than at home, maybe because of the heat, maybe because there's not much else to think about. My teacher is a seventy year old woman named Saraswati who is the daughter of the bloke (Pattabhi Jois) that started the school, she looks and acts about 50 & struts around like a hybrid tank/bulldog, although a very nice one (bulldog that is). She's decided to load me up with about three extra poses, so the cruise-control state has been put under pressure a little.
I think that's more than enough from me, see you back in Melbourne.
Travis.

a week teaching yoga in Vanuatu

2010-09-27T23:01:00.000-07:00

I had a great week in Vanuatu - for me it really was a tropical island paradise! When I woke on the Sunday morning after arriving late on Saturday night I thought I had arrived in heaven. The sun streaming through the shutters, the sound of the waves, the calls of tropical birds (not sure what they are called but they looked like vibrant green pigeons!), the warm, humid air surrounding me - very different from the chilly Melbourne I'd left behind!

I had few expectations and knew little about Vanuatu when I was asked if I'd like to go over to teach a week long yoga workshop to a small group of dedicated students at Port Vila yoga school. I still don't know much, but I had such a lovely time that I hope to return sometime! A few things that helped me enjoy the week: the beautiful, friendly locals, the ideal snorkeling and warm water temperature, the tropical fresh organic fruits at the market, the divine french pastries(!), the daytime temp - 30 degrees, 20 degrees overnight, the very relaxed laid back atmosphere and of course the lovely group of yoga students!

I taught class every day from 5-7pm to fit in with the Vanuatu working day which begins at 7.30am. We did a mix of led and Mysore-style classes and had time for discussions/questions about the practice, philosophy, how to make the ashtanga practice sustainable and balance it with everyday life. Such a great group of students, keen to practice! At the beginning a few were a bit fearful of 6 day practice week, but by the end of the week they were still smiling and said they felt great, the practice had given them energy - always a good thing to hear.

Below are a few snaps I took during the week....

My perfect morning practice place, although rather challenging to maintain my drishti! There was great snorkeling just out the front of where we were staying. It was so amazing to see the amount of activity and beauty that was going on beneath the water's surface.

Morning coconut water, fresh from the market.

Cascade waterfalls, a magical place. Luminous fresh water, beautiful bathing pools.

Locals at the main market in Port Vila. People from surrounding islands bring in their fruit and veg to sell. Everything is organic.

Wild raspberries at the market. We spotted (and ate) these raspberries across the road on beautiful fresh pastries at the french patisserie. Yum!!

All kinds of things at the market.

Nuts strung together ready for eating. Tasted good, but unlike any nuts I've tasted before.

Beautiful, wild Tamanu Beach. Vast sky, vast ocean.

Locals playing boule in Port Vila. The French influence endures....there was great citron sorbet at the super marche.

So stay tuned... hopefully I will be returning to the island paradise next year.
Maybe you'd like to come along.

Things that make me smile in Mysore...

2010-06-30T02:39:00.000-07:00

Chalk rangolli

Cows and beautiful calves.

Chai at the Joy House

Chamundi Hill

Mysore 2010

2010-06-18T22:12:00.000-07:00

How delighted I am to be back in Mysore! Just over two weeks have past and every day I'm very grateful just to be here. This morning (Saturday) I've been for an early morning scooter ride about town with a friend visiting different temples, paying my respects to Kali, Shiva and Hanuman then finishing with a stop at my favorite dosa place. Such a lovely morning! Just being in the early morning activity - watching life being lived on the street, saying hello to the wandering cows and marvelling at India and how life happens here. Devotion to the sacred in the midst of the chaos which constitutes life. As with the traffic here, you have to just keep going with the flow!

Often when I return to India I have an overwhelming sense of her nature, her culture, her pervading India-ness. She just is what she is, if I like it or not, she is not going to change, I have to move in her current! It is interesting to observe what arises. But I think that is why I love being here, because it makes me feel (often challenged), makes me observe but also helps me to let go. So many lessons!

