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Travels Yoga

A Yogi in Pune – Day 6

September 6, 2016

My host brought to my attention that there is a much respected astrologer close by. Everyone goes to him and his reading is usually spot on. The catch is that it’s difficult to get an appointment with him. Plus I didn’t have my birth chart.

If I could get into the Iyengar institute, famed or their coldness and hard-to-get attitude, then the neighbourhood astrologer would be easy to crack, regardless of how famous he was. Expecting it to take weeks to get an appointment, I started working on this right away. To my surprise and delight, I managed to get an appointment in the third call. So post my self practice session today, I decided to visit the astrologer. Armed with a map and loads of curiosity.

In the rows and rows of non descript government quarters, I wouldn’t have been able to find his house with no address. However, everyone seemed to know where he lived. An appointment was going on when I walked in. I’d expected the worst and was prepared to wait for hours, but Lady Luck was on my side and I waited for only 15 minutes.

I had asked my mother to send me photos of my natal chart on WhatsApp and I showed him these images on my laptop.

Astrologer: “You aren’t in the same line that you studied.”

Me: Nodded.

Astrologer: “What have you studied?”

Me:”Engineering. I worked as a software engineer also for a long time too.”

Astrologer: “But what are you doing now?”

Me: “I teach yoga.”

Astrologer: “It says here that you will excel at the studies of old things…maybe history…maybe humanity. You will do well in a field that requires you to gain deep knowledge, not superficial work. It says here your area of work will be beneficial for mankind. Are you only teaching or studying also?”

Me: “Yes, I study and teach.”

Astrologer: “Then there is nothing better for you than this. This is what you were meant to do. To study deeply and to help people. And yoga is after all a study of the human body and the human mind. And now with Modi getting interested…you can understand.”

Me: “Hmmm…but what else do you see? Only teaching and studying yoga? Same thing for the rest of my life?”

Astrolger: “No no….you will go deep. Even amongst yoga teachers, not everyone reaches the trance state. Not everyone goes to the higher levels. You will also go. You will teach and you will learn. Yoga will take you to different places. You will not settle abroad nor get a green card. But you will travel far and frequently.”

Me: “I will travel for yoga? But do you see a book published in my future somewhere?”

Astrologer: “When it comes to yoga, which is your chosen field of study, you will do whatever you want. There are no boundaries to what you will do and there are no limits to how much you will contribute. But stick to yoga, don’t do anything else. Now you tell me, why did you take up yoga?”

Me: “I myself can’t really tell you why. Something within me is drawn to the practice.”

Astrologer: “And that is what! That is why you must continue. Don’t worry about money. You won’t get Rs. 5, 10, 50…when you earn you will get in the thousands at one go. You will earn in different currencies, but only through yoga. Don’t switch your line and stick to it. Whatever you want, you will get.”

As I walked away from his office, I was reminded of what Pattabhi Jois was so fond of saying,” Do your practice and all is coming.” In a way, this famed astrologer was telling me the same thing.

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Yoga

A Yogi in Pune – Day 4

September 4, 2016

Since Pune doesn’t shut down by 11, last night I was able to do something that I haven’t time and inclination to do for a while now – club hopping. Since I’m here only for 4 weekends, Anuja wanted to give me a wholesome flavor of the Pune nightlife. A simple relaxed sit down dinner morphed into something completely different.

Our first stop was The Foundry Club which has a Church Street Social kinda vibe. So lots of techies and beer. Food was awesome!

Next we went to a club called Euriska. Neon interiors and teeny boppers bobbing up and down on the dance floor.

Finally we ended up at Stonewater where the crowd was pretty much the same. Once in a while, when you’ve been through what seems like days and days of back breaking yoga practice, you just nee to let your hair down like this.

