It's 85 here in Mysore. Seeing the driver holding a sign with my name on it was enough to make me want to cry, but the dangerousness of the car ride into town was enough to make me smile big. Best of all? I got to stay at the Southern Star/ Regalis-- exactly as planned. Antonella Accinelli will be pleased I didn't have to sleep outside.

I have an hours worth of stories (minimum) and its not dark yet.

I spent a good chunk of today sitting with the tuk-tuks after the house Shiva showed me didn't do the trick. Is 16000 Rupees an okay price for a house I'm going to share with a stranger? Your guess is as good as mine.

Sharath yelled at me twice, then yelled at everyone else. "The only thing worse than being yelled at is being ignored."

I broke a tooth today! A trip to vist Dr Judith Pereira in Mysore for a fix and clean! Amazing grand total? 1100 Rupees... $22 dollars. She also said I was the politest American she had ever met and complimented my parents. She said I should be proud of them. Thanks, Mom!

I moved into a gorgeous house on the top of a hill today. Fuck the rupee cheating ttuk-tuk and jay! to Apu, my new tuktuk friend <3

Between my "Ganesh is my OMboy" tee (thanks Karuna!) and silver nosering (thanks Lauren!), the locals are warming up to me. It also might be that I keep showing up and smiling like a crazy. Whatever.

My first conference was fascinating. I got to view Sharath, the (these are my terms) titleholder of the Ashtanga lineage, through the lens of a man who deals with keeping the purity of a practice in the real world-- the world of parties, internet gossip, and multiculturalism. A fascinating, non-textbook experience. A highlight, paraphrased: "A man with two gurus (gu ru: dispel dark) is like a man with two doctors-- take both pieces of advice/take both pills, and you surely are worse for it."

I am super intimidated by my Sanskrit class. Holy. Cow.

Led Primary, chanting, Sanskrit, philosophy, and two trips to the Ramakrishna ashram. Today was busy, but had a keen reminder to count my blessings: I saw a funeral procession today. It consisted of a flower adorned handmade chair, the deceased strapped in, carried and paraded to the crematorium. Tambourines and gongs, laughter and tears.

I've spent the past 7 hours debugging the fuckery that iTunes Match inflicted upon my iPhone. Finally fixed, and better than before. Going to the cricket field to do wind sprints-- a little bit of HIIT does the body good (plus maybe I'll pass out at 8, so I can be up and well-rested for Sunday Led at 4:30am).

Jesus, the pollution. I haven't thought I might need my inhaler in (I swear to Vishnu) years. YEARS. Anyway, we'll do that again on Tuesday.

7 hours of work, and do you know what my phone didn't save? Fucking Shala time. 10 minutes early was 5 minutes late. I can't win 🙁

Sometimes, you practice in the bathroom of the changing room and accept that as your penance.

Sunbathing.

Such a delicious, decadent practice. Making every movement (and flub) part of the beauty of creation, yet not rushing to the end. A freedom that one pointed focus can bring, and grace that should probably be there regardless *yum* #mysore

This is the first time I'm using Mid City Yoga's new comments section. I hope it a) works an b) is useful. http://midcityyoga.com/?p=630#comment-11617

A ton of fantastic assists in practice, a wonderful birthday party, and a thoroughly exhausting sanskirt . I'd call that a full day. #mysore

4 Surprises Today: 1) The Internet worked this morning, soI got to have a real skype date with the hubs. 2) My clothes were wet, so I practiced in long pants sans shirt (after a conversation in which I pronounced that I may never go topless). 3) Sharath moved me on to Pashasana (helllllllllllo, second series!) 4) I ran into Clare on the street right after practice 🙂 It's not even noon!

Patterns of practice: I now like doing Led in the changing room.No pushing, no quiet violence. Huh.

Sanskirt then dinner. I should not have made that banana smoothie-- I'm full-- hopefully that changes in 3 hours 😉

Survived led primary with Delhi Belly. Talk about humbling-- I felt like a human level.

tummy a'rumblin/popped a cipro lick'ty split/happy pracitce now-- This Haiku is dedicated to Pamela Xing and Lauren Twohig.

First day practicing second: was taken to my ankles in dropbacks (backbends) -- never have I ever. Said aloud "ohmygod." Sharath laaaaughed and said "No fear, no fun."

Lazy morning, now off to find a bit of food and a bit of fun.

I haven't had caffeine In hours... Why can't I sleep? Gotta be up at 3:15, grr

Bitched for no good reason. Good sleep, off to practice!

A quick little gratitutde check list: 1) Anto is here! (!!!) 2) Roikes 3) My start time is earlier 4) [in case the others are too obnoxious] I've figured out how to add fiber into my diet 😉

Lesson: You can not expect to shirt to end up white if the water starts out brown. #laundry #mysore #santosha #justwearit

New apartment, new start time, new month. I've never been so excited for February in my whole life. #mysore

Navigating Mysore City is a daunting task. Fear not, with a copilot like Antonella, I fared well. The haul? A stove-top coffee maker, fisherman's pants, and "gym vests" (aka 4 bright and shiny tank tops) in hand. A warning: I am going to come home dressed like a yogi (I have a custom pair of 3/4 length pants being made). I am not done.

I have to be up at 3am. Sleep must come.

Sweets on Saturday leads to stiffness on Sunday. Never expect one day's work to be the next's. Paleo challenge after the moonday? #mysore

ಜೈಂಟ್ಸ್ ಹೋಗಿ!

By the time I get back from practice the big game will be over (unless we have overtime!). Can someone give me a link to the Super Bowl so that I can watch it from the beginning?