I'm really enjoying the yoga course so far. To be here with my peers, listening to Sharath's words, it has been thought provoking and inspiring.
Tomorrow it is my turn to be tested! With a few others I will be talking the group through led primary series. With the traditional sanskrit counting - I just hope my pronunciation is up to scratch! Then for the next couple of days I will be adjusting
in the room with Sharath. A great learning experience.

Mysore 2008

2008-08-31T04:41:00.000-07:00

Finally I'm making an entry!! Yes, I arrived in Mysore 3 weeks ago, I don't really know where time has gone, actually that is not true I have been resting, practicing, chanting, catching up with old friends and generally taking it easy.
It's 5 pm and I can hear a continual rumble of thunder in the distance, heavy dark clouds are rolling in and I'm sure that before too long big monsoonal raindrops will be falling. Everyday since I've arrived there has been an evening down pour....which has sometimes lasted until the morning. Humidity is high which makes for much sweating in the shala.
Of course the highlight of everyday is early morning practice with Sharath and Saraswati. Guruji has not been present in the mornings....he is still often at his desk in the afternoons offering his beautiful smile. The first week I was here my practice time was 7am, which was quite nice to overcome the jet lag. Last week it was 6am, now this week I'm up to 4.45am, which I'm quite pleased about. The energy is calm, the streets are quiet, there is just the soft sound of ujjayi breathing as students begin their practice. Although this obviously means an earlier bedtime!!
I'm enjoying so much just being a student, focusing on my practice and just being.
I've also been in to chant with Jayashree in the afternoons which brings such grounding. Since last year she has retired from her college position so is now offering more chanting/sanskrit classes to yoga students. It is so wonderful to be around her dedication.
Then there is India, simply being in India! Year after year I never tire of it, actually it becomes more normal. What I'm noticing this time is the amazing colors of the tropical flowers and the depth of the green foliage. there is so much care put into garden maintenance...especially in the street where I'm staying. I guess everything is so moist and green from the monsoon, so different to the lack of water at home. I love just wandering through the flower market admiring the simple beauty the workers are creating which to them is just ever so normal. For my first 3 weeks I refrained from hiring a scooter, I was walking and taking auto rickshaws everywhere, decided there was no need to get any where quickly! Just taking it all in. But yesterday I succumbed, and requested a scooter from Shiva (no not the god, but the man who deals with scooter hiring!). Nothing in India stands still, there is a new favourite coffee place, there are more cars on the road, multi storey apartment blocks seem to be sprouting everywhere and the apartment where I'm staying has an exhaust fan in the bathroom and a washing machine!! What luxury.

So that's news from me, here are a few pics from my first few weeks.

Cat, Amanda and me at the new fav coffee place. Taken just before Amanda left.

Hello Melbourne

2007-09-07T22:13:00.000-07:00

Home is Melbourne. So lovely to be home, especially since spring is definitely here and the daffodils are flowering in my garden. No matter how many times I travel to India I always find it a cultural shock returning home. There is so much space here, it is so quiet and so clean! The diversity of our planet never ceases to amaze me and to be able to open your eyes to this diversity is a great thing. India gives so many challenges which you just have to live through.... When in India, if you fight and react not much comes from the experience.....but if you soften and are willing to be accepting of the highs and lows, maybe even learn to wiggle your head in South Indian fashion, the beauty and ease of this places becomes apparent. This world is a crazy place and all things exist within it, just as all those things exist within each of us. Yoga gives so many challenges and if you are willing, it takes you deeper within yourself to a place where everything is ok . Put yourself in a position to experience change, smile at the highs and lows, wiggle your head, pick yourself up, ask "why not?" and keep going.
In other words, practice yoga and live your life fully.

Me being blessed by Lakshmi, the temple elephant at Hampi, 2004

Mysore - style classes recommence at Studio Cirq on Monday 10th September, 6 - 9am
for more info go to www.bluelotusashtanga.com

See you on the mat!

