Class This Morning

As I entered the studio at 7.15am this morning, the five students that were there were already at seated poses, some were almost finishing. How early did they start?

It’s rare good to have the option of going to Mysore-styled classes every morning, although M (see previous post) is only here for two weeks.

With a new teacher, or rather one whom I am going to for the first time, I normally hold back go easy with my practice. The studio though, is generating a lot of heat from the energies of the other students’ practices; and with adjustments from M, I found my practice going deeper than expected.

Had a great adjustment in Prasarita Padottanasana C. I had also had help in Utthita Hasta Padangushthasana and Utthita Parshvasahita, which I’m grateful for, as lately I’ve been having dance sessions when I reach this stage.

Have to highlight that M gave me great adjustments in Marichyasana C. On top of giving a nice twist, he also managed to get my shoulders extra width and got my chest to open up at the same time. Very nice!

My fingers found each other in the first side of Marichiyasana D. M came over and got me to find even more of my fingers. Yay! He also got me to bind in the second side of Marichyasana D. Interesting to note that his Marichyasana D adjustments are very similar to those of Saraswathi.

And, for my personal log, I was told to use more of my legs in Urdhva Dhanurasana. I’ve always found it extremely hard to lift my hands off the mat, let alone walk my hands in – maybe I haven't been using my legs properly. He adjusted by pushing my thighs towards each other slightly. Got to remember that feeling in my next practice.

On a totally irrelevant different note, I haven’t seen the naked guy for quite some time. Not that I’m missing him or anything; but just wondering.

It Finally Happened

My first successful Marichyasana D bind on my own this morning. Albeit on the right side only, but I am so so thrilled. Teacher was busy assisting someone at the other end of the room at that time. Did my usual attempt by getting my left arm past my right knee and slipped the left hand under the right foot. That normally constitutes my bind when I’m practicing on my own. Somehow today the left shoulder gave more movement towards the right knee and I thought, “what if I go for it”. Before I know it, the left elbow could hook around the right knee and then, through some frantic breathing, the fingers found each other, and I was BINDING!

If I were not in a class, I would have done a celebratory fist pump after the five breaths were up (they were very quick breaths). I even managed to do Baddha Padmasana, which lately has been more misses than hits.

Practice, practice and all is coming!

More Updates

Received news that an authorised Ashtanga teacher is visiting Kuala Lumpur, and who will be teaching Mysore styled classes at the Westin hotel from 31 May to 12 June. This is so timely. Practice has been interrupted lately by relatives visiting from abroad. The good news was the excuse to indulge in what can only be described as feast of local cuisine for dinners – this included lots of kuih (Malay cakes – really delicious), satay (a must try for visitors to Malaysia), Hokkien noodles (have to be non-halal as the pork cracklings are really something), Cantonese yee mee, durians (one either love them or hate them – I love them!), lots of roti canai, thosai (dosas for those who has been to India) and heaps of curry puffs and pisang goreng (bananas fried in batter). I should have taken photos of the food. But greed has overlooked opportunities to document the food and the excess that we eat.

I have digressed. So, the news included a picture of the teacher and also a picture of his authorisation certificate from KPJAYI (I’m thrilled to see the certificate as I have never seen one before).









And here is the text from the flyer :

AshtangaYogaKL
Visiting Teacher
We welcome a new authorised teacher from Portugal, Manuel Ferreira
from Monday, 31 May – Saturday, 12 June 2010

Daily Mysore Classes : 6:00 – 9:30 a.m.
Course Fees:
12 day package – RM400
6 day package – RM225
Drop-ins – RM60
Where: The Westin Hotel, Poolside Studio, Level 4, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.

Ashtanga Updates In Kuala Lumpur

Some updates on Ashtanga scenes in KL. The teacher that was teaching Mysore style classes at the Westin is now back from Mysore and is teaching at this studio in Bangsar. The schedule can be found here. Beginners absolutely welcomed.

Manasa Yoga is commemorating the first year death anniversary of Shri K Pattabhi Jois, which is on May 18, by conducting Ashtanga classes the whole of next week. Click here for details.

A Post Worth Visiting Again And Again

Like to share this post from a blog I came across because the video gives such a beautiful insight of Shri K Pattabhi Jois (Guruji) and of what it is like being one of his students. Please click on the link to access the post.

Practice Notes - Ujjayi Breaths

Class started with us sitting and getting our ujjayi breaths started. After a while, led class started. But not before the following words “Remember the sound of the ujjayi breaths. Let that be the background of your practice. When the practice starts, the foreground of dristhis will change, but let the background of the ujjayi breaths be constant”. Ok, I’m paraphrasing a bit. But that’s the gist of Manoj’s wonderful message to us that class last Friday evening.

There were of course countless times when I forget his message as I struggle through the asanas I’m working on (oh, so many that I’m not even going to bother naming them). But at least there was something to hang on to when I do remember it. When I do follow it, the practice seems more meditative and less of a struggle. Most times, though, I have to dial back the depth of the asana in the beginning. But more often than not, by the end of the fifth cycle of breath, the depth of the asana is as deep, if not deeper than when one try to muscle into the asana.

Practice has been good. Apart from Baddha Padmasana, there has been no major breakthrough. But the good thing that is happening lately is the regularity of practice, and the acceptance that some days it’s ok to miss a practice. Baddha Padmasana has been more miss than hit. I’ve only managed one more successful attempt after my last post. This practice does give a good lesson in non-attachment!

First Baddha Padmasana

By the time I’ve reached the end of Surya Namaskara A, my palms are starting to slip towards the front of the mat during downward dog. Kuala Lumpur has been super hot of late. Surprisingly, even with the heat and dripping sweat and considering I missed practice on Tuesday because I was not feeling 100%, today’s practice was full of energy.

I just rode on this unexpected wave. I initially planned a softer practice. I even tried to do some straight leg jump through. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. Each time I ended up in a squat and then kind of shuffle my feet through. Heh, it must have looked pretty funny. Good thing I was alone at the Westin this morning. I wonder whether the straight leg jump through requires a good forward bend.

Anyway, I had a good practice. I don’t know if it was the heat or the energetic practice; I managed to bind in Baddha Padmasana on MY own! Happy happy joy joy! After practice, I treated myself to breakfast at Dome at Pavilion at the risk of being late for work. It may be a small breakthrough but these milestones can give so much joy.