Thailand, Day 7. May 26th, 2007

Where is everyone? I feel lonely today. This week has been great though. At the beginning of the week I was so sore. My whole body was feeling the pain of doing a million yoga push ups, one after another. Thursday, I just pooped out in practice. I got to a certain point and was just unable to go on. Then on friday it was like I was a totally new person. It was great. I had the best practice yet all of my soreness has subsided and i feel strong. I was able to do many of the things that the practitioners had been saying all week to do to help your practice.

I was able to get deeper into my stretches and felt really good. My breathing is getting better and I am now taking a few less breathers in between poses. I feel good about the yoga. I wish I could stay here indefinitely. I might come back at the end of the year. I want to improve my current practice a lot and it will take time before my hips are open enough to move on from what I am doing so far.

Let me explain a little about the Mysore style of Ashtanga. The main difference of this style of Yoga to other styles is the focus on vinyasa, literally the intelligent putting together of things but taken in this style of asana practice as a variant of suryanamaskara practiced between asana. The practice is a defined set of postures always done in the same order, which are combined with specific breathing patterns (ujjayi breathing). The purpose of vinyasa is to create heat in the body, which leads to purification of the body through increased circulation and sweating. It also improves flexibility, which allows the student to practice advanced asanas with reduced risk of injury (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashtanga_Vinyasa_Yoga).

And heat it does add! Wow, I sweat buckets. I feel so much better for it too. I know in the morning sometimes i just don't want to practice but by the time I get the first 5 sun salutations done I am raring to go. It is a difficult work out but I like it because it is in a pattern so I can do it by myself when I leave here eventually.

Another thing that happened this week was that I quit my job. I will not be returning again. It was prompted by some drama but I am not going to get into the details here. It just isn't worth it. I feel great about it and I am happy that I am done. free and clear from that job. I am now trying to figure out how I can stay here for the long term. I do have to leave at the end of June as I have a trip in Europe planned. But I might come back towards the end of the year. I will have to change it up a little bit and find a cheaper place to live as living here is not sustainable long term here. That is unfortunate as it is a great place, the people are kind and considerate and the food is simply fantastic. So healthy and it really tastes good. I was worried the first day but the Thai people just know how to cook. It is all totally vegetarian and totally delicious. I just love it. I probably eat too much of it.

Goals for the week: Do Yoga (that one is easy) but use the techniques they have taught more efficiently; Don't worry about the other students' pace, worry only about how well I am doing each pose; Try to perfect at least 2 poses this week; and try to do the transition between chadarangadadasana and upward dog properly, i.e. not letting my pelvis touch the ground in the transition. That might take more than a week but I am going to make a concerted effort; be happy that I am in a fantastic place with great people who, yes are yoga geeks, but it is nice to have.

I truly wish everyone could come here and experience this with me. Although, it would probably be totally different for me if I was not here alone. I do invite everyone here, with or with out me. It is great for both beginners and experts as the teachers are amazingly patient and helpful. Especially with me because I have a terrible memory and always forget where I am in the practice and have to ask over and over again.