99to1

Well Loren is vacationing with her parents, and has no access to email. She is my best source of information and updates on Nan's condition. I'll have to depend on Jill's (sister) and Glen's (cousin) updates, they are far more emotionally affected by their experience at the hospital, and I have to do a certain level of interpretation when reading their emails. They also are not as connected with me as Loren, she uses a vocabulary that is more known to me and her meaning is a bit clearer. Also I think she takes the time to really consider what she writes to me so that I can details in addition to the big picture.

Most people seem to think Nan might very well be around long enough to see me return from India. I hope that's the case, but I am as prepared as can be if it is not.

A dry cough...is getting much better though...it seems to be made worse by a digestion issue. Feels like my upper digestive tract is always full, from esophagus to upper intestine, regardless of what I eat. Though I do really feel constricted trying to eat larger quantities. Will contact Dr. Mahalakshmi this week for a follow up visit. So far (over 2 weeks)have managed to be free from the typical Indian sickness. Thank goodness.

And family...

Well the bad news is I won't be able to get to Mysore and attend conference while I'm here. Guruji and family are vacationing for ten days and that puts them on another continent for the duration of my stay here. Sharmila (did I mention that she's a sweetheart??) invited me into her home, so that I could meet Guruji. Originally she wanted him to give me what she referred to as "the blessing", and mentioned that I could have around ten minutes with him. Well it turns out that they were late getting into Bangalore and also a bit behind schedule for their flight.

I had to settle for being made very welcome in her home and sharing coffe with them.

What a treat indeed! I consider that visit to be more of a blessing than a blessing. Sharmila had me come in and sit next to him, she introduced me as a student from Canada, one of Darby's students. (Also as a hard working disciplined student...she didn't have to include that... she mentioned my working through the recent back problem and trusting that asana will fix the weakness). "Yes...Yes very good you practice...good...deep breathing you do" he said. She handed me a copy of Yoga Mala and a nice pen so that I could ask Guruji for his signature. For ten or fifteen minutes I made small talk with Sharath and his wife, Guruji, and all the kids.

Excerpts...
Guruji mentioned that this vacation was one of the first in his life...
"...I said all that hard work Guruji, and no rest all these years?"
He laughed and said "yes yes...first time rest taking...many years yes"
I reminded him of the western expression No Rest for the Wicked; he laughed, smiled a very big smile and his eyes light up.

Each time I asked Prutvi [sp??] Sharmila's son, if he had finished all his work in one life (he was playing on a gameboy) Guruji seemed to smile at the notion of lifetimes being referred to in the context of work on a computer game.

I asked Guruji if he felt motivated to write a second book.
"yes yes second book soon coming...soon coming"

I asked what year the photos in Yoga Mala were taken, the ones of him, he said 1945. I told him I like them very much.

I told him that I had the opportunity to meet Leino earlier this year in Finland, and his eyes light up again..."Helsinki...yes...good people...liking Helsinki...very good"

I thanked him very sincerely for his life's work and for bringing ashtanga to the world, and indeed to my life. I offered him that I would take a family portrait if they had the time, and he accepted.
I thanked Sharmila and left the family to themselves to take care of last minute details and to not overstay my welcome.

I took some pictures with my good 35mm camera, including a group portrait of the entire family. I am torn, would like to post them as soon as possible, though the last roll of film I had processed in Bangalore, it was pretty much ruined for scratches and dust. I don't want that to happen to this roll.

It's been in my mind since a week ago, to try to contact Alan Little, to see if he knew of any pro labs in Bangalore that I could trust. It turns out that he has alreaqdy dropped by this blog a few days ago and left comments, so he brought his contact info to me.

Will be in contact very soon I imagine...

My daily drive takes me along Old Madras Road.
A couple of quickies taken with the Yahoo!

Tried to get a full shot of
Sound OK Horn
Which I'm sure is supposed to read
Sound Horn OK?
But pointing the camera out the window without looking through the viewfinder produces varying results.

