Summer Ashtanga Yoga Retreat w Emma O'Neill | Events | Toronto Body Mind

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Summer Ashtanga Yoga Retreat w Emma O'Neill | Events | Toronto Body Mind

Conference #6 - Yoga is a Mystery

I made it back to Mysore just in time for conference on Sunday. I had spent a relaxing weekend at a beautiful homestay called Palace Estates in Coorg – coffee country!! I’ve always wanted to go so this trip I made sure I did. And it was worth the 4hr drive over super bad roads! The plantation itself was gorgeous. The hosts were lovely. And the general atmosphere was so relaxed. I spent most of the weekend sleeping! LOL! I did venture out to see the waterfall on the property and the palace down the hill from the coffee plants. That was enough of an adventure for me! On the way back we took the nice road (why did we not take this road on the way?) and made it home in 2.5hrs, stopping to buy Coorg coffee on the way, of course! Anyway, conference…

Sharath was super tired. Looked like he was going to fall asleep in his chair when he sat down. So he asked us what we wanted to know. As usual the room was silent, all eyes on him or downcast. LOL! Everyone always has something to say (myself included) until put on the spot. The lovely Elyse from Canada took charge and started us off by asking the following….

Q: Can you speak to us about each of the series and how they affect the body? The subtle body?
A: There are 2,3,5,600 asana’s divided into 3 parts: Primary, Intermediate, and Advanced series. The first is called Yoga Chikitsa or Chikitsa Vibhaga, contains 30-32 asana's in a sequence designed to cure disease's and build strength. Whatever we do we must follow shastra. Yoga is a science and must be followed in a certain way. Asana is the foundation. It's not about external strength, otherwise weight training would suffice. We need internal strength. When we start asana practice we should start slowly, not like instant dosa! Proper dosa takes 2 days to make. Now you can make in 20mins! Like students going to their first class and expecting to do handstand!
The body controls the mind. The mind controls the breath. Once we understand the breath we can control the mind. Once Primary is perfected we move on to Intermediate series or Nadi Shodana. But don't be in such a rush! Primary is beautiful! It is a healer. I practiced only Primary for 3yrs when I hurt my back teaching too much. Don't let your ego get in your way.
Intermediate series purifies the Nervous system. (It also has some good poses for healing.) The Chakras that run through the central line of the body are like branches connecting the 72000 nadis." From my experience (Emma) intermediate can be a tough one. Not only physically, but mentally and emotionally. It can do a number on you! Especially when you get into the deeper backbends. Damn!! My suggestion is to lock yourself in your room and let the tears, anger, and frustration come up! Journal, journal, journal. We all go through it and it can be really tough, especially on those around you. Sometimes you don't even know you are experiencing it. But this is the job of this series. It finds all our old hurts, our old trauma's and brings them to the surface where we can finally let them go. Just like Primary finds all our old physical injuries and asks us to experience the pain again so that we can fully heal. Knowing is half the battle :)
Advance series or Sthira Bhaga builds more strength and flexibilty. (I remember Guruji saying, "Primary most important. That is why it's first. Intermediate is cleansing. Advanced just for demonstration.") Doing advanced series brings much body pain. Each new asana brings a new pain LOL! Doing any of this too fast will cause injury. Injury is hard to come back from fully. Students want more poses so will go and find a teacher who gives out poses freely. This is not correct. Yoga is not just about the body or physical strength. It is about mental strength.

Q: Can you speak of Shankaracharya and his connection to Ashtanga yoga? (Asked by Clayton Horton)
A: He was a Guru of the Advaita Vedanta tradition. He was not directly linked to Ashtanga. It's that yoga is misunderstood. Most people only follow the Yoga Sutra's but the Upanishads and the Vedas are very important too. The YS only has 3-4 lines about asana. It does not tell you HOW to practice. It's also a very confusing book so you need a good translation. You need to learn about Sandhana, about doing the asana's in a proper way. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika talks about Sthira, to be stable. How can you experience yoga if you are not stable? That is why Drishti is so important. When we use Drishti our mind is more focused. Practice Trataka to help you develop your focus. It's also great for your eye sight!

Q: Is Kriya part of Ashtanga yoga?
A: Kriya is part of the Yama's and Niyama's (the do's and don't of yoga). In the West and in Asia Ashtanga is seen only as a physical practice. All 8 Pilars of the practice need to be strong, not just asana. This will lead you to Samadhi. Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi...When Dhyana grows stronger you can experience Samadhi. Some of you will come back from your experience. Some of you will not. You will come back if you have a desire that is unfulfilled - like wanting a gulab jamun!

Yoga is a mystery. It cannot be properly explained, only experienced within you. The first 4 limbs of yoga (Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranyama) are external exercises. The last 4 limbs (Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi) are internal exercises. All of these need to be practiced for the house of yoga to be strong. If only one pilar is strong the house will fall. We know so little - we only know about 10%. Yoga has become a commodity. Our only aim should be to reach higher levels in our practice (NOT JUST MORE ASANA!!) Detachment comes slowly. We are like children still. If you give one child a chocolate another child will cry that they didn't get one. That is what I see when I give one student an asana or authorization. The other student cries that they did not get it. The same with teachers. "How many students do you have?" Who cares!! I would rather have 10 good students than 5000 bad ones.

You all should be practicing Japa mala. Sit quietly every day for 15 minutes and do Japa. Pick a deity, pick a mantra, pick an image (I chant to Ganesha and Green Tara). Doing Japa will help you to reduce your ego. If you can reduce your ego, many good things will happen. That is why I get so angry with all of you when I hear you talking outside before practice. You lose focus and prana! SHHHHHH!

The final question of conference Sharath asked us...
Q: How many of you drink coffee?
My hand went up proudly!! But only about 40 others put up their hands. He shock his head and said...."Not many of you. Not enough. Mysore has very famous coffee! You should all drink before conference (everyone was tired). LOL! These are words Guruji gave to me. I will give to you....

No fear, no fun.
No chapti, no strength.
No pain, no gain.
No coffee, no prana!

