Photos of mine posted by Manatee County Conservation Lands Management

Taken in 2008 and the same ones as posted below, Google found them for me :)

It was one of their Shutter Strolls...

Starry

TrueTulipEggCase

Seagrasses

HermitCrab

Sealife

Here are a few of my latest photographs... taken with a 105mm macro lens...

Games the mind will play - Journey of self discovery

Being caught in the old "trap" - being effected by others actions, or comments... The mind is so quick to "make up stories" about why something happened.. "oh they are acting this way toward me because of something I said or did". Coming from this position it is very easy to react in a negative way.
When in fact (more often than not) - the mind has simply conjured something up - there are always too many factors at hand to say why someone is acting or doing something... are they acting out of character (and how would you know if you only just met them?), are they having a bad day? (ah, but since we haven't asked them...) -- so we take the variables we do know and we try to play the chess board with what we have. Since some of those variables include our emotional state, or what happened to us "last time" - we find then a bias to our outcome that often veers on the negative.

By having a daily Yoga practice (and here is my bias for some form of Hatha practice) we explore the journey of self discovery, removing some of the conditioning by the union (Yoga=Yoke or Union) of the actions of breath, body and mind... the more often we participate in the practice, the less conditioning we find, and therefore the less we 'react' to situations that normally would "press our buttons"
Through this practice we act from a more "centered" perspective and are able to observe the frantic nature of others lives... simply observe without becoming caught up in that web of negative energy.
We have moved from generating these franetic actions to observing others... continued practice of Yoga brings us to a place of calmness; when others experience this it has a positive impact for them. It is hard to have a negative reaction to a cat sitting outside being the expression of its true self... go find a cat and sit for a while (go on!), do your Yoga practice and well everything will be much better...

Comments?

Fuji S5, Nikon D3 and D300

So B&H Photo has the Fuji S5 for ($1,564 in stock) D300 for $1,799.95 (in stock, and D3 for $4,999.95 (still and backordered)

So.. the Fuji is a steal I guess, or maybe the D300 is a steal.. what do you think?

I am still hoping for a D3 in the holiday stocking.. hahah.. maybe 2050...

Cocoa's Photo Session

I recently created a slideshow of Cocoa's photographs...

---> Click here to see it <----

iPhone in the UK

NOTE: This is information I gleaned from an AT&T representative; from what I hear, the information can vary depending on which AT&T representative you speak with... So.. your mileage may vary!

Here is a good one.. (something that is all over the Internet, hopefully this clarifies the issues)

I will be travelling to the UK for a few days (I leave on Friday and return on Wednesday) - I want to take my iPhone and use the data feature...
To summarize: Without a plan I have heard of nightmare $3000 bills. With a plan at a minimum it is $200 (which gives 20MB of data per month). This would involve the early termination fee. From what I can estimate, 20MB is not very much data at all, especially if you are using the map feature to navigate London all day! Anything over this is 1/2 cent a MB. If iPhone was considered a luxury before.. now I am not sure what to call it.. AT&T ripoff? Nah surely not...

Before the gory details: go here and watch the movie - it is hilarious!

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/fyi/how-to-avoid-a-3000-international-iphone-data-bill-285966.php

Here are the gory details (that I was informed)

(800) 335-4685 is the number to call to activate any International features.
International data plan $24.99 month with a 12 month minimum. It is $175 early termination fee. This plan includes 20MB a month. Overages are .5c per MB. Voice calls are charged at $1.29 a minute.

There is an additional service called world traveller. It is $5.99 a month and does not have a minimum contract. Voice is then 99 cents a

Without a plan the cost is 2 cents a KB.

New Nikon D3 camera and old fav's

News of Nikon's new D3 immediately sprung thoughts of finally being able to move to a camera with a (almost) full sensor. For me the perspective of shooting with (Nikon) digital camera's has always felt awkward; the 1.5x 'magnification' just doesn't work for me. Give me a 135mm lens and let it be just that.
I brought out my Nikon F5 this weekend, used a roll of recently purchased Fuji Pro S 160 film for a friends photo shoot. What an exhilarating (yes, exhilarating) experience! The results were quite out of this world! Paired with the Nikon 135 DC F2 lens the combo is flawless...

So, I will shoot film! I will just process negs to CD using a cheap service and then scan only the individual images I want (in higher resolution). Yes that means I will have to also purchase a film scanner. Is that so bad? :)

With the news that new film emulsions are being produced; that film has just as much a place as digital; I am certain that we will find a renewed interest in this media. People will say "Let's do the 'retro' thing!"

This is atleast true until i get my hands on a D3! Time will tell...

and be on the look out for some of the images from this session....

Comments???

Cocoa's Photo session preview

Here is a quick collage from this weekends photo session with Cocoa and family.
It was really fabulous to have worked with Kirk, Amanda and Cocoa! More images soon...

Lunch & Dinner

Isn't it weird when you eat lunch and dinner at two different places and the total comes out to the same $ amount? Weird.. it happened to me just the other day.

Indoor light - photo from iPhone

(I sent the previous post and this picture from iPhone, then added these words later...)

As you see the iPhone handles this really tricky scene without a problem! There was no setting of white balance, exposure or anything - point and click magic!

iPhone here we go

So (and only because I can't leave you all asking if I did or not) I
eventually decided to buy an iPhone. I really won't add much more to
this as so many posts talk, everyone has an opinion about it: For me,
this tool will help me to market my work and generally keep well
connected.
I will upload a photo showing night-time photography capability in
next post.

Camera I brought to Vancouver

I brought the Nikon 35Ti and a borrowed Nikon Digital P1. The P1 turned out to be very useful for mini videos and the images (jpg as they were) quite good!

Here is one...

I left the image on the small size setting, but you can still see how it worked out quite well.
The 35Ti also was really nice, though the digital really took the picture as it were... Out of the 4-5 rolls of film I barely shot maybe 5 pictures tops! Pathetic really.

iPhone have to post

Here I am resisting making a post on this - after all everyone has a post about this.. well all I will say is that 50% of me is eager to just run to the store and buy one (assuming I don't have to line up for 10hours) and 50% is not happy about the whole iTunes, DRM stuff, ATT exclusive contract thing... really, I know there will be 3rd party apps to replace iTunes, but still...

We will see what I decide... wish it had 3G support.. come on Apple!

Point and Shoot for trip to Vancouver

I spent hours on Sunday debating whether to purchase a new digital Point and Shoot camera. In the end I concluded that all of the cameras have one or more must-haves - they either lack RAW mode, too large or too small etc. Top pics were Canon G7 and... well that really was the top pic! Unfortunately it has some problems for me:
1) It is Canon. Not that there is anything wrong with Canon, it is just that the camera accessories must be Canon - so all my accessories will not work.
2) Lack of RAW mode. Sorry this is a clincher. Burning the final image into a compressed lossy format isn't for me.

In the end I think I will take the Nikon D70 with one lens and Nikon 35Ti
Here are two web links referencing the 35Ti:
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/htmls/models/compact-images/Nikon35Ti28Ti/Html/index.htm
http://nikonimaging.com/global/products/filmcamera/compact/1990-1994/35ti_quartz_date/index.htm
There are a few reviews on the web. Retail was about $1000 used I paid maybe $300-$400. I am not sure now what the price would be.

Oh.. the pictures are really amazing! People compare the camera to SLR quality!

Well the camera isn't made anymore. It is a film camera and more of a Rangefinder than Point and Shoot (meaning more than anything that it requires some manual override to really appreciate its full ability).
So I will be buying and testing some film this week before the trip.
Thankfully we can still buy film.

John Scott Workshop - Signed up

(Weird I typed out a bunch of stuff clicked publish and the only thing that appeared was the title - so now to re-type everything)


So last night I looked around for cheap flights to Vancouver.. usual comparing of websites - this is really easy now with www.sidestep.com - confirmed independently that the price quoted was the cheapest and went for it - booked the ticket and then it hit me... oh no, in my haste to book the airline ticket I forgot that it is prudent to first pay for the workshop then the plane ticket... ooops... as fast as my fingers could type I jumped over to the workshop registration page and entered all the required info.

I was quite relieved to receive the email stating I am confirmed for the workshop.Never know the workshop may have lots of space left, the worst thing would have been that I would spend five days in Vancouver taking photographs and random Yoga classes... not so bad. Now I wish I could have spent that following weekend in Vancouver - oh well it will be expensive enough as it is.

The ability to type in Devanagari without typing Devanagari

Google is amazing - now you can type Hindi words and Blogger will auto-magically convert them to Devanagari... (So OM when typed comes out as ॐ - Savasana is सवासना not sure on that last one as I can't read it myself.. still very very cool.

(It is talked about at these links (at least it is at the time I wrote this) )
http://groups.google.com/group/blogger-help-publishing/browse_frm/thread/d7581332977ba69f/#
http://help.blogger.com/bin/answer.py?answer=58226
http://www2.blogger.com/home

Yoga versus Photography Workshops

I am really close to booking a ticket for the John Scott workshop (see below); I came to a realization: I spend a ton of money on Yoga workshops but rarely do I sign up for photography workshops.. then of course the question "Why is that?" - After all photography was the first real hobby (after computers) of mine, I really enjoy it (as much as Yoga)...
The reason I conclude is that the cost of individual Yoga workshops is generally lower than that of photography workshops, really good photography workshops are always out of town, are expensive and require the usual additions such as accommodation/airline ticket. At least that is my conclusion: Yet I am not entirely convinced... after all I have attended two Eric Schiffmann workshops in LA, the big 3 1/2 month Yoga stay in India and now likely John Scott (We won't talk about the 10's of local Yoga workshops attended) - all adds up.

hmmmm..... maybe my next vacation (will be a photography workshop)... time will tell

Lie Down!

