We are all Athlete when we are practicing the Ashtanga Yoga

Yoga is a discipline and to practice Ashtanga Yoga take a lot of dedication. Therefore as per Iain when we are dedicating ourself to it we are training ourself such as athlete. I could not agree more.

Because there will be a physical change in our body there will also be a physical change in our mind. We all hear that Yoga is the connection between the soul and the universe it is for me the connection between the I and the inner I. It is more individual at the beginning, it is only when we know who we are that we can start to understand the rest of the world or the people.

This morning during the practice I tried my level best to surrender to it. I had a bad night and I woke up moody, unhappy. 

Then I understood that it will only depend on me whether I will have a good or a bad practice, we are what we think as well as we are we eat, we are what we say and so on.

After all it was a good practice and was happy to finish where I am supposed to be.

The practice, the understanding and the acknowledgment of the Ashtanga Yoga Method only relies on the practitioner, wether you want to follow it and surrender to it without any question and expectation or you take the other side of it, you skip when you want to skip because you feel uncomfortable and you add secondary asana because it is flattering your ego.

You have the choice. Whatever the choice you are taking it will define you as a human been. As mention before and as Iain said, which I really like, we should create a relationship between us and the practice and furthermore a relationship with ourself. The way we are practicing is often the reflection of who we are truly.

Once we have digest all the information and acknowledge it then we start to practice Yoga in his pure form and origin. 

With Love & Light ;-)

Week 2 - Mysore Practice Ubud

Today I have received an adjustment in Supta Kurmasana, now I am reaching my hands with help but when Iain tried to bring my feet behind my head than I can not grab anymore.

So basically I am still stuck in Supta Kurmasana.

As the philosophy class yesterday was about Santosha I shall not complain and be happy for where my practice is leading me.

And it led me to Supta Kurmasana ;-)

That's it!

Day 6 - Half Led Practice

The 6.30 AM group is for the students who practice the full primary series. The 8.30 AM is for others students, like me...

I was not pissed off neither angry, I thought so, but I was frustrated. 

Even though I tried not to think about it "I am in the second group, I am in the second group"..... somehow deep inside of me my monkey was punching my ego.... then I started getting pissed off and I got pissed off because I was starting getting pissed off.... like a dog running behind his own tail. 

Some counting were very slow while other were fast.

Marichyasana C for example was extremely slow because Iain was helping a student and I showed an attitude..... same for Marichyasana D.

Then from here practice stops and going directly to backbend. I was mad.....

Sarvangasana calmed me down..... the counting was until 20 breaths!!!! 20 breaths in Sarvangasana..... my teeshirt was slippery but manageable for 10 breaths then wtf???? after 10, comes 11, 12.... then reaching the 15 count it was very clear that it was not the end, so I bend my legs and waited for Halasana.

I flattered my ego by staying perfectly still, motionless and calm in Shirshasana, same for half Shirshasana and Utpluthih gratified me.

Could not relaxe at all in Shavasana......

What is happening to me? Why my ego is showing off, am I repressing it and then suddenly like a volcano it is erupting from my deep inside? How can I manage it? I did not know that I had such ego problem, what is wrong with me???

Suppression - Osho

The practice is not only at the physical level, right now I am digging inside of me...... 

Work & progress.

Day 5 - Catching in Supta Kurmasana !!!!!

Today the practice was hard, I got dizziness after the series of Prasaritta. Since the beginning of the practice I am working on my breathing from Urdhva Tadasana and I think I never ever practiced like it before therefore my breath is getting shorter.

Iain helped me for Supta Kurmasana and at the beginning I thought it was helpless as each time I cannot fully grab and hold it. However he made me grab without any pain and to my very big surprise I hold it for 10 breathes!!!!! 

After I felt my body lighter same when I did Marychasana D the first time my body was lighter.

Yesterday after my practice I felt strange and basically burst into tears, some bad thoughts, memories were passing by and I allowed them to leave (and don't ever never come back!!!).

Today after Supta Kurmasana my body was not heavy anymore, my shirshasana was flying.

I keep repeating the same sentence, surrender to your asana, surrender to your practice, surrender and let it flow. This is so true.

Day 4 - Intense practice

Today my practice was slower, I worked a lot with my breathing trying to feel Mula Bandha during all asanas and working a lot on my jump back and jump front.

As a result I was completely tired after it.

Iain helped me to grab my hands in Supta Kurmasana and I do believe that I am getting closer to have it. I should not have any expectation.

It is a funny day, I don't know how to explain, something is happening from the inside and I do believe this is a good thing. Sometimes you just need to let it happens and not only surrender to your practice but also surrender to the Universe.

Day 3 - Creating a relationship with the practice

In the afternoon there is pranayama session and discussion group.

Iain said yesterday that we should be able to have a relationship with our practice instead of having it through the teacher. The commitment toward the practice is the commitment toward ourself. If you are practicing fast you are probably running away from something, from yourself. The practice should be the reflection of the relationship toward our own body, mind, ourself.

Having a relationship with our practice, such a beautiful sentence. I never thought of it like this and it is so true.

This morning during the practice a lady just burst into tears while doing Parshvotanasana. It remind all of us the power of the practice, the power of the breathing and furthermore the power of let it go.

As per Iain if you are stuck into an a asana it is because you are not ready to let it go, you are not trusting your practice and so yourself.

Not to remind that I am stuck with Supta Kurmasana. This morning I had bad thoughts during my practice. I've seen 2 men practicing without any flexibility, not really biding in Marychasana D and practicing the full series. I thought why? Why not me? 

Back from my practice and typing the blog now I am thinking "Why I am still having this kind of thoughts? Why still comparing me to others when I should just practice and take care of what is happening on my mat!!!!"......

Right now I will define my relationship with my practice unstable, sometimes I like it when I do the all series and other time I am frustrating because I am stuck with one asana....

I still need to grow.....

Day 2 - Practice with Iain Grysak, Ubud

If you have to stop in Ubud I highly recommend you to stay at the Gayatri Bungalow. The place is beautiful, the staff is very nice and professional and the owner, Bagsu is an Ashtanga Practictioner, he is Iain student since the last 2 years.

You will have the opportunity to speak with him about the practice and it is priceless.

One view from the back side of Gayatri Bungalow

This morning practice was good. Iain adjusted me in Supta Kurmasana, my fingers touched each other but still unable to grab... big arms? big ass? I don't know but still it is not working. For now I stopped here and go directly to the closing series. But it was a good practice, focusing more on my breathing and my alignment. It was also a good sweat.

Today we have an afternoon session, no practice but discussion and pranayama. 

I feel very lucky and bless to practice here in Ubud and to meet such good people.