

Here we go: it’s going to be Xmas eve soon and we will celebrate with a Kirtan at Santosha Cafe. Today, exactly one week after my arrival here, I realized while practicing that the back pain I always feel due to my two bulging discs is GONE. I have been practicing for years and now here, in Mysore, suddenly I feel I have done a gigantic step forward – I totally surrendered to the practice. I came here with no other expectation than walking on my teachers’ footsteps, approaching the practice with an open heart and sticking to its tradition. Well, it’s paying off. I wish all practicing Ashtanga take this leap of faith and come to Mysore to understand how important Parampara is. Saraswathi and Sharath are carrying over a very heavy legacy with grace and strength and they are two Masters in their own rights. Think how many bodies and
personalities they have seen and worked with – it’s unimaginable. The teachers that have been Authorized or Certified here have taken on a big responsibility and deserve a lot of respect. This practice works if it is taught the same way (Guruji) Sharath and Saraswathi do here. It’s a system, it’s a method, and you have to learn it the right way. Go to an Authorized Teacher, don’t buy into shortcuts- they simply aren’t worth it. Every method should be learned at The source or through those who came to the source. My greatest respect goes to all my Ashtanga Yoga teachers, because they are doing an incredible, neverending work. Learning Yoga is something that has no end, but a mandatory starting point is travelling to its Mother Country, India. Mysore is a place where you shred off layers of your Self and surrender to a Higher Power, that embraces us all. You are surrounded by beauty and suffering, your weaknesses are brutally exposed. There is no better place than here, no better time than now to be true to yourself. Merry Christmas!
There are so many things to say about Mysore that is really difficult to find a starting point. Practice with Saraswathi and her assistants is lovely. The Shala is clean and welcoming. You practice the closing postures in a bedroom so it really feels home. She assists everybody, it feels like she assess everybody’s energy during drop backs. You can feel her Eyes on you all the time! Every shop or coffee place is in a house, so you always feel like you are visiting friends. A very nice atmosphere everywhere. It’s clear that all we Westerners looking for a more approachable spirituality have brought some well being so it’s India, but softer than elsewhere… Although traditions are well alive. Tank tops and shorts are possible only during pratice, the Ganesh temple you walk by going to the Shala is always attended and last night a small, colorful procession was coming down the Main Road. At 8 pm everybody is home, practice starts early and rest is needed: we are all practicing with more intensity here! At the main Shala this morning I saw a few very popular teachers – David Robson, Mark Robberds, Day… I met Greg Nardi and Tim Feldmann yesterday and the wonderful Susanna Finocchi told me she read my blog! I feel blessed! Tonight I am going to a tibetan bells meditation, really looking forward to it. Wondering how many other lovely experiences are waiting for me over The next month!
David Keil
Qualche giorno fa ho letto con grande interesse questo articolo pubblicato daDavid Keil, famoso nel mondo dello Yoga per essere uno dei massimi esperti di anatomia applicata all’Ashtanga Yoga. L’ho trovato particolarmente utile nel dare una descrizione della Prima Serie dal punto di vista anatomico e per questo ho pensato di tradurlo per tutti i praticanti italiani.
spirituale
spi·ri·tu·à·le/
aggettivo