Yogic Journey

So, just like anyone who comes to Mysore, other than practice asanas 2 hours a day, I’m also acquiring knowledge about yoga philosophy and practices. As mentioned in previous blogs, I’ve had hip/ shoulder opening course with Bharath Shetty on my first month and have signed up for Therapeutics of Yoga and Yoga Sutras classes with a certain Dr. Nagaraj on my second month.

Bharath Shetty is a teacher with a yoga practice based on Iyengar and Sivananda. His classes are very enjoyable and his personality inspiring. He gives you poses according to your needs (as mine is to open the hips and shoulders) and lets you stay in it for up to 1 minute. This is a big deal to me, since I consider myself a beginner and my practices have always been dynamic in a sense that I don’t really hold poses that long, and 9-12 deep breaths is long! He also helps students go deeper into the pose and would adjust the practice if he sees that it’s getting easier for you. He would lessen the number of sets you’re doing and would give additional poses that would strengthen it. His energy is also wonderful and he is very attentive to students. Some go to him for therapy to help an injury or sickness. I’m seriously considering his teacher-training program in the future.

I didn’t mention him earlier because practicing with others while registered at KPJAYI is not allowed. I didn’t realize this until too late. If caught, KPAJYI would remove you from the shala aka you’ll get kicked out. I don’t know the reason behind this, but my theory is that 2 practices a day—one of which is ashtanga is VERY TIRING! The ashtanga series demands a lot of energy and strength from the practitioner, so another asana practice in the day is even more physically demanding.

Anyway, the experience was good and I learned so much about myself. That month my ego was kept in check because of this double practice. It’s all good.

Dr. Nagaraj is a very good teacher and explains something as ancient as the sutras with such clarity and applicability to modern times. Same with Therapeutics of Yoga, aside from learning how yoga helps common health problems, I also learned about certain disciplines and practices mostly done by yoga practitioners. Some of these disciplines I’m still absorbing and will start applying once I get home or as soon as I feel ready. I think it’s more “as soon as I get home” because I’m truly busy running around in the week and half left of this trip.

Aside from all this studying and learning, I’ve also engaged in some alternative forms of healing—physical and emotional. The first one I tried is called trance-o-matic. I think it’s like putting a person in a trance—not hypnotized—to help one recall how all the “problems” started. So, he takes you to your childhood, then he takes you even further back into your past life, so it sort of touches on past life regression. Now this was a little weird for me, because it’s the first time I’ve done it. I’m still skeptical about the whole thing. It felt like I was watching a movie in my head and I wasn’t sure whether I’m making it up or not and when I asked the others who’ve gone through the same process, they say that too. It’s more like a “feeling” I got that I was in some place at one point in time and then it starts to unravel. So, I don’t know…as I said, I’m still skeptical about it. The good thing though is that it helped me realize some things still need working on and that happiness is not to be taken for granted.

Fast forward to a month and I started going to an acupuncturist to help my right shoulder and upper back pains. The shoulder pains are caused my tendonitis, while the upper back pain is usually caused by physical, emotional and mental stress on my part. A knot builds up on my upper left back (which was pointed out to me to be a spot behind my heart) and sometimes this painful knot turns into a slight bump, so one part of my back has a tiny bump while the other is normal. The sessions with the acupuncturist helped a lot but I think it’s got to be more regularly done. Unfortunately, he left a week after I started. Anyway, there are acupuncturists in the UAE. I hope I find a good one.

A week after the acupuncture sessions, I went to a couple that does Reiki healing combined with acupressure. My first session consisted of testing acupressure points to see where the problems are and where the blockages are in terms of my health and charkas. Since that’s been established, I started sessions with Reiki healing. Reiki is a form of healing that focuses on using the universal life force energy, which in Chinese is called “chi,” in Japanese “ki” and in India as “prana”, to heal people. I’ve been going daily since then and I think the chakra cleansing has helped. I’m feeling slightly better about certain things, but there are exercises that I have to do in order to help myself get even better. Tomorrow I start learning Level 1 Reiki, which will teach me to heal myself. I’m still thinking about whether I should take Level 2, which will teach me to heal others as well as distance healing. Reiki healing levels is up to level 4. And I don’t know if I’m ready for that just yet.