So nearing the end of session 2, class 1 of 6: I said to a student "OK that's it! Your done!" (as in this is the last Asana in the sequence you are learning)... looking over to the girl next to her who was in Savasana she responded... "What I don't get to lie down?" --- "Of course you do! Lie down!"

Animal photography

Interest in my animal photography is becoming exciting! Here is a picture from one of the sessions... Kimba is the sweetest cat: Look out for the follow-up pictures!

6 week beginner courses

I have finished teaching the first series of beginner workshops: Essentially the emphasis is to establish a personal/home practice. Yesterday I started the next series of 6... so far response seems really good - there is space for a maximum of 5 students and we have consistently required students to be on a waiting list!

For me the most wonderful thing is to be able to share this knowledge with others, to see the positive effects; especially with students who have never experienced Yoga before: This is very powerful stuff.

If you are interested in the course schedule you can find it here:
http://www.treehouseyoga.com (and click on classes)

David Keil workshop

Just last week attended "Intro to Ashtanga" and "Art of Observation" weekend workshop. David has a really great knowledge/experience of both Ashtanga and anatomy: I highly recommend!

http://www.yoganatomy.com/

John Scott Workshop in Vancouver

This looks really nice, opportunity to visit Vancouver and it is really quite reasonable (though almost the same cost to visit India)
http://www.stillpointyoga.co.nz/workshops.cfm?course=workshop

The question is, do I have enough vacation to make my trip to the UK this year and Vancouver? I guess I could just visit England for a long weekend....
Oh and the other question is should I take this or a course (the courses overlap dates) locally on Sanskrit?

VMWare Virtual Desktop Infrastructure - Many PC's on one Server

Although I haven't fully researched any of these solutions, VMWare VDI sounds exciting. It runs on VMWare ESX server and allows anyone with a thin client (I have also heard it is possible with a web browser) to connect (even at boot-up without the need for Remote Desktop or VNC etc) to the VMWare server. The end user experience is exactly the same as if they had a PC at their desk. Also there are snapshot modes (to enable roll-back of patches/software installs) and the option to refresh the user environment to the way it was (when it was created) whenever the Virtual Machine is power cycled.
What I need to figure out is how beefy a server would have to be and how many servers would be needed to handle 100's of PC's at one time....

PC's without the PC

For work I have been looking at some solutions for deploying multiple PC's without having the footprint of a full PC on the customers desk. Some choices are Citrix, Blade PC's (where the PC is 1 of many PC blades in the server room) and now VMWare ACE
I like the blade PC idea - I have heard the device that is on the desk is even smaller than a thin client. Only problem (some would say advantage) seems to be there is a one-for-one relationship between number of users to number of blade PC's. This generally adds to hardware and running costs.

Chess

Off and on I have played chess since I was a child. I don't remember who first taught me to play, now I wish I could remember so that I could thank them.
It is one of those things that I think will stay with me, a hobby that I absolutely enjoy every time I play and though I take breaks from playing, (months and even years) I always come back to the game.
Right now I am playing online correspondence chess using the GameKnot website (www.gameknot.com) but I have previously played Chessmaster and Fritz.
I find myself enjoying correspondence chess much more than the rapid fire games (especially Blitz); I only play one or two games at a time, really studying the position- both the history of moves as well as analysing (using Gameknot's 'Analyse board' feature) the various options for future moves... answering questions such as what move would I make if my opponent made this move or that move... each game being a suspensful journey, one to which I can't wait to see my opponents response.

I also enjoy how each move changes the game's future, if a choice of move is not made, that choice may no longer be available or appropriate for future moves. This then carves a story or a timeline - where multiple timelines exist - but only one can be made.

This therefore parallels life, where a decision, based on previous history, experience and future predictions are used to make a decision for the next 'move', an option pulled from the millions of choices available... well you get the idea.

Back in the US

It is pretty incredible to be back... we have been through crazy 3/4 days so far (our final flight is in the afternoon on January 4th)

The main problem is that flights into and out of Delhi were delayed and canceled due to the fog (that we now find is the case every year during these dates) - people had to stay in airports overnight for several days in some cases.

In summary, Air Sahara (http://www.airsahara.net/) customer service is about as bad as I have seen of any company and even American Airlines in India were not great either. Unfortunately I believe this to be the case of most if not all domestic airlines in India (as I heard similar reports from people flying with other airlines)

After many hours and days of arguing we managed to receive one night hotel stay in Calcutta from Air Sahara and (even though American Airlines in India said we wouldn't) received one night hotel stay in Chicago. The really nice thing in the US is that we did not have to argue to receive the hotel room, it was provided as standard.

Blogger a bit slow here

It is very hard to update this blog, blogger is incredibly slow here even when other sites are blazingly fast.. it doesn't look like I will be able to update photos from here either :(

So if the posts arrive out of order and sporadically...

In the New Delhi apartment

back to the apartment.. we arrived late and were really concerned that noone would even be there (or awake) to open the door. Luckily though it was not a problem, we settled in for the night... and almost froze! The weather being much colder in New Delhi than we are accustomed to (yes yes it was a hot 45/50degrees F for others, I know)
.... to be continued

India Trip 2006!!!

I arrived in India around December 12th (it is always hard to tell with the time change, number of hours in the air - it is all a bit disorientating)

We (notice the change from 'I' to 'we'... just terrible on my part) landed in Delhi, worked our way to a pre-paid taxi that took us to a friends apartment that we ended up staying in for 2 days. The trip was quite long to the apartment, and the pollution although not really bad, was starting to get to me.

Let me step back a moment - We left Florida arriving in Chicago fairly early... there was a 5,6 maybe more hour wait in Chicago for the American Airlines next scheduled flight to Delhi (I should say, New Delhi) -- we wandered around the airport......
(.... looking for Yoga mats! Yes Yoga mats.. you see it was a minor oversight of ours to forget 2 additional mats for everyone else to practice (we brought ours, of course) )

Anyway - suffice to say, if you are ever in Chicago airport looking for Yoga mats (unless we completely overlooked them) - then you will find this airport, anyway, does not sell such things... It really makes me wonder if I could set up a business selling Yoga mats in airports...hmmm... nah...

As I was walking around the airport I noticed a massage service, it looked pretty good (and reasonable price, though I forget the exact $ amount, maybe $15-$35 depending on what you wanted - up to 30minutes..), until I saw a customer being massaged by what appeared to be the most bored individual around.. how can anyone give a good massage when they look like that? Well... they can't... skipping the experience was probably the best move...

The flight from Chicago to New Delhi was pretty good, there was a decent amount of legroom not too shabby.. the food on the other hand wasn't so great. It is interesting when an American company tries to serve Indian food... interesting that is in a not so good way... next time I will fly Emirates (or Singapore Airlines which I have flown before) again.

Rama Krishna Ashram

Today I went with a few people (one I know the others are her friends) to this Ashrams bookstore... the books are incredibly cheap... some 3rs and up! I bought about 10 (most are thin booklet style)...
Pretty funny when books are that cheap... just look at the cover... "hmmm looks ok", then the title... "ah yes, something I am interested in"... "ok... buy!" lol

The other funny thing was the store was actually closed (noon time close and it was noon) but we said we were from far away (well a 15 minute walk was quite far) so they let us in... after about 30 minutes of us being there they did kinda ask us to hurry up though...lol

Self practise

I took some time off during the holiday to self practise... it has been going quite well but I am finding that I will practise maybe every other day... with today being the worse (two days in a row no practise)

For me it is just about getting on the mat and doing 2 Sun Salutations (A) and then I am off.. but sometimes I need a crane to get me out of bed... and then when I do, it is too easy to think about showers and breakfast and then plans for the day... afternoon practise never happens for me, either morning or nothing...

What is it about the morning inertia? Why is it so hard to practise when I know that once I start I will love it? Even more, when I am finished I have 'unlimited' energy throughout the day? Almost maddening.... grrrr...hehehe

Mysore Link

This is pretty good, even has a video of a mysore practice at the shala as well as photo of a led class and pictures of the city, tina's cafe etc...

http://www.yogashalacalgary.com/mysore.html

Pictures

Not many pictures for a while... so here are a few to make up for it :)

First one is of a... cat... that's right!


Next, the house where I am staying.... It is faced with marble outside and in... (floor and walls)



And finally a picture from the New Years eve party I went to...

Rolfing cost back home

Just emailed a rolfer and found out the cost is $100 per session...wow $1000 for the 10 minimum sessions... better see if I can do the rest here before I return...

Rolfing

So I have been going to the local Rolfer (should it be capitalized?) for the minimum 3 sessions (last one today, maybe try to get the other minimum, 10, in before I leave) with the last one today...

