Hey Guys,

I’ve decided to move this blog to

www.ashtangayogini.blogspot.com

I’ll be able to post much larger pictures from here so please be sure to bookmark this link!

Oh Boy….How you forget the many pleasures of long hours of flying, delayed flights, overbooked flights, connections, late flights, bad weather, missing connections, rude airline personnel, and did I mention missing connections….The last day of my life is quite comical now as I sit in the premier travel inn close to the Heathrow airport. With a tummy full of food, a clean body, and a cozy bed next to me calling my name I have no complaints. But man what a trip here. So…my first leg took me from Orlando to Miami – was supposed to leave at 6:05pm and actually left at 6:45pm. That put us in Miami at 6:50pm and I was freaking out b/c my flight to London was supposed to leave at 7:05pm! Well, once I ran through the airport like a crazy woman I got to the gate and found out that flight had also been delayed til 9pm. “Sweet,” I thought to myself. Now I’d have time to chill for a bit in the airport and still have more than enough time in the London Heathrow airport to get to my connecting flight heading to Bangalore. Well….9pm turned into 9:30pm….turned into 10pm….turned into 10:30pm…We finally made way into the sky around 10:45pm Tuesday night.

My un-wealthy self purchased a ticket in nose bleed, no room, economy class as always – but this flight really felt more like a seat inside a matchbox. Lucky me got a seat smushed in between a French couple on one side and a German lady on the other. Poor German lady…I have a bladder the size of a toothpick and I don’t sleep on planes to boot! Not only did I wake this poor lady about a thousand times to go to the bathroom, but also moved around in my seat every few minutes trying desperately to get comfy enough to doze off for a bit. But I didn’t feel too bad, as I didn’t want the seat I’d been given – much prefer aisle seats for these very reasons. It was a comical affair to say the least – once everyone else on the planed dozes off to la la land, I always feel like the only people on the plane (including the pilots) awake. I tried to sleep, desperately tried…I laid my head on the seat, in my lap, I even turned into my seat with my legs crossed to lay my forehead on the headrest at the end of my seat (which was the most comfortable position I’ve yet found to sit in an economy class seat!!!). Nothing worked….To make matters worse there was a man behind me who literally snored from 11pm (Miami time) to 10am (London time) – about oh 9 hours. He slept upright with his mouth open catching flies, and seemed so content asleep in his seat on this airplane. I actually stared at him in utter amazement for about twenty minutes trying to contemplate how it was that someone like him could sleep so easily on planes and I could not sleep a wink….Have yet to figure out this mystery.

We arrived at the London airport at 11:50am London time Wednesday morning – and I wasn’t worried about a thing b/c my flight to Bangalore didn’t leave til 1:25pm. So I deplaned, and made my way to terminal four where British Airways flies from. Little did I know it was a 15 minute bus ride from terminal three (where I landed) to terminal four. Then, another oh forty plus minutes in line through security. And finally – British Airways ticket counter to collect my ticket (as – and don’t know how or why – but American Airlines did not issue my British Airways ticket to Bangalore – even though they were supposed to)….didn’t matter anyway, bc once I got to the counter the oh so not very nice lady told me the plane was closed and I would be missing that flight. I had not seen this coming at all – and almost began to cry ;( She explained that the plane was leaving in 25 minutes and was oversold – b/c I made it to her counter so late they gave my seat away and there was simply no way I could get on that flight  I really didn’t understand for a minute or so – but then just looked at her and asked what she could do to help me. She said, “Nothing!” She said American Airlines should have stopped me when I landed to redirect and rebook me as there simply wasn’t enough time for me to make this flight and it was AA’s responsibility b/c they were the ones who were at fault for me arriving late (especially since it was no fault of the weather).