Conference #5

My favorite conference to date!! So many things were clarified today. It was super loud as Sharath walked into the shala. Immediately silence fell and all eyes were on him. We began w a mantra as we always do to set the tone. He spoke of the Bhagadvad Gita, how Sri Krishna tells Arjuna that he must become a yogi and that the yogi is supreme. He quoted a line from the text that explains the difference between a “tapaswi” a man who lives a disciplined life, and a yogi, who is more than disciplined, who does not get distracted by life, who doesn’t expect anything for his actions. A yogi seeks “jnana” or knowledge. But it’s not just knowledge from books – anyone can read and get knowledge that way. It’s about knowledge from books and from practice. About applying what we read and practicing. We are seekers on this path. We are all seekers on the path of yoga. But be careful! Don’t go looking for yoga! It’s within you! Don’t chase it – you will never catch it. On this path you must practice “dhira” you must be brave. We must realize our inner beauty, our soul. Our daily practice is internal, not external. Yoga is union. It is about joining the individual soul with the supreme soul, joining jivatma with Bramha. “Chitta vritti nirodaha” refers to the state of mind not the body. The idea of yoga today is all external exercise. For your practice to be Yoga you must have dedication and devotion. Why am I practicing? You must know this.

We moved on to questions pretty quickly as he was tired and was supposed to leave early for a family function. He ended up staying for the full hour. I am so happy he did!! Read on to find out why….

Q: Why, in your opinion, has yoga (in its physical form) spread so quickly around the world?
A: It’s attractive. It has been turned into a business that “makes you more beautiful”. But it’s also the platform for spiritual practice. The experience of yoga is unique to each individual. Even though we all practice the same asana’s in Ashtanga Yoga, our experience of the practice, is different.

Q: How do you approach the practice to make it more spiritual?
A: "Don’t focus on the asana’s. Focus on the yama’s and niyama’s to make it more spiritual."
Sharath then asked us to answer the question “ What is spirituality?” The first answer he said was too shallow. The next person quoted the Yoga Sutra’s….”Don’t quote the Yoga Sutra’s to me! I can quote many of the texts. I want to know what you believe spirituality to be.” He was reiterating the point that we are seekers on “jnana”. To really understand not just quote books, to speak from experience and personal understanding. “Spirituality is about changing oneself, to go deeper into our experience. Once we correct ourselves we always then go out to change the world and make them act like us. If we change ourselves inside, if we follow the yama’s and niyama’s, our world will change without force. Once we develop the Y’s and N’s in ourselves, then we become spiritual beings."

Q: Can you demonstrate the difference between Ujayii pranayama and “breathe freely with sound”?
A: "No. I just had my breakfast. LOL! Ujayii pranayama is not the breath used during practice. We just use breath with sound. That was something that got confused years ago when Guruji was asked. His English wasn’t that good and sometime he just said yes." (It’s funny because I was there for that conference when Guruji was asked about the diff between Ujayii pranayama and Ujayii breath. To me it was clear that there was a diff between the two. And I just had a conversation poolside with Annie Grover Pace who spoke to Guruji extensively about the diff between the two….)

The next question was asked starting with “In Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga…” Sharath stopped the student and said, “Don’t call it Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. It’s just Ashtanga Yoga. When you call it Vinyasa you make it less than it is, only focusing on one limb. Is there vinyasa in Yama’s? Is there vinyasa in Niyama’s? No. So it is just Ashtanga Yoga.” Again, while speaking with Annie she said that it should be about clarification. There are those out there that practice yoga with Baba Hari Das and call it Ashtanga Yoga. So people are just trying to be clear.

Q: Emotional release during practice?
A: You have a long way to go! Emotion will come. If the breath is not correct, if the asana is uncomfortable, if the mind is not focused. Let it out! It’s good. If you keep it in you will have “Chanchara” monkey mind.

Q: Can you be more specific about bhakti/karma/jnana yoga all happening within Ashtanga yoga?
A: Karma – your actions will change, you will do things without expectation.
Bhakti – you have to have dedication and devotion.
Jnana - Daily practice will teach you about YOU. You will learn about YOU.

Q: What about when you have children? Do you devote less time to your practice?
A: Always devote time to your children. They are our teachers. We think we are teaching them but they are really teaching us. They are like God. They are pure, innocent. If you can become childlike you will become a yogi. But no, don’t devote less time to your practice. Give the child to your husband/wife and take 2hrs to practice!

Until next time!!

Conference #4

Today’s conference started w questions….

Q: When can we start to practice Pranayama?
A: The 8 kumbhaka’s can only be done when you have mastered asana – so at least Intermediate series. Kapalabhati is ok and can be done after utplutihi. You can also do simple Pranayama’s like Surya Beda (inhale left nostril block right side, exhale right nostril block left side 5X – good for colds). And Nadi Beda (inhale right nostril block left, exhale left nostril block right 5X). Pranayama is necessary for proper circulation. That is why Vinyasa is so important in our practice. Asana without the breath is just gymnastics. Concentrate/focus the mind and be present, especially if fear comes up in the practice i.e. back bending. In the HYP it tells us we only have 26600 breaths to take in one lifetime. By doing Pranayama, controlling the breath, we can reduce the # of breaths that we take thus lengthening our life! If you are a woman you will already have a longer lifespan as women are stronger mentally – lol!
Pranayama purifies the body & nervous systems like a vacuum cleaner. It helps us to detox bringing fresh oxygen to the tissues and cells. Digestive power will increase (in pascimottanasana) if done correctly.

We moved on from questions to Sharath just addressing general issues regarding the practice. One thing he speaks of almost every week is incorrect usage of handstand. “Ekam inhale, dve exhale, trini inhale handstand – not correct! So many students doing this. Many teachers teaching this. Putting video’s on Youtube and Facebook. Just jump back. This lifting is gymnastics, not yoga. The breath is not there so the vinyasa is incorrect.” Every week he addresses this issue and every week the same people continue to lift up into a half handstand while jumping forward and back. I guess he’ll keep saying it until people start to listen.

