En guise d'introduction...Here we go!!!

Today I am flying to India to spend a month in Mysore studying ashtanga yoga with Sharath Jois at KPJAYI (http://kpjayi.org/). KPJAYI is the "headquarters" or the source of ashtanga as established by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Mysore is a city in the southern India state of Karnataka. I started practicing/studying ashtanga yoga during the summer of 2008 when I was living in Blacksburg, VA.  I had been looking for some kind of physical exercise that was more stimulating than just jogging or working out at the gym. I had started exploring various yoga DVDs, and I was particularly interested in more vigorous forms of yoga like power yoga. Somehow, I stumbled upon an ashtanga DVD by David Swenson. I was fascinated and challenged by the practice. There were so many poses that I couldn't understand and couldn't figure out how to do. The practice was f***ing hard! There was a focus not only on difficult postures, but also on maintaining a consistent breath and focusing certain vision points called drishtis. I was eager to learn more about this type of yoga, but Blacksburg was not really a hotbed of yogic activity. I was really surprised, however, to discover that beginning ashtanga yoga classes were going to be starting at the local YMCA. I was looking for some kind of change in my life; I was searching for something! Normally, I would have never dared taking a class at the YMCA! It was just so far outside more y comfort zone. I was much more inclined to try to figure it out entirely by myself.  I was determined to learn more about this mysterious ashtanga yoga practice, and I forced myself to go.  Somehow, I managed to screw up the start time of the class, and I missed the first class of the series. Not a very auspicious beginning. I wrote to the teacher and offered my apologies, and promised to be there at the class the following week. Fortunately, I was able to get my act together and I made it there for the class. It was the beginning of a journey that would transform my entire life.  I managed to stumble into a class taught by the magnificent Karen Cairns.  I won't go into her story right now but she is an amazing woman and an unparalleled yoga teacher. She is completely devoted to the ashtanga lineage in the tradition of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. She started her yoga practice in Louisville, Kentucky at the Yoga East shala.  By the time I started studying with Karen, she had made many extended trips to Mysore, and she was just about to be authorized to teach by Sharath Jois.  By beginning an ashtanga practice under the watchful eye of Karen, I opened a door to an entirely new universe. I was immediately hooked by ashtanga--there is a definite physical challenge but they were also opportunities for mental and spiritual development.   It seemed like ashtanga was made especially for me (yes--I realize  that this sounds extremely narcissistic or egocentric), but  I just wanted to learn more and to do more. It seemed like I had been waiting my entire life for ashtanga.  My practice seemed to be fueled by all of my passions, character defects, drive and ambition, while at the same time dismantling and destabilizing them.  It felt like there were some sort of alchemy your magic going on. My body changed and my mind changed as well.  As we talked about ashtanga, Karen told me about this place in southern India called Mysore.  I had spent the first part of my life completely fascinated by France--India held absolutely no appeal for me. I was interested in French literature, cinema, fashion, parfum, and above all, French food.  Yoga and India were things that I associated with patchouli-scented hippies; I certainly did not want to be any part of that! Despite all this, as I deepened my practice, travelling to Mysore began to sound appealing. I felt the compulsion to go practice at the source of ashtanga yoga. I was beginning to make arrangements to spend a month in India back in 2009. Taking a month away from one's regular routine requires lots of coordination. My employer seemed to be okay with the idea, and my parents were willing to watch my dog. Despite the initial planning, however, the universe had other plans for me: in September of 2009, my mother died suddenly. It was without a doubt the worst experience of my entire life--the absolute despair and sadness that followed were almost impossible to endure. With the support of family and friends, and with my daily ashtanga practice, I was able walk through the grief and try to find a purpose after losing someone so essential to me. Because of my yoga practice, I could face all the emotions and the uncertainty and the ineffable sadness. I did not need to run away from the grief; I was able to try to face it and to process everything that was going on. These complicated yoga postures DO have a purpose outside of simply contorting our bodies into strange positions. They allow us to be in the moment--any moment--and to face that moment head on with full breath and clarity of vision.  The challenges that we face on the yoga mat are indeed practice for life in this world. My life has changed substantially since 2009--I moved to Atlanta, been through a few jobs, got married, but here I go for my month of ashtanga adventure in Mysore. I hope to keep you up to date on all my experiences during this month. Before the plane takes off, I must acknowledge my gratitude to my dedicated and generous husband who is allowing me to embark on this journey despite our just being married a few months ago. Animesh is watching our dog Max, with whom I have spent approximately 1/4 of my life. It was so difficult to leave him this morning--but he will be in good hands. I am ever thankful to my wonderful employer, Emory College Study Abroad, for permitting me to be away from the office for over a month. Of course, I must thank my amazing teachers, past and present, who have brought me to this point in my life. Most importantly, I want to thank my yoga teachers, Karen Cairns, Lori Risetto, Marsha McNeight and Kathy Cushing Koher. Marsha and Kathy oversee the ashtanga program at Balance Yoga in Atlanta, where they have created a dedicated and loving community of ashtangis. Practicing with such delightful people is a privilege. I must also mention the crew from Mysore Standard--who greeted me so warmly when I moved to Atlanta and who remain close friends today.  Additionally, I must recognize all my friends and family members who have supported and loved me through all the phases of my life--some of which have not been particularly pleasant. Love to you all!! I will let you know what is happening from across the globe.