The day to day stuff

It happened just like I knew it would, but being the eternal optimist and with the encouragement of others, I pressed on. In the last days of "Mysore Musings", I pictured myself months later as a bad spin-off of a popular prime time sitcom.

Here it is.

I've found blogging to be so difficult now. I think that part of it is not knowing exactly what to write. I mean, in Mysore, I knew that I was writing about the "Mysore experience", where really, it was all very innocent I could write honestly on my days. But now its the "New York experience", or perhaps the "post-graduate-idealist -hits-'real world' experience". Not sure. In either case, as an artist or whatever, it seems as mundane and dry as reporting on my daily lunch.

It is also challenging learning how to navigate what to share and what not to share. In my last blog, I didn't really think anyone was reading and so, was not very self conscience about what I put out there. Now, I can't really write about teaching as I want to be sensitive to my students' privacy. I don't want to write on my personal relationships for the same reason. So then what? My asana practice? Watching a construction worker do one handed push-ups on the sidewalk while I was boarding the bus to go teach at 9:30 this morning in 28 degree weather?

Maybe it is time, or the seemingly lack thereof. I'd really prefer to sit and think about what I'd like to write and have the time to go over it before I publish it. I want to feel like it makes sense and that it was worth putting out there.

But maybe not trying and just showing up is interesting. Maybe watching someone try to work it all out is enough.

Recently viewed: "Juno". I preferred "Knocked Up". I laughed more. Maybe it was less intellectual, but whatever.

"Fire". "Water" was my favorite of the three Metas.

Recently Read: The God of Small Things. Loved how the author captures the fear, horror, and confusion of childhood. Found it similar to 100 Years of Solitude, which is fabulous and just plain amazing.


Currently Reading: The Trap: Selling out to stay afloat in winner-take-all America.

The dawn of a new era

My SO and I have decided that some real changes need to happen around our little universe. Today marks the beginning of the second day of "No TV week" at our apartment. This is no small feat. We enjoy netflix, our local "Film Noir" video store, HBO series dvds, and recently, the first season of 24. I sneak some Oprah in there too. I've heard that the average American consumes 4 hours of TV a day. We've decided, in our little way, to wake up!

You can't go home again

There is something to the teacher/student relationship.

Yesterday, I went back to my teacher at the Shala. What is it about practicing with you teacher that gives your practice that certain something? Since Mysore, I have been maintaining my practice, but it was nothing like yesterday. How did I know it was different? We can look at the physical evidence: my clothes were drenched. My sweat. The room's sweat. Whatever. Then there is the social evidence: I just felt like giving up my seat on the subway. Last, there is the psychological evidence: I was just plain happy...the entire day. Happy like I'm on the way to the beach on a summer day.

I think it was very hard and very strange coming back to New York and feeling so differently. Before I left for Mysore, I can remember that everyday after practice I felt like emptying my wallet out in a homeless man's cup on the L Train. I just felt so joyous and giving and just plain optimistic and happy. Post-Mysore New York has, as evidenced in my blog, been dreary, boring, and glum. Is it New York, or was it me? A bit of both I think. But I won't deny that my own tendency toward depression hasn't been a contributing factor. But that is why yoga is so important. If depression manifests itself in the body, then yoga is a surefire way to work it out and help turn it around. And I thought I was doing that, hence my confusion with my feelings of blah.

After yesterday, it has been proven to me (again) how important practice is, and how much a difference it makes to practice with a teacher. And maybe what I brought to the table yesterday wasn't different. But there is something special about knowing that your teacher is watching you, is helping you...It is being in the transfer of knowledge and of tradition. It is being nurtured and cared for. It is being believed in and pushed to your limits. It is facing your fears. It is committing to shoot for the stars.

RECENTLY VIEWED: Earth

This is the second film in Deepa Meta's series, Fire, Earth, Water. I saw the last film a short time ago and was absolutely blown away. The plot of this film didn't intrigue me, but I decided to give it a chance and it was really quite good!

RECENTLY READ: Light on Life I am always a little hesitant to read titles by Iyengar, especially after his comments on ashtanga practice on the Estes Park DVD series. That said, I read the first half of this book, and was surprised that A) it was readable, unlike Light on Yoga and B) it was somewhat objective about the experience of yoga practice. I didn't feel like there was anything new here, but if you don't feel like reading the sutras or other texts, you could just read this as it summarizes a lot of different materials and concepts in yoga practice.

REMINDER: Check out www.livingmysore.com , as we have published our first ashtanga-inspired online zine!