It is very interesting bodywork... they basically use their elbow to get into deep connective tissue... well you can read a bit about it here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolfing
and here:
http://www.rolf.org/

I am pretty sure it has made a difference, I seem to stand taller and feel lighter... it is too early to tell if the Yoga is better because I have been taking it easy after pulling a muscle in my side...

Anyway the rolfer I have been going to (Ken) uses a scale from 1-10 for pain... where 10 is excrutiating (actually he defined it differently, but I can't remember it so this is the gist)... I usually hope he stops at 9....
It is all a personal tolerance thing, and he says that you can relax into it... or even breath into it...

Anyway, the other day as I tell him it is at 9 and 9 1/2, I realize he hasn't eased off (ok at 9 1/2 he may have, just a bit) so I asked him what was the point of the 1-10 scale if he doesn't listen anyway? He said he noticed that I tolerate 9 for ten seconds, so he keeps going that long!

Today I was really late for a session... took a nap and then he called asking me if I was coming or not! I ended up receiving a 40 minute session (not sure how long it is normally, probably an hour) and basically suffered the pain... I got the idea that if I didn't the session would not have been 'complete' due to time constraints... I did ask if he wanted me to do another session to make up the lost time, but he said no need... :)

He told me to do some * 1/2 Sun Salutations (both A and B) to help the nervous system since he didn't have time to do the 'finishing' stuff.. fair enough... I do so enjoy the mini Sun Salutations, so I went home and completed 5 of each... nice :)


* 1/2 Sun Salutations are just the standing parts of the salutation without jumping back...

Sitting in the corner Part 2 (agreements)

(post snipped to protect the innocent :) )

It's about agreements and energy exchange. I love to help people.. I do! :)
Just need to find a balance with this, and people need to hold up their side of the bargain!

At this point I am seriously considering getting out of Mysore for a bit, my Yoga month is over tomorrow so I will not be losing money by taking off somewhere... But wait! I hear you say "solitude can only be found from within"...I agree.

Most of it is just 5 breaths

People complain about how smelly it is here, how it hurts to stay in an Asana... my answer mostly is that it is only for 5 breaths anyway... you walk past a "stench" in the street (maybe it is a person you don't like to talk to, maybe it is trash lying scattered all over) it usually is gone by the 5th breath anyway... so whats it matter? With the asanas it is not like we are holding them for Iyengar periods of time is it? Mind you with that attitude I did manage in the first breath of an asana to pull my side muscles... so there goes that theory...

A number of weeks ago (probably a month ago) I was walking down an alley with a friend.. oops we picked the wrong alley... and now name it piss alley... and ok it took more than 5 breaths, but it did end.....

Well I am not sure the point of the post, but it has been running through my mind the past few days...

Sitting in a corner

(modified to protect the innocent ;) )

It is all a mind game isn't it? Really it is better to have silence and solitude sometimes, it is only when we are seeking to mingle with the crowd (so to speak) when what we want doesn't match the reality... and at those times it is hard to be satisfied with silence and solitude...

They say that there is more Yoga being done off the mat than on the mat... I would have to agree with that...

Updates

November 21st - 24th (inclusive) -- info. for these days added (blank before)

Hot Badam milk and weight gain

So the question is, am I putting on weight? I think the answer is no (maybe I am losing weight).

I am eating like a well fed pig who has been given shots to improve their appetite... or atleast I was until my diet was given to me by an Ayurvedic Dr. (the post is somewhere in this blog, I guess you could press Ctrl (key) + F and type in Ayurveda and it will show you the post... anyway... the Dr. told me today that my physical constitution is Pitta / Vata so that explains quite a bit (why I can eat and eat and eat for one thing...)

So I really don't think I am putting on weight, the combination of the new diet (not that the old diet did anything for my weight), Ashtanga Yoga (which has to contribute to keeping the weight off)... plus I have a high metabolism... (the pitta constitution)... and there isn't much chance of weight gain...
The badam milk doesn't have anything to do with much, but I hope it makes someone laugh ;)

Locked out again!

Would you believe it? Last night I was locked out once again... hopefully this will be the last. I left Anu's cafe at 10:15pm or so and reached home a few minutes later.

Anyway I did manage to get in (had to wake a roommate) and the person who locked it didn't know I wasn't in the house... so no problems...

I am just glad it happened last night and not the night I came back from Bangalore at 2am...

Moon day is this Thursday

I think it is a new moon... either way it will be a day off...

Beggars

So I heard the best way to handle the beggars of Mysore... simply touch their feet... it supposedly really throws them a spanner (wrench).. I haven't tried it yet though I did bow to one (pseudo Japanese style) today and they didn't know what to make of it...

If your not clicking....

on the images, then you are missing out! Go back and click on all those images, they are quite good resolution and better than the small thumbnails you see in the regular view...

Addendum: Chamundi Hill Sadhu

I forgot to mention: When our party left the cave there was mention about the Sadhu and how when you look in his eyes you see a light... I hadn't looked myself, but I asked if it was his cataracts they were seeing...

Anyway....

3 Cows, 3 pigs, or was it 2?

Looking out from the balcony today, I saw 3 pigs walking in a procession down the street... there was a lead pig and then 2 others behind (they were in formation)... then I saw the cows... I peeked over the balcony and counted three and announced this to the roommates (who I also told about the pigs), no wait, I think there are only two (the other must have been a ghost)... time passed... there was the third "three cows!" ... My roommate said it must be auspicious...

Bangalore Trip!

A friend and I decided to take the 11am train to Bangalore (actually to be frank, it was her idea)...

I rushed to make it to the train station after practice... and then found that she was running late anyway!....

I hadn't eaten breakfast so I grabbed some nuts (hey now I don't mean it that way) and boarded the train...
On the train, the 'conductor' saw a drunk boarding the train... pretty quickly he told him to get off... the drunk begged and pleaded with him, to which the conductor physically slapped him and pushed him off the train! OK the train was at the station so it was not so bad... but for me this was the first physical violence I had seen since, well atleast the beginning of October, so it was quite shocking really...
There were several vendors on the train (ok people walking up and down the carriages) I waited too long to buy the Samosa (wasn't sure of train food) but then gave in and bought some fried fritter thing for 8rs for 2).

The express train (120 rs for 2 people in reserved class) took about 3 hours to reach Bangalore... once there we took a rikshaw to MG Road... MG Road is a big shopping area where everyone seems to go... we walked up and down the road, checked movie times (one of the big reasons to go to Bangalore was to see a movie) and then ate at a decent restaurant... (ate a veg. biryani & roti if you were wondering)

After that we visited a berister (sp?) outdoor coffee shop where I had one of the worse donuts of my life - luckily the coffee was really good... (first coffee in ages....mmmmm)

Next we went off to the Forum mall to visit the Apple store... checked the prices of iBooks and found them to be a few hundred $ more than the US cost for the basic model and then disproportionately rising from there :(
The mall itself was quite amazing compared to anything I have seen in India (actually it was quite amazing if compared to American malls) - there was a seperate floor for the movie theatre with executive rooms set aside for who knows who... and a store called Landmark that sold DVD's, CD's and VCD's (video cd's) as well as stationary, perfume, books and a whole lot more.. I bought 2 pens to replace the one that leaked (which I did end up getting to work but then ran out of ink or something). I also bought... well never mind... let's see who is reading this and is eager to find out eh? ;)

At the mall I ate a Paneer wrap which was not so good....

Since we wanted to catch the 9pm train home, the movies were all showing too late... we ended up going back to the train station only to find that there was no 9pm train at all!
We caught a bus around 8:45pm and arrived in Mysore @ 12:45am!

Thirty Fourth Ashtanga Practice

Saturday's class begins with a chant, I was a bit late (supposed to get to class @7:30am, of course that is shala time which is atleast 15minutes faster than Mysore time) so missed it :(

Saraswati helped me with Sideways Forward fold/ spread foot extension posture (Prasarita Padottanasa), extended hand foot thumb posture (Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana), Marichyasana D (first side), Bhujapindasana, Kumasana (and Supta), Advanced backbending, Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana) - to help with balancing Pindasana, + Sirsasana (headstand)

For shoulderstand, Saraswati pulled my lotus'd legs much higher than I had, it did seem it help with balance (that and her legs on my back)

In Headstand, Saraswati left me stay a long time, then helped me lower my legs to the horizontal position (and back up to vertical) and then basically let me stay up there (walking away!).
I am bringing myself up to headstand by pulling the legs into the body (using 'core' strength) and of course without walls to support...

Marichyasana D (1st side) is still painful... I told Saraswati and she said "Rest tomorrow!" Well duh, it is our holiday off anyway!

Saraswati also mentioned I will get a new asana on Monday - but I asked if I could try today - which I was told a firm NO! (I asked because I knew I had managed no problem with this new asana Garbha Pindasana & Kukkutasana --- http://www.ayri.org/primary-asanas.html --- though the rolling 9 times on the floor I haven't achieved without help!)

Next Saturday will be a lead class! (The first Saraswati has done with us)

Today's breath was pretty good... oh and I accidentally skipped Navasana (Boat pose) - something about eagerness to get to the next asana I think ;)

Other things today

A friend and I are planning to visit Bangalore tomorrow. We are looking for others to join us, but since it is last minute it is unlikely many will be up for it.

