Operating with three clocks, talking about time in India?!

It is very interesting here in India, when we talk about time.. such as " what time"... " how long will it take.." Whether if you've got your own watch that is accurately aligned with the world's clock... it  doesn't matter, when you're in India, you follow their "time".

5 minutes, can means a wait of half an hour up or more. I returned to the phone shop, as my card was not activated still ( after 2 days!), the boy old me 5 minutes... and we chatted and while i still keeping track of the time, i was sure he lose it with all the talking. Half hour later, i asked again, another 5 minutes. That will be an hour, my boy!
I went back, as he promise i will get my phone connected this noon, let's see.

For the class time and schedule, it stated on the paper.... " according to Shala time" ( means to check out the big clock hanging on top of the entrance door) " Shala time" is 20 minutes ahead of the accurate Indian time. If my class is 9am, i've to appear at the Shala at 8.40am; otherwise i'll be considered late!
To play safe, i always reach half hour before the stated time ( which is 10 minutes earlier than the Shala time).

Last but not least, we can safely follow our own time on the watch, if we've got private arrangement between friends, not locals.

Today was a Led class, i am scheduled for the 6am class. I reach there at 5.30am, already people are waiting outside the door; for the 4.30am batch to be release. As soon as we heard the closing prayer from the previous batch, the people outside stood up, all ready to squeeze through that small door. This year was surprisingly packed and crowded! There are people laying their mat all over the room, on the stage, the waiting area just outside the practice room, and even in the changing room. I manage to roll my mat right in front of the Men Changing Room, and two people were in there ready to practice. 
And yes, practically mat by mat, no space. 

Its interesting, but to be honestly, the energy in the room was amazing... sometimes i get goosebumps during the opening mantra. Its a feeling that i yet find a good word to best describe it. 

And so, the funny part that amused me is, Sharath recognize the students, not by name... but by nationality. There was one point i heard him said, " Russian, come over here.... Japan.. japan.. here... you.. French go there..."  

Miracles are not given by fairy god- mother, its a sweetness of your own sweat.

Shirly and i often catch up randomly, in the middle of the day, and keep one another posted about our classes, and sharing ideas and experiences we had met elsewhere. Just before i left for India, we were talking about the students we are teaching, more of the commitment from the students, makes the whole learning experience and progression more wholesomely.

Students being students, even like myself... asked many many questions. ( I'm glad my teacher, master paalu has been very patient with me, most of the time. Siting at one corner of the studio and sharing his time to teach me.)
Many people come into yoga, to search for a miracle--- to pull them out of the agony in just a couple of irregular yoga practices. Some requesting for twice a month of practice, and hope to have their physical body magically transform; or after 10 sessions of classes want to experience heaven.

The practice of yoga, seems no end to it-- but there is. Its a long journey. Some takes at least 10years, 20 years, 30 years or whole life time... even many life times to truly understand the taste of a drop from the ocean. And this..... is commitment, strong commitment.

As much as we want basic minimum commitment from students, its not happening smoothly. Oh yes, that's life... we can't always get what we hope we want it to be. I resume my teaching this year in March, and paused all classes in november. And yes, a mixture of students who appear on their mats every week; and some like chocolate chip cookies ( i see you, and now i don't). And yes, there's a thick line of difference of progression.

There's no comparison here. Miracles happens through strong commitment of hard work. Miracles is not given by fairy god- mothers, they are given by ourselves. With commitment, without expectation of the result... miracles will happen at the time we least expect. With expectation, it'll not happen.

Like what shirly shared with me this line from Prem & Radha during her training in Bali:
One will not understand the importance of being committed to the practice, till they are committed to their practice. 

And yes, i never understand why we need to practice as regularly as daily, till i did it myself before. So, when i find myself started to lose my practice to putting most of my time to other stuff. I know i need to get back on track and question myself again... what do i really want.

Exchange smiles with strangers carrying yoga mats

Azyan was out to Bangalore to visit her aunty who is staying there; am pretty much by myself this two days. Quite like that ( no offense babe!) private time for myself, doing my own stuff and getting myself into reading again. My first book is Life of Pi, that my hindi teacher insisted that i should... must read it before the movie is out... which is very soon! I've just started flipping the pages, and got pretty zone out into the story background; especially when it mentioned about Pi ( main character) spending his time in India ( Pondicherry).

I took a simple self- made lunch, and decided to head out. My internet connect is still not up, so i grab my Mac- Air and made my way down to Anu's Cafe ( they are into wireless now, the garage that was once filled with computers was closed for good).

Walking quickly, if not for the intense sun rays shooting into my pores, i would have strolled my way down. I cris- crossing the road, for as much shades from the big trees as possible. Besides the locals, there are foreigners carrying yoga mats walking by. Though we've never met, total strangers... there seems like a common acknowledgment that we are sharing--- we're are here to learn, to practice and to understand whether life or ourselves... through the tool of yoga method. We nodded head, a gentle smile as we walked passed each other.

Almost automatically, i'll be think if they are also practicing in the big shala, or are they coming from the schools in the city... when actually they are going for their practice to a school just two houses from where i am staying.

Still, we exchanged smiles. People pooled over here every single year, for many reasons. But for one search: Happiness.
To be put ourselves into a routine, under the guidance of strict teachers, to respect the culture here, to being both strong and flexible to live with this routine, to be able to experience and train what super- focus of the mind is about, to understand pain and pleasure, to laser beam into our own reflections, to dissolves the decayed part of us, to create a holistic space within us for us to grow healthily, to be at peace with whatever is happening or had happened inside us... and just live life.