Bandha’s are so important in our practice. Mula bandha should be practiced all the time! It is what will help you control your mind. He who does mula bandha all the time will become a Raja Yogi. In Utplutihi contract your anus and pay no attention to my (Sharath’s) count! LOL! Just hold for as long as you can. Contract the anus in all of the asana’s. There are 3 bandha’s: mula or root lock your anus, udiyana or upward flying lock just below the navel, and jalandara chin/throat lock. This third one is only done during pranayama to stop the breath. It is not done during asana.

Food: "What we eat is so important as it affects us, it affects our mind." He spoke of vegetarianism in a very tactful way. At first he said, “Why eat a chicken when you can eat your own dog? Your own child? Much tastier!” Then he pointed out that it was part of his culture to be vegetarian but he recognized that it was not always possible for people from other cultures to follow a strict vegetarian diet. It’s my (EMMA) personal view to know where your food comes from. Make kinder choices, free range eggs, organic products. If you do eat meat/poultry/fish, know its source, what it was fed, where it lived, how it died. Factory farmed animals live a miserable existence and die a miserable death. Make educated choices and you will be on the right path. Krishnanmacharya said all aspects of this practice must happen organically. Not because someone told you you have to be/do/act in a particular way to be a yogi. Just start to be more aware.

Authorization: It is Sharath’s duty to Authorize students who are ready to teach. It is the new teacher’s Karma what is done with the certificate. Authorization doesn’t matter if you cannot answer the question “What is Yoga?” Understand this practice, go to it’s core, that’s what should be developing. Focus on that. Non attachment to the outcome is what you should be working towards. Whatever else comes is secondary. If you are too attached to anything you will miss out on the good things in life – enjoy your life!! Be in nature. Yoga happens naturally when you spend time away from the noise of the city. The mind automatically becomes still. When the mind is clear each practice will be blissful. Leave your bad thoughts outside the practice room along with your shoes ;) Don’t expect any of this to happen over night. It takes time to develop this attitude. You will eventually get to a point in your practice where nothing else matters.

He then told a story about a Sannyasin & Samsara.
There is a Sannyasin who lives alone by the river. He has a daily routine as part of his sadhana. He does his own laundry, he cooks his own food. Everyday he washes his clothes in the river. He leaves then to dry on a large rock beside his hut. But the rats start to eat his clothes leaving them full of holes. So he goes to town and gets a cat to kill the rats. But he has to feed the cat milk. So he goes and gets a cow to feed the cat. Now he needs someone to take care of the cow. His day is so full with taking care of the animals on top of his usual chores that his sadhana is suffering. So he gets married so that his wife can take care of everything! He created so many problems by trying to solve one when the answer was simple. Change location…

Conference - Theme HYP

Conference #3 began with a simple prayer:

Let our ears listen,
Let us have good vision
Let us have clear speech
Let us have good health.

Then Sharath began by asking the question:

Why is it important to start asana practice w Surya Namaskar?
1. before we start we must pray to the Sun god – without the Sun nothing can grow. The sun gives us energy and gives the planet life
2. to warm up the body

The theme today was the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and the importance of how and where we practice. “It is important to practice in the early morning for many reasons – the earth’s energy is quiet, better air quality, no distractions, calm mind (do not interact w pp before your practice as it changes your energy).

It is very important where we practice and how we practice. We should practice inside. Practicing outside looks very pretty but the wind will take the prana/energy we are trying to build up during the practice and leave us feeling depleted. When we practice inside it’s like a pressure cooker – all the prana is saved within us.
We should practice on a mat! (I’ve seen a number of people practicing without a mat and their reasoning has been that traditionally a mat was not used and they are trying to be “traditional”) No mats were used back in the day – tiger or deer skin was used to separate us from the earth. The earth will drain your energy. Your mat contains your energy.
There must be limited ventilation i.e. no fans or AC and you must practice on the ground floor.

Be mindful of all aspects of your practice. The energy you bring into it is the energy you take out of it. “Yoga Chitta Vritti Nirodha” – control your mind.

Sadhana - practice Jnana - knowledge Ajnana - ignorance

A Guru is the dispeller of darkness, remover of ignorance, doesn’t pamper of coddle, makes you realize what is correct, what is true.

In Eastern philosophy the student is taught to surrender to the Guru. In Western philosophy the student is taught to challenge the teacher. “I know more than you.” For Sharath he loves seeing all students from all walks of life. The Western attitude reminds him of his son’s behavior. LOL! His son is 4yrs old…

It is important to be bonded to the practice through the Guru. That is not to say you should be attached to your teacher but to learn from a person vs a book or a DVD. A person can keep you on the path. It is a slow process. Let it happen. Conference with Sharath wouldn’t have been possible 15yrs ago bc he did not have the experience or the knowledge to share the way he does today. Allow the process to happen. The body has to change – the muscles have to lengthen and strengthen in a different way to any other activity. Other activities make you tight. Yoga loosens you up. Certain changes will happen day by day, year by year. You need PATIENCE for this to happen. Your body will change when your mind changes. “No stiff body, only stiff mind.” Guruji
Sukha and Dukkha are both necessary parts of life. The only tool we have to keep us stable is yoga.

"Yoga is like a Land Rover – it can take you anywhere and handle any terrain." (I swear sometimes Sharath is the biggest kid!! And I absolutely adore him.)

Conference - Theme "Be Yourself!"

Another week has come and gone. This time I did NOT spend my Sunday at the hospital! Yay! Come to think of it, I actually can't remember what I did... But hey! Whatever it was it didn't involve blood tests or scans! My practice week dealing with my knee was actually really good. Injuries are great teachers if you are willing to listen. This one seemed to be telling me to slow down...so I did and my knee has been great!
Sharath has been in great form. Still teaching led class while reading the newspaper - I swear to God! I wish we were able to take pics in the shala! During the Sun Salutaltion's he is sitting on the stage reading the newspaper while calling out the poses. He's actually always reading it. Taking little breaks during Mysore practice to have some chai or a bite to eat and read the paper. Can you blame him tho? The man gets out of bed at 1am to practice. Then teaches us from 430am until almost noon these days. He needs these little breaks to keep himself sane - lol!
Sunday's conference was early, at 10am vs the usual 4pm. I actually prefer it like this as it frees up the rest of the day. I've noticed that the conference topics seem to be themed. I'm not sure if he comes up with the theme before he arrives or if it just happens as he speaks. WHatever the case, the themes have been fantastic! Last week seemed to be about energy and how to produce and keep energy positive. This week it was about being yourself! He spoke a lot about Guruji and Krishnamacharya aka KM and their contributions to modern yoga. Again, here are some notes that I took while he spoke...

