India Day 25 - 24th of August

Led class was great today.  I felt strong throughout the whole class.  Marichyasana B and C were easy binds, and D was very close on one side, and only a little further on the other.  I think these massages might be making a difference.

I finally managed to give away my bike today.  A less than emotional affair - I managed to find someone who would use it. They weren't too sure it was a good idea, so I initially lent it to them with full 'right of return' if they didn't like it.

I chose to kiss Saraswathi's feet today.  It's something I never thought I'd do.  I did it because I think I've really accepted her as my teacher.  I hadn't noticed anything different about how I regard her compared to other teachers until someone said something at Santosha.  They said something like "your face just lights up when you talk about Saraswathi."  It's true, there is something special about her.  (I didn't really kiss her feet, just went down and touched them the way that you do, Indian style.)

Tullia's farewell was today at Anu's Cafe.  They actually had nice food today which was cool.  I haven't liked their food so far.  It was very expensive, but nice.  I'm going to miss Tullia.  She reminds me of home and my family.

In order to get to Madhu's more cheaply, I hired a scooter.  This was a great idea until the scooter broke down somewhere in Saraswathipuram.  We ended up catching a rickshaw to Madhu's class, though we were very late.  After class, it was a shambles trying to get the scooter fixed.  The issue wasn't the scooter, but more that the guy that hired it out is a pathalogical liar.  He managed to lie to us five separate times about where he was, what he was doing, and how we were going to fix the scooter.  It was truly terrible.  No having been in India a while now I understand that there is a more 'fluid' relationship with truth here, and that honesty gets discarded to save face or gain advantage.  But there has to be a limit.

While waiting for the Scooter owner to turn up, I shot this pic of Krishnas being painted on the side of the road.

In Ayurvedic massage class today we did the neck.  It was a fantastic class again today.  I'm really loving these classes, their approach to massage is totally different to western massage.  It's much more like Thai massage, but just a lot more forceful.

India Day 24 - 23rd of August

Big news today is that my bicycle isn't stolen.  After sitting outside the shala for a couple of days, the guy that manages the gate had put it inside.  So it's been sitting inside one of the Jois family's properties all this time.

I wouldn't have found out about it, but went to chanting, and the chanting guy Lacksmish said that it'd been left around and put away.  So my grand plan has been foiled once again.  It seems that nobody wants to steal that bike, so I'll have to find another way of getting rid of it.

Saraswathi made me do Uttita Hasta Padangustasana twice this morning.  We did it once, and she said I didn't do it properly, so needed to do it again.  I love that pose.  It's such a nice rest, and it gets me prepared for the impossibility of Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana.

I finally visited Easy Day.  It's a nice supermarket with lots of range.  I went with Britt to get her a new suitcase.  We carried it home on the back of her scooter, which was typically Indian - the two of us and a HUGE red suitcase behind my back.

Today was the first of the hands-on Madhu massage classes.  We did the head today.  We all had a go, and it was a lot of fun.  At one stage Madhu's son Mahadri came in and helped teach the lesson.

In backbending class with Vinay I did wall walking for the first time.  I don't know whether he finally thinks I'm ready to do some actual backbending, or that he's just exasperated with my lack of progress.  While everyone else is going from strength to strength, my poor body is losing flexibility, and Vinay is confused.

After Madhu's class, I was doing Vinay's class with an oily head.  This is not a good way to do backbending, because the extra heat of having a head covered in oil is dramatic!  Vinay gave us backbending T-shirts today.  They were 'one size fits most' and I clearly have broader shoulders than the average Indian so had no chance of fitting it.  It's sweet though.

I'm spending a fortune in rickshaw fees with all these extra classes, so I'll have to get a scooter.

India Day 23 - 22nd of August

It appears I have finally had success with getting the bicycle stolen.  Finally it wasn't there today outside the shala, so hopefully that means that someone is cycling around another part of Mysore on it.  This was surprisingly hard to do, but I've achieved success.

Massage exam today at Lillie's.  It was a lot of fun, and quite easy in the end as we've spent a good three days practicing.  Also my studies in Mexico helped a lot as well.  Lillie cooked us a fantastic Thai meal, and gave us the cutest little certificates.

