Advertisement
Published: June 25th 2017
Edit Blog Post
Beautiful Buddha
This enormous sculpture and fountain set the tone, seated at the front of the yoga Shala. I alluded in the previous entry to spending a lifetime looking for my yoga teacher, my guru, and having finally found what I was looking for. This was not an exaggeration, as I was first introduced to yoga in the early 70's, and Yoga has been a part of my life ever since. In the process I have been exposed to a variety of yoga forms have studied with a number of yoga teachers.
However, I have never felt I had found "my guru". I have for years wanted to immerse myself in a yoga course somewhere in the world, but I just could not put it together before. As one who believes that everything happens for a reason, I do not believe it is coincidence that I "happened" to find this particular yoga Shala. And I knew very soon after arriving that I had found the teachers here I have long been searching for.
I also knew very soon that forty some years of yoga practice - although it may sound impressive - could easily translate to forty years of doing many things incorrectly, which in fact is my story. I am not surprised. But I am grateful
The Yoga Shala
Always calm, peaceful, and cool - that is, until you start your practice and get your own body heat going. As for quiet, well, it is rural Bali, and it is the tropics, and there are all those roosters that never stop beeking at each other, and the chickens throwing in their two cents worth, while the coconut guy is chopping down coconuts that come crashing down . . . but it is all somehow still peaceful. And besides, you are busy in your body meditation workout called yoga, which is damn hard work. You have no room for distractions :) for having found open minded, kind, caring, and wise teachers to help me develop a stronger practice in the Ashtanga Yoga tradition. Prem told me one day after we arrived that he and Radha tell their students to think of the teachings they offer as software that their students can try out while they are here with us. After they leave, they can decide if they want to download it, or delete it. Well, the teachings I have been offered are now totally downloaded and in my hard drive. Thank you Prem and Radha.
The experience has been excellent. Even if it meant that Stan and I had a limited night life - in this artful community with a zillion restaurants, cultural performances, and live music venues - because we were asleep by 9:30 every night, six nights a week, so we could be ready for that 5:30 alarm and be wide awake for our motorbike road trip at 7 a.m. Even if it meant not having the time to hike volcanoes, go on elephant safaris, watch world class surfing competitions, lay on beaches or take in any of the fabulous dive sites in the nearby surrounding areas in
Yoga Immersion Class
We happened to be studying at the Shala the same time a yoga intensive three week immersion course was being offered. The immersion class would arrive earlier and be meditating before the rest of us arrived for our Mysore daily class instruction. Bali. Even if it meant sweating and working your butt off for two hours daily.
I have learned so much, and I believe some of those learnings will transfer from the mat to the rest of my day, as true yoga should. I am also very happy to say that Stan - my brave partner in this adventure called life, who agreed reluctantly to take on this challenging new experience - has been equally committed. I am very proud of him.
We have made some new friends here, gained some new insights, and are very excited about returning to study again next year. In the meantime it is " practice, and all is coming".
Advertisement
Tot: 0.06s; Tpl: 0.017s; cc: 6; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0344s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Sharron Labatt
non-member comment
What a great yoga experience for you Bev. After so many years of devoted practice what a treat. Good for you Stan in your efforts. After a 25 year hiatus this past year I started again. One day at a time.