Me too, being here, is where i slowly experience myself again. To keep clear for myself again, without the impressions from others who are trying to plant their seed inside my mind. I've probably allow some to grow their seeds into my garden; and i want to get rid of them... before i feel too suffocated and lost my own plot of garden.

Impressions ( samskara) are very powerful, that can leech on us and mutate into one of us. Though since my last visit to Mysore in 2010, i can still recognize my way home. Though i forgot most of them ( given my bad sense of direction), the pattern that still strongly imprinted into my mind, still is valid today.

"It is true that those we meet can change us, sometimes so profoundly that we are not the same afterwards, even unto our names."

~ a line from the storybook i'm reading this morning. Yes i agree, and that's why its important to whom we and want to meet.

Back in "home"!

It good to be back (home)! I don't know why, there always this fuzzy feeling and excitement; and also breaths of calmness i am getting from the Mysore community. Though this isn't my first trip, each trip does help to open my inner doors... one by one.

Here... right here... the feeling of familiarity being in this land of spices is coming back to me again. Flows of thoughts, motions, movements, scenes; both of which i used to take them positively and negatively are surfacing.
The difference is, i kind of feel that this time, am a little more mature to be abel to handle my own stuff, bit by bit.
This year hasn't been as smooth as i thought, and its both of a thunderstorm and plateau i was surfing on. Within me, i slowly understand that there are some decisions i strongly want to stand upon, even nobody agrees with me. There's some impressions ( samsakra) i'm dying off to uproot all of them from my back garden.

Its truly good to be back here, not sure how my progress will be like, or i'm even able to untangle some knots--- but am surely is more clear of who i am, where i am going, who i want to associate with and who i want to be with.

I'll face my own destiny with courage, no body will and can do it for me.

A little about the story with Baggy....
During our first trip to Mysore in 2009, buggy was a new puppy in the house where we were staying ( Anu's Bamboo Hut).
We first met him unofficially, when this black puppy ran into our room, while were doing our practice, which the room door was wide open. Imagine, a dog ran around the room, while we're in downward facing dog pose! He must has mistook us for his playmates.
Buggy was a puppy only in age, physically like a grown- up dog. So, he was playful, very playful... pouncing on people, when he get real excited and happy, he's jump on me... too heavy for me to handle. So i got very caution about this puppy.

I always went behind shirly, so that she could take cover, distract the dog and i would run up to the room. Sometimes, baggy seemed to know that, and he ran after me... never fails, that i closed the door with my heart beating like mad!

After 3 years, here i'm back again. This dog has sure o grow up like a man. Though he's still too big size for me to handle, when a few attempts he wanted to jump on me. But i guess, i feel less scared now... understanding his hype. 

 Trying to take a snap with him ( Azyan was working hard on that).

 And then, he got so shifty, and moving around. I don't know whether he want to kiss me or bit me. Ganesh said he don't bite, so he must have been trying to kiss me...haha! Anyways, buggy has got a big face, i shunned off!

Then, he had got enough of me, turned his back, and went back into the house!
Buggy, you're still a cute dog!

India, I am coming again!

For just one more day, 3 more classes to teach, i'll be all ready to transport myself to Mysore!
Somehow, i can't cap my excitement even its a repeated trip, i so look forward to it. Its more of the yoga community and culture particularly in Mysore, makes me want to go back again.
Quiet cold morning, hugging the yoga mat when the moon is still to be seen, battling the harsh wind, slipper-ing down the uneven path, a sigh of relieve the the warmness in the shala touches the skin.

Thoughts does slow down tremendously, where and when i like to really sit down at outside the room, at the top terrace, gazing far ahead overlooking a part of Gokhulam, with all those cable wires hanging and antennas planting at the roof of the houses---- where i can slowly catch my breaths and really enjoy the moment of living.

Of which, it is really quite impossible to enjoy the same kind of lifestyle over here in Singapore. When the pace of teaching schedule starts to pick up, there's a resistance to slow down. In most time, i just want to grip hold of every ends of the ropes, and be in control of everything--- be it teaching, or other arrangements. And i know, i need to learn how to loosen the grip, and just go with the flow. While floating and flowing down the river, i treasure the time i can clear the junk in my head.

For a month plus in Mysore, why getting away for so long? People always asked this question many many times. Personally, i prefer long stay at a place to rushing to see the whole country in a short period.
Technically, most yoga teachers in Mysore, accept minimum commitment of 1 month practice with them ( unlike in most cities and Singapore, there are drop- in classes, trial classes...) I like the spirit! Its an traditional way of student who wants to learn from a teacher. Commitment.
Practically, doing nothing much... is the best!

After a month plus in Mysore, with another friend--- we're going to explore the " Golden Triangle" in the North; that is New Delhi- Jaipur- Agra... you know the famous Taj Mahal . Been dreaming to go there... finally!

Packing up luggage is the last thing i like to do, i started packing just 3 days ago! The funny thing is, whenever i'm going away, suddenly there are many request for class from students. I'm squeezing myself to the last bit, and am done by tomorrow afternoon class! All ready to snooze all my way to Mysore;)

coconut, autos, rupees, chapati, panipuri, horns, noisy street, beautiful morning kirtan, great book stores, many exotic fruits, doing nothing, dust and sand, children running....