Remenber this is on almost every public vehicle and they are always sounding their horns...honking honking honking

Excerpt from email update from Glen,

Nan is doing exceedingly well. She sat up in bed when we went to see her yesterday and is bright eyed although she still messes up words and shows signs of not really being fully herself.

It's a bit of a roller coaster ride right now: One of the times I saw her last week, she was really low. Her HR was 142 an her stomach was was bouncing in and out just trying to get air --it was really disheartening.

Every time I see something like that, the doctors adjust things and nan bounces back in less than a week. She's still not who she was on her first couple of days in the hospital but she's pretty close. In fact, she may be going home (with a fair amount of equipment and my mother beside the bed 24x7) tomorrow for 10 days.

Nan will love this as her biggest complaint is the staff bothering her for blood, temp, HR, BP, etc every 10 mins. All in all things are really good with Nan right now.

I'd like her to get back home

Just me in Sharmila's shala today and yesterday.
Uttam was supposed to be joining but so far am solo.

I miss her chant, and her pointers, and her support in the prasaritas.
Good practice though. Will be going early each day to maintain routine.

Anthony (her domestic help) smiles and bobs his head each morning when he greets me. He seems very friendly, probably thinks it's strange that I come to practice without Sharmila here.
Funny scene.

Coughing last night seemed to provoke the awareness of enlarged gland under the jaw/chin. I'm pretty sure it is an infection. No practice yet today, at least not at Sharmila's. Might do in hotel room.

If no asana in the morning then also no work. Have called in sick.
Also called the Dr. to my room, he prescribed a mild antibiotic and some pain killers. Three days on antibiotics, is that enough?? Doesn't seem like in Canada the duration of the regime is ever that short. Two pills a day for three days.
We'll see

Thanks to Alan Little, I might be able to post some of the phots from my last roll of 35mm film soon enough. He's pointed out a lab the the local pros use. I'll scope it out tonight.

To get through my current prctice without Sharmila being there. Hope everybody's having a good time on vacation.

It's funny when someone is helping you with asana how much harder you work.

Prasaritas seem as far away as ever, though Utthi hast padang is almost possible on my own now...came as a surprise.

...all is coming...time to duck!

My co-worker and I will do the tourist thing in Mysore this weekend.
He wants too do the zoo.

He wants too do the zoo...

How about that...I get the rare chance to get to visit this fabled jewel and my travelling companion wants to do the zoo...as long as we eat at Aunties I tell him...

Loren should be bound for home about now...

Really I can’t believe it.
Way too much left to do on the work/training front, and for sure on the personal front…

Letters to write and post…stamps to buy for co-workers (collectors), shopping for wife and friends…and a ton more stuff that I’m almost scared to consider…

At least I made it to Mysore…

I might just have trouble getting this across without the photos.
My co-worker (Johnny) and I (and our faithful/fearless driver Murgesh) headed out of Bangalore a bit behind schedule at aound 13:30. Our drive was around 4 hours. Some delays...photos to come.

Once in Mysore we drove around sort of letting the chaos of India pull/push/sound horn us closer to whichever hotel we would end up at (no reservations).

Had snacks at the Southern Star, great vegie pakora and a salty lime soda. Oh yeah and a tall Kignfisher beer. We finally checked in to the Kings Court. A little muskier than the Star, but a bit more affordable (we were picking up the tab for Murgesh [who actually intended to sleep in the vehicle]). Shopping with Gouda (sp??) we got ripped, he offered to be our giude and promised to “take us everywhere� for 20 rupees. Well we got hooked into all the shops paying him to bring us in. I Paid way too much for a sandlewood Hanuman and a small box. And Johnny for his sandlewood goods, much to the entertainment of Murgesh.

Well…it’s way too late for as tired as I am…and the photos will really add colour to the story..especially Chumundi Hill and our Puja experience…and the market...oh the market...

