Until My Next Trip

So long until my next Mysore trip. Saving this blog for my future Mysore trips. I have started another blog - Crazy Cacat in the City. Feel free to drop in. It is not a yoga blog - just anything that comes into my scattered mind. But it will contain updates/progress in my yoga journey. Happy practicing, everyone!

July Highlights

Fell off the blogging bandwagon, in part due to a failure to maintain my self practice. I've found it so easy to lose the morning practice routine. A 15 minute lie-in would eventually lead to a reluctance to get on the mat, with the excuse that a rushed practice is not an ideal practice. Soon 15 minute lie-ins became a regular morning habit, and so went my morning yoga habit.

I took to relying on classes for my practice. Sometimes it is a rush to get to class, giving opportunities for excuses to creep in. With a scattered mind, even during classes, the practices have felt laboured. Still, there were times when I remembered the breaths and forgot my expectations - these were the times when my practices have felt light and joyous. These, though, have been few and far between.

Highlight for July has been the arrival of Manchester United in KL for a friendly match against a Malaysia Selection. I managed to get tickets for the match, and even got a Meet The Fans pass. Of course, I took leave off work to meet the players up close. As the queue got longer, it became embarrassingly obvious that I was the oldest fan. Well, there were other older "fans"; but these were parents accompanying their children. My excuse for not bringing mine was that they were not really fans - they had only heard of Van der Sar (see this post) and Christiano Ronaldo (who hasn't?).

But I did bring them to the match - partly to let them see there are so many other people even more fanatical about Manchester United than me. As it turned out, the stadium was packed with a sea of fans wearing red. The atmosphere was charged with excitement. It was a great match, with Manchester drawing first blood with goals from Rooney and Nani. Then, when Malaysia scored with a fantastic goal, the stadium went feverish with everyone chanting "Malaysia, Malaysia". And, the whole stadium almost went into a frenzy when Malaysia equalised. It became a very open game; with Malaysia trying for an upset win, and Manchester trying to restore their advantage. It was almost story-like that the match was settled with the winning goal from Michael Owen near the end of the match.

My kids now felt some connection with Manchester United - they now know more players, notably Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen. Although I did make a special effort to mention Paul Scholes and the way he reads the game, etc, but I think I tried too hard and lost them in the process.

August is now fast approaching. My next highlight will happen at the end of August, for I will be making a two week trip to Mysore! It will be exactly a year from when I made my first trip last year. I can't wait.

Stand By Me

Something to share this Easter Sunday. http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2539741

Death Wish

Had a close shave on the way to work this morning. This motorcyclist suddenly appeared in my front of my car trying get from the left lane to the far right. Luckily, traffic was congested so cars were not travelling fast. Managed to brake in time; but this guy didn't appear to realise that there may be a car on the next lane. Helpless, I watched him bumped into the car on my right; and somehow he managed to get to the pavement on the right hand side of the car! He seemed fine, but I'm guessing he'll be facing some verbal abuse from the driver of the car. So, the adage for today was - better late than never.

Practice today was great. Marichyasana D is getting there. Nowhere near binding by myself but I feel I'm getting deeper. Lately, during headstand, I'm starting to get a feel for Urdhva Dandasana. Somehow, today I could not seem to get the hips flexion to get the legs down. After a couple of seconds trying, I decided to give Urdhva Dandasana a miss. Better slow to advance in asana than be injured.

Pork Chops Or Cubs?

Just received this email today, which I thought is quite apt as a follow up post to my previous one :


In a zoo in California , a mother tiger gave birth to a rare set of triplet tiger cubs. Unfortunately,due to complications in the pregnancy, the cubs were born prematurely and due to their tiny size, they died shortly after birth

The mother tiger after recovering from the delivery, suddenly started to decline in health, although physically she was fine. The veterinarians felt that the loss of her litter had caused the tigress to fall into a depression. The doctors decided that if the tigress could surrogate another mother's cubs, perhaps she would improve.

