Road To Mysore

My knee is feeling much better now. It still hurts a little but I've gotten over the set-back. Talking to Peter and Olaf has really helped. I've accepted that this is just part of the process. Peter and his girlfriend(I think it's Hojung) leaves Mysore today. They have both watched over the LA shala crew the past couple of weeks. I am sad to see them go. Peter has influenced me in ways I could not imagine. It's not what he says...it's more about what he doesn't say and doesn't do which makes him special. I understand now why the whole LA shala loves them so much.

Yesterday's practice was ok. Its was my 6th straight day and I was just looking forward to getting a rest day. I haven't had 6 straight days of practice since leaving LA 2 months ago, so my body was just feeling it. There were 2 led classes so the room was not too full. I was in the second class at 6:30 which Sharath led. Sharath help me in Mari B and I binded my hands on the left side(I'm still excited about that). I was a little protective with my left knee. He didn't let me do Mari C which I expected. I was tired and I just wanted to close my practice.

A few people have been asking me if I was planning on doing any bodywork while I was here. I really had no intensions of doing any here because the tables here are either too high or too low and not adjustable. Leanne from the Chandra house told me that I could get a custom made table. She referred me to a place close to the shala, so Rema and I checked it out. They really don't make massage tables here. What they can do is make a single bed higher so I don't break my back. Sara my flatmate said she'd split the cost of the table with me since she's also a massage therapist. The whole thing will cost around 2,600 ruppees(about $60). I thought about it last night and decided that we'll place the order later today. We should get it in 3 days.

I've also decided to get a cellphone here. A lot of the people I hangout with have cellphones and getting a hold of each other is really difficult. I tried to resist getting one but once your used to having a cellphone, it's really difficult not to have it. Even in India. It's going to cost me about $40 for the phone and I'll just pay for the minutes.

Last night was Rhonda's birthday party. We celebrated it at the Green Hotel. She's part of the LA crew so we were all there. Phil(I think his from England or somewhere close, Simon(England), Maura(San Diego), Anthea(Scotland) & Janet(Calgary) also joined us. Dinner was served at around 8:30 so we were all starving by then. Janet sat beside me and I enjoyed talking to her. I later found out that Simon was an ezboarder and has a blog too. I convinced him to hook-up his blog to ashtangi.net and he said he would. The whole blog world is getting really small. Simon told me he got a room in the Chandra House because someone else cancelled. According to him that someone was Lisa. Lisa, I wish you were here with us. A few weeks ago Maura made a comment in my blog and said she was arriving in Mysore on Oct 7. I wasn't sure if she was the same Maura at dinner so I asked her. At first she wasn't sure but later remembered she made a comment in someone's blog. I was glad she was the one because I felt awkward asking her. I also convinced her to start a blog and she said she would. I think I should be promoted to Head of Marketing for Ashtangi.net-Mysore Office(ha ha ha, hari hari, boom boom).

I met Sarah & Richard a few days ago in the internet cafe and found out that they have a Mysore blog going. It's a really good blog. If anyone is interested it at www.sarahcase.net.