Blogs from Mysore, Karnataka, India, Asia - page 8

salvation Realisation? Matters; Earth fire air water sky - elements…proportionately mathematics 3 independent forces work together - body equilibrium Communication needed for execution Earth…gravity ground..no communication Fire..no. water ..no Air! Communicator of calm soul with the supersoul Breathing becomes life.. when you lose that you die Man nature Pranayama… conquer the nature Sealing (mudra) Sanskrit Pranayama needs principle pinkie…body 2nd finger….mind 3 Intellect 4…. Karma/soul Thumb… super soul Purpose… conquer body and mind Shanka mudra or vishni mudra….hand action Different purposes to pranayama 1st VISHAMA VRITTY pranayama 1 3 5 7 9… odd system of pranayama Internal turning Inhalation/exhalation/retention 3 forces…purpose….raising kundalini Equal in inh/exh/ret ... read more

Day started badly and ended great. Could not physically get myself up for 6 am yoga (great start on day 1) so decided to do the half four class instead. So, as not in the mood for sight seeing I stayed in bed till 1 feeling sorry for myself and wondering if I would ever be fit enough to advance my yoga ever again. Later found out my very cute landlord who calls roundabouts - big circles, was so worried about me he asked at the Mandala if he should wake me. That’ll teach me for being lazy!! Got up did some asana on the roof, made the reading room into a yoga room. More asana. Its quite clear to me by now how unfit I have become since Ibiza and that smoking and drinking are ... read more

Up early, pull a muscle in my neck from insane amount of luggage which is all getting sent back to my mum. AR to bus station, manage to get local bus (me and about 80 Indian men) to Mysore (3hrs) for 95Rps (70Rps=£1). This is def the way to travel. Apart from the obvious falling apart bus travel danger, I don’t have to endure 3 hrs of horrible air con or moaning tourists (not that I’ve actually seen any yet). I have been told by many people that I would be leered at by Indian men etc for being white….not so… I am glad to be of a darker white colour… but it may just be Mysore. I find everyone very friendly so far. MUCH less hassle from men and street sellers than in Africa!!! And ... read more

A leaking bus took us overnight via OOTY to the town of Mysore, famed for several things, most notably its amazing palace and profusion of skilled craftsmen in hundreds of fields. We spent several fun filled days wandering the very colourful streets. We came across "cottage Industry" style production of Beedies (small cigarettes made of leaves and cheap tobacco), incense (hand rolled by local widows from a fine charcoal paste, and then mixed with an infusion of distilled oils), and a variety of local craftsmen producing a huge assortment of goods from guns, to tables inlaid with fine pearl. Attending the local market was a feast for all our senses. The different smells from each row of stalls packed with unrecognisable fruits and vegetables intermingled with stalls selling incense, distilled oils and spices. Some stalls were ... read more

I positioned myself at the south gate of the Mysore Palace. It was a Sunday - illumination day - and at 7 pm the 3-storyed Palace would be bathed in light. It would be an awesome sight. Already, a fair crowd had gathered at the car park area; tourists, passersby, taxi and bus drivers who had driven in their passengers in air-conditioned coaches. A few elders and women remained seated in the coaches while others ambled around; families with kids were surrounded by balloon sellers - “I want the heart-shaped one” someone said (it was Valentine’s Day, that Sunday) ; a group of foreigners were being hounded by urchins selling their wares at twice, thrice the normal price. A cucumber seller was doing brisk business knowing fully well that once the lights come on the crowds ... read more