departure

Due to an imminent strike on July 5th, and threats of road blocks, travel distruptions, etc. I am leaving this evening instead of tomorrow evening.  So this ends the Level 2 Authorization Training.  It has been a great month spending the time with Sharath learning from him.   My last trip to Mysore before this one was in 2007, three years back.  I feel like this trip re-grounded and centered me in the Ashtanga tradition and practice.  Sharath’s closing words this morning focused on the importance of living the yoga, adopting a yogic lifestyle with the yamas and niyamas.  He also emphasized that yoga comes from India, and it is not a possession.  Those who start their own brand and style of yogas are stealing it from a tradition that cannot be possessed.  In the west especially we really try to do this.  There is a tendency to want to be the best, to outdo your neighbor.  So people invent their own brands of yoga.  But really this goes agains yoga doesn’t it?   Yoga cannot be possessed, and trying to start a brand of yoga is a form of possession.   Yoga is constantly evolving, this is what gives it longetivity, but to claim responsibility for its change and evolution is more about the ego of the claimer.  Sri K. Pattabhi Jois could have invented “Jois” yoga, but he didn’t, he taught from the tradition as he learned it from his own teacher.

I don’t know when my next trip will be, this depends on many things, however, I’m sure there will be one.    I’m grateful for Guruji and now Sharath for passing this tradition on, and helping us to spread something so powerful and life-changing.