So, I unhappily began my forty minute trek back to terminal three (through security, to the bus, and then to the AA ticket counter)….Boy was I ready to give it to ‘em – but when I got there the sweetest British Lady appeared before me to take all my troubles away. She told me I could 1) take a Air India ;( flight that departed at 6:30pm and stopped in Mumbai before finally arriving in Bangalore at 10:30am Thursday morning (but said she had concerns about my luggage as British Airways had my luggage somewhere in transit). OR 2) I could take the British Airways non-stop flight to Bangalore tomorrow Thursday at 2pm to arrive in Bangalore on Friday at 4:30am. She said she would give me a hotel voucher, food vouchers, and bus vouchers for the stay in London tonight. Sleep deprived, worried about my luggage, dirty, and not at all a fan of air India – I chose option number 2! Several hours later I arrived at the Premier travel Inn about 15 minutes from the airport. I’ve since showered (oh yeah baby!) and eaten a bit. Although, I am a bit annoyed b/c yes they did follow through with the hotel and bus vouchers, but when I arrived at the hotel they said they had no food vouchers for me….Oh well….I just spent 5 pounds on a tasteless sandwich and it will do tonight. So there you have it.

I can’t wait to get to Mysore…Oh how I can’t wait. A bit bummed that I’ll arrive in Mysore at about 7:30am Friday and will have to register at the shala later Friday afternoon. That means no practice for me til Monday as Saturdays are days off and this Sunday is a moon day. It’s all good though b/c I’m about to spend two months with Guruji! Can’t get any better than that!

Good night all!

It is official!  I have booked my flight to India – I leave Orlando on Tuesday, August 7th and arrive in Mysore on Thursday the 9th around 7:30am.  I am beside myself with excitement.  Much to do before I leave, but thinking back to all that has happened since I returned home in November – OMG…. 

I’ll be posting ever so often between now and when I leave, but I will re-institute the blog once I am in India….Great way to stay in touch with everyone when you are abroad – what would we do without internet nowadays? 

 Hum, need to make a list of things to do and things to bring with me.  Must say my second trip is a bit more welcoming than the first b/c I now know how to properly plan for my trip!  And best of all Ganesh is gonna have a driver pick me up in Bangalore, and also find housing for me!  Couldn’t get any better – I’ll arrive in Mysore and the driver will take me right to my place of residence while in Mysore….Ganesh rocks!!!!

Til next time,

Om Shanti

I must say life in America is far busier than life in India – I can’t even keep up with myself let alone all the things I have to do! 

Things are excellent though – busy but good.  I am in the process of finalizing my schedule for January and excited to start teaching again – really have missed it terribly the last eight months.  Once I get it in order I will post my teaching schedule on ashtangayogini.com so stay tuned.

Also working hard on the other business – shanti halu om…Several studios and clubs in Florida want to carry my products, which is very exciting – but means a whole lot of work to get done!

I am a bit sad that I won’t get to visit my mother for Christmas this year – will just be too difficult this Christmas – but I will be visiting her in early ‘07!

Kwang and I are doing awesome!  He is very supportive of all my dreams and always gives me that extra boost I need sometimes.  He will be going back to school in January so he’s excited about that.  He plans to go to Law School but wants to take some courses to prepare himself….

Hum, about all for now - stay tuned though b/c 2007 promises to be a very very exciting year!

Oh boy….Busy busy busy the last few weeks!  No excuses though – I have been slack with the blog!  Well, people are interested to know about my Thanksgiving with Kwang’s family   It went quite smoothly!  Kwang and I cooked up a mean Thanksgiving lunch for his parents and younger brother and we all ate in good company!  His parents have come a long long long way to accepting me in their lives.  Kwang is first generation Korean in America and they still follow many cultural traditions and beliefs – dating an American girl is not one of them – but his parents are really very accepting of me regardless!  It was really interesting though as Kwang and I ate Thanksgiving dinner with his parents three years ago for the first time – and oh how things have changed since then.