Farewell Mysore

2007-08-31T05:10:00.000-07:00

Well, it is nearly time to go. 2 months has passed so quickly, feel like I could stay for 1 more, but I know I will return.....soon.
The highlight of the week was definitely the 5am led primary series class this morning. Guruji counted the class through, he was so present, so strong in his voice, keeping everyone together, not allowing anyone to stray from his count. Focus and breath, enabling prana to circulate through the room emanating from him. A special memory for me to carry home.
So it has been a week of good byes, to old friends I always end up running into here, to new friends I just met on this trip.
Of course there have been the mixed emotions that are felt when saying good bye to my teachers......trusting i will see them again soon. I have such gratitude for their teachings and their devotion to teaching and yoga.
We are all so fortunate to be on this yoga path!
Bye Mysore! Thank you!!!

Guruji

Sharath

Saraswati

Jayashree and Narasimha

Full moon eve at India Song House

2007-08-27T09:20:00.000-07:00

I've just seen a beautiful performance of classical Indian dance performed by Sindhu Kiran, a local Mysorean.
The expressiveness and beauty filled every move as her dances depicted various Hindu stories. A lovely evening, especially since the dance performance followed Patricia's sattivic food served under the trees in their beautiful garden.
A sleep in tomorrow, but no doubt my body clock will wake me around 4am........The full moon is so bright, so maybe sleep will be difficult but I think not.

Mysore Flower Market

2007-08-27T09:04:00.000-07:00

images from my week

2007-08-19T04:29:00.000-07:00

Beautiful soft calf....one of many tied up along the street

complete contentment....

Post practice chai

the chai man

Ganesha Temple at Nandi halfway up Chamundi Hill.

The sun is now shining :)
Guruji taught the Led Intermediate class this morning. A very sweet class from which I'm still recovering!

Indian Independence Day

2007-08-15T23:56:00.000-07:00

White orange and green were everywhere yesterday as Indians celebrated their independence. I love this rickshaw!!

Just is case you were wondering.....a dosa is a soft rice pancake generally eaten with coconut chutney. Most often taken at breakfast but can also be eaten for an evening snack.

The best dosa in Mysore?

2007-08-12T04:46:00.000-07:00

Moon day today, so no yoga practice at the shala. A day to sleep in and then head across town to Mylari, dosa heaven.

Nikki wondering if his dosa is bigger than hers!

Rain

2007-08-08T03:27:00.000-07:00

Rain, rain, rain.....well I guess it is the monsoon! Dams are full and the newspapers are full of stories of the destruction floods bring to so many villages.

Clothes stay wet for days, and the clouds on the horizon tell me I should not risk hanging my clothes out on the line.
Will my yoga clothes be dry for morning practice?!

My favourite flower seller on Gokulam High St. is now able to stay open for business rain or shine thanks to one of the neighbouring businesses providing her with this umbrella.

There is always such beauty everywhere, even where there is mud.

more pictures of Guruji's birthday

2007-07-31T23:21:00.000-07:00

Guruji's 92nd Birthday, Monday 30th July.

2007-07-31T21:42:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful day it was! It was a day of celebration for the life of this amazing man. Over the past week old students have been arriving in Mysore to honour Guruji on his birthday. Close to 400 people (locals and foreigners) filled the shala floor wanting to participate in the celebrations. Space was hard to find and sitting cross leg in a sari trying to take up as little space as possible is a difficult thing!!

The day began with traditional homa (fire) puja and chanting of mantras by the Brahmin priests, blessing Guruji with long life and good health. Following this a few students did performances in honour of Guruji, which were very well received. We even sang "Happy Birthday" in Kannada, much to Guruji's delight. A long line was formed around around the shala as we all the waited to personally greet Guruji, give him flowers, have a photo taken with him and just be close to this teacher who has given so much to each one of us and the yoga world in general.

