I've maintained a home yoga practice (dabbling in the occasional class) for over 30 years. For 14 years, I was a full-time yoga teacher and I still teach, going on 22 years now. Law is my day job.
This blog documents my exploration of the Ashtanga Primary Series, which I started in June of 2007, challenging myself to practice the Primary Series for 365 days in 2007 and 2008.
With that goal completed, I challenged myself to practice yoga every. single. day. with flexibility to try different styles, teachers and formats (DVD, audio classes, online classes, home practice, live classes). I completed this goal on December 31, 2009.
I kept my 'yoga streak' going for another year, but in January of 2011 I decided to take a day off. I still practice almost every day, with a day off here and there.
For five months in 2010, I moved my practice to a yoga shala and practised Mysore-style (traditional Astanga self-practice with the assistance of two authorised teachers). I returned to my home practice late that summer. During a visit to the Darby's shala in Montreal in late August 2010, I was given the first 8 postures of the Intermediate Series. It was a huge adjustment, but I benefitted greatly from the more challenging practice of backbends.
In 2011, I started practising with a local teacher again at a non-traditional Mysore programme in my neighbourhood ('Shala Local'). I split my practice to Intermediate Series while I was there and I was practising the full series by the end of the year.
Then I disappeared. And my life kind of imploded. I took a hiatus from teaching and went back to school to study law. I've been working in that industry for over 7 years.
Currently, I practice at home five days a week. Mostly classical Hatha but I dabble in Astanga . I meditate daily because it keeps me balanced. I marvel at how long I've been at this. But I guess yoga never leaves you, even when you wander...
Trying to get in touch? Try Gmail: I'm 'reluctantashtangi' I really *do* enjoy hearing from people. If you're nice, I'll write back!
Namaste...