So here I am on my last 8 days and it seems that I’m frantically learning as much as I can in addition to getting some things done, like buying last minute presents and cheap tailoring. Well, it’s been an awesome trip the entire time and the seed for the next trip is already in place. India is just magical for me. This trip has been most definitely good for the soul.

It's been a while since I've written...it's been a busy 3 weeks!

Since the last entry, I've moved in to the new apartment block. It's called "White House". The new flat is awesome. It is relatively new and modern looking. Privacy is the best part--I come and go as I please, feeling more like I have my own place rather than a visitor. I am now cooking breakfast, lunch or dinner whenever I'm staying in. It's been a good experience so far.

About a week after moving, Michael came for a 5-day visit. It was pretty full on for me, considering the early morning practices. The week that he came, more people left Mysore to continue traveling and practicing yoga in other parts of India. Anyway, Michael enjoyed his time here. Other than being able to get ample rest, he was able to have an overview of the sites of Mysore. We went and climbed the 1000 steps of Chamundi Hill--that was nice. We both felt victorious when we reached the top! Then went to Lalitha Mahal Palace for refreshments. He was mightily impressed with that. While at the Lalitha Mahal Palace, we went in the Maharaja's suite and even saw a Bollywood period piece being shot. That night, he saw Mysore Palace light up and was even lucky enough that there was a classical Indian music mini-concert playing.

I also waited for Michael’s arrival to visit Bylakuppe, which is a Tibetan refugee settlement west of Mysore. It was awesome. The day we went the Golden Temple and Namdroling Monastery were humming with chants. We didn’t really know what was happening, but the chanting definitely made me (or us) feel peaceful. We also went to Sera Temple and Monastery, which was a few minutes away, and that was humming with chants too, and it seemed as though a ceremony was happening. The settlement was full of Tibetan art—it was truly a unique experience!

For food, I brought him to some of the places where we can get meat (for him), such as Parklane Hotel, Tiger Trail at the Metropole, the Green Hotel, and the nearby Casino Park that serves grilled chicken. We also went to some of the favorite breakfast places, such as Vivien's and Santosha, as well as Hotel Regaalis. I was also planning to take him to Tina's, but his flight was leaving earlier than thought, so that didn't happen. He also met a lot of yoga practitioners that I've befriended here as well as random ones (as is the case on how we make friends or meet other people here--that is if you're not cliquey). He was psyched that the people I've met so far are nice. I guess we're all yoga practitioners after all (most anyway).

Since Michael's visit, I've signed up for 2 classes to fill my afternoons, as I have finished my hip/ shoulder-opening course with Bharath. These are therapeutics of yoga and yoga sutras. It's been very interesting for therapeutics and even more for yoga sutras. I'm taking these classes up with Dr. Nagaraj, who is a very good teacher, and looks quite like Gandhi! I hope I get to practice all that I'm learning from him, especially the sutras.

Other than that, I went to Bandipur National Park the week after Michael left. It is 2 hours from Gokulam. I went with 3 other people I've met. It was a fun afternoon. I had my very first encounter with elephants, and up close too! It was so wonderful! The park also offers a safari ride through the park, but the ironic thing is we were in a very noisy bus that would easily scare animals away. Nevertheless we saw some white-spotted deer, wild peacocks, monkeys (with a black face), and some chickens. Unfortunately, no tigers were sighted. Well, the encounter with the elephants made up for this, so that’s ok.

