First week complete...

It's been quite a while since I wrote anything on here, so here it goes.

It's going on my second week back in Mysore but my first full week of practice, tomorrow is our day off. To celebrate we had pizza and chocolate malts which was all so good!

My first week back feels great. I typically don't like led classes and he started out the week with two of them, the first of which was actually fine and the next day was even better. Then we had three days of Mysore in a row, which is self practice of the Ashtanga method and we all had to do primary series since its the first week, then another led class today.

I must say each day my practice got better, felt more amazing and my back bending opened up more and more each of the three Mysore days. Then today's led class was a bust. I got through it, did every posture, but it was like pulling teeth and before that waking up was miserable. I've gotten up pretty easily all week but not this morning!

After practice, since this season I'm starting at 4:30am, really 4am because they are letting us in so early so far, I have plenty of time to get home, chill out, take a hot shower and rub down with oil before heading out of the house for breakfast. Today me and three others went for Indian breakfast at Sri Durga and damn was it so good! I love the Westernized places for breakfast, they are a good place to read and chill, or visit with friends too, but Indian food is so good first thing in the morning I must say.

And today after the led class was conference with Sharath. Last season as the weeks went by he got more and more in the swing and said more and more inspiring things that left me speechless sometimes, crying sometimes, very deeply reflective other times. Today was sort of a generic start off that talked about the deeper dimension of Ashtanga yoga, the 8 limbs. Stuff most of know or have heard of but a good intro for new people. That hall was more packed than I've ever seen it though, I think since he laid out the new rule about having to have studied with an authorized teacher before coming here to see him that many, many new people are going to Saraswathi, so she must be packed, because it was packed in there with many I see around town but not in class with me, but then again I don't see as many people as i used to because I'm so early this year.

When I got here I was among a very few Westerners here already and it was nice to be here so early and watch as so many arrived, fun too because I know so many of them and was and am so happy to see them again. We definitely have a unique thing going on here where we come from so many corners of the globe to meet at this one little town in the middle of south India. I'm very glad to be a part of this too!

But it was also nice to be going around to all the familiar places and enjoying the food I love again and see the local people here whom I have grown so fond of as well. I really am living a blessed life, how many get to visit India yearly and meet up with old friends each time? Well, I know quite a few people, but none from my neck of the woods.

I am so happy that tomorrow is our day of rest, it is much needed, even though I am so happy to be back practicing in the shala with my teacher. And excited to start the second week and see what it brings. Also one of my students is here with me this time, so getting to share this experience with her has been so awesome too. But she is studying with Saraswathi so is also getting to have her own experience as well.

I'll end for now, but as I move through this time here I hope to write more. Lately I've been feeling more internal and writing in my journal rather than on here, but hopefully I'll find expression on this page as well. I look forward to sharing it with you!

See you soon...