by Amy Sanford | Oct 29, 2015 | Amy in India, Studio News
Erin and I arrived in Gokulam on Tuesday morning around 6:30, red eyed from the long flight and freshly dusted by pungent particles that rushed in opened taxi cab windows from the wild miles between Bangalore and Mysore, we were greeted by our gracious hosts with boisterous salutations and delicious, hot chai and sweet biscuits. Thankful and think-less (aka exhausted) without hesitation, we accepted. Sitting and sipping — smiling — we had arrived, y’all.
This morning, Wednesday, after twelve-ish hours of sleep, we awoke for our first (home) practice in India…..at 3:30am. Cherished memory.
Tomorrow, registration begins. We’ll meet with our teacher, Sharath, and be assigned our practice times. First practice at the Shala will be on Monday!
The past couple of days have been productive. We’ve unpacked and settled in to our house, secured transportation in the form of a scooter, and got our internet and cell phones ready to go.
Now, time for dinner. Smoothie at Anu’s Cafe or Chaats at The Sixth Main?
Freshly blended and ice cold, banana, cashew, and fig smoothie at Anu’s Bamboo Hut. A quiet evening spent relaxing with Buggy, a very well loved black lab who lives here and the only other patron at the time. Perfect.
Hey, one more note! Remember this statement from last year?
Confession: I’m not a blogger or writer for that matter, I find it arduous to compose my thoughts and emotions into words to be exposed publicly — or even privately, see personal journal (there’s not one). I LOVE taking photos, however, and feel I convey my thoughts and emotions more effectively through images. I am eager to share this experience with you, I am overjoyed actually, because without you I am not me and this journey is not mine to be had alone, but ours. Beginning today, I will do my best to update the blog regularly through both words and images (ok, probably more photos – I can’t help it!).
It’s ALL still TRUE, however, a small but important change.
I WILL ACTUALLY make posts regularly this trip. Now that I, as the experienced Mysorian (I may have just made that up) I am, have the insight, ability, and courage to compose in all unusual situations and overcome all unusual challenges, i.e. unknown lengths of time without power. (side note: made possible largely in part by and a huge thanks to my editor from overseas, David Kimling and my local technical support, Jimmy Crow).
Thank you so much for your interest, love, support, and practicing yoga with me. I’m missing the studio’s warmth and charm and all of you who make Morning Glory Yoga so special.
More from Mysore to come. Cheers!!
Love & Gratitude from Gokulam,
Amy
by Amy Sanford | Oct 22, 2015 | Events & Workshops
Hello Yogis! This is my last week in Nacogdoches for 2015 and although I am looking forward to my studies in India I am already beginning to miss Morning Glory Yoga , which is to say, missing all of you.
If you have the evening free this Friday please join myself and the other MGYS Instructors for our Community Free Friday class at 5:30 followed by what is sure to be a good time as one of MGYS’s newest teachers and talented musician, Kasey Lansdale, performs. Admission to the concert is free, donations for my trip and support of MGYS are welcomed, encouraged, and greatly appreciated.
We hope to see you on the mat at 5:30 and/or at 7pm for Kasey Lansdale’s Benefit Performance for MGYS and Amy to India.
In Gratitude,
Amy Sanford <3
by Amy Sanford | Oct 20, 2015 | Events & Workshops
Benefiting Amy Sanford, Owner of Morning Glory Yoga Studio, for Upcoming and Returning Journey to Study in India
Texas native and soulful songstress Kasey Lansdale will give a special benefit performance on Friday, October 23rd in her hometown of Nacogdoches, Texas at the downtown Morning Glory Yoga Studio. The performance will benefit Morning Glory Yoga Studio owner Amy Sanford, who is soon returning to Mysore, India to study Ashtanga Yoga at the renowned Shri K Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute. Admission is free but donations are welcome and encouraged.
Kasey Lansdale will kick off the show at 7 p.m. by performing songs from her album, “Restless,” which was produced by the Grammy award-winner John Carter Cash, progeny of “The Man in Black,” in the Cash Cabin studio. Her “Sorry Ain’t Enough” music video was officially released on September 29 and gives viewers an exclusive look inside the historic studio. The “Sorry Ain’t Enough” single debuted at #4 on MPE’s Most Downloaded and Streamed Songs, only behind Lady Antebellum, Sheryl Crow, and Brantley Gilbert, and also landed at #14 on the Hot Disc UK International Chart.