I backed up my Archos MP3 player to 2 hard drives so that I am pretty sure my photos will survive...

I took 16 pieces of clothes (socks count as 2) to the cleaners today. I think I left my nice walking socks there last time but the cleaners have no knowledge of that :( . I also washed some clothes too (I enjoy handwashing clothes, just not too many ;) )

Thirtythird Ashtanga Practice

Today's practice (Friday's & Saturday's actually) starts with the opening chant, led by Saraswati. This is because there is a led class today which finishes before Saraswati's class starts. Same happens on Saturday. http://www.ayri.org/opening-prayer.html

So overall the practice was quite smooth from seated postures onwards. Savasana was especially deep, I think this is because of the intensity of the practice and the recent introduction of the drop back backbends (referred to as advanced backbending in John Scott's book). I am enjoying practice more and more.

Saraswati helped me with Sideways Forward fold, spread foot extension posture (Prasarita Padottanasa), extended hand foot thumb posture (Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana), Marichyasana D (First Side), Bhujapidasana, Kurmasana, Supta Kurmasana, Advanced backbend , Sirsasana.

With Saraswati's help I am able to fall back to the floor with the backbend (have been able to for some time) . Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana) I am able to balance supporting my legs in Lotus with my hands (harder than it looks, or maybe it is as hard as it looks, I don't know now!). I am also able to bind Pindasana in Shoulderstand.

Saraswati helped me more than I wanted to with Bhujapidasana, but it was good she did (probably would have fallen otherwise).

Kurmasana I am able to cross the ankles (but not behind head). With Supta Kurmasana I am able to touch my hands (behind back) now... of course this is with Saraswati's help. (but before even with her help I could not touch the hands)

After backbending Saraswati walked away... normally she will adjust in the seated forward fold to help the counter pose... she asked me what I was doing (I just sat around) and I told her that I needed to be folded forward... she came back and laughed saying she forgot! As far as I know that is a first for her...

Sirsasana is coming along, I held it for a minute or two and then Saraswati came along and helped me to lower my legs to the horizontal position. She then helped me to lift them back up and then left me... I stayed up for another minute or so before becoming too unstable.

Saraswati told me I will get another Asana on Monday :) (Badha Konasana, bound angle posture)... yippeeee :) ;)

Thirtysecond Ashtanga Practice

Returned bicycle @ 1pm... was told that it would cost me 50 rupees since he doesn't normally rent for 2 weeks.... I mentioned that this is not what he said when he rented the bicycle to me (he said the minimum is 2 weeks and that is 250 rupees). I told him I wasn't happy...
Immediately the tone of the conversation changed... I was given the money (250 rupees) and told that if I am not happy then it wasn't worth 50 rupees and he would refund it all!

This typifies conversations I have had in India. People try to take whatever they think they can. As soon as you become a bit upset and question them, they usually back down really quickly... this has been my observation anyway... Of course there have been a few people who do not back down as well...

I was very weak for practice today (maybe due to light dinner last night...) I felt this way especially during the beginning of the practice. Even considering this, it was a pretty good practice... It was especially nice when someone behind me remarked "oh that was
beautiful"... I really don't know what the person was referring to (I was completely engrossed in the practice), but it was nice of them so say that (in fact I spent the rest of the practice wondering what part I had done so well... lol)...

I couldn't hold Sirsasana long (because I was weak), I told Saraswati why and she said not to worry, some days are like this...

Saraswati helped with same Asanas as yesterday.

I rode a friends scooter around a quiet road (side road, not a main one)... it is deceptively easy to ride when going straight... but turning is tricky (if too tight a turn) without using a foot to help... I am kind of thinking about renting a scooter... we will see...

I ran around town a bit (on the back of same scooter, actually I sat on the scooter and didn't run at all).

Lastly, I helped the roommate with Internet stuff...

Thirtyfirst Ashtanga Practice, and day of payment

Around 5pm it was time to pay Saraswati... I was told it is 17000 rupees for the second month (don't ask why it is cheaper the second month, the explanation didn't make sense).

Saraswati told me that Sirsasana (headstand) should be held for between 5 and 15 minutes and that eventually the head should be lifted off the floor just high enough that a piece of paper can slide underneath it. I asked if that is the case for students in the main shala (I didn't think we could stay in an asana that long)... yes indeed 15 minutes in the main shala for Sirsasana.

Quote of the day "I did A+B satisfactorily" when asked by Saraswati if a student (same one as yesterday) had completed the asanas correctly... the people in the room I think almost feel out of their asanas laughing... too funny :)

The practice...
When I walked into the room at about 8:15am my glasses immediately fogged! There were not even many students in the room, the air just had not cleared out... so glad that I do not practice in the earlier sessions (with Guruji) because of this... I do not know if I would be able to breath...

Knee was sore today, barely managed to bind first side of Marichyasana D (with Saraswati's help), in fact I just managed to touch my fingers.
Saraswati moved me to the front of the room when it emptied (you basically take whatever space you can get)

Saraswati told me after class to take more time with Kurmasana... 1st let the legs out and arms to the side, then deepen the asana *before* pulling my arms behind my back (it was as if I was rushing the asana to get to Supta Kurmasana... this makes the final asana less deep...)

Today I was not able to balance with Shoulderstand in the Pindasana postition (hands bind the Lotus posture and pull the legs down towards the head...)

It is raining today...

I left the bicycle that I have been renting at Anu's to be collected by the person who rented it to me... I haven't ridden it other than to fix it (at my expense, but 5 rupees really isn't much money), there really isn't anything wrong with it, I just have been travelling with others using Rikshaws and splitting the cost with them... so I hope to get 2 weeks worth of money back (250 rupees - $5.55, I know it doesn't sound like much but when in India this is a lot of money...)

I picked up the bicycle later when I talked to the rentor because I wouldn't get my 250 rupees back without the receipt, and so I felt it better to meet him personally tomorrow...

I ate another North Indian Thali at Green leaf cafe today (they are that good) (lunch)

A friend cut my hair today... I just can't trust the barbers here I don't think. This is because I have curly hair and barbers may not know what to do with that (since most Indian hair is straight).... The haircut came out pretty well... (same style, just trimmed a bit)

Thirtieth Ashtanga Practice

I have been here for nearly a month and a half, but have only practiced 30 times... still probably more than I would have done back home...

Quote of the day in class (well not every day, but for today)
Saraswati "Did you complete the postures correctly" (not exact quote)
Student "I didn't do A and B professionally, but I did C adequately!"
Everyone in the room burst out laughing...

Saraswati told me (during Marichyasana D first side) that my knee will be painful for a few days but it will be ok, no problem (just use balm)

Saraswati let me balance in Sirsasana then helped me lower my legs to horizontal before bringing them back to vertical again... She then simply walked away and helped someone else! I had no idea how long I was supposed to stay up there... I held the asana for about 25 breaths and then (because I had to) lowered myself to the floor...
This is another of my favorite asanas and it is nice to be able to balance without the wall (even if it is only for a few breaths).

Last asana before finishing postures is Supa Kurmasana.. it is a bit deeper today.

Saraswati helped me with the same asanas as yesterday.

I withdrew about 30000 rupees from the ATM (rate is about 45 rupees to the $) 20000 rupees will be given to Saraswati tomorrow for this month.

I helped the roommate with attaching jpgs to email... in the end I helped him created a Yahoo album and then share that album via email... good stuff :)

I ate lunch with a friend at Green Leaf cafe, a North Indian Thali... this is so much better than the South Indian version (which is much thinner)...

Twentyninth Ashtanga Practice

Overall the practice was pretty good today (bit stiff in the beginning), although there is a definate difference in my left knee after Saturday's practice. The discomfort seems to be underneath the knee (it is tender). Saraswati said the click I heard was something opening and just to use balm to help. All asanas that required bending or twisting the knee were effected today. My favorite asana half bound lotus extension posture (ardha baddha padma uttanasana) was especially stiff... and the left side was never as loose as the right, but atleast I could reach the floor with my hand... now this is not possible (without a great deal of discomfort), I can hardly bend forward now.
Saraswati helped me with spread foot extension posture (Prasarita Padottanasana), leg balance (Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana), extended hand foot thumb posture (Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana), Marichyasana D (first side only),Bhuja Pindasana, Kurmasana, Supta Kurmasana, Advanced backbending, & Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand) (Pindasana... I managed to hold my knees up with my hands, finding the balancing point).

That's a heck of a lot of asanas that I cannot complete on my own... I am pretty surprised I have been allowed to continue adding asanas... (though to be truthful some of the help is minor (like binding the hand for Marichyasana D)

After a few seated asanas the breath is better (vinyasa transitions especially)

All of the asanas are deeper... downward facing dog is to the point where my spine is long (not rounded (too much), atleast I am pretty sure it is ;) ) and my heels are down just about regardless of where my legs are (forward or back of their normal position)

Bhuja Pindasana is a bit easier today, I have more control on how slowly I lower my head and I can nearly unhook my legs and jump back... it is mainly a matter of balance and levers (body levers), one day it will just work...