Have just finished packing to move into the Maharani Suite in the apartment complex near work. Will be there for the next week. Time to get some Zzzzs…

Excerpted from Loren's most recent update

"I just came from such a nice visit with Nan.
She was sitting up and her eyes were twinkling, and she had a big smile, and she was talking a blue streak.
She's installed in a bed in the dining room at home. the room's been emptied out, and her bed has it's head against the wall where the sofa was, with her feet pointing towards the kitchen. There's room for the family to sit around without her feeling crowded, and the room had been repaired and painted and a new skylight installed.
...It was so good to see her relaxed and easy. She wanted all your news...
She's looking forward to seeing you, and I told her that I'd tell you that she's waiting for you."

Bull

Temple From Behind

Visitor at The Temple

Have had 2 visits with Nan since I got home Saturday afternoon.
She's safe at home, and in good spirits. The mild chimo regime shrunk her tumor enough so that she can breath comfortably.

She light up when I entered the room and her eyes filled with tears, and Hilary, and Lorna (aunts) and Lorens as well. I gave her hugs and kisses and we had a nice visit.

She goes through phases, right now is a pretty good phase, soon though I've been warned that she will probably have a hard time.

I've shown her some photographs from my trip, and kept her entertained with stories from India.

I'm happy she's at home instead of a paliative care ward. Hilary is a great caregiver (and saint as well).

Loren showed me the card she made with the letter I worte for Nan a few weeks back. Loren took the liberty of editing the first paragraph which detailed how sad I was that Nan probably would not get back home again...thank God.

Nan really loved that letter.

No one to disturb my rest...

Thank goodness for the schoolbell of Rao's Tutorials

Sunlit shala

Front Garden

Staircase to Shala

From Sharmila's Rooftop

Back to the usual routine...
Alarm at 04:15, on the mat by 04:30. Practiced until ardha baddha padmotanasana. Unconsciously skipped 2nd (parivrittha??) parvakonasana, and intentionally skipped last 2/3 of uttitha hasta padang. Focused on doing the first stage properly. This posture was not possible for me before practicing with Sharmila. Also skipped closing. Will resume sun sals and closing at the end of day, just before seated meditation.

The first day I practiced alone at her shala when she was on vacation I tried it (uttitha hasta padang)after one week of receiving lots of assistance with it; I was quite surprised that I was doing it...and relatively well.

I'm going to keep myself at ardha baddha padmotan until I actually get the half lotus properly. It's coming...second last practice with Sharmila she was urging me to lift my lower leg so that I would be in lotus...still too much strain on my knees. Though it's clear that hips have oppened up quite a bit in the last while. Next bunch of given postures will take me through to Janu C. I'm in no hurry...might even make me late for work once I open my practice up to that level :-)

Oddly I think another thing which has been helping (lotus) is the modified parivritha parvakonasana...a big stretch in the glute of the bent leg seems to be allowing hip rotation from the back side. Must make sure to not skip this in the future.

Slowly slowly slowly...

Have been quite zonked since my return Saturday.
I'm very happy to be returning to my typical western diet (though I loved the food in India) and all of my usual routines.

2 mornings in a row I skipped practice and opted for several more hours of sleep. Which puts me into work late and means I have to leave late and put up with the full brunt of rush hour traffic. And no practice on top of that...

Perhaps this weekend will set my internal clock straight.
Still have a bit of a cough, and seasonal allergies have settled in close to full force...time for seasonal medication...

Oh good...pharmacologically induced drowsiness now...

Three times yesterday morning I woke myself up from dreaming with laughter. I have no real memory of what was so funny, though I do know my experience was pure joy.

It was the kind of experience that you can't really remember because it was dream logic...nothing was particularly *real*. I imagine that that particular dream lasted for several minutes, as my laughter woke me repeatedly.

The morning also brought a welcomed sense of refreshment, as I've been close to totally zonked, probably due to jet-lag. They say one day for each hours displacment, so nine and a half hours from India puts it close to the time of catching up.

Next time on the return trip I will be sure to do the *monkey maneuver* a naturalpathic anti-jetlag massage.
Not just on the way to the destination.

Back to a normal life and practice now??
Who's in charge anyway?

Sunset

As mentioned earlier...no yoga while in Mysore...my colleague wanted for sure to see the zoo...