After checking with many other zoos across the country, the depressing news was that there were no tiger cubs of the right age to introduce to the mourning mother. The veterinarians decided to try something that had never been tried in a zoo environment. Sometimes a mother of one species will take on the care of a different species.The only 'orphans' that could be found quickly, were a litter of weanling pigs. The zookeepers and vets wrapped the piglets in tiger skin and placed the babies around the mother tiger.Would they become cubs or pork chops??
Take a look...




Now, please tell me one more time ........?
Why can't the rest of the world get along??


P/S
I thought dressing the piglets up in tiger skin would be a bit disturbing ...

Intentions

One of the many invaluable things my teacher in KL tried to stressed on us students was to always have an intention or intentions for our practice. It could be a dedication or a prayer which can be done just before practice starts or after it ends.

The violence that is happening in the Gaza Strip has recently been highlighted in the media. It is distressing to see pictures of victims and the anguish it caused to the families affected. So, how about we all set an intention or prayer for peace to come quickly for these people the next time we practice?

Yes Man

A new start to the year - usually a time to reflect on the past and make resolutions for a better future. Watched "Yes Man" over the Christmas period, which gave me the idea for this year's resolution - Don't Shy Away From New Challenges.

For a creature of habit like me, the resolution itself will be a challenge. Anyway, here's to a new year and new adventures!

Thanks For The Inspiration, Mysore!

Since I've been back from Mysore, I felt I have carried back a bit of its magic with me. I'm managing to practice on my own - which is great for the days I can't make it to the yoga studio. The last class I went to, I'm binding in Marichyasana D on BOTH sides (with help, of course).

The trip to Mysore has certainly inspired me. Practicing in the shala, one could feel a certain energy that is quite special. The Jois family, the students there, all add to my inspiration. Also, reading about the blogs of other people's practice, their dedication is also very inspiring.

So, I like to share a Malay song from Malaysia with you all. It's called "Kau Ilham Ku" (which is translated as "You Are My Inspiration")



Translation -
Thousands of stars in the sky now disappear
Leaving the darkness to caress me
The drifting moon now starts to fade
My inspiration vanishes and leaves me lost
A flash of your face appears in this silence
A flicker of ray appears
Is it merely a star or a ray of moonlight
And I express my gratitude
Allow me to steal a shadow of your face
Allow me to steal a dream with you
Forgive me ...oooo....
If this song disrupts your life
Your smile ...oooo.....
Is a figment of my memory within this arena
You are my inspiration
You are my inspiration

Allow me to steal a shadow of your face
Allow me to steal a dream with you
Forgive me ...oooo....
If this song disrupts your life
Your smile ...oooo.....
Is a figment of my memory within this arena
You are my inspiration
Allow me to steal a shadow of your face
You are my inspiration
You are my inspiration
Allow me to steal a dream with you
You are my inspiration
You are my inspiration
Allow me to steal a shadow of your face
You are my inspiration
You are my inspiration
Allow me to steal a dream with you
You are my inspiration

Credits to Youtube users Adeputera and Greenie85

Making Patanjali Palatable

That's the title of the book, launched by my teacher last Sunday. Manoj has always said yoga is more than asanas and is constantly making an effort to make us students more in touch with the yoga sutras. I've attended his workshop on the sutras once. Although I enjoyed it, laziness has now erased what knowledge I learned then. Sorry, Manoj!! Now, with this new book there can be no excuses...



I've also noticed, at the back of the book, endorsements from Lino Miele and Richard Rosen (editor of Yoga Journal)! Wow. How cool is that?! (Sorry - I'm easily impressed by famous names.)

Moving Around In Mysore

This is what I used to get around Mysore -


Some yoga students who are staying for a longer duration, rent scooters or bicycles. It looks a lot of fun -


But look out for wildlife on the roads ...