The rest of Thanksgiving was wonderful too.  After lunch with his parents we went to visit a number of my old friends that I haven’t seen in what seems forever!  Some good wine and more food…Great company, good times!  A great way to come home

Since the day after Thanksgiving I’ve been up to my ears in…well…everything!  I found a good, safe, place to live last week and moved my storage boxes in…purchased new furniture as I’d given all mine away before I left the States in April…did all the necessary stuff like electricity, internet (no new computer yet but Kwang’s letting me use his and then the meetings and getting my schedule in order to begin teaching again in January.  The meetings and paperwork and scheduling and oh yeah paperwork and meetings have keep be busy busy busy…But I have indeed made time for my own daily practice!  Don’t know what I’d do without it to be honest.  I am very excited about 2007 and all the many wonderful things that I already have planned.  Can’t let the cat outta the bag just yet – but can say many good things to come in the new year!  I can’t wait to start teaching again full time, seeing old clients and students, and just getting back to what I love most: sharing my love for yoga with others!!!!  And now that I have a place to live and have most of the necessary ‘chores’ that come with re-setting up shop someplace outta the way, I look forward to focusing my time wholly on teaching, my new product line, seeing old friends, and enjoying being in the present!  Life is good that is for sure and I am so grateful for all I have, all I have experienced, all that is here now and is to come!

The next few weeks promise to be exciting as little details work themselves out, plans get put into place, and the holidays come and go!  Looking forward to it all!  And wish each and everyone of you a safe and happy holiday season!

Until tomorrow!

Om Shanti

Hello Everyone!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I’ve made it home safe and sound!  I had a good flight home and am very happy to be back in Florida.  It’s quite cold here – ohh – much more so than comfy ole Mysore!  I miss everyone there very much and look forward to seeing you all again next year. 

Stay in touch – I will keep on keeping on with the blog – let you all know how Thanksgiving goes tomorrow – should be very nice!  Kwang and I will start off the day practicing with some good friends at Linda’s studio - Yoga By Extension…Then well spend the day cooking Thanksgiving lunch for Kwang’s family!  And later in the day we will stop by some friends to say hello and be among great company!

Om Shanti,

Krista 

Ok, gotta make this uber quick as my taxi will be here any minute to take me to Bangalore!  I had an extremely busy day today running around getting things taken care of before I take off…So busy that I haven’t had any time to contemplate the fact that I am leaving India, a place I have called home for seven months, and heading back to America!  Hum, guess I have a hellofa long trip home to think about all this…Know that getting home will be an extreme culture shock for me – know that I will be excited and exhausted all at the same time…But I know I am very much ready to get back to America and see my family and friends – I miss you all so much!

I want you all to know how much I appreciate the support you’ve shown me throughout my journey this year.  The contact I’ve had with my friends and family – while I’ve been away – has made this trip that much more enjoyable and I thank you for that.

Although I will be leaving India, I will continue my little bloggie blog…So I’ll be sure to keep posting entries every couple of days…I’ll keep you up to date as to my return, how things settle down in the states – where I end up, etc…

Take it easy!

           I am truly amazed…My inbox was flooded, this morning, with requests for my password for my blog – I never dreamed so many of my friends and students actually read this thing!  So, I’ve thought a little and decided to forget password protecting my blog – I’ll keep it free and open to anyone who wishes to read it! 

To all of you who emailed me – those I know and those I don’t know personally – I am truly happy that I have been able to benefit you in some way – thank you for sharing that with me!

To all those of you out there that are really disgusted with some strangers that have made unnecessary comments on this blog – just remember that everyone is entitled to their opinion guys…No worries!  I want to share an email with you that a very, very dear friend of mine sent to me – it made me put this into perspective and I hope it will do the same for you! 

“I read what those people posted,  and I was appalled about how they took what you said out of context and made your personal experience all about themselves…they completely did not hear what you were saying….People these days are so caught up in their own worlds that they forget things are not about them personally…they forget the other people in the world all together…I am sure they really do not give two hoots about the Indian population they are defending…those people that are writing  are entertaining themselves ….trying to make themselves feel better about what ever is wrong in there own lives…the thing is….. they probably do not even recognize this fact…and to make these people feel even more powerful…they can say all of this stuff from behind a computer keyboard….kind of cowardly….in the end it just breaks my heart how negative and not supportive of another human being a person can be….and how close minded and completely heartless….and selfish.”

