Living the Damp Life!

As many of may known its monsoon season here in India. I've been damp for almost 2 weeks now, at first it was a pain, but its the new dry.
Training at the Himayalan Iyengar Centre is a really explorative experience. The centre is based on the alignment teachings of B.K.S Iyengar, but the owner (Sharat) who was a devoted students of Iyengar has invented his own structure and approach to the practice. The past few days have been filled with exploring your own body's complete alignment within the pose, rather then going into depth. All about where your body needs to be structurally, before entering the full pose. The training isn't that physically challenging but more mentally and introspectatively. As there is some pain or discomfort in the poses and you have to sit with it and discover what there is within that maybe creating or allowing the discomfort. its finding freedom and energy within the body so then it cam expand into your surrounding life. I am really enjoying it and feel it is defiantly altering my practice as well as aiding in the knowledge for teaching. It is without a doubt an opposing practice to Ashtanga/Vinyasa where my training has lyed for the past 10 years. The centre is located in the town of Dharmkot, which is about 1km hike up a mountain in the forest. I get to do it every day. The centre is this beautiful half circle studio with beautiful shutter glass windows on the side of a mountain with ivy growing all over.

The past few days have be filled with yoga in the morning/midday and then the afternoons have just been enjoying the town and always finding friends.. We have seem to create two places to hang out. The main spot is a resturant called Carpé Diem, roof top seating on the ground with pillows and you always meet people because it is very communal eating. There is also this little café called Rogpa. It is Korean own, where proceeds go to the Rogpa baby care centre for Tibetan families in need. Best coffee in town, and everyone one raves about the brownies but sadly they have walnuts. . . so the brownies are just for me to stare at. There is also a late night place for travelers, it is the place where the jam session took place. The Heart Rock café, basically we go there when places close and just hang out and people play the guitar. I've been singing a lot.