WHAT MAKES SOMEONE A GOOD YOGA PRACTITIONER?

WHAT MAKES SOMEONE A GOOD YOGA PRACTITIONER?

Is it someone strong and flexible with a fluid, beautiful practice? If so, does that make someone whose form is tight and stiff, who are struggling with their practice, not good at yoga? When Ashtanga yoga is practiced in the Mysore style, students of all levels of...
ABOUT MYSORE STYLE

ABOUT MYSORE STYLE

When I first heard the word Mysore – I thought it had something to do with “My sore…hamstrings!”. I later found out that this is the name of the city in South India from where the practice originates. Now in Ashtanga yoga schools around the world, “Mysore-style”...
THE YOGA OF DRIVING

THE YOGA OF DRIVING

“Slowly, slowly, brake!” These were the words of advice from Kumar the rickshaw driver when he saw me earlier this week on a scooter for the first time. He also said, “Madam, full traffic – no!” The instruction wasn’t dissimilar to what I have been hearing Sharath say...
SALAH AND SAINTHOOD

SALAH AND SAINTHOOD

It seems I have a penchant for religious festivals. Recent events in Dubai have reminded me of this eccentricity and to be honest I am wondering what is next! A recent chain of events started with my first “iftar” breaking of fast. I hadn’t actually fasted, but in...
MYSORE MEMORIES

MYSORE MEMORIES

Last weekend I went to the wedding party of the first person I met in Mysore. It was 2006 and I had travelled to Mysore in Southern India to study Ashtanga Yoga. Less than a year earlier was when I first heard about Mysore. I had been attending evening Ashtanga...