Today, I walked my hands in from a dropback (backbend) and caught hold of my ankles. Then I straightened my arms. Never have I ever.

Two hours of yin, shirtless on the roof. Yum.

I made chocolate almond flour pancakes today for lunch. One heckuva paleo treat 🙂

Signs of the times: I want to see "American Reunion" and "Titanic" in 3D.

Halfway mark.

I'm in love with my best friend, partner in crime, and roommate. He makes me one of the lucky ones. I love you, Michael Roike. I'm so glad you're mine 🙂

Note to self: when coconuts and clarified butter (ghee) are their own food groups, you needn't worry 'bout body image. Things are gonna be allllll riiiiiight 😉

Reading "Ganesh Goes to Lunch" and drinking hot cocoa.

I'm a paleogi.

Must. Get. Mosquito. Net.

Tameka Elephanté let me pet her trunk.

Up all night (even if accidently) for Shivaraitri, followed by a moonday birthday poolday with the celebrants. Yes, please.

My baba ganoush omlette is off the hook.

Saturday night: bedtime? 7:30. You know how I do. #mysore

5 weeks.

Off to practice. Good Morning, Wednesday 🙂

Trip to market combined with sari hunting == long walk home to Gokulum exploring. Thats one way to kill an afternoon. oof.

Oh, hello, noon. That was one helluva nap.

I could eat peanut butter banana omlettes three meals a day.

My ass breaking the plastic chair in the apartment is a serviceable wake up call: I'm calling a moritorium on Peanut Butter until next Friday. 😉

Reading up on homebrew 'four lokos'. I woke up for practice, refresed, at 2:30. Which sentence is more absurd?

So many things to report: no water in my part of Gokulum, as such I smell like India, multiplied by white boy. Also: I've had three chais at Amruths, and so I have no shame in sharing.

I've wanted to do a coco fast for years (since I came home from Mexico with Giardia)-- four day fast starts tomorrow. I cannot believe I'm excited for such a thing.

sleep, practice, coconuts.

Off to be lovingly walked all over by the Three Sisters (ayervedic massage). Obv I miss my sisters and wives back home.

Muscle gripping bone-- visceral memories of my teachers and my lovers. Few pleasures run deeper. Jai Kristenji, jai Michael Roike;)

Just lost 15 minutes taking pictures in this morning's practice ensemble (headband and kungfu pants). #ashtangastylemaven

At some point 2:30am became a perfectly reasonable time to wake up for practice.

A slow coffee morning before led primary at the shala. Here's hoping the onslaught of Indian heat has scared up space for me. #mysore

I might be the only person here loving the 97 degrees.

reframing: I still have 1/6 of my adventure left.

One week. Last week. This week.

69 practices down, one to go. "Don't leave until you've left."

In my Indian swan song, something unexpected and new: rain.

Goodnight, Mysore. Don't be sad. We can say goodbye tomorrow.

Lakshmish, doing the #ashtanga invocation! Mysore swoon!

RT @lizandra311: Durga supports my first Mysore practice with @michaelJoelhall @ Flow Yoga Center

tysm! I'm excited, too!! xo “@flowyogacenter: We are so happy Michael is going to start teaching Mysore at Flow!

RT @castlehill_yoga: NEW: #Ashtanga #Mysore Traditional Morning Program w/Juan starts July 1st ...

Hey District Ashtangis! Whats the interest in an afternoon mysore? Tue-Thursday? 4-6? $10 drop ins? Yours truly and Yoga District want to know!

In Mysore, all yoga was hot yoga. Get on the Rocket at Flow Yoga Center-- 2:30p.

You know I teach Ashtanga, mysore style, at Flow Yoga Center from 6:15am 'till 8:30am. Wednesday-Thursday. Hope to see y'all tomorrow!

Sarswathi sits down for #interview!! RT @dylanrobertson1 Saraswathi Jois & Sharmila Mahesh - #Ashtanga #Vinyasa #Yoga

Roike's got his passport, I got my shala confirmation... India 2.0 is go-go-go!

Got questions about Mysore? Join Jen René, Peg Mulqueen, and I at Flow Yoga Center for a little Q&A after practice about mysore style ashtanga practice. 10am.

"what would YOU want to ask? (please post or "like" the questions you have)"

Mysore Thanksgiving was a total treat. To my friends back home, embrace the attitude of gratitude... I know you'll forgive the platitude.

No matter how you cut it, 3:05am as a wakeup time is really, truly, the middle of the night. And, I love it.

And all of a sudden, the tune of that Gotye track started playing in my head. The bastardized lyrics "You're just the body that I used to know" remained from the time I started to reach back in the last of my postures to the time I got off that mat.

Rain. Chai. Lovely, peace.

Brr! Chilly this mornin'! Gonna go warm up to the Boss's count. TGIP (thank god it's primary), everyone.

Home sweet home. Back in my apartment from last season. Oh, so happy.

It's 7:15am and I just watched a tutorial on the booty pop. I need to look more closely at my life choices.

Hot shower after practice, kind landlord, Kapo first try. Masala dosa brekkie, grocery shopping. Visit to Dr Jag later. Life is simple & good.

Older man watching his grandson in the barber's chair, me, and a business man reading the paper sitting respectively. This memory's a keeper.

No material expectations, just gratitude. Burn it to the ground, and with each ash know God. Bedtime, Christmas Eve. Mysore.

"Well, eventually ya gotta carry some orphans on a bike." Christmas at Ashadayaka.org with dancin & singin & scooting

Scooting through Mysore with boy is equal parts romantic & terrifying. Sounds about right.

Burning karma, one year at a time. Next!