Sharath: "If you study yoga but don't do yoga, books are worth nothing. 99% practice 1% theory.
- experience yoga within you
- develop yourself with your yoga practice
- when we recognize yoga within us the changes will start to happen
- Guruji and KM were great guru's bc they practiced and studied - they did it all
- asana is the foundation of spiritual practice
- yoga is not 'doing' it's 'happening'
- eventually yoga becomes part of your daily routine, it becomes necessary
- back in the day there were so many rules...ie yoga was only for Sadhus, women were not allowed to practice, etc. Guruji and KM worked hard to change that. They worked hard and studied hard to develop yoga so that we could all practice it today.
*Guruji's first student was his wife, Amma*
- the relationship between Guruji and KM was very strong, like father and son.

Story.... "One day KM was giving a lecture while some of his students were demonstrating asana. He told Guruji to take kapotasana

which he did without hesitation. While he was in the pose KM used him as a podium, as in he stood on top of Guruji's ribcage to continue his lecture. There was a sharp blade of grass poking into G's shoulder. When KM stood on him the blade punctured his skin and went inside. It was very painful but G said nothing so as not to interrupt his teacher. When KM was finished the lecture he stepped down and G exited the pose. Blood went everywhere! Instead of getting upset, G smeared the wound w some mud to stop the bleeding. Til the day he died he had a scar on his shoulder."

- Yoga becomes spiritual thru devotion
- all "yoga' is practiced in Ashtanga yoga "In the west people always say, Oh, I do Hatha yoga. I do Bakhti (devotion) yoga." Hatha yoga is just the physical aspect of yoga. Hatha yoga is Surya (Sun) Nadi and Chandra (Moon) Nadi
- when it is only physical - competing or comparing - no spiritual practice is there

- BE YOURSELF. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Don't imitate anyone. Find your own way. When you discover your path then you will become what it is that you strive for.

"If you mimic Buddha, you will not become Buddha but a carbon copy of Buddha. Find the path, discover 'the way', then you will become a Buddha."
- NEVER COMPARE YOURSELF. Find balance and develop your practice.
- if your teacher is too easy on you, you will never develop a respect for the practice

Story... "There was a devoted student, who everyday did 'seva'. He was very eager to become enlightened. But after some time he began to develop doubt. He was doing everything his Guru was doing but he still wasn't enlightened. One day he asked his Guru why he wasn't yet enlightened. The Guru told him he would give him the answer after his bath. He brought him to a pond where he got in, sat down and invited the student to join him. When the student sat down the Guru grabbed him by the head and held him under water. When he released the student from near drowning he asked him if he understood the lesson. That struggle for breath, that desperation, is how we must struggle daily! The practice is challenging but the rewards are great! Many hurdles are there, it will be difficult. You just keep going...."

- energy comes to you from your teacher
- people come here (Mysore) with so much ego! Only when you are humble can you learn. Acknowledge that you know nothing and you will learn so much!

At the end of his talk he gave time for us to ask questions. Here are a few that were asked...

Q: Is it ok to use a wall to learn inversions? You always tell us not to use props. Is a wall a prop?
A: Learning using a wall, nothing wrong in that. Better than using props. Whole life you will use a block and never reach the floor! Using a wall, no problem. You don't want student to fall and when you have many students you don't have time to help everyone."

Q: How do you manage to maintain your spiritual practice when you have so many students, as well as family, two children?
A: Marriage and children teach you much more about spiritual practice than anything else. I started to assist Guruji when I was 19yrs old. I did many hrs of asana, purely physical aerobics. After some time, Guruji taught me philosophy. That's when the practice became spiritual. When I got married and had kids, it got more spiritual! Family is important. This is a family too. The Ashtanga family. We must support one another. Everyone is spiritual! Maybe you just don't know it yet. Work at it. Study, practice, and develop it. Allow the process to happen. It's like a flower. Plant a seed, nourish it. The plant will grow and the flower will blossom. Spiritual practice is the same. Sometimes we don't know who or what we are. Only thru our practice can we learn. If you don't try, you will never know your limitations. "

"Life many times will teach you what to do."

Conference

Conference was amazing. The place was jam packed with people but you could have heard a pin drop once he started to speak.

He spoke of the first 2 limbs of Ashtanga Yoga - the Yamas and Niyamas.

The Yamas: How you treat others, are as follows:

Ahimsa -- Non-violence.
Satya -- Truthfulness.
Asteya -- Non-stealing.
Brahmacarya -- Sexual responsibility.
Aparigraha -- Abstention from greed.

Niyamas: How you treat yourself

Sauca -- Cleanliness.
Santosa -- Contentment.
Tapas -- Austerity. Deep commitment to our yoga practice.
Svadhyaya -- Self-study.
Isvara pranidhana -- Surrender of the self to God.

The following are from the notes I took during conference.

Sharath began by saying "the practice of Asana must include the practice of Yama and Niyama. Yoga is the transformation that happens within us. The reason we do Asana is to purify the body and mind. This changes how we react, how we behave, our attitude. If we have an aggressive practice we are probably an aggressive person off the mat which builds ego which goes against yoga. If yoga is not practiced with a calm mind, it is only physical. If you don't understand why you do practice - sankalpa or intention - there is no point to the practice. You must be present. If the mind is negative when you practice, then negative energy will come of your practice. Chanting is important to bring positive energy to the practice. Injury is getting rid of bad karma (action- what we do comes back to us. Ask the question, "Would I do this to myself?" If the answer is no then don't do it... )."

He then went into an explanation of the Yamas...

"Ahimsa: non violence to self & others - to be aware of our thoughts and deeds as violence can happen unknowingly ie thinking bad thoughts about someone

Satya: to be true to ourselves and others

Bhramacarya: being true to your partner and your partner being true to you.

He said that our practice should be private, not about being in the limelight.

