Day number 5, Week Number 4, KPJAYI - Sarawasthi and David Roche

Starts: 4.50 AM
Ends: 6.20 AM

It was a really good practice and also a very surprising one. Since the last 10 days I have been working my gluteus, doing simple exercice in the afternoon to reinforce it.

Also since the last couple of days my left knee was out, could not bend it for ardha baddah, tryanga mukha was painful etc.

This morning I don't know why I decided to give it a try. And to my huge and big surprise I was able to bend my knee WITHOUT any pain in all Ardha Badda Padma Padotansana, Paschimottanasana, Marychasana, Tryanga Mukha and even Janu Shirshasana C. However could not twist with a knee bend for Marychasana D as the feeling is like my skin is ripped, actually this is the TFL that gives me huge pain while twisting...

So I think I need to investigate this path. Is a weak gluteus compromising the flexibility and the comfortability of the knee??? I will continue to work it as I did, nothing very big, it is every day 10 to 15 minutes of repetitive movement that I will documente later,  but I do believe that there is something here.

Okay so to be perfectly honest right now as I am typing I can feel my knee "pulsing" a little bit and I have put some oil (ginger and juniper) on my full body - enjoying the feeling.

And another note the registration for Sharat has been opened today, and I just applied :-) Will see if I am accepted or not.

I am very happy whatever happens, if it is a no for Sharat then I will reapply for Sarawasthi.

- Namaste -

4th Day, 4th Week - David Roche, KPJAYI

Starts: 4.45 AM
Ends: 6.30 AM

Asana skipped: Marychasana A (what a shame, I started with Marychasana C.....)....

Today David Roche asked me why I was doing a Variation of Marychasana D, I explained him about my knees and he understood. I felt released because since the beginning I had the feeling I was cheating. Basically if you ask me to perform perfectly Marychasana D or Janu Shirshasana C or even Ardha Badda Pada Padma Paschimottanasana it will never EVER HAPPEN.

My right knee might be able to compromise a little bit even with a torn meniscus but my left knee simply cannot. No more meniscus in my knee, I can do these asanas sometimes but not for a long period. Right now I know my left knee is gone, completely gone, I still manage to practice with it but I really do it with caution as I started also feeling pain while walking.

So you might think why not stop the practice??? Well if someone ask me to stop until the full recovery of my right knee I can tell you that I will never be able to practice anymore. I had these (stupid and useless) surgery when I was 14 years old (in 1988), at that time when you had problem with the knee they used to open and remove whatever the problem was. My meniscus was in pieces because when I was kid I was not able to walk, just run ;-)

But still I manage it well.

It was a good practice. 

I had a coconut water and I put my music in the car as I am getting a little bit tired of Indian music. After a practice it is simply a sin to come back home with David Bowie!

June 16th, Sarawasthi Blessing - KPAJI

Starts: 5.00 AM
Ends: 6.30 AM
Stops: Supta Kurmasana

Saraswathi: "What is your last Asana"?
Me: "Supta Kurmasana"
Saraswathi: "Why stop"?
Me: ".... I don't catch the hands"...
Saraswathi: "You go further. From next week you do all the series, catching okay, just try".
Me: "Thank you very much".

I am very happy. From now and then I will practice at the Shala the all series :-)

It was a good way of starting the day!

- Namaste -

June 15th, Week 2 Sarawasthi class - KPAJI

Starts: 4.45 AM
Ends: 6.00 AM
Stops: Supta Kurmasana

Today practice was harder.

I am amazed by Sarawasthi. She starts her day at about 3.30 AM with the first batch of the students, then at 5.00 AM she led the class for the beginners, as she is teaching she helps others students in Uttitha Hasta Padanghustasana, means that ALL STUDENTS coming to the shala are at least touch ONCE by her, everyone is having at least one adjustment from her. 

She has interaction with all of us. Therefore you never feel alone, you really feel assisted. When you know the number of students coming to KPAJI I think it is amazing. Beside the class finish at 10.30 AM or 11.00 AM for those who have been required to practice at 9.00 AM and when the shala is crowed and people doing the line up at the door she is still there, means that she is staying with all students from early in the morning until at least 11.00 AM. 8 hours in a row of adjusting, watching, teaching, without eating....

R E S P E C T!

Basically you don't come to KPAJI to be adjusted, if it is your goal then it is not the right place. You come there to practice, Practice AND PRACTICE. The goal is not the alignment the goal is to do the asana as it has to be done.

If you can not reach then you stop and you go to the closing series. End of the story.

I understand it and I also understand that you can not do any YTTC in Ashtanga Yoga. There is no Yoga Teacher Training course in Ashtanga, not at all. This has to be stopped....

Ashtanga is all about the practice from one teacher, from the Guru, from the source. There are so many others styles I think it is better to let the Ashtanga as it is and to follow the tradition.

- Namaste -