Asana Practice--it happens

My practice, it’s happening again. Amongst all the chaos of traveling from down south on and off trains and in limbo I didn’t practice for a few days but Hunnie gave me some advice—rest, he said enjoy it—so I did.

I rested and I didn’t feel guilty about it. Ironically the 5 days coincided with my ladies holiday so it turned out that I took off 5 days from asana 3 of which I would have rested normally anyway.

When I arrived here in Chiang Mai I was still traveling with Beth, who also practices Ashtanga (which she calls ass-tan-ga, it cracks me up every time) and our first morning we both squished our mats out in the hotel room and practiced. It was nice. I felt good after a few days of no practice. Since then we have moved and she is off now on a 10 day silent meditation. I'm on my own again, which I really like. 

At the new guest house I have an amazing practice space. It’s beautiful. Every morning I get up and walk through the small courtyard to the restaurant in the process of being built. It’s 3 floors of gorgeous teak floors, a bar, and open space. The brother (it’s a sister and brother who own the guest house) is building the restaurant and he gave me permission to do my “yogak” –The Thai say it with a ‘K’—he checks on me to ask if I’ve practiced when he sees me but otherwise leaves me alone to do as I wish in the space. I’m not sure if he’s actually the one building the restaurant or if it’s a contractor but since I’ve been here I have seen no improvements nor have I heard anyone working in that area. He has several cardinals in cages hanging all around the balconies so each morning I practice with birds chirping along side me.

I am so happy and blessed to get to experience all that I have been while traveling in Asia. As much as I was disappointed in missing my training with Matthew Sweeney, I can see now that having to practice each day on my own, is teaching me something more than I could ever hope to have from the group environment. I love the Mysore style of practice, I love the energy in the room when others are working along side me but there is a different beauty in a home practice. It’s harder in some ways but also freer.  

Tomorrow after practice I’m going to get some dental work done and Monday I will head to the country for the day to take a Thai cooking class at an organic farm.

Life is really good.