Niyamas...

Sauca: cleanliness - Internal - of thoughts, actions, internal body, nervous system
- External - clothes, external body, mat, home

Santosha: contentment - to be happy.

Asteya: non-stealing. Greed brings unhappiness

Tapas: posterity - to follow a strict life, to follow a certain discipline in our life/routine i.e. 6am practice, food at regular times. If you want to do sadhana - practice - you must give up many things. Be careful where you go, who you associate with, who you meet, what you read, what you surround yourself with... Positive energy can be lost very easily if the mind is not stable, or if actions are done without thought.

Svadhyaya: self study - to discover yourself through guidance from your guru. Our mother is our first teacher. We learn from her by watching as a small child. The same way we learn from our Guru/teacher. We learn by their example. Discover the spirituality in your practice. Choose an "ishta devata" - diety that resonates with you - like Ganesha, Tara, Jesus, Buddha, etc...

Ishvara Pranidana: surrendering to the Divine. When you practice with a focus on your diety, you become God. God is within you. With practice and devotion you can discover that.

He ended the conference by saying "Without a Guru's blessing it is impossible for transformation to happen.""

Be well
E xo

End of week 2

Hello from sunny Mysore!
Another week comes to a close with much to report. After the whole pneumonia drama, I spent the next week taking heavy antibiotics, sleeping a lot, and practicing. Beginning my second week, I started into my full practice which is made up of full Primary and Intermediate poses up to Eka Pada Sirsasana (one leg behind the head). Normally this is the pose you're practice is split at - dropping Primary and focusing on Intermediate - but I have not been split. And I don't mind! It just means I have the opportunity to build strength. The week went smoothly, taking my time with each posture, enjoying the energy of the shala. I started to notice that my right knee was tight. It was a strange feeling. Every time I tried to flex and externally rotate (lotus) I had to apply pressure just in behind my knee to get the joint to release. I thought nothing of it and continued on. Then Sunday led practice came along. We waited outside the shala for the doors to open. Everyone pushed and shoved to get inside - embarrassing...The place is still so busy there are 3 led practice time slots to accommodate the number of people. Most years there have only been two...I set up in the lobby to avoid having to wrestle with anyone for a spot in the main room. All was good through Surya Namaskara's and standing sequence. Then we got to the floor. The second jump through I caught my right foot a little on my mat. I pushed it through to sit and SNAP. The knee gave out and that was it. I couldn't bend my leg for the rest of the practice. I went from practice back to the same hospital I had been to the Sunday before and requested an MRI. Again, being an Indian hospital I was ushered into the room immediately.

I spent the next half an hr inside the MRI drifting in and out of sleep. 6000rps (around $125) later I was done! I went to see Sharath before conference to let him know what had happened. He recommended a doctor and sent me on my way. I spent the rest of the day at conference (which I have written a separate blog about) and then with the doctor. He confirmed the diagnosis and recommended 6 days of physio along with lots of fluids and ice packs. I can still practice as long as I am mindful and go super slow. I'm learning a ridiculous amount already...

The next day it was time to go into the city for thali! Thali is a vegetarian meal with a bottomless assortment of dhal, vegetables, rice, and papad, ending (eventually) with something sweet. So after practice, we had no breakfast. We were saving ourselves for the thali at Hotel RRR.

OMG so delicious! We rolled out of there and waddled over to the market to buy essential oils. I picked up some saffron vanilla and patchouli. Gonna try them out this week.

I have decided that this coming Sunday I WILL NOT be spending the day in any hospital like I have done the last two Sundays. Instead I plan to treat myself to a massage at Indus Valley. So much is happening to my physical body here, from pneumonia, to a torn miniscus, yesterday I pulled my neck muscles, and this morning I woke up to discover I had been a buffet to some sort of biting insect. Enough is enough! I'm listening. Apparently my emotional/mental bodies are trying to tell me something. I'll keep you posted. Until next week....

Be well,
E xo

Here we go again...

Back in India....so much has happened since my last visit here....so much still happening....but isn't that the reason I'm here? I arrived after an uneventful flight from freezing cold Toronto to the warmth of Mysore. The place is a zoo! Over 300 students registered to practice at the KPJAYI which is just nuts when you think about it. There is nowhere to live unless you booked a room last year. People arriving here without a room booked are all crashing w friends - which is what I ended up doing - while literally walking up and down the streets knocking on doors asking if the home owners are interested in renting out a room! When I first started to come here in 2003, you could just rock up from the train station and call Shiva or Dev. He would arrive in his rickshaw and drive you around to different homes asking you which one you wanted. Now? Not so much...I potentially have my own room at a friends place lined up for mid February. For now I am grateful that I have friends here who will share with me! Especially this week!

The minute I landed I had a tickle in my throat which wouldn't go away. I just thought it was irritated from the insecticide sprayed on the last leg of the flight from Abu Dhabi. Or by the taxi ride from the airport with my crazy cab driver who had to keep the windows unrolled so that he wouldn't fall asleep! LOL! But after attempting to take a nap and then practicing in the Shala the next morning with everyone else sick w the flu this thing took on a life of its own. I started taking vitamins and echinacea and naps. Got worse. Stepped up to Advil and Neo Citron. Still worse. Went to the homeopathic doctor who gave me a slew of things to take, but nope, still hacking up a lung and dripping from my nose. Then to the pharmacy to see what other delights I could get my sticky fingers on...but nothing was touching this thing! After 3 sleepless nights - for everyone in the house- because of this wicked cough, I relented and went to the hospital.

I have to say...Indian hospitals rock! Walked in and said, "I need to see a doctor." I was ushered into the next room where I was attended to by two doctors. They checked my vital signs, took my blood pressure, listened to my lungs and immediately administered a Nebulizer to help me breathe. Sent me for a chest x-ray and blood tests which were all done immediately. The nurse who did the blood tests was amazing! I barely have a mark! I don't know how many nurses in the west have almost removed my arm while removing the needle after blood tests. I was in and out of Emergency in less than 2 hrs! If this happened in Toronto....well, don't get me started on "Free" health care. Anyway, the verdict is I have a lower respiratory tract infection aka Pneumonia. Damn! I've been sent back to bed w new medicine and a promise that I will be just fine in a few days. It's Moonday tomorrow so I have the day off practice anyway.

