Road To Mysore

Last Friday was a led primary class. On Fridays there is only one class so the room is always packed. The class starts at around 5:20AM but the door opens at 5 and there are a lot of students just waiting to get in at around 4:45AM. I still haven't done a head count but I would say it's about 80 to 90. Anyway, when the door opened, I saw some open space on the front row and started placing my mat. As I was lying my mat on the floor an older lady told me that I was in Olaf's space. Apparently, there's a power line in the front row. I didn't realize that the old students all line up in the front. I started moving to the side to make sure I didn't get Olaf's spot. Olaf then arrives and introduces himself and told me, "Don't worry about it, we'll all fit. There's enough space for all of us." He was very cool about it but I was not particularly happy with the way that witch told me. I think they should put a sign in the front row saying, "For advance and old students only!!!"

Later that day I went to the internet cafe. I was sitting beside an unassuming yoga student. He was very friendly and he introduced himself..."My name is Peter".

Me: "Hi Peter, I'm Joey, where are you from."
Peter: "I'm from New Zealand, where are you from?"
Me: "I live in LA. Are you a yoga teacher"
Peter: "Yes"
Me: "Let in look for your name in ashtanga.com, are you authorized?"
Peter: "No, I'm certified but I'm not in ashtanga.com and I don't have a school in New Zealand. Those school are run by my students"
Me: "How long have you been coming to Mysore"
Peter: "Almost every year for the past 17 years"

I was a little embarassed because I didn't realize he was one of the senior ashtanga teacher but at the same time very impressed by the fact that he was very humble and not part of that "front row power line." What impressed me the most was that I have never heard or read his name in ashtanga.com, any blog or the ezboard. I also later found out that he covered Noah and Kimberly early this year. I never met him then because I was still practicing with Jorgen(my loss). I wish there were more teachers like him(low-profile and humble). I later heard from my fellow LA yoga students that he is an amazing teacher(really my loss).

I've noted a lot of yoga student here are sporting the Michael Jordan look(bald). I've been wanting to do it for so long. I think it would be very liberating. I brought it up at breakfast a couple of days ago and an Australian lady said she wanted to do it to. I told her that I would do it next week and that maybe we could do it together. I told her I needed a week to build up the courage. She agreed and said that she wanted to sit on it to. I'm definitely going to do it I just haven't set the day.

The whole LA shala crew is here now. This morning I saw Vincent at practice. He was the last to arrive. We all had breakfast and had a picture taken( 7 of us). Someone is going to try to send the picture to Noah & Kimberly. I'm so happy to have familiar faces around me.