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Morning Mysore Guest Blog - Jesse Cook

About 6 years ago I found myself in a place of self hate, feelings of low self worth, and my confidence was in the shitter. Coming from a background of disordered eating, disordered body image, and constantly overexerting myself with exercise, I was searching for a place to realign and focus to liberate myself from internal demons. I was lost and I could not be found. That is until I found yoga (I know it sounds cliche but hey, its true). I started off my yoga journey trying out all the wide variety of classes, ranging from hot flow vinyasa to a hatha flow class and occasionally an Ashtanga 1-2 level class. With a busy schedule of finishing graduate school, working 3 jobs and balancing family/friends, I found myself coming back to the structure, flow, breath and focus of the Ashtanga practice. As the years progressed, my on again/off again relationship with yoga began to transform. Initially alternating my practice with training for various half marathons, my mind would constantly crave the calmness, focus and release I achieved with my Ashtanga practice. I was slowly developing an ability to leave the constant turning of wheels in my brain and come to a place where mind, body and spirit connect as one. I had started Crossfit at Fit Club in German Village and met one of the girls there, Kandi, who I bonded with almost immediately over yoga. She told me about this style of practice called Mysore where they practiced in the mornings anywhere between 5-8 am. She explained to me how the class was a self-led style of Ashtanga where you progressed through the various series as you practiced developed. At this time I was practicing 1-2 times a week in between my busy work and Crossfit schedule. She gave me 2 free class passes and said “just give it a shot”. I held onto those class passes until about 3 month ago. I was rummaging through my wallet and found the free Mysore class passes. I had decided in January to start my journey of yoga teacher training and said to myself, nows the time to give this Mysore a go. The first day I walked into the Mysore room, I felt the rush of energy flowing from the bodies in the room. The close mats, the low lighting, the incense burning, the harmonious breath coming from all directions; I knew right away I had found a place where it just felt right. I had heard stories of Taylor Hunt, most recently about his travel to Mysore, India and his Ashtanga practice. I was most definitely intimidated...... however my fears were quickly put to ease. Taylor immediately came over and asked if I had practiced Ashtanga before and I gave him a quick snippet of my practice. He stated what he wanted me to do and I started my flow. In the room, I felt the calming I had once experienced in my previous practice, however this time it was overabundant. I now crave my practice in the mornings from 5-7am (even though I can only make it 3 days/week due to work). Over the last 3 months, I have been able to cultivate a self led practice that allowed me to transcend into places I had never been before. With the help, motivation, push and support of my instructor Taylor, my practice and overall self worth has grown exponentially. So far I’ve laughed, fallen, tripped, cried, pouted, and glared at Taylor during my practice, all while progressing, focusing, and smiling with my breath. Ashtanga yoga and Ashtanga vinyasa practice has taught me to love myself again, to value my abilities, to use my breath to calm myself, to appreciate my thoughts and let me pass by as needed, and to get away from the negative self talk that clouded my mind for so many years. Taylor has been truly tested me in ways I never thought possible during my practice and I’m every thankful for every minute of it. My confidence in myself if ever growing and yoga has made that possible. As my journey into the world of yoga teacher training begins (leaving for Norway in 10 days for three extensive weeks of training!!!!), I will constantly channel the Mysore room, the community of yogis and the energy I receive during class. Ashtanga is my best friend. It listens to me. Its always there for me. It knows what I need. I cannot picture myself without it.

Guest Blog- Ryan McGuire-Therapy for a Therapist, Mysore Style!

When I began my journey of earning a Master’s degree in Transpersonal Psychology, I was repeatedly advised by my teachers and mentors that self-care is a crucial component for being a “healthy” therapist. Because let’s face it, being a therapist demands that I show up and be authentically present for each and every one of the people that walk through my door. I must hold a safe, sacred, and compassionate space where people aren’t afraid to open up and explore the multiple layers of their being in front of a, well, stranger. At times, it can be draining; in fact, the therapy field is somewhat known for its “burnout” potential. But my love for the work that I do, and to support my own growth and expansion into becoming the best that I can be, I made a commitment to “get my shit together” so that I could truly help others. That commitment came in the form of Ashtanga yoga, taught Mysore style by my incredible teacher, Taylor Hunt.

            Spoiler Alert! Ashtanga yoga is life changing. If you were to tell younger Ryan that he needed to set an alarm for 4:20 am in order to make it to the studio by 5 for nearly a 1.5 hour of intense yoga practice with a room full of other dedicated spirits, he would have laughed hysterically. But 30s Ryan goes to bed between 9:30 and 10 pm (I noticed yesterday that the sun was actually still up) in order to get enough rest so I can get out of bed and get to the studio. And 30s Ryan better think twice before eating that M&M Blizzard at 9 pm because he knows he’ll pay for it on the mat in the morning. Not to mention that I talk about yoga ALL THE TIME, and find myself inviting everyone to practice with our community. It’s all encompassing, and I can’t stop.

