Sleep is the best meditation. Dalai Lama Sleep. Mysore, India

So I'm here in Mysore India to practice yoga at the Ashtanga yoga institute. I could write a long monologue of my practice, the shala, the students, the gossip and all the other "stuff" that keeps the yoga students entertained when they are not practising asana. Instead I will give you a glimpse into the life of the people of India who are teaching me lessons every day that I am here.

The hugging guru Amma is currently here in Mysore India. It is said that she has embraced over 32 million people, spreading a message of love and compassion. Whilst I didn't actually get a hug myself (I couldn't wait until midnight), it was amazing to be part of this huge spiritual gathering and Amma was clearly offering hope to a lot of people both rich and poor. Amma is also the guru made famous by the book and film "Eat, Love, Pray" in which her ashram appears.

This made me laugh... A cow randomly standing outside a beauty salon, obviously waiting for it to open. Only in India. Below another cow just innocently hanging out? or destroying someone's front garden :-)

So my new mobile phone here in India is called "Guru Samsung"! This made me laugh a lot. No need to get up at 5am to practice yoga, read ancient texts, chanting, meditating etc... Just get yourself a guru in the form of a mobile phone ;)

So I have finally arrived in Mysore after an EPIC journey (both physically and metaphorically). I have the same room in the same apartment and practising yoga in the same shala with the same teacher as I did 11 months ago. A lot has happened in those months but especially in the past few weeks. When I registered at the shala I mentioned to Sharath that I have a healing wound in my chest. He gave me a reasonable time slot and told me to "take it easy". First two days of practice were on the stage. When placed here last year I was terrified. Having been through bigger issues since, I really didn't bat an eyelid -What's changed? I have Gratitude!  

Saraswati in Gandhaberundasana, circa 1950. I came across this photo on Ashtanga Yoga New York . It is the only image I have seen of Saraswati practising yoga. She is now in her 70's and assists her son Sharath in Mysore.

Wonderful clip of Sharath doing a rare public demo at conference-KPJAYI. This would have been after teaching one ( if not two) led classes in the morning. Amazing. Thank you to  brendamedinayoga  for whipping out her phone to record this ( braver woman than me :-) )

  There are a couple of spaces still available at Nancy's only London Ashtanga yoga workshops. A rare opportunity to practise with one of ashtanga yoga's senior female teachers. Nancy has been my teacher for 7/8 years, and I'm very happy she is coming to share her wisdom at my little Putney studio.  I have ventured to many places to practise with Nancy -including a few trips to India, and feel grateful that she still continues to travel the world to share her love of Ashtanga yoga Tuesday 26 th June 8,30am -11.30am  Led class followed by Q&A and examining the breath in the practise. Wednesday 27 th June 8.30am-11.30  Mysore style practise followed by Q&A and loving kindness  mediation   Thursday 28th June  8.30am- Mysore style practise only Nancy has requested you attend all three sessions where ever possible. Venue The Putney clinic of physical therapy. 2 nd floor  266 upper Richmond road, Putney London SW15 6TQ.

There are signs all over the KPJAYI shala in Mysore saying no photographs-however on conference days this seems to not apply-hence this photo. A very special place indeed.

On my last day of conference at the KPJAYI shala one of my friends snapped this photo of myself and Sharath...Shame I hadn't brushed my hair...but hey story of my life.  Sharath is a wonderful intuitive teacher and nothing passes his watchful gaze ( even when you think he hasn't noticed something, he usually has). A couple of days into my stay in Mysore, Sharath said to me on a Monday " Wednesday you drop back " I said nothing but thought " I dont think so".  I have avoided drop backs since I took up Ashtanga yoga many moons ago, and whilst I had not mentioned this to Sharath, he just seems to know where you need some assistance  .... Wednesday I turn up, go through my practise and just when I think I can finish my back bends and clear off-he shows up on my mat (no idea how he remembers, with so many people in the room) and says " you drop back". The look of terror must have been on my face as he whispered "don't fear go back"