Amidst the touring and meeting new people is also the farewells to other people. I've had the privilege of meeting all these magical people--some crazy (in a wonderful way), some wise beyond their years, some searching their own way, some self-centered, some who are here for holidays, work or both, some on a spiritual journey, etc. (I think this would be another blog entry in itself!) One thing for sure is all of them have left their impression on me and I'm glad to have had these meetings.

As for my practice, I think I have made progress. Since thinking of what pose I’m not doing yet in the series makes me frustrated and depressed, I’ve decided to focus more on the poses I’m doing now by taking it deeper. I have also started binding on my own in Marichyasana C, which is a very big deal! And now Saraswathi is giving me attention when I try Bhujapidasana. It used to be that she’d let me try it without assisting me, perhaps feeling that my body is not really ready in doing this pose yet as I have not bound myself consistently enough in Marichy C and she still puts me in a bind in Marichy D. It would definitely take a longer time than I thought or even ambitioned it to be, but I will get there one day. I will have to start being more diligent and aware in my practice so as to get myself closer to it. I’ve even been given by a yoga teacher friend a preparatory exercise to get my muscles adjusting to get Marichy D. So I’m hoping that with diligence and time my body will ease into this one day. I heard that it is one of the four foundational poses in the primary series. The other 3 are: Supta Kuramasana, Garba Pindasana and Baddha Konasana. I do have a long long long long long way to go...slowly but surely though...it doesn't happen overnight, especially if you're as stiff as me!

In addition to this struggle, my led class had been moved earlier too. I now wake up at 3am every Fridays and Sundays for a 4:30am practice (which is 4:15am real time). On other days, I practice at 6am (which is 5:45am real time) and wake up at 4:30am. I cherish my Saturday sleep ins, this is our day of rest, and rest I will.

On Sunday afternoons, in place of the conference with Sharath, Saraswathi started a chanting class. I think this is really nice, considering this woman is 68 years old, teaches yoga (asanas) that starts at 4:30am 6 days a week, and on top of this looks after her ailing father every day, every night. I shall not complain.

Being here in Mysore--being in India--practicing yoga or having practiced yoga with great people like Saraswathi and Bharath, gives me a feeling of privilege. Not only in my asana practice, but also even being able to study the Yoga Sutras with Dr. Nagaraj who happens to be a very good teacher on the subject. I am truly thankful that I am experiencing all this right here right now.

I am nursing a cold and feeling slightly pathetic. I’m wondering where I got the bug from…I must’ve gotten it from getting drizzled on by a bit of rain last weekend. I’m taking some medicine now, for I don’t want to keep sneezing away and coughing up phlegm. It doesn’t feel very pleasant. My body is definitely feeling the illness. I’ve had a long sleep on Sunday and a long nap on Monday. I'm taking a sick day today. I think I pushed myself yesterday. Anyway, I hope to get better soon.

I went to a puja Sunday night and Monday morning/ afternoon. It was at the place where I have my hip/shoulder opening course. There was fire and chanting and colorful powder drawings on the floor (symbolizing one thing or another), as well as products from the earth, such as fruits, vegetables and grains. It was very interesting. Plus the celebrants served nice Indian vegetable thali for dinner on Sunday and lunch on Monday, as well as yummy Indian breakfast/ tea for Monday morning. There were so many beautiful sarees yesterday.

According to Wikipedia, a Pūjā is the religious ritual that Hindus perform on a variety of occasions to pray or show respect to God, Gods, and guru. The purpose of puja is to communicate with God and the Gods or the satguru, to keep a thread to continuity, of relationship, between this physical world and the subtle inner worlds. Puja also serves as a means of offering love, praise, thanks, and supplication to God, Gods, and guru.

As for my practice at the ashtanga shala, Saraswathi has given me another pose to “try” after Saturday's led class. She told me to try Bhujapidasana. I’m looking forward to the additional pose in the primary series. I’m also hoping I get to bind in Marichyasana C very soon. My hands must be 2-3 inches away from each other—I need to work on aligning my shoulders while in the twist to open up my chest more. When I get to do that, binding in Marichyasana D would be more attainable. Well, I’m glad that an additional pose is on the way!