            Today is sure to be a busy busy day for me in Mysore…Looking forward to it very much and getting more and more excited about heading home soon.  Can’t wait to see everyone when I get home!  It’s been a really amazing journey for me and it doesn’t stop here – I am excited to take all I have gained these last seven months and put it to use at home! 

            So this morning was my last practice with Guruji till next year!  It started a bit rough as I still can’t sleep well at night and still have trouble opening that damn front door – but I am able to go to bed with the lights out, which makes me feel so relieved – you know if I had jetted outta here right after this happened then I know I would never have dealt with any of the issues I’ve been trying to face head on!  And once I did get out of the apartment I happily made my way to the shala one last time.  Really kinda sad, but happy too b/c I can start looking forward to my return next year.  When I arrived there were a few fellow yogis sitting outside – so I plopped down and waited with them.  All was quiet and I just tried to soak up that moment – awe how sweet it has been to be here studying with Guruji – and how amazing this journey is in all aspects.  As soon as the shala doors opened we all poured in to grab our spots in the room.  As always, I put my mat down and then put my belongings in the locker room.  When I came out I told my ‘neighbor’ how much I’d loved practicing next to her these last 2 ½ months and hoped we could stay in touch.  She was surprised I was leaving early and I told her I had decided to head home a couple weeks early but that I would really love to stay in touch!  Then Guruji and Saraswati came into the shala and we began our usual Friday led practice!  Boy oh boy was my body just not cooperating this morning…Tight….Tight….Tight…But no worries b/c I was enjoying every second of this practice anyway!  Kwang told me yesterday not to be sad it was gonna be my last practice – he told me to think about how blessed I was to end with a led practice with Guruji – like he was blessing my safe return to America!  As I stood at the top of my mat and began to chant the opening mantra I felt such a waive of peace fall over me!  I almost started to cry – I can’t begin to describe how wonderful it felt for me then!  This morning I dedicated my practice to Guruji…And before I knew it we were on our last sun salutation B.  “Oh my gosh, this has got to be the fastest practice of my life!”  So good though – every second of it.  I felt all over the place and grounded all at the same time!  I felt like we went from Sun Salutations to seated postures to backbends – and then practice was over ;(  But if was such a nice way to end my time here with Guruji!

            Well, I wish each and everyone of you a blessed day!

Om Shanti!

After every storm comes a rainbow!  Well, she is beginning to show her beautiful face!  I have had a few rough days….Was able to sleep with the lights out last night, but the workers woke me up at 2:30am in the morning!  The landlords had let me know the workers would be here late and not to be alarmed….It was really strange though b/c I went to sleep around 10pm and heard nothing.  Then, at 2:30am I was suddenly awakened to them banging and clanging and yelling.  Needless to say it ruffled my feathers a bit and I didn’t get back to sleep!  I called my landlords and they came upstairs and had the workers stop.  Told me they had told me they would be here working – which they did – but I never fathomed they’d be here that late at night….No worries though – just stayed up and meditated for a bit over all this….

            All of my friends and family have been so wonderful through all this and I am truly grateful for having you all in my life.  Without you guys I simply wouldn’t be the person I am – I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy this amazing journey nearly as much!  Thank you all for being such amazing people!  And guys, don’t worry one second over kooks who have commented on this blog – those people have their own issues and you nor I need waste any of our time concerning over their thoughts.  I am only sorry that other peoples deranged thoughts have become bothersome to the people I care about – just remember guys that opinions are like assholes….everyone has one!

            So, my practice today was a bit stiff to say the least and my focus is still way off – but it I’ve learned so much recently about many things – and like everything else, this too will pass and I’ll be able to enjoy my practice and my life that much more! 

