pictures and other stuff

when teaching the ashtanga system, it’s very common to hear comments from
students about how they feel bored, how they feel like primary is too easy for them, how they just want to do new poses. i’ll even hear comments along the lines of “well i’ve paid lots of money to practice here, i should be able to practice how i like”. i talk to people about how i’ve felt the same way myself, that they should focus on their breath and drishti instead. to keep focused during the practice, not watch other students, not let their mind wander.

so this morning, as i practiced primary series for the zillionth time, i found my excitement to practice waning as i dealt with the same internal dramas. i found myself wondering if sharath and sarasawatti even notice me, wondering if it’s worth $500 a month to come here and practice primary, wondering if i’ll do more poses this trip … ugh. funny how the advice that’s hardest to follow is the advice you give other people. i think it’s good for me though, this system has a way of keeping your ego in check and when the poses get easier that’s when there is real opportunity to focus on breath, drishti and focus.

ok i actually wrote the english version of this post yesterday (wed) but hadn’t posted it yet because i didn’t finish the thai translation. so then this morning after i finish my drop backs, sharath tells me to start intermediate series next class. at first i was just going to delete this and never post it, but i think posting it is actually a good idea. in some ways it’s almost embarrassing how tied to the poses i seem. ashtanga is a practice that is supposed to built contentment and try to get us away from constant striving to have more. this is part of the reason for doing the same series day, after day … but i guess breaking through all of that is part of the practice.

hmmm … with that out of the way here’s some interesting photography links and some digital pictures i’ve taken around mysore lately.

these panamoric shots were taken over four trips to north korea, make sure to read the interview with the photographer.

i found these photo collages on flickr recently, the artist has a great way of composing varied pop culture images together.

ohh and hp’s just released a new series of slimming cameras, basically they can digitally remove 10 pounds from your body when the image is shot. a reverse of what whitney had done to her a few years ago …

with the elles and tomoe at cubs coffee

with the girls in a $1000USD / night hotel room … we paid $1 to see it

with russell on the top of his office building

the mysore palace lit up at night

slanted windows at the mysore hospital

random old building around mysore

whisky juice box