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.

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!

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."

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).

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.

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

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.

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."

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

Google searches for paleo muffins brought more people to my blog than ashtanga. Ashtanga tied with dolly parton -- I may never be a smart internet marketer, but I couldn't be more tickled (and wouldn't have it any other way!)

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

Oh, led primary, how I love you.

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

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.

Fascinating reading 'round the blogosphere about krounchasana.

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

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

Eat a little, drink a little
Talk a little, sleep a little
Mix a little, move a little
Serve a little, rest a little
Work a little, relax a little
Study a little, worship a little
Do Asana a little, Pranayama a little
Reflect a little, meditate a little
Do Japa a little, do Kirtan a little
Write Mantra a little, have Satsang a little
Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realize
Be good, Do good; Be kind, Be compassionate
Enquire 'Who am I ?', Know the Self and be Free

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

Off to practice. Good Morning, Wednesday 🙂

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

sleep, practice, coconuts.

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

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

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

Time to leave Sneaky Welcome Home Staycation and return to practice and principles. Ekam, inhale.

Last day of return-to-America inspired Primary series. First day of return-to-America CrossFit. Artsy photos comin' in one month.

Same same, but different: taught some classes, lifted and sprinted, banana smoothie. Bed. Coffee. Kapo. This is the format of my life for a while.

That kind of day: too much caffeine before practice, too much salt in the muffins. Lets see how the rest of today plays out.

Practiced at AYC and made high protein berry muffins. Followed up with flax sandwhich rolls and delicious spicy indian chicken. Breakfast & lunch for the week? Check.

Call the Ashtanga Police: Doing a guest spot tonight. 6:30p. You come.

Sometimes, the Shala is where the heart is.

Today is the first day of my Ashtanga class at Yoga District | 14th Street Studio. Come play with half-primary and half-second 🙂 Should we call it Half & Half? 7:45-9pm.

Interrupting my online swimmie shopping (aka softcore porn viewing) to go do yoga outside. #ashtanga #calmitdownperv Yoga District | 14th Street Studio at 6:30. #practicewhatyoupreach #practicewhatyouteach

Lakshmish, doing the #ashtanga invocation! Mysore swoon!

Flow Yoga Center's led Primary was delicious today. Full practice yesterday, led today. I sure am tempting the Ashtanga Police.

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

Going to the Ashtanga Yoga Center, Washington DC for what will likely be the last time. I realize my own projections of sorrow and pride, but I learned Primary in this space. Bittersweet.

RT @kinomacgregor: Core Strength in Yoga, Tittibhasana in Ashtanga Yoga Second Series with Kino...: via @youtube

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

Does Yoga Really Foster Transformation? A Personal Account ~ #ashtanga #iyengar #yoga

Lets explore vinyasas! Teaching Open Ashtanga today at the Ashtanga Yoga Studio DC (AYSDC). You come! 6:15p!

"so close to death, I cldn’t bear the thought of the msgs on my parents’ answrng machine." #ashtanga #transformation

I want to throw a fit. Instead, I'm doing primary outside. If I don't settle down, I'll do second, too. If that fails? Booze. #yoga

Saturday Practice

RT @ArkieYogini: Nice. I like Garrigues' approach to asana adjustments.

3 Practices Days. 2 Lift Days. 1 5-miler. An apartment to call home. An out pouring of friendship and love.

RT @ABQMysore Must-read on practice and beyond by Authorized teacher Angela Jamison #ashtanga

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!

Truth: I miss practice. I want to grab my heels again 🙁 crave kapo? huh. #ashtanga #gettingbeatenupdoeskindasuck

we always keep it cool“@ashtangacharlie Rain actually kept things cool for @MichaelJoelHall Return - thx @jmgraglia

RT @ashtangacharlie: Nice piece by Lululemon's Emma on Yoga is Community @MichaelJoelHall

Tempting! “@AYC_Confluence: Ashtanga Yoga Confluence 2013 Schedule Online registration to open early October 2012.

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

I cannot remember the last time I travelled without my yoga mat... 10 days in silent meditation, coming up.

RT @ConfluCntdwn: Q&A on #pranayama with Ashtanga's Tim Miller.

Full Primary. (finally!)

RT @toneens: @daydreamingmel @yogicaroline an oldie but a goodie 😉 #kapotasana

Wanna get some practice in? Saturday's are for Rocket-- come get it in at Flow Yoga Center-- 2:30-4. Sunday is for ashtanga (full led primary!) at Yoga District H Street -- 10:00-11:30am. You come!

Welcome back, dropbacks. I really missed you.

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)"

Today I took a tumble in the last pose of my practice. "The highest sadhana (spiritual practice)? Bear insult, bear injury." -- Swami Sivananda

Sleeping alone. Practice in the morning. The only constant is change.

Shhh... I may or may not have been playing hooky from practice all week. Wow, I'm sure glad I got that off my chest!

Rocket Yoga: "Is it really ashtanga with... spirit fingers?" -- Lisa Kaneff by way of Julia Crantz. Come find out at Flow Yoga Center on Saturday at @ 2:30. Last time teaching 'til after India!

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.

I ate the gobi. The gobi ate my bandhas. Hmf.

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

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

Shins. #asanatalk #catching

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

Stretching my groins.

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