When I woke up this morning I realized that I had the entire Sunday to myself to do what I pleased. I have the entire city to explore, I have a bunch of friends to meet…however, I reached for my book and slid back under the covers. After more months than I care to remember I started my day lost in a book and Skyping with a friend who also spends time lost in books. Come to think of it, even if I wanted to go out, I think what I really wanted to do was rest as much as I can on my very first ‘rest day.’ I’m going to slide under the covers again with a movie…or maybe a book. After all, it’s my rest day and the possibilities are limitless.

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Travels Yoga

A Yogi in Pune – Day 3

September 3, 2016

I had a 7 am class this morning and boy was it jam packed! I think the practice hall can accommodate about 25 people comfortably but we crammed in about 50 people. We were told to keep our mats right next to each other. To adjust and to understand. In life and on the mat.

My self practice was in the evening today and it was simply AMAAAAAAAZING!!!! I had been avoiding practicing back bends for a while. I’ve analysed why in my head several times, however will take reams and reams of blog posts to get into why. Anyways, what I really like about the self practice sessions here is that the students come and practice with unwavering dedication, even though there are no teachers to help out or to guide. I come across so many people who say that they need to join a class else they slack off. Until now I understood this as a lack of inspiration to work out, to dance, to practice yoga etc. However, when I look around at the self practice room and see people practicing intensely, I have a new found respect for those who maintain a regular fitness regime. For myself, yoga isn’t a fitness regime. I’ll risk sounding clichéd, but it’s like brushing my teeth. It sets the pace of my days, it makes me feel balanced, it helps me focus and express myself. Yoga simply defines my days.

Soup of the Day: Tomato and Carrot

Today also marks the momentous occasion of me buying my very first Iyengar yoga shorts. There is a local man here (a Mr. Vasanth), who along with his wife makes yoga shorts and tees and props too. I’m going to upload his contact details here so that all who are interested can contact him. They customize the shorts as well, so I’ve asked for plain black. Until then I will make do with the blue tie and dyed ones I chose from amongst the ones he had.

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And finally my first weekend in Pune has arrived! Anuja and I are going out for a meal so that we can let our hair down and set the tone for the weekend. I have two complete days to work this exhaustion out of my system (maybe going out tonight isn’t in line with that goal…). Anyways, girls who work hard need to play hard too.

Also, we watched ‘Hush’ last night. Completely forgettable.

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RIMYI Experiences

A Yogi in Pune – Day 2

September 2, 2016

Soup of the Day: Ghia soup. I’m telling you, a hostess after my own heart.

I’m not sure whether it’s the my cold or it’s the intense practice here, but by the end of each practice session I’m EXHAUSTED. This level of exhaustion is new to me. In Bangalore I’m up super early and I have loads of energy to teach morning AND evening AND to do my self practice AND to write AND go to work. Here I’m too tired to even eat sometimes and I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. This morning I woke up at 6, but lazed around in bed because I had to be at the institute only by 10.30 AM. These small luxuries will only be available this month to me, I reasoned.

Today I had my self practice session first. I got there early and spoke to a few other first time students. And then it was time to quiz Mr. Pandurang for all everything he could tell me. Who was this Pandurang Rao and how was he so intimately connected to the institute? What was his story? I decided to start asking him in Hindi about how long he’s been here. He peered up at me from behind his thick glasses in surprise. After a few questions we fell into an easy conversation. He told me that Prashaant, Geeta and he used to practice with Guruji in the early 60s, in the house in the city, which is where the family used to stay then. The loyal students at the time felt that Mr. Iyengar should have a place of his own to teach and practice in, similar to how he had studios all across the world. Mr. Pandurang was a part of the original group of people who toiled hard to secure and create the space the world knows as RIMYI. The opening was in 1975. Pandurang speaks in the same low voice and neither his face nor his voice have any expression. “What year where born?” he asked me abruptly.

“1982,” I replied.

“Hmmm…abh dekho, yeh 1975 se hai. Aap thoda time do. Yahaan ke barre mein bahaut hai seekhne ko.” And with that our tete a tete came to an end because I had to go for my self practice session.