Today Saraswati told me to just try the next asana in the series... Kurmasana (Tortoise posture)
http://www.ayri.org/primary-asanas.html I didn't ever think I would make it this far... wow! Saraswati postioned my hands and legs then pushed my back towards the floor... huffing and puffing I told myself to hang in for a bit more... I keep telling myself (the first time I am given just about any new asana), only 5 breaths that's all then it will be over... well Kurmasana was over after 5 breaths... Saraswati pulled my hands around my back (they touched my back, not binding) and adjusted my legs in front of my head, crossing one over the other... suddenly I am in Supta Kurmasana (Supine Tortoise Posture)... then once again Saraswati pushed my back down. This was intense! But again I told myself only 5 breaths (not that I can do much about it with my head on the floor, my hands and legs wrapped around myself... not exactly going to get up am I? Even saying anything was out of the question... all I wanted to do was breath... and that is all there was to do...


Intro to Ayurveda class started today, it was very good... only myself and one other person (a friend who has been taking asana classes too).

Went for Osho meditation, it wasn't anything of the experience of the first time. This was a passive Nidra type meditation (where you lay down and there is someone guiding the meditation). Normally I sleep during these meditations (and I know it) but this time I am not too sure (probably means I did).

So today was a long day, quite a bit of running around and chatting with many people (about Ayurvedic Constitutions, other teachers of Yoga - especially Venkatesh)
I also helped a friend with their camera (to download pictures to computer) but they didn't have the correct cable and the Internet cafe did not have a suitable memory card reader either...

Missed Practice, did attend a wedding!

It was very sad but it happened... Saraswati took Monday off this week and told us that today (Sunday) will be our 'makeup' day. Of course Sunday to me is my day off and I didn't even remember the class until the afternoon.

I was invited to a wedding by a friend (who was invited by an Indian friend of hers). She was told to arrive around 9:30am, so not knowing if we would be served breakfast or not, we went to Gokul Chats. There I ate two servings of Upma (they were really small scoops) and Idli (giant sized 3 times bigger than normal and there were two of them!) (by the way, Idli over here tastes good (I didn't care for it much in USA) with the side masala thing they serve with it). Since I only shared the Idli I was still hungry but didn't want to eat anything else here.
The morning was cold, we went by scooter to the wedding... on the way we stopped off at Metropoll Hotel (spelling?) for a second breakfast. Metropoll charges about 100 rupees for a buffet breakfast (including coffee) so we both dived in... yummy, very very yummy... now I was full...

We arrived at the wedding a bit late, there were what seemed like hundreds of people... As we arrived we were greeted and thanked over and over again for coming to the wedding. We were shown the breakfast hall (oh no!!!) where we were served the most delicious vegetarian breakfast Thali? (is it still considered a Thali? What does Thali mean?). Each place setting on the table had a large banana leaf, which was rinsed off with water. Item after item was served and re-served until we could barely walk (I did tell them to stop as soon as politely possible).
We were also served delicious chai. So between the chai and the coffee I consumed earlier, my diet was done for (atleast for today).

It was interesting to watch the banana leaf's being cut on the floor outside the dining room. There was a huge pile of leaves there with a man on the floor cutting away (I made a mental note to take a picture later, but later the man had finished and left, and there wasn't much of the banana leaf left, so no photo).

We were escorted from the breakfast table (which became the lunch table only two hours later) to the function room where we were shown to the front of the room; two chairs were placed just to the side of the wedding party and we were again thanked for coming and asked to sit down. Whenever we left the seats I observed that noone took them, they were either empty, or offered once again to us as we returned.

We didn't know exactly what was happening during the wedding (though I was told somethings and worked out some others). The most interesting thing is that we were almost surrounded by people asking us our names and where we are from: So much so that I felt the focus was too much on us and not on the wedding. Many people were personally introduced to us and then for a bit we were left along (not totally, people were observing us etc). We were told we could walk onto the 'stage' and take pictures (so long as we removed our shoes), but we didn't.

All I could think about was how full my belly was and that lunch was to be served very soon... People were continually coming and going to the dining room and we were asked if we wanted to eat lunch now (it was about 11:45am) or an hour later. We said we would like to eat now (as we agreed we would leave at 1pm). With our full bellies we were once again escorted to the dining room and shown our chair (the tables were long, well I have a picture I will post soon and you can see).
Once again we saw the banana leaves and were served masses of food (some ladled with a spoon, some ladled with hands!). Oh the other thing is there were no spoons or forks to eat with, so for the first time I had to eat with my hands (I really don't like to especially in India because I never feel my hands are clean enough). Using the left hand is off limits, so eat we did. More and more food was offered, and all we could do was say no thank you (I wish I was hungry, the food was excellent (did I already say that?)

After lunch we were escorted back to the wedding.

We were escorted to the front of the room to have our pictures taken with the happy couple (who didn't actually look that happy)...

We stayed a bit and then made for our exit. Well not that simple... We said goodbye to the host, who then grabbed our hands (pretty much anyway) and walked us to a room where we received blessings (atleast I am pretty sure that's what it was about). We then were given sweets and escorted to the door. The host didn't return to the wedding until we had left.

For dinner I ate two apples....

Updates November 10th - November 19th

Updated (text only - no pictures) for November 10th through the 19th...

Twentyeighth Ashtanga practice

Something not right today, I fell attempting Bhujapindasana on my own (side of my face head hit, causing the other side of the neck to feel like it was whiplashed - but it wasn't too bad) and then I rolled onto my back during Sirsasana (headstand) luckily I knew to tuck my head, that one was just funny.
The other thing that happened was my knee clicked/'cracked' very loudly when Saraswati helped with Marichyasana D (first side, left knee in half lotus) Afterwards she asked me "What opened" I told her I didn't know about opening, but my left knee mad the sound. She seemed to not be worried about it.
Sometime around this point I also felt an emotional release...

I was really careful with the left knee after that I could tell it was not too happy.

Saraswati helped with most of the asanas I was ok with yesterday (the pindasana of shoulderstand etc)

I went to an Introduction to Ayurveda / Intuition workshop after the Yoga class. I was only a few minutes late. The class was really good, especially the intuition part. We were given a good amount of information regarding Doshas etc and then told that sometimes it is better to listen to our bodies for the answers. We were shown how to use a pendulum and "body rocking" (I think it is my term)

Lunch was at home (I ate toast with Ghee, + an apple, not that exciting but it worked)
I walked to Green leaf cafe (and found a super easy way to get there) and ate Set masala dosa, rava dosa, & hot badam milk.

At home I was shown Yamuna Body rolling... it seems to be really good....

Twentyseventh Ashtanga practice

Practice was at 8:15am. Saraswati lead the chant (I figured out when/why this happens, Friday is a 'Guruji'/Sharath Primary series lead class so it finishes by 8am, and Saturday there is no practice for 'Guruji' students)

Practice was long and slow, no rushing today :) Breath is good halfway through seated asanas.

Someone pointed out that I am touching my knees to the floor during Surya Namaskar, so today I am being careful not to did it. In paying so much attention to this I managed to drop to the knees more heavily than usual! Oh well, but I am doing better (3 times I touched today)
Saraswati helped me with the usual asanas today.

I did try to balance myself for Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana (extended hand foot thumb posture), the right side is pretty good (though I still need help), but the left side I definately need help with.
For shoulderstand I found the balance point to enable me to hold my legs when they are in Lotus. I did also manage to hold Pindasana (where the hands are wrapped around the legs) for several breaths (Saraswati wasn't around to help).
Headstand: I was able to hold the asana for 25 breaths on my own! Saraswati came over and helped me to lower my legs to horizontal and then brought them back up

Oh I also managed to skip Navasana, attempted Bhujapindasana twice, then realised my mistake and completed Navasana(/lolasana series)! :)
(Saraswati did help me with Bhujapindasana btw (by the way))

Breakfast: Porridge + Milk (I wonder if this is aggravating my condition... or maybe helping, don't know)
Lunch: @ Anu's (it is a buffet Monday - Friday (Thursday is a holiday), that is why I do not say what I eat - unless it is weekend when they serve breakfast and dinner)
Dinner: Went to Hotel Ritz for going away party. The food was a mixed bag really. Palaak Paneer was served in a cold dish (contents were barely warm) but they did serve a delicious Spring roll that I couldn't eat enough of) I also ate butter romali? which is a light bread/naan with butter, also really tasty. Others in the party had chips and other things...

Twentysixth Ashtanga practice

The gas ran out for the 'shower' (it is really a bucket bath, the water is not heated when the shower is used, but it is when the regular faucet is on... to fix it the owner would probably have to break the stone wall... not going to happen) so I washed my hair and left for practice (no matter I will need a shower afterwards anyway!)

I took my time in the beginning of practice, it was really good... then I rushed a bit (this is ridiculous, I came for Ashtanga and here I am rushing off to do other things, consider this pattern over)
Saraswati helped me with the usual asanas + headstand where she just had me balance (non of the leg lifting stuff (Sirsasana A - http://ashtangayoga.info/asana-vinyasa/finishing-positions/index.html))

The other class is going well, only 9 Sutras left... I talked to the person running the office about the Intro to Ayurveda course (10 hours 4500 rupees, same Ayurvedic doctor teaching... sign me up!)