India Day 22 - 21st of August

Thai massage classes with Lillie again today, and I think we're getting quite good at this.  We had a good laugh and also ate lots of chocolate together.  One of my favourite things about going to Lillie's place are the puppies on her street.  They're just too cute and cuddly.
The bicycle isn't turning out too well.  It's far too small for me, and I also keep breaking it, and so keep having to get it fixed.  So I've decided to get it stolen.  Instead of putting it away at night, I'm going to leave it outside and hope that somebody takes it.  I'm sure that there's somebody around here that needs it more than me.

I actually went to chanting today.  I wouldn't have gone, but it was the best place for me to leave the bike, so that's where I left it overnight to get it stolen.

Again went to Gokul Chats for lunch.  That place is lovely.

 Today was the first of the Madhu massage classes.  We're doing them as a three, being myself, Charalambos, and Isabelle.  I've spoken of it before in this blog.  It's not typical Ayurvedic Massage, rather it's Ayurvedic Bodywork.  Like the Ashtanga primary series, it strips layers of [something] off the body.  It's hard to explain, but I'll do my best.  On the physical level it improves your flexibility, it fixes muscle imbalances and does your typical physio/ chiro/ Musculo-skeletal stuff manipulating joints to get things re-aligned.  On some other sort of level, there is some sort of release of something.  You can feel it coming off you, and it fills the whole room.  I don't like the hippie word 'toxins' so I won't use that, but don't have my own word to explain it.  The final result is that you feel softer and cleaner on the inside.

It's also brutal.  I mean really brutal.  Have you ever had physio for a damaged achilles or plantar fasciitis?  It's that sort of deep pain, and it goes on for an hour and a half.

In the class we did mostly theory.  We spoke about Ayurveda, massage, and the principles of how to treat a patient.  Perhaps one day I'll write some of this stuff up, but for the moment it's scrawled in my notebook.

Photo reblog

http://weheartit.com/entry/13613812

India Day 21 - 20th of August

So now I've spoken to mum about the shark attack, and her immediate reaction was "Gosh I hope it doesn't put him off surfing."  Now that's a cool mum.  She knows her priorities, and it's all about the surfing.
Gokul Chats has turned out to be my favourite joint for lunch, and we had a treat on the way there.  There was a pig digging up the side of the road looking for food.  It was totally unconcerned by my presence, just kept on digging and chomping.

Babe in the city

Today was the second day of the Thai Massage classes, and we covered a lot.  It was great fun, and I think this is something I'll use in the future on my friends and family.  I have good notes, so should be able to.

India Day 20 - 19th of August

Big news today is that my brother got attacked by a shark back in Australia.  It was a big bull shark, and he's ok, with no major injuries.  It seems that he was mistaken for something else by the shark, and so it exhibited typical aggressive behaviour, circling him and charging him.  Fortunately he was on a Mal at the time, so he was able to pull himself up onto the board and out of harms way.  The shark eventually lost interest, and he could paddle in.
He says that one of his friends was spear fishing nearby, and so that could have alerted the shark to prey being in the area, or it could have been protecting it's territory.  We'll never know, but he's ok, just a little shaken up.

Today was the first day of my Thai massage course with Lillie.  Last time I studied Thai massage was in Mexico, so it's been a very long time since my last go.  It all came back though, and it was a lot of fun.  Lillie has a great way of explaining things.

At Gokul Chats today I decided to weigh myself.  I came in at 77.1kg.  That's only just down on my typical 78kg, so no real difference.  After eating I weighed myself again at the pharmacy and got 77.1kg again.  Hmm.  Well 77.1 it is then.  One special little treat left for me at Gokul Chats today was a cockroach in my food.  I'll leave a little pic right here of the wee fella.

Cockroach Thali

India Day 19 - 18th of August

Today we had organised a trip to go to another temple, but I just couldn't make it.  I'm absolutely exhausted.  I just couldn't do anything.  I tried to go to Anu's submission at the police station, but even that was too hard, so I just ate and rested.
At class tonight with Vinay he said "You are tired because you are losing a lot of weight." Oh dear.  That's not exactly what I wanted to hear.  I have to agree though, I do feel quite skinny at the moment, though it's more of a change in weight distribution.  With the food here in India, my weight seems to be dropping from my chest, and onto my belly.  I have a soft tummy now, I can feel it in my forward folds.

India Day 18 - 17th of August

Led class today, which is always fun.  I love being in led class with all the others, but it can be a bit cold.  I have to stop after Marichyasana D and everyone else keeps going.  Then when it's time for Urhva Dhanurasana, I have to magically join back in again.  In the interim I've cooled down a whole lot, which makes Urdhva Dhanurasana more than a challenge.  During the interim I sit there in lotus, following the ujjai breathing and listening to Saraswathi's count.  I like to watch the other students too.  My favourite to watch are Brittney, Melissa, Charalambos and Kiri.  I watch them because they're my friends and I always think that if they can do it, maybe one day so can I.  Especially Charalambos.  Even though he's a foot taller than me, we have the same body shape.

I lost my jump-backs again today in led.  I think it's because I'm really tired at the moment.

Anokhi's for a nice big breakfast, and I spent a good long time chatting to Everett and Jeff.  They're really nice guys, and seem to be into the yoga here for exactly the right reasons.  They're not all crazy about whatever the next posture is, they just enjoy wherever they are with the yoga.

After Anokhi's we went to Sams for his weekend lunch.  As before I had everything on the menu.  Yum.

Tonight was my first ever attempt at a castor oil bath.  Britt and I had a go at it, and we made a huge mess.  I think we might have left it on too long as well, because it made us both really really sleepy.

India Day 17 - 16th of August

Saraswathi told me to come earlier tomorrow morning.  I think there are less people practicing now than when I first started.  All the people that came for the USA summer and have now headed back to their homes to start work or university again.  Earlier is much better in my opinion.  It's cooler and the mind is more calm at that time in the morning.

 i skipped both the Parivritta Parsvakonasanas today.  I wouldn't be able to do them if I tried with my newly added stiffness, so it was a good thing to do.  I'm sure it didn't help my Marichyasanas not having done that early spinal twist, but today just wasn't the day for them... I wasn't feeling it.

Breakfast at Anokhi's, then off to the Tibetan Village and the Golden Temple.  The most amazing thing was listening to the Buddhist chanting.  The voices are so low and gravelly, it really seems like they're trawling the deep for lost spirits.

Leah and I being silly

Green hotel tonight for dinner.  It was nice.  There's a server there who is in the foulest mood possible.  It was quite funny.

India day 16 - 15th of August

Each day when Sam sits down to try to adjust me into Marichyasana D, he says to me "tomorrow you'll bind".  It seems that somehow Sam has cottoned on to the fact that tomorrow I won't bind, because today he didn't say it.  Today he said "Next week you'll bind".  Oh well.  I'm used to being the difficult student in class...
Breakfast today we went to the secret breakfast place in Lacksmipuram.  it was amazing, with the best idlis I've ever tasted.

Secret Breakfast Place

After breakfast it was straight to the chocolate man for some more of my cacao addiction.  Today I had a dark ginger and a dark mint.

In Vinay's class, we did something different.  Instead of doing a flexibility class, we did a strength class.  It was fantastic!!! For the first time in a yoga class, everyone else was struggling and I was ok!  It felt like the old days going cycling with weaker riders, or going for a surf in big waves with my friends.  I know it's ego inflating, but to not be "that guy" that struggles was a special feeling.

Today is Independence day in India, and so there's no sleep to be had by anyone.  Crackers and music going off all night, this is why I'm here. :D  <3 India!!

India Day 15 - 14th of August

All these attempts at Urdhva Dhanurasana and my wrists are really sore.  They have a severly limited range of motion, and that combined with the limited range of motion in my shoulders is causing them to be over extended each time I try to backbend.

Jumping through is also becoming more difficult.  It could be that I'm just getting tired after being here two weeks, but it seems more than that.  The jump-backs are getting harder too, though they are at least easy enough that I don't have to aim where to put my feet.  Once I'm up, I'm back.

Finally today I made it to the chocolate man...  This is going to be a daily affair.  I got dark truffle, dark orange, and dark cream caramel.

Chocolate man chocolate

India Day 14 - 13th of August

Practice today was tough.  I've lost a lot of my spinal twisting ability from Vinay's work.  So much so, that today I couldn't touch the ground in Parivritta Parsvakonasana.  I hope it's only stiffness, and not a genuine loss of flexibility.

With Marichyasana D, Sam is getting me to put my foot down on the ground for the first set.  This means that I can get practice binding on both sides before trying again with my feet up in half lotus.  I think it's helping.  Sam seems to have noticed that I'm getting stiffer, and is adjusting for me.  He's not pushing to bind me anymore, just taking me as far as I can go.

India Day 13 - 12th of August

Back to two classes a day today.  Ashtanga in the morning, and flexibility/backbending at night.  I really like the two-a-day thing.  It feels good.

In the morning, there are a whole bunch of salesmen and delivery people that roll past my window and balcony.  One of them is the newspaper delivery guy.  He's got a special talent, and it's putting the newspaper in the exact same spot every day.  Outside my window I can see the second story balcony of the house next door, and the newspaper lands exactly in the same spot each day.  If you look closely at this photo you can see it.  It sure beats my newspaper delivery guy back home.  He can hardly even get the driveway.

Gokulam Chats again for lunch, I love that place.  The food is good and well priced.  It's also nice to sit outside at lunch.

I also ordered a new custom surfboard from Rodney Dahlberg.  It'll be ready when I arrive in Australia.  I went for a 6'3" 19 1/2" 2 1/2".  I'm going to get an orange all over spray.  The fin setup will be a thruster/quad combo.  I can't wait for it to be made.  Rod glasses his boards really lightly, so it'll be light as a feather.

India Day 12 - 11th of August

Today was our day off, so Tullia and I went to climb Chamundi Hill.  It was an interesting experience, being ripped off by a tuktuk driver, but eventually getting there.  At the bottom we saw the fattest monkey in the world eating sugar cane.

At the top, we started to have problems with too many people asking for photos.  Because I'm tall and blond, blue-eyed, and have long hair, everyone seems to want a photo with me.  It's ok occassionally, but when it's all the time it gets annoying.  I've started asking for 20 rupees per photo whenever someone asks.  Of course they're Indian so they never pay, but it decreases the number of people who ask for photos for sure.

On the way back from Chamundi Hill, we were running a bit late for breakfast, so made a quick call to Marie at Anokhi and asked her to prepare some breakfast for us for when we got back.

Fat Monkey

Chamundi Hill Stairs

Temple Atop Chamundi Hill

Britt has decided that she wants to join us for Vinay's flexibility classes.  She's really excited about it.  i don't know why, she already backbends like a beast, and can grab her calves in a drop back with no trouble at all!

Tonight is the farewell dinner for Monica.  She's been so much fun to have around, hopefully I'll see her in either Mexico or India in the near future.

A final note, I finally figured out how to get hot water from my shower.  Until now I've been heating it on the stove.  Hahaha.

India Day 11 - 10th of August

Led class again today.  It wasn't so good.  I'm definitely getting less flexible.  My binding in Marichyasana B and C wasn't so good, though I still bound.

I went for a massage with Lillie.  It was fantastic.  I think it's one of the best western massages I've ever had.  It certainly isn't the same as getting a massage from Madhu, but it's still good for the muscles.  We did a full hour and a half because obviously my muscles are quite a bit harder than the average person's.

Tonight was my first experience at the Green hotel, going with Belen and Brittany.  The food was ok, but not as good as Green Leaf.  The do serve meat though which is great.

During the day there were cows sniffing around the bottom of the house, so took a few photos.  They're beautiful peaceful creatures.  Here's a pic of them eating the neighbours' garden.

Cows

Lunch was at Sam's house.  He did two traditional Japanese meals, and also some desserts.  I had both meals and all the desserts.  The food was fantastic, but serving sizes were normal sized, which just isn't enough for me.

In the afternoon I bought a bicycle.  It's called "miss India" and it's a cute little thing.  It's a little small for me, but still a good bike.

India day 10 - 9th of August

Each day before practice, I get up, and put some water on for my mate.  I make my mate, and then I sit down and do a little meditation, and some hip openers.  After that I eat a small meal, and it's time for my morning shower and nauli, before getting changed and ready to leave for practice.