My self practice today went a lot better than yesterday, partly because I vegetated the morning away, conserving my energy for the session. Here I encountered another luxury, the luxury of practicing with no time limits. At home we all have time constraints. Having what seems like all the time in the world and all the tools at your disposal, can put you in your happy place. However, it can be overwhelming too.

Room where my led class happens. Pink ropes, what more could a girl want?

My led class was in the evening today and I met a Korean student while crossing the road and we chatted all the way to the institute. After changing into the ‘uniform’ (more on this later), we trudged up three flights of stairs to the Women’s class. Twice a week the institute has a women’s only session and I get to take the Friday eve women’s class. The teacher is a bundle of energy. She keeps a nonstop banter going through the class. And she keeps her sharp eyes on everyone. The caught me looking at the floor and shrilled, “BANGALORE!!! Keep your eyes open! Always! You are with me! You are with the class! You are with YOURSELF!!!”

It’s my turn to be at the receiving end I thought to myself as my mouth curled up into a smile and I nodded lightly.

While doing the Trikonasana: “BANGALORE!!! Look straight at me! You are in my class! Stay in my class! Stay with us! What are you looking at the ceiling for?!”

Next time, she caught me glancing at the clock and she bellowed, “Why do your eyes always go up?!!! TRANCE mein chali jaati hai (giggles). Trance mein jaana hai par meri class mein nahin. In this class just go into the Trikonasana.”

During Sirsasana she bellowed, “BANGALORE!!! Again! Be with the class!!! Come to the centre of the room, place your mat HERE and now face that way and now up you go”

During the Sarvangasana: “BANGA-, wait what’s your name?”

Me: Pragya

Teacher: “Ek to itna lamba naam leke aa jaati hai. Look! Your blankets are uneven! Make the even end on one side and odd end on the other side. Yes, like that.”

As we filed out of class, I said my customary thank you to which she said a simple: Good.

Hmmm, go figure.

I walked home and sat to pen down the day. As I tied together some lose ends at work, Anuja (provider of the hot soups) and I made plans for the weekend. I want to see the sights and sounds of Pune. See different facets of the city. She’s proving to be a great storehouse of info…and she’s following this blog too :).

But first we’ve decided to watch a scary film on Netflix tonight. Turns out, both of us love scary movies, but prefer watching them with people.

Until tomorrow, stay healthy, stay happy!

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Travels Yoga

A Yogi in Pune – Day 1

September 1, 2016

The first day is always a day of exploration and learning.

My first class was on the second floor and we went through the standing asanas. However, because it was the Intermediate class we were expected to know how to do the Sirsasana, Halasana and Sarvangasana. In my class in Bangalore we did the Sarvangasana and Halasana with the help of chairs, however, here the only props we used were thick mats under our shoulders.

Post the class we had a break of 30 minutes after which the hall on the first floor was free for self practice. During this time we are allowed the use of the hall and all the props to further our practice. Since I wasn’t sure of what to expect, I decided to repeat what we had done in the led class and take my time with the asanas. Since I’m working on my Hanumanasana, I built up to that as well. Unfortunately, by this time (after almost 4 hours of practice) I was completely depleted of energy and didn’t give the practice my 100%. However, tomorrow my self practice and led class have a gap, so I think I’ll be able to use my time much more judiciously tomorrow.

Once I got home I searched for a good spot for wifi reception. The flora and fauna and the monsoons ensure the wifi signal is weak. However, good karma came to my rescue and my sister’s friend (who lives in the house next door)n offered me her wifi and the use of this space:

She happens to be a designer with a flair for interiors and this is her office. So for the entire month, this is what my workstation looks like. My desk is right next to hers, so I’ve got good company too. And hot homemade soup in the evenings (today it’s pumpkin soup). I I will be designing plans and blogging from here.

As for my pratice schedule, here it is for your reference: