I'm starting this blog to talk about my trip to Mysore, India, but have a feeling I will also end up talking about food a lot.
I'm going to India in a few days!
After 12 or so years of practicing yoga, I am going to the source. Those first six years I was a casual practitioner, taking a class here or there at the gym or getting an intro special to a studio. Then I started practicing hot yoga and everything changed. I really found the breath-mind-body connection and felt less stressed and more at ease in the world; and physically healthy and strong! I became certified to teach and shared traditional hot yoga and hot vinyasa. Two years after that I was introduced to ashtanga yoga. It blew my mind. It was harder than any other style of yoga I had ever practiced, and I felt determined to learn it. The hard work required to get into some of the asanas (yoga postures) required daily practice. When you work on something every day and see and feel yourself getting close, it makes everything seem worthwhile. I love ashtanga yoga because of the sense of commitment and accomplishment that it provides me with.
Ashtanga comes from the city of Mysore in the state of Karnataka, in southern India. It was founded by Pattabhi Jois, who died a few years ago. His daughter, Saraswathi, and grandson, Sharath, run the show now. I am going to be in Saraswathi's class for 5 weeks! There are plenty of amazing teachers here in the US, but I am looking for the total experience, and I am so excited to be studying with and supporting the Jois family.
I've always wanted to go to India. It's going to be so different from anywhere I've been, and I've been to a lot of places! This will be my sixth trip to Asia. I am nervous about wearing or saying the wrong thing and offending people. I am worried about getting sick. I am feeling very self conscious about my practice. But most of all, I am feeling excited.
Just a few more practices and then it's see you later, Texas!
I'm going to India in a few days!
After 12 or so years of practicing yoga, I am going to the source. Those first six years I was a casual practitioner, taking a class here or there at the gym or getting an intro special to a studio. Then I started practicing hot yoga and everything changed. I really found the breath-mind-body connection and felt less stressed and more at ease in the world; and physically healthy and strong! I became certified to teach and shared traditional hot yoga and hot vinyasa. Two years after that I was introduced to ashtanga yoga. It blew my mind. It was harder than any other style of yoga I had ever practiced, and I felt determined to learn it. The hard work required to get into some of the asanas (yoga postures) required daily practice. When you work on something every day and see and feel yourself getting close, it makes everything seem worthwhile. I love ashtanga yoga because of the sense of commitment and accomplishment that it provides me with.
Ashtanga comes from the city of Mysore in the state of Karnataka, in southern India. It was founded by Pattabhi Jois, who died a few years ago. His daughter, Saraswathi, and grandson, Sharath, run the show now. I am going to be in Saraswathi's class for 5 weeks! There are plenty of amazing teachers here in the US, but I am looking for the total experience, and I am so excited to be studying with and supporting the Jois family.
I've always wanted to go to India. It's going to be so different from anywhere I've been, and I've been to a lot of places! This will be my sixth trip to Asia. I am nervous about wearing or saying the wrong thing and offending people. I am worried about getting sick. I am feeling very self conscious about my practice. But most of all, I am feeling excited.
Just a few more practices and then it's see you later, Texas!
Photo by Joy Torres