The thing that sucks is that it was Conference today. It would have been my first conference of this trip and we were supposed to be watch "Mysore Magic", a new documentary about practicing at the source. The internet connection here is not strong enough to support streaming. SO if you watch it let me know what you think! Hope all is well and you are all still practicing while I'm away. My website is acting up, not sure what's going on. So will keep you updated as much as I can.

Be well....
E xo

Back in the Motherland

As usual so much has happened since my last post....too much! Where to begin but at the beginning? I left Mysore after 5 wonderful weeks to find the beaches of Goa relatively unchanged since my last visit. There's something about the energy of Goa, the closeness of the ocean, the smiles of the locals, that speaks to me. I love it there. I could live there....some day.

I stayed at Casa Baptista, a simple and sweet guest house, right up the dunes from Candolim beach. I practiced every morning in the early morning light followed by a leisurely breakfast at Pete's shack. Coffee and fruit salad for breakfast #1. Followed a while later by an egg and cheese toastie for breakfast #2! Yummy! Lots of journalling, reading trashy novels, walking along the water singing as if noone was listening...what's not to love? It was really hard to leave. Not because I wasn't missing all of you, my family, my love....but because life there is so simple. I'm reminded constantly of how little we really need to be happy. Especially in Goa. A bikini, sunscreen, a scooter, a song, and an open heart is all you need! Coming back to the "civilized world" can be difficult and I'm still re adjusting. The weather is NOT helping! LOL!


Back in Toronto and slowly getting back into the swing of things. Back to teaching has been great! Seeing all the eager faces waiting to learn something new. You all inspire me every day to be a better teacher. There are a million things in the works for the coming months. Starting this Saturday, May 7 we're back in the Party Room at 140 Carlton St at 10am for a killer 1hr Vinyasa class! Blast away your hangover and get the most out of your weekend! $10 classes for $100! Drop in classes $12. Next month there's the Weekend retreat at Sugar Ridge June 17-19 which is going to be amazing! Only 90 mins North if Toronto and we're car pooling so no worries about how you'll get there! There will be a Backbending into Bliss workshop as soon as I can find a studio space to host the darn thing!! Any suggestions? Need something on a Sunday from 2-5. And then there is my first International Retreat to be held in Ireland August 1-8!! I'm waiting for the retreat centre there to post the details so I can attach the link. Until then here's a brief synopsis....


Join me for one week residential retreat in the Rep. of Ireland. We will be staying at Sli Na Bande, a sustainable living project and retreat centre located in the garden of Ireland, County Wicklow. Over 20hrs of yoga, 3 home cooked organic vegetarian meals per day, private or shared (max 3pp) accommodation, free time to read, journal, take a dip in the ecological pool, hike, sight see. You do as much or as little as you like. After a week in Wicklow we will head back into Dublin city to spend the weekend! All food, 5 nights retreat accommodation, 2 nights Dublin hotel accommodation, yoga, and ground transportation (from city to retreat/return, and bus to airport) included. Flights, rental cars, and sight seeing not included. Prices start at $1500/pp. Watch this space and my website for more details!

How is it that time moves so fast when we want it to slow down? I've only really settled into life here in Gokulam and now I'm leaving. Monday night I'm off to Goa to take in some much needed sun, surf, and sand before I head back to the colder climes of TO. As usual much has happened since my last post. I went to see the dentist to get my teeth cleaned and ended up getting a root canal. Holy crap! I have never been in so much pain in my life! Seriously! This is why people don't really talk about root canals once they've had them. Noone would voluntarily get one done.... At one point I seriously considered running out of the room and dealing w the consequences later. Once I finish with this ordeal, this afternoon, I don't want to have to see a dentist for a long time....sorry Roberto! All in all I've been in the dentist's chair 4 times. On Friday I got the actual crown put on just in time to attend an Indian wedding! The other morning I came out of practice and went directly to the coconut man, Imran, for my first if 3 coconuts. Delicious! After coconut #2 he handed me an envelope and said, "You come, please. My sister." When I opened it up it was an invitation to his sisters wedding. So sweet! Imran has been selling me coconuts for the last 4yrs. He took over the family business when his father, Beck (above), passed away. He is outside the shala everyday without fail, always with the most beautiful smile to great you with and the perfect coconut. I'm getting a sari made so look for pics of me dressed as an Indian Princess!
So it took me forever to settle into things this trip. I think not having a place when I first arrived threw me more than I realized. It's only really in the last week that things have fallen into place. For the first few weeks I was hanging out with some amazing people from Toronto, whom I hope to hang out with some more when I return. But this week I made a new "bestie" and we've been attached at the hip! So refreshing to meet someone who understands me in ways I didn't know were possible. It's also the thing that sucks about Mysore...the connections you make are so strong! But in the end we all have to leave so it's a perpetual lesson of non attachment. Sigh...I guess I should start packing! LOL!
In Goa I will be practicing with Rolf & Marci Naujokat in Candolim. Staying at a place called Casa Baptista just up from the beach. And checking out places for a retreat next year? Who want to come to India with me?! Keep checking this site for more info. Until then there's always the weekend retreat at Sugar Ridge in Midland, Ontario in June and my Backbending Into Bliss workshop April 17 from 230-5pm. Please book early to guarantee your space.
I'll post more from Goa promise :)

So much is happening!

My third week came to an end without much change. Well except that my shoulders opened enough for me to take my heels by myself in Kapotasana! Big relief...So now I can just enjoy my practice and not have to worry about it. I'm finally starting to settle into life in Gokulam. Have a little routine: Sanskrit class Monday, Wednesday & Friday. Chanting on Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday. Conference (lecture) with Sharath on Sunday mornings. I've actually really been enjoying these. He keeps reiterating the point to enjoy the moment. Stop looking to the future so much as you can miss what's happening around you NOW. And he's been in a great mood during these conferences, though I'm not sure if it's because he's enjoying the company he's keeping or because there is a cricket match on afterward. LOL! Whatever the reason, they've been great.



