The transition to my new life hasn’t been the easiest.  I am one of those people who is always busy, not necessarily productive but busy.  Yeah, one of *those* people.  I have a tendency to define myself by my success, my achievements and the number of things on my to-do list.  The other part of my brain, the real part, knows that this is all bullshit and nobody (not even me really) cares two hoots about my to-do list.  The real part of my brain knows that defining myself by any means other than who I really am is also bullshit.  Sadly the real part of my brain doesn’t shout as loudly and keeps losing the argument.  Cue big huffy sulks about what a loser I am and a massive pity party with streamers and balloons (even though I have always found balloons slightly scary and alarming).

The reasons for my decision to change everything were manifold and not all of them were within my control – and did I mention I’m a control freak as well, so things being out of my control (especially things like my health that the shouty bit of my brain thinks define me as a successful woman) make me anxious?  But the main reason for the change was because I know deep down I need a simple life, with simple routines to be who I truly am.  I know I have been living in the shadow of the shouty part of my brain at the expense of the life I really want.  But even laying bare all the bones for that life I still keep trying to find ways of filling up my time being busy.  Busy doing nothing mostly, and not in a good way.

I had a wake up call this week.  It was partly to do with the four day migraine, partly to do with a couple of decisions I had to make.  The outcome of all this was simple.  If I wanted that life I had to set an intention to do so.

So readers, here I am making myself accountable to you for my intentions for October:-

* To get on my yoga mat five times a week for 30-40 minutes.

* To establish a day to day routine with space to be, to write, to bake, to study for massage school, to teach, to read.

* To write in my journal every day.

* To take each day as it comes, not panic about an imagined dystopian future or worry about mistakes made in the past.  To enjoy right now as it happens and to remember that vow of mindfulness I made in January.

Readers, what are your intentions for October?

So here we are, half way through the year already readers.  Where does the time go?

The end of June around the Midsummer Solstice, is a perfect time to reflect on the year so far and set goals for the next six months.  Where have I come from?  What am I going to do next?  Time passes so quickly it can be easy to dismiss half a year in the blink of an eye, and bypass all we have done, all we have achieved.

(my altar, vision board and desk:- the nerve centre where it all happens.  I am not responsible for the decor, as a renter, that’s life!)

So much has changed already this year for me; settling into a new town, becoming part of the yoga community, setting up my own classes, my own contacts, my own circle.  New opportunities coming along that I never thought possible a year ago. So much inspiration from the blogs I read, connecting by email and IM to beautiful yogi(ni)s all over the world.  And this blog has taken off in ways I never thought it would as well.  I am sometimes boggled by the number of views this website gets every day (even if a whole ton of them are bots), why would anyone be so interested in reading about lil’ ol’ me?!

* I have set my intentions and affirmations for the next six months. I tend to set six-month, twelve-month and five-year goals.  The five year ones are big and scary and subject to change.  Sometimes they even happen.  The shorter term goals are baby steps to those bigger ambitions.

* I have updated my teaching website.  Go take a look!  That wonderful banner was designed by the gorgeous La Gitane (as was the Suburban Yogini banner too).  Feel free to subscribe to the blog over there too if you are interested in yoga sequences, newsletters, videos etc all of which will be coming soon.

* I have set up a new Facebook group for Exploring Yoga.  Come join us.

* Join me on Facebook or Twitter if you haven’t already.

* Ask me anything you like over at my formspring account.  You can do this anonymously and I hope to use your questions as inspriation for blog posts, FAQs and video posts in the future.

And tell me dear readers, do you set goals and intentions?  Where do you get your inspriration?  Do you affirm your intentions daily?  You don’t have to tell us your goals, but do share any practices you think might be useful!

Recipes will return next week!

My Dear Friends

Greetings from Chennai, India. I write to you about an important decision I have taken at this point in my life.

I became a student of my father in 1961, and almost immediately started teaching under his direct supervision. Next year in 2011, even though I will be completing 50 years of association with yoga, I remain a humble student of this great discipline.

In the past five decades, much has changed in the landscape of yoga, and in the reception it received around the world. What was once considered a strange oriental practice, is now a household name in every corner of the globe. I am very happy about this status, and am proud to have played a small part in witnessing these changes.

In all of my association with yoga, my link with it has only been sustained through my relationship with my teacher, the grand master T Krishnamacharya. I consider it the greatest blessing I have received to be his student, and to serve his teaching tradition. Krishnamacharya’s contribution to the field of yoga can be generally categorized in the three domains of health, healing and spirituality. It is for this reason, that he was a complete yogi and his work timeless.

I have traveled far and wide over these years to share his most precious teachings with audiences around the world. And today much of yoga’s influence on the domains of health and healing, is attributed to his wonderful contribution. The time has now come for me to focus on the spiritual domain of his teaching, and ensure that this will exist for future generations of yogis. I want to give my time and effort to not only translate the work of my teacher in this domain, but also to experience it through practice and reflection. Hence starting in 2011, I have decided to greatly reduce my travel commitments, and will mainly teach here in Chennai.

I am not retiring from yoga, but rather only reducing my travel outside the country. You are always welcome to participate in projects that I am going to teach here in India, be it at the KYM or the KHYF. My commitment to the KHYF network, the KYM and all of my students is steadfast, and will continue as always.

My son and student, Kausthub, has assured me of his whole hearted support for my decision and I am very confident that he will find the right way to support you all. He has already shared with me some of his new ideas for doing this and you will be informed of these plans in the near future.

I want to thank all of you, who I have met during my years of travel, for your affection and kindness. I would like to you embrace this decision.

Warm regards

TKV Desikachar
Chennai, INDIA
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While it is a shame that Sri Desikachar will no longer be teaching outside of Chennai the part in this letter that struck me the most was this:-

In the past five decades, much has changed in the landscape of yoga, and in the reception it received around the world. What was once considered a strange oriental practice, is now a household name in every corner of the globe. I am very happy about this status, and am proud to have played a small part in witnessing these changes.

So much time is spent, both in the blogosphere and the real world, debating “Yoga in the West”.  Are we spiritual enough?  Austere enough?  Flexible enough?  Should we be vegetarian?  Do we have to look like the models on the front of Yoga Journal?  Should I teach unless I can do every posture (clue: nobody can do every posture!)?

But when I read these words from the founder of the school of yoga in which I teach, I realised that none of these debates matter.  They certainly don’t appear to matter to him, so they certainly don’t matter to me!  What matters is we are practicing yoga.  All over the world in many different styles and ways we are practicing yoga.  If Sir (as he is colloquially known in Chennai) is happy, then I am happy.

Keep practicing, in whichever way and whichever style is appropriate to you right now.  Don’t worry about what you look like but instead on how you feel.  Open your heart and enjoy!
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Join me on the Spring into Yoga 2010 Challenge!!!

(Kathleen has pointed out that for some of you it’s more of a Fall into Yoga 2010 Challenge.  Autumn is all about letting go, so join in and let go of those blocks with certain postures, or with practicing yoga more regularly!)