I didn't eat lunch at midday, I wasn't hungry. I met a friend around 3:30pm and walked to Green leaf cafe. They were closed, so we took a Rikshaw to Gokul Chats (really hungry now!). Ate Set Masala Dosa (the best here, I will miss them) and shared a Ravi Onion Dosa (this too was great, had never eaten one before). I also tasted a plain Dosa (which is like a pancake, but different) and I had a large hot badam milk.
We were met by other friends and talked about travel and burningman festival which I hadn't heard about until this trip, sounds interesting. ( www.burningman.com/ )

In the evening I walked to Gokul Chats with a roommate and chatted (too full to eat again), walked back to Anu's for the Internet cafe (also briefly used an Internet cafe close to Gokul chats but it had a lot of spyware junk on it) and ate a Chocolate Pie.

Oh, breakfast was Porridge + toast (+ butter) yes, the combination works!

Twentyfifth Ashtanga practice

Overall I think that the days off have helped with my practice, today I took the practice much slower (I have been rushing off for other class), my practice has become extremely enjoyable :)

Same asanas, same assistance... at the end of practice Saraswati said "headstand tomorrow..." and "arrive at 8:30am, it is too busy" (not literal quote, even though I put it in " )

For breakfast I ate fruit salad (does anyone really care what I eat every day? ;) )

Lunch was at "Hotel RRR" where a friend and I ate Thali meals on a banana leaf. The leaf was sitting on the table without a plate (traditional way to serve Thali?), a bit of water wiped over the surface and we were ready... item after item was placed on the leaf, to the point I didn't know what to eat next... free refills came as soon as items were eaten, so it was pretty hard to stop... darn was it good food...

I went to Kumars for Osho meditation and then to Anu's for dinner and to use the Internet

Moon Day

A dog was barking until 4am, woke up very tired.

Went to Kevinn, oops, they follow the shala schedule of no service on moon days. Walked down to Tina's (a 10-15 minute walk) where I ate Porridge. Met some friends and chatted.

Ate lunch with a friend at Anu's. Talked to someone there about their laptop. They bought an Acer model from the computer technician who services the Internet cafe's computers. I found out that Acer makes similar priced laptops to the ones in America by cutting down on the feature set. I do not want a laptop that is inferior to one I could buy in America.

I had the bicycle fixed (haven't been able to ride it with insufficient air in tire) today. I was told the bike shop across from the coconut stands (which is 5 minutes from where I live) is the place to take the bicycle. Of course this wasn't the case (this shop fixes scooters and motorbikes), I had to cycle down the road to the bicycle shop. They oiled the moving parts, adjusted the brakes for 5 rupees (it would have been cheaper I am sure (I think 1 rupee), but I handed him 5 rupees and suddenly that was the charge... no matter, it was ridiculously cheap either way)

I finished reading The Alchemist last night - it has a nice message, but it is in too much of a dream/fantasy world for me to take anything from it... shame really...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062502182/002-5641431-8562443?v=glance&n=283155&v=glance
http://www.paulocoelho.com.br/engl/

Oh I brought toothpaste from America (last minute purchase) Aquafresh Extreme clean with empowermint (158.7g) (try saying that with a mouthful of this toothpaste)... it is a mega large tube of paste and only a small sliver is required, so it will last the whole trip and maybe even the next year too! (assuming you don't want the sink to be cleaned too) ( http://www.dentist.net/aquafresh-extreme-empowermint.asp )and it really does seem to whiten the teeth... possible negative, it has fluoride...

Mysore Palace

The entry fee for this is 20 rupees, shoe deposit is 1 rupee. No cameras allowed.

So I brought my camera but didn't want to leave it around anywhere... hmmm what to do... Luckily there were two entrances to the palace, one had a security system (like the ones you walk through at the airport) and the other didn't! So after dropping off my shoes I went to the other entrance... only problem was the shoe place was quite a distance from the other entrance and there were some stones and other unpleasant things between the two. Oh well that is the cost of keeping my camera with me (I didn't take it out of the bag, I did respect the no photography rule)

Inside there are many paintings and incredibly detailed work in the structure of building itself (the pillars, doors, ceilings, etc). It is possible to pay a guide who will tell you a lot about the displays, but we didn't. Also there were tons of school children and it became a bit too much of a distraction to allow us to appreciate the displays.

There were two or three temples connected to the palace, of which we went into two. The first was pretty easy to figure out what was going on, the second we left after a few minutes.

No practice today

My hamstrings are sore (right leg) so I am not going to do any self practice (it is a bit of an excuse, but give me a break ok?) while Saraswati is away.

I went to Tina's for breakfast since my stomach is feeling a bit better. I ate a small fruit salad (which I question now whether it was advisable)

My other class was still on so I went at the usual time. I did forget my notebook (Moleskine small squared paper http://www.moleskine.com/) so borrowed paper (which I will want to transcribe to the notebook after class) The class seems quite straight forward so I haven't asked too many questions. Also the other students are missing today so that limited the discussion for sure.

Lunch @ Mandala (Cornish Pasty + Pineapple Juice) visit with kittens (very important) and then a walk around the market and the Mysore palace ( http://www.webindia123.com/monuments/palaces/mysore.htm ) with a friend.

I ate at a new restaurant/hotel, just a snack and then to Gokulum.

In Gokulum I chatted with another friend about Yoga studios, places that she can travel in India, and other such stuff.

At the Internet Cafe I looked at laptops. It seems that Apple has a lower markup in India than IBM systems (around $300 more than USA for an entry level Mac) I am hesitating on what to do, whether to buy a laptop or not... to do, or not to do...

For dinner... Anu's....

No practice quiet day

Saraswati and family are off to Mangalore for a function, so there is no Yoga today (normal day off anyway), Monday (they are gone), and Tuesday (moon day).

I went to Kevinn for breakfast, ate Kevinator (Ragi bread with honey and Ghee), + potatoe scramble (fried potatoe with spices)& honey lemon ginger drink (large, which is really huge!)

I visited a friend who had gone to Bangalor and Pune. He brought with him an Osho CD for me.
I tried to take the bicycle to the 'shop' to be oiled and the tires inflated but they were closed...

My stomach is feeling a bit iffy, I was offered Cipro (I understand a really powerful Antibiotic) and I took it without too much question since it is only 2 tablets for 2 days.
I didn't have any dinner tonight...

Chamundi Hill (2nd visit)

After lunch we went to Chamundi hill (http://www.templenet.com/Karnataka/chamundi.html) using the two Rikshaws that had waited for us at Geetas house (it is really good that drivers here will wait (for a small fee 10 rupees) for quite a long time (if it is a considerable amount of time, then they simply pick up other rides and return at the appointed time, often charging more for the longer wait)

We did get into a small "discussion" with the drivers when they thought that they could wait for us to return. They asked for a lot of money to wait and when we told them not to (it takes 2-4 hours to visit (walk up/down and see temples) Chamundi hill and we didn't know how long this visit would be), they asked us for 1 1/2 times the fare (normally charged at night time) to cover the cost of them returning to Gokulum (a 65 rupee one way fare). We told them we wouldn't pay extra but if they wanted to wait they could. We walked off and saw that they left.

We walked up the stairs and visited the bull (Nandi). Behind the bull is a cave where a Sadhu lives. (Someone else visited here too (I have no idea, it was the result of a google search, but he actually gives information on stuff, not like this blog, that gives information on ummm other stuff) : http://adieu.nu/dispatches7.htm )
We walked to the back of the bull and a kid helped us to find the person to let us in . We were met by the Sadhu (who's name slips my mind, see the other blog on that too) and he invites us in, after a bit of time (I think he had someone there to clean it up a bit)
The cave was a bit on the small side, but not many of the modern luxuries are missing, including Electricity, a TV and a bed! wow! The Sadhu was watching cricket by looking past us as we talked. The others in the group asked some questions, some of which were answered quite vaguely (like my memory of what was asked) and then we were invited for tea... not just any tea.. Yogi tea! We thanked him for his kindness but mentioned we were still walking the hill. Were were then invited to his other cave which is where he sits for Puja/meditation (it is to Shiva, but by now you probably know this having read the other blog, right? :) )
We accepted his offer and were shown to the cave. Entering from the side we found ourselves engulfed in smoke from all the incense that I think they lit when we showed up (the cave doors were closed prior to us entering)
We had to crawl in as the cave entrance was really small. The interior opened up and there we saw electric lights and the room. We sat silently. It was cool, and quiet. Someone remarked (after a few minutes) how great the energy was in the cave for meditation.
After a few more minutes we left through the other door (there were two) which was really small (in fact it looked like a dwarfs door) we hunkered down and squeezed through.

We passed the sugar cane juice sellers and continued the climb. We were soon at the top where we were met by kids and everyone else trying to sell postcards. I quickly dismissed it all and continued to the main temple. We walked around taking pictures. Some of the people in the group interacted with the kids, but after a while I sensed they became wary of all the "Please give me school pens" and "please give me 1 rupee". Two of the party decided to leave after walking around the top of the hill.
So then there were two. We went into the temples, didn't exactly know what was happening (we did understand the request for money and the shoe people were kind to say they would accept whatever we decided was reasonable)
We also visited the Godly Museum which is run by the Brahma Kumaris ( http://www.bkwsu.com/ ) who also happen to run a museum very close to where I live back 'home'. They have very talented artists who create interesting and almost interactive displays.

