Road To Mysore

I think that it's more important to listen to your body than to stick so stringently to the whole six days a week thing. Some weeks it'll be no problem, other weeks it'll be a struggle,and of course you'll always push yourself to your edge in terms of how much practice you can handle on any given day/week, but don't push yourself beyond it. Everyone is different, and it's okay to take a day off if you really need it. Don't feel guilty and don't ignore what your body is telling you.

Namaste,
Andrea

Joey,
You have to remember that N is also an Ashtanga teacher. Part of his responsibility, in many respects, is to have a daily practice. If you had asked (and perhaps you should), he would likely tell you that you just do it. You do what you can everyday, but you still show up everyday. When I began studying with him, I said, I'll see you on Tuesday (this was a Sunday). And he said, why not Monday? I explained my ridiculous deadlines at work, etc, and he said, If you can make Tuesday, you can make Monday. Not the answer you want to hear, but there's some truth in it.

Also -- although you were studying 5 days a week at another studio, because the energy is different at the Shala, maybe 5 days a week with N+K takes the energy and stamina of, say, 3 or 4 days a week of your previous teacher. Just a thought. There's nothing wrong with 5 days a week. Maybe take that 6th day and practice at home. Or, just rest. A good opp to practice non-attachment (to ideals, esp).

I teeter between 5 and 6 days a week. Sometimes I really need to take a day off. Tuesday is my preferred day-of-hookie, given its wacky energy. Or Sunday, cause it's so damn crowded.
namaskara,
manda

I decided to take tomorrow off from work so I'm probably going to practice at the shala either at 8 or 9. That gives me a few extra hours of sleep. If I'm really tired after practice I can always take a nap. Today, I took a 30 minute nap in my car. I was just so tired.

Amanda, you must be really excited. You have less than 2 weeks before you leave. I have a little over a month before I leave and I'm already excited. See you in the shala.

Joey,
I leave in 8 days. Can you believe it? See you in the AM.
manda

Rest days are important, but you also have to think about why your body's screaming. If you just didn't get enough sleep, that's unambiguous, but if your hamstrings or back suddenly start to hurt you have to think about why.

Sometimes when i don't feel like going, I'll do a short thing, a few seated poses, navasana, backbends, finishing. THe important thing is to look forward to backbends and finishing. if I can't do that, then it's kind of a wash whether I should have practiced or not, but I'm usually glad I went anyway. Also, on low energy days, a little bit of protein (peanut butter, or 1 spoon of cereal and almonds) beforehand seems to help.