Are my nadis showing?

Karandavasana in Intermediate Series

I remember once, years ago, we were at conference in Mysore ("conference" is a talk or Q & A with my teacher, Sharath at the main shala in Mysore, India) and I can't recall if someone asked the question or if Sharath had it in mind for that day.  I remember being jarred by something that sounded close to "everyone comes to India twice".

I looked around the room filled with people of all ages and all genders and all nationalities and all shapes and sizes.  I am sure many if not most were on their first trip to India.  And what a feat that is.  You have to take leave from work or quit or be able to work remotely and you have to pay for expenses at home and abroad and what will you do when you get back?  Will work still be available?  And what if you have a family that depends on you?  What then?  Going to India just once is a massive deal.

You go back home after that trip to India and you smooth things over with everyone and everything.  And maybe that is enough.  Some people somehow choose to rip their lives to shreds in order to do it a second time -- imagine!  That's usually enough to not be able or need to do it again.  Go back to regular life.  Enjoy your local shala.  Try another traditional or brand or fitness routine.  And remember those trips to India?  So glad we did that.  What an experience!

It may have been the same conference, maybe not.  I think the number was 7.  (I don't feel like digging up my notes now.)  In order to keep practicing beyond 7 years, the intention had to be spiritual.

When you have a daily Mysore practice (that's what Ashtanga is called when you do it every day) you will eventually get bored with having to master something before learning something else unless you are there for a reason beyond the asana.  You will get bored or frustrated or angry or plateau or whatever.  You'll move on to something else.  That's totally okay.  The world is filled with so many amazing teachers and practices within yoga and beyond.  But for some, there's something deeper there.  Beyond the asana and the physical health and the teacher, even.

Crying in gomukasana

So I just laugh to myself when someone is concerned with my alignment (are my nadis showing???) or whatever it is they think I am doing that will hurt.  Or when someone tells me ashtanga is fast-paced or aggressive or really intense or whatever.  I laugh.  Yoga can be whatever we make it.  The Yoga Sutras have only one instruction for asana -- it should be steady and sweet...Sthiram Sukham Asanam.  You're lucky if you find that day one.  Otherwise, on some days, that's part of the practice.
1. Show up
2. Steady and sweet
3.  Don't identify with thoughts




Exit: "Plastic Soul" Mondo Cozmo