This week I actually got a lot of work done. I know I'm supposed to be on holiday, but there is always something that needs doing. One of those things being shopping! I'm ordering a bunch of cotton yoga mats to bring home to you all. There are stripy ones ($20) and solid colour ones ($25). They are great for practicing Ashtanga yoga so put your order in now! Email me and let me know which one you want, what colour (blue, red, green, navy, brown, pink), and how many you want. I'll be shipping them back so they should arrive just a little while after I get back.

I've also been planning workshops and retreats for the upcoming year. One thing I have finalised is my Summer Retreat at Sugar Ridge Retreat Centre in Midland, Ontario - June 17-19. All the info will be on their site soon and on my website. It's an amazing location, only 90 mins drive north of Toronto, eco friendly, and there are private and shared accommodation options for this place. Book early to guarantee your spot.
Ireland for August 1-8 is still being finalized. But progress is being made, I promise!

I only have 2 more weeks here before I head to Goa. Time is flying! I had convinced myself that I was away for 8 weeks but it ended up being 6 1/2. Three days are lost with travel on the way over. On top of the fact that I suck at math and I only took 7 weeks off, not 8....well, there you have it. 6 1/2 weeks. It better be warm and sunny when I get back! It's actually getting too hot here. Being outside can be a bit much between the hours of 11am and 2pm. So to stay inside yesterday I went for a massage at 3 Sisters, one of the older businesses catering to the students near the Old Shala in the section of the city called Laxmipuram (the pic is of the 3 Sisters house). It was amazing! But of course not the best idea on a Tuesday... I was so stiff today! I took my time with my practice, really enjoying the sensations in my body. By the time I finished there were very few people left in the shala. Time for a coconut! I'll write more soon. Hope you're all still practicing xo

Emma's Adventure's in Mysore

Hello!
And so ends the 2nd week of my adventures here in Mysore. Leaving Toronto was pretty much drama free. My sister drove me to the airport after I insisted on teaching 2 last classes only hours before I was boarding...something I need to work on! LOL! The flight was great! Flew with Etihad Airlines direct to Abu Dhabi. Great flight, food, and service. I, of course, was surrounded by my karma of small screaming children. Not sure what I need to do to get rid of that but anyway...layover in Abu Dhabi was short and uneventful. And a few short hrs later I was in the back of a taxi being chauffeured to Mysore!

I arrived at 8am and went straight to my friend Rachel's place to pick up my trunks. I had booked a room before I arrived and couldn't wait to get settled into it and take a nap! But Mysore being what it is, when I arrived to said room, it had been rented the night before to someone else. Sigh...so loaded down with luggage and now my Mysore trunks, I had to find somewhere to sleep! But this proved to be no easy feat. Gokulam, the section of the city that the KPJAYI (shala or studio) is located was packed to the gills with students. There are so many new students that the construction cannot keep up with the demand. There was literally nothing available. I ran into an old friend, who actually knew the guy who had taken my room! She felt in some way responsible so ended up finding me a bed at her friend Simone's place. I didn't know Simone from Jobe so I was beyond grateful that she would be willing to help. I called for the help of one local rickshaw (3 wheeler taxi) guys, Raju, and off we went to get my bags! For the next 3 days I searched high and low for my own space. I went back to old landlord's but they already had tenants. I had all of the room agents looking for something, anything, so I could move into my own home. But the news was always bad, "Sorry Madam. Gokulam is full. Next week space is coming." So when another friend told me she had a spare room I was over the moon! I moved in the following afternoon.

All the while I had started to practice at the shala. I arrived to Mysore on a Saturday which is day off. It also means the shala is closed so no registration. So technically I shouldn't have gone to class the next morning (at 430am) but I was in dire need so I snuck in. I figured if I didn't make eye contact w Sharath, he wouldn't notice me until it was too late to throw me out! LOL! I made it through led class squished in with about 70 other students and then went for coconut outside the shala. Ahhhhh....there's nothing like fresh coconut water after a sweaty practice! This is where the reunion began. I call going to Mysore "Yoga Camp". It's like, "This one time, at yoga camp...." - seriously...So many old friends from all over the world come together every year to practice at the source of Ashtanga yoga. It's a beautiful thing.

For the first month if your first trip you only practice Primary series, regardless of how far you normally practice at home. This is so Sharath can see your practice and work with you a little more than usual. The series is given to you pose by pose, so that you have time to memorize the sequence and your body has time to open safely. This can wreak havoc on your ego! But in the end it's all worth it. Once you are given all the poses in full Primary and you are able to stand up from a backbend, you will be given the first pose of the Second/Intermediate Series. On subsequent trips, if you have been given poses in the Intermediate or Advanced series, when you first arrive you practice Primary for one week before jumping into the rest of the practice. So the first week I got to relax and attempt to slow down my speedy practice (at 7am) before launching into my longer practice consisting of full Primary and part of Intermediate. I'm still finishing before most students who aren't even practicing full Primary! Slow down sister!! I'm still working on Toronto time. It probably doesn't help that there are so many people from Toronto here right now! It's like an AYCT yoga trip!

Speaking of whom, I'm off to meet the crew for Indian breakfast at Authana. So until next time, keep practicing!
Lots of Love from India
Emma
xo

Anyone feeling stiff lately?

And so the summer begins to come to a close. The change in the air is distinct. Even my body is feeling it! I'm not sure if that's a sign of aging or being more sensitive to the energy around me, maybe a bit of both! LOL! August was a great month. And even tho class sizes were smaller, I got to make a more personal connection with the students who weren't away at the cottage ;) I'm hoping I can continue to build community and connections with Rooftop Yoga, 77 Charles St (east of Church) every Friday night at 7pm and at my upcoming retreat October 1-3 at Saha Yoga. The lovely Leah Von Zuben will be joining me at this retreat providing Thai Massage sessions over the course of the weekend for a nominal fee. A weekend full of yoga, thai massage, someone else doing the cooking, surrounded by nature, enjoying general peace & quiet? What more could you ask for?

So what happened in August...it was busy! Full of photo shoots, birthdays, weddings, planning my winter retreat, my bike getting stolen, and movie night! Here's a brief synopsis....