I'm a little worried about my mate supplies.  I've gone through nearly a third of the bag after only ten days here.  Perhaps I'll have to switch to chai or something like that for the second month.

My Marichyasana B and C were more difficult today.  I think Vinay's work is tightening up my core and hips, and so I can't slide in to those poses easily and it's taking a bit of effort to bind.  This week they've been very easy, but today was harder.  I feel like I'm getting worse!  Marichyasana D was further away than usual as well.  I'm usually almost there, but today I was miles away.

This morning I got Brittney to take a photo of me outside the shala.  Here it is.

The Shala

India Day 9 - 8th of August

Today my first niggles from the yoga have arrived.  One of my intercostals on my back seems to have been strained a little, and also my right ankle is sore.  I think the right ankle is just loosening up from the motorcycle accident I had a couple of years ago.  There's still only a limited range of motion in my ankle from that.
I called Madhu for another massage, but he says he's heading to Kerala, so he can't do it.  That's the second time he's not been willing to make an appointment.  He must be really busy.

Vinay's classes were different for everyone today.  That's nice.  I like that he's specialising them a bit.  He still doesn't adjust though, and that's a bit annoying.  Also the fact that we are forced to wear a t-shirt in class is tough, because he closes all windows and doors, so it's steamy in there.

With a few others I walked around the city a bit.  Interestingly there's a McDonalds in Mysore.  I don't know how that works with the no beef thing.  We all went to FabIndia as well, but didn't buy anything.

Tullia took me to Gokulam Chats.  That's a really great restaurant.  We had the South Indian Thali, and it's really nice.  I'll be coming here more often.

After that we visited the Elixir juice bar.  Unfortunately it was expensive and horrible.  Haha.

I bought another cotton mat for yoga.  Hopefully this one is better than the blue one I have.  The blue one is nylony, and so slips a bit, and is stretchy.  This one is thick and cotton and orange.  It's really nice.

I found the himalaya muscle rub for my back and ankle.  There are two types.  One is a gel, and the other a cream.  The Gel seems to be faster acting, but not as good.  The cream is natural, and lasts a while.

Just a note on the monkeys here.  There are a lot, but they're picky with what they eat.  If you give them a piece of fruit, they'll often ignore it, and go searching for chocolate.  This one was going through a bin, picking out all the best chocolates, and ignoring all the other food!

A monkey hunting for chocolate

India Day 8 - 7th of August

So Saraswathi says she doesn't like my Marichyasana B.  She says I have to get my front foot wider, not so close to my other knee.  I try, but it makes binding more difficult.  I think the muscles in the legs and hips need to open up a little more before I am able to get that one looking pretty.
In chanting class, Rachael gave me a hint for Marichyasana D.  I'm so close to binding, especially on the second side.  Sometimes I touch my hand, but I just can't quite get there.  Rachael says to get my foot on the ground a little wider, and right the way back, near my hip.  Then try to get my knee under my armpit, rather than closer to my elbow.  Rachael leaves tomorrow.  That's a bit sad because she's really cool.

I bought a shala carpet, just to see how it compares to the one I have.  Also, I'll need to wash the other one once a week, and we won't always have a moon day to do it.

Vinay gave me some variations in class.  I can't quite manage what the others are doing, so he gave me some easier poses instead.  I'm a little worried with some of the work we're doing.  It doesn't seem too good anatomically speaking.  He seems to be creating some muscle imbalances in my legs.  I hope that doesn't cause an injury.

Green Leaf for dinner.  Great food there.  The mango Lassis are great!

India Day 7 - 6th of August

Today is my first moon day here.  I started with a lazy breakfast at Santosha, and of course everyone else was there as well. :)  At Santosha Tullia invited me to come to Sam's baking class.  Now that was amazing!  Sam is an incredible patissier, and he's a really good teacher.  We made 7 different desserts, with lots of chocolate.  A lot of it was vegan too, which is useful in a group of yogis.

Sammy's Mud Cake

After the cooking class I went back to the phone guy for the third time, and finally got my phone working.  Calls are cheap here which is cool, because it means that everyone calls everyone all the time, we're like teenage girls.

For dinner I went for a giant paper dosa.  I've been wanting one since I saw a photo of one years ago, and here it is! It's huge.  Yum.

Mmmm, Paper Dosa