Day Off

So today was the first day off from yoga in 6 days. We always have Saturday off from practice. I haven't slept more than 3 hours straight since I have arrived in India and nothing has changed in a week. I thought last night would be different but nothing has changed. I seem to have plenty of energy so I can't complain about the lack of sleep. Maybe the yoga is helping with my energy level. Today we went to breakfast at Anokhi Garden Cafe. I eat there most mornings because they have really good coffee and free internet. The owners are Marie and Flora who are two French ladies who opened the cafe about 6 months ago. They make everything form omlettes to poridge to grilled tomato basil sandwiches. They are very loving and hard working people with kind hearts.


Two days ago I ended up skipping practice due to a very sore back and neck. I was a little worried so I made an appointment with a shiotsu massage therapist who also has an extensive yoga background in the doshas and chakras. We began with a little interview about my diet and history. Shiotsu massage is done fully clothed and uses energy and pressure points. We figured that my dosha was Pitta-Kapha which actually is really good for ashtanga yoga. I have a high agni production and it is balanced with the coolness of kapha. Basically I'm fire and water so they balance out.


We began the massage with me lieing on my back and breathing. He evaluated my digestion and stomach area. Later I turned on my back and he began to move from head to toe down my body giving extra attention to my shoulders, spine and hips. At one point he asked if I had ever had a shoulder injury. I was shocked because I injured my shoulder when I was in 9th grade and have had stiffness in it ever since. He worked on my right shoulder for about 10 minutes. Then he asked if I had any problems with breath. Than I felt a sharp pain under my right shoulder blade....my first thought was holy fucking hell...Ahimsa dude.. He went on to tell me I had been walking around for at least a few months with a dislocated rib. He put it back in. My back immediatly became very relaxed as if he had cut a rubber band. I had the best practice I have ever had the very next day. I have another massage next week. It only cost $15 American dollars for an hour and a half massage. Need I say any more.


My teacher Sharath said he missed seeing me the next day and that I owed him 1000R for every day I missed. He looked so serious and than he smiled and laughed out loud. He is so funny and you can see he really has a pure soul. I saw him later in the day on the street with his son and he looked at me seriously and said...Jonathan..you are accumilating quite a large sum of interest on your 1000R....I can show you to an ATM....hehehehe( Indian head bobble)...He has such a light and funny soul..It is so great.


Tomorrow is Sunday so it is time to go to bed. You know the yogi's around here from the regular back packers because we are all in bed by 9pm on Saturday night. The first led class starts at 4am and the second led is at 6am. Coffee is a beautiful thing when you are getting up that early. Good Nite Mysore.