First Led Class (Mostly Yoga Stuff Here)

Whew.

I think I've figured out the shala time warp -- whatever Saraswati says, it's according to the shala clock. Which is 15 minutes fast. So, when she says be at the shala at 4:45 a.m. for a 5 a.m. led class, she means, be there at 4:30 actual time.

It's a bit startling to show up someplace at 4:30 a.m. and to see 25 or 30 people already there, sitting quietly on their mats. If folks in Kentucky think the Sunday led class is early, you can compare it to a 4:30 a.m. "show up" time here.

The led class is exactly as it is at home, except there are a lot of slow counts. Getting a slow count in navasana, or uttitha hasta padangustasana is pretty tough. Getting a slow count in upluthi (sp??) at the end is super-hard, especially when Saraswati doesn't even start with one until everyone is up.

There is a great deal of energy in the led class, as you would expect. There's a definite "you can't drop out of this pose" atmosphere. Plus, I got to be the guy who slowed everyone down in Marichyasana D, as Saraswati came over and gave me adjustments on both sides. (My deficiencies are very obvious, eh?)

Afterward, there is a very nice scene outside the shala, where many students stop to get coconut milk out of a fresh coconut from a street vendor. A chance for conversation which is not present in the shala. I visited with students from Norway, Australia, and New York City -- all foreign countries!

I'm going out to dinner with another student tonight, so I'm starting to see a bit more of Mysore. I'll have lunch at Anu's cafe, another ashtanga hangout.

Cheers to all,

Jim