Magical Yogi's and Monkey Love

Yesterday was led practice early in the morning. Usually on Sunday Saraswathi teaches the led practice. My teacher Sharath comes in and chants the opening prayer and than goes to his office to watch until he teaches the advanced class after ours. He came out yesterday and corrected one of my positions and smiled at me. I kept slipping yesterday because my mat was on the marble and not the huge rug in the middle of the room. It was an ok practice. After practice I stayed and watched the advanced yogi's..They were amazing. The sequence is the same until they get to Purvokanasana. I think that's the one...So much sanskrit. Than they begin all kinds of great stuff. I was amazed at how fluid they all were. It was such a great experience. There is a guy named Ethan that I couldn't take my eyes off of. His practice is so magical....He never makes a dull face or sound..He practices with a Buddha like face and fluid movements...It was just an honor to see someone of his ability pracitce..I'm very lucky..I'm in Mysore the home of Asthanga yoga and I get to see the beauty in the practice from people like Ethan and so many other beautiful and kind yogi's..This place is really school in so many ways.


I went to Santosha and ate a few eggs and too many sweets. Than I came home to do laundry...As I was walking out side to hang laundry on my roof I stopped dead in my tracks only to find a mafia of monkeys looking straight at me. I looked at my neighbor Jennifer who was watching them and just laughed...They all had coconuts..I walked up the steps to my roof and they just kept right on marching up with me...As I was hanging my clothes another group of monkeys were parading up the stairs..As I was looking at them prancing up the stairs I swung around and cut my head on the clothes line. I have all my shots so I won't get lock jaw...but forhead cuts bleed so much..I ran down and washed the area and slathered it with antibiotic ointment..I think I will live..Mom..I'm ok..Don't freak out...Love you..


I'm not eating after 3pm because Sharath wants me to lose a few more Kilo so I take a rikshaw into the market and walk around. I saw my friend Amber yesterday as she was dress shopping..She and I like the same music....we talked for a while about Chinese music in the morning and I must say her taste in talant is very good..hahaha...at least as good as mine. We both agree that Jay Chou rocks...She is from Taiwan and staying for 3 weeks to study at the shala. She is funny and has a very kind soul..


I have been spending a lot of time alone because I feel it is more appealing. Susie goes out with the girls and I must say she has a good group of kind and loving people around her.. I am enjoying my alone time and sometimes I hang with my friend Makoto and my friend Jennifer. We all eat breakfast together so we do see each other at least once in the day..


Tomorrow Jennifer and Makoto and I are going to a Buddhist Tibiten village..I really can't wait..I have been feeling the need to see and speak to the monks..I approach some on the street and they talk a little but soemtimes don't speak very much English..I feel so self-centered because American's always expect everyone to know English..Too bad I never really learned Chinese..It would be to my advantage..


So I'm happy and well in Mysore. I am home sick but it comes and goes..I really look forward to my practice in the mornings and my books at night..Life is really good here and I am very lucky.

Peace and Love