Thursday, June 28, 2007

Memories from Dubai

I know we're a little late in posting our pictures and giving our thanks to all the students in Dubai that attended our workshop at the beginning of June, but here they are now, so enjoy…

Dubai is an incredible experience. It is a juxtaposition of the extremely traditional and the super-modern. It is a huge pseudo-metropolitan city that is growing up in the middle of the desert. This vast plain contains bustling extravagance where you can shop and find absolutely anything you could possibly want or imagine, as a friend of ours said, “you can get anything you want in Dubai!”

It is like a mirage manifesting out in the middle of nowhere, a city where every whim and fantasy is becoming reality. As you can imagine it was quite the place to see! We are so happy to have had the opportunity to spend some time there, and to get to know some of the very wonderful people who are living and practicing yoga there.


Beautiful Big-Red. The desert is the most amazing and enchanting place!







Jeff and his new friend!

Having fun in the desert! Lots of Sand and Camels.



After a wild ride through the desert in a deluxe "corvette-engine" dune-buggy.






Soon to be the tallest building in the world.


Building the City of Dubai - 15 sky-scrapers at a time!


Sharon showing us the indoor ski-hill complete with Chair-lift and all!





Students learning some basic breath-work exercises early on a Saturday morning.


Weekend Workshop discussion time and practice.


Students practicing Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.


Students visiting after practice.

Sharon, Jim, Dylan and Jake at Dinner.
Thanks to this incredible family we had an amazing visit!


A Big Thanks to All the Students in Dubai, and to Sharon Sim and her family for the amazing experience, and for the opportunity to share and practice yoga with you!
We hope to come back and see everyone again some time soon!

Saturday, June 09, 2007

A Guruji Update


Here is our friend Shirley's account of last Thursday and Friday (June 7 & 8) in Guruji's Yoga Shala in Mysore. What spectacular news! We are so happy to be able to share her thoughts and impressions with you since we were away in Dubai during this time...

"On Thursday, June 8th, Guruji came out and said the opening prayer before the Mysore class. He walked up to the front of the room and chanted it as powerfully as he always does. I found out later that he was so excited to get down to the shala, he was dressed and ready by 4:30 am. Sharath and Saraswathi had to tell him that he had another hour to wait! After class he was sitting in the office, and it was the first time since being sick that I was able to bow to him and touch his feet. Then without me even asking the question, he told me in a very determined voice that he was going be be back teaching in one week!

This morning, (June 9th) for usual Friday led-primary class, Guruji was back again to say the opening prayer. Then, it seemed to everyone's surprise, he started to count, without missing a beat, he moved right into leading the whole primary series class. He call the whole thing with all the vinyasa-s, and didn't forget a single posture or side for even a second. It was so powerful. At the end, he stood up without help, and said the closing prayer with such strength both in his stance and his voice. It was an amazing experience to witness. He's back!
I just can't express in words how inspired I am by him. I feel truly blessed to have him for our Guru!
With Love,
Shirley"

We too feel truly blessed to have Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois for our Guru. He is a true Yogi, and a living example of how powerful this practice really is.
Pranams to Guruji.
We humbly bow at your lotus feet.