So here I am day three ( I think?) in Mysore...well two sleeps ( sort of)...It feels quite odd to be the new kid in town. All the yoga students seem to be well settled into their routines, and know where to eat shop etc, I on the other hand can just about remember my name, although I have a great room mate who has taken me under her wing and given me a guided tour of Goklum. I have also managed to find a very nice swimming pool and have a massage, so not bad for the new kid in town. I start my yoga practise in the shala tomorrow and I feel ready for it after my rest days-I have a feeling once I start practising I will feel more settled, after all that is why I am here. I have a room with a view... My own room with a make shift bedside table... My transport over the past few days... So for all of my friends who thought I was on a jolly holiday at the Taj-this is it!

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 a...

Here is a short clip of a new video filmed at the Ashtanga yoga institute in Mysore. Thank you to Claudia for sharing the link ASHTANGA YOGA MOTHER EARTH earthyogi . blogspot.com 

Home yoga practise 2 004 , originally uploaded by yogamama.co.uk . Practising yoga at home means Pyjamas some days. Sporting my favourite leopard print here :-) Lululemon eat your heart out.

I love this-happy, happy, happy.

Cat pose or Viralasana is a fairly accessible pose for most people-It is a great pose for practising vinyasa (or breath and movement) and can help to establish a rhythm with the breath. It can also help to ease some back pain, and encourages mobility throughout the spine without strain. I personally practice inhaling when the head is up and exhaling when the head is down, lightly drawing the lower belly in with each exhalation. The last pose; child's pose or Balasana is a fantastic pose to compliment cat pose, and not only stretches out the spine but can also be really relaxing and nurturing.

Without the work of Sri K Pattabhi Jois, Ashtanga yoga would have been lost. All modern practitioners of Ashtanga yoga benefit directly or indirectly from his teachings. Sri K Patthabi Jois learned from his master Krishnamacharya, whose own master was Ramamohan Brahmachary. My own yoga teacher Nancy Gilgoff learnt directly from Pattabhi Jois. For me, keeping close to the lineage is very important. I try my best not to dilute my physical yoga practice and continue to study the text of Patanjali (Pattabhi Jois said he taught Patanjali's yoga). This, alongside reading items by writers who have given a lot of time to research both the history, and the physical practise of Ashtanga yoga. I am currently reading this book on my Kindle: Ashtanga Yoga: Practices and Philosophy by Gregor Maehle The first two lines above are quoted directly from this book by Gregor Maehle. It is a fascinatingread so far. My well-thumbed book, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali ...

Big thank you to Zico for keeping me well hydrated throughout the festive period. Chilled this drink is delicious-although fortunately for me I was the only member of my household to enjoy the taste-therefore did not have to share them-Oops my yogic halo slipping....

Im off to spend sometime in the sun with my family-Hope to do some beach yoga whilst I'm there.

I have never heard the tip about taking the calf flesh out before-nor the mention of lifting the thighs-Kino always give useful information in her short clips. It took me a long time to get the hand/foot grip correct and my feet most definitely do not touch the floor ;-)

One of the greatest things about having a self yoga practise is that you don't even have to get out of your pyjamas - and you can tie up your hair with anything you can find ( guess what my hair tie is?) answers on a post card.... I fell out of headstand and nearly took out the Christmas tree-don't suppose that would have happened in a shala!

The items above are gifts I received for Christmas -I think they are probably a very good reflection of me. A yoga mat. A book on India A kindle     A beautiful Lulu Guinness handbag. My Christmas entailed;Food, family, friends, yoga, pantomime, food, family friends yoga and of the course the odd disagreement. :-)   Happy New Year