On the way back we found an open area where buses were stopped so we took one into town (12 rupees for 2 people) and went to the Indra restaurant for dinner (Masala Dosa and a Chana (chick pea) dish with that fluffy oily bread that looks like an oversized Puri + hot badam milk (quite addictive stuff, almond and saffron milk drink)

At the end of the day I relaxed on the balcony back 'home' (the Mysore home). The cleaners sent their kid to deliver clothes (for someone else who lives here) and when he found I was waiting for mine, he went back to the store (15-20 minute roundtrip cycle) to pick them up for me! When he returned I didn't have change, so he asked me if I wanted him to go back to make change! I told him no... hopefully they will remember I have a 30 rupee credit...

Twentyfourth Ashtanga practice

Since it is Saturday I must arrive at the shala @ 7:15am (just remember Shala clock is set 15 minutes fast, so it was really 7:00am)
Saraswati helped with all the usual asanas.
With the advanced backbend, Saraswati let me half way down, then the 3rd time fully to the floor and then asked me to walk my hands in towards my feet.
I found out due to Saraswati counting the breaths for me that the Navasana (boat pose) series requires the body to be held up (with legs crossed) for one breath only ( lolasana http://ashtangayoga.info/asana-vinyasa/primary-series/index.html ), I had been holding lolasana for 5 breaths! So that is Navasana 5 times and then Lolasana 5 times each 5 breaths. This time it was really easy!
I am no nearer to completing Bhujapindasana as I was yesterday... it is hard to keep the feet off the floor for the whole vinyasa.

I picked up the bicycle today, the person told me and can take the bicycle to be oiled! You would think it would be in good working condition but it wasn't. Mind you it wasn't in bad condition either. The bicycle renter also sells books (which he wanted 20 rupees more for "shipping cost" hahaha yeah like I would pay that) so I bought Moola Bandha and Surya Namaskar book (the latter I kind of regret, but it was only 80 rupees)

We (myself and 3 others) took two Rikshaws up the road for Lunch at 'Geetas house', a local who serves delicious homemade food on request (only we didn't let them know and the owner was away, so the person who served us didn't speak very much English and of course this complicated matters). We ate white rice, yellow dal, chapatis, and two other dishes that I didn't recognise but that were delicious... all of this for 60 rupees (~45 rupees = $1).

Credit card fraud

Checking my credit card balances today I noticed that the balance would not update, and there was a note to contact the company. When I did I was told that there was fraudulant activity on my account and that the credit card company will send me a new card via UPS to India! Very nice of them. Apparently there are people in the UK that steal credit card information all the time. They use a magnetic strip reader which is inserted into machines (ATM's, Phones (that accept cards of course) etc) and then they collect the information later.

Twentythird Ashtanga practice

Today (8am) Saraswati didn't let us in until the previous class finished. When it did we started with Saraswati chanting... I am a bit confused as to whether she does this everyday now, since it used to be that she would only chant on Saturday when there is no previous class...hmmm.
I was told today not to jump back to Samastitihi after each standing asana, E.G. I was jumping back after completing Utthita Trikonasana (regular triangle). Saraswati told me to only jump back (to Samastitihi) after completing e.g. Parivritta Trikonasana (revolved Triangle).
Saraswati helped me with the usual asanas today. For advanced backbending she let drop to the floor one time (normally it would be 3 with the last a counted breath): It was just a bit too much strain for me today.

Saraswati showed me a new asana today - Bhuja Pindasana (arm pressure posture) ( http://ashtangayoga.info/asana-vinyasa/primary-series/index.html ) or ( http://www.ayri.org/primary-asanas.html )
I didn't really have much strength by the time I got to this asana. With this asana (the whole thing) you should jump your legs around the arms (from Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward facing dog)) then balance solely with the hands for 5 breaths, followed by slowly rolling the head down to the ground (5 breaths), finally lifting oneself up and jumping back to Chatvari position...

I finally caved in today and decided to rent a 5 speed bicycle (500 rupees a month + 3000 ruppee deposit) I figure I am spending 70-80 rupees a day on a Rikshaw so this should work out quite a bit cheaper. I will pick it up tomorrow if I am happy with it.

So many clothes to wash, my solution is to wash half of them myself and take the other half to the cleaners, that way I am sure to have something to wear for tomorrow.

For breakfast I ate Muesli (with Milk), + Pineapple juice (odd combination but it worked), lunch was @ Anu's, Dinner @ Gokul Chats (Set Masala Dosa, + Hot Badam Milk)

Fluffy and Patanjali

Twentysecond Ashtanga Practice

I arrived at the shala around 8:15am. Saraswati helped with spread foot extension posture (Prasarita Padottanasana) extended hand foot thumb posture (Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana), Marichyasana D (first side only), Advanced backbending, & Sarvangasana (Shoulderstand) (holding Lotus with hands and Pindasana)

I realised that it is necessary to bend the knees when dropping back for the advanced backbend (yesterday I did it with straight legs): Doing this I was able to land with the hands on the floor (still quite a bit of tightness)
With Chakrasana I am still rolling to the left (even though I am trying to engange left arm more) so the left arm/hand collapses.

The Ayurvedic Dr. who teaches the Yoga Sutras gave me advice on my diet to reduce the coughing I am experiencing (paraphrased):
No Chai or Coffee (it is an irritant which causes hunger pangs)
Do not fill the stomach with food, be sure there is room to spare - light meals.
Vegetarian diet (no eggs or fish)
Do not snack between meals (including no juice) - just drink water when thirsty
No saturated fats or curd (Yogurt)
Herbal tea only with meals

Rational is that anything that is not digested will turn into toxins in one way or another, so better not to eat too much or snack... chai & coffee increase the bodies desire to eat when it is not necessary (for nutrition)...

I ate lunch @ the Green Leaf cafe (ginger gobi masala) + naan + water
Dinner was @ Gokul Chats (aloo gobi, rice, spinach paratha) yummmm......

No Patanjali Sutras Today

The teacher was absent...
Instead I went to the Internet cafe @ Yoga Mandala, took pictures of Fluffies kittens (already posted) and walked to BNS Iyengar's Shala with a friend who knows where it is.

I also bought a pen, some paper for 'sketching' (probably scribbling really) and took a look Ashok Bookstore (trying to be careful not to buy more books.

Many Yoga students have been walking around with 'Ganesh' shopping bags, I am planning to buy 10 (when I find good quality versions) and will post pictures of them... maybe someone wants to buy some when I return to US?

For breakfast: Toast+butter (seem to be having toast and butter here, not so in US), 2 boiled eggs, chai and pineapple juice (it's freshly made, might as well take advantage of it)
Lunch: I went to Indra restaurant (there are two in the town (same road!), it is the one that is listed in Lonely Planet and has an upstairs restaurant) and ate Biryani + water.
Dinner: Walked to Green leaf cafe with roommates and ate Set Masala Dosa (Set means two as far as I can figure), and hot badam milk, + Pineapple pastry (yes I over ate)

Twentyfirst Ashtanga Practice

I remembered all of the sequence I have learn't up to now, no need to refer to any 'cheat' sheet! (Not including new asanas given today) This is really great because I do not need to rely on a teacher or DVD to help when neither are available.

I also managed to bind (myself, no help) Marichyasana C and left side (which is the right foot in 1/2 lotus, the left leg drawn in) of Marichyasana D :)

(Saraswati asked me to try myself for Marichyasana D and then said "It's coming see?")

Navasana and the cross legged lift (5 breaths for both) is still pretty hard, but easier than yesterday (really challenging for the abdominals) Urdhva Dhanurasana was very easy, Saraswati stood over me counting the breaths so she could help me with the next part of this which is "advanced backbending".
After completing Urdhva Dhanurasana I lay down: Saraswati asked me to stand up. She held my waist as I (was instructed to) cross my arms in front (kinda holding the shoulders). Saraswati then lowered me backwards towards the ground (I kept my legs straight) three times... but each time I experienced a lot of lower back pressure... Saraswati said "Maybe tomorrow".
I was then told to complete shoulderstand series (http://www.ayri.org/finishing-asanas.html everything up to Uttana Padasana but not Headstand (Sirsasana)) which Saraswati helped me to complete. (not too hard, though Pindasana is tight (hard to bring knees to the head))
Finally the finishing Padmasana series (same weblink as above) and Savasana (interesting that website doesn't show Savasana)

Fluffies Kittens - Photos!!!

Here they are!

Patanjali Yoga Sutras

We are progressing rapidly through Chapter 1 of the sutras, we have been taught up to Sutra 34 today. The concepts seem pretty easy. I can't say I am remembering all of the Sutras, but when I look back in my book, it is still making sense to me.

I told the Ayurvedic Dr. who is teaching this class about my Asthma condition. He said he will provide me with help/information during the Ayurvedic course that I will be attending after this (Sutra) course.

Twentieth Ashtanga Practice

"What's wrong today?" Saraswati asked as I skipped a few of the final standing asanas by mistake. Pretty good considering Saraswati noticed this while assisting other students.
(I do not know why I was off today...)
The last seated asana was Marichyasana D (to bind). I then moved to Navasana, Bow (Urdhva Dhanurasana) and Chakrasana (with the usual rolling to the left side)
Today Saraswati helped me with Leg balancing, sideways forward fold, Marichyasana C&D (both sides) that's it!