So first, a student of mine who is quickly becoming a dear friend, Matt Winkfein, wanted me to join him for a yoga photo shoot, taking pics of us doing random asana at random sites across the city. It was hilarious! We broke into the grounds Moss Park Armoury to take some shots w the cannons. Stopped traffic on Queen West to get some really city shots in the middle of the street. Defied gravity in Cloud Gardens Park at Bay & Adelaide. And entertained the parking lot that is Lakeshore Blvd at Bathurst.

Next, in June I decided to throw caution to the wind and buy myself a shiny new bike. It was a Trek 7.3 fx, an amazing burnt orange road bike that I instantly fell in love with. I don't drive so having a good bike gives me the freedom to fly around the city without adding to the already too high levels of pollution. I rode this bike everywhere! Every morning I would smile when I would see it locked up with it's TWO kryptonite locks in the sunshine. But on the morning of Aug 27, as I left the house, I knew it was gone. Something told me before I saw the naked bike stand, that my beautiful bike had been stolen. I was devastated. Standing in the middle of the sidewalk, looking for the bike, thinking "Did I not lock it here? Did I lock it somewhere else?" Then it hitting me that the bike had indeed been stolen, and with that coming the doubt, "Did I not lock it properly? Did I not actually lock it to the stand?" It's such a horrible feeling. But a lesson to be learned. To apply my yoga practice to my day. To practice non-attachment. Not the easiest of practices...it also teaches me to keep the next shiny new bike locked indoors!

Planning for the winter retreat in Costa Rica has proven a lot more challenging than I had originally thought. I wanted to find a Yoga Retreat centre that I could take a group to escape the winter blahs before Christmas. But man! It's like I'm going in blind! The places I contacted were either beautiful but crazy expensive, or a great price but had mediocre accommodations and facilities. So I'm thinking it would be better to delay the trip until February. It gives me more time to organise it and we'll all definitely but sick of winter weather by then!

With all of this going on, I was starting to feel overwhelmed. It is so important to disconnect every once in a while. I spout about it's importance in class all the time and yet I find that I myself rarely take time for myself. August was a crazy busy month, especially on the social side of things. My birthday celebrations seemed to last about a week. It was amazing, being surrounded by family and friends. The weather was great and I got totally spoiled with gifts, the best one being my iphone 4! I love it! The next weekend was another birthday celebration for a dear friend. And the following weekend we had a friend's wedding to go to. Phew! So when I was given the choice of going horseback riding with my partner and a friend for the day, or sending the two of them off and taking the day to myself, I opted for the latter. I hopped on my bike (my Dad's old CCM is now carrying me around), and headed down to Cherry beach. I turned off my phone, put my sunscreen on, cracked the spine of a new book and let go. Sigh.....it was exactly what I needed.

Feeling recharged, I hosted the first Movie Night. It was fabulous! The weather had not been looking good for Rooftop yoga, and yet the skies cleared so we could still be outside. Then I led the troups, like the Pied Piper, down the street to my building where we ordered pizza, got to taste Lauren's home made "Yoga Balls" - chocolate and peanut butter yumminess! And settled in to watch Enlighten Up! a documentary that follows the journey of a yoga novice from New York. Unfortunately, half way thru, the dvd decided to stop playing! But thanks to Steve, we had a back up film called Ashtanga New York, a documentary about Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (Guruji) and his family visiting & teaching in New York City in September 2001. It was a wonderful night and will be repeated in October with another yoga type movie or documentary. See you all there!

My schedule this month has a few changes. I'm back at Yoga Sanctuary on Thursdays!! And I'm still at Moksha Yoga Uptpwn on Thursdays for lunch as well as Friday Sept 10 & 17.

Check out my website for details.

August News Letter

Hello!

Welcome to my first newsletter! First let me say thank you for being part of this growing yoga community! The last year for me has been a roller coaster ride and I'm so glad you all have been around for it!

The retreat at Saha Yoga in July was amazing! I learned an unbelievable amount and the wonderful group that attended learned lots too! Here are a few testimonial's...

"Emma
Thank you so much for hosting this retreat. I have never done anything like this (going off on my own w a bunch of people I don't know!) but it was an awesome experience! I met so many great people & made meaningful connections. I also learned more about yoga & a little more about myself! Thank you so much! You rock :)" Candice S.

"Emma
You are such an amazing teacher & one of the most interesting and special people I have ever met. As long as you're running the show it will be wonderful!" Robyn D.

"Thank you for being awesome, the weekend was really one of healing and peace when I really needed it. Thank you for offering your support." Julia C.



October's retreat is booking now. Early bird price is $375 if you pay your deposit ($150) by August 15th 2010. After that cost is $400. This includes all yoga, meals, shared accommodation, and taxes. Please RSVP to reserve your spot. Reserve early to guarantee your space. It's booking up quickly!


There are a few changes to my teaching schedule for the month of August. First I am taking a mini break from my Monday and Thursday classes at the Yoga Sanctuary College. Starting this week I will not be teaching the following:

Mondays: 130pm Vinyasa
Thursdays: 10am Hatha Flow
130pm Vinyasa

I will be teaching a few extra classes at Moksha Yoga Uptown at Yonge and St Clair.

Thursday: Aug 5, 12, 19, 26 @ 12pm Ashtanga
Wednesday: Aug 18 130pm Vinyasa
Friday: Aug 20 @ 12pm Ashtanga

Yoga in Winchester Park has kicked off and is picking up speed! The next class is:

Wednesday August 4th 530pm (tomorrow) Ashtanga
Saturday August 7th 10am Vinyasa

Click the link below for Google map of the area. It's south of Wellesley, east of Sherbourne.


View My Saved Places in a larger map">


Yoga on the Roof is going strong! Class will be happening this friday at the address below. Click the link for a map of 77 Charles St.

Brewin Housing Co-Op Inc
Charles Street East
Toronto, ON M4Y 1V2
(416) 975-9332


View My Saved Places in a larger map">


All classes hosted by me outside paid by donation basis with a minimum donation of $10/class.

Thank you all so much for your support! Email me if you have questions about any of the above. See you all on the mat.

Namaste
xo ;)