Nancy Gilgoff London Ashtanga Yoga workshops 26 th -28 th June 2012. It is a great  privilege  for us to be hosting Nancy Gilgoffs only London yoga workshops. Nancy is widely respected as one of the greatest pioneers of ashtanga yoga to the West.  She was one of the first westerners to study ashtanga yoga, over 30 years ago with K.Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India.  She is the director of Maui’s House of Yoga and Zen www.ashtangamaui.com . Her studies have led her to the dharma teachings of the Dalai Lama and the expression of love and compassion for all beings.  Nancy travels throughout the US, Europe and Japan sharing her experience of yoga. We are very honoured to have her come and share her wisdom with us, on her rare trip to London. Workshop dates and format. Tuesday 26 th June 8,30am -11.30am ; Led class followed by Q&A and examining the breath in the practise. Wednesday 27 th June

Here in India  the term  "a dogs life" takes on a whole new meaning. This puppy who is currently named "lucky" ( for obvious reasons) manged to find his way to KPJAYI the Ashtanga yoga shala in Goklam Mysore  There are many street dogs here in India and most of them do not have a good life....This little fella found his way to the shala, got himself across the cattle grid (which in its self was quite a  challenge) and wandered in and amongst the yoga students, who were waiting out side to practise. He was brought home to our apartment by one of my flatmates and his new life begun. He was cuddled and watered and given somewhere to sleep, that is until the security guard at our building said he had to go! So off to the vets we went where Lucky was wormed and de-flee powder and special weaning food was purchased....now to find him somewhere to live..... We walked over to a place where we had been told a mother and her puppies were living. We could hear them, bu

I can not be here in India and not post at least one cow image. They stroll up the street here in what can only be described as "mental" traffic without batting an eyelid-Huge trucks will rush past and still they keep moving ( or not), as they also like to lie down in Mysores equivalent to London Oxford circus...few more photos of life here.

Here are some of the things I love about wandering around in Mysore....

SO I have arrived in Mysore for the first time in what will be the year of my 50th birthday. I have registered at the shala, and as suspected I am one of the older students.  I think there will be pros and cons of making my first trip to practise at the home of Ashtanga yoga at this stage of my life-My body is not what it once was, and some of the poses do not come as easily as they have done at various stages in the past....The up side to having many years of practise is that the other seven limbs are growing, and I have a pretty firm foundation in the subtle aspects of both myself, and this amazing yoga practise although there is a long way to go.  I have left my nice comfy home and family, to rent a room in a shared space with fellow yogis, with whom I will share this journey...... I have not come to "find myself" as im not lost ( this is what some people thing you come to India for).  I have not come to Mysore to get more poses, nor to get certified as a teacher- I

Some amazing old footage from Mysore with Sri K Pattabhi Jois.

This delicious salad is from Yogi Kitchen , a foodie's delight of a blog site. Head over to their website for lots of wonderful dishes. Four Bean Indian Salad Adapted from Mysore Style Cooking by V. Sandhya Serves 2 Ingredients 250 g (8oz) green beans 1 handful fresh dill, chopped 4-5 tbsp toor dhal 4-5 tbsp mung beans (whole) 4 tbsp sprouted mung beans 4 tbsp minced red bell pepper 4 - 5 cups of water Salt to taste Tempering 1 tsp oil 1 tsp black mustard seeds 2 red chillies, minced 1/2 tsp asafetida 2 tbsp coconut, (grated fresh is ideal if you have it, we used dried) Instructions Chop green beans into small pieces. Chop the dill finely. In a heavy bottomed pot place the toor dhal and mung beans and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until soft not mushy. Add the chopped fresh green beans and dill. Cook well until they become just soft. Add salt to taste, then drain the water and set both broth aside and place the vegetables in a large bowl. He

The Ashtanga yoga closing prayer/chant Mysore.