Wednesday, November 11th, our regularly scheduled classes are canceled in honor of Veterans Day.
Please join Kasey for a special All Levels class at 9am. Let’s (this means YOU too) meet at MGYS and practice in gratitude, honoring veterans past and present. <3
Namaste.
Hi MG Yogis!
It’s about 6:30 on Sunday night here in Gokulam, Mysore and while I type, I have opened the door to my apartment to let in the cool air accompanying this evening’s rainstorm. As the air circulates a cacophony of horns collide with the thunder as if in competition, as if the air can only hold one or the other. But soon the two merge and fade into the background only to present conversation, laughter, babies crying and sundry other clamour near my home in 3rd Stage. The sounds travel on currents that ebb and flow and filter through my open door and I absorb. it. all. I breathe it all in — soak it up — and like a rung sponge, I let it go. Until the next current.
Tomorrow at 4:30am I begin my Ashtanga practice at KPJAYI. It’s Led Primary which means, Sharath, my teacher, will lead the class (at his pace) through the Primary Series. Although I’ve been here before, I still find myself a little nervous and in anticipation of the morning. “It’s natural though,” I kindly remind myself. Even after all these years of practice I am still and will forever be humbled by the unknown and excited by possibility as observed from my mat.
Before bed, in just a few minutes, I wanted to say, “Thank you.” Thank you for practicing yoga with me at MGYS and trusting me as your teacher. I am forever grateful to you. Without you I would not be here as I am in this moment and for this, I Thank you.
Namaste.
With love and gratitude from Mysore,
Amy
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
Led 1/2 Primary – $25.00
While Half Primary classes move more slowly than Primary Series classes, you’ll build up heat in your body, sweat and detoxify. This class moves at a slower pace, which allows for more instruction, introducing some of the more advanced poses in an approachable way. The class is appropriate for anyone who is working toward the Primary Series, as well as experienced Hatha yogis who want a taste of Ashtanga. The Half Primary is truly a mixed level class that attracts new students and experienced Primary Series students who value slowing things down a bit from time to time. Modifications are encouraged.
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.
Led 1/2 Primary – $25.00
This class moves at a slower pace, which allows for more instruction, introducing some of the more advanced poses in an approachable way. The class is appropriate for anyone who is working toward the Primary Series, as well as experienced Hatha yogis who want a taste of Ashtanga. The Half Primary is truly a mixed level class that attracts new students and experienced Primary Series students who value slowing things down a bit from time to time. Modifications are encouraged.
Transitions in Vinyasa (jump through to the jump back) – $35.00
To transition means to move or connect one idea to the next. Let’s be honest with ourselves, we all want that sensation of ‘lightness” when we’re doing yoga. In this case, we will be looking at the movements in a vinyasa practice that weave postures together.
Transitions show us the relationship between the foundation of an asana and all the ideas that support it. They help us to gauge progression of our practice when we are flowing in a vinyasa class, from basic to challenging, by the fluidity and grace of our actions. We’ll break down the jump back to chaturanga in the 3rd and 4th vinyasa of Sun Salutations as well as the jump forward from downdog back to standing. This will help you to understand the underlying components of the jump back, jump through transitions of seated postures and how the backbone is based on a series of 3 main postures from Sun Salutation A. Learn some basic anatomy and strength exercises as well as correct breathing techniques to assist you in developing healthy movement patterns. Let’s get lifted!
I started to study yoga when I moved to Saint Petersburg, Florida in 2002. Back then I didn’t know yoga would become my way of life. One day, my teacher told me, “Yoga will change your life forever!” and she was absolutely right. Yoga not only changed my life, it soon became so much more…To me, Yoga now is my lifestyle. I can’t image my being without it. It helped me not only trade my bad habits for good but to look out from under the veil to see all that the world has to offer. Through personal change, I became extremely passionate to share this knowledge with others. That’s when I decided to become a yoga teacher.
I later discovered Ashtanga Yoga while learning and teaching Vinyasa. It immediately captivated me. Through my years of practicing and teaching different methods of yoga, Ashtanga is where my heart remains. Ashtanga is intriguing in so many ways. It brings clarity to every state of your being: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. My own personal experiences on the mat have deeply humbling to the core of my being. A reminder that change is impermanence and adaptation is acceptance. And now my purpose is to share, teach and help my students grow on their journey with Ashtanga Yoga.
For more info about Jade check out
sacredspaceyogafl.com
On Monday, May 25th, Memorial Day our regular schedule will be modified.
Please join Amy for an ALL LEVEL class from 9:00 – 10:00am or Gentle Yoga with Sherri at 12:30.
All other classes are cancelled for the day.
Morning active yoga practice that fosters supportive strength from the ground up. Find ease and stability in standing postures for a sustainable yoga practice. We will look at how our core muscles and our feet create the essential foundation for our bodies. Enjoy a long restorative savasana.
Restorative Yoga, through long held, prop supported postures, teaches that even though a pose appears to be still, there is a subtler action going on that involves a symphony of breath and body that brings the entire being into a state of deep repose and release.
The benefits of a restorative yoga class include:
Powerful relaxation to access a state of pratayahara (a withdrawn state).
Restoration and exploration of the mind, body and soul in passive postures.
Clarity, connection, and a spirit of offering through ishvara pranidhana (the divine within).
Moving meditation warmup and the graceful presence accessed with long held postures.
$35 per class
$60 for both
Earlybird $30 per class
Earlybird $55 for both
(Earlybird ends June 19th)
SFA Student Discount – $30 per class
SFA Student Discount – $50 for both
(SFA Students will need to have a valid SFA ID the day of the workshop)
Melissa Smith, 500 ERYT, offers an individualized approach to yoga. Her style of yoga is a blend of traditions from many teachers from all over the world spanning more than a decade. This integrated approach will take you on an journey into cultivating a curious eye within.
“Your hand opens and closes and opens and closes. If it were always a fist or always stretched open, you would be paralyzed. Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding, the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated as bird wings. ~ Rumi
