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So new Ashtanga yoga book coming - Sharath Jois

So Sharath has written a new Ashtanga yoga book  (with the help of a couple of his students, whose names I didn't catch). As far as I am aware, this is his first book. He told us about this in the conference yesterday and even made light of some of the then/ now photographs of himself contained in the book. I also believe he said it contained some health related asana -but this could be a "lost in translation" on my part. There are lots of photographs contained in the book-some with him as a young man practising with his grandfather Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. I know this book will go on sale in the Shala in the next few weeks, but not sure when/where it will be on general sale. If you have friends currently in Mysore, get them to pick up a copy for you. I also managed to find the courage to ask a question in that conference yesterday, but that's for another post perhaps.

Practice all is coming t-shirts

Loving the t-shits on sale in the shala at the moment. A few of them are going home in my suitcase.

Home Sweet Home Mysore... what's changed?

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

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.

Am I as good as Sharath?

So Im back on mat having been stuck in this boot for more than four weeks. I asked my daughter to assist me with my back bending this morning-She has never done this before so it really made me laugh when she said " am I as good as Sharath?" I was also impressed that she knew who Sharath was?.....Whilst she is a wonderful talented artist, I don't think he need worry about her taking his "guru" role any time soon. The girl child Sharath Jois Mysore

Sharath Jois demo

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 :-) )

Sharath Jois & me......

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"

Sharath Jois Demo

What an amazing piece of old footage

Astanga yoga book review-Lino Miele

This book written by Astanga yoga teacher Lino Miele is now in its 8th edition. It was was written by Lino under the guidance and direction of Sri K. Patthabi Jois and records the exact number of vinyasa (breath-movement sequencing) for each posture in both the primary and second series. I personally have never practised the coming to stand at the end of each vinyasa, but most of the breath counts are very familiar to me. Although I think it would be interesting to see how (and why) some of this has changed over the years. Perhaps the new directer of the Ashtanga yoga institute (KPJAYI) in Mysore, Sharath Jois, who is continuing the lineage of ashtanga yoga (handed down from his grandfather Patthabi Jois), will revise this count sometime in the future?! It is a great guide for anyone practising ashtanga yoga and a fantastic reference book for accurate breath in this wonderful system.

Ashtanga Yoga Closing Prayer

The Ashtanga yoga closing prayer/chant Mysore.