AshtangaNews Ashtanga Yoga Matters (as taught by Sri K Pattabhi Jois)

A quick announcement (thanks to Elise from Mysore Musings, posted on 9/24/07):

It is official. A new heir to the ashtanga throne has been born! Today after the opening mantra, Saraswati announced that Sharath is the proud father of a baby boy!

Congratulations!

UPDATE 10/02/07: Photos of the baby on Ashtanga.com

Sharath and his sister at Guruji’s 92nd birthday in July 2007 (by Govinda)

Hanuman outside AYRI

Russell, an Ashtangi who’s been living and practicing in Mysore since January 2004, writes an informative blog, mysore musings where he talks not only about his practice at AYRI and living in Mysore, but also about setting up a law business there.

The blog is well written and a joy to follow. Many Ashtangis write about their struggle with setbacks in their practice. Russell gives a refreshing perspective on that:

A few months from now, my practice might fall apart again, requiring me to start over. So what? Would I complain because after a CD is finished playing, and I put it in later to listen to it again, it is the same music?

Recently, Russell opened an office of his law firm in the United States in Mysore. I really like this post (more like an article, really, dated February 5, 2006) which describes the process in great detail. Russell has found a way to help some people in Mysore, without hurting his colleagues in the U.S. Russell writes:

On the subject of this new Mysore company, I’m realizing that at least there is service that can be done. For one thing, rather than splitting up families, we’re reuniting them…

We’ll also be helping to raise the local wage rates and standard of living, as we hire away people from other companies who don’t pay as well… Although some locals have told us we are crazy to do the following, we are also going to be giving employees shares in the company. Not a radical concept in the West these days, but here it seems unheard of.

Russell has also posted a LOT of photos - of AYRI, Mysore and his home there. Just a few of his photos follow.

Thank you, Russell!

Mukta Hasta Sirsasana B, AYRI

After Sirsasana at AYRI

Good Morning!
Students wait outside AYRI

Four thoughtful Ashtangis writing and posting photos in one Mysore blog? Sound too good to be true? Well, it’s not.

If you want to get four perspectives about practicing at AYRI in Mysore, India at once, this is the blog to read.

Anne Finstad, a long-time friend of ours and dedicated Ashtangi, has been writing wonderfully about practice and her trips to Mysore for a few years.

In early 2004, Anne and three students from Yoga Is Youthfulness went to practice at AYRI. Even though I didn’t know any of them at the time, Anne, Einar, Daniel & Khalid gave me a real insight into what Mysore is like through their warm style, informative posts and great pictures. Every new post was greatly anticipated - I was hanging onto their every word.

Here’s are some of my favorite photos from the blog (by Daniel):

Daniel writes: This is a camel a man was walking near my house.

A fruit called chikus (not potatoes)

Now (January 2006), Anne is back in Mysore and she’s started a fascinating new blog.