Ashtanga Yoga Oxford

Guru Purnima 2010

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 07:23:52 +0000

The day of full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh (July/August) is traditionally celebrated as the auspicious day of Guru Purnima by Hindus. On this day, disciples offer puja (worship) or pay respect to their Guru (Spiritual Guide).

For all the Ashtanga Yoga pratictioners our Guru - literally ‘the one who shines light where there is darkness’ - is Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009). He started learning yoga when he was 12 years old, after meeting one of the greatest yogis of the last century, Sri T. Krishnamacharya. A few years after, Pattabhi Jois left his family and village and travelled more than 100 km with only 2 rupees in his pocket, so that he could study Sanskrit at the University of Mysore. For the first 2 years he had to beg for food every day, but he never stopped practicing yoga. In 1930, he met Krishnamacharya again in Mysore where he was giving a demostration, and he began to study yoga with his Guru again. His influece, energy and spirit is inherent in and inseperable from each of our daily yoga practices today.
We thank him for this amazing practice that he has passed to us and that its benefits have changed the life of so many. – Thanks Guruji

Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009)

A famous verse known from the Skanda Purana – Guru Gita glorifies the Guru:

Gurubrahma Guruvishnu Gururdevo Maheshwaraha |
Guruhu sakshaat Parambrahman tasmai Shrigurave namaha ||

“The guru is Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva), veneration to the Guru who is Parabrahman manifest.”

Ashtanga Yoga lineage - Saraswati, Sharath, Shambava

Students pay respect to Guruji in the Shala

Guru Purnima

Bella & Saraswati

Sruti - Sharath's wife

Prasad (blessed food) after celebrating our Guru's birthday

Enjoying

Tokyo from my balcony

admin — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 02:55:10 +0000

Good morning Tokyo!

Good night Tokyo!

Kamakura

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 06:29:05 +0000

Engaku-ji Temple Gate

The largest of Kamakura’s “five great” Zen temples, deep in trees, Engaku-ji was founded in 1282.

The main hall

Zen house

What a peace!

Little shrine...

...and its Buddha

Hachiman-gu Shrine

Hachiman shrines are dedicated to the God of War. This one was built in 1063 as a guardian shrine of the Minamoto (or Genji) clan.

Sake barrells collection of the clan!!!

Samples from all the corners of the region like pint classes from different pubs. Just a little bigger!

Be pure before entry a temple and pray

At the entrance of every temple there is always a place like this to self purifying before praying. With the little cup take some pure water from the spring. Wash first the left hand then the right. Then take a sip of water from the right hand, rinse the mouth and spit the water. Liberate your mind cleaning your hands from your actions and your mouth from your speech then only you can pray.

Bridge to Kamakura City

Run boy run!

Rice or noodles?

Kyudo – Zen in the Art of Archery

admin — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 03:02:08 +0000

“In the case of archery, the hitter and the hit are no longer two opposing objects, but one reality.” Eugen Herrigel

The art of shooting an arrow

Be in the moment

Empty your mind

Inhale, find your centre

One pointed mind

Exhale, let go your being

Meditate

The beauty and lightness of the form as lethal as it could be

Kyudo Dojo

A Tokyo day

admin — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:18:23 +0000

Just before practice

Practice practice

...and now proper noddles tempura

Coconut Stand, where worlds collide

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 10:15:06 +0000

Chendra

Chendra, strong and smart, has a job helping with keeping the busy coconut stand in order – How many 12 year olds could handle this all day with a smile on their face?

Chendra’s time out consists of handstands and flick flaks in the dust and general pranks…

Chendra in the box

Guru Coconut…the greatest coconut man in the east. The coconuts and chai are blessed every morning in the dark by Guru’s devoted pujas.

Guru coconut

Our Indian family

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:34:40 +0000

Our Indian family, Prem and Laxmi

…mmm problem is there…you take…good medicine!

A Mysore day

admin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:12:59 +0000

Visit at the Shala…

…and then brrrrmmmm scooting around the city direction pool! Ops! I see a foot in the floor!

Happy Chinese New Year of the Tiger

admin — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 14:19:52 +0000

Yoga with the boys at Odanadi, near Mysore, India

Happy Chinese New Year of the Tiger! We just celebrated a warm and friendly Chinese new year with friends from Hong Kong and around the world here in Mysore with a delicious lunch (which included no masala – yippee!) and good vibes.

Manu then went to teach the Odanadi boys yoga http://www.odanadi-uk.org This is a special place with amazing children rescued from human trafficking and enslaved prostitution. It is a place that always puts life in perspective.

Manu and Odanadi boys yoga class, near Mysore India.

Mysore Magic

admin — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 13:26:23 +0000

2 weeks left in magical Mysore…see you soon!

Reflecting on a beautiful end to 2009 in Goa, India, practicing Ashtanga Yoga with our inspirational teacher R.Sharath Jois

With Sharath on Ashwem Beach, sunset over the Arabian Sea, Goa, India