Road To Mysore

Yesterday marked my first week here in Mysore. Has my stay here met all my expectations? I would say yes it has and much more. I love being here. This place is not perfect and I can complain about a lot of things here but I expected all of this...the pollution, being screwed by rickshaw drivers, no airconditioning, the poverty...the list can go on and on. But that is what India's all about and the sooner you get over it, the sooner you see what life here is really all about. Here's a short list of why I love being here:

1. I am honored to be in the presence of Guruji, Sharath and Saraswati. The thought of being here is enough for me. I never really expected much help from any of them because of the size of the class. I simply wanted to be here. I didn't even expect any adjustment on my first month. I thought I had to convince them that I was dedicated to the practice before I got any kind of help. On my first day, I got help from Sharath and Saraswati. Since then, most of the help I get is from Saraswati. She has taken me under her wing. She is constantly watching my practice. Today, after adjusting me in Mari A & B(like she always does), she told me..."Monday we do C".

2. I love the fact that by life here revolves around yoga. I don't have to go to work, I don't have to get on a car and drive anywhere, and I can sleep after practice or anytime during the day. I normally have a 2 hour breakfast, a 2 hour lunch and a 3 hour dinner. I'm learning to slow down here. Although I know I have held back a bit, I know I can give it everything I have every day. I intend to do that next week. I remembered in LA when I had to skip vinyasas because I had a whole day of work ahead of me. I no longer skip vinyasas here.

3. I love Indian food. I'm vegetarian(I try to be anyway) and most of the food here caters to vegetarians. I also love the thalis and the different kinds of food which I'm still trying to figure out. Mysore food is different from LA Indian food. I think that Nalpaks serves the best thalis. I'm there almost everyday. They're reasonably priced and it's a all you can eat thali. A thali by the way is a complete meal which has 3 or 4 entrees, desert, soup, chapati or puri, rice and whatever else they put there.

4. I love the energy in the shala and the history behind it. I'm so happy to be part of this Ashtanga/Mysore family.

5. I love my fellow yoga students. I've met so many cool people here from all over the world. I like the fact that I'm not the only one whose unemployed. Most of use here don't have permanent addresses. We're all gypsies in a way. I don't feel out of place here. I'm normal here.

6. There is no other place in the world where you can see very many advance ashtangis in one place. I've met a lot of senior asthanga teachers here. I'm impressed by the fact that they've been coming here every year for the past 10, 15, 20 years. I wish one day I can say that about myself.

7. I enjoy exploring the city, soaking in the culture and being part of India. I love going to the city and just walking around.

8. I pay $1000/month for rent only in LA. Here, I can spent could spent less than that in a month and live here like a king. Everything here is cheap. I feel like a millionaire here. Yesterday I picked up more drawstring pants and shirts and it only cost me about $5 to $7 each. The meals range from about $1 to $4. I eat a lot so for most people it would be much less.

9. I love the Indian family I live with. They have adopted my flatmates and I. We are no longer guest in the house. We're part of their family. Anita, our landlady serves us breakfast every morning(most landladies here don't) and chai in the afternoon. The first Kanada word I learned here is "saku" which means enough because if you don't tell Anita "saku" she won't stop putting dosas in your plate.