Saraswati told me that tomorrow I will stand up after Urdhva Dhanurasana so she can support me for advanced backbending version of Urdhva Dhanurasana.

Updates

November 1st
: Picture posted for "Yoga Mandala Puja"

November 3rd
: Picture posted for "Kittens @ Yoga Mandala"

Posts created for November 4th-8th...

Fluffies Kittens

I just came from Yoga Mandala where Fluffy (the Yoga Mandala cat) lives. Yesterday I didn't see her and was wondering what was up. Today I found out that her kittens were born the other day! Three little ones having their eyes still closed. I was able to handle one and fluffy even allowed her kittens to be taken outside!

Well I didn't have my camera with me, so I will have to take pictures tomorrow, I will post them asap afterwards (that's another reminder to me to keep my camera with me at all times)

Banks

I just took money out at an ATM maybe 20 minutes ago; here I am sitting at an Internet Cafe checking my bank balance online... Would you know the bank shows the transaction already! I remember not too long ago when a foreign transaction would take weeks to show up on the account, not any more.

The other great thing is that the bank seems to be giving a good rate - 45.3 rupees to the $ (xe.com shows the rate as 45.8 not bad) and presumably not charging a fee...

Breakfast & Lunch

I ate both at Yoga Mandala.
Breakfast: Toast & butter + pineapple juice.
Lunch: "Cornish Pastie" still tastes really good (even if it doesn't quite taste like the real thing.

Patanjali Yoga Sutras

The class is progressing very well, I am learning a great deal and the teacher is very clear and detailed with his information.
I was a bit concerned about the cost of the course (5000rs) but now I see it is well worth it. I also thought it was only for five days, but I found out it is much longer, maybe two weeks (however long it takes for him to cover the material!)

Mysore Rug

Well I used it for the first time today (over my regular mat)

Honestly I don't get why people use these (except for absorbing perspiration), these things are slippery! It is actually great for sliding from Chaturanga to Urdhva Mukah Svanasana (http://ashtangayoga.info/asana-vinyasa/surya-namaskara-a/index.html), but other than that much care is needed!

Nineteenth Ashtanga Practice

All the things I have said for the previous practice hold for this one.

After completing Navasana and the cross legged lifting of two days ago, I was told to lie down and complete Bow pose (Urdhva Dhanurasana), Chakrasana, & then Paschimottanasana
http://ashtangayoga.info/asana-vinyasa/primary-series/index.html for which Saraswati took a mat and pushed me down to the floor telling me it was an important counterpose to Urdhva Dhanurasana (after telling me "do Paschimottanasana now..." and me looking at her blankly: I really need to learn the Sanskrit names soon...)
During Chakrasana I rolled on the side of my head... I don't think I have tried this roll since I was a kid, and I doubt I got it right back then either!

The backbend was really well timed after all these forward folds (I know, I know, I said I would practice backbends at home... hahaha that never happened)

Savasana was especially good, very soft breath, first time I have had such a good Savasana since arriving in Mysore.

Where I lived

Here are pictures from the house where I lived (unfortunately neighbor noise was the main reason for moving...): (notice my shoes :) )

Talk at Shala today

I went to a talk at the shala today. Pattabhi Jois gave a lecture on what Ashtanga is, the eight limbs of Yoga and told us not to waste our lives - we are given so many years (90 or 100 etc)... it was a bit hard to hear him due to his English.

There must have been 80-100 people in attendance...

A line formed after the talk so people could thank him.

No practice today - adventures of moving...

It's Sunday, so no practice.

I completed the move today, and paid the owner for 2 of the 3 months rent.

I had the best nights sleep last night, there isn't much noise here compared to where I was...

The landlord had given me 2 out of 3 keys (one for the padlock/chained fence, one for my room, missing one for the house!) so of course I was locked out today when someone left the house and padlocked it. This happened when I brought the heaviest load of stuff from the old house, so I had to leave my backpack on the roof (in a corner where it was fairly safe) - I did manage to get in later, and I was given a key.

Strangely enough, another roommate was locked in the house! Someone pushed the bolt across the door outside when they left!

New house!

With the help of a Yoga student I found a new house to stay in. Funnily enough I had seen this house many times before and really admired it for its uniqueness. The house is situated opposite to a park and is faced with marble/granite both inside and out!

I went back and forth deciding on a basement room or an upstairs room (basement is 2500rupees - $54, upstairs is 4500rupees - $98 (prices are based on payment of 3 months rent) )
Finally I decided that the upstairs room had a bit more light and so that is where I stayed, but the 2500rupee option was financially very tempting :)

Although the house is slightly further away from the shala (about 7 minutes walk instead of 5 minutes), it is closer to Anu's cafe and to a number of friends I know.

I partially moved today, I have bought a number of heavy books so I decided to take it easy (besides the walk was nice)

Eighteenth Ashtanga Practice

Breath is improving for Surya A+B. I attempted Janu Sirsasana C with no assistance again today, I am still at about the same place... Just trying to be careful not to tweak my knee (since I am pretty sure it is the hip that is tight)
Marichyasana A was the same as last time.
Saraswati asked me to complete Marichyasana B & C, so I did! Saraswati helped me fold forward for B and I managed to bind C (which is a twist, not a forward fold) without too much of a problem.
I then tried Marichyasana D, for which Saraswati commented "Oh you want to try D?" to which I (of course) responded yes! She had to help me bind on both sides but I managed it...
Finally, finishing Padmasana series...

Computer help

I am helping people with their computer needs (pretty minor stuff). Today I helped someone with FTP ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FTP ) for their photography business.

Mysore Rug

Today I bought a Mysore Rug from Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute (where I take Ashtanga Yoga lessons), it was probably overpriced at 500rupees, oh well, it looks really nice :)

Fluffy

Fluffy (the Yoga Mandala cat) went away for a day (maybe because of the new kittens, apparently she was hissing at them) but is back today... the kittens are playing in the plant pots...

Seventeenth Ashtanga Practice

Today I somewhat managed Janu Sirsasana C (but I still can't rotate my left heel much if at all, right one isn't much better)
After that asana I completed a half vinyasa and started the Padmasana finishing sequence... Saraswati saw what I was doing and stopped me; she told me to jump through again (I do not know why, maybe she didn't see me do it already) and had me try Marichyasana A...No problem with the binding, but the forward fold is not happening.
(Link for Marichyasana A: http://ashtangayoga.info/asana-vinyasa/primary-series/index.html )

I tried the asana on my right side, Saraswati pushed on my back to help me get my body closer to the floor but when I came to the left side, she was helping someone else... so wasn't able to complete the adjustment.
I wish teachers would remember to adjust on both sides, I feel uneven otherwise!
Mind you to be fair, Saraswati is the best of the teachers in a long time...

After this I was told to finish... So another jump through and Padmasana Series followed by a quick Savasana... and I was done :)

Kittens @ Yoga Mandala

During the day of the anniversary festival @ Yoga Mandala, three kittens strolled up the entry way to Yoga Mandala. People said that this was auspicious and means someone is going to be married!

I found out that the kittens were not Fluffies kittens (the Yoga Mandala cat that is pregnant), but were in fact new kittens without a mother.

Sixteenth Yoga Practice / Yoga Sutra

Saraswati's class began today :) I have really missed the energy of AYRI.

As with everytime I have practiced here, my Ujjayi inhale has been really off, and the transitions from Chaturanga to Downward Facing Dog not smooth at all, this is especially so at the beginning of class (I notice this more in the morning, 8am is too early for Yoga ;) ) but by the middle to end of practice everything is good, I am really feeling the energy and the practice has smoothed out :)

Saraswati let me go all the way through to Janu Sirsasana C! I have not been able to turn my heel up for this (while practicing at Yoga Mandala), Saraswati told me to try myself (which apart from meaning what she says, also seems to mean that this is the last asana for today).
I asked Saraswati to help me with every new asana (remember Saraswati had stopped me before their trip @ Triang Mukha Eka Pada Paschimottanasana - oblique face one leg West extension posture (I can't remember the name of this either... here is the website: http://ashtangayoga.info/asana-vinyasa/primary-series/index.html ) and so I was very surprised that Saraswati let me progress so far!)
I attempted the asana the best I could and then completed the finishing Padmasana sequence and then to Savasana.
After Savasana, Saraswati asked me about my inability to turn my ankle, I told her I am having knee problems (left knee, was bad before I started Yoga) and then said not to worry, just take my time. This was really good to hear...

After the class I rushed to Yoga Mandala for Patanjali's Yoga Sutras class. The class is for five days (1 1/2 - 2 hours a day). At Yoga Mandala I ate breakfast (starving after Yoga always) and then to class at 10am.
There were only two other students in the class. Both are Korean (I am pretty sure) and one has difficulty understanding English. The teacher was intent on making sure that she understood everything, asking the other girl to translate as he went. The other girl kept saying that she understood but could not translate much. The teacher persisted and asked her to translate as much as she could (actually he said something like "tell her anything, she will atleast then have questions which I will be happy to answer!")