Rail Museum - 9 Sept

The museum is great for kids - has a small playground and a mini railtrack where you can take a ride round. Small museum, with only 5 trains but I enjoyed it.

Santosa Cafe - 9 Sept

Today I had breakfast at Santosa Cafe, a short walk from the shala. It was GREAT! Operated by Westerners, it serves great western breakfast - organic oatmeal, fresh cookies, even the sugar is organic (well, not the white sugar - I can't give more details). Super. And after that, I was walking around the area and I found Rashinka's Emporium, where they sell cotton rugs. I'm a bit early - the shop is still not opened. But I'll be back. Now that it's my last few days in Mysore - a shopping hunger has started ...

Sunday - 7 Sept

The autorickshaw stopped beside me just as I was getting hungry and the drizzle had just started. Thinking it's a good time for lunch at the hotel, I agreed to use the ride. Not before some bargaining for I have now been in Mysore a whole week. "How much to Green hotel?" "20 rupees" "Oh, ok"

So much for bargaining. 20 rupees is the cheapest quote I ever had; normally I'm charged between 30 to 40 rupees. "So, this is the true rate", I reflected knowingly when unexpectedly the autorickshaw came to a stop. Curious, I looked out and saw the Green Leaf foodcourt ahead of me. Feeling glad the driver could not read my thoughts, I nonchalantly got out and hand him the 20 rupees. Besides, I had heard of this place but have yet to try its food.

I had a great vegetarian briniani.

Incense Stick Being Made - 6 Sept

Devaraja Market - 6 Sept

Celebrated start of weekend by going to this colourful bazaar.

Mysore Palace - 2 Sept

The palace is situated in the heart of the city. Unfortunately, one can't take cameras into the palace grounds so I only have pictures taken outside.

The palace grounds are huge, around 450 yards each side. The palace is on the left as you walk in through the south gate and on its grounds, you can find 8 different temples.

Inside the palace, are exhibits of European statuettes, lamps from the East, etc. along with paintings and murals of the royal family and Indian history.

My favourite part is the Durbar Hall on the first floor, where you will have a panoramic view of the palace grounds with its fountains and towers of temples.

After the palace, I was walking around the palace lawns when suddenly I became a tourist attraction. A group of boys from Kerala wanted to include me in the picture with them, so I obliged.

Oh, I forgot to mention that you will have to remove your shoes before you enter the palace. Luckily I was wearing a pair of socks with no holes in them. Which reminds me, I need to send my socks to the laundry now.

Mysore, At Last! - 31 Aug

Finally, I'm in Mysore. The hotel I'm staying in is called the Green Hotel. It has really beautiful gardens and my room looks out onto them!

After quickly settling in, I set off to the shala to register. I was reminded of my university days when we approached the shala - there were pockets of what looks obviously like yoga students standing out amongst the locals. I saw Saraswathi for the first time - she was friendly and also has a strong decisive presence. She led me to a room to register and there was Sharath sitting in the room! So, I quickly said namaste and smiled like an idiot. I hope I don't practice like an idiot tomorrow. I was told to practice the next morning at 8.45am.

One More Day!

Tomorrow is the day I finally leave for India. Panic has already sown their seeds. "What else can you tell me about Mysore?" I questioned my wife again and again. Any macho image that I have left has surely left me by now. Someone else teased me - "Isn't going for yoga trip a very gay thing to do?". And this is from a gay guy. Now, paranoia is starting to sow its seeds ...

Indeed, I have gone through many mental checklists of what to bring. I even caught up with my best buddy for lunch just now. I'm only going for 2 weeks! Still, the fact that I can't find my backpack doesn't bode well. The past week, I've been reading up on Mysore blogs. I have now a clearer idea on what I'm going into. Unfortunately, questions like the following has also emerged - what is this novice doing, mixing together with seasoned yogis?

I better start packing - time to pack the doubts away, time to look forward to meet the source of ashtanga yoga and to a new adventure ...