            But what it comes down to for me is this,,,Ashtanga yoga is my therapy. When I began to really dedicate my time to the practice, I began to transform. I’m not just talking about a physical transformation, but a transformation of body, of mind, and of spirit. One morning I had a moment of insight. As a therapist, I work from a client-centered perspective. This means that I have faith in my client’s ability to heal themselves, and my job is to simply meet them where they are in their journey and walk their path with them, not for them. They have to be willing to do the work; I’ll help them to overcome their barriers. Similarly, in the Mysore room, our individual practice is self-led. Therefore, it is completely up to me to show up and do my own practice. Taylor will be there to offer assistance, adjustments, and encouragement when needed, but for the most part I am on my own. It’s up to me to overcome my challenges on the mat, which gives me the confidence and competence to conquer the many challenges that I will inevitably face during my day. I walk out of the studio every morning with my head held high and a grin across my face, without fail.

            My practice has taught me to be patient with myself, to accept myself for who I am, and to love myself. It has allowed me to experience my relationship with myself in a much more intimate way, which has also allowed me to experience others on a deeper lever. It is now hard for me to imagine a life without Ashtanga yoga. I am forever grateful to my dedicated teacher and the Ashtanga community for the unlimited amount of support and compassion that they have given to me. I am honored to share that sacred space every morning with my fellow Ashtangis, to laugh, to cry, to fall, to overcome obstacles, and to offer fist bumps after 5 grueling backbends. I’m passionate about this practice because I believe in it. I believe in its potential to heal and transform, and to be a catalyst for self-awareness. That is the essence of therapy, in my opinion, and I will always draw on the knowledge that I get from Ashtanga to guide me as a therapist, as a husband, as a friend, as a brother, as a son, and as a divine spirit. With that, I bid you goodnight. It’s 9:34 pm, after all, and I need to “bring my ass to class” bright and early.  Namaste ~ Ryan McGuire, June 2014. 

           

Guest blog- Brandi Braun- My Morning Mysore Love Story

After taking various yoga classes over several years, I built up the courage to attend an “ashtanga beginner’s drop in” class. The work was hard, but the passion of the teacher and the energy I felt from the practice touched me.  I knew deep down inside that I loved this practice.  I continued to attend classes as I could and as they were offered – around two nights per week.    As much as I enjoyed the practice, I didn’t love practicing at night – I left class energized and uplifted and then had to quickly calm down so I could sleep.  I knew this was meant to be a morning practice and was asking around for morning class options to no avail, so I kept up with my evening practice.

I will never forgot the day in May 2012 when I received the Facebook group invite to join the “Morning Mysore Club” – an early morning Ashtanga practice group, taught by Taylor Hunt from 5:00 – 8:00 am.  Joining the club required a commitment of attending three classes a week for one year.  I didn’t even have to THINK about it.  I knew in my heart that this program was for me and that the dedication needed would be good for me.  I signed up and came to Yoga on High for my first morning class on June 1, 2012. 

I was so nervous parking in the dark lot and walking up to the studio.  As a 31 year old woman, I felt like a teenager on the first day of school.  “Who will be here?;  Will they know me?; Will they like me?;  Will I be the most inexperienced student?;  Will Taylor like me?; Who the hell is Taylor?”.  I took a few deep breaths, walked into the studio and unrolled my mat in the second row.  I still remember who I was by…..Teresa…… who has a beautiful practice and one that can look intimidating to a newbie.   I remember her being so nice and smiling at me several times, which made me feel welcome.  I still get to practice next to Teresa now…we are both teachers and friends.

I won’t lie.  Waking up at 4:00 am for yoga was not an easy transition.  First of all, it required a HUGE lifestyle change for me: no more late dinners and drinks, no more closing down bars, no more last minute evening social plans.  I had to establish a firm bed time and, even harder, I had to inform my group of very fun and very social friends. Also, for the first few weeks, I was TIRED during the day – I wasn’t sure waking up at 4 was sustainable.  But, it got easier….much easier as I fell in love with the practice of Ashtanga.  In fact, three days a week of practice turned into 4, then 5, then 6 days a week as traditionally prescribed.  I reached a point where practicing made me feel better; it grounded me for the day to come.  I wasn’t the same person without it and “skipping” was no longer an option.  I have practiced sick, injured, sad, heartbroken, mad, stressed, tired and hung-over  (I don’t recommend that last one – it is never fun).  It’s not always easy to “bring my ass to class”, but I do and I NEVER regret it.  In fact, I leave feeling better than when I arrived 100% of the time. 

