Class# 144 - 148; AYC DC Mysore Class # 1 - 4: Back to Basics (yet, again)

It is truly a humbling experience to fly on your own, with the gentle yet firm guidance of a teacher. As part of my revamping and reinvention, I'm now waking at 5:15 am and heading out the door after 15 min or so of meditation, walking a mile to a Mysore class, a mile back to my apartment and then a mile to the metro to work. So, by the time I would have normally still been considering getting up, I've walked two miles, done my morning meditation, got in a yoga practice, had breakfast at my kitchen table, and now writing today's entry.

So, some of you are probably wondering what exactly is Mysore? Mysore Style is a traditional Ashtanga self-practice with the assistance of a teacher - named after Mysore, India where Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois, the modern master of Ashtanga, teaches at his school, the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute.

I went into this thinking that I knew the flow. Thinking that I understood the sequencing of asanas. Thinking that I understood what vinyasa (moving with breath) was.

I will be the first to tell you that I had no idea of what practice meant, until I began this process. When you're accustomed to 90 minutes of yoga practice, to be cut off after 37 minutes (in class #1 on Monday) and taught 3 finishing postures (which you still can't seem to sequence quite properly with breath let alone, order by day #4) - it's quite humbling. In the span of four Mysore classes I have begun to systematically break down old habits and hopefully lay a new foundation, slowly building on itself in form, flexibility and strength. Really, truly stripping down to the base layer.


They don't teach you this in any of the books.