Lansdale’s songs “Back of my Smile” and “Foolin Around” were featured in the June 2014 film “Cold in July,” an adaptation of her father’s book, which starred the award-winning actor Michael C. Hall (“Dexter”). She recently wrapped up her second successful “Restless Roadtrip” Radio Tour with stops for live interviews and performances across the country.
- Who: Kasey Lansdale
- What: Benefit Concert for Amy Sanford
- When: Friday, October 23, 2015
- Where: Morning Glory Yoga Studio in Nacogdoches, TX
- Tickets: Tickets are free — bring a cash donation or checks made out to Morning Glory Yoga Studio.
ABOUT KASEY LANSDALE:
Produced by Grammy award-winner John Carter Cash, Kasey Lansdale is a Country Blues artist from small-town Nacogdoches, Texas. Already an accomplished songwriter and author, her music is featured in the new films, “Cold in July,” starring award-winning actor, Michael C. Hall of Showtimes’ hit series “Dexter”; and in “Christmas with the Dead,” where she made her first big screen debut portraying Ella, the protagonist’s wife. Lansdale was nominated for the Best New Female Artist at the 2015 Texas Regional Radio Music Awards. For the most up-to-date news and tour dates, please visit:www.kaseylansdale.com.
AND as if the above isn’t impressive enough, Kasey is also a yoga instructor and Morning Glory Yoga’s newest teachers! Come meet our newest teacher!
ABOUT AMY SANFORD:
Amy has been teaching yoga in East Texas for the last ten years, both at Stephen F. Austin State University and at Morning Glory Yoga Studio, which she owns and operates. Her classes are designed to meet the needs of each individual, from beginner to advanced, with an emphasis on proper alignment and breathing. Amy believes that yoga is practiced both on and off the mat, and she encourages her students to explore and deepen their personal practice, then apply lessons learned to moments in their every day lives. She is certified to teach yoga through the Living Yoga Program in Austin Texas.
Amy’s continued studies and personal practice have taken her to Mysore, India to study Ashtanga Yoga at Shri K Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute with her teacher Sharath Jois. She returns for a second year to deepen her personal practice and understanding of yoga and anticipates teaching Ashtanga in Nacogdoches in 2016.
by Amy Sanford | Oct 12, 2015 | Events & Workshops
We’ve had a great weekend of Ashtanga Yoga with Jade Skinner and, as a special treat, Jade is going to teach the 8:30 class this Monday before flying back to Florida. If you didn’t have an opportunity to practice with Jade, now you do! This is NOT an Ashtanga class. It’s a New Moon tomorrow and with that in mind Jade is teaching “Lunar Flow.” This will be 75 minutes of gentle yet energizing, heart-opening, hip-loving, [chatturanga free] flow. Sounds good, right? Right! See you in the a.m. on the mat at MGYS!
Since this is a unique arrangement, please feel free to bring a $ donation (not mandatory but welcome). If you need to leave at our regularly scheduled 60 minute class length, no problem.
Prepare for goodness, MG Yogis!
Love ~ Amy
by Amy Sanford | Oct 10, 2015 | Events & Workshops
What a great Half Primary this morning! Thanks to all you Yogis that showed up, it was a sweaty good time! See you on the return this afternoon!
If you haven’t registered yet for the “Grounded in Asana” workshop there is still room for YOU this afternoon. Register online NOW or arrive a little early to complete registration at the studio.
1:00pm -3:00pm
Grounded in Asana – $35.00
The standing poses of Ashtanga are the basic grounding and centering asanas, therefore, making them an ideal starting point for your practice. All the postures integrate the body, balancing flexibility, strength, endurance, and coordination. In this workshop we’ll bring our attention to the connection that we have with the earth through our feet. Learning to be relaxed and balanced as we realign our foundation from the feet, to the ankles, through the knees, to the pelvis and base of the spine. Because standing poses require us to actively engage our awareness of how we use our muscles, joints, and breath, they build both mental and physical stamina as well as discipline. No matter what else you might want to explore in the vast world of yoga, this workshop will give you a solid foundation, good alignment, an understanding of body mechanics, and tangible training in mindfulness.
Texas native and soulful songstress Kasey Lansdale will give a special benefit performance on Friday, October 23rd in her hometown of Nacogdoches, Texas at the downtown Morning Glory Yoga Studio. The performance will benefit Morning Glory Yoga Studio owner Amy Sanford, who is soon returning to Mysore, India to study Ashtanga Yoga at the renowned Shri K Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute. Admission is free but donations are welcome and encouraged.