I leave practice knowing that I have just done 60 – 120 minutes of the hardest work I will do all day; work that challenges me on a physical, mental and spiritual level.  I have fallen, cried, cursed, smiled and laughed.  But when I’m done, I roll up my mat and drive home with a fresh perspective on my day.     

I leave class every morning believing in myself. 

I didn’t always believe so greatly in myself though.  In fact, I was very unsure of who I was.  Not to mention, nothing about the practice came easy to me.  I see some people come to class who were gymnasts, dancers, athletes and the physical part of the practice seems to come naturally.  This wasn’t me.  I have worked incredibly hard for every pose and every “yoga breakthrough”.   Although my practice hasn’t advanced as quickly as some, I am glad.  The hard work, focus and dedication that I have been forced to cultivate has changed me…changed me for the better.

I couldn’t have done this alone, though.  I owe my practice and its benefits to the person who has believed in me more than I believed in myself – my teacher, Taylor Hunt.  Honestly, the simple act of writing this fills my heart with gratitude and brings tears to my eyes.   Taylor, like any gifted teacher, gives the student what they need even if the student doesn’t know they need it or want it– compassion, love, encouragement and sometimes a big swift kick in the ass. 

Ashtanga yoga has taught me about love; how to truly love myself, those around me and life in general.  I can’t imagine my life without it. 

Morning Mysore Guest Blog - Kirsten Carroll

When people first hear about what my mornings are like, they tend to look at me like I'm crazy.  Yes, it's possible that before you have even considered waking up, I have already done around an hour and a half of hard work in a room full of people doing strange poses and breathing funny. Sounds like a good time, right? Honestly, it's the best way to start the day.

Before I started to spend my mornings in the mysore room, I didn't know much about Ashtanga.  In fact, all I really knew was that I liked the idea of a class in the morning before I had to go to work. I'm pretty sure it's the earliest yoga class offered in Columbus, so I decided to try it out. I had done yoga before at my gym and in my living room, but never yoga like this.

Like a lot of people, I was pretty intimidated at first.  I read a little bit about mysore style and Ashtanga before going to my first class, so I had a vague idea of what I was getting into.  On my first day, I learned sun salutations A & B and then the final three poses.  I am almost amazed now that I got even that far. But I struggled through and Taylor, who I would soon come to refer to as my teacher, told me that if I kept coming, I would learn more. So I kept showing up. And he was right: I have learned a lot more.

Most of what I've learned, though, is not asana.  Don't get me wrong: I have learned plenty about the Ashtanga primary series. But what I've really taken away from the practice is not simply that. I have learned a lot of other things, including things about myself. 

One of my favorite and most unexpected lessons has been how to laugh at myself. I think it really started when I was learning shoulderstand.  I could not for the life of me figure out how to get my legs up. Things were just not clicking.  Normally when I can't learn something quickly or can't figure something out, I will eventually get frustrated and get down on myself about it.  Not then.  I started laughing.  I realized that not only did I look utterly ridiculous at that moment, but that it was okay and I might as well embrace it.  I laughed so hard I cried.  I laughed so much that Taylor could not keep it together either. I laughed myself right into a better sense of humor that day, I think.

I don't laugh every day in my practice. Some days are hard. It can take a lot just to show up. But every day that I practice is worth it. I'm grateful that I get the opportunity.

Ty Burhoe - Angel's Prayer

Yoga in New York!!! With Sharath

Some of you may know that I have recently gotten back from New York. I went there really as a precursor to my trip to India. I seriously think that Sharath couldn't of pushed us any harder. I am not kidding we held headstand for every bit of 5 minutes and my shoulder were screaming "no mas, no mas". Oh Yeah and just when I thought I was a badass at Navasana, i was humbled. It was a five count and again like a half hour long ;)

and just for the record don't talk to me about Utplithi the last pose in the primary series. By that time I was in a trance and crying inside. not jk.

My overall experience was amazing! Everyday I was in the middle of the room and Sharath hung out right in that area. I didn't have my glasses on so I couldn't see anything but  every day he would say something directed at my vicinity about " no catching, no catching. I assumed it was to me I was the only one catching in Navasana! ha!  There was about 300 people in the room and through out the week I probably got about 6 adjustments. I was really surprised at that. I think he may have liked my Ganesh on my chest and the Shiva on my back.(tattoo) That may have been why I got a lot of adjustments.  Another crazy thing is when I got adjusted  they were soft but very effective and intelligent. My body did what he asked!

When I went up to pay my respects the first thing he said to me was " Where did you get that shirt?" I said "What?" He said "that shirt very interesting for a yogi".  hmmmm! I said. I was going to explain but I realized quickly that he was teasing me.  In just a weeks time it was sort of like the forming of a relationship. Pretty amazing if you ask me. I love my life