I have been thinking of what Guruji means to me....he means so much that it is difficult to put it into words. But one thing came to mind, I was fortunate to learn from Guruji 10months after I started practicing Ashtanga yoga, since then it has just been normal for me to return to continue my learning with him and Sharath. He firmly established me in this practice, his faith, strength, dedication and compassion continue to inspire me everyday when I get on my mat. Practice may be hard some days and I may be a long way from Mysore, but he has given me a passion for Yoga (just as he has given many others) that keeps me wanting to learn, practice and share what I've been taught.

What is remarkable is that 3 months ago Guruji was critically ill, but now he is here and he is strong. He is not going anywhere yet! His recovery made Monday all the more a celebration.
As Sharath said "May he live for many more years to come!"

Of course a Brahmin feast followed. So many things appeared on my banana leaf.....as well as some birthday cake.

Blessings to Guruji and his family.
Hari Om.

Harry Potter in India

2007-07-24T22:07:00.001-07:00

Harry Potter has opened in Mysore. Mary, Sarai and I lined up with the school kiddies for our chance to see Harry in action.

But, sadly Harry Potter is not much chop when it comes to pulling film crowds here in Karnataka, and is unlikely to last more than one week on the big screen. The local film heroes are much more appreciated and attract much more attention!!

beginning of 4th week.

2007-07-23T01:41:00.000-07:00

I'm finally feeling better after a couple of days of lying low with a stomach bug. I don't know what it was, but during my first 5am led primary practice on Friday my abdomen did not want to twist or bend forward!!! I thought it may have been my 3.15am wake up and my bad night sleep.....but no. Anyway, the good thing about being in Mysore is that there really is nowhere you have to be after you have finished your yoga practice. So I spent the day horizontal, only managing to eat a few idli (steamed rice cakes) with vegemite! Whatever it was it didn't hang about, so I was back on my mat 5am on Sunday morning feeling much better and lighter. Internal cleasing is always good.
So, yes, Sharath has moved me up to 5am, which really means 4.45am as this is what time the shala doors open. Working backwards, this means that my alarm goes off at 3.30am giving me enough time for a cup of tea, showering, stretching and a little sitting prior to my walk to the shala. This time of the morning is so peaceful, starting practice when it is still dark and finishing when the sun has come up is a very sweet way to start the day. Everything is less frantic, the energy in the shala is clear and there is a touch of night coolness. I roll out of the shala about 7.30am ready to accept my first coconut of the day from Bck (pronounced Beck), the forever smiling coconut man.

...and maybe buy some jasmine.

a trip down to Lakshmipuram

2007-07-17T23:35:00.000-07:00

Yes, I've been taking a trip down memory lane remembering what it used to be like when there was only 12 people in the shala at any one time....and maybe 20 waiting on the stairs. The old shala was situated in Guruji's house (just as the new one is located in his new home in Gokulam) and was located in Lakshmipuram. This property was given to Guruji by the last Maharaja of Mysore as Guruji was one of his employees, he taught him yoga.

This first picture is of Caroline, Tania and myself outside the front door of the Guruji's old home. In the afternoons Guruji would leave the door open and we were welcome to come ask a question or just sit with him whilst he read the paper. On entry he most commonly asked "What news?"

Yesterday Charlie, Alice, Alan, Sarai and myself went to BB's canteen for chai and many coconut biscuits. In the days of the old shala we used to sit here after practice (sometimes as early as 6.30am if you were in the first batch!) drink chai, eat biscuits and watch Mysore slowly wake up. You knew you'd been there too long if students from the second batch started to arrive, it was time to go home and rest. Very peaceful mornings indeed.

