Writer’s block

My computer is back relatively unscathed, yay! The only snags: when I first went on the internet, the ‘recently opened’ tabs were mostly porn (hope you had a good evening, Mr Ragu); the keyboard seems to have become Indian in its format; and Mr Ragu didn’t save any of my music files, so my itunes wasContinueContinue reading “Writer’s block”

A fateful night

I’m writing this from the communal computer as mine is suffering, not for the first time, from the dreaded ‘black screen of death’. It’s with Mr Ragu (surprisingly he’s Indian, not Italian), the computer doctor at the moment, and I’m crossing my fingers that I don’t lose all of my work, eek… Anyway, guess what time myContinueContinue reading “A fateful night”

Yoga-overload

Yesterday was a day off and, having yet again failed to have a lie-in due to a cacophony of crowing roosters, howling dogs, wailing muezzins, chanting yogis and warbling pigeons from around 4am onwards, I enjoyed a very lazy morning with coffee and a trashy novel in bed (BKS Iyengar’s ‘The Tree of Yoga’ book firmly put aside to giveContinueContinue reading “Yoga-overload”

Slippery slope

Today I experienced a castor oil ‘bath’ (it’s actually more like a massage, just with a LOT of oil), which is a traditional weekly Ayurvedic home remedy often used by ashtanga yoga practitioners. Pattabhi Jois used to recommend that students have one every Saturday (the weekly rest day), the reason being that, as well as relievingContinueContinue reading “Slippery slope”

Every day’s a puja day

I promise I’m not going to wang on about every puja that we experience in India, as I suspect the novelty might wear off rather quickly… But yesterday’s puja experience definitely deserves a mention. Actually, I didn’t attend the puja myself, but am acting as reporter for Chris and his new moped. Yes, that’s right – I appearContinueContinue reading “Every day’s a puja day”

Climbing out of the hole…

Following on from my recent downward dog tired post, I think (hope) I reached the nadir yesterday, and that it’s onwards and upwards from now on. We have had two days off and so I thought I’d be full of beans, refreshed for beginning classes again. However, when pranayama class loomed I was already feeling sulky andContinueContinue reading “Climbing out of the hole…”

Downward dog tired

We had a led class again this morning, meaning we’ve gone full circle with Vijay – I can see how the days could start to merge into one dreamy yogic existence here. Sleep, do yoga, eat, chat in a cafe for rather a long time, drink  fresh coconut, do pranayama, eat, socialise in a cafeContinueContinue reading “Downward dog tired”

Institutionalised yoga?

I found out yesterday that I hadn’t got in to study at the Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute (KPAYI) in February next year and, since I applied, I’ve found out that obtaining a place is as fraught and nigh impossible as getting hold of Glasto tickets… For those that don’t know, Pattabhi Jois is theContinueContinue reading “Institutionalised yoga?”

Cow question time

Since my last post, I’ve had a euphoric back-bending moment, have been entered into a Karnataka State yoga competition (errr… hello?!) and have drunk many more fresh coconuts. But enough about me – today’s post will focus on that very Indian of beasts – the common cow… 🙂 Cows are everywhere in India – atContinueContinue reading “Cow question time”