First Day of Practice with Sharat Jois - Did I like it??

Today was the first day of my practice "with" Sharat Jois. I arrived at 5.30 AM and been told that I was too late.....  Actually if the led class is at 6.00 AM you should arrive by 5.00 AM to be sure that you will have place in the shala..... if not you will be practicing in the dressing room where I was with 6 others students upstairs and 10 others students downstairs.

So basically it is the war if you want to practice in the big shala with Sarat directly into your sight. Can I then say that I did practice under his guidance? Well kind of, we were just hearing his voice. No one stop us during the practice because no one where looking at us, so in a sense it is cool as we all practice the full series.

Tomorrow there is another led practice so I will be there one hour before it start and see if this time I have the chance to practice in the shala instead of the dressing room.

I like the practice, it was fast because after there was another led class, so it was what I call "Yoga Factory". After 2 minutes of Shavasana you have to leave because others students are coming and no one want to practice in the dressing room so it is the war, a polite war, a yogic war.

Did I like it? Well I don't really know. Actually it was not very different from my personal practice when I am alone in our shala. I did not even see Sharat, when they were no sound in the street we were able to hear him but as soon as someone was going to the toilet or a motorbike driving in the street you could not hear him, so we were doing our personal practice.

What I have notice is the level of practice. Very high! Most of the students are strong and really good practitioners. I do believe that a lot of them are practicing the secondary series. So it is a good boost for me, very stimulating. 

For the rest will see how it will go. I do  believe because of my knee I will be stop during the Marychasana series which is fine for me, I am not in competition and I respect the practice of others.

However it has become a real Yoga Factory. Everyone knows Sharat but I don't think he will be able to remember all of us, we are just westerner passing by for a short time and next month others will come. So as people are judging Yoga School saying that it is Yoga Factory at least in our Yoga School we know our students and we guide them personally.

For now I am taking this as a personal experience and hopefully at one point it will help me to improve my practice, outside of it I do not have any special expectation.

- Namaste -

Early morning practice is the best

Yesterday I went for my registration at the KPJAYI, and unfortunately I am scheduled for the 9.30 AM practice.... I should have registered earlier but I was not there so basically I have no choice. I am used to practice early morning so until 9.30 AM I have absolutely no clue how I will manage.

This morning I woke up at 3.30 AM then start my practice by 4.45 AM and it was awesome. I added some extra Vinyasa as the air is cooler I was in need of a good sweat, which did not really happen but at least I was not cold at all.

Tomorrow I am supposed to go for a led practice at 7.30 AM and Tuesday will be also a led practice. Wednesday start the Mysore style so 9.30 AM. I do believe that I will have a baby practice early morning before going to the shala, then probably a light breakfast by 6.00 AM. 

I have no clue how it will be. I suppose that the 9.30 AM practice will be packed and there will be probably a lineup at the door, so maybe my practice will start by 10.00 AM if I can find a place into the shala.... it is definitely the worst time for any practice.... But what can I do? At least I can practice with Sharat for the next two months and hopefully at one point I will be able to come and practice earlier.

Anyway my morning practice was awesome, I started with 30 minutes of pranayama and did the all series without skipping any asana. I have added few full vinyasa before the Janu Shirshasana series, Marychasana series, Navasana, Ubbaya Padanghustasana and it was great.

Tomorrow will be another day.

- Namaste -

Back to the practice

Starts: 5.20 AM
Ends: 7.00 AM

I have been travelling the last few days from New York to Paris then Paris to Bangalore. My metabolism is upside down and yesterday I was completely out.

However this morning it was really easy to wake up and to practice, my body was a little bit stiff but for the rest the practice was good.

I did a lot of pranayama at end. I think it is for me to include more pranayama into my practice, if I want to calm my mind during my practice I think I have to masterise my breathing. I am not practicing any Kumbakha, will wait the end of the month to do so.

In 4 days I am starting with Sharat....

Funny thoughts....

I am still practicing the physical part of Yoga which is Asana. However my thoughts are struck in my head, completely moving every where.

I am caught with bad thinking about what I am reading on Facebook or Instagram or others blogues.

As a Yoga Teacher or Pilates Teacher or Holistic Guide/Teacher, or whatever the name you are giving to yourself, I completely understand in order to "survive" or to make a living with our knowledge at one point we need to commercialise ourself.

However I do have problem on how the merchandising is done.

So in order to solve this there are bunch of people who are willing to help you, to guide you, to give you the key of success, to show you how to expand yourself, to explain you how to reach your goals.

Basically they are creating a new demand. 

How by downloading a guide in PDF from internet will someone become successful? There is no guide for success.... and especially when the person who is "selling" his secret is not even well known. At least if someone like Kim Kardashian is selling you her guide to success then okay she has probably something good to share about it because she is the proof that with not much talent you can become very successful.

Why people need to rely on other to gain their own trust?

Can you just trust yourself and do the best you can do. If your passion is to become a musician then practice your music and try to become the best as you can, but you will need to practice a lot and to commit yourself into your passion. The PDF guide will not be helpful at all...

So instead of losing money by attending workshops where the topic is "how to become a successful Yoga Teacher" or else, first practice, then dedicate yourself to your practice, then start sharing what you know, start teaching it if it is your wish but do not wast your time and money by depending of other "guide". Just TRUST YOURSELF!

No one has the recipe and if someone has it then he can share it for FREE, that will be completely "Yogi Style"!

Be happy, you are the BEST, you are BEAUTIFUL, whatever you want you can GET IT (but you will have to work hard and commit of course), RELY ON YOURSELF, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE OF YOUR OWN HAPPINESS, TRUST YOURSELF because YOU ARE THE BEST!

- Namaste -

Mysore Practice - New York

Nothing special to say about it. My body was little bit grumpy but I managed well. Nice practice, smooth and relaxe. Did not do all Janu Shirshasana, I am in "economy mode" for my knee as well same as Marichy did not the last one. 

Rest of the practice was nice. I am back on my mat and not in competition with myself, I have nothing to prove, my goal is to practice with a peaceful mind and not hurting my body as I've done it before.

Right now is Pancake time :-)

Led Primary Series - Eddie Stern, Yoga Brooklyn New York

Starts: 9.30 AM
Ends: 11.30 AM with pranayama
Only 8 Sun Salutations

It has been 3 full weeks since my last practice. This morning when I woke up, no jet lag. 

Practice was actually really good, I can feel that I have lost some flexibility but it will come back soon, however Kurmasana was good, no pain at all in the lower back of at the back of my legs.

Left knee was easy to deal with, so far it is not painful at all, will see tomorrow.

Eddie Stern is smaller that I was thought ;-)

We did a pranayama at the end, a baby Nadi Shodi, 5 to 6 breathing with the left nostril then close then same with the right nostril.

For a come back it was really good, will see how my body will react tomorrow morning. I will go back to the Mysore Class starting tomorrow and this until the end of the week.

Then Sharat by October 5th, 2016. Happy!

- Namaste -

Brooklyn Yoga Club - Here I come!

I am finally reaching the end of my vacation and will be back on the mat by September 18th under the guidance of Eddie Sterne at the Brooklyn Yoga Club in New York.

I am very happy to have this opportunity to practice with him. Hopefully my body will respond well after weeks of non practice. At least I do not have any pain in my knees so stopping the practice for 2 (or maybe 3) weeks was good for it. 

Next update, next week after my practice :-)

- Namaste -