Mysore, India

Aaahhh…here we are finally in India. We are in Southern India in a small city called Mysore which is home to beautiful Indian silks, incense and sandalwood as well as the Masala Dosa (an indian style pancake filled with potato) and Masala Chai (a sweet and spicy tea with milk… for 30 cents or less, a must every day). Mysore is also home to a beautiful grand palace which is a reminder of the days when Mysore was a very powerful and wealthy Kingdom. Every Sunday between 7 and 8pm the entire palace is “Illuminated” with lights, one of the most spectacular sights ever. The palace grounds are filled with Indian families and a sprinkling of westerners as they bath in the brilliant light from the palace; children play while everyone sits down to a picnic of dinner or snacks (or chats as it is known in India).



The well known Sri K. Pattahbi Jois was one of those boys who ended up studying with Krishnamacharya for many Years. Together they figured out an ancient text which composed of 6 series of asana postures. This has become known as Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga which is still taught in Mysore today by Pattabhi Jois’ daughter, Saraswati and his grandson, Sharath. In the 19070’s some westerners discovered Pattahbi Jois and asked to study with him in his small yoga shala/home. He was invited to teach in California and Hawaii and so his student body grew. In 2002 he moved from the small Shala fitting 12 students to a new and larger shala fitting up to 70 or 80 students.

This is where we are now practicing every morning except Saturday and moon days at 6am. The Shala is packed with over 70 people at a time all doing their practice. The first practice starts at 4:45 AM and continues till after 10AM, as there is a constant flow of new people to replace the yogis after they finish their back-bends. Practice is daily, except Saturdays, new or full moons or if menstruating. In Mysore, led classes take place on Fridays and Sundays; the remaining days are in the form of self practice, where adjustments are given in certain postures.

For anyone who has not experienced Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga it is an intense physical practice that requires dedication, perseverance, a strong body as well as a strong mind. When practicing regularly the body and nervous system becomes cleansed of toxins allowing the body to open; the practitioner becoming light, steady and graceful.

The Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga as taught by Sri K. Pattahbi Jois consists of 6 series of sequences, eaching beginning with a chant, sun salutations, standing postures and ending with a finishing sequence. Most students practice the first sequence known as the Primary Series, some moving onto the Intermediate (second) Series and a handful learning the Third and Forth. It is said that Pattabhi Jois' grandson, Sarath who is now the main teacher at the shala, practices all 6 sequences.

AshtangaYoga is practiced all around the world, with students coming to Mysore from North, Central and South America, U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, China, France, Spain, Portugal and Finland to name just a few. So no matter where you are in the world you are bound to find an Ashtanga Yoga teacher close by. An Ashtanga Yoga intensive is planned in Florida this year. For more information you can go to www.ayri.com (Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute)


Life in India with Kids

We will be here until March practicing and enjoying life in India. The girls are loving being here and have made lots of friends with both western and Indian Children. They have just settled in to a local English speaking preschool where they dance, sing songs and rhymes, do arts & crafts, learn the English alphabet and numbers and play sports and games outside. The teachers are very friendly and wonderful with the children...loving and firm. The girls lunch is packed in metal tiffin boxes along with all the other Indian children. Hours are 9.30am to 2.30pm.

Like all Indian cities or towns, Mysore is like a big dusty playground. It is hard enough keeping us adults clean let alone the kids. Faces are usually a shade of brown by the end of the day and feet need cleaning at least a few times daily. There are old-style metal jungle-gyms around the place and the odd grassy park.

The well known spot for children in Mysore is a fancy hotel formerly known as the Southern Star which has a pool and grassy area reserved for members (2 month family membership is around 10,000 rupees or Aus$300). The hotel also contains a restaurant which serves Indian and Western food off the menu or buffet, a cafe with selection of cakes, a beauty palour and hairsalon plus a handful of giftshops selling jewellry, scarves, cushion and bed covers, books in English and statues. The price for a room starts around Aus$60 per night. So if one is in need of a western fix and escape from the chaos of India, this is a good option.

Other kid-friendly places are the Mysore Zoo. It is fenced but there is lots of space for the animals roam around in. And of course plenty of trinkets being sold outside the front gates.
There is an Amusement park a few minutes out of town which we are yet to visit and the Brindivan Gardens about 1 hour from Mysore.