Climbing Chamundi Hill

2007-07-15T01:26:00.000-07:00

Saturday is the usual "day off" practice at the shala here in Mysore, but this month the new moon holiday falls on Sunday (today) so we have had a long weekend - 2 days of sleep ins! So my suggestion was to climb the 1000 steps up Chamundi Hill on Saturday morning, giving us Sunday to recover if need be. Chamundi Hill overlooks Mysore, at the top stands the Chamundeswari Temple, home of Chamundeswari the incarnation of the goddess Kali who slained the demons threatening Mysore. It is always a good idea to pay your repects to the goddess on arrival in Mysore ensuring yourself an enlightened stay!

Tania, Nick, Denise (a friend from Singapore) Sarah and myself made the climb from the bottom. Our rickshaw driver told us that a Cheetah had been spotted in the Chamundi forest a month back, but assured us we had nothing to fear....we just had to make sure the monkeys didn't snatch our bags. One aspect of living in India which I find difficult is the pollution, it seeps into my lungs and before long I can produce a pretty good smokers cough without going anywhere near a beedie. Anyway, yesterday I felt my lungs expand as I made my way up the steps, the sounds of the traffic where left behind and I was able to smell the scent of the plants. The steps were laid in another time, uneven slabs of granite, worn by the feet of many pilgrams.

Shade is ample (thankfully), especially at this time of the year when the rains are giving the forest full opportunity to grow to its thickest and greenest. Small shrines are located along the way giving the devoted a reason for rest and gratitude. Of course at the beginning of any journey there is always Ganesh (elephant headed, son of Shiva and Parvati) as he is needed to remove obstacles. 700 steps up we came to the 5 metre high Nandi (the bull of Shiva), after circumambulation and blessings from the priest we continued to the top enjoying the spotting the landmarks of Mysore below us.

Ah the breeze! The temple towers above everything and to the western eye the activity surrounding the temple appears chaotic at best. Just as we arrived the idol of Chamundeswari was brought out for a procession around the temple, the trumpets were sounded. She was bedecked with garlands of flowers, a jeweled umbrella was held above her head and disciples bowed their heads before her. Devotion and gratitiude which permeates Indian culture is learnt here within their religion and it is a beautiful thing to observe, something I feel is so often missing from the way we live our lives in the west.
We rolled down the hill in auto rickshaws playing chicken with oncoming buses keeping the adrenaline pumping all the way until we arrived within the safety of the Dasaprakash walls for a South Indian Thali lunch, then onto my fav tea house....the Joy House, best chai in Mysore.

Surprisingly my legs aren't sore today! Chamundeswari must be in favour of my stay!

Flowers for Guruji

2007-07-12T06:41:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I bought flowers to give Guruji. A metre of small jasmine flowers threaded together on a string along with a few roses all tied up in a banana leaf. He was sitting at his desk when I walked into the office, his smile was beautiful and his eyes lit up. This was enough for me. Guruji has been through a serious illness and his recovery has been quite remarkable. I miss him not being in the shala, his energy when teaching is beyond description, the years he has spent practicing, teaching being immersed in the study of Yoga is tangible in his presence. Yesterday, just as I was beginning my practice he made his way from the back of the shala (where the office is located) carefully stepping through the sea of sweaty practicing bodies to the front of the room, where he sat in his chair for 5 minutes surveying the the practitioners in front of him, then, slowly, carefully he walked around the perimeter of the room back to the office.....almost like a circumambulation! There is much prana in this man. It is his years of dedication that have brought so many students to this practice and so many students to learn from him, his grandson Sharath and his daughter Saraswati in his home town of Mysore. Thank you Guruji!

2007-07-12T00:28:00.000-07:00

Mysore arrival

2007-07-12T00:09:00.000-07:00

Yay, finally I've got it together to post my first blog entry!!
Rolling into Mysore last week on the Shatabdhi Express, view of Chamundi Hill in the distance a faint hint of jasmine on the wind, I was just so happy to have arrived knowing that I have 9 weeks of practice, rest ahead of me. One thing that hasn't changed much in the past 10 years is the train station, sleepy and laid back....I feel like I've come home.