My lease in the house I’m currently staying at is finishing next week, and I’ve decided not to renew it and move into another that offers internet access. Yesterday I went hunting for such an accommodation and found one after talking to two agents and looking at 4 houses. I’m moving next week. I’m so excited because it’s a 2-bedroom flat with common areas such as an equipped kitchen and a living area. It also has batteries for when the power goes out, which is about 2+ hours everyday. And it’s got hot water 24/7!!! I must be sounding so spoiled with all these standards of living, but I need to be comfortable where I am. I thought at first that I’ll be all “yogic” and continue living at the current place, but practicality won, hence the move. I will have a housemate and look forward to getting to know her. I also hope we live harmoniously together.

On other matters, my practice has become more energetic. I think it’s because of the moon. Last night was a full moon, and this energy must still be permeating until today/ tonight. After last week’s stiffness and sluggishness, this is most definitely a very welcome change. I still could not bind in Marichyasana C & D, but I feel I’m getting closer in C. I just need to work on the hips, twist and opening of shoulders MORE, in order to catch the hands. It’s sounds a lot (and it is), but I do feel I’m getting close. Marichy D has a long way to go; nevertheless I’m hopeful that I’ll catch my hands soon. One side is getting better, but the other side is still stiff as. On this Saturday’s led class, I’ll try Bhujapidasana once more, but I’ll be more careful this time, as I don’t want to fall on my coccyx again. That was painful.

I’ve also been trying to get into meditation since the time I first went here, but always chickening out due to cowardice stemming from not wanting to deal with my garbage. I find that I can only meditate for about 5-10 minutes and more than this I start feeling angry. Doing it for an hour would entail A LOT of BREATHING! But I know that one day I will have to start practicing this, as it is good for the soul. I have a friend here who has the same angry experience while meditating and after asking the meditation guy about this, he told her that as women, we tend to suppress our anger and it comes out during meditation. So, this could be the same for me. I must be a very angry person then because I think I express my anger enough already—oh well. I think I’ll go to meditation class starting next week, or perhaps after I’ve moved to the new place. Here I go again…procrastinating on meditation! Well, one goal is to learn Vipassana meditation, which is silent meditation. It’s a 10-day retreat in silence, as in no-contact-with-the-outside-world-and-distractions silence. Hmm… Apparently, we have it in UAE. I’ll explore on this more later. I hope I get to do it this year.

Anyway, Michael is coming to visit for 5 days in less than 2 weeks, so this is something to look forward to.

Since my last entry, I’ve had honest as well as serendipitous conversations with persons I’ve since considered as friends, as well as acquaintances whom I feel comfortable with.

• One told me to let out whatever emotional garbage wants to come out of me, and then gave me a big smile and a hug.

• One asked me if I’ve had any hip-opening releases yet since starting the hip opening course, and told me about her own experience. Apparently we hold a lot of garbage in the pelvic region.

• One’s told me of this guy who does past and present life healing.

In the end, I feel very thankful that all these messages came to me this week after that awful day on the mat and that these people have helped me, whether they know it or not, in my first week of struggle. Although it’s not all that bad through the week, there are bad habits and issues within that have to be dealt with.

It’s funny how cosmic energies line up to put us in place as well as help us when needed. As Alanis Morissette said, “Isn’t it ironic?”

Yoga Journal’s insight of the day is about focusing on our own practice, instead of looking at others’. Yoga is not about turning oneself to look like a pretzel. And if we can’t do this yet, perhaps we should focus on the spiritual gains from our own practice.

So, lesson learned for this week is to forget about my goal/ ambition (is the word really) to complete the primary series during my stay here and just focus on the current asana practice and be the best I can be in all of them. If I finish the primary series, then it’s great! But if I don’t, then it’s great too. In the end, I’m really learning more than the primary series.

Thank you India.