What an honour it has been to be part of the ashtanga yoga community sharing a week of yoga with the wonderful Sharath Jois here in London. Meeting new people, seeing familiar faces, and even practising next to my daughter on one occasion. Sharath was truly happy and shiny (which was very contagious)  and even taught a short pranayama at the end of the led primary class on two occasions (which I personally have never experienced with him before). He said that you could use this pranayama if you were stressed or angry... perhaps he thinks us Londoners need it! :-) He laughed a lot. My daughter Cally had her hands apart in virabhadrasana 1 and I could hear him saying "close your hands" and knew he was talking to her. I reached over and pushed them together. He whispered to me "is she yours?" and laughed (he later said he thought we looked very similar). We were two in a very large group. I'm sure everyone in the room has taken a bit of "Sharath sunsh...

After a week of "super clubs" in Ibiza my son busts his version of Eka Pada in a "Trapstar" hat and "Nike Huarache" trainers. While the attire is pretty cool, it is not recommended with this yoga pose.   :-) 

A wonderful clip from Sharath's tour in Copenhagen. Hosted by Susanna and Jens at the Astanga Yoga Copenhagen. I have not seen the bowing to Sharath feet being done before. Thank you to Alessandro Sigismondi for sharing.

Out beyond ideas of wrong-doing and right-doing is a field. I'll meet you there. Rumi

From Sharath Jois Astanga Yoga Anusthana:   Sauca means maintaining both internal and external purity ( antara sauca and bahir sauca , respectively) Thinking good positive thoughts will keep our mind pure. Likewise keeping our environment and person, clothes, body, belongings and surroundings clean and clear will also keep our vision clean and clear. With purity of speech and thought, the mind will also be purified. Once the mind is purified then the atma  (the soul) will be purified. This applies especially to the yoga practitioner, who should keep himself clean in respect to and in consideration for others, and also as an example to others. saucatsvangajugupsa parairasmsargah YS 2.40 From cleanliness, an aversion to one's own body and contact with the bodies of others develops.

A wonderful video clip of an inspirational man. I was moved and inspired by Matthew. He will be running workshops at Triyoga in London in September 2013. Matthew Sanford realising the inner body + adapting yoga for everyone: a weekend of workshops + two-day intensive Wednesday 11 - Sunday 15 September.

This is indeed a rare piece of footage of Sharath in his Mysore office giving an informal interview on only teaching led classes when he tours.