Utthita Hasta Padangushtasana

Yesterday was Sunday and I wasn't well in the morning. I have a chest cold from the air but this is normal until my lungs get used to my new surroundings. Add this to the diareaha and it isn't fun. Yesterday morning I skipped practice because I felt it wouldn't be safe for me to practice. I rested and ate bland food and have been nursing myself back into shape.


At lecture Sharath talked about people who were missing class. Right away I felt guilty but I know my absence was to take care of my health. Evidently people in the shala are not showing up because of laziness not sickness. After lecture I asked him his advice on skipping class on days when I was so sick. He said I was fine and to rest and be in class tomorrow. He gave me some tips on helping me get rid of my cold but it involved hot milk and Tumiric..I respect my teacher but that just isn't going to happen. Ginger tea and lemon are good enough.


This morning my practice was fast but actually improved from last week. I had diareaha this morning so I was trying to keep it together if you know what I mean. My lungs cleared out as I warmed up and I was feeling really good. When I got to Utthita Hasta Padangushtasana I just stuck my leg right out in front of me. I couldn't help smiling because my leg is so straight. All of a sudden I saw Sharath jump off the stage and trot over to me and smile. He grabbed my leg and raised it another foot higher. I lost me balance a little but that little guy is strong. He just held my leg up there and than opened it to the side...After 5 breaths he brought it back to the front but raised it another half foot and than after a few seconds let go....He looked at me with a smile and said....Jon-.a-.ton..Next side..Same ting...utter..side...Than I went through the rest of my practice and ran home to feed Seymore.


At 5:00pm we had to all be at the shala to here one of Pattabhi Jois's students of a long time ago talk to us about the Yoga Sutra's. They call him SwamiJi. He talked to us about how even though we are all different bodies we are the same self...our souls connect us not our bodies..He than thanked us all for not only coming to Mysore but staying on our path of yoga. He than blessed all of us and ended with a prayer.
 

I am home resting and preparing for tomorrow's practice. I still feel kind of shaky in the stomach but I am getting better. I am so happy to be here but still kind of home sick. I know when I leave here I will be home sick for Mysore so I'm trying to not think about it. Good night and sweetdreams.



Om Shanti Shanti