Here is another nasty comment from some unknown person who doesn’t seem to understand what I’ve been through and seems to somehow think that I am bashing all Indian people!  I’d like to apologize to anyone out there who feels that is what I’ve said in my blog entries because that is simply not the case whatsoever….I love India – I have many Indian friends – I think this is a great country – I will be back next year – I have not and will never bash this Country or any of it’s many languages!  People who gleam that from my entries are obviously missing my point completely!  My mention of langauge while in the police station on Sunday was not to bash Hindi or Kannada – it was to express my frustration at the fact that the people there DO know fluent English but refused to speak English in my presence – that was quite bothersome…If no one knew English that would have been a very different story all together….

______________________________________

Here is this person’s email followed by my response:

If my mother (who doesnt speak English) had a laptop stolen in the US and went to the police station to register a complaint, I dont think that they would make an exception and speak in Hindi for her or go out and get a translator.

I also doubt that the cops would go out of their way to scour the country side looking a for a stolen laptop in the US, so why expect that from Indian cops.

Its all good for tracy to say that “if you dont have anything nice to say…….” – maybe Krista should heed that advice too.

Feel free to delete my comment since it does not agree with your world view. And please do remember that India is not the US, our official language is not English, we are still a poor country and most of us fall short of the high standards that the rest of the world expects from us. And once again, if India does not meet your high expectations, feel
free to return to wherever you came from.
___________________

My Response:

You don’t seem to be reading my blog thoroughly!  First off, I can tell you that I don’t know if your mother would be spoken to in Hindi if someone broke into her apartment in America!  I would hope that if the police officers she was dealing with knew how to speak Hindi they would…I know if I were a police officer in America and this happened I would do my damn best to help her and find someone who could or WOULD explain what was going on in Hindi!  In my case every single man in that police station on Sunday did speak fluent English – thus there was no reason they could not speak to me in English!
  

I can assure you, whoever you are, that the police here have not scoured the country side to find my laptop – which, by the way, is not the point here at all…The point that is most disturbing is that someone came into my home in the middle of the night and invaded my privacy, stood over me while I was sleeping, and has most definitely changed my life!
  
As for tracy’s comment about not having anything good to say….you have your opinion – but this is my blog!  So, if you don’t like what I have to say – don’t read it! 
  
And furthermore, I am truly sorry you feel you need to defend the thief who broke into my apartment simply because he is an Indian!  That is truly sad…
  
Thanks for telling me to ‘feel free to delete your comment’ – I most certainly will – not because it dosen’t agree with my world view – but because there is no place in MY BLOG for ignorant people like you!

You should understand one thing, whoever you are: I love this country regardless of it’s poverty – and you should have pride in the many many languages that make up India – it is part of what makes this country so special!…I love this country b/c it is a beautiful place with amazing people, and a deep seated cultural history!  I don’t know why people like you take offense to me explaining what has happened to me recently….And even though all this has happened I still love this country.  I know that here, just like America, there are good and bad people.  Although I’ve been through alot of unfortunate events here lately, I don’t hate on any Indians – I have many Indian friends who feel horrible that this has happened – they are mature and realize there is bad here just as there is good – and they sympathize with what I am going through.  It truly is a sad thing that you feel the need to bash someone who has been through what I have been through!  That is your Karma!  As for what the world expects from India – hum, don’t know what that may be!  I expect nothing from this country and you should do the same!  Expectations lead to disappointments….

And I am happy to be able to educate you a little about your own country!  While your National language is deemed Hindi, English is an official language of India my friend!  “An official language is a language that is specifically designated to be so in the constitutions of countries, states, and other territories.” …. “English is an official language, but not native, in Cameroon, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Ghana, Gambia, Hong Kong, India, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Malta, the Marshall Islands, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.”  If you want to find out more about your country go to http://publicliterature.org/en/wikipedia/e/en/english_language.html 

More information for you regarding the

India Official Language Act of 1963: http://www.languageinindia.com/april2002/officiallanguagesact.html