Year: 2014

I am now at the end of my first full week of practise.  In coming to Mysore, my only expectation was to practice with Sharath and see how the month rolled out.  I had heard a bunch of different stories about the Shala; how many adjustments you get or don’t get, the type of adjustments, … Read more

I think I have said this before, but Mysore life pretty much revolves around practice and food. Before practice people talk about where they are going for breakfast, after practice coconut chatter revolves around how your practice was, breakfast chats are all about how awesome practice and your new asana is and where you’re eating … Read more

Practice has been hard. Everything hurts. Well not everything, but my knees hurt.  When I first got here, I did as I usually do and tried to bind in ardha baddha padmottanasana and ardha baddha Padma paschimatanasana. I then ignore the forward bend and content myself with sitting and twisting, trying to get my other … Read more

  I have had 5 practice sessions now, including 3 mysore style practices. The shala is pretty phenomenal.  So many ashtangi’s. My first mysore practice, Monday, was amazing! I felt so good, my dristi was good, I had a fair amount of strength, I wasn’t too tired, I had some great adjustments. Just overall amazing. … Read more

I have now registered to study and am studying with Sharath. I have been lucky enough to score an 11am start for my regular class time. Which means 1. My body will be a bit more awake and hopefully not so stiff when I practice and 2. I have time for a light breakfast and … Read more

Recovery and Reflection I didn’t write as regularly as I anticipated while in India, so here is a reflection on my second trip to Mysore. Overall, I had a fantastic time and learnt a lot about yoga, ‘yogis’ and myself (more on this in my next blog post). The trip was made all the more … Read more

I’m in love – in total, mad, crazy love with this beautiful place called Mysore and I’ve only just arrived.  Because I decided to arrive in Mysore a little earlier than I had booked my apartment for, I am staying in another place owned by my landlord.  It is a little self-contained room upstairs of … Read more

Holy Moly!!! It’s time to leave Goa.  The last two weeks feel like they have flown!  I have learnt so much from Rolfe and Marci over this last month and I look forward to putting it all into practice when I get home.  Learning from Rolfe and Marci was a great way to see my … Read more

Patanjali’s yoga sutras state that postures should be practised with sthira (steadiness) and sukha (ease). Generally, I feel like my practice is anything but, and instead reflects my (always) active and (sometimes) agitated state of mind. I fidget in downward dog, shimmy forward in every sitting posture, adjust my clothes and inspect my toenail polish. … Read more

I’ve settled into Mysore pretty well. It is a very easy going sort of place. Its not too busy in Gokulam, near KPJAYI, Sharath’s Shala, and is only slightly busier in Jayalakshmipuram where I am now staying.  Gokulam itself it full of yogi’s and goras, or foreigners. Consequently there are lots of healthy living, vegetarian, vegan westernized cafes. … Read more

Before I begin… My name is Gabi and I am currently in my final year of my PhD. I started practicing yoga years ago, when I was 17. It was offered as an alternative sport at school for those of us who weren’t competitive. Except I